Just got my GZ Premium invoice and there's +$500 for shipping. They said "it's simply too much for us to cover anymore."
I'd like to say "What did you used to pay? I'll pay the rest." That would be fair. But I'm pretty sure I have zero leverage on a Godzilla Premium. So, there goes another $500 on top of inflated MSRP.
Anyway, what are you guys running into lately with shipping fees? I'm curious which dealers are still covering shipping. $500 is not insignificant.
We still provide Free Shipping on all new Sterns, but I admit, it’s hurting lately with the shipping price increases, especially west coast. Shipping a Stern machine to the west coast can cost us $500-700. And we also pay shipping to get the games from Stern to our place.
Zach Meny
Flip N Out Pinball
I mean, where else would you expect to get FREE shipping, especially on freight items?
Customers should not expect this free, regardless of what was done in the past.
Quoted from ticktockman:I mean, where else would you expect to get FREE shipping, especially on freight items?
Customers should not expect this free, regardless of what was done in the past.
Dealers barely make money on these to begin with so maybe stop squeezing them for every last dime...
If they are giving you free shipping they are likely up-charging you on the game.. or they are terrible at math and business.
Seems the shipping was always baked in, but now with higher than MSRP prices it's hard to tell if its baked in or not.
Quoted from Elvishasleft:Dealers barely make money on these to begin with so maybe stop squeezing them for every last dime...
If they are giving you free shipping they are likely up-charging you on the game.. or they are terrible at math and business.
Hear that ZMeny ?? You’re terrible at math and business. I knew it!!!!
ZMeny If you want to ship in bulk, look into PODS moving and storage. 8'x8' container or 16'x8'. Brought to your door, you load, brought to the destination. Always kept level and safe and secure, no forklifts to damage the pins. If you can find a central location on the west coast for customers to P/U could save big money. Just a thought. (disclaimer I run Pods moving and storage West Michigan.)
For all the newbs chiming in with zero historical perspective, shipping was always included with Sterns. And the street price was always well below MSRP.
Quoted from Elvishasleft:Dealers barely make money on these to begin with so maybe stop squeezing them for every last dime...
If they are giving you free shipping they are likely up-charging you on the game.. or they are terrible at math and business.
You have no clue what dealers are making.
Quoted from ticktockman:I mean, where else would you expect to get FREE shipping, especially on freight items?
Customers should not expect this free, regardless of what was done in the past.
Nothing is free. It was included in the price. Now it's a surcharge.
If they start tacking shipping on top of all the recent price increases I am afraid I would be out on new games and just enjoy what I have and watch CraigsList for deals on used games.
I am sure shipping has gone up, and it is reasonable to see dealers increase their price. But it hasn't gone up $500; that is more like the total shipping price.
It's perhaps like UPS...when gas prices went up 12 years ago, they added a fuel surcharge to their prices. When fuel prices dropped back down, they forgot to remove the fuel surcharge. Go figure.
Shipping has always been free for me as long as I picked up at my distros warehouse Stern or otherwise. (they bring a tractor trailer load at a time)
If @ zmeny is paying for your shipping to west coast then he is not as big a shill as we thought - good work Zach 
Does beg the question what does a distro really make on a game if any are honest about it 
Also noticing if you want Godzilla premium some are forcing you to buy another less desirable title as well.
Quoted from Sluggo39:Also noticing if you want Godzilla premium some are forcing you to buy another less desirable title as well.
This is brilliant - all GZ premium come with a crappy LZ or Rush lol.
With diesel costs of nearly $1 per mile, costs will not be going down. Not many semis get more than 6 or 7 mpg, used to own one.
Shipping has never been free and we have always paid MSRP for new Sterns…AND paying tax…right my non-US brethren?
Plus we can buy from ANY authorized dealer (except there is only one in our territory and the West-coast one isn’t allowed to sell East and vice versa).
It’s supply and command, worst case Ontario I drive to Montreal and pick it up to save shipping at least.
I was quoted 9k plus shipping for a prem from a dealer I've been using for 15 years. I responded that the price was crazy, they said there are so many noobs that are buying for full price and also offering above msrp to get games asap that they don't need to sell below msrp right now. I ended up getting the game for 8k shipped from a large distributor.
Quoted from sanctumwear:I was quoted 9k plus shipping for a prem from a dealer I've been using for 15 years. I responded that the price was crazy, they said there are so many noobs that are buying for full price and also offering above msrp to get games asap that they don't need to sell below msrp right now. I ended up getting the game for 8k shipped from a large distributor.
Sounds like you found a better distro
What, you don't wanna buy the $13k Godzilla Premium from OC Pinballs? But seriously, been using Game Room Guys for awhile now and inventory is clearly shown in stock or not on their website with free shipping. Yes you have to pay MSRP + tax, but where do you truly expect to not pay tax?
Quoted from Darkwing:What, you don't wanna buy the $13k Godzilla Premium from OC Pinballs? But seriously, been using Game Room Guys for awhile now and inventory is clearly shown in stock or not on their website with free shipping. Yes you have to pay MSRP + tax, but where do you truly expect to not pay tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon
Quoted from seenev:Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon
I love the no state income tax deal here in Nevada. Plus a few other states are like that.
