A NIB game should not be rusty. How extensive is the rusting? Personally, I'd return it just based on that alone. There's no telling what else might be compromised in that game if it's been sitting in a humid environment for a long period of time. Playfield warping would be a serious concern as well.

This^^^^^^^^^^^

Some of the early TMNTs had crap playfield print quality, looks like you got one of those. I'd return it based on the rust alone, moisture is bad for games in general.

ABORT ABORT.

Its sad! But better safe than sorry...

Wow you got shafted hard. This sucks. Distributor name?

I hope the distributor you bought this from makes it right....your game should look Brand new...NOT like that....!!!............Joey

Def wasn’t Flipping Out...!!!...Zak would never give a game in a box that looked like that.......Joey

But....upon second thought....maybe it floated in his Above Ground pool for awhile...???!!!....

As TMNT was my first NIB purchase and I had some of the same issues, allow me to share some thoughts...

1) Loose Coin Box - Same in my game. I ended up finding that the left sling flasher was disconnected as a result and had to bend some things back together for it to plug back in.
2) PF Print Quality - I'm in the same boat. I complained to my distro in October and was promised a new PF. I actually made my concerns about poor PF's known before I made the purchase and his assurance to me was that "Stern solved all the PF issues". So I bought, of course got a shit grainy PF, and showed him pics. I was promised a new Pro PF "when Stern reruns TMNT Pro". In April, I sent a 6mo follow up letter asking the status and it's been crickets since.

I'm at the point where I'm ready to reveal the entire conversation from the Distro. He's supposed to be "one of the good guys" in the hobby, but I'm yet to get the service I expected.

If you can return the game, I'd do so on the rust alone. Probably wasn't stored well and could have other issues you can't see.

Did they say when the next run would be? That's the ammo I need in my efforts to get my replacement.

There are supposed to be more run in July, I was told that’s when mine is being made.

How the F did Stern let those PF’s out the door....???!!!!

I bet I know who the distributor you’re talking about is. It might be time to start a thread about it. I am in the same boat.

You did the right thing by asking, very sorry you got a NIB game like that, HORRIBLE.

Hoping your replacement game is in great shape.

Glad it's going to work out for you, but much like whats going on with the GNR,s playfields if you accepted that,, what next
Hope it works out f or you

When your replacement game comes in, even if the rest of the game looks pristine, THROW OUT THE STERN FACTORY BALLS. I've seen ones that looked like golf balls in an IMDN Premium. I've seen pitted ones in TWD Pro. And I recently saw this in another newer Premium model...

Goodbye artwork (resized).jpg

If this is correct, I'll give them until August. Then if nothing, scorched Earth mode enables.

So glad your distributor agreed to replace. You did the right thing by reaching out.

Glad they replaced!!

I can't believe stern has such shit balls. No other product could get away with so much at this price point. Crazy.

The-Hum doesn't live too far away, so I had him stop by and get some balls to play his machine until the replacement arrives. Pinside to the rescue!

20210630_194418.jpg

Nice job! Especially considering Battle Creek and Detroit not exactly next door

I would have made the same drive to finally play my first game too. I wasn't sure he'd take me up on it, but I had planned on helping him set it up last week on the way to my parent's house. When it got delayed in shipping, I felt bad. Then this debacle on top of it?! In the end, he got to play 3 machines he hadn't played before, and I grilled him a burger. All is well that ends well.

What I really wanted to say when I saw this thread:

"You should expect to be a pro, and replace every part on your NiB pinball, or you shouldn't be in pinball" as that is how so many people tend to come off on here.

Glad they got you taken care of. Sad that pin was in that kind of condition though. Hope whoever was storing it checks the rest of their games and gets them moved somewhere a bit more climate controlled.