Stern does not sell directly to consumer used pinball machines. They do not have customer service geared at consumers. You must of purchased from a distributor or affiliate. Stern doesnt even fufill most of the things sold on website. There is a seperate fufillment company.
So I have No idea how that would happen to you. Something seems amiss. In todays Online world you may of bought it from a google search and got confused as to where it came from. Stern will make it right in most cases thru proper channels. They spent alot of money replacing faulty cabinets and damaged node boards for friends of mine via distributor.