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!