Most freight carriers have more than doubled their freight costs so guess it's to be expected. I used to get pallets of goods shipped here to FL from OH and NJ for around $200, now most carriers want $500-800 for the same route since the last year and a half.
Quoted from sanctumwear:I was quoted 9k plus shipping for a prem from a dealer I've been using for 15 years. I responded that the price was crazy, they said there are so many noobs that are buying for full price and also offering above msrp to get games asap that they don't need to sell below msrp right now. I ended up getting the game for 8k shipped from a large distributor.
Where are you getting premiums for $1k below MSRP with free shipping?
My JP Pro last year I got had free shipping and it was literally one of the 2 available in the whole country from the list of distros on Stern's website. I know this because I called every one.
I have a GZ Prem that should be in this last week July build coming to me that I paid retail for + $230 shipping. Considering I inquired about one in early June and can get one now, I'm not going to cry about $230 on a $9k item that is currently the most in demand pin.
Quoted from chuckwurt:Hear that ZMeny ?? You’re terrible at math and business. I knew it!!!!
Yup. Hahaha. I’m a better hobbyist than I am a businessman.
Quoted from MaxIsDead:If they start tacking shipping on top of all the recent price increases I am afraid I would be out on new games and just enjoy what I have and watch CraigsList for deals on used games.
I hear you and feel the same.
Quoted from GregCon:I am sure shipping has gone up, and it is reasonable to see dealers increase their price. But it hasn't gone up $500; that is more like the total shipping price.
Yep. It's the full shipping fee.
Quoted from Darkwing:but where do you truly expect to not pay tax?
In any state where the dealer doesn't do $100k+ annual sales.
Quoted from Sluggo39:Also noticing if you want Godzilla premium some are forcing you to buy another less desirable title as well.
I called around a few weeks ago looking for a NIB Deadpool Premium. The dealer who had one wouldnt sell it to me unless I bought every single stern deadpool mod along with it, even the shitty shooter rod, plus paid the full shipping fee. Came to almost $11k. Hard pass. Some dealers are really pushing the envelope on the desirable titles.
Quoted from IdahoRealtor:I called around a few weeks ago looking for a NIB Deadpool Premium. The dealer who had one wouldnt sell it to me unless I bought every single stern deadpool mod along with it, even the shitty shooter rod, plus paid the full shipping fee. Came to almost $11k. Hard pass. Some dealers are really pushing the envelope on the desirable titles.
Say what? Spill the beans
Quoted from sanctumwear:I was quoted 9k plus shipping for a prem from a dealer I've been using for 15 years. I responded that the price was crazy, they said there are so many noobs that are buying for full price and also offering above msrp to get games asap that they don't need to sell below msrp right now. I ended up getting the game for 8k shipped from a large distributor.
There’s nowhere you’re getting a NIB Stern Premium for 8k (with no tax or shipping). Pure hyperbole.
Quoted from IdahoRealtor:I called around a few weeks ago looking for a NIB Deadpool Premium. The dealer who had one wouldnt sell it to me unless I bought every single stern deadpool mod along with it, even the shitty shooter rod, plus paid the full shipping fee. Came to almost $11k. Hard pass. Some dealers are really pushing the envelope on the desirable titles.
Plenty of lousy dealers in the hobby.
Quoted from chuckwurt:Hear that ZMeny ?? You’re terrible at math and business. I knew it!!!!
Thats not what I said if you bother to read it.
Any dealer giving free shipping is likely charging more for the game to make up the diff. If not then I have no idea how they make any money.
If they say "free shipping" it makes you feel like you get a deal even if you don't.
I was offered someone's position once but after I saw the numbers there was no way in hell I was doing it.
These guys really do work hard and get underpaid for the amount of shit they have to take... they must have serious love for the hobby.
Quoted from Mike_J:Plenty of lousy dealers in the hobby.
1000% Mike. It’s pinball. Always shady with the exception of a few like Zach
Quoted from Mike_J:Plenty of lousy dealers in the hobby.
Yet no one ever names them when examples given. I’d love to know who to avoid.
Quoted from iceman44:Say what? Spill the beans
It was classic gamerooms. He said something like it's a hot title and it was his last one, so he gets to set the terms. I was ready to buy, but didn't want all the extra crap, and he wouldn't budge. I won't be calling him again.
Quoted from ZMeny:We still provide Free Shipping on all new Sterns, but I admit, it’s hurting lately with the shipping price increases, especially west coast. Shipping a Stern machine to the west coast can cost us $500-700. And we also pay shipping to get the games from Stern to our place.
Zach Meny
Flip N Out Pinball
Says the guy who has the highest prices and the worst customer service. Purchase elsewhere.
I've purchased a couple games from Zach and one of them still doesn't work properly NIB.
Quoted from IdahoRealtor:Those dealers currently treating everyone like rich, desperate, moron newbs are not playing the long game. Deep-pocketed old timers are taking names and have a long memory.
No doubt. Surprised that Jason at Classic took that approach.
He did that with me when Mando hit. LE mania. And then later said he wished he hadn’t done it but he did me a favor with that game. I said no f ing way. Long game
He’s been good for me before and after.
There are few I’ll never buy from again. EVER
Quoted from ThePlumber:Says the guy who has the highest prices
Msrp with free shipping? I must be missing something here.
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