I'll just throw this out there. I have experienced shitty customer service from Stern, specifically Patrick. It was on a METLE with damaged clear. Huge chunks missing from the shooter lane after very little plays. He was unresponsive and pretty uninterested. I've had enough games to know what is and isn't normal. So this wasn't a case of a newer pinhead. This was way before the newest run of issues with PF's and cabinets. They didn't care to fix the issue. After months and months of back and forth they sent me a bottle of finger nail polish.

Ah fawk. I gotta pick the girls up from school at 2:45. Can you please update either between now and 2:35 or after 2:55ish? If it must be at 2:45 I'm sure the girls won't mind waiting. K. Thanks.

Isn't this the OP's first NIB pin? If that were my first NIB and it were not strapped to the pallet and had the hole in the box I'd be concerned too. We all know how shippers are once a delivery is signed off on. I certainly would not want to risk $8300.

As far as the OP requesting this and that and he-hawing about the prices etc. that's called haggling and getting the best deal. Just because Hemisphere offered/gave those things doesn't give them the right to bad mouth the OP. That was their choice to make those concessions.

With that said, the truth lies somewhere in the middle and a resolution can be found. Figure it out, move on, and play some pinball already.