Giving the Spiderman Vault will be released down under in a few days on the 18th April and closely followed by Ghostbusters.
I ordered my(3rd in 3 yrs NiB) SMV and paid a $6k deposit yesterday. Today I reaffirmed a NiB machine will delivered to my door for the agreed price for freight on the invoice.
It seems the terms and conditions of sale are now this of the main distributor AMD.

Despite Stern machines leaving Chicago NiB they will not sold to private buyers or operators like myself . All machines leaving AMD Sydney will be removed from the box then set up and tested for defects and external damage(I thought quality control was Stern"s job!) The machine will then somehow be repacked where it then travels next day to my state of SA to the local distributor where that distributor will YET again remove it and set up for another test and inspection. I'm told I have to then drive to that distributors location to approve and 'sign off' on the condition of the machine.How ironic to sign off on a NiB!! Following that you may take the machine as is assembled with the box separate or it will be delivered separated but together.
It seems Bruce at AMD Sydney seems to think spending over $10k of our hard earned cash doesn't warrant the consumer having the joy of unboxing their own big ticket items such as pinball and in doing so is sounding the death knell of the unboxing ceremony in Australia.
Operators no longer seem capable or trusted to report any out of the box,broken or malfunctioning parts. All Stern pinballs will now be game tested by this distributor.
I know I feel very annoyed as SMV was going to be a purchase for my business. Now I'm advised unless I accept the machine strapped to pallet after it's been played manhandled in and out of the box by at least 2 crews that the sale will not proceed!

Imagine buying a $10k flat screen and being told by the electrical store it won't be delivered in the box but you need to come in and inspect/test it and then sign off on it. If you're happy you can take your Tv and your empty box home.

Mr G Stern needs to ask itself if it's at peace with the Australian decision to sell their pinballs in this ludicrous and incredibly stupid policy.
What message does it send about the Stern brand and it's quality control? When the nation's biggest distributor is so paranoid about covering his warranty issues by 1st inspecting a pinball for faults only to ship interstate next day and secondly to repeat the procedure! The local distributor simply cannot trust Stern or the main distributor to have carried out a thorough inspection of a machine that should not be required to be inspected for faults and damage in the first place.
I won't be having an unboxing ceremony next week or ever again as I won't dictated to in such a manner.
I miss the good ole days of online or phone ordering!
Simply make your selection, make your payment and await the joy of taking delivery of a brand new and NiB unopened Stern pinball and proceed with the unboxing ceremony with family and friends.
On principal alone I will never by a machine in such a way. NiB should be replaced with KNoP(kinda newish on pallet)
If Stern Australia don't want my money then looks like The Hobbit will be my next NiB. Business must go on but pinball must go on more so.
ps One can't buy a machine from O/S for delivery in Australia as it breaches a certain distributors trade agreement. There goes the import option; which by the way is $500 cheaper even with freight!

Thanks can't enjoy Spidey if they won't sell me one in the box.

Exactly mate, a second hand machine delivered on a pallet.
I told them The GoT le i bought a few months back had been inspected and 100% and it malfunctioning in 5 different areas! It was exchanged for another also inspected and was even worse and then I was told by a pinsider that Zax amusements had passed of their well used showroom demo model as NiB.
I'll pass on so called inspections by the Aussie Pinball Mafia. Can you believe just one man controls Stern pinball in Australia.

Agreed and I did compromise by accepting just 1 thorough inspection,but they insisted on 2. Keep this in mind though I bought GoT last which was also claimed to be inspected, yet there was damage to decals and on top off that the game was unplayable due to half a dozen serious malfunction. It was eventually refunded in full.
I am also an operator and have owned pinballs for 34 years and I'm well capable of identifying faults or making out of the box adjustments, certainly better at it than Stern and the Aussie Pinball Mafia Monopoly.

I think for novice home owners that should be the case. Although if Stern had better quality control this wouldn't be happening in the first place. Operators and pinball purists are often better than many techs in setting up and identifying faults.

That machine (GoT Le) was checked and was 100% claimed to be perfect. It was unplayable when set up,it was exchanged for another which was said to be 100% perfect. The replacement was worse than the exchanged one and also had very obvious external damage despite so called inspection. GoT Le #307 was sold to the customer as NiB which was delivered on a pallet(No box) 307 was eventually refunded and it wasn't demanded it was offered. You can see why I have little faith in distributors inspections.

Knowing my machine has had an unboxing ceremony is important to me. Many will agree there's amount of joy and anticipation in unboxing for the first time something so expensive. I for one love it! In case you misread I actually cash ready to buy but they won't sell it unless inspected twice by 2 companies and delivered on a pallet.
Australia is completely monopolised with pinball. I refer to the Aussie Pinball Mafia which include AMD and worse is Zax amusements. Down here you simply can't go to another distributor as they are all controlled by just one man which is Bruce Colbourne. Stern need to get there shit together in so many ways that is it far beyond the joke now.

