Just got my ship notice. Woot.

I'm assuming tracking will follow? Anyone know who they usually ship with? Asked Melissa the other day, but did not hear back (she's been pretty good about getting back to me lately, though).

Mine was ABF, Melissa sent a tracking number the next day.

Congrats!
Still waiting for my shipping notice, fingers crossed hoping it will be soon. It's been a little over 16 months since initial down payment, & almost 4 months since paid invoice. I believe that there are others who've been waiting longer, but the anticipation is a killer.

Awesome! What was your invoice paid date?

Had to go dig it up, see above. Invoiced a year to the day from deposit.

Looks like i'm about to bow out of this club, got my shipping notification yesterday and tracking info today Pretty stoked, time to dust off the Kahlua!

4/29/22 Put down Deposit
5/16/23 Paid in Full
9/26/23 Shipped

Thanks Gonzo !!

Just gotta say, super impressed for whats its worth, that DP has seemingly pulled this off against all odds. Many props..

I'm all set! Just finished setting it up yesterday. Here are my dates for reference:

Deposit: 5/1/22
Invoiced/Paid: 5/16/23
Shipped: 9/27/23

Such an incredible game. Hang in there guys, it's well worth the wait!

Congratulations. You paid in full after my date by 3 months and I'm still waiting. I wish Cointaker had a better system for tracking. Can't wait to get mine. Let's go Cointaker- send me my final information!!!!!!

Over two weeks it’s Pinexpo time

Me and Barry will be there. Hope to see you Dudes there

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No joke. I left the country for vacation and when I connect to wifi on my 3rd day I see an email about a shipping alert!!

Thankfully I was able to coordinate with Melissa and have my brother to be at my house for delivery. She was super helpful and they made it happen.

I got this pic from my brother to salivate over while on vacay! What a present to come home to. It was about 18 months from deposit to delivery.

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I'm so tired of the lies from coin taker. A month and half was told 3 weeks...2 weeks ago was told it's on our dock and ready to ship...now she's saying 10-12 more days.

You’re not alone. Seems common for weeks to turn into months. I am hoping to get before Christmas. i think is been a little over 16 months from initial deposit. Decided to go with a different distributor for stranger things given this experience.

I have #170 so you’re definitely not the last. Not sure how that makes only 40 to go though.

Graduation day. Really impressed with the build quality, even if the ordering experience leaves much (much) to be desired. Little touches like this go a long way.

See ya all on the other side, soon I hope.

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We are now in the process of making a batch with numbers in the 140 range. It goes up to approx 190 but not all numbers are used. So approx 40 are left.

I just want to clarify that the pattern is we get invoiced +/- about 1year later. Then cointaker invoices the balance and has our money in full without a product for what now seems to be a 4 month wait after that?

Is that accurate?

Well my time frame is over 4 months. I'm going on 8 months.

If I understood correctly when talking to Melissa, your money goes to making your game. It's how they keep afloat.

That is exactly what Tommy at nitro said. He emailed that my turn was up for a build and requested final payment in order to start the build.

8 months, since you paid in full? Or are you talking, as an original EA?

No EA. Paid in full February 6th.

have you called, you paid before me and I have played my game for a month....

Yes, every 30 days. I've been told the same thing every other buyer has been told. I just don't believe that they have an accurate list process.

I'm not alone. There are others who waited longer or are waiting longer.

These are the stories preventing me from putting down a deposit. I want this game, but o don’t want the endless wait and BS that it seems you have to endure.

I wonder if contacting DP would help. 8 months is quite egregious considering how much money you (we all) put down.

The game (and DP) is amazing! The distributor (specifically Cointaker) and their lack of transparency and consistent promises, followed by a litany of recycled excuses for the lack of delivery, is a huge frustration. I'll never use them again after my TBL experience.

If it were me, I'd find a used one and save yourself the aggravation.

Still gotta laff at the people getting impatient. It seems your pin will get built 18 months from order. Forget about it for a bit, or cancel. The headache isnt worth it.

Sure, but you can understand why the guy that paid in full eight months ago is pissed that everyone else seems to be getting their games before him.

It was very Painfool, but we all waited, in the end it is rejoicefuel. The game is a gem.

I don’t think it’s funny at all. It wasn’t funny when I went through it. The wait is one thing. The absolute horrible communication of cointaker is another. It truly hurts Dutch and its taints an otherwise amazing game and incredible company that stands behind it. I’m not the only one who won’t buy a game through cointaker again. There is a league of us who simply won’t be put through that ordeal again.

I don’t mind waiting. I don’t want to be lied to, or ignored, or misled, whether that be by Cointaker, Haggis or any other distributor or manufacturer that chooses to reward their customer with such disregard.

I’m incredibly excited for Dutch to release a new title next year and hoping they are listening to the loud feedback from these threads and will find another stateside distributor for this next release… please…

If he was an EA, he'd have said 8+ years.

I moreso meant if he was an EA that was finally told his was on the way, but it was 8 months ago. He is the first person I've heard of having to wait that long, of the new CT order folks.

^^This 100%^^ Absolutely enamored by Dutch and the quality of the TBL, but i won't buy another Dutch pin if i have to go through Cointaker. Sure i'm not alone here. There are plenty of other US distributors out there that prioritize basic comms and elevated customer service. Hit the thread up for a list!

