First, I am NOT saying people with the split corners don't have a bitch. I don't think it is as widespread a thing as this thread would like to make it, but that is Pinside.
But just to keep things in perspective, this is not a black and white issue. Again, I am not saying anyone here isn't telling the truth as they know it, but from the corner "horror pics" that we have seen, we have no idea if these games were dropped, slammed, or drug across the carpet with no support. Yes, the owners will tell you that was never done, but none of us know that for a fact. Additionally, none of us know what the shipper did either. Maybe this is more of an issue of bad packaging? Or maybe bad handling at the factory? I doubt it is, but the point I am trying to make is we don't know.
Yes, I am sure folks like The Black Knight are going to jump in and say this problem didn't exist with the old cabinets, and yes Vid is going to say it did....I completely respect both of their opinions, based on their years of experience. The true reality is probably somewhere in the middle. But we also have more games going into homes, up and down stairs, across carpets, etc. Yes, the argument can be made that routed games get the most abuse, but maybe it is a different kind of abuse. Most operators worth their salt knew how to move games, and most routed games are not on carpet and being moved every few days. I know there is an equal argument for every point I made...I am just saying we don't know for a fact that Stern "cheapened" their cabinets, and we might want to put the pitchforks away just for a little bit. I was at the Stern plant a few weeks ago and based on what I was told, Stern does not make their own cabinets. Just as Vid said, most come from CCC and a few from another vendor. I doubt seriously Stern is intentionally "cutting corners" (pun intended) on cabinets just to save a buck. If there is a quality issue, it is probably related back to employee skill level and employee "give a shit factor" more than anything. These same companies also supply cabinets to other manufacturers as well.