Quoted from pindel:In an attempt to get on his good side I sent $500.00. I still have a credit after 4 years. I think it helps.
This is a great idea. I would rather send a larger amount once vs sending small checks often.
(Topic ID: 307733)
Quoted from pindel:In an attempt to get on his good side I sent $500.00. I still have a credit after 4 years. I think it helps.
For my birthday herbertbsharp put some credit on my PBR account because I preach the Good News about Steve, Savior of Electro-Mechanicals, so often!
Is that preferred? Because if so I’ll shoot him a $500 check tomorrow. That’ll last me 2 or 3 orders
Colleyville, TX
Quoted from radial_head:I'm struggling to do the math to make that add up to $600+
I'd guess that is the last page of a multi page invoice.
Quoted from radial_head:I'm struggling to do the math to make that add up to $600+
Upcharge for asking dumb questions 
Quoted from radial_head:I'm struggling to do the math to make that add up to $600+
page 2 only... I did buy a couple of coin doors that helped to run up the price.
Quoted from radial_head:I'm struggling to do the math to make that add up to $600+
And why the shipping on just some rubber rings was $53...
Quoted from radial_head:Jesus, you guys take me WAY too seriously on this site.
we are all pinheads
Quoted from sbmania:I get a busy tone for 3 seconds followed by a fast busy tone.
When I was a new to the hobby, I called Steve looking for a pop bumper leaf spring switch for my T2. I was ignorantly ready to order a few thinking they frequently failed, since mine was acting up. Instead of taking money from the FNG, he told me those rarely need to be replaced. He told me to clean and adjust it and it should be good. Many years later, my T2 still has that original leaf switch I was trying to ignorantly replace.
A familiar sound for anyone who remembers "Be the 20th caller in and these concert tickets are yours!!"
I'm genuinely impressed PBR can blow up the local exchange. Steve rocks.
Quoted from rx3:When I was a new to the hobby, I called Steve looking for a pop bumper leaf spring switch for my T2. I was ignorantly ready to order a few thinking they frequently failed, since mine was acting up. Instead of taking money from the FNG, he told me those rarely need to be replaced. He told me to clean and adjust it and it should be good. Many years later, my T2 still has that original leaf switch I was trying to ignorantly replace.
That's what I love about Steve. He will challenge you if he thinks you don't need something you ask for. I appreciate this.
Quoted from Barr993:I got the same return email today. I haven't called yet though.
What’s the content of the auto response?
"Hi:
Thank You for contacting The Pinball Resource
Sorry, at this time we can not provide Email support/ordering.
Please call in your inquiries/orders (845) 473-7114
If you received this automatic reply, your Email/order has been archived and WILL NOT be
read/replied to/or filled!"
Quoted from insight75:That's what I love about Steve. He will challenge you if he thinks you don't need something you ask for. I appreciate this.
Same here. He’s in the business for us, not himself. If that makes sense.
Fyi. I placed an order yesterday. Surprisingly I got through on 4th try. Steve is swamped. He is the only one working this week. Everyone else is out sick and he wasn't sounding the best either. I called about 4:30 and he told me he's been on the phone continuously all day taking orders. The guy is definitely dedicated and trying his damndest to help us all out. I thanked him for all he's doing and kept the call to a minimum. Thank you Steve!
Heads up, I've placed many an order from pbr. Found out something new after all these years. If you're going to place an order for more than $100, tell him right away. Otherwise he has to go back and add the 10% discount per item later, saves him the headache and guarantees you'll get the discount too!
Quoted from PinZig:Heads up, I've placed many an order from pbr. Found out something new after all these years. If you're going to place an order for more than $100, tell him right away. Otherwise he has to go back and add the 10% discount per item later, saves him the headache and guarantees you'll get the discount too!
Order a few flipper kits and drop target sets then ask him if you are at $100 yet
I always get great service but after calling 5-7 times a day for 3 days earlier this week, I finally gave up and paid more and went to Marcos overpriced pinball steal shop.
Now I have to continue digging through articles to figure out what to put my SMB flipper angle at after a rebuild.
He is the closest person to the “Soup Nazi” I’ve ever met. Be very cautious and prepared before you call “wee-hopper”.
Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:For my birthday herbertbsharp put some credit on my PBR account because I preach the Good News about Steve, Savior of Electro-Mechanicals, so often!
Is that preferred? Because if so I’ll shoot him a $500 check tomorrow. That’ll last me 2 or 3 orders
I asked Gloria years ago if I could do that because I hate writing checks but she told me she would prefer I didn't. Apparently it creates extra bookwork.
Quoted from ypurchn:I always get great service but after calling 5-7 times a day for 3 days earlier this week, I finally gave up and paid more and went to Marcos overpriced pinball steal shop.
Now I have to continue digging through articles to figure out what to put my SMB flipper angle at after a rebuild.
I would rather pay more than get bitched at...Been in the hobby for 8 years and never ordered from Steve. Everything I have ever needed was available else where at the click of a button.
