This makes perfect sense if your name is Gary Stern. You are getting older. Bring in the cost cutters to maximize your bottom line for the short term, making the company more valuable. Sell it high.

Many cost cutting managers are just there to boost the value of the business for sale purposes.

“Disposable cash generation devices like old Gottlieb wedgeheads”? Compare them to the same era Stern family owned Chicago Coin and Stern machines and tell me who was making the inferior machines with inferior parts.

Luckily, there is competition today. Maybe this will be the tipping point for other companies to gain market share. I’d rather have more, stronger competition for a weaker Stern than we have now. Give it time and let the market decide who has the best price vs quality product.