Quoted from Insanity199:

Another vote of confidence for Rob olbobber at Mad Pinball. My DP Premium from the small late Jan run was just delivered yesterday. He was very communicative through the process. He was also very accommodating when FedEx botched the drop ship and attempted to deliver to him rather than directly to me. He did everything he could to get it resolved and keep me informed. FedEx admitted mistake and got it to me in great condition.
The real judge of good customer service is how things are handled when they don’t go according to plan. Rob proved that he goes the extra mile to fix mistakes even when they were made by a third party. [quoted image][quoted image]

Quoted from unclerudy:

Is Deadpool moved up from August to July?

Quoted from Chisox:The demand is obviously nuts but on a different note I was in Long Beach last week and got a first hand look at the supply chain issues everyone is talking about. Cargo ships as far as the eye could see just sitting there waiting. It was mind boggling and made me a little more sympathetic to manufacturers. Hope you get your game soon, GZ is incredible!

Quoted from shanksfornothin:

Wow that’s really eye opening….I ordered my GZ premium 12/1 with my dist. And was told probably may run/ poss. July. So I’ll count myself very lucky. I get the different distributor thing but it still seems wrong for me to order 3 months after you and possibly receive our order in the same run. Especially considering the huge amount of orders for GZ premium

Quoted from Mattyk:

I’m surprised that many of you are required to pay a $1,000 deposit on preorder. Is it refundable? I’ve only ever used one distributor and he charges a refundable $250 deposit with balance paid the day the game ships

Quoted from djsolzs:

I find it interesting NOBODY wants to mention their distributor. All the secrecy around pinball and end of the day people don’t want to “call out” anyone or cause them more work by having others inquire? It’s their business. They are middle men/women.
I’m pre order through Cointaker last Nov and was told sometime this year.

Quoted from JimB:

If orders are getting to 2 years out Stern doesn’t even need to do any new titles.

Quoted from RabanzZ28:

Was originally a March Godzilla order (ordered beginning in November). Just was told Distributor had their allocation cut again and now looking at July/August. Hopefully that date sticks now.

Quoted from JToeps:

My disti said that my Rush Prem was due to be made last week. Any news on if Rush is on the line or if they slipped a bit? (likely)

Quoted from Billygrippo:

I’m pretty sure they’re gonna run Deadpool until the last person on the planet has one! Lol!

Quoted from SantaEatsCheese:

I think that Stern is STARTING to get caught up on some of its backlog. I just received the following list about stock games with free shipping (promotion) from pinballpro. It's not the full lineup, but it is progress.
Avengers IQ Pro
Avengers IQ Premium
Mandalorian Pro
Mandalorian Premium
Beatles Gold
Star Wars Pin Comic
RUSH Pro
Guns N Roses Limited

Quoted from tacreno:

I would rather they do 1000 deposit and we actually get our games.

Quoted from wackenhut:

Is July going to be the last run for JP premium?

Quoted from PinMonk:

Womp, womp. Maybe not. RUSH Pros are halted for running out of parts. They're making RUSH premiums now. RUSH Pro may resume later this week or early next.

Quoted from Pinball-Ike:

Hahah, hey now…Some folks, like me, are waiting for a LZ premium. I don’t even see LZ in the ‘to build list’… hopefully they squeak a few machines in between the big runs of other pins.
It’s ok, it took a while to play lots of games on a few Prem/LE machines to overcome my fear that the ‘cognoscenti disdain’ on Pinside was correct and realize I enjoy the play, shots, and music to order one. I also need a little time to decide what leaves when it arrives.

Quoted from PinMonk:

Yeah, they had a good start, then hit a wall. Frustrating for a lot of RUSH Pro customers waiting for their day-one orders for just shy of 4 months now...

Quoted from finman2000:

I received notification today that my Rush pro will be shipping from CT.

Quoted from Minnpin65:

Good luck on ordering a new LZ...I'm fearful they aren't going to build anymore based on the shortages of more popular games. I own a LZ premium...unlike most sentiment towards the game on this website, mine is bolted to the floor! Not going anywhere! I love the flow and the theme! I'd be on the lookout for one in the secondhand market.

