I don't think Stern has ever done a sale on a game. I do think we will see distributors discounting games more to move inventory that isn't selling. I remember when a Canadian Distributor blew out WPT and WOF for $2500 way back when. More recently we've seen Distributors knock down the prices of Beatles Gold or games like KISS or WWE. I doubt we'd see hot games like JP2 or Deadpool on sale but maybe slow sellers like Munsters, Stranger Things or BKSOR of Distributors are sitting on dead inventory? I think Stern will just continue to run whatever past titles that there is demand for.

Last time I hit the market, the only pasta left was lasagna. Like they say... when in Rome...

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You’re probably right, but IF sales really start to weaken, they would be short sighted not to consider options to bridge a sharp, short-term downturn. From what I’ve observed, they value their people, but are ultimately a disciplined, financially driven company. Scaling production down and up is extremely disruptive and costly, and building high inventories is foolish. Unique situations call for new thinking.

Given that it looks like there is about to be a global economic collapse, id say YES

I think this question is actually one that has many facets

How will if affect NIB pricing and releases
Used newer games

90s titles
80s titles
Older titles

And high end restored and projects.

I for one don't really care what it does, but find it would be very sad to see people to have to sell to get by and not have jobs because of this virus. Seeing and hearing barcades closed is a bummer, especially when you know them on a personal level.

Right now is an uncertain time, and I leave you with this, that of which I do know.

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I would say that for anyone who isn't well off, NiB sales are about to drop like a rock for at least a few months. I would say that goes for anyone preordering games to resell in a few months.

With 20% + unemployment right around the corner, plummeting stock markets, pin values from EM's to LE's are bound to slip significantly. This is the least of my worries. The old retirement mutual fund on the other hand.........

The pinball industry always seemed fragile to me in the best of times. This will undoubtedly be a huge blow to manufacturers and distributors alike.

Too bad they already did 24 and CSI.

Bingo

The 20% unemployment number came from the Treasury Secretary saying that without the $1 trillion government stimulus package being discussed that unemployment could reach 20%. It sounds like that number will be avoided with the stimulus package being passed in the near future.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/steven-mnuchin-unemployment-warning-coronavirus/index.html

Maybe your parents have got it right and the rest of the people have it wrong. My father is 91 and he still wants to do everything. It is not the world owes them a living, more like they appreciate what they have and want to enjoy it as much as possible. I am starting to agree with them.

My Dad said that it is his responsibility to look after himself. He has bought masks and wears them when he goes out. My Dad is a legend. He survived WW2, then a civil war, then fought in Korea. He helped in Vietnam. People push him out of the way in the shops to get to toilet paper before him. Thank god we have sorted that for the next few days.

More people have died so far in 2020 from the common flu than corona virus.

If Pinball crashes it will be straight back up like everything else. People need to stop wishing doom and gloom.

I think that is hopeful. They are already calling that school may be cancelled in some areas for the rest of the year. If we don't get a handle on this, with no end in sight, there is no 'bailout' that is going to save everyone.

Agreed, our lives could be changed forever, lower life expectancy, lower standard of living, back to the dark ages.

Let's hope it doesn't get to that, especially with so many weapons of war throughout the world.

I think our best days are yet to come, this isn't the end of the world, far from it.

Good grief people this isn’t the bubonic plague. At least 98%+, probably much higher, survive the Coronavirus in a civilized country.. it’s similar to the flu in that regard. Just chill out with talks about life expectancy dropping. This will pass, the economic downturn will pass.. especially once people realize first hand that it’s not a death sentence.

Ha! This is hilarious. The second a vaccine comes out this will be a blip in time.

Feel free to panick tho and sell all your pins.

I’m actually pretty bummed, was really hoping to get some deals already. Hell even in the riots electronics were selling dirt cheap

You wearing socks with the flip-flops these days o-din? You really are a boomer!

