Never have I experienced such awful customer service in the pinball community.

Here's my story,

Day of Metallica photo release my friend calls me up and tells me he can get a few Metallica LE's from Stryker's Arcade owner Martin 'Marty' <edited>. Marty had recently become an authorized Stern distributor and was eager to get some business. I (foolishly) cancel my order with Game Exchange and between three of us we pay Marty the entire balance of three machines and receive a receipt for three LE's. Felt great to support a local and new distributor even though I have always been really happy with Game Exchange of Colorado.

Eagerly waiting for Metallica LE, even buying mirror blades and other mods for the game.

Early July - one LE shows up in Portland, here's where things get strange…it seems Marty had only wanted to ever give us 1 LE what he did with my money is beyond me.
We start asking Marty questions, and he never answered a one the entire time.
I'm calling Jim Belt frantic and also calling Marty's second party he ordered from to figure out what is going on with my missing game.
After failing to deliver the other LE's I ask Marty for a refund or a tracking number by the end of the week. Come Friday he has no tracking number and I ask him for a refund…you know tough shit it's only pinball right? If he would have paid me that refund and that was it, this thread would have never been made. He tells me he has to go to the bank and should have the money Monday.
I text him Monday and he replies "I'm out of town till Wednesday but will pay you then"
annoying but ok.

Come Wednesday this dude tries to sell me a Metallica LE for $7750!!! Check out the picture! After I had paid the full deposit from this authorized Stern distributor on photo release day of $7133! Upselling SOB!

Upset I would not pay this guy his totally bogus inflated price so I drove down to get my refund which he had only part of not the full amount! So I go down on a different day to collect the remaining balance and Marty isn't even sorry about the events (wonder why?) he blames Stern for the shortages and some other crazy water down truths that I just don't buy. He then offers to sell me a Metallica Premium at his costs to bury the hatchet and extend his best customer service foot forward.

This is my experience when 'trying' to do business with Marty from Stryker's Arcade.
Based on how he treated me and the amount of dishonesty he conducts his affairs with I highly recommend avoid any transaction with him but if you must get it all in writing.
I can't be too upset (lawyers upset) because I did get my full refund back finally, but I wanted to share my experience with everyone.

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_{Post edited by The_Dude_Abides : Edited personal information.}

We meet face to face with a witness before the first LE even showed up and you confirmed that you placed the order and this machine would be showing up. THis was around July 1st.

You didn't work hard by any means IMO. I find it hard to believe that you would drive 1000 miles roundtrip at the drop of a hat to help me out. Then force me to pay your so called 'new price' on a game despite paying for the game at the original price.
What do you call working hard?
Keeping track of all the different stories you told to different people?
Soliciting random people to trade you a METLE now for one of your Star Treks down the line?
Sounds to me all your hard work was just talking on the phone and internet.
IMO (this is just me) getting the game you claim was 1000 miles away for $7750 and taking a picture of you in California then shown me would have gotten you more than $600 in positive feedback for your new authorized Stern distributor venture. Shit if that actually happened I gladly would have paid you the increase rather than text me the morning of my refund with your crazy offer.

Honesty would have got you my Premium order instead you got my first ever don't buy thread.

I believe those upset owners you're talking about where informed long ago what was up. This is the first post delivery complaint I have heard of.
I thought you'd be glad this thread is missing some info, none of it helps you.
Handled?!
My money has been refund and I have no further interest in ever working with you.

That's what I thought too…Till it was time for my game to be delivered.

Now he's an authorized Stern dealer, oh goodie.

Damn I'm sorry to hear that buddy.
This will get you
While at Stryker's Marty was bragging how happy of a customer you were, he even had the audacity to claim you were stoked because he drove the game to YOUR HOUSE because it would have taken an extra week to deliver it from portland.
Thanks for sharing your experience too.

Hi Mark,
It's not the matter of getting the game to me, I can't speak for Steve in reference to his $100 mirror blades, but what is of great importance is the amount of lies and dishonesty he currently conducts business.
He can hide behind 'his story' but nothing in that story explains his shady pinball practice.
Lets assume that the story true and he's really sorry. So let us forget anything related to cars for the thread, just pinball here. So many locals have horror stories (pinball related) from working with him.
If his story was straight the complaint should have stopped at cars. His story has zero explantation as to where our money went when he had possession of it. That trust thing is very fishie even after he told us multiple times he had paid Stern.

Shit you took a metallica pro and when he couldn't pay your cash refund you had to take a BSD with issues instead a month later from when you told him a pro and refund would be fine for you. There was an amount of time where both of us felt I might not get my money back.

Is this an experience you ever wish on another enthusiast?

…

Those $80 could have really helped his reputation.
Steve's an honest dude I could see him posting that he got them and Marty's off to a better start. But no he lies again on a public board saying he will refund him.

I'm going to JJ at Game exchange if I decide to ever buy another NIB Stern.
Never dealt with speciality coin except for small stuff.

May I ask when you placed your order?

Thanks,
That's very interesting.
I really hope you enjoy the game.

Ah no worries.
Thanks for the clarification.

Nah he's still active...
I actually ran in to him when I was picking up a rfm for a friend.
He bought a couple games to resell on CL.

He threatened to sue me too for this thread but nothing ever came of it.
I don't think he understands that slander doesn't hold up if you tell the truth.
I will personally help you with any lawyer fees if he does go that route.
Plus you can counter sue him if he tries.
I'm curious to hear your tale.
(Please start your own thread though...)

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