Sited New Stern - Some advice to Operators

[Strangeways]

I just don't get it..

We ALL want Stern to survive - after all they are the only producer of pinball machines left on the planet. Yesterday, I visited a family venue in the Northern suburbs. FULL of vending machines a couple of vids and a Stern Batman. Not only was it filthy, but the game was not working. The kicker would work only after giving the machine a good push. Nice..

So the kids want to play it, but they don't know "how" to play - What are the rules and what do you need to do to "beat the machine"..

Unfortunately, the instruction card WAS IN SPANISH 

Seriously, it is no wonder the kids run off to the stupid novelty machines. Instead of $10 going into the Pinball it was used to win a toy in a vending machine.

[ddstoys]

I agree nino i dont think i have played a sited machine that is clean or works 100% but a spanish instruction card what a joke 

[braddo]

Yep sounds like the 2 machines I play at my local club, except on the weekend the White Water was out of order, the South Park doesn't play right it basically always has 2 balls on the playfield, so i win games pretty easily.

The White Water plays so bad i thought it was a dud title at first, and avoided playing it for years, but that's the good 'ol Frat for ya, the Wollongong guys will know what I mean.

[ajlaird]

The trouble with playing sited machines is that they are in most cases dirty, broken or otherwise in need of TLC.

You are so much better off attending a collector's home to find out how a machine is meant to play.

[Mr Tilt]

Stern Batman at ZAGAMES Reservoir
Played 30 minutes - 2 replays, extra balls etc in the end I left 3 credits on the machine - Wife was screaming to sit down and order!
Game was filthy but enjoyed it overall

Franks Amusements- Owns it - Rang him to sell me his 2 x MM's - Offered 10k no cigar

[daics3522]

Stern NBA located at Leisure island in Morley galleria Shopping Centre here in WA is absolutely disgusting. I even spoke with the duty manager and showed him the dirt and potential problems and he just sort of shrugged it off without any care in the world......

[beaky]

and then the operators have the hide to say that they don't want to bother with pinballs as they dont make much money and they cant understand why they dont make much money   

[Pinball Fixers]

This is why operators should not operate pinballs!!!

Most of them have no idea about maintenance, and they really only care about the cashbox... They keep telling me time and time again that pinballs make no money. No wonder... keep the pinballs clean and in good working order and they WILL make money! I've proved that many times.

I have 1 pinball in operation... a Fish Tales that makes great money. And each week I'm there to clean it and make sure it's running right.

Nothing shits me more than a pinball that's neglected that you want to play, so I will not let mine go that way.

Such a shame really, they can make great money for the operator, but the operators have no real idea what they are doing, so the machine sits there getting dirty and doesn't get the attention it requires. Then they simply say that pinballs are no good...

[Strangeways]

"in the old days.."

If a machine was not working, there was a call to the batphone / answering service. There was no way a machine would be left onsite, not working, for more than a couple hours. It would be removed from site and replaced with another. Times may have changed, but there was a certain level of "pride" back then. NO "modern" operators would have survived in the 60's - 80's. They are just too "slack".

I've been tempted to site some of my pins at Zagames - But they are "out of view".. At LEAST I'd go there once a week for a meal and I'd check the pins out VERY often.

[daics3522]

I have 1 pinball in operation... a Fish Tales that makes great money. And each week I'm there to clean it and make sure it's running right.

  Give ya $500 for it................ 

[ajlaird]

I've been tempted to site some of my pins at Zagames - But they are "out of view".. At LEAST I'd go there once a week for a meal and I'd check the pins out VERY often.

Yeah, sort of around the corner where anything could happen! There was a TSPP last time I went there - but as I was straight off to a MarkC meet following that party I didn't bother as I knew there was one on the floor. Then I didn't get around to playing it anyway...