Quoted from PantherCityPins:

Dude there's a LZ premium on the market right now for under MSRP. Buy that.
https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/132569

Quoted from OSUBuckeye98:

LZ is a good game, I hope you enjoy it..the upper right flipper shot has to be one of the hardest/most rewarding shots.

Quoted from pinballjah:

Very strange, I asked P1 around the same time about ordering a GZ Premium and they said they wouldn't take my order, too many ahead of me (and I live in Ontario). Surprised they can sell to an American, as Canadians cannot technically buy from a US distributor. Never heard of them selling to a person in the US before. Do they charge you any sales tax as we have to pay 13% if picked up in Ontario? Thanks.

Quoted from TigerLaw:

I thought there were two distributors in Canada? Only one?

Quoted from pinballjah:

I was going to say, that sounds like Ontario They only have a distribution restriction on Stern games so you can buy JJP, Chicago Gaming, etc., from any other distributor you like in Canada or the US. I know lots of people that buy Stern games in Michigan, etc. from distributors that will gladly sell to a Canadian. They don't seem to have any territorial issues. Some US distributors won't sell to Ontario residents but a lot don't seem to care.

Quoted from unclerudy:

Any chance that they are going to run DP Pro again? Or should I just try to get it from someone else?

Quoted from shanksfornothin:

I’m not here to start a fight, but I thought your post was helpful and in good spirit for the community of this thread and even though I’m not interested in a DP I appreciate you sir!

Quoted from amhpensfan:

I ordered my GZ prem nov 5th... Still have zero idea when it will arrive. What is my best bet on another NIB Stern that i could receive quickly?

Quoted from Pinash:

Mando is a fun game. Unfortunately with a lot of GZ, DP, JP, and Halloween (yup I included that one) showing up at homes and in the marketplace, Mando definitely looses out.

Quoted from Rcarpen22:

My GZ Pro is in! Going to pick it up this week. I know the Pros are not so hard to get as the premiums, but I’m pretty pumped nonetheless.

Quoted from shanksfornothin:

Ok I’m really frustrated, I talk to my distributor because he had said I might get my GZ premium. So I call today just to see if he had any updates, I’ve called him maybe twice in the last 8 months. He acts like he doesn’t know when the game is being made, doesn’t know when he gets games in or how many. All of those things I know he knows. If I’m not getting my game this run just say so. That’s fine I don’t care I’ll get it next run but don’t give me this run around of it could be any day it could be 2 months let’s just see what I get when I get it. Like I said I don’t care that I’m having to wait, and I really try to not pester him. This is the last game I buy from this dist.

Quoted from vicjw66:

Sounds like my distributor. But it would be nice if they told us how many premiums they get in the May run, and what position on the list we were on, and what position on the list we now sit going into the next run, (assuming we don’t make the cut)

Quoted from PinMonk:

Probably has to do with blowing through the parts they have for it then retiring it. Definitely hasn't set the sales charts on fire.

Quoted from Cobray:

So they're done with Godzillas already? WTF!!! UGGHHHHH.
I'm never getting mine.

Quoted from Quadrat:

That was my thought. Must have been short on parts.

Quoted from crujones4life:

This is your absolutely last shot at a NIB GOTG. If you want one. Call and get on a list now.

Quoted from NoDisclaimer:

Looks like Mando is on the line. I hope stern continues the what's on the line Friday on Facebook.

Quoted from ovfdfireman:

I have Godzilla Pro and Deadpool Pro in stock
[quoted image]

Quoted from shanksfornothin:

With the big jump in price of a JJP on toy story I imagine the next stern will jump up in price too. I bet a pro will be 8k premium 10k and LE could go to 12-13k
All the more reason I’m praying I get my GZ premium in July before the new release

Quoted from PinRat:

there are dealers on pinside marketplace offering retail price + free shipping of Rush Premium

Quoted from blowback1976:

Hope so. I’m supposed to be in the June run.

Quoted from bsrhardy:

Just got my Godzilla premium today. June 18 build date.

Quoted from NEW-B:

Sales tax makes it not as attractive.

