I know that I don't know, so I do know more than you. You don't know yet that you don't know.

It's almost a 'mom and pop' shop, and it's a very specific skillset. There are people there who've been assembling games since the 90's Data East days.

Just depends on the company, how it is run, and the work-force they recruit. In my business for example, the parent company had a history of targeting a low-pay/transient work force. In my shop, I decided to concentrate on quality, and fought hard for better pay and benefits. Once I started treating employees like valuable resources, I went from 40% turnover a year to less than 5%, and most of those were promoted within the parent organization. It's just unfortunate many companies value the dollar over quality of work, and then we see the turnover KPG references. It ALL starts from the top, and turnover is a direct reflection of the management.....I don't care where you work or who you employ.

No, I don't; Which is why I don't act like I do.

I wouldn't doubt this at all, in fact many companies have long term employees in every industry and that is great. I would say that there is a rough calculation one could make when it comes to turnover in a factory environment, and it is around 12-15% annually. I am willing to be that is the case with Stern too.

No one is claiming they don't treat or pay their employees fairly, I am willing to bet they have no issues in that department. I was only commenting that it is likely difficult to have 10 potential games on the manufacturing menu, and that turnover and training of new employees and introducing a small run of a particular title could lead to quality issues.

This has nothing to do with Stern as an employer and how they treat employees. Not even sure why people were making assumptions and putting words in my mouth. I am only viewing and commenting based on what I see in many industries across the board, with big or small businesses.

They have been in business for 30 years for a reason, and are one of the only successful pinball companies in the world. Clearly, from a business and production standpoint, they are doing something right. That is not up for debate. I am just in the business of analyzing all types of businesses and their operations, mostly IT-related, and how to propose solutions to streamline and improve company operations no matter how good they already are.

Does Stern ever respond to their contact form on the website? I submitted a message on there asking about the Pro delivery estimations because I was hoping to have mine (fully paid already) in time for my son's graduation party June 4. When I paid the expected delivery was end of May. Since I've been told by my distributor I've been bumped to July. I wrote a nice message explaining this, and asking about how I could get more information since I'm a first-time customer. I figured they'd at least email back but they totally ignored my message so far. Is there a Customer Service email that you recommend. I see posts all the time about how they are good at replying, but I haven't seen it myself yet.

You only get hired at Stern if you know somebody already working at Stern.

You only get your bonus for referring a new hire, if they stay on for 6 months.

Keeps it nice and tight.

Stern probably does not know, so they will probably not answer.

It was like back in the day when everyone had to wait for their new Harley.

Calling the factory did not get you a delivery date.

Gary's 'pop'

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Gomez/Jody/Others have said in numerous interviews/videos/tours that they don't have a lot of turnover.

But an email even saying they didn't know would be just fine..

That's too hard for them.

If you need a part, you got it.

But if you need some warm fuzzy conversation, there is no one at Stern that has that skillset.

Remember, pinball for the last 100 years was a **mob* run, pseudo-gambling hustle. Not a trip to the Martha Stewart store.

It's called Pinside speculation. Just lie your ass off until someone calls you out on it.

By the looks of the video posted to facebook 6 hours ago, It looks like we will be seeing LE's any day now. And hopefully not too much longer till the premiums.

It could have been this comment during your back and forth with Vid about Stern. Out of context you might argue it had nothing to do with Stern but given the thread topic, it seems we know your meaning. (wink wink)

Hope that's my ST Pro they are working on

I'm waiting on a premium GB, but I hope one of the MMr's they are building is my black trim I paid for a year and a half ago...

Star trek is a great game, someday I hope to get one.... I hope you get yours soon!

Any purchase made by me will be well after production ramps up and all the kinks get worked out...I don't think I want a game produced in the next 3 months, they more than likely will be hurried out the door...

Be careful Mr68, that guy will send you a PM threatening physical violence and tell you how big of a bad ass he is.

Just got confirmation that my Met Pro will be at my house between 11am and 7pm this Monday. One week and five months after I paid for it. Don't know if I'll get outside much this summer!

Thx vid, which is why I love this game tinkering in my garage and soldering vs in my kitchen making Schwety balls.

Of course Stern has low turn over. Have you seen the wall of microwaves?? Who would leave that??

Someone with a pacemaker?

Did someone duplicate the Where's the Kiss code thread and change the title?

The other thread had 1600 posts, and no periodic response from Stern.

