You have time and emotions invested in it. Get the game. Call it a day. Put it behind you. Find a different delivery company/method next time.

Through the years I had a game delayed because the trailer was in a snow bank in Montana or something. I had a game delayed because there were 20,000 pairs of shoes in front of it the receiver rejected and they didn't want to unload it. These were prototype test games I was supposed to be testing.

And you know what ? 30 years later, it wasn't worth the worry. Crap happens. Move forward.

I am sorry for you, and hope you get the game soon. Once you are playing I hope the bad part is forgotten soon.

LTG : )

I hope you get the game in one piece after all this.

Inspect the game carefully and if it is OK enjoy it and try to forget about crappy delivery experience.

Alright, let me say this being in the transportation industry for 20 yrs now. You are dealing with a broker who calls around and gets whoever to get merchandise from point a to point b.
I have driven through the town where product is wanted only to bring it to a warehouse 250 miles away so that another truck delivers it. It has do to with how it was loaded in back and now have 12 pallets in front of it, can't exactly pull 12 pallets into street so you can have your machine. This is the industry itself and freight sucks, I got away from it for a reason, I only do bulk tanker transport now.
I will say that in the future find someone local in the paper or phonebook to get your machine. Uship is a pretty good option as well.
30 days honestly would not surprise me at all for delivery unless it's personalized transport.
If you get the machine without a scratch on it and it plays...go play the lottery because the longer it's in transit with shipping the more it gets banged around.
Hope all goes well.
-Mike

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with STI. I have shipped quite a few games via beltmann and haven't experienced anything this bad.

Something I have learned is to use your contract number to track the shipment yourself using the link below.

https://extranet.spectransinc.com/BOSShipmentTracking/BOSShipTrack.aspx

Best you can do is be presistent with your communications to Beltmann. Michelle is usually pretty good at sorting out problems.

Best of luck next time if you choose to ship another game.

This. I am nearly 40 with a "crap happens" mindset. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't. It's not worth all the extra energy to worry about "what will I do". Just get it, find someone else to ship your stuff next time, write up a review online so everyone can read it, and move on.

Unfortunately, shit happens. Pay the $492 and move on.

In the freight business, it is doubtful you are going to receive and apology or a discount. You are not being intentionally disrespected, it's just the manner in which that industry functions.

I’ve only had a problem once with damage to a pin it was from oversees. Fortunately I’ve never have had an issue on receiving on time.
In the future you should by insurance to guarantee the date it’s suppose to be delivered.
I use Sonya with InXpress, she’s great to work with and always gets my pins to me on time and no damage, guaranteed.
I think the least they should do is credit you for a refund of at least 1/2 off.
Things happen, but the customer shouldn’t be penalized for poor service.

I will say this. All that moving it around. Makes it more susceptible to both damage from just the bumps and jostles of the road. But, also the loading and unloading of not only your product but other peoples. So. In my belief you want the shipping company to have for the least amount of time possible. I would tell them. Sorry, you're taking money off the delivery due to the wasted hours and re-arranging your schedule to fit theirs. Because, most people need even more than 24 hours to let their work know about their plans. So, while they are entitled to pay. I would still try to get 100 dollars off. And yes, in the future I would go with another carrier. What stinks is I am due this week a pinball myself. And I used the same carrier. I used them to get my hardbody. And I got a bit of a scuff on the cab from the journey. Pissed me off... But, The cab of hardbody is not worth the hassle, and I plan on vinyl wrapping it anyway with a sexier design.
I understand these things happen... But... For them not to work with you and keep you informed after all these mess-ups. That is unacceptable.

Dude, file this one under ‘Shit happens,’ and move on.

Once you get the game, email Michelle and ask her what Beltmann will do to make things right. Do this *after* you get the game, not before.

Yes, I agree with that as well. Get more flies with honey than vinegar. But, after you get it. Let them make it right. If they don't. Then do not give them your business. You are a small fish to them. But, most business know that if they treat you right, you will do business with them again.

The dude abides.

