My biggest complaint is the pixelated graphics and sub-par photoshop art. Sterns just feel and look cheap to me. Since business is picking up for them I would love to see some of that money put back into the machine and have a better product versus continuing to increase margins. Simply blaming damaged cabinets on shipping is an easy out. Their products should uphold their integrity over and above normal shipping practices. I work with packaging engineers to ensure our packaging holds up far outside normal conditions to ensure the product get to the customer as designed. Stern just doesn't seemed concerned about quality because the customer keeps buying their games regardless. I am glad to see other manufactures stepping into the market, it will only help all of us getting a better product in the end. Stern just better hope large overseas manufacturers don't get back into the pinball business. With lower manufacturing costs and a large supplier base, Stern would be playing catch up in a short amount of time. Just my $0.02.

I love your use of the lashing straps to pull the cabinet back together. I will have to try that, great idea!

I'll definitely have to take a closer look when I see them out. I have yet to see those 3 yet, so if they improved, awesome!

The last one that I saw that looked cheap was GOT. Even the LE with the upper playfield just looked like a cheap attempt to create a castle. I mean, it is as close to 2D as you can get with a 3D layout lol.

Maybe things are changing, and they are putting more effort on customer feedback.

Yeah, I love the series and was tempted to buy one, it just looks awful to me. Hopefully they have a GB or AS at PATZ this year, I will have to check them out.

I thought Stern was privately held? Regardless, there is a balance between cost and quality. If you continue to cost reduce and cost reduce to a point where the consumer notices a change in the product, you are doing it wrong or have gone too far. Maybe this is a supplier quality or production issue, but it should be addressed.