What I had to do will never fall upon human ears (cue dueling banjos).

Stern sells all of the games to distributors, and distributors sell the games to the public. Stern sold out the U.S. allotment to distributors within an hour, according to their announcement on FB. By the end of that day, it was more difficult to find distributors with any left. Some people suspect there are some distributors holding on to a few.

In the other thread showing the poll, 97 people from Pinside have claimed to have purchased one. That's almost half of the U.S. allotment, although some of those answering the poll could have been part of the foreign allotment. At any rate, 20% of total made went to Pinside buyers who answered the poll.

I got in on a group deal with five other guys from my local pinball group. We are having all six games shipped to one location, and the distributor gave us a good deal because we ordered so many.

Mark Malmberg (Sparky) - Ceres, California

saw Metallica and StarTrek coming based on posts here, called my retailer weeks ago, he was ready with his order for 3 LE's for metallica...got one of each (metallica & STrek)

It's really pretty simple, once u stop worrying about eating, paying the mortgage, kid's tuition, taxes, etc and realizing pinball is all u really need, it's easy to buy LE's.

Ditto for me (I'm in his group)

I rode the lightning!

Didn't hesitate...ordered the second I heard...one of my fave bands (old albums, not new shit), layout and toys and art and music will be great. PPLEASSE Lyman kill it on the code, and it will be a sure winner

After the first picture was uploaded I knew I had to get out of WOZ and get into MOP- after x-men I realized I was a LE/Premium guy... Just for the color changing light effects and the pros are just a little light, and the premium lacked what I really liked the hand drawn cab work. I sent JJ a e-mail and said hey if you have any of these left please let me know. Informed him I was going to fire sale my WOZ and would fund fast - this is my 4th purchase from him and he simply said ok.

It was in the first 5 minutes of the first picture. He said he was amazed at the frenzy but would be happy to set aside a game for me. I was the 7th confirmed person for him... Got a invoice and then watched the next 24 hours in amazement.

I had my quote from GEX right away. When I heard the prem was gonna have the exact same playfield and toys in June, I decided not to put a deposit on the LE. (dopey, huh?)

I am not a Metallica fan... was kinda coasting along with this new release. Then, I saw the art, playfield and toys and had too at least try getting one.

I emailed my rep only after the sell out frenzy, and he confirmed they were all sold out! To my surprise his words were... "Mauro I kept one for you"

I wonder what happened with XM LE? Almost the same number made and same hype. But there seemed to be way less of a hard time to get a NIB XM LE even tho there is no premium to fall back on. I believe there is a contracted pool of Metallica LE created by short supply due to dealers holding back on the actual number for sale.

I guess, I got burned on the XM LE (hype and still unfinished code) and have not got involved with any of Sterns since then (ie Avengers and Metallica, even tho both are to my liking as themes).

Preordered many months ago. Sent deposit a month ago to lock in. Simple.

I didnt want to

I did this with Star Trek just incase its as cool as i hope it will be...
Not much downside as JJ at GEX will give you 48 hours after the Game is announced to decide if you want it and if you dont he will refund your deposit.

GEX for me. We tend to buy a couple of each new game released by Stern. So I put our deposit on the game(s) immediately. Glad I did!

Yup...as said you have to get a deposit in early. I already have mine in for Star Trek too.