Yeah that's hilarious af LOL

Its one thing to be critical of pinball design and gameplay and its another to be enough of an asshole to get banned from multiple forums. He adds the same amount of value as the real housewives. Some people love mindless drama.

So it would seem Todd doesn't like Kaneda, BTTF, or crujones4life...What do you like Todd? What puts the lead in your pencil, so to speak?

It’s gotta be Connery, doesn’t it? Considering he passed relatively recently (Oct ‘20) it seems a fitting homage to have him as THE Bond In the game…or at least the main one.

Don't follow him in the forums, I only listen to his commentary. I definitely don't always agree with him but he often makes good points and says things others won't.

Uggh really hope not one film. At least TS4 had all/most of main characters. Bond villains, girls, gadgets, locations, are all part of the magic. Shame if don’t tap into at least a chunk of that

If you don't pay it the next guy will. That's the simple sad truth. It sucks.

They don't pay for themselves until you sell the game. That's when you make your profit and roi operating. You have to keep the games rotating.

No problem buddy. Just trying to be interesting.

Bummer. I do pretty well up north.

This is mostly true…unless we’re taking about Stranger Things which umm…is actually printing money at the moment.

My only real gripe with Game Terminal is that dropping a shiny, expensive $1 token into games like Eight Ball Deluxe or Flash Gordon might be the worst value in pinball.

With us at Tilt Amusements, our deposits are always refundable, we dont care the reason you are backing out. We also only ask for a 100.00 deposit, just enough to say your serious, though we get tons that put deposits on multiple dealers and we know it. just sucks because those people dont care if the dealer gets screwed ordering games for them and then having to sit on them because of someone backing out. Right now, its not that big of an issue, as with the current situation, if someone backs out, there is almost always another person waiting.

Bringing up Elvira is a moot point, there was no MSRP on that game, so not a single dealer charged over since its an imaginary number. As for dealers charging over MSRP on other titles like godzilla premium or LE models, well that doesnt happen at tilt. Other distributors have been caught and are openly doing that, and personally, id avoid them, but its your choice. And pricing fluctuates really, Some games that are in everyones inventory are now starting to go below MSRP. Right now, i know we have mandalorian, rush and zeppelin, below msrp with free shipping. . You might not get the old street prices like you use to, but its never over msrp from our company games. (now im a collector to, so if someone offers me over msrp on one of my personal games, i think that is different, but i rarely sell my personal anyway)

When you Google Stern Bond... this comes up...

Stern Bond (resized).jpg

Lets revisit these points 6-12 months from now. I'll wager a good sum the market will be in a much different place.

See.

I see what you mean but TS4 a little different in terms of a series. I have more confidence in Stern doing it right than anyone else though, whatever assets they are using.

Bubble burst is right around the corner? That's crazy! You should start a pricing thread with that fresh take.

This comment actually wins the opposite-day award forever.

MV5BMWZiZDdiODItNjg4Yi00MTZjLWE3ZDktOTdhYjRkYTEyZDAyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI2MTc2MjE5._V1_ (resized).jpg

Thanks for the reply, that’s a great policy.

I didn't mention a bubble. I do think inflation is going to impact NIB sales in the next 6-12 months, particularly if Stern continues with price increases. It is already happening with Toy Story.

Demand for high end toys like pinball machines isn't price inelastic. Like I said, lets revisit this conversation in 6-12 months.

More like if they say it is not, have your lawyer give them a call.

So…

…what‘s next?

Venom. Always good to get a game and theme that will give the wallet a rest

Let's be clear - the TS4CE price had nothing to do with inflation. It was 100% money grab and I hope it bites them in the rear. Unless they wake up and bring back the magic that once defined their brand, I'm done with them.

BTTF

It is biting them in the rear. If Stern gets greedy, it will them as well.

I enjoy the discussion and amusement. He is entertaining to me...but it's also amusing when people give him shit. I don't dislike the guy...at all. He brings more interest and people to pinball. That's a good thing in my book. The banter between him and his followers just cracks me up!

Anyone bought a machine off Sterns site?
Is it a couple thousand deposit or pay in full?

It's pay in full. I think they ship immediately when you buy direct from Stern.

Already got an email from one distributor stern is going up but said they don’t know how much yet. They are $500 over msrp plus shipping. Prob 12500-13000 for le all in. I have a line on one at msrp hopefully so should be better.

I really hope its something that I like amd everyone else hates, so I can pick up a nib title for less than msrp

So you're mad that a company that deaigns the machine codes the game, fabricates the parts, and puts it all together and ships it to you (or to someone)....

You're mad that they want to get the most money, or market value as it should be called, instead of selling cheaper and letting flippers make money off of them?

You're mad at them for that? You hope making the most money and ending flipping bites them in the ass?

And you're mad at the company? Not the flippers that caused it.... But the company that makes said games that you love....

...Wow...

My distributor just threw me a curve. He said James Bond is a Stern misdirect.
He said James Bond is Stern's code name for their next superhero themed pin: The Green Hawk.
Green Hawk (resized).jpg
The good news is that pin buyers can save money by bundling it with their house and car insurance through Geico.

I would actually buy a BLANK MAN pin… the J5 toy would be amazing …. You kiss Kimberly and the pin starts to shake and shut down. He has some sweet gadgets.

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Green Hawk ? Blank Man?
I thought it was Matt Helm

Stern is not going to punish a distributor for honoring a preorder price, but it's a good mutually beneficial "policy" Stern has to make their distributors happy. They are free to rip off their customers blame-free. Unfortunately right now pinball is too big and there's too many customers with too few options and Stern has all the power.

It’s rare that I audibly laugh at a commercial, but this one did it

it already has. used sales of pins and vids that rose within the past 1.5 years are going down and for sale ads are taking longer and people drop prices over and over to sell. Not on every title, but most.
car repo's have been up as of late and im guessing housing foreclosures will be too as those that way overpaid asking prices on both of those will have to deal with their loans...

Stern next is James Bond. I am unsure of how much of the Steve Ritchie 3-flipper game version I saw originally is still left. Gomez, I assumed, changed a lot of it.

JJP is working on Elton John.

So many cool themes for pinball and the JJP rumours are Billy Joel and now.....Elton John. Groan....

next pin I would sign up for....

Asterix

- so many missions
- multi ball with magic potion

Asterix (resized).png

Take the magic potion!!

Stern is all about volume. They are not going to pull a JJP monster price out of the bag.

Gary and management can see secondary market softening and they know we are going into recession. $200-300 is not unreasonable and I think that's what we get.

or they are maybe just gonna take one more and last shot and milk this cow dry before the relentless and unavoidable recession that is coming. A quick $500 increase per trim, makes them a few millions, investors happy. With the .75 increase in borrowing costs and possibly more to come... it is just a matter of time now. no?

And so... Any chance you can release your Future Pinball Bond table I mean, that would be fun and nice, to release it at the same time as Stern Bond machine...

Personally, I don’t consider any additional increase at this time reasonable considering they raised prices over 20% less than a year ago.

I wish prices would go down, unfortunately the prices will continue to rise for lots of varying reasons... They are not focused about an "unavoidable recession". Their build of material costs increase, demand continues increasing... as evident from their existing backlog. Therefore the price will continue to increase. Their business model is printing money at this point... why not print some more. While it sucks that they are driving some of their existing customer base out of the market, with new people entering the market who have more money and are willing to pony up... You might not like it, I don't love it... but at the end of the day they are making a smart money making business decision.

I had a Godzilla LE in my cart from Stern -- but no shipping option to Canada! So I assume it's for US only. It is possible to snag one, just be ready.

They do this to all Canadian customers....

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