Quoted from shanksfornothin:

Wait it’s not normal to pay sales tax? LOL just got killed on sales taxes for my GZ premium I just finalized payment on.

Quoted from WeirPinball:

Debating on doing this with my GZ premium, I imagine at some point the market will be flooded with them and could possibly pick up a used one.

Quoted from PinStalker:

The distro's are told their allocation beforehand.
If I was a dealer/distro I'd be sending invoices as soon as I knew too (for a specific run). Gotta run thru those people who are dropping out and get to the good orders.

Quoted from ovfdfireman:

Please don't hesitate to reach out, when not using a credit card, we can knock of some

Quoted from fourvdean:

Ill ask again, does anyone know if GZ pro's are on the line or scheduled to be this year, all i keep hearing about is premiums, maybe no demand for pros and they shelved them to 2023

Quoted from unlockpinball:

Noticed that too and figured that another run is in the works.

Quoted from NoSkills:

That would be news to most people since it’s been moved to Stern’s archived section on their website

Quoted from wackenhut:

I heard to keep up with JJP, Stern is going to release a Stranger Things 4 (JK)

Quoted from solid_snake:

Probably Star Wars still. I think LZ next and then GotG.

Quoted from Mizzou0103:

Is there a price increase rumored to happen soon?

Quoted from mbrave77:

if its only a 300ish increase most people will be fine with that. Theyll actually praise stern for their small increase in comparison to TS4 at JJP

Quoted from Sorokyl:

just imagine if they really did make LZ for 4 weeks straight. poor distributors would be having to give them away.

Quoted from seenev:

I wonder if the pinball market will follow the real estate market. The owner of the house next door had an offer to buy the house earlier this year for $585,000 and the owner scoffed at the offer, thinking that the market is so hot that he could get $650,000. Well the house has been listed at $565,000 for two months without any takers. He expected a bidding war, but by the time the house went on the market, the market had cooled significantly.
I'm starting to think that waiting for the secondary market next year is a better path than ordering an NIB that's at least that far away. Stern reminds me of the owner of the house next door in a lot of ways. I wouldn't order a game right now with such a long lead time when the market could be totally different by the time it ships.

Quoted from MaxIsDead:

Guardians invoice received and paid, told it ships next week

Quoted from John-Floyd:

I need my RUSH Topper!

Quoted from mbl1116:

I’ve seen plenty of GZ premiums listed for 10,500 or less recently. Factor in the price increase and shipping costs and you’re pretty much there.

Quoted from hiker2099:

I traded GZ Premium for Rush Prem. GZ is overhyped by the community at large JMHO. I never even knew who Rush was but it is a real shooter and integration is top notch. I am now a Rush fan.
Now if only Borg would put Elwin in check with a King Kong pin.

Quoted from ZoraShinoda:

I believe they still have more led Zeppelin premiums to make. I have one on order and my distributor told me they're waiting on parts for the expression lighting. My distributors said he's waiting on about 20 of them still.

Quoted from NC_Pin:

For most titles the Premiums are back to selling at a pretty significant discount. I have a feeling Stern may have a hard time pushing this price increase.

Quoted from Damonator:

Prior to COVID, most distributors had pro/prem games in stock and you could find the same gently used titles for $500-$1k under MSRP.
My guess is the price increases will return the market to the pre-COVID model where most people buy used unless a new title is a dream theme.

Quoted from Crumbalimb:

The dealers might start offering a bit off the retail also.

Quoted from Gubbin:

Meanwhile.. There's still Rush Pro and Premium on Amazon

Quoted from Vitty:

Anyone hear when the next iron maiden run will be?

Quoted from NoSkills:

It’s not in the archive section on their site yet so still hope for those waiting I think

Quoted from Bohm:

I'm on a waiting list for GZ Premium and right now I don't know if I'm willing to pay $700 more.

Quoted from vikingerik:

Yeah, Rush seems to be the definition of something that will have no long term legs. All the Rush fans bought one right away and it's not like there's any new Rush fans still being created. And the pinballing isn't amazing enough to transcend the dad-rock genre like Iron Maiden did. Iron Maiden makes you feel badass, Rush's vibe is to make you feel silly. Rush's ceiling for demand is no higher than Led Zeppelin and probably lower.

