In a world where they sell all they can make, the current messaging puts them in a great place to control their inventory and production costs. Not sure what a "Last Call" would do to make their lives and business better?

The last thing a high inventory cost business wants is a wave of unexpected orders coming in at the last minute for a product they've already decided to move on from.

Well, that's 2nd last. The last thing is unsold inventory.

Anyone had a message from Nitro yet about a GZ ?

Probably a bunch of reasons. They may not know when a run is "the last run" for a particular game. Especially these days, if you want a game just put a deposit down because even if there's another run ahead you may not get one (which is probably going to happen to me with JP).

Why would you announce last run? Stern may decide to do a few more runs if demand is there or if supply issues on other games. Plus, if they did announce last run you would have a ton of people putting off purchasing a game until then. Better to keep everyone guessing and buying games now.

They used to have last calls to distributors for games. Don’t know why they stopped.

I guess I see this differently. I'd see someone posting that they got an email from my distro and think, "my game must not be ready yet since I didn't get any info. I guess I'll be waiting for the next round".

That said, anyone that's heard from Cointaker about GZ (I'm a Pro) shipment this week, feel free to PM me that info.

I almost missed my Godzilla pro. Got several emails to my old email address from last purchase starting Monday . Randomly asked about something else and was told I almost missed out. Paid deposit Dec 4 for reference

Was also told any premium ordered now is 2023 for the second time

Well I don't know if posting the above upped my mojo but I did get my final invoice for my GZ Premium today at 7:30! Good luck for everyone who's still waiting.

-J

Same here and ditto the GL to everyone waiting. Seems Stern did up the production of GZ as I was originally told likely fall this year.

What is next on the line? AIQ and then Rush ?

Yes.

Aiq should be wrapping up, or is wrapped up.

I don't think so. But if someone has a line pic from today that would be helpful. More like next week for AIQ.

I’m Working on it. The backlog of ships is getting smaller.

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“Or is wrapping up”

Yup, and that’s the way I would take that info too. My concern would be that there’s a bunch of people who wouldn’t take that news in stride. On an unrelated note, your collection of games is amazing. Well done.

Godspeed sir. I had no idea of the scale of things that go down in that area until I visited for the first time a few years ago. It’s pretty remarkable.

Sorry slightly off topic but does anyone have experience with Joystix games in Houston, TX ?

The twin ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach make up over 40% of all America’s ports by volume.

Iron Maiden is on the line. https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=10156394396469244

Is this like a late April Fool's joke or something?

Nope, just a wee bit off on the date…

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Yeah that's why I was wondering if he was intending it as a prank or something.

They’re building on a saturday? Sus.

Any news on JP premiums?

I've never bought a game from them but I have communicated with them about buying a few machines at different times. They are nice people and have a great showroom near downtown Houston. Only downside I've seen with them is their pricing. Most things are above MSRP, but that's just the market right now.

Tracking JP prem to be on the line for late April.

AIQ, Rush, then JP Prems, so probably not until the 3rd week in April at the earliest.

Do they normally not build on the weekends? I guess I figured they ran the factory 7 days a week…

Just as a totally unrelated aside…just played a game on my R&M, thank you for the coding masterpiece you did on that one!

The guy is friendly enough, but I moved on to a dealer who sells at MSRP. It's the dealers' obligation to demand Stern allow them better margins, not my obligation to pay more than the game is worth.

At least he’s doing it quietly, unlike the distributor down in Florida who’s shamelessly asking 12,500 for his NIB GZ premiums and Rush premiums on Facebook

Ya, I wouldn't be surprised at all if in the current situation with shortages and NIB games going for well over msrp that some of the distros are telling people they got short allocations just to turn around and sell on the side for scalper pricing. Some even seem to be openly be doing so.

What does everyone think about the approximately 6 weeks of time in May/June where nothing is scheduled to be built?

Surprise Kapow release?

Build whatever is still needed?

Something else?

Backorders

X2 … and some breathing room in the schedule in case of the inevitable problems before then

Our last production update was end of January and that was for the 2nd quarter. My best guess is that around the time Rush or JP hits the line, we are going to get a Stern production line update for the 3rd quarter, as they will be able to tell how many pre-orders there are for machines. A lot of people are ordering Rush and Godzilla from multiple distributors and might be cancelling orders around that time. And Stern could see a more realistic estimate of what they owe (the most recent news we had is that there are over ten thousand pins on backorder at this time).

Most likely Stern will be fulfilling the promise they made earlier this year and do extra runs of Godzilla, Rush, Mando and Deadpool during those weeks. Right now they are fulfilling their earlier production line when they were going to do a cornerstone build in May. So it most likely seems that time will be dedicated to their backorder just like they said they were going to do.

If there is no 3rd quarter update when JP hits the line at the end of this month, then there's a chance you might see something else this summer. So there should be a good month before any rumors fly, lol. We could leave that optimistic speculation for The Next Stern thread, and leave this thread the only place to go to find information of what is really happening instead.

Also, on a side note, I have shipping updates, my Godzilla Pro is arriving on Monday.

That dude has been selling everything at ridiculous prices. Surprisingly, It also looks like he is finding people to buy them.

Yep, just takes that one person who can’t wait or needs that instant gratification. Seeing it a lot these days.

Most want to blame the sellers, but it’s really the buyers that drive a lot of the crazy pricing.

They do. One of my Sterns (JP or EHOH) was built on a Saturday. My guess is they dont on Sundays though.

I still won't buy from the dealers who are charging the scalper prices on any games. I go to Game exchange, Tilt amusements and Kingpin.No games playing the market like others.Even if their pros and premiums are normal prices they still are not selling the LE at retail.Im done naming names,but when you see the LE's at 16k and toppers at 3 k from a stern dealers , it just rubs me the wrong way.And what I even find more interesting is how Pinheads defend them and say how great they are.

Just paid my MSRP invoice for a Deadpool Premium - will confirm build date when it arrives.

I don’t really care if people ask high prices or if people pay them. Where it gets problematic for me is when the people asking these high prices are the same ones who have better access to the games in the first place, as a distributor/dealer

It’d be like Best Buy deciding to start charging $750 for PS5s

Some earlier post are saying that Stern is not making anymore Iron Maidens. Is that just this year or is stern retiring the title ? Or are we just guessing?

That's the perfect example.I just don't understand why people defend the Stern Dealers charging the scalper prices.Everyone would be screaming if Best Buy or Gamestop was selling PS5's for scalper prices.

I just heard no more this year - but the license is still active. So maybe next year

It's all just speculation unless you see it in the archive on Stern's homepage.

Forced bundles of garbage accessories was basically the same thing, and Best Buy has no problem whipping that trick out as needed.

I think you’re referring to Game stop, but i see your comparison. At least in those scenarios you were actually getting additional items. These guys are paying less and charging more.

Oh well, more on topic, hoping to receive my GZ prem shipping date this week

Gamestop, Walmart are notorious for it, but I think Best Buy isn't above it, either. At least that's my memory when I was trying to get one for the kiddies.