To me, because Stern has been making good machines for soo long, it doesnt feel like they were off the map, but the recent HUGE sales of AC/DC in all configurations and the happiness it has bought so many pinball collectors has now made ALOT more people take a hard second look at what Stern has coming out next. So for that alone, it did put alot more NIB machine buyers on the Stern map of potential sales and made alot of new followers.
The AC/DC machines also raise an interesting point. You have the PRO machine which ofcourse is a straight forward machine without the bells n whistles of the LE etc. The funny point here, is that you dont have to make every machine a LE to get huge sales. What I am saying, is that simple and straight forward with a really good flowing playfield like the PRO can still sell alot of machines without having to go overboard. Then the LE/Premium ofcourse is the visual step up, which again alot will buy for the extra features. What Stern must learn from this, is that they have to keep the features up on the Pro, and make it a hard decision to buy one model over the other, and not a easy decision. To me, selling a huge amount of machines at say 6 grand a pop, with excellent everything, would be a easier task then selling only 500 machines at 9 grand etc.
Stern must keep anyone in the 6 grand money area very happy with a really nice looking and fun packed Pro model. This has to be their first priority, because the operators, the large number collectors, and newbies will always levitate to the Pro first. Get people in the door on the Pro, then upsell them to a LE etc if thats what the buyer wants. I guess what i am saying here, is u cant have people believing that only a LE has the features, because you lose alot of sales with people who will not spend over 6 grand etc.
The comparison is like a caryard. The entry level ford/holden/toyota etc usually represents absolute value for money. Then people look to upgrade if neccessary. Stern must keep the PRO models very very strong. For my liking, the LE models in Aust are still way too high at $9300 versus a Pro at say $6300. Having said that, it wont matter much to Pro buyers if the Pro models still come out at a good price and still stay very strong, well designed n fun. The next few models will be very exciting. I am wondering with enthusiasm what is coming after X-Men and perhaps Avengers.
Dam exciting times ahead.
