its still early if they just got back from vacation maybe give them a bit to settle back in. Im sure they have a lot to catch up on after some time off.

Busy signal?

They always tend to be busier on Mondays when people call in their weekend discoveries. Just keep trying or try later.

Yes, I just got off the phone with them about 10 minutes ago and placed an order.

The number on their site: 845-473-7114

Make sure you aren't flipping digits around or something.

Oh no, nothing like that. I had busy signals and then it eventually rang through. Number I used was 845-473-7114.

Email them. Jimmy is pretty quick to respond.

You guys who call PBR are brave!

I've always had great service via email.

I think everyone needs to call at least once and get yelled at by Steve for not having part numbers as sort of a rite of passage in this hobby. I email now, and typically get a quick response. That reminds me, I need to put an order in!

How is it possible I've been calling PBR for 16 years and never been yelled at once?

I think it must be my winning personality and gentle demeanor.

Were they shutdown last week or this week for vacation?

20 years ago I was " Told have numbers" . If anything , give Steve as much info on the part/item. He'll know!!!

Steve always offers information and insight if you give him a chance.

Funniest Pinball Resource story I have is when I was trying to order a few parts for a Haunted House machine a few years ago and they had the part numbers wrong on their site. I called and told them and for the first 3 or 4 tries I kept getting told "we need the part number" then when they finally realized they screwed up they never said another work just "how many of those do you need".

Steve & Pinball Resource is hands down the best source for parts & knowledge. Just be sure to have the part number when you call

Same. Though, I’ve only ever been chastised for asking for too many of a single part.

Actually, I remember it vividly. It was probably back in like 2008. Little high school me had just taken over my dad’s failed attempt to bring back a garage sale find back from the dead, so I called him and ordered like 10 pieces of flexstone (at the time, I had no clue how much I needed, or if it would wear out quickly, or whatever. All I knew was Clay’s guides at the time referenced it constantly, so I thought I’d need a boat load.)

He snapped back “what do you need all THAT for!?” And I said sheepishly “uh, it’s for a Gottlieb 2001.”

After a little back and forth, he placed my order for all that flexstone. I’ve only ever used like 3 pieces, and only because I lose it in the game, and don’t have the energy to go digging for it, but then find it like a year later when I’m fixing something else that broke. In the end though, he was right, and I still have that little baggie full of strips of flexstone. At least now I’ll have all the flexstone I’ll ever need in life lol

Steve is extremely good at knowing exactly what you do and don't need and how much of it lol.

Half of it is he is from the east coast. They talk louder and more abruptly than us midwesterners are used to. Not a big deal and its not personal.

Steve can be very helpful and tell you about things you had no idea you needed. If you have your part numbers, even if not everything is perfect, it tells him you did your homework instead of rely on him to figure out what it is you need. I don't blame him. And I kind of laugh when I get "yelled" at. I enjoy the call to PBR. Sometimes an adventure and never know what you might learn.

Email doesn't open til tomorrow

I used PBR for the first time about 6 months ago when I got my Paragon and they had all the parts that I needed for a MUCH better price. Ordered via email with Jimmy. I love the 10% off for orders over $100 (that's the deal, right?) and that once the order is confirmed, all you need to do is send a check to pay for it. Couldn't be easier! The online catalog is old school (I wish they could implement a search feature), but you kind of get acquainted with it after a while. I haven't talked to Steve before, but I've read he'll yell at you for putting changing out flipper mechs that aren't originally in the game I kind of agree

I think part of the reason I have never had a problem with Steve is my first order included a manual. That's the way he wants things done! And it probably amuses him talking to a laid back west coaster now and then.

In google, enter your search terms, then end it with site:pbresource.com

That will effectively only search that site.

Don't lie, you don't use no stinkin' manuals!

Helps keep the prices down....

I'm in the same boat and actually have a couple theories.

1. Pinball people can/will be, as we know, assholes with 0 social skills. So many of these people have been yelled out for being their idiot selves, have talked aboot it, then people are mindful aboot being respectful to them on the phone = no yelling?

2. You're both New York guys and scream at each other aboot meats, sauces, & pinball which is just normal talking to you?

Likely this.

Steve and gloria are beyond platinum in my book.

Only thing is I wish they would get the classic Stern drop targets right. They are far from it....

Tru 'dat... tru 'dat

So Damn true

You should probably call Steve and yell at him.

But make sure that you have the right part number for the drop target first.

What's wrong with their Stern DTs? The shape or the printing?

The sizing is wrong and they stick up too far. Also he only has the tombstone style.

I would expect that he is using the same tooling at Foremost plastics as Stern did back in the day. In fact, perhaps Stern/Data East made a change and that's what you get now?

Maybe put a washer or two between the assembly and playfield to compensate?

Agreed!!!
Jimmy is da man.
Thanks
Blake

Don't know if they ever changed but they are completely diff'rent. It's like I want Prosciutto and the guy gives me Pancetta like I'm supposed to put this in my mamas Amatriciana sauce? Eh oh, what am I an asshole over here?
image-29 (resized).jpgmeteordt (resized).jpg

That's the only way I have ever dealt with them and have to say I get great service.

I always do email, and then one time instead of a 'confirmed', I got a response back of 'call me' -- which I think is Steve's short hand for "I have no freaking clue what you are asking for, dumb ass"

Rule #1. Never call on Monday

Stern switched over from the tombstone/chiclet style to the hooded/ribbed style at some point, and I don't think anyone has made stern tombstone drop targets since.

I remember reading somewhere that the idea of the change was to prevent ball hang ups by covering more of the hole in the playfield.

The games that originally came with tombstone style targets were:

Dracula
Hot Hand
Lectronamo
Magic
Memory Lane
Nugent
Stars
Stingray
Trident
Wild Fyre
Meteor
Galaxy

Meteor was a little different, where earlier in the run, all the drops were tombstone targets, but later in the run it started changing to the hooded style.

I'm guessing the tooling for the tombstone targets was lost at some point, which is why they haven't been reproduced, despite popular demand.

I love Steve! The First Time he yelled at me was 1979 or 1980!

He hasnt stopped!!!

I met him at a show in upstate NY, with Daniel Meade, Dick Beuschel, and Gordon Hasse...

Geez, like Yesterday!

Nice! Now we know.

I'm right there with you...proud customer #158. Steve hasn't asked me my customer number in years.

Frank -

Do these replacement drop targets - despite not looking original - function correctly when installed in the different era game?

The first time that I called him I had just purchased my first pin, a Stern Seawitch. I told him it was my first pin and he said it was a horrible choice for my first pin. He says what he's thinking without a filter. My second call to Steve was to see if he could make a hot stamp Star Gazer pop bumper cap and I explained that a lot of people want the original style cap, not a blank cap and place a decal on it. He said that the die would cost $400. I offered to pay the die fee and that I would order a large number, maybe 150 caps if he promised he wouldn't make any more and I'd resell them. He argued with me for a while, but refused to seriously consider my offer.

Steve has done a lot for this hobby, making drop targets and pop bumper caps, and custom making parts for the hobby so it's not all bad news. For instance no one made the bats for pitch and bat games for many years. Someone asked Steve to develop and manufacture bats that are universal for pitch and bat games. Steve did this so now these old pitch and bat games can be restored. I bought some parts and tools from him, and I occasionally buy from him, but I always order via email from Jimmy. I'm a customer and I just don't need to be talked down to. I can buy from Marco's, Pinball Life or Bay Area Amusements, and none of them are rude to me.