Quoted from PinStalker:

I wonder too...... but I'm not sure if SW really is a great seller, I'm sure it's a steady moderate seller but not a great one. If it was still hot then they'd be making the comic art version.

Quoted from PinMonk:

This is a weird technical recession in the US because the jobs and general economy are still pretty strong with corporate profits at the highest level since the 1950s. What tripped the GDP-based recession switch was sky high energy prices aggravated by the Ukraine war and naked profiteering by corporations blaming supply chain issues when those are mostly long past (see: highest corporate profits since the 1950s). And even the negative growth from early last year that tripped the technical recession seems to be edging into in the rearview mirror. The strong recent US jobs report seems to bear that out, and profits are still very high. Unfortunately, the great jobs report means that the Fed will likely be raising interest rates again, strengthening the US Dollar, which is bad for the rest of the world, but GREAT for US vacations overseas. For Americans it's a great time to visit Tokyo DisneySea and see the best Disney park on the planet. It's about 1/3 off normal pricing due to the strong US dollar.
BUT that strong US dollar will also raise the prices of Stern pinball machines (and toppers!) overseas without them raising the actual price at all. And that could be bad for Stern unless they try to adjust the overseas pricing so the end user prices don't continue to go crazy due purely to exchange rate.
We'll see, but I wouldn't count on a big recession making your dream pinball lineup cheaper soon unless there are severe developments with Ukraine/Russia or China/Taiwan that destabilize things further.

Quoted from vikingerik:

There is no real recession. The negative growth is an illusion of badly analyzed year-over-year numbers. The 2022 numbers look bad only because they are being compared to year-2021 numbers that were artificially high because of time-shifted pent-up demand from the 2020 pandemic year. Compare anything from 2022 to 2019 and it looks close enough to normal for a three-year period.

Quoted from chad:

This year and 2024 will be bad. I hope that no pinball company has to layoff or worse close.

Quoted from NC_Pin:

If there is an actual recession, I think it will be very light... more like the Y2K inventory adjustment recession.
There is still a significant labor shortage in the marketplace. Any layoffs that happen will be offset by new hires. It may help to cool wage growth, which will ultimately wind down inflation.
I just don't get the belief that we are headed to a massive 2008-era recession when there is such a shortage of labor. For it to happen the absolute bottom would have to fall out of the jobs market, and based on corporate profits, I don't see that happening.

Quoted from mbrave77:

Pinball wise you can see it with used game sales. They arent going for the premium they were a year ago(im ignoring the sought after LE market). A lot of that can probably be attributed to Stern pumping out games the last year from their backlog, but I think its also about folks having less free cash to spend on things like Pins.
I like many others took quite a hit in the market in 2022. I tend to invest more in tech which took a beating. Even though we may have the money to spend its harder to let it go when your portfolio is so darn red!
Luckily my 11 pin lineup is full. I cant fit another. So when I need a new game I just need to sell one hopefully for around the same price I want the new game at....

Quoted from desertT1:

Dang, I’ve been waiting something like 58 weeks to give them $9,000, now $9,700 (yay!) thanks to how long it’s been since I put in my order. I can imagine waiting what’s probably felt like forever to get a game I won.

Quoted from dboeren:

I'm just hoping they do another run of Stranger Things Premium as Gomez hinted at - preferably with an updated TK lock mechanism and the UV playfield pre-installed. Also I'm not sure when such a thing might be able to fit into the production schedule if it DID happen.

Quoted from jackd104:

Call around to other distributors, especially the smaller ones. In the summer I found a gz premium within a week after waiting on a list for months.

Quoted from Quadrat:

I was kinda like you. But I shifted from a Prem to Pro. I got my NIB pro in Sept. Great game.

Quoted from unclerudy:

What are the thoughts on what the cornerstones are going to be?

Quoted from westofrome:

For the love of god, that is one humorless lineup.

Quoted from unlockpinball:

When will Stranger Things Premium be on the line again? 2024?

Quoted from PinMonk:

American has Galactic Tank Force. Maybe that's what you're thinking of?

