I heard avengers pros were available in Jan so maybe that’s a small run they are doing

Would add August - Godzilla Pro & Premium

What’s the deal with Deadpool? Did they go through all their stock of ramps on the last run of BM66 or something? Wowie wow wow. Hate to see folks waiting so long for that one. Seems like between DP and Mando they just keep kicking those cans down the road.

I'm not totally sure, but think I heard on TPN podcast today that DP has been moved to 2023. I already own a DP pro so I wasn't paying close attention. But Zach also said that Stern shuts down the line for 2 weeks in January for inventory.

I know what's not on the line,and that's my Dec.2021 Jurassic park run.

Gonna have to listen to that, I hope that’s not true. I’ve had a deposit down since July, a 2 year wait would be disappointing, especially since there’ll be more price rises

And sadly no Van Halen themed pinball

I am hearing an additional run of Godzilla Premium to run in August 2022. If you order today that's when yours will ship.

I think what he said was there was no production date announced for the Deadpool Premiums that were supposed to be made in December. I took that to mean they were likely to be made before the next known production date (July/Aug 22) but a date hadn’t been announced. I don’t think this means the July/Aug 22 run of Deadpool’s is canceled or changed— sounded to me like that was still the plan, with a potential run of Deadpool premiums TBD between now and then.

Just my interpretation, obviously.

A small run of mando premium seems to have happened right at end of year. I got the call yesterday my premium was shipping.

That would be an odd move right after announcing a new title.

I think they may have done inventory early this cycle as some distribs received Demo games at the end of the year.

I'm not giving up on this one. We now have the greatest Canadian band ever, might as well make the best US band ever too!

Does anyone know how backordered parts for machines that are not being produced anymore works? I'm waiting on new ramps for my Iron Maiden and they told me they have no idea when they could get them. Since IMDN is out of production now what does that mean for a part like this?

I went back and listened again. Zach said DP was delayed until next year. Now the episode was recorded on Sunday so that was January 2. So I’m just guessing that he made the mistake of what year it is. Just like I always put the wrong year on a check for the first 2 weeks of a new year. That’s when I used to write checks

It seems to me that Stern runs the risk of heavy cancellations as they continue to push out production dates. I have an EHOH Premium on order which I am excited for. But it was originally scheduled to be produced end of 2021. Now it looks like 12/22. I may well still be excited for it a year from now. But there may also be any number of new CGI or JJP or someone else's offerings between then and now that might change my (and possibly other peoples') priorities. If someone else comes up with the next great pin, Stern could lose out big. I would be a little worried about that if I was in Stern management. Then again, if all manufacturers are in the same boat, maybe it's no big deal.

I think they've got enough business at this point that the loss would have to be pretty significant to matter.

I'm pretty new to the pinball world but it's clear to me Stern has found a formula that works for the majority of players in this hobby. Their machines get a ton of hype, they have access to exciting licenses and they have a dedicated core fanbase.

I think their biggest loss is opportunity cost in that they could be selling more units per year. Things would have to slide considerably before they lose their core customer base. It sounds like parts really are holding them back though. With the amount of business they have you'd think they would have expanded their line more, but maybe it's just not possible at this point?

I paid my balance for deadpool premium "december" run a few weeks ago. i'll have to call my distributor next week when the rush hype dies down.

Short term I don't think Stern cares much because demand is far exceeding their production capacity, any cancellations just come off their huge backlog of orders, and the games they are producing are at a higher price point. They should be concerned for when things normalize that they have burned a large number of customers with the price increases after they have already put down deposits and waited months.

Was that an option? Hadn't heard that rumor.

Cancellations don’t affect Stern at all actually. You are cancelling a spot with your distributor, not Stern. Your distributor keeps the order with Stern and just sells it to the next person in line.

Sorry for the confusion y’all. So there was supposed to be a run of DP Prem at the end of December 2021. They bumped them all to 2022 but said there’s no month ETA in that run. They tentatively have DP on schedule for July 2022 for Pros and August 2022 for Prems. Now with them saying no ETA that could mean a run between now and the summer run OR that could mean no run until summer and they will combine the Prems in the August run

Zach out here doing the Lord’s Work!

Is the February Mando Premium run still on as you reported on your podcast? Someone over in the Mando thread is saying their distro just told them March.

As of right now I am being told February for Mando Pro and Prem, with the remainder Prems of what wasn’t made Dec 2021 built into the February run. Godzillas back on the line in March maybe that’s what they were thinking.

Then again, they may know something I don’t. I’m simply going off of the most up to date formal schedule sent to us dealers (which often changes no doubt)

Thanks, I think there was originally a Mando Premium run scheduled for March 2022 if I'm remembering correctly, but that was when the October 2021 run was still on.

Definitely no more Ironman VE's?

Adding fuel to the conspiracy fire...local place just put a new Deadpool pro out with the connected apron on it. Maybe that small Deadpool pro run happened and only operators got them. Stern gets them games first...

naah, the operators got 1st crack at the IC kits. your local place must have installed one.

No, the just got the Deadpool. Their older Spike2 games don't have the bar, and they just announced the new Deadpool coming in.

Stern sold off their demo games from Expo a couple of weeks ago. They all had insider connected installed.

That would make more sense...i'll have to ask the owner about it next time I go in there.

I heard the latest run of My Little Pony is really clogging up the line at Stern

deadpool?

I gave up and cancelled my DP premium order. My distro told me in very explicit terms that there is no projected production date for the DP pro's and premiums, so don't count on it. So I bought a 2018 DP premium with some cool mods. Still waiting, shipping can take awhile.

Has anyone gotten a new pin delivered from Stern... this year? Stern announced Rush 2 weeks ago and I have not yet heard of any of those showing up anywhere. I would assume that is what is being built now.

Stern showed them on the line day before yesterday on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sternpinball/photos/pcb.10159980991489244/10159980991394244

This is it right here.

Stern would absolutely love nothing more than to be able to sell everyone their machines, including your Elvira, but the reality is that they are swamped between 3 but factors:

1. Pandemic
2. Supply chain issues
3. Resurgence in pinball’s popularity

But Spooky and Jersey Jack and American Pinball and some kid working on a white wood in their parents’ basement are all subject to these factors.

It’s easy and quite understandable to be frustrated. Hell, I feel you personally because every day when I look at my Elvira with the topper, shooter rod, art blades, I’m extremely thankful I got it when I did, and not one day later. I was contemplating preordering like you, because I heard about that December run too… glad I ended up nabbing a HUO. Paid less than MSRP too.

You can find these deals, because not everyone is trying to flip. You just have to be vigilant and patient. The single biggest factor in pinflation is FOMO. Full stop. But people just love blaming anything else in order to justify their addiction to politicizing uncontrollable factors.

Won't be for a few weeks yet

Stern stops production for 2 weeks at the beginning of the year to do inventory cycle counts.

I heard from a guy who knows a guy who once heated up a hotpocket in one of the 2000 microwaves at Stern that Rush will start shipping soon (like next week).

I received my Mando Premium the first week of January. Production date of 12/28/21.

They may stop the line for two weeks, but inventory counts shouldn’t take that long.

Anyone know when that Dec 2021 JP run has been delayed til?

Best guess April

One just showed up in Chicago today.

probably a test pin

Some more shipping soon

rush on line (resized).jpg

I was told DP is still projected for August.

Godzillas are shipping so they arent "closed" or doing inventory or whatever