General sales have been "slow", partly due to after holidays slump, which is always common until "tax time" is over.
Ultimate production run is UNKNOWN, as it will based on demand.
My estimates are 500 or less at current interest.
Distributor preorders were tiny, in comparison to most other past Stern titles.

That describes Whoa Nellie, WWE, KISS LE and a few other Stern titles with complete excellence, not just SMVE.

Unfortunate, really.
History repeats itself over and over in the pinball world.
Hopefully, "preorder" nuts don't get sharted with GB, when it comes along.
It is already overhyped.

Not trashed, "concerned".
Stern is causing growing consternation in the pinball community and distribution, not just on PinSide.

26+ years of collecting.
20+ years as a technician.
10+ years as a operator.
Two decades working with distributors, brokers, and manufacturers.
600+ machines through my personal hands.
It is unlikely this is personal stress.

I simply do not like watching new collectors get burned by running with their wallets open.
Watched it, many times.
They then complain they got "deceived".
They did not.

People should be HIGHLY concerned about quality, otherwise the bar gets lowered, engineering design is sloppy and more technical problems result, which in terms effects reliability and interest in the hobby.
Just like the acceptance of the continued increase of NIB prices at a FASTER rate then at any time in the history of pinball.
This has nothing to do with the economy or cost of production issues, it just is massive testing of manufacturer and people are falling for it completely.
Maybe you are not, but many are.
Most do not "use PinSide" or any other forum.

Things like Bally/Williams playfield slide bar locking mechanism for maintenance was a result of complaints by operators for improvement, for example.
It did not just "happen" by accident or at the amazing technical innovations of Bally/Williams.
Operators were installing their OWN first.

Stern does not even use them anymore to reduce costs, but the prices went up anyway.
Why should this even be considered an "aftermarket" kit?
Simply, it was "accepted".
They did when they were conjoined with Sega and Data East (some modification required).
Stern "Pro" games do not even have rails.
That is moving backwards in terms of development.
We are not in the 1970s and 80s.

I have seen more first time owners get so frustrated that their NIB game "does not work", it cause a lot of long term issues.
I agree nobody "needs" a NIB game, or has to buy it.
I help as many as I can, but sometimes a person's first bad taste is their last in this hobby.
Nobody should want another pinball dry spell to occur, because in their period of revival, it has promise.
Stern remains a critical link in the popularity of pinball.
Poor quality machines is not going to pay dividends in the long run.
JJP knows that, and "raised the bar" for a reason (initial production, code, and design "teething" problems aside)

I was not talking about minor adjustment problems on new machines by new pinheads. I was talking about game engineering design flaws. Bally/Williams/Gottlieb generally addressed them in weeks or a couple of months, not years, if at all.

The MET Sparky coil "lock and burn" issue just got addressed 2+ years later!

If an owner or operator has to start designing improvements (or aftermarket mods for that matter which is always appreciated BTW) on a released game almost immediately due to a lack of response, something is not right.

Part of problem is lack of effective complete design game testing by Stern (not individual assemblies or destructive testing), which is part of the quality control process. It is just not happening like it used to in the pinball industry. Engineers are not always the designers, but the experienced designers like George Gomez step up to the plate to help when needed.

In the case of SMVE there should be ZERO design issues, as it is a 9 year old game with minimal changes. I hope this is true here for the cost.

This is called a "pinball faphead" and the situation is rampant, borderline at the point of being epidemic.
It based on a completely new generation of collectors with little knowledge, some disposable income, and a millennial mindset.
"YOLO"!

It is getting worse than even what it was several years ago.
It is hard to have sympathy for people screaming "I was scammed!" when collectors are throwing money at people (in many cases with no formal background in the industry) when a project is still being developed, in concept, whitewood, or just plain does not exist.
Sample or prototype games are not equivalent of finished products either, which is a COMPLETELY common oversight.

If GB has significant mechanical or design problems (Stern game design commonality), unfinished code (Another Stern game commonality), or another $1000 increase in less than 6 months (which has already happened), people will scream, pay the money anyway, complain, and continue the cycle.

Don't forget the part when they have buyer's remorse, and try to sell the game for $2k more than they bought it a few months later, because they are trying to get rid of a turd.
Again, "rampant".

The old saying holds true, "If you can not afford to buy it, don't spend the money".

It will not stop until the economy slows it down.
This is much worse than the pinball "parts wars" of the early 2000s.
"Top 10" machines will keep rising anyway.

People that complain about pinball price insanity need to look in their mirror(ed balls).
Collectors caused it, and Stern is capitalizing on the feeding ball trough.

Read the MMR postings.
It's rampant, whether MM or SMVE, it makes no difference.

"If I paid $8000 for a machine (new or not) it should be perfect."
"I should get a full refund if X does not work."
"My insert is scratched I need a new PF, where is it Stern?"

How many examples do I have provide across the entire internet from this hobby? It does not just apply just to NIB, but every condition and type of game.

That is the millennial mindset, and it certainly applies to Gen X as well. I never even age bracketed anybody. Sorry, if people get offended, but this is current situation of the new, primary, and secondary pinball markets. Every knows it is insane, now you some of the reasons why.

Entitlement for "free" or "cheap".
People are not "owed" anything in this hobby.
It is earned with hard work and networking.

I am not applauding Stern's decisions. They are FEEDING off the ignorance and mindsets, with profit.

Nobody bothers read the terms and conditions either, as that would actually help educate themselves as well.

Start here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/mmr-owners-need-some-help/page/3#post-2939589

Then go here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/35138159505/

More than 50 in just these two sources.
On Facebook key in on "dimpled playfields" as one ridiculous topic to start off with its makes for interesting reading.

I will go get some more for you from multiple sources, eras, machines, and demographics.

Demographics of collectors are completely different from the 80s and 90s. If you call even some that. More like "flippers", as they are around 2-3 years before selling out.

I can let one my distributors chime in if you want, they carry good weight regarding cross section. Most keep quiet to proven impacting sales.

I do not "wish" anything.
Wishing does nothing, a plan of action does something.
Wishing did not save Bally/Williams on Black Friday.
Wishing did not generate new reproduction parts for machines.
Wishing did not create new designs and titles.
New collectors throwing money at Stern did not save the industry.

I never even used the word in the thread, nor others I can recall since return to the collector's scene.
It may be the only way people wake up, because I don't see people increasing their knowledge any other way.
If you hit people in their pocket books, there generally is a reaction, hence the "current pricing of NIB games relevant to SMVE sales".

There are no "good old days", only periods where a wise buyer could stretch more with his/her dollar.
Most of the "old collectors" are just sickened by what is happening AGAIN and incensed by Stern's aftermarket parts shenanigans.

Gone are my days of "hoarding" NOS parts, I pass them along to viable collectors who need them for restorations.
There are still plenty of deals to be found in this hobby, if you are willing to do the hard work.
This includes fast prototyping if you get really get stuck, or reaching out to other willing collectors.
I just helped a friend find a CFTBL for $2800.
They exist, but are difficult to find.

If a person "must" have a NIB machine (especially if the title is brand new), then they have to "pony up the $$$ cash", it has always been that way, unless you watch the market really close, and snag something coming on its way back down as an overstock.

Let me know if you need something.
If I have it, and its not too big, and you pay the shipping, its yours.

NOTE FOR COLLECTORS: Most of the "best" machines were made well over 20 years ago, and in some cases over 40 years ago. That is why they are still popular. Happy birthday, Fireball. It did not cost anywhere near $6500.
Neither does EBD, or many other great machines.
"Explore the world of pinball collecting beyond late model SS machines, you will be surprised what you find."

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