Quoted from gandamack:

pretty sure that posting a factory friday video is not a high priority, lol.

Quoted from qbass187:

Am I crazy or does Foo Fighters remind anyone else of Scooby Doo??

Quoted from Concretehardt:

Is there really more demand for these...
July 2023 - AIQ Pro & Premium
Aug 2023 - Star Wars Pro & Premium
Nov 2023 - Mandalorian Pro & Premium
Maybe there’s a bunch of people waiting on these games but it just seems odd that Stern would make these instead of other things that have large back orders. (GZ DP JP EHOH) or run some STH.

Quoted from jackd104:

Foo is clearly inspired by scooby cartoon. Even the skeleton masks the aliens are wearing. There was an episode where the bad guys wear the same. There was another episode with aliens. So aliens wearing skeleton masks is like funny/ridiculous. They took the tropes from Scoob and other old cartoons and exaggerated them. I thought this was plain to see. It doesn’t mean they sabotaged the scoob pin. It’s not like it is a real big stretch to do such a thing, it’s been done before in movies & cartoons many times.

Quoted from king_pin:

Do we have any dates on FF Pro first run?

Quoted from king_pin:

Looks like it's GZ and EHOH again this week

Quoted from PanzerFreak:

Some buyers, including myself, rather pay $500 more to have a game NIB and delivered to their home. 200+ plays and having to drive to then pack up a game for transport isn’t worth the $500 savings IMO.

Quoted from JackG:

Apparently, we’ll see it in 3 weeks at Comic-Con available to play thanks to Orange County Pinballs. So maybe a tease soon and full announcement in 2 weeks?
My bet’s on Venom. When you hear hooves on the ground, don’t think zebras.

Quoted from AJC3030:

Bond does suck.

Quoted from PtownPin:

Lesson learned....NEVER put down a deposit for a game. Be patient and wait it out as most come available eventually. GZ Premiums are really easy to come by these days and I doubt that will change over the next couple years. I learned my lesson several times (unfortunately) with putting deposits down for CGC games....NEVER again

Quoted from flynnibus:

30%? Not going to happen. Lots of history before the crazy period to show how 'current gen' games do well at holding in a relative band of pricing below NIB prices.
Used prices lower than NIB? of course... as long as there are new people in the hobby who aren't confident in their skills people will always be willing to pay a premium for NIB vs used.
The whole 'my 3 month old game has appreciated over NIB' was a temporary anomaly and everyone of sound mind knows that would not continue once the production scarcity issue was resolved. That doesn't mean all prices are crashing - it means we will be moving back towards normal.
People who can afford it will prefer NIB over used
People who want the latest title will pay Stern NIB prices
Used prices will be lower than NIB unless a title was somehow under produced or somehow significantly enhanced post-production
Modern HUO used titles will not radically drop in value radically as long as the hobby keeps expanding and the market is dominated by Home buyers

Quoted from PtownPin:

I have a "free" spot for my PFLE due to the fact that CGC hasn't delivered on my CCRLE. Once they deliver on the CCR I'll have to fork over the deposit if I want the spot, which isn't gonna happen. The only way I could change my mind is if PM got someone else to make the game. Waiting 2+ years for a CGC game isn't worth the wait especially in this market. Were on the verge of games dropping 10-30% off MSRP as soon as u open the box

Quoted from Zambonilli:

Interesting that there's not another Godzilla premium run on the calendar in 2024. Maybe a 70th anniversary LE is really in the works.

Quoted from Nicholastree:

I wouldn't read too much into it. They didn't have Bond on the schedule just two months ago and there it is for December. This schedule is only a snapshot of what we know or can speculate right now.

Quoted from Heatmiser:

I'm personally picking up my Jaws Pro Wednesday
Excited! Played it on location a ton and I can't wait to finally hear it in my home.

Quoted from brainmegaphone:

Shocking? What is shocking? That people don’t want to pay $500 more for a used game 200 miles away that someone glued a bunch of tacky “mods” to it when they could have a NIB shipped to their house for less?
Used stuff should cost less. What was shocking was when the market supported people putting 100 games on something and selling it for 10-15%. more than they paid.