Hope Dutch is listening.

Maybe use AYCE Gogi on the West Coast as a distributor?

This is the way.

However: the big issue is overpromising and under delivering. I'm a big fan of Hanlon's razor, and I genuinely think Cointaker/Melissa means well...this is likely naive optimism and overwork on her part leading to always promising a bit more than can be delivered. But it destroys goodwill when you never, ever do what you say when you say it. Tell me it'll be six months and then call me with good news in four.

And hire some people and come up with systems to proactively communicate with the people who've been willing to risk handing you thousands of dollars. That's how you build and keep goodwill while you grow. I wish Melissa no ill will, but this was an exceptionally poor experience compared to every other company I've ordered from. PBL, Marco, Comet - they're exceptional. Most of the machine only guys are great too. I would not order a lightbulb from Cointaker at this point if I had any alternative. And I do. I would absolutely buy another Dutch machine, but not if I have to go through Cointaker.

TO BE FAIR: It's worth going back to the begining of the Dutch story and remembering they did a bang-up job of overpromising, failing to deliver, and communicating poorly for a LONG time. They are STILL making games that they took money for EIGHT YEARS AGO. Starting a tiny pinball company is a crazy undertaking; the fact that they've figured out a way to make good on the physical promise they made to those people IS impressive, but let's not pretend they haven't failed on the temporal promises on a MASSIVE scale. In a way, they set a standard Cointaker is just fulfilling. And, I think they probation owe a little loyalty to Melissa for being the front man for a bunch of justifiably pissed and skeptical people for years.

However, CURRENTLY they seem to really have their shit together. I went ahead and ordered largely because I saw Rensh consistently communicating and providing customer service here. That buys a ton of goodwill in my book. I fully intend to look ya up and give you props in person at expo next week.

Though...There may well be more to the 8 month since deposit story than I know from hearing one side, but I WILL say knowing Dutch is spending time here and therefore knows it's an issue...well, I hope they are looking into it and say so. If not, that's a hard strike against them. Yes, it's kind of the point of the distribution model, but no, it's not cool to leave your PAID customers to the mercurial whims of your sole distributor, at least not if they are failing THAT hard. I'm stoked to have the game I paid for 1 Jun 23, but if someone else paid in January this one should be in their house and I should still be waiting.

Anyway, it's an impressively built gem. I've had the glass off a lot so far, but it's all been adjusting switches and tightening up a few things, totally expected after shipping halfway around the world. Another nice touch I noted - in addition to the art now being cut back from the posts, they also installed silicone washers under star posts and such from the factory. Don't recall seeing that mentioned post playfield-gate, but definitely an appreciated touch.

At this point, I'd buy almost ANY theme Dutch makes next - from PBL, Marco, Mad pinball, or another company I trust and enjoy dealing with. There are maybe two themes I'd suck it up and deal with Cointaker again...and since I doubt anyone will make an Adventure Time or Wes Anderson pin, I'm probably out unless they add a distro or two.

My 2 cents (maybe more like 50 cents). Gonna go get a couple games in now.

Officially in the queue. Placed deposit with CT on Sept 10 ‘23. Prepared for the long wait, wish me luck!

This will be my 2nd pin. Got a used MET Pro a few months ago.

Needless to say, I’m hooked.

Lastly, I learned I’m VERY lucky to live about 15 minutes away from Frisco, TX….home of the TX Pinball Festival. Can’t wait till March!

Welcome to the addiction. Two will become 7 (or 8 or 9) in the blink of an eye! No turning back now!

It's down there somewhere...should be shipping in a couple weeks.

I got lucky and bought a used one locally a couple years back so I didn't need to wait, but the person I bought it from had the same CT story.

Anyone want my pre-order spot? My year long wait is almost over as I expect to be invoiced in December. Just need my 1k deposit back.

Well today was a great day! Picked up my game from Cointaker. Perfect condition and the Starry Apron is installed. Long time coming and I hope to get it all setup this weekend. The game is built like a tank. Lot's to learn. Thanks again for everyone who shared their insight and knowledge.

Paid in full date-02/06/2023
Game ready for pickup date-10/07/2023
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I think it's very important to understand the history here... My understanding is, and if anyone has any direct knowledge that challenges my understanding I totally get it, without Melissa/Cointaker there almost certainly wouldn't be a Big Lebowski at all other than what was produced before Dutch went belly up initially. You can decide for yourself whether that's a factor in how you perceive the situation but I think it deserved to be at least a point to consider. I do not know the details of this at all so I can't say and won't speculate on exactly what went on behind the scenes and how we got here so far as any financial involvement or whatever.

I got to play TBL for the first time today. They have one at Flippers in NC. Really enjoyed the game! Shoots great! looking forward to mine coming in the next few months. I ordered mine from cointaker on 10-7-22 and paid balance on 9-7-23.

Lot of people havent been on the full ride, good or bad. DP and Cointaker continue to deliver. If you are buying now, and bitching now, you need to read this thread. 18 months. Regardless of comms or lack thereof. 18 months and TBL shows up.

gambit3113 ….it’s your lucky day!

Way ahead of you. We are thusly engaged.

iirc cointaker has said previously they won't let folks jump the line by taking over another's preorder.