For you, and me that was blatantly obvious... now for the rest of the company? Not so much... some people just are not cut out to being told when to piss, when to shit, when to smoke, when to eat, when to laugh, when to cry, when to shut the F up, and when to sound off... and not everyone was a 4.0 sailor out of the gates. It took some guys 8 weeks to memorize the chain of command, your general orders, and how to tie a square knot or sheep shank. Much less being able to completely refold your locker and make your bunk during barracks inspection in under 12 minutes. We could make a bunk up, inspection ready, from completely unmade to hospital corners, folded pillow case and folded wool blanket in less than 3 minutes. That gave you almost 10 minutes to refold your 3 undies, 2 t shirts, dungarees, and raincoat. now could everyone do that by end of week 8, nope. But we had guys who could do two lockers and two bunks in 12 minutes and they were paired with guys who could not do just one in 12. So yeah, we cheated, but does cheating matter as long as the job was done and everyone’s rack and locker met inspection? Not according to the company commander (our drill sergeant)... he said, “this is how the Navy works, they give you a job, they give you a time, you get that job done on time. Doesn’t matter how, or what marine (sorry to the former or current Marines in our audience, but you know... squids and marine life never get along) you have to kick in the balls to get it done.” Now mind you, I don’t recommend kicking a Marine in the balls, it just gets their attention... it never ever stopped one from beating the phuck out of you, but hey they’re Marines, so what are you going to do?

Somehow this is almost as depressing as the actual Corona threads.

It’s always funny to hear the spuds in the Navy talk shit about Marines. The fact is if you went to the Navy you were not qualified to be a Marine. And tell the truth, you were not kicking any Marine on the balls without being brained

We only took on Marines when the odds where at least 2 to 1 in our favor... or better. You would be amazed at how many sailors a group of 10 Marines will take on. We had most of 2 watches from the Engineering dept (about 23 guys) drinking at the EM club when 10 Marines stood up and started hassling one of the Deck Div MM strikers and his date, saying she had thick ankles (which all Scottish lasses seem to have by the way) and Banjo, our biggest MM stood up and said to stop it. And of course it did not go well for anyone... Shore Patrol showed up, threw half of us in the brig, sent the others back to our boat. Captain said nothing, threw all the discipline chits in the circular file and suspended liberty until we left for patrol. Fun times back then.

Actually the Marines had me in the recruiting station office when I saw the cut-away picture on the wall of a Nuclear submarine. They had me ready to sign up when I asked about the submarine... how does one get on one of those?, the Navy recruiter looked up from his desk from across the office and said “by joining the Navy, dipshit.” At which point he walked over handed me a Navy Nuclear Power Program brochure and said wanna go to lunch? The rest is history.

They let you handle Nukes? Oh the humanity!

I didn’t cause a Nuclear accident at least... yes I was a reactor operator qualified to run S3G and S5W nuclear reactors circa 1982-1986, USS Andrew Jackson SSBN 619 (Gold), 7 strategic deterrent patrols off the coast of Russia during the Cold War. ET2-SS Roth at your service. Glad I could help keep the commies off the doorsteps for you.

Oh, and one last note... about submarines... we called ourselves Bubbleheads in the submarine service, hence my moniker, shortened to fit the old max allowable irc chat handle length of 9 characters back in like the turn of the century...

Enough of this boring shit. You got some classified stories you can entertain us with?

You can even make stuff up.

*walks in to review an abuse complaint*
*realizes its an ongoing eulogy*
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Does he glow in the dark ?

LTG : )

I got one story... not so classified, but funny... well it includes classified documents in the story... anyone want to hear it? It includes dead people, and white lies.

Only when standing next to a well lit pinball machine.

Sure, depends on your circumstance but sometimes it's smart not to be stupid.

Two parents in my sons year at school have both just tested positive to COVID19. One's daughter is a friend of my sons. I honestly don't care if I get the virus, and I'm not too worried about my wife or son. But if we go out for dinner with my elderly parents there's a chance they catch Corona. And if they did there's a good chance it will be serious given their situation.

I'm not going to risk that - would be irresponsible and stupid. If they want to do whatever else with no mask on etc., I cant stop them, but of course I'm going to ask them to be a bit more careful. It's just common sense.

Ha! A Navy recruiter 'dared' me come down and talk to him. I don't recall if I was 18 yet, but ended up at his office. I was anxious to what the Navy could offer and ready to make a change. I recall asking about the physical regiment and his response; "The Navy has the easiest program available." I stated; the Marines may be best with the potential of a more physical regiment. He followed with a high-sell; something about physical activity available on the ships.

