Me too!
Quoted from uccash:Still "patiently" waiting on shipment notification on my Foo LE. Yesterday was the 2 month anniversary of when it was paid for. Hoping it will come soon.
I’m with you. As a bar arcade I purchased JB LE and FF LE and got burned with timings that weren’t normal. From now on I’ll be scheduling my launch events at the back of the calendar because they aren’t being released in the normal cadence
Quoted from whistlervan:I’m in for a premium Iron Maiden. Cannot wait
Quoted from qbass187:Ditto!!
Me three! I had to bring another in for "work" to figure out what Stern changed that makes the 3D Anubis not fit since the last run so I can get it compatible again, but I'm very happy to have it coming back. My favorite Elwin pin. Such great theme integration across the board, which I'm sure is also thanks to Rick's work on the code.
Quoted from Heatmiser:I'm just waiting on Iron Maiden Pro... Should be early June from what I last heard
Quoted from whistlervan:I’m in for a premium Iron Maiden. Cannot wait
Quoted from qbass187:Ditto!!
Quoted from John-Floyd:Me too!
Quoted from DCfoodfreak:Ditto!
Bros! Me too!.
I do a pre-new-pin immersion blitz. I read the LotB comics, played the cell phone game a little, watched flight 666. If my distro gets shorted or something I'm going to be a very sad dude.
Quoted from Sorokyl:Bros! Me too!.
I do a pre-new-pin immersion blitz. I read the LotB comics, played the cell phone game a little, watched flight 666. If my distro gets shorted or something I'm going to be a very sad dude.
I’m IN flight 666! Right on the barrier of the pit during RotAM. Needless to say I’m also waiting patiently for a premium!
Quoted from uccash:Still "patiently" waiting on shipment notification on my Foo LE. Yesterday was the 2 month anniversary of when it was paid for. Hoping it will come soon.
Got a May 4th build yesterday
Quoted from Tilt:Grouping all distributors together is not really a fair thing. I can tell you this, I pride myself in answering any questions i get within a very short time. Often within hours, even in the middle of the night. I want to earn everyones business and with a product like Stern, that you can buy from a number of distributors, If i dont answer, you will go down the line to someone that will, so i want to reply instantly to be the one that earns your business.
As for communication, There is always room for improvement, but whether its us, or another distributor, we dont always know the answer. I try to explain in an email, but my phone is always on, and calls are sometimes easier to explain. I travel to tons of shows as well just to meet people so that you are more comfortable sending these amounts of money to someone you might have met in person rather than email. Now back to communication. Lets use the current popular title, Foo Fighters premium. I know how many i ordered, and i know how many i am being allocated beteween now and July. But that is all i know. So if any distributor tells you that you are able to get one in say september, they are just bullshitting you. I know that there is a run in july, so i know (as long as there are no hiccups at manufacturing) who is able to get in one on that run. But i can not honestly tell you that you can get one in september. Our current schedule for foo fighters only goes till july. Will there be a run in august, i sure hope so, but i dont know if its august, december, or 2024 right now to give you the honest answer. and no distributor does.
Service stuff. If your distributor doesnt answer your emails about that, then look elsewhere, not saying you might like the answer, but there should always be a reply to your question. THATS OUR JOB. On foo fighters, there is the plastic for the ramp breaking, stern has a fix in the works, but we have no clue when it will come. We also want it sooner than later, but have no control, but your distributor should at least answer you and tell you that one is coming, and that we dont know the time frame. But you deserve an answer There is no excuse for no answers, unless legitimate like we never got the email. I know i have had a few times where my dog jumped on my lap and stepped on the keyboard, and opened an email and i didnt notice, so i didnt realize i had an email, and i apologized when i founf out that happened, but it was an accident and i didnt know. I also have the same frustration, We are Stern only, and im a colector, so i buy other brands myself for it, and have often not had replies to emails asking for updates.
Lastly, let talk about deposits and payment in full. We dont like it either, and there is what i hope is good ways to work with it. Im also always open to suggestions to improve as well.
