Some people really shouldn’t own pinball machines.

How is a pinball company possible supposed to offer the “warranty service” the OP craves?

If you can’t tinker or follow instructions - or be willing to pay someone who can - pinball ownership isn’t for you.

I do think these companies need to be a little more up front about this. TNT Amusements has had a disclaimer on their web site for decades pointing this out, while also marketing to home users.

So what’s your suggestion? They hire a full time fleet of field techs in every town in America to keep these people happy?

Wouldn’t they have to double or triple their prices on pinball machines to make this work? Stern sells the cheapest pinball machines on the market, by far. This isn’t a stern issue, it’s an industry issue. What happens when the OP buys a $9000 spooky game and a wire comes loose from a flipper coil or a rubber breaks? Exact same problem.

I think they need to be more upfront to the brand new market of noobs who they are trying to sell games to. Pinball will never be a maintenance free product; it’s simply impossible once you get beyond the “star explorer” type of game.

Selling pinball machines to people who expect owning them to be similar to owning a toaster is still a relatively new phenomenon. There’s a lot of kinks to be worked out still obviously. This is a very old industry that suddenly has a very young market and a very new problem.

Also...he found a guy willing to do this simple task for FIFTY BUCKS and he's still complaining?

I wouldn't have answered this call for less than $250. This is the exact kind of guy who is gonna call you back in three weeks and blame your repair call for a light bulb that just went out.