This. And if I might inject a little common sense, they're aren't going to shell out more than what was paid for the ENTIRE game or even what the estimated worth is, in a claim. I'd love to hear what you paid for this HUO game, because when I bought my HUO Firepower from a little old lady I paid $300.

The extremely nice original Pinbot I just bought, I gave $1600 for. I'm guessing you're somewhere in the middle.

Shipping damage sucks, but if you want something to "really" cry about...this is what NAVL did to the WHO2 I sold to a guy one state away. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/navl-messed-up-a-whitewater-w-the-legs-on He didn't get his game for another 2 months.

Yeah I get this concept completely. I paid for it so I'm happy to hear someone else getting this bullshit company to pay up for their incompetence. Maybe it's too early in the morning for you but I wouldn't compare a guy getting his pin damaged from a shipping company to some thug getting killed and the family suing the city for wrongful death. What's wrong with you?

Everyone needs to settle their asses down for a minute.

First, we have not seen the before pictures yet. That wood looks darkened, like the damage could have been done years ago.

Second, we have not heard if the game was shipped legs on or legs off.

Third, we have not even seen a good picture of the damage with the leg off.

Let's just cool off until we have seen all the facts.

Are you crazy? Replace the cabinet?

It's still HUO as it sits. Damage not even visible when against the wall. If anything it adds character and a story.

Here's what I'd do:

070798552760lg_(resized).jpg

I've had horrible luck with NAVL... the first and only time I shipped with them they fuxed up the cabinet of my DE Star Trek:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/52968060@N00/albums/72157605111405030
The first 5 photos.

I'm not sure I ever got them to take ownership nor provide me with compensation.

They are dead to me.

No way that damage happened in transit. 70 year old casual owners have a whole different definition of "perfect" than hard core pinball collectors do. Your average person wouldn't look or give a shit about the back of the machine. It probably isn't even HUO.

I bought a HUO NGG many years ago for 2700 shipped, NAVL damaged it by pushing the shooter rod into the cabinet causing damage. It was still playable, but needed some cab work around the shooter housing. Funny thing is, i had before shipping pictures which showed the machine was wrapped in a certain color wrap, but when i got it, the front was wrapped in a different color wrap showing me, they had seen the damage and rewrapped it to try and hide it. When i called, i advised him of the damage and he told me basically sorry, "your wife signed for it" (since i was at work when it was delivered). So, i think i flew off the handle, advised him of the before and after pics and he said they would send a claim form. So still pissed, i called one of the girls who set up my shipping and explained to her (very calm) how pissed i was especially at the guy i talked to there. She was very cool and knew i used them alot at the time. She said get estimates to fix everything. I told her it would need a new cabinet, decals (if they made them at the time, which they didn't), labor ect as i wanted it perfect since it was HUO. I got estimates, which totaled 2695.00 and sent them in. About 22 pages of stuff (quotes, pics of parts from bay area ect.) Then did not hear from them for about 2 weeks with no calls back. Then out of the blue, i got a letter with a check from navl, i was thinking here comes my 100 bucks, but i looked at the check and it was for 2695.00?? Wow, called to thank her for all she did and she said hope the game gets fixed. I just kept it the way it was, until i sold it years later. So i guess its a crap shot with them. Sorry for the long story.

a liitle wood filler or bondo , a good sanding and prep job , a black rattle can and you will never tell .

Vid, we will never see before pics.

Interesting thread. Just bought this "Tommy"; the table was given by Data East to an MTV executive,played by various entertainers, and always HUO. Delivered with this damage and the seller was very upset - he has helped me file the claim with NAVL. Any suggestions as to repair or other matters would be appreciated.

image_(resized).jpg

NAVL, STI just set up the shipment , after that you are at the mercy of the assholes at every other hub that the machine stops at.

I've done 6x with NAVL with 3 damaged. Terrible way to ship a pin.

Personally I would just suck it up and move on. I would just bondo it nicely and paint it with a matching black. Being a black area I doubt anyone but you will ever know about the previous damage if you take your time.

You could spend the hours pursuing a claim...but I think it would take less time and be less of a bother to just fix it yourself.

- Kevin

Clean out any loose flakes, glue the section back down with a slow set wood glue.

Need big clamps and a flat plate to put even pressure on the patch.

stop shipping machines unless they are broken down, and fully packed and stretch wrapped properly. then use a freight company. take pictures and video before packing and when you get the game inspect it fully at a shipping dock where you pick up the game in front of the shipper.
use a pallet that is large enough to not have any part of the machine hanging off or even close.
i understand its convenient not doing much of the above, but if you want it done right, take my advice.

BTW- how does sti use a forklift when items aren't on pallets? if they are using forklifts on items that aren't wrapped, crated, palleted, that really amazes me. I highly doubt they use forklifts.