You summed up my experience in the last sentence of your post. In my case, my pin came super quick (from Fla to MN in about a week or a little more), but there was damage not discovered at the time of receipt. Jostling damage had broken the large flipper fidelity sub from its attachment, which in turn knocked other stuff loose. And cold weather (supposedly?) caused cracking in the powder coat that wasn’t visible til unpacked. No way to claim any of this damage from shipper because it wasn’t visible right away.

I just won’t trust anyone to haul my pins from now on but me.... or maybe a close friend.

I drove to Michigan from Illinois to get my first pinball machine. Game played perfect when I picked it up. But, midwest roads made a lot of issues go crazy... I did eventually get it mostly back to 95-97% functioning. But, then it broke again. That was a long, long drive. And it cost me with gas and food about 200-250 dollars. Plus I had to lug it out of the house and into the truck and then into my house.
We got lucky and no accident. But, a semi did almost side swipe us. But, we got out of the lane in time as we were paying attention.

All I will say is accidents can happen when you transport yourself. You got to put in the time, and gas costs still. And other misc costs as well. Yes, it sucks to have to pay 400-500 dollars on top of getting your machine. But, the company should have some form of insurance. Beltman your stuff is insured for 1500 right off the bat. Never asked if I could pay a bit more for them to insure it more. Didn't need to, as the pins were less than 1500 that I shipped.

When I went to go to the Midwest Gaming Expo this spring with my brother and father, we got into a car accident. Sure it was icy. But, nothing we haven't driven on before. So that made me reconsider picking up my own pins. I've been in 3 really bad car accidents in the past 6 years. Walked away from them all. 2 of them were not my fault, and the result of other drivers not paying attention, the last I wasn't driving and was caused by a bad patch of ice.
All I will say is. If I am buying a 6,000 dollar pin and its a long journey. I think I might be more comfortable with getting it shipped.
You can get insurance on it, and hopefully they will live up to there end of the bargain.
If its a pin within 150 miles I'll pick it up probably. Unless its a NIB and then I'll pay for delivery, soley because of the risk for an accident.

So I think somethings are worth paying for. For me. 400-500 dollars shipping is worth it. As it frees up my weekend. And I don't have to worry about driving 8 hours. It does take some of the thrill of the hunt or adventure out of it. But, my time is worth money too. And when I stopped and calculated the true costs. I find its really only like 200-300 dollars more expensive than just paying for shipping.
PS... I don't own a truck... My brother does. So I have to not only pay for gas... But, food and beef jerky and beverages. And then once we are done for the day and done playing the new game. I take him to a nice dinner to reward him for giving up his time too. So after all of that... The costs of shipping are not too bad.

Exactly the same thing I'm going to do with the Italian restaurant that couldn't get my red onion, garlic, pepperoni, and mushroom pizza right.

NEVER GO THERE AGAIN!

Unless of course I get hungry for one again.

Or in your case-

NEVER USE THEM AGAIN!!!

Can you call your friends from work?

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1 week delay I get. Nearly 3 weeks? I'm definitely getting a discount. I paid for a service and they promised a time. They didn't meet their end of the deal, they should pay for it.

I have had one game shipped with Sti. It said it would take two weeks. It took two months. Seems like a common occurrence to me. I won’t be shipping any more.

You are not being unreasonable, but that isn't going to happen.
And they don't care about your Google/Yelp review and whether you report them to the BBB (complete waste of time).

As long as the game arrives in good condition, move on and never use their service again.

I’m with Mudflaps on this one. Delays happen. Ask for anything after it arrives.

More importantly, what game?

I would request a full refund. I am amazed that so many say to just enjoy the game when it finally arrives and walk it off.

You had a contract for service and the service did not meet the contract. Calmly explain that you expect a full refund for the breech.
If they are assholes (I doubt they will since NAVl gets tons of business through pinheads and Michelle in partidular gets a bunch of commission) then call the BBB and file a chargeback on your credit card as soon as the game is finally delivered (I hope you paid via cc).

Reality is that walking it off does them no good and just allows them to screw over other customers with the same BS excuses. If they quote 2 weeks I expect 2 weeks. Sure, some wiggle room for delay but 2x the time is absurd and just means more wear and tear on your machine.