I get your point entirely and I have asked for just 1 thorough inspection despite previously inspected NiB purchases being a complete non event. AMD have insisted on 2 inspection and have ruled out putting it back in the box. I would be happy with this as it still gives me the unboxing experience.

AMD Sydney do not give a flying fuck, they have the monopoly and if you want a Stern pinball you will march to the beat of AMD's drum!

Mate both AMD and Zax only claim to test it and then deliver shit to my door ...twice in 6 weeks. I'm all for a tested machine after O/S travel. Simply I want it back in the box as it came from Chicago. $10650 prem price for Spidey for old technology given no Spike system! I really don't think it's too much to ask for original packaging!

Below is the official position of AMD's owner as I thought the same after the GoT Le debacle.

Scott,
We don’t ship any machines new in box to any individuals purchasing pinballs,from AMD Sydney.
This is not personal Scott!
This is our policy and I’m sticking to it.
Rgds,

BRUCE COLBOURNE
MANAGING DIRECTOR

You and many others seem to be missing the whole point!
I was sold 2 GoT le's which I was told had been tested and checked thoroughly and were operating 100%. Clearly this was a blatant lie on 2 occasions. It was me who discovered multiple issues with both LE's not the useless techs at AMD and Zax. I provided hi res pics and video footage but the Pinball mafia here still said it was "100%" but yet i was offered a refund! Who refunds perfect machines?

I find it ironic die hard Stern fans will put up with just about anything to buy one!

Indeed Ribbo,no reason to complain after all is there. Everythings just dandy with Stern tables and distributors. Maybe my backbone is more intact than others as a consumer.

Yeh it would nice if they actually tested them instead of just saying they test them. Clearly both GoT Le's were not tested and the defects had nothing to do with transit but Sterns lack of quality control.
AMD's monopoly is just too powerful that they can dictate their own policy above Stern's. Time old man went ahead with his retirement.

lol you missed the point as well mate ;-0

Yeah for sure mate totally all my fault.. for trusting a company with a very poor quality record!

Well I wouldn't go near Gary at Amutech after what I saw in his workshop once and at my home once. I asked that Amutech not be the warranty repairer due to his reputation and I chose my own warranty repairer and it was no issue at all with AMD.
I've owned pinballs for 34 years and am well capable of the checks required after transport. I do this check after every it travels to and from hire.
I did try Joe first but he was sold out, in fact I tried everyone I know in the nation in order not to deal with Bruce at AMD.
However you also missed the point that 2 previous Le's I bought were only said to be tested 100% when neither were.

This is my whole point. Receiving NiB on a pallet with no box for resale value and a machine with half a dozen serious malfunctions not caused by freight. Buying Stern here is really rolling the dice and it cost me lost of revenue of $2k!
You'll have to forgive my "whinging" on the matter if I don't trust what was said be done thoroughly was in fact not done at all. Even blind Freddy could see that.
Keep in mind there was no history or ill will then. Previously I had bought nib as well as twin car arcade racer,shooters and crane game from both Zak and Bruce and we all had professional and courteous dealings over the years.
Thanks for a reasonable a balanced response on the matter.

Scott,
We don’t ship any machines new in box to any individuals purchasing pinballs,from AMD Sydney.
This is not personal Scott!
This is our policy and I’m sticking to it.
Rgds,

BRUCE COLBOURNE
MANAGING DIRECTOR

Try 3 months to resolve while I lost $2k to my business and that was on 2 machines said to be tested 100%. Forgive my lack of faith.

Thanks Yeah I tried an O/S purchased. However due to distribution rights in each they could not supply as it infringed upon AMD's distribution rights.
Given Michael will be taking over AMD i have no faith of any changes as IMO Michael is cut from the same cloth.
I thought the same as you,that is if one wants NiB unopened you will have to forfeit some or all of the warranty.
Legs 2" short .lol reckon I've heard it all now

Thanks you are correct and I did need to seek advice prior to exchange and then eventual refund.
The 3 months Stern warranty is over ridden by Australian Consumer Law which states 12 months. Catastrophic failure of the first GoT Le is which led to the replacement GoT Le #307(whoever has bought this machine should contact me as it's an ex demo and 2nd hand which has been hired and well thrashed and Le# 356 i think was the first GoT Le should also contact me)
Plenty of stall of tactic were applied and the parts which were agreed to be replaced still hadn't shown up after 3 months and no time would be given of their arrival,hence the refund was offered minus the cost of 3 interstate shipping fees. I again invoked Aussie consumer laws and insisted on a full refund which Zax refused but Bruce had to over ride that after he said Gary Stern had instructed the refund personally; which I don't believe at all.

Actually popbumperPete is correct.
Besides it would be very stupid of Stern,AMD or Zax to let a situation like that get to court. It's pretty easy to prove a malfunctioning and damaged pinball. Hi Res pic and video don't lie.