There has been frustration from people missing out on playfields and worried they will loose a opportunity to get a playfield so the last 2 posts are responses to peoples concerns, just thought to share as it helps people here with restorations so relevant. Also they did say to just setup a bookmark in your internet browser for CPR and check once a week instead of the previous pre-order method
I just thought I'd add a bit more about the preorder list and the way we used it. We have always used it as a tool for me to be able to order sufficient inserts. This only worked up to about 125 because that was all the room we could comfortably make. We have made more in the past, Black Knight comes to mind but we were literally tripping over these things while we were cutting them and even more so during the printing and then we have had them piled everywhere for years after. The real problem was the preorder list because almost 50% of people on the preorder list dropped out. It wound up be a HUGE wasted effort at a time when money was very very tight tight. In fact we almost didn't recover from that PF. So when PF after PF we have an average of about 30-40% of guys decline to buy a PF that they wanted enough to list themselves on our preorder we start to get a bit gun shy and take this into account when we make the PFs. We have had two real exceptions so far, Playboy and Whirlwind which sold out right out of the gate. Far far faster than we ever expected. Usually we have dozens left over that we have to carry for a long time or discount and sell them to the distributors. Playfields are EXPEN$IVE to make. Getting caught with 100 unsold Target Alpha back glasses was bad but getting caught with 100 unsold PFs would be costly enough that we might not survive another one of those. So you see its safer for us to underestimate than to over estimate and then try to make a second run later if the demand is there.
We want to be around to make the next PF and the one after that and making too many PFs of any one title is a gamble.
I know that not everyone thinks about how costly a PF is to make or how long it takes to recoup that outlay but I place $25,000 insert orders about twice a year..... how many of your spouses would appreciate that little surprise when you write a check on your home equity line of credit... twice in one year? Wood is even MORE expensive! I'm surprised she puts up with me doing this at all.
Mike
