Love how many posts read: "After I buy SW Stern better get their act together". They say that for every new pin that comes out.

Like smokers who always tell you "this is my last one" - bunch of addicts hah.

Note how Stern switches back and forth between saying they sell to home collectors (LEs, SLEs & ever increasing prices) and then saying not to worry about defects because it's "just pinball" and is meant to be played like routed games.

Charge you Ferrari prices and then tell you not to be defect-fussy like a little girl. Like used car salesman, they have you figured out and you just smile and take it.

Until the community wakes up to this shell game, things will continue further down this road.

Maybe Stern should sell pins like CPR sells playfields with Gold, Silver and Bronze editions with three different price levels depending on how many defects you can live with.

Even better analogy - exactly!

Seems like the only way forward now is to buy from a distributor that has already set up each pin so you can view/play before buying and back up what they sell. Distributors have much more pull with Stern than individuals and this move by Stern is a strong statement of where they stand. The little guy will get screwed so you better have someone with some pull on your side.

If your local distributor will not do this then now is the time to stop buying from them. Travel to a show near you and buy from a distributor that will stand behind their product.

The other way is buy second hand so you will know the condition or price will reflect condition.

If NIB buyers can no longer trust in the condition of the product they are buying then what other choice is there?