The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Member Services => Sales and Services => Australian Pinball Restorations => Topic started by: Strangeways on March 15, 2015, 07:42:38 PM
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Due to a number of issues, we have fallen behind significantly on a number of projects within the restoration queue. Rather than email / PM, we thought it would be better to be "up front", and let members know. The restoration queue is well over 30 games at the moment, and the High End Restorations bear the brunt of the delays. I am currently working 7 days to catch up. The last 4 weeks has been tough, but we were already well behind the Eight Ball late last year.
All I can say is we need a bit more patience from and already "patient" customer base. We outsourced the DMD playfield restorations to our friends at Platinum Pinball to alleviate the workload, and this has helped. We have been referring on site repairs and also knocking back a lot of repair work. We currently do not do any work on warranty machines from other sellers (the infamous "Christmas Rush" pinballs - literally !)
At the moment, the demand for the High End Restorations is at it's peak. Things will level out over time - so we see this as a short term issue.
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Great to hear you are busy Nino. I am sure all those waiting on games will understand given all that has happened.
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7 days a week
You need to take a day off each week
There is no point burning yourself out
It is only pinball
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7 days a week
You need to take a day off each week
There is no point burning yourself out
It is only pinball
I don't really see it as a "job" - so there's no stress on my shoulders. It is more the waiting game that can get under the skin of customers as I'm not exactly known for keeping deadlines ! I just want customers to know that they are all in the same boat !
Sorry I was not in when you dropped by. Typical of me ! I hope you pop in again soon, Pete !
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I was passing by, had some time, took a chance
Alls good
Pete
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I once worked 7 days a week for 12 straight years and never once took a holiday.
But I loved what I did and the money was massive.
But in the end I did get burned out and took 18 months off to play all the pinballs that work payed for.
The moment the massive money stopped the marriage went to crap. Great to know what people keep you around for. Lol
I also reccommend any person taking a day off per week.
Your wife and children NEED u in their lives more and you can't kiss and cuddle kids n wives if u are always away at work. Rich and lonely doesn't beat comfortable and surrounded by the ones u love.
Force yourself to take the time off.
I was working 7 days to clear the back log, but 12 years later I still had a backlog.
The backlog never goes away but your loved ones do.
Long live pinball and all those who love this great hobby and industry.
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People will always happily wait for quality.
If they aren't happy to wait, then they have a choice to do it themselves, which ofcourse, most can't.
In this crazy world of technology, people have lost the concept of patience.
You need to seriously look at putting on an extra staff person. Pay them a rate that works for both of you, teach them and the business will grow and get through the work.
I saw Kenny Priest run his pinball business up here and I watched his high end pinball restorations.
He used extra passionate staff when he was swamped and I watched the business closely for many years.
He paid an amount on a ABN basis and his contractors got paid a fixed price per machine. He oversaw a work, managed it and checked quality control.
Without getting extra staff, he would never have been able to keep his backlog down from 100 to 10 machines.
Getting extra staff at a lower fixed rate gives passionate pinball people a job they love and the smaller earnings are the bonus. You would be amazed how many people would be willing to get involved and a lot will already have skills.
The company who purchased Kennys business up here when he retired copied his model and it works very well.
Everyone is making money and the business is growing in size and turnover, not earning less. Food for thought.
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completely agree with taking a break rather than working 7 days a week .. life is more important and you only get one of those
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And don't move too many heavy pinballs day after day or u will end up like me, requiring back surgery from tearing 3 disks with nerve damage.
Nothing nice about that when your mid forties. Lol
Sometimes we forget we are not spring chickens anymore. Doh !
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completely agree with taking a break rather than working 7 days a week .. life is more important and you only get one of those
I accepted that the first 2-3 years would be really hard, balancing work and young family. It is still fun, but there has been a lot of distractions lately. My son started junior football, and I've forced myself to help out so I AM away from work at least the equivalent of a full day a week.
And don't move too many heavy pinballs day after day or u will end up like me, requiring back surgery from tearing 3 disks with nerve damage.
Nothing nice about that when your mid forties. Lol
Sometimes we forget we are not spring chickens anymore. Doh !
I already have three prolapsed disks, but with proper management, it has seldom been a problem. Keeping active and losing weight is also a great help. I can't exactly remember the machine that caused one disk to prolapse - most likely a Bingo !
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completely agree with taking a break rather than working 7 days a week .. life is more important and you only get one of those
I accepted that the first 2-3 years would be really hard, balancing work and young family. It is still fun, but there has been a lot of distractions lately. My son started junior football, and I've forced myself to help out so I AM away from work at least the equivalent of a full day a week.
That's great to hear Nino .
Our kids grow up way too fast !!! Our 2 girls are turning 20 and 22 this year .. completely unbelieveable how fast that time went !
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I once worked 7 days a week for 12 straight years and never once took a holiday.
But I loved what I did and the money was massive.
But in the end I did get burned out and took 18 months off to play all the pinballs that work payed for.
The moment the massive money stopped the marriage went to crap. Great to know what people keep you around for. Lol
I also reccommend any person taking a day off per week.
Your wife and children NEED u in their lives more and you can't kiss and cuddle kids n wives if u are always away at work. Rich and lonely doesn't beat comfortable and surrounded by the ones u love.
Force yourself to take the time off.
I was working 7 days to clear the back log, but 12 years later I still had a backlog.
The backlog never goes away but your loved ones do.
Long live pinball and all those who love this great hobby and industry.
at least you still have your son around for his growing up period.I did not.
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https://www.facebook.com/beyondblue?fref=nf
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Money don't matter, provided you are financially stable. What does matter is finding happiness all the small stuff.