I was severely turned off when the recruiter double-talked himself. I left the office with no intentions of returning, not even for the Marines.

I would say at the same speed level as other non essential items sales.
Stern (the big dog) can still push 6 launches per year and see other companies fail but my might risk themselves by doing that.
Or they can delay launches, send more temporary works home, reduce the variable cost and see how the sales trend will respond to all this.

Those decisions are being taken right now, specially by small and medium companies that wont have the same attention as the airlines and the cash flow is draining fast like Iron Man or Starwars plunge.

No need to get testy buddy and definitely not stalking. I wasn't being sh!tty in my post to you, just did a simple search yesterday that took 2 seconds. You were the one that reached out and PMd me regarding a sale and asking if I thought the pinball market was going TU. It doesn't bother me at all but I do like to poke fun at repetitive ground hog day stuff. If you cant take that someone pointed it out to you then I'm sorry about your feelings.

My alarm clock this morning was a 5.7 earthquake here in the Sslt Lake Valley. Fortunately just a big jolt. Happy to report my pins are fine and intact

They would be dumb to push through multiple launches until this starts showing improvement or signs of a vaccine/resolution. Right now isn't a time to stretch and over leverage a business, particularly one that relies exclusively on entertainment and discretionary income.

My guess is they have to reduce or close their line soon if the order to stay at home is given in their area anyway. In the meantime, they should focus on getting out orders and meeting demand for their good selling games like JP2 and Elvira (assuming Elvira is selling well but not sure).

have to watch those Super Volcanoes...they are watching the market too!

My dad was an instructor at Proto type during the time I know the ss rate was very small back then and everyone knew everyone. He was on the whale tho

The only people I have seen say that pin prices will come down are the ones looking to buy, but don't want to pay market value. My stuff has sold fast over the last few months, the latest sale being this weekend. It all sold for the high end of the market.

If for some reason prices did fall off a cliff I'd sit on what I had and buy what I can get my hands on, which is the mentality many would have. It keeps prices from dropping.

That is what most will do if they can afford to keep them and not have to sell. I am in that camp.

Unfortunately, there will be some that will have to sell to free up money due to job losses if things continue to worsen. I dont think any of us hope it comes to that just to get a discount on a pin... at least I hope not.

My thought is NIB games will fall off the cliff, and nice HUO games will dip a little, but not a lot. I think most people who buy these over priced games don't lose any sleep over the value of their games, and will never sell at a big loss. As soon as the market starts to uptick again (my guess is 6 months) than NIB purchases will begin. Manufacturers would be wise (they may not have a choice) to delay all releases. Otherwise they'll be sitting on way too much inventory, and subject to BK.

Yeah, right now things still seem fairly stable, all depends on how long this goes on for. I just sold an HUO JJP Pirates LE yesterday at what I believe is still at the higher end of the HUO market. I didn't sell the game out of panic, just wanted to free up some room for another game down the road (or tomorrow lol). Yes, I did wipe down my Escalera, door knobs, and tools with antibacterial wipes plus the buyer and I only elbowed instead of shaking hands!

Wow, thought you'd be one of the last people to let go of their JJPOTC...I'm shocked!

A part of me will always regret selling it. I love the game, it's one of the best pins ever made but after being burned by JJP with the WOZ light board issues (bought the 2.0 kit) and Hobbit post release update kits (pain in the ass to install lol) it was nice to make a profit on one of their games. I'll roll it into another game which may be a new JJP pin.

While I do think Pirates is amazing I was slightly bummed by the lack of immersion with the chapter modes and multiballs (due to license restrictions) compared to those in games such as Dialed In, Ghostbusters, and especially Hobbit. I like that there's 5 wizard modes in Pirates but the two I got to were only 1 ball which often ended quickly. I may own one again down the road when I have room for more pins.

Ships do have decent gyms. They’re usually occupied by the Marines.

Pirates seems like an amazing game, but the wizard modes appeared to be a little bit of a let down from what I've seen. Still, such a unique layout and the usual crazy Keith Johnson code marks my decision not to buy a standard when I had the opportunity to do so as one of my big pinball regrets.

Over seas shipping may slow down / get backed up.

I had a deposit on an LE the day after the reveal and canceled months later...I'm really kicking myself over that one.

I have all my investments in a row now.