Funny you say this. I just ordered a few things from them that I JUST got in the mail. I needed a 3D standup target for my White Water, a decal, and a ball popper.

The popper looked good, but the decal is having a hard time sticking, and my standup target came deconstructed and had a different shade of green than the one I ordered from Pinballlife. (Pinballlife's target looked OE and was fully assembled, Marco's looks like something I bought at the dollar store).

This was the first time I was genuinely disappointed with Marco's quality. Generally, I've found their stuff to be pretty good.

Have you reached out to Marco Specialties directly?

I understand they have a special email address that can even be reached from Montevideo, Uruguay, South America.

It may be stainless. There is more than one grade of stainless steel. I wouldn't be happy either way though.

Yes, generally. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. The owner is very involved with the business and would want to ensure your concerns are addressed. I suggest you contact and give them the opportunity to earn your confidence.

I have noticed small things where some parts are said to be new but look obviously used. I would imagine they recycle a lot of parts. There may be a disclaimer somewhere that says parts may be used, but I've never noticed it.

I love original parts. I hope it turns out well.

Did you order the translucent green targets for AFM? Mine were wrong as well. I called in and they confirmed the wrong targets were in the translucent green bin. The correct targets will be ready in 3 weeks. I will be returning mine and ordering them from pinball life as time is an issue.

image (resized).jpeg

No, I ordered the oblong translucent target for lighting the ball locks.

This is how I received it:

standup.jpg

Now, I don't mind having to put it together--taking me an extra 25 seconds--but the color saturation of the green is more of a bluish turquoise, than a green when held in the light. So on that basis alone, I don't think I want to use it in the game. I don't know... If I'm spending $10 on a damn target, I feel like it should at least be pre-assembled and be color matched.

I ordered the same targets a little while ago from pinballlife, and they looked exactly like the original William's targets, and it was all in one piece. I'll probably stick to pinballlife for stuff like this in the future.

I think you should let them know that you're unhappy and why. It doesn't matter where you are located in the world a good company will make it right. Don't assume before asking!

I've never had huge issues with Marco's quality, but their ordering system & customer service blows. I just put in a $400+ order worth of Data East Simpsons parts and at the very end, realized I forgot to add a stupid little molex connector (CN1 for the power supply). I placed the order just after midnight and called their phone number first thing in the morning wanting to add that connector to the order. They wouldn't do it. Now I have to make an entirely new order and pay more shipping. This is the second time theyve been unwilling to help when I forgot a small part of my order. The last time was when I spent $200 on parts for my Nine Ball and forgot to add a 1 1/8" lock. Emailed them within 30 seconds of placing the order. Got an email the next morning saying that I am shit outta luck. Odd that they really don't care. If they weren't the only place that had DE Simpsons parts in stock, I would have certainly bought my stuff elsewhere. I am going to be spending a TON of money on pinball parts this next year with the 28 machines I just recently picked up, and I can only hope that with the rest of the machines I have left to finish, that other companies like PBR have the parts in stock.

I know people who get orders amended. It probably has to do with how fast people catch emails/calls relative to when the order was packed.

Ordering elsewhere would be great, but PBR doesn't list everything they have online. There are numerous parts I'd be happy to order from them, except I don't want to have to call/email and ask.

The difference in the cost of metal would be insignificant for something this small. Finding good quality stainless steel is not easy to do these days. There are many steel suppliers that fake the chemical analysis certs so unless you verify with an X-ray gun or deal with a trusted source you wouldn't know. Also, keep in mind it's possible that whoever did the polishing re-used an abrasive already used for mild steel and contaminated/impregnated the Marco parts with carbon steel which is now what you see on the surface rusting. I'm sure if you ask your polisher they will deny so you will never know the truth. Did you try some Brasso metal polish? It works wonders.

Maybe that's exactly what they'd do.

Not all companies sell poor products on purpose. Maybe they don't know it's a problem with this item because no customers have told them. Maybe it's a bad batch. Maybe they'd choose a different manufacturer next time they place an order for them.

What would it hurt to send them and email and tell them what happened? Maybe they apologize and say there's nothing they can do. Maybe they apologize, send you a new one and start making them differently in the future.

Seems like a good idea, either way.

Just an update to my original post in regards to the green targets- Marco acknowledged that the wrong switches were sent out accidentally and offered a full refund within 24 hours. I have had nothing but accuracy and speed (which is very important in this hobby) with all other orders, and would definitely recommend ordering with them in the future.