I order all my Gottlieb needs from PBR. Steve is a great guy, and so knowledgeable. For the most part i like to research what I need on my own and just email my items to them. Works great. Although online shopping cart would be nice. I like my coils to say Gottlieb on them when I replace them, especially Orange dot flipper coils. Other companies they are generic. I know sounds silly but I like to keep it as original as possible. Thats my take.
Quoted from woody76:I would rather pay more than get bitched at...Been in the hobby for 8 years and never ordered from Steve. Everything I have ever needed was available else where at the click of a button.
Every time Steve has “bitched” at me he was totally right, and each time I learned something valuable that I will never forget.
Honestly I would pay more for the privilege.
Quoted from woody76:I would rather pay more than get bitched at...Been in the hobby for 8 years and never ordered from Steve. Everything I have ever needed was available else where at the click of a button.
Since you look like you own solid state games, you have other options. Yes. Can he be intimidating at times? Sure, but there is a wealth of knowledge there too. Is it easier to just click on a shopping cart? Of course. Some of us know him personally, and appreciate there is much more there than just convenience.
1 week later
Yes
Quoted from pinhead52:Talked to the Steve today, placed an order, 1130 eastern. He reports Jimmy is back taking email orders...
ken
Quoted from chuckwurt:Anyone know if email ordering has been turned back on?
Yes it is. Placed an order last Thursday the 3rd with Jimmy, notified Friday it has shipped. Tracking #says delivery will be tomorrow the 7th.
Quoted from ypurchn:I finally gave up and paid more and went to Marcos overpriced pinball steal shop.
I really hate it when people try to "put Marco on blast" for this. They have a larger operation and have virtually any part you could thing of, sourcing stuff from all tons of different smaller manufacturers, and has $10 priority shipping no matter what. They take credit cards. They are excellent on the phone. For a site with a lot of old boomers who love capitalism, people seem to love beating on Marco.
Their website sucks harder than anything on the planet though. That's a fair criticism in my book.
Quoted from chuckwurt:Sweet! Need stuff for My gottliebs.
If you have a rare Gottlieb game (and chuckwurt I'm assuming you're talking about your newly acquired #big-house) I would highly recommend calling and placing your order. Steve loves hearing that people are still acquiring and saving old lesser known about and forgotten Gottlieb games.
Yes, I go to Steve for parts when I can. But since I don't own any Gottliebs, I often need stuff he doesn't have. For that stuff, I usually go to Marcos because they are likely to have it, and are easy to deal with.
Could Marco's prices be better, sure, but usually I'm in the mode of "where am I going to find this part", not "how can I save a little money here".
Quoted from radial_head:I really hate it when people try to "put Marco on blast" for this. They have a larger operation and have virtually any part you could thing of, sourcing stuff from all tons of different smaller manufacturers, and has $10 priority shipping no matter what. They take credit cards. They are excellent on the phone. For a site with a lot of old boomers who love capitalism, people seem to love beating on Marco.
Their website sucks harder than anything on the planet though. That's a fair criticism in my book.If you have a rare Gottlieb game (and chuckwurt I'm assuming you're talking about your newly acquired #big-house) I would highly recommend calling and placing your order. Steve loves hearing that people are still acquiring and saving old lesser known about and forgotten Gottlieb games.
I hate talking on the phone, but I definitely need to do this eventually.
1 week later
Just visited Steve and the PBR for the first time yesterday!
JFC, that place could not be harder to find if you tried!!
It was awesome meeting Steve and seeing the operation in person. What a cool dude. You wouldn’t believe the level of hand-made stuff they produce. They seriously do everything in house. EVERYTHING.
It’s hard to believe. I don’t know enough of the terminology, but they were modifying some parts on a rivet press because the part they need no longer exists. Crazy.
I mentioned a certain spring and Steve immediately responded
“Oh... yeah the 26739? Over here.”
He walked down a pitch dark aisle, turned the corner, and pulled a spring out of a box in the dark. He turned the light on and it was the right one.
Steve is truly a legend.
To dispel rumors:
•He will never EVER accept credit cards/PayPal/whathaveyou EVER. PERIOD. I’ve heard this mentioned a few times here and there. Not true.
•There was suggestions that Steve was planning on retiring/winding down PBR.
Untrue. Steve has zero plans to retire, and I didn’t pry any further but assume probably plans to be buried at his desk, next to the phone.
•Unbelievably, Steve keeps no record or waitlist for parts requests. Everything is done by memory. He has an running tabulation in his head for parts on hand, requests per year and demand/profitability for parts that need to be made. If a part is NLA and people want it but demand doesn’t justify the cost, he will simply find a stock part that works just as well. Or you can modify it yourself!
•I specifically asked about Stern Tombstone drop targets with no hood. The reason they are not made is because the original mold that Stern created 50 years ago was modified BY STERN to create the Hooded targets. So the original tombstone mold was heavily modified and cannot be restored to the old style. HOWEVER STEVE DID NOT RULE OUT CREATING A NEW MOLD IF DEMAND CONTINUES TO INCREASE. He said right now it’s not cost effective, the new mold would cost 7k alone. Steve wouldn’t elaborate, please don’t flood him with requests for the original tombstone, just know he said maybe, but it’s unlikely right now, he’s also so ridiculously busy he doesn’t want to take on anything like that at the moment.