Deposits. we require a 100 deposit to get on our list for a game, and at that time we will tell you any information we know about expected availability, but its a guesstimate from experience, and with parts issue lately, its not always accurate. But this helps us to determine how many machines to order and such. So when you place deposits with multiple distributors and cancel all when you get the game, you are messing up things for the ones you cancel. Not all people can absorb 100k in cancelllations. Refunding a deposit. although that really goes against the purpose of placing a deposit, we still will refund any for any reason, i often ask if i did something, but regardless of the reason, i still always give the refund. and the only time it is not a full refund is if it is over the time frame that paypal will give it back 100%. For instance, godzilla premiums had a wait time of a year or more, if after a year you found someone else had one and ask for a deposit, paypal already charge be 3.87 in fees for the 100 deposit, i cant get that back, so i refund 96.13. If its in the 90 or so days that they allow it, you get the full 100 back. Im not here to make money off of refunds
PAID IN FULL: although i have to do it myself for some titles, i hate it and dont want to be part of it on the selling end. There is really only two reasons i have people pay before i have the machine in hand and ready to ship. STERN LE's are required by us to be paid right away, so in those cases, we also require payment up front, but stern has been overall pretty good about getting them out in the expected timeframe. And on our first run of pros for operators, we do not "require" payment up front, but i tell our customers that we expect the machines in three weeks, its best to get payment to me between now and that 3 week estimate so that if i get your game on monday, i can ship it out that afternoon or tuesday. Your welcome to still send in the payment the day the game arrives, its just that it will delay you getting that game a few days, but that is the customers choice. When stern tells me that they have x number of a title are ready for me to send a truck for, that is when i send an email asking for the balance, just so you get your game quicker, but i dont send that email till i know the games are basically on the truck to come to me, not off of my allocation of what i should expect. I did not get all the foo fighter premiums yet that i was allocated for last month, i didnt send emails to all those that were in the allocation to send payment in, because i dont have those games yet, and i dont want to sit on your money
I appreciate all that. You're not the distributor I'm talking about. Still... The entire system is problematic for buyers. I went with my usual distributor, with whom I had had good experiences prior, but because of that loyalty and decision to give them my repeat business, I got shafted on Godzilla, getting pushed into the new year and the much higher price. Had I shopped around, I could have had it last year at the lower price. Should we really have to scour the market to try to find a distributor with a game in stock every time we want to buy something? Should we have to start all over every time with someone new just because they have allocation at the right time? If anything, the system discourages repeat business for dealers.
Quoted from seenev:I appreciate all that. You're not the distributor I'm talking about. Still... The entire system is problematic for buyers. I went with my usual distributor, with whom I had had good experiences prior, but because of that loyalty and decision to give them my repeat business, I got shafted on Godzilla, getting pushed into the new year and the much higher price. Had I shopped around, I could have had it last year at the lower price. Should we really have to scour the market to try to find a distributor with a game in stock every time we want to buy something? Should we have to start all over every time with someone new just because they have allocation at the right time? If anything, the system discourages repeat business for dealers.
Not sure anything can really be done, so many factors have happened since basically the covid effect if you want to call it that. No one in the entire world could have expected the results of what covid kinda started. and not just that, other things as well. Covid dried up inventory everywhere with being being stuck at home. at one time, i was down to less than 10 machines in inventory, Inventory is starting to grow finally. Also, we had all the parts shortages due to factories not making parts, etc. Still recovering from that. Then there was a huge influx into the hobby. People that bought a game just to have something to do during covid, have now become collectors and trying to grab every title to. Brewerys are growing, and getting games to, so the commercial side has picked up tons as well.
Quoted from seenev:I appreciate all that. You're not the distributor I'm talking about. Still... The entire system is problematic for buyers. I went with my usual distributor, with whom I had had good experiences prior, but because of that loyalty and decision to give them my repeat business, I got shafted on Godzilla, getting pushed into the new year and the much higher price. Had I shopped around, I could have had it last year at the lower price. Should we really have to scour the market to try to find a distributor with a game in stock every time we want to buy something? Should we have to start all over every time with someone new just because they have allocation at the right time? If anything, the system discourages repeat business for dealers.
Yes, the lesson here is wait for the machine to go into production, and then call around and secure one. Getting on a list and forking over a deposit is no guarantee in the current system. I got an Elvira in the latest run this way.
Quoted from PinMonk:Me three! I had to bring another in for "work" to figure out what Stern changed that makes the 3D Anubis not fit since the last run so I can get it compatible again, but I'm very happy to have it coming back. My favorite Elwin pin. Such great theme integration across the board, which I'm sure is also thanks to Rick's work on the code.
I’ll be getting one of those pinmonk quiet fans too when my Maiden arrives! Can’t stand those high pitched whiny fans Stern uses… I’ve at least bought 4 for all my pins past and present. Best mod ever!
Quoted from seenev:The entire system is problematic for buyers.
The distributor I use simply will not take your deposit unless you are 100% within their allocation for a pre-determined run. This ends up not being problematic at all.
