Man I wouldn't try to minimize this calling it " cosmetic chipping"... this is BARE WOOD showing on PF's in the first month.
Ridiculous.
Look at my collection... yes I hunted around for the most flawless machines at the time but some are 25 years old with no chipping whatsoever. And no BARE WOOD exposed.

Not only doesn't the clear stay on for a month but even the art is gone. I almost feel sorry for these companies and they've killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. What better way to break people of their unneeded NIB addiction than letting them know they may be looking at bare wood right away. Yes I've said "bare wood" four times... rebuild *that* since you make it sound as easy as changing coil stops.

It's not the end of the world obviously but who would take such an expensive risk if they know anything at all about this issue?

These companies better hope the oft-repeated mantra "most buyers aren't on PS" is true. Right now I wouldn't take the chance of buying new even with YOUR money

Ok I'll bite... just what IS the "worst thing that can happen to your game"?

I don't think people need to wait until their house burns down with everything in it before they can post some complaints on a pinball forum. Sure the language gets hyperbolic as people get worked up and others dismiss their concerns but hey... it's bare wood peeking out of essentially brand new PF's.

Kinda gets your attention.

They have the parts. Your parts. They can do it like Stern did. Stern sent customers a box for them to send back their populated PF. Then Stern took their old mechanical parts and swapped them onto a new undamaged PF. Then they sent the new assembled product back to the customer. That way the company doesn't eat the cost of all new mechs, etc and only has the PF, shipping and labor.

JJP could do the exact same thing for POTC customers that really had obvious damage... if they wanted to.