What's going to be different this time?

The crappy casinos still do.

I have a Star Trek and I love it. I want to check out a premium GB before I get one. Tried a pro version at pin a go-go and liked it.
I'm also waiting for a black trim MMR (through JJP). I wish they finish them up. Hope you get yours soon too.

I think Iron Man Vault was the most recent game to be retired. I recall having a chance to order that one at a time when AC/DC was already officially done.

Yes.

I'd like to welcome JEFFPINS12 as a new Pinsider and calling attention to himself by giving me a thumbs down vote on my comment above. It would also seem in his brief time here that he has a fondness for following and up voting KPG's comments.

Welcome Jeff.

As a fellow Jeff, I'd like to state that his behavior is not typical of Jeffs in pinball.

Hmmmm...most Jeffs I know are a bit shifty...

Here is my summary of this thread:

image_(resized).jpeg

I am patiently waiting. It's not been easy.

I hear-tell that things could be worse. Rumor has it that other pinball companies push back delivery dates much further than a couple of months...or years.

image_(resized).jpg

Not when you need more TWD,MET,ST,SMVE,GB,GOT even KISS WWE AND Mustang

It really was pretty pathetic. Stern promised us that they were working on a fix for the orbit issue.

Their fix? To make it permanently broke.

Hint: it's because the game blows.

I personally enjoy mine quite a bit and so does the family, I often come home from work and our 2 youngest kids are playing 2 player with each other. That has never happened with any other pin Ive owned.

The shaker integration is awesome on this game.

Yeah, seeing tons of GoT Premiums and LEs on the market and very few if any GoT HUO Pros tends to hint at something. I barely ever hear anyone have a positive word to say about the Premium & LE.

I really like the LE and think mini playfield features are cool(hopefully to be further integrated later), play the Pro at local arcade here all the time as well and say the LE is much better, not taking away from the Pro, still a good game and like the flow a little better. The premium I think has the best artwork of the 3.

Mic dropped.

I like my LE. There is your positive word.

I really like got, I'm getting the le. At first, I liked the art from the premium the best... After seeing the le in person, it grew on me. Played both versions, decided I liked the le for the upper play field and art package.

Love the gameplay on GoT LE.but all the art packages are horrible.Friend of mine is a big time graphic artist in NYC.Does lots of books and cd covers,anyway he "tolerates" my pinball addiction whenever we go out for beers.I took him to a bar:2 games Got and TWD.Asked him what he thought and he went on a 20 minute diatribe on how badly done the Photoshopping is on Stern games.
"Photoshopping is cheesy enough but get a technician who knows the program,it looks like my 8 year old did it."

The whole GOT situation is really shitty. I am a huge GOT fan and I was all over this machine-in for the premium until Stern's quality control department dropped the ball. The problems it has had and the way Stern has dealt with it by trying to sweep it under the rug are un excusable. I hate to say it but the LE/Premiums are heading towards Transformers territory unless all the fixes are performed properly. One thing I have determined throughout this process is that I do not like upper playfields (yes I said it). I have decided that upper playfields are not my cup of tea. I do like upper playfields that are one shot like Elvis and WH20 but I dislike the mini-playfields with flippers and targets. Game of Thrones LE/Premiums are going to be trending downwards-dump em while you can.

Can't imagine what he had to say about print quality of some of their stuff then ... or I can, but I'm assuming it would be considerably more hyperbolic.

GOT is still the most played pin in my house...even after nearly 6 months. Jeez...I was so happy RobT was back, too - then the guy disses one of my favorite machines.

....or hire real artists like zombie yeti or dirty Donny. Met and GB are so far above the other games. I think they are learning. Sure, it cost a bit more but the end product looks SO much nicer and look at the sales numbers of those 2 titles. GB [all versions] will be their biggest seller EVER.

GOT Premium/LE are destined to become a classic, like LOTR. Best upper playfield ever - show me a game with a better one. Fantastic theme integration. Not a bad shot in the game. I felt very lucky to find an LE within driving distance.

The Internet was full of hate for Congo and IM at one time. I'm not going to let a couple of opinionated windbags ruin GOTLE for me.

Yeah, GoT premium/LE is rough. The pro is tons of fun. The art is garbage on all 3, but I can overlook it on the pro, since it's so fun to play.

So this has become the thread where everyone takes a dump on GOT Prem/LE? Sometimes you really make me sad, Pinside.