Quoted from Heatmiser:I’ll be getting one of those pinmonk quiet fans too when my Maiden arrives! Can’t stand those high pitched whiny fans Stern uses… I’ve at least bought 4 for all my pins past and present. Best mod ever!
Awesome! I don't have most new pins in-house long, just enough to temp test/mod them, but changing the power supply fan is usually the first thing I end up doing on Sterns. I can't stand that stock fan, and now with the cheaper, crappier, louder powernex fan they're using, the noise is even worse.
Quoted from PinMonk:but changing the power supply fan is usually the first thing I end up doing on Sterns.
or just install a pinwoofer and crank it up to 11.
Quoted from PinMonk:Awesome! I don't have most new pins in-house long, just enough to temp test/mod them, but changing the power supply fan is usually the first thing I end up doing on Sterns. I can't stand that stock fan, and now with the cheaper, crappier, louder powernex fan they're using, the noise is even worse.
You got a replacement fan you recommend? TIA
Quoted from SiN13:You got a replacement fan you recommend? TIA
Pinmonk sells a fan. That is what I bought for all my pins.
Quoted from gandamack:or just install a pinwoofer and crank it up to 11.
The problem is attract mode. It only gets worse the more machines you have if you leave them on.
Quoted from hcj13:Pinmonk sells a fan. That is what I bought for all my pins.
I just bought two to try out. I have three sterns and if I have every machine on but not playing at the moment it is so loud even across the house.
Quoted from SiN13:You got a replacement fan you recommend? TIA
The original DIY thread I made showing you how to adapt a fan with the right connectors for a quiet replacement is here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-stern-spike-noisy-ps-fans
I eventually made plug and play fan kits for people that didn't want to track down parts and do the connectors, etc. That's available here on pinside in my store and on pinmonk.com:
https://pinmonk.com/products/spike-quiet-fan-plug-n-play-kit
The stock fan is so loud that I hear it kick on from another floor in my house. Replacing it with the pinmonk fan is the first thing I do on all my machines.
The Pinmonk approach is probably 'the best' approach but it requires you to open the power supply, cut some flexible bonding stuff, and then swap the fan internally. The new fan is a pin-pin replacement with the existing fan installed in the power supply.
Alternatively, there is a 3D print of a part that attaches to the top of the power supply, attaches with one of the existing screws, and adds a 60mm fan to the process... powered by 12V from the CPU board. It gets the same job done, but is an external solution. The FAN can be a 18-24v type, and then runs quiet at 12v.
Your choice. The pinmonk is $18 or so, and the Adapter & 60mm combo fan is about the same price. The main difference is one you have to retrofit into the power supply, and the other is a bolt-on.
Quoted from Markharris2000:The Pinmonk approach is probably 'the best' approach but it requires you to open the power supply, cut some flexible bonding stuff, and then swap the fan internally. The new fan is a pin-pin replacement with the existing fan installed in the power supply.
Alternatively, there is a 3D print of a part that attaches to the top of the power supply, attaches with one of the existing screws, and adds a 60mm fan to the process... powered by 12V from the CPU board. It gets the same job done, but is an external solution. The FAN can be a 18-24v type, and then runs quiet at 12v.
Your choice. The pinmonk is $18 or so, and the Adapter & 60mm combo fan is about the same price. The main difference is one you have to retrofit into the power supply, and the other is a bolt-on.
How do you eliminate the noise if you don't pull the original fan out?
Quoted from KJL:How do you eliminate the noise if you don't pull the original fan out?
The fan in the power supply is operated thermally. If you have a bezel hooked to an external fan, the power supply should never get hot enough for the internal fan to come on. The external fan pulls the air right through the existing fan.
Here's one of the posts in the DIY thread from someone that went the external route:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-stern-spike-noisy-ps-fans/page/2#post-4418097
Just got my Godzilla Premium on Monday. I. had ordered it from coin taker at allentown pinball show in May 2022. Shout out to the great tech support from them. Had a issue with. Node boards not being recognized and they knew exactly what I needed to fix. The flange that pushes the diverted needed to be forced a little.
I am a little confused as to why it took stern so long to ship a march build. I have no doubt that coin taker called my as soon as they got it.
Quoted from FantaZ:Question - I placed order at reputable distributor over 1 1/2 years ago for JP Prem. But now, beyond the $700 stern price increase, distributor is also asking for add-on $310 for shipping costs, because of rising shipping rates. (Shipping was covered with original quote). Is this the new norm?
