Thanks Gav & Mike what a great insight into the amusement industry from many years ago oh Gav your a year older than me so your old lol. So not alot has changed we still don't have many "real techs" who know what there doing but in those days pinball was actually making money and alot of money apposed to today where $50 a week is good lol. So Really why would a TZ spend man hours on a machine that barly pays for itself? Pinball in the wild is dead we all know that so me I'm not surprised that the game comes in makes a few thousand then it's moved on for the next new title.

Peter.

Agreed and this is where I think JJP has taken a good approach with Pinredemption. Pinball really does need to keep up with the times and kids want tickets - so give them tickets!!!.
 In all honesty, it doesn't take much to clean a PF or do some basic maintenance but we live in a world where everyone has to have a cotton wool bubble surrounding them. Chances are that any spotty urch on the arcade floor isn't ALLOWED to even open a machine due to some OH&S bullsh*t or red tape compliance rubbish that was implemented as " job creation".
A simple onsite repair these days could well involve a licence requirement, $20 million Public liability, SWMS presented beforehand, barricades, High vis long sleeved shirt ( electrical requirement) etc.
I have to admit... I couldn't be arsed either!

But... we digress, relatively new Sterns are playing like crap onsite, now the OP opened up a debate on whether its due to poor maintenance or due to the way these machines are made. Anything I might have to say on this will be taken the wrong way and im glad I didn't make the OP...LOL!!!