What distributor?

MOPLE looks better than METLE.

Interesting - so what you are saying is that Stern just got so many orders at the exact same time they just couldn't keep track of them and couldn't fulfill them? Also according to your timeline - it appears that you actually sold and/or received deposits on machines prior to actually ordering them from Stern - is that right?

No problem, really appreciate the honesty and integrity, though. Many distributors are saying they had the machines guaranteed and got cut - certainly with many this may be true. But I have a feeling some are/were in the same boat as you and took orders thinking there's no way they are sold out, but actually turned out that way - and they are just not being honest about it and blaming Stern 100%.

#1 - I wanted to know the distributor in case we had the same one and see if I needed to call.

#2 - Don't jump to conclusions based on a simple question - see #1.

#3 - Did you read the direct comments after this by chance? The distributor took orders that they thought they could get, but they couldn't. That puts most of the blame on the distributor - but this is the first time a sell-out of this magnitude happened, and every other time there's been no problem increasing the order, so you can understand why they took a few extra orders thinking it would be no problem to increase their purchase with Stern. The popularity was just completely underestimated by everyone involved. And you can't blame Stern for sending 240 overseas - let's see - 52% to USA, 48% to the REST OF THE WORLD. That's not a bad ratio.

And once again, some distributors don't seem to be learning. Taking preorders for a game assuming that they will get a certain allotment that will not be confirmed until the game is released.

Not sure where you are going with this - if anything, your post is proving my point. My post wasn't about assigning blame for Metallica, it was about learning from the experience. Even if it was 100% Stern's fault (which it wasn't 100% and that's a fact - some distributors on here have already said they screwed up), it doesn't mean they can just repeat the same errors and hope Stern fixes it the next time. You'd think distributors instead would say, "Wait a minute - we aren't going to take any preorders for Star Trek until we know what's going on this time."

Metallica was not a hot topic for the longest time, and look what happened. Now look at Star Trek - hugely popular 6+ months out - and they are taking preorder deposits? If Metallica did what it did, what do you think Star Trek is going to do? Why would they take preorders this early with the sh$%storm that happened with Metallica? Why not wait for it to get closer and to hear from Stern how the allotments for Star Trek are going to be handled?

May be a bit difficult - hope you can find someone, though. I've had upwards of $9k offered for mine after my FT trade was posted (still looking for the trade!), so demand seems to be pretty high.