Would you tolerate this from any other business relationship in your life? I own a small business and treat my clients with care and a focus on investing in a long term relationship. Enough with the bullshit Covid excuses for lousy customer service and screwing customers on price. Pinball machines are like any other market: prices go through supply and demand peaks. We are about to see supply increase dramatically and prices will stop rising. Don’t believe me? Watch prices for pretty much all used games right now. They are flattening and even starting to roll over like pretty much every other salable good. They are done going up for awhile. Distros and dealers that have not treated their customers well will be crying like every single other industry where shitty companies suffer the most when supply/demand forces shift.
I don’t think everyone is an immoral unfair person, but some are! When some folks decide to make extra profit off bullshit excuses, then shit rolls down hill and covers the good guys……
It’s like the saying…”one bad apple ruins the bunch”, but in this case, it’s more than one.
I agree some businesses are dragging this Covid corpse down the street till there’s not even bone left! “Twisted shit”
Quoted from FantaZ:Question - I placed order at reputable distributor over 1 1/2 years ago for JP Prem. But now, beyond the $700 stern price increase, distributor is also asking for add-on $310 for shipping costs, because of rising shipping rates. (Shipping was covered with original quote). Is this the new norm?
They have no control over the Stern pricing which changes over time. Stern has made some updates since you ordered, most notably the IC apron which added $200 out the door. That said, I just had a dealer in Georgia get their shipping quote to me from their warehouse to me in California for NIB machine, and the total was just UNDER $300 (his cost).
I suspect the price of the machine is what it is (about $9499 for a premium would be expected), but if shipping was included originally, then it has not changed by $300 MORE since then.
Quoted from Markharris2000:They have no control over the Stern pricing which changes over time. Stern has made some updates since you ordered, most notably the IC apron which added $200 out the door. That said, I just had a dealer in Georgia get their shipping quote to me from their warehouse to me in California for NIB machine, and the total was just UNDER $300 (his cost).
I suspect the price of the machine is what it is (about $9499 for a premium would be expected), but if shipping was included originally, then it has not changed by $300 MORE since then.
Shipping has gotta be over 300. I think you may be getting subsidized on that.
Quoted from Sorokyl:Shipping has gotta be over 300. I think you may be getting subsidized on that.
He covers the first $300 and then would charge the customer anything above. In this case the total charge he was quote by freight provider was under the $300 he covers so it was free shipping to me. Remember bigger distributors ship 150-250 machines a year, so they get a commercial bulk rate. Your dealer probably gets the same bulk rate…
Quoted from Markharris2000:He covers the first $300 and then would charge the customer anything above. In this case the total charge he was quote by freight provider was under the $300 he covers so it was free shipping to me. Remember bigger distributors ship 150-250 machines a year, so they get a commercial bulk rate. Your dealer probably gets the same bulk rate…
Are you talking about classic game room here in Georgia
Quoted from Sorokyl:Bros! Me too!.
I do a pre-new-pin immersion blitz. I read the LotB comics, played the cell phone game a little, watched flight 666. If my distro gets shorted or something I'm going to be a very sad dude.
#metoo lol
So, this was the last schedule posted about nine days ago:
Apr 2023 - Foo Fighters LE
May 2023 - Foo Fighters Premium
May 2023 - Bond Pro & Premium
May 2023 - JP Premium
Jun 2023 - Iron Maiden Pro & Premium
Jun 2023 - Godzilla Pro & Premium
July 2023 - AIQ Pro & Premium
July 2023 - FF Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - Deadpool Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - JP Pro
Sep 2023 - Cornerstone - Venom?
Oct 2023 - Bond Pro & Premium
Nov 2023 - Mandalorian Pro & Premium
Dec 2023 - Star Wars Pro & Premium
Clearly that's changed a bit, the last Factory Friday had JP premiums and FF (was it LE or prem?) on the line. Has there been any updates on this, or is this still mostly right? Also, does anyone know if all the FF LEs are done now, or are they still working on them?
Quoted from thekiyote:So, this was the last schedule posted about nine days ago:
Apr 2023 - Foo Fighters LE
May 2023 - Foo Fighters Premium
May 2023 - Bond Pro & Premium
May 2023 - JP Premium
Jun 2023 - Iron Maiden Pro & Premium
Jun 2023 - Godzilla Pro & Premium
July 2023 - AIQ Pro & Premium
July 2023 - FF Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - Deadpool Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - JP Pro
Sep 2023 - Cornerstone - Venom?