As far as the quality of the materials for your coin slots, I think that this is out of their control. As far as I'm aware, they do not manufacture parts in house but rely on other companies/manufacturers. This might be the only material available to them or it perhaps could have been a bad batch (not properly coated, wrong material). I would definitely recommend calling, because at the very least they could offer a refund or search for a different vendor for that part if they discover other people have had the same issue.

I ordered some parts from Marco and was quite happy with it. They were out of stock for one part, so I agreed to send what they had available for it, and also forgot a few parts, so they tacked it on.

Their response was quick &the part quality is good. They shipped me what looked like a big toblerone box. My Secret Service is up and running now.

Try Cliffy's classic Bally coin parts:

http://www.passionforpinball.com/blycoin.htm

It is exceptionally difficult to get an exact colour match between different batches. Each small batch is mixed by hand and eye and there are going to be small differences no matter how carefully you mix the materials.

We have this problem constantly in the factory and, even using micro scales when we add the colouring powder, I can notice differences between batches.

We usually do runs of around 1000 parts (depending on exactly what that part is) and the only way to ensure a more consistent match would be to make, and store, a much larger quantity.

This is just a fact that people will have to accept with many replacement parts as the originals dry up.

Even back in the day there were variances in the colour of parts.

I believe that Marco has good quality stuff over all.
But their attention to detail leaves a lot to be desired.
They sell thousands of parts.
That said however...Just because a part will probably fit doesnt mean that its the correct OEM part.

I ordered a START switch for TOM. The lugs are for a much newer game and wont fit the connectors on the game, also the text font on the outside was poorly printed and too small.

it's true that its only an $8 part, but, It was not the correct one at all but a generic low quality copy.

At the same time, I have never received a rubber kit from them that has the correct rubber in the correct quantity. So dont even hope for a proper rubber kit for the $25, shop for that elsewhere IMHO...

However in spite of the complaints, Marco generally has tons of items, that are for the most part, pretty good and usable.

Return your order.
Marco will help you.
They may even send you another order for free if things are really junk.
Remember they do not make many parts or things in their inventory.
There are bad batches and subpar quantities that are made.

Yeah, I would email Marco and ask them how they want to proceed.

If no one tells them that the parts were made from the wrong metal, they will just keep selling them.

Luckily you live state side , try ordering from Canada or outside the US ... The outsourced shipper IGobal is horrific. Pay for tracking numbers and you have to call or email several times prior to getting a service you paid for , as far as Marco goes never an issue with product .
Sad to see a first class company relies on the worst possible shipping company to handle their product!

We drive to the border to pick up because the inconvenience is worth it compared to how bad iGobal is. Otherwise we've had nothing but great service from Marco.

Marco is great imo, this is a niche hobby so fixing rusted parts is better then NO parts at all. But I understand, still you have to make mention to Steve over at Marco, companies don't know what's going on if you don't talk to them.

Just ordered from Marco ... $50.00 USD to get it to Canada ... Called from UPS additional $22.00 to deliver ....
Thanks again IGlobal ....$80.00 CDN to deliver 2.2 pounds of parts worth $125.00
I'm in the wrong business !

Marco is the only vendor that seems to sell good quality white traditional rubbers with their PRW brand, so that is the only place I purchase them from.

They also have a large selection of parts that a lot of other places don't carry.

Like any other vendor, they are not perfect and mistakes do get made. However their customer service and response time are second to none.

I've found Marco to be incredibly reliable- and frankly has never let me down. But I'm just one of many customers.

When I met Marco in person at PinFest this summer he was incredibly nice, helpful- and offered me a deep discount on items he had just run out of since I had to have it mailed.

I'm sure he's not making a mint on this stuff- I would simply ask him directly if you're having trouble with a part(s)....

Good luck!

ive always been pretty happy with my puchases. i bought a rubber kit for my Gottlieb Sheriff, and there was a missing rubber, but that was the only annoying thing thats ever happened. I do like that every time ive ordered, ive picked the least expensive/longest shipping, but EVERY order has come 2 day priority mail. Ive smiled every time.

I like that atleast theres SOMEWHERE to get most of my desired parts when needed. thats my two cents. id recommend just emailing them if your're unhappy with order.