Quoted from paulywalnuts23:

550 posts over a year. Compared to what?

Quoted from Manimal:

Nope, not a distributor, and no connection to one, just a guy that likes to fix mechanical things. I do work in the gaming industry in a roundabout way, but it is all computer systems. My company has no current connection to Pinball...one of our subsidiaries did many years ago, but it was before my time here.
And people can cancel what they want. All I am saying is there is a lot of posting of bad playfields, and the sky is falling, Stern is a mess, etc. But few people are posting the good....mostly because we love controversy. As I said, I know it is an issue, and yes, Stern needs to make it right.....but there are a lot of good units being made just the same. Folks are cancelling orders because of all the doom and gloom, and if you really look at it with an objective eye, it isn't all that bad. The sky is not falling, the sun will come up tomorrow, and folks will line up to buy the next Stern title when announced.

Quoted from Manimal:

I started a thread about recent Sterns with no issues.....but as I said, those folks aren't going to come here and post. I wasn't trying to hijack the "sky is falling" thread. This conversation started as a reply regarding how widespread the problem is. I simply said it may be overblown just a tad. And btw, thanks for proving my point.

Quoted from Manimal:

Wow.....Nowhere did I mention the topic wasn't worth discussing. I was just adding to the conversation and saying that my opinion was that some of the fears and worries might be a bit exaggerated when you take emotion out of the equation. Sorry for trying to spread any positive or actual reasoning. I will bow out, and you can resume your charge with the pitchfork in hand.....lol

Quoted from SadSack:

False dichotomy based on the premise that "they still have to fix all the faulty games" is not true. I'm not sticking up for stern in this, but your argument is fallacious.

Quoted from Manimal:

You are right, you don't know me, and I don't know you. My opinion here is worth no more or no less than anyone else's here. I am not an ass, so I won't give the same recommendation I got a few posts above which is not to come here and read it if you don't like it. I'll just say I have my thoughts, and you obviously have yours, and the fact we can express those thoughts is what makes this country and this forum great.

Quoted from pinballrockstar:

Yeah! It's ours!

Quoted from jeffsarcade:

Opened my Metallica Monsters Premium. No ghosting out of the box that I noticed. However there was quite a bit of jeweling on a few of the arrow inserts. So much so, that it looks like it was planned to be there.
Under one of the arrow inserts, it looks like there is excessive glue... it makes a black spot under the insert when it is lit up. I lifted the playfield and scratched a little off with my fingernail but can't seem to get any more off at the moment. Any suggestions?

Quoted from Manimal:

I am fully aware of that, which is why I said "this country and this forum". I was referring to them both.......

Quoted from Whysnow:

STOP buying new games form them would be the most logical solution, esp since there are not LOTS of other options if you insist on buying new games.
Reality is that many people with just keep on buying regardless of the resolution or lack of. Most of these things seem to take time to show the reprocussion. When people start trying to sell HUO GB with ghosting and cracked inserts and secondary buyer dont bite at 4500, then 4000, then??? then people will just deal with the sting at that time.
That said, if enough preorders get cancelled then distributors will likely raise hell and Stern may take notice.

Quoted from kpg:

Trent @ Tilt just informed me via email that Stern is not responding to him regarding his customers playfield ghosting issues, and now he has no choice but to start having customers email Stern directly about the issue- namely "John Buscaglia" who is head of sales [email protected]
Love how Stern tells you to contact your distributor, then wont reply to them. They are not only hurting their image and losing customers, but they are hurting their distributors business at this point.
If anyone is having playfield or quality issues, email John. Let's see if they will respond.
BTW- I am up to 7 ghosted inserts as of today- the super jackpot insert on my GBLE is now starting to ghost.

Quoted from OLDPINGUY:

True...sadly.
Any announcement and the last 8 weeks of issues will quiet down.
But they better be good.....

Quoted from metallik:

I know I'm late to the party (100+replies), but this statement has caused me to lose a lot of respect for you and your opinions. NO ONE deserves to receive defective products. A person is owed what they paid for - a defect-free product, period. Delaminating clearcoat is a defect. It has been shown to lead to premature playfield wear. That little bit of warranty law I've posted in the past should be sufficient to get a replacement playfield.

Quoted from PW79:

Ice should have one for you
Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk

Quoted from kpg:

I saw you posted on Stern'a IG pic of Ghostbusters today, and I did as well. They promptly deleted our comments. Funny how quick they are to react to clean up their social media image, yet respond every so slowly to an issue that has become this big.

Quoted from Wickerman2:

if you are 99.9% of the world you don't know pinball still exists!

Quoted from sparechange1974:

I feel like I'm on to something after seeing pics, I think I may have this issue nailed down a bit besides just being a clear coat issue. As I've said in another thread, I know enough to be dangerous due to being in the body shop industry many years, but not enough to be the go to expert on pinball play fields.
Here's the interesting part. Notice the Clear Coat only seems to be an issue not adhering in two places.
1. Where there is no artwork and only wood
2. over the inserts
3. Does not seem to have that problem over the playfield art that i've seen.
I continue to think there is not enough flex additive being used(because of the cracking and flaking)but I suspect the culprit is a prepping problem before the clear coat is sprayed or change in cc or wood. Its not right for clear coat to crack or come off like a sheet of ice. When this happens on cars, it is an adhesion problem due to improper prepping(not sanding enough) or chemical reaction(oil or silicone on pre painted surface). Maybe its the wood, the prepping process or the clear coat(not sure if these things have changed), but for whatever reason it seems to be adhering on the play field artwork just fine.
If it were me, I'd be looking at the play field prepping process immediately before they are cleared specifically inserts and wood along with clear coat changes if the past few months.
I'm guessing the air balls have magnified(not caused) the the clear coat adherence issue on Ghostbusters. The toughest part about this issue is that you could catch some of the obvious ones, but others need to played and have the ball hit the cc (or not adhering area)before the it's really prevalent. This is a really bad deal for everyone involved. I've got one coming and I'm scared it will have this issue. Sorry you guys are going through this(this includes Stern as well). It's just a theory, so not sure if I'm off base here or not when it comes to wood play fields with clear coat on them as opposed to automobiles which are plastic and metal.