Oct 2023 - Bond Pro & Premium
Nov 2023 - Mandalorian Pro & Premium
Dec 2023 - Star Wars Pro & Premium
Clearly that's changed a bit, the last Factory Friday had JP premiums and FF (was it LE or prem?) on the line. Has there been any updates on this, or is this still mostly right? Also, does anyone know if all the FF LEs are done now, or are they still working on them?
i need Maiden!!!! lol hurry
Quoted from thekiyote:So, this was the last schedule posted about nine days ago:
Apr 2023 - Foo Fighters LE
May 2023 - Foo Fighters Premium
May 2023 - Bond Pro & Premium
May 2023 - JP Premium
Jun 2023 - Iron Maiden Pro & Premium
Jun 2023 - Godzilla Pro & Premium
July 2023 - AIQ Pro & Premium
July 2023 - FF Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - Deadpool Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - JP Pro
Sep 2023 - Cornerstone - Venom?
Oct 2023 - Bond Pro & Premium
Nov 2023 - Mandalorian Pro & Premium
Dec 2023 - Star Wars Pro & Premium
Clearly that's changed a bit, the last Factory Friday had JP premiums and FF (was it LE or prem?) on the line. Has there been any updates on this, or is this still mostly right? Also, does anyone know if all the FF LEs are done now, or are they still working on them?
Pretty sure they are hoping to finish up FF LEs this week, as I am still waiting on one.
Quoted from uccash:Pretty sure they are hoping to finish up FF LEs this week, as I am still waiting on one.
Woke up this morning and mine was sitting in the driveway... glad to have it, but no call, no shipping info, nothing - just there at 7am. Box looks to be in good shape so I'm sure it's fine - but they are still going out!
Quoted from vikeking27:Woke up this morning and mine was sitting in the driveway... glad to have it, but no call, no shipping info, nothing - just there at 7am. Box looks to be in good shape so I'm sure it's fine - but they are still going out!
SURPRISE!
Quoted from vikeking27:Woke up this morning and mine was sitting in the driveway... glad to have it, but no call, no shipping info, nothing - just there at 7am. Box looks to be in good shape so I'm sure it's fine - but they are still going out!
No signature required?
Weird
Quoted from dug:No signature required?
Weird
EVERY driver that comes to my house nowadays falsifies signatures. It's pretty absurd.
Quoted from AMartin56:EVERY driver that comes to my house nowadays falsifies signatures. It's pretty absurd.
They're still milking the covid excuses. Happens here too. Charging for signatures and they just leave it at the door and disappear saying "handed to resident".
Quoted from Walk:JP Prem arrived today. May 5 build date.[quoted image]
The dog is saying, ANOTHER ONE.......... Mom going to be mad.......
Quoted from Walk:JP Prem arrived today. May 5 build date.[quoted image]
Nice data point. Anyone else got May build dates for non-Foo games?
5/5 Factory Friday - Foo LE / Bond Prem
5/5 Build Date - JP Prem
5/12 Factory Friday - Foo Prem / JP Prem (Foo LE done?)
(i know some people are still waiting on LE, but its likely in transit)
So.. Bond was wrapping up around 5/5 I guess if JP were already on the line (and Foo was in production the whole time)
So... the "two week pushed" production schedule above may get pulled back in? Seems like they'll likely get to Maiden in May.
Quoted from Walk:JP Prem arrived today. May 5 build date.[quoted image]
Very cool. Hoping to get a call from my dealer soon!
Quoted from vikeking27:Woke up this morning and mine was sitting in the driveway... glad to have it, but no call, no shipping info, nothing -
Good thing you were home. No communication- that is plain wrong in this day and age. I mean what if you were on vacation and a springtime thunderstorm doused your box sitting in the driveway??
Quoted from gandamack:Good thing you were home. No communication- that is plain wrong in this day and age. I mean what if you were on vacation and a springtime thunderstorm doused your box sitting in the driveway??
Was very glad it wasn’t raining! I have had it before where I get a call same day that something is coming, but never just dropped off like that - happy to have it here and in good shape!
Quoted from turbo2nr:So, Foo F Premiums are being made now-ish?
Apparently yes. Probably get a more clear picture after the factory friday facebook vid is posted tomorrow (although those are sometimes re-used videos that are posted and have no correlation to what is actually going on).
Quoted from gandamack:Apparently yes. Probably get a more clear picture after the factory friday facebook vid is posted tomorrow (although those are sometimes re-used videos that are posted and have no correlation to what is actually going on).
tomorrow is only Thursday man. Hang in there!
Last Friday they should FF Prem. So all we can learn is "Still making Prem, or done?" I would not be surprised if they are done by Friday. Go back and look at how many weeks they've been doing FF...
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