Inspect very well, document with photos, and get signatures for damage at the final destination. Refuse shipment if any damage and walk away.

It was as described. But they were ridiculous. I get that I live in a rural area but I am directly off of I 75 in between Lexington and Knoxville. That’s a lame excuse and I don’t really care what was on the truck in front of it. When I get paid to do a job I just do it. Don’t quote a date if you can’t meet it. I didn’t charge back. I just “enjoyed the game”. I’d do what Whysnow suggested if I had the same issue arise again. But it won’t evwr happen again because I won’t be shipping lol

I’ve used STI several times, and every time I had to give the delivery person a cashiers check for the delivery payment.

I had 2 machines shipped 26th June from PA
and both games were at my door June 29

Fed Ex Freight

Read your contract for service. Most of these companies have provisions which protect them in the event of a delay.

Delays happen unfortunately. I wouldn't be too worried about it as long as the game shows up in the same condition as it was when originally loaded. Having it loaded and unloaded so many times greatly increases your risk of damage though so unwrap it and inspect it thoroughly before you let the delivery guy leave. Let Michelle know your complaint and just don't use them again.

What most people do not understand is that you have a contract with beltman or STI but they then subcontract the delivery out to other companies based on the area you are in. In some cases it can involve several different shipping companies handling your game. Many of the workers are doing hard crappy jobs and they simply do not care about the condition your game arrives in. Especially if they are not the finally delivery point. Some of the workers are great but it's a total crap shoot.

I had my last game delivered through Fastenal and recently shipped on through them. They were much better then STI/Beltman but you have to take the game to the store and prep it yourself and you have to pick it up at the store if it's being delivered. They were $185 and per shipment and both games arrived exactly as packed.

got a similar story with a new car (available on stock, on another place in the country that the office where i was buying)
was ready to send evbd+the car f*ck off (already did it 1 time before), as contract was not honored with the legal date time delivery, as even better nothing was paid from my side, even not a 15% account (i'm in Belgium)

than my wife and my son said :

and than :

once i get the car, no matter the very good conditions i already got for it, i ask if something can be done more, for the wait...
and than yes, i'll get something more, and now i'm happy to have done it as it

... good luck to do it right for you

I imagine you paid dearly for that...

Granted NIb but included in price of pins

I could not believe it actually, previous shipments have taken 10 days or more .

I have driven from Detroit to Springfield MA, Atlantic City, York PA, Shamokin, PA, Temecula and San Diego to pick up machines. All individual trips. I don't even count the 400 mile round trips to Ohio or within Michigan which there have been several.

Been there, done that. The really rare pins I drive to, others I roll the shipping dice. I got a NIB Tron LE back in 2011, in the truck it was smashed to pieces. Even the driver looked nervous trying to deliver it and it took me another 3 months to get a replacement from Stern.

I've had plenty of pins delayed. If they were on time THEN I'd be nervous.

Thank you for your service also!!

I'm with "mrbally".

I have driven from NC to Atlanta, Ohio, Long Island, New Jersey, Green Bay, Chicago, West Virginia and several other places to pick up games. I would rather pay for a couple tanks of gas and have a ride than depend on shippers busting up my stuff or taking weeks to deliver. I can talk to the sellers and put my hands on the machine. PLUS, nothing like a good road trip with a new (to me) machine in the back.

NPO, you drove to Arizona from Florida in a day and a half? Are you Burt Reynolds ?

Where is it ?

Anything after that it should be comped.

Shipping has always been the bane of arcade/pinball collecting. When you think about it, the exposure is so great it's a wonder that the items come through intact at all. Shipping coin-op equipment is also expensive, relatively speaking. I've shipped vehicles from as far as FL to CT for about the same price I'd pay for a pin. Risks are always present, but with luck, good preparation and communication you should be OK.

WTF

A few years back my HUO EM Joker Poker I got from Mr68 went all over the place and then stalled in Colorado for about a month it seemed. It didn't even need to go there as it had already been in Utah which is homestretch to here.

No explanation except in Co. them seem to get a little sidetracked these days.

At this point I’d be considering driving to wherever it is and get it. I’d be going out of my mind. But I’m a nutcase so....