Quoted from Manimal:

Airballs landing while you were gone............

Quoted from PinballAlley:

I can think of at least a dozen dealers who would have refunded. It's not a schtick it's customer service. You can buy from your cousin or what ever. This is just a bash Stern fest. I am guessing you are just a troll too. In the reasonable world people look for answers. In this world people want to complain. I gave good advice. Based on years of experience. Take it if it helps. If not then you really can't complain can you? Of course trolling this site is way more fun than being helpful. SO troll on.
-J

Quoted from PinballAlley:

I am very proud that we restore over 150 pinballs a year. We just finished an absolutely beautiful ToM. She looks better than new. When I step back and look at the machine it makes me feel great. I like selling new but a top notch restore floats my boat. We try to impart the same feeling on both restored and new for our customers. We hope when we deliver a machine, that it is a great day in their life. I live a positive life. I hope it show in my business as well. Trolls prey on the positive and feed on negative energy. It would be better if you could all get together in one room and torture each other. It is a shame because these forums could really help people. Not only to figure out problems but to get some good advice on a great hobby. I can never stop the trolls but I can pray that you all get a big wart on the end of your noses so you can look the part. Please post photos if the prayer works.
thanks-J

Quoted from vid1900:

I believe every major pinball company that has ever existed has outsourced it's playfields.
Williams, Stern, Gottlieb, Bally, Wico......

Quoted from kpg:

GOOD NEWS! Gary has offered to give me two complimentary tickets to the Epic 30th Anniversary Bash, along with a meet and greet w/ photo op with Mindy the monkey!
Joking aside, I just got off the phone w/ Gary. Very nice guy, I have never met or spoke with him before. Going off the top of my head, i'll try to remember everything we discussed.
Gary said he isn't ignoring any of these issues, and has been 'following along' with the complaints online including my emails and other messages (I would assume this thread).
He said Stern is well aware of the issues, and although ghosting does happen with pinball, he acknowledged there is definitely a lot more happening with Ghostbusters. He did comment that every design is different, and that some games have more airballs then others. Perhaps that is something being discussed at Stern, because as we know airballs are violent on GB, especially the LE models.
Gary said they are currently "working on a program" that will work with dealers that will work to remedy these problems. These issues will be handled through the dealers via this program. He said Trent as a dealer will be provided with the details soon and he will work with me on getting this resolved.
I asked if it was cool to share these details and he didn't say no.. but he did say for us to be patient, and that these problems will be resolved- but it would be more efficient to have a program with dealers then everyone going direct at this point, so thats brewing in the background.

Quoted from SadSack:

I sure am glad you are all reassured by kpg's testament. I don't know kpg, but it seems strange that he is the only one who got a response.. and from Gary no less. He must be pretty influential on the answering machine. What did he do different than the other guys who've been nagging Stern?

Quoted from Bing_Party:

Somebody start a thread titled "Pinball Wives"

Quoted from imharrow:

Can everyone stop all this misogynist BS? I read pinside for talk about pinball machines, not to see pictures of women. There are so many people here I want to ignore, but can't because they regularly provide useful information. Keep things on topic, there are plenty of other sites you can talk about your wives and post pictures of your wives.

Quoted from flynnibus:

It would also behoove the community to stop acting like this is the first rodeo with Stern and how they chose to handle these kinds of customer relations. Everyone's acting like this is some new discovery and let's all talk in circles about how Stern should/needs to respond.
Wake up -- Stern already KNOWS what people want (its stupid common sense.. we don't have to keep repeating it for 68 pages). Stern has never done it that way, and it wasn't because it never occurred to them. These choices are conscious ones to not make blanket open statements, push people to the distributors as the channel, etc. This is freaking status quo and has been for the last decade.
It would be one thing if we were talking about how Stern needs to improve customer service... but that's not what's happening here. Its people who are somehow shocked, appauled, and a-gasp on how Stern is handling this because apparently they've not the prior cases, or just want to keep plugging their ears so they can keep making noise about it. Catch up already people and focus your energies.

Quoted from flynnibus:

Or... Just read the thread we are in... It's been covered numerous times... But just maybe.. Just maybe... If you post it again, it might be differ this time.

Quoted from flynnibus:

Fact remains.. the info is right here and your retort was ridiculous hyperbole.

Quoted from kpg:

Yeah, its called being "normal"

Quoted from robotron:

ohhh....i thought misogynist was this:

Quoted from Ranhorton:

I'll trade you some ghosted inserts for a damaged delivery.
Didn't accept it from the delivery guy.
One side of the wood pallet was crushed/splintered. Decals had all sorts of slices. Leg protector top crushed/bent. Cabinet edge gouged and a bit cracked.
Luckily my distributor is going to work with Stern to send another.
Praying they can get the new one to me by Wednesday since it's the only day I'm in town next week.
Maybe I can give Gary a call back and see about a rush shipment...
(Not his/Stern's fault since shit happens but definitely nervous about receiving the next one if they use the same carrier.)
-Ran

Quoted from Manic:

Hmm. To quote another thread : "You put on yer big boy pants!"

Quoted from robotron:

off topic but those new cc with rfid are easy to "clone". i ordered rfid blocking wallets for my family. thieves walk around malls and scan rfids all day now. the rfid blocking wallet prevents this.

Quoted from Wickerman2:

I stick with livestock or favors "owed"