That’s pretty much everything I can think of. Steve was dismissive when I mentioned that people 3D print drop targets “they will never hold up like real injection molded plastic” which lead into the conversation of maybe getting a new mold made someday to do these targets justice.
He’s also out of 31” and 28” legs and about to run out of 27”. With material delays it will be a long time till new ones come in.
The Pinball Resource is awesome and you absolutely must visit at least once in your life!
Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:Just visited Steve and the PBR for the first time yesterday!
JFC, that place could not be harder to find if you tried!!
It was awesome meeting Steve and seeing the operation in person. What a cool dude. You wouldn’t believe the level of hand-made stuff they produce. They seriously do everything in house. EVERYTHING.
It’s hard to believe. I don’t know enough of the terminology, but they were modifying some parts on a rivet press because the part they need no longer exists. Crazy.
I mentioned a certain spring and Steve immediately responded
“Oh... yeah the 26739? Over here.”
He walked down a pitch dark aisle, turned the corner, and pulled a spring out of a box in the dark. He turned the light on and it was the right one.
Steve is truly a legend.
To dispel rumors:
•He will never EVER accept credit cards/PayPal/whathaveyou EVER. PERIOD. I’ve heard this mentioned a few times here and there. Not true.
•There was suggestions that Steve was planning on retiring/winding down PBR.
Untrue. Steve has zero plans to retire, and I didn’t pry any further but assume probably plans to be buried at his desk, next to the phone.
•Unbelievably, Steve keeps no record or waitlist for parts requests. Everything is done by memory. He has an running tabulation in his head for parts on hand, requests per year and demand/profitability for parts that need to be made. If a part is NLA and people want it but demand doesn’t justify the cost, he will simply find a stock part that works just as well. Or you can modify it yourself!
•I specifically asked about Stern Tombstone drop targets with no hood. The reason they are not made is because the original mold that Stern created 50 years ago was modified BY STERN to create the Hooded targets. So the original tombstone mold was heavily modified and cannot be restored to the old style. HOWEVER STEVE DID NOT RULE OUT CREATING A NEW MOLD IF DEMAND CONTINUES TO INCREASE. He said right now it’s not cost effective, the new mold would cost 7k alone. Steve wouldn’t elaborate, please don’t flood him with requests for the original tombstone, just know he said maybe, but it’s unlikely right now, he’s also so ridiculously busy he doesn’t want to take on anything like that at the moment.
That’s pretty much everything I can think of. Steve was dismissive when I mentioned that people 3D print drop targets “they will never hold up like real injection molded plastic” which lead into the conversation of maybe getting a new mold made someday to do these targets justice.
He’s also out of 31” and 28” legs and about to run out of 27”. With material delays it will be a long time till new ones come in.
The Pinball Resource is awesome and you absolutely must visit at least once in your life!
Glad you enjoyed your visit and he gave you so much time! I was there the day before to pick up my order. One of his employees is still out and he was on the phone for 20 minutes before I could transact. If I need to add another part to my order, he is always happy accommodate.
Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:You wouldn’t believe the level of hand-made stuff they produce. They seriously do everything in house. EVERYTHING.
The more I hear about PBR the more I feel as if they're like a swiss watch company. Everything hand made, in small batches, of the highest quality with the original factory equipment.
Steve will not sacrifice quality for any reason, and I love that. When I order parts from somewhere else, it can be a mixed bag whether or not the product will be any good (example: whirlwind spinner decals). When I order from PBR, I know it'll be an exact fit with the same quality of the original every time.
Quoted from mbaumle:The more I hear about PBR the more I feel as if they're like a swiss watch company. Everything hand made, in small batches, of the highest quality with the original factory equipment.
Steve will not sacrifice quality for any reason, and I love that. When I order parts from somewhere else, it can be a mixed bag whether or not the product will be any good (example: whirlwind spinner decals). When I order from PBR, I know it'll be an exact fit with the same quality of the original every time.
Steve has huge rolls of NOS Mario decals. I was blown away. He also has Goin Nuts parts, who woulda thought?! Really neat to poke around
I ALWAYS call Steve first before checking Marco, here, or anywhere.
I just love the classic nature of his business and how he runs it. Also, he is so engaging and knowledgeable. He has saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars by suggesting I not buy certain things or buy different things than I thought.
Yes, I have a customer number. He ships instantaneously and I do need to run to get a money order (sometimes I just send cash in an envelope), but I don’t mind.
Steve is old school awesome.
1 week later
Quoted from prl867:I ALWAYS call Steve first before checking Marco, here, or anywhere.
I just love the classic nature of his business and how he runs it. Also, he is so engaging and knowledgeable. He has saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars by suggesting I not buy certain things or buy different things than I thought.
Yes, I have a customer number. He ships instantaneously and I do need to run to get a money order (sometimes I just send cash in an envelope), but I don’t mind.
Steve is old school awesome.
Why do you need to run to get a money order? Does he no longer accept checks?
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