Author Topic: Stern Factory Tour  (Read 878 times)

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Offline Ant68

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Re: Stern Factory Tour
« on: January 18, 2010, 09:04:29 AM »
Hi Guys  and Happy new year .
Just arrived back from the US ,family wanted to experience a  white Christmas,
Did the usual tourist things with a couple of deviations ,the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas( the owners an odd bloke) and a Stern Factory tour .
Played about 20 min of Big Buck Hunter,spent a long time talking with Gary in his office and mingled with staff , He invited us into his "Top Secret Room" were allot of R&D is made (very interesting).
As you know you read allot of mixed reactions and you read allot of people bagging him but my experience with Gary was absolutely fantastic the guy is a gentlemen and a legend . 
When we stepped foot into the factory (waking  through the snow to get there )the staff informed him that we had arrived ,he made sure he was the first one to greet my family ,personally introduced him self to each and every one ,shook every ones hand (5,8,11 yo and wife)
Factory was in full production of Batman, Spiderman and Lotr .The whole place was buzzing ,people everywhere ,pinballs every where etc etc .

We did the full tour it was awesome ,and my wife has now admitted that she can appreciate the cost of a pinball after seeing all work those Mexican ladies putting all the wiring harnesses together and building the playfields .

I mentioned I had a couple issue with some pins ,we discussed them and he assured me they will be sort it out.
I took over my Stern flyers and he personally sign each one ( of the 6 NIB I have bought)
I've got heaps of photos .

When we left he personal escorted us to a waiting taxi which he personally ordered,shook everyone hand again ,and thanked me for having an enthusiastic interest in pinballs and gave me a good pat on my back and said keep in contact .

Awesome experience .

 
Cheers Tony