We are the fortunate ones that can get pleasure from simple things like shooting a ramp, or simply looking at a lit up pinball machine. Much more satisfying to me than looking at a Ferrari. Our passion may not be cheap, but it is affordable, even if that means only been able to play on location.
...Take a day off Nino. I would rather wait a few more months for my restoration, than have any aspect of its quality compomised.
(By 'a day off', I mean you can take Christmas day off each year. :D)
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Money don't matter
I've found the more we have the more we spend.
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The more we have, the more we spend on
PINBALLS
And more Pinballs. Lol
Spending $ on my kids is my reward these days.
My daughters couldn't care less about pinball machines. Even if I gave them some they wouldn't even bother turning them on. My son is different, he loves them.
Glad u are doing the Junior footy thing Nino. Great idea.
Is it that proper rugby league great game or that aerial ping pong you Victorians like so much. Lol
Either way, seriously good to know the business isn't getting all your time.
Would it be a silly question to ask Nino, do you and your wife have any other hobbys other than pinball ? (Travelling or something) ?
Also, glad to hear your back hasn't stuffed u up. I just spent some days in dam hospital over my pinball back.
Recently moved a Fishtales and a Last Action Hero and it was my Last Action Pinball move for a while. Lol
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https://www.facebook.com/beyondblue?fref=nf
:D
My wife thinks they should have put me in a straight jacket years ago !
Money don't matter, provided you are financially stable. What does matter is finding happiness all the small stuff.
We are the fortunate ones that can get pleasure from simple things like shooting a ramp, or simply looking at a lit up pinball machine. Much more satisfying to me than looking at a Ferrari. Our passion may not be cheap, but it is affordable, even if that means only been able to play on location.
...Take a day off Nino. I would rather wait a few more months for my restoration, than have any aspect of its quality compomised.
(By 'a day off', I mean you can take Christmas day off each year. :D)
My day job is not a real job. I don't do it to become a millionaire. If I kept a stop watch on the time I spend on each game and charged an hourly rate, then I'd never sell a machine. I still love pinball. It is a genuine passion that I leave on each game I restore. Every day at work sometimes feels like the very first day at my first job as a PC Technician. I just didn't want the day to end !
The more we have, the more we spend on
PINBALLS
And more Pinballs. Lol
Spending $ on my kids is my reward these days.
My daughters couldn't care less about pinball machines. Even if I gave them some they wouldn't even bother turning them on. My son is different, he loves them.
Glad u are doing the Junior footy thing Nino. Great idea.
Is it that proper rugby league great game or that aerial ping pong you Victorians like so much. Lol
Either way, seriously good to know the business isn't getting all your time.
Would it be a silly question to ask Nino, do you and your wife have any other hobbys other than pinball ? (Travelling or something) ?
Also, glad to hear your back hasn't stuffed u up. I just spent some days in dam hospital over my pinball back.
Recently moved a Fishtales and a Last Action Hero and it was my Last Action Pinball move for a while. Lol
No bum sniffing for my boy, he likes the skillful sports where you don't need to go backwards to go forwards.. *%*
Hobbies - I used to collect KISS memorabilia. I used to go fishing. I love watching AFL. I love pinball. Only one of these could be turned into a passionate business ! The missus likes to keep fit, and basically is my Father's carer these days as well as being a wonderful mum to my 2 kids. I'm blessed with my wife and kids.
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The best success story out of your family Nino is you had a really cool Dad growing up.
Now, u have repeated that process cause your kids have a cool Dad who has arcade and pinball stuff everywhere and your own factory now as well like your Dad before you.
It is great that history has repeated. Your kids will have kids and they will be around your pinball stuff as well.
A family tradition as such that has been going for fifty years and will go another fifty. It don't get better than that.
It's also nice your wife looks after your Dad. That's great karma and the best payback a son can give to his loving Dad.
I am sure your Dad is real proud of APR.
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Though you should keep the 7 days a week going until TAG arrives ;)
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Though you should keep the 7 days a week going until TAG arrives ;)
Another stupid comment.
Thought you would have learnt by now. Obviously not.
Why do u say such stupid things.
What has this thread got to do with Thunderbirds are Go ? Nothing. So why include Thunderbirds. ?
pffftttt. Give it a rest cupcake.
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Though you should keep the 7 days a week going until TAG arrives ;)
Another stupid comment.
Thought you would have learnt by now. Obviously not.
Why do u say such stupid things.
What has this thread got to do with Thunderbirds are Go ? Nothing. So why include Thunderbirds. ?
pffftttt. Give it a rest cupcake.
I think Pete is drawing the dots between the Homepin Hankin Table (Which I'm a distributor) and the TAG Pinball %$%
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I will take your word for it Nino but I can't see how those dots could possibly be joined in anyway and still make any sense relative to your thread.
And yes, I call PBPete "cupcake" because he is a Baker by trade and I thought he would like that. Lol
And yes, anyone can call me a nickname and I won't be hassled but will probably laugh at myself too.
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I will take your word for it Nino but I can't see how those dots could possibly be joined in anyway and still make any sense relative to your thread.
And yes, I call PBPete "cupcake" because he is a Baker by trade and I thought he would like that. Lol
And yes, anyone can call me a nickname and I won't be hassled but will probably laugh at myself too.
Looking too deep, Brett - I'm already super flat out, and we are a Homepin distributor that more than likely will be assisting with the distribution of the pinballs Homepin manufacturers. So if that is the case, I'm going to have more on my plate.
I've knocked back several other manufacturers and some of the larger parts suppliers - We only distribute quality products - and we need to put time into the distributorships, then there's even more for us to spend time on.
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Take care all