Payment to PBR

[Steve2010]

I am about to place my first order with PBR, and like some of the other threads on the forum on this topic, there is the hassle factor and cost of the purchase in this process.

I'm wondering if anyone here has tried an International Money Transfer (IMT) with PBR.  I bank with CBA, and CBA offer IMT at a cost of $22 if done via their web-based banking (Netbank).  There is a misnomer with the information on the PBR website about transfers.  The verbage on their site indicates a cost of $30, plus a fee from your bank.  I have confirmed with PBR that the bank they use does not charge any fee for receiving an IMT - the intent of the information on their site is really just to say, be warned, your bank will charge you for an IMT.

As a bank draft with CBA is $30, plus then the postage (either regular or registered), the IMT upside is that it looks initially to be more attractive (less cost, and all done online).  Downside could be that as the IMT will transit through a number of banks along the way, there is a comment from CBA that the interim banks may take a processing fee out of the amount, and this is out of their control.  There is also the risk that the IMT will get lost in cyberspace, and it costs $25 to trace.

Western Union online fee is $50 (for the associated amount I am purchasing - around the $500 mark) - no good.

Maybe I should just go with CBA bank draft for $30 plus postage?

[ddstoys]

I've just posted off a bank draft to pbr from the CBA    All the other options seemed to hard and uncertain

[pinnies4me]

I have little faith in electronic banking systems internationally, and with PBR I would rather send a draft. I get them from Bendigo Bank in USD for $5.00 as a shareholder, although they are only $10 compared to CBA for off the street clients. If you have a Bendigo Bank handy would be worth a try. The stamped envelope at Aussie Post is about $2.00

[oldpins]

With my 1st order to PBR, the funds needed to sent prior to them sending the order. After this they will give you an account number. When placing your 2nd order you quote your account number & they will send the order immediately, you then have 10 days to pay. Best to send a bank draft in USD. BOQ charge me $15.00 and takes a day to process. I have never had any problems dealing with PBR in the past.

[Strangeways]

With my 1st order to PBR, the funds needed to sent prior to them sending the order. After this they will give you an account number. When placing your 2nd order you quote your account number & they will send the order immediately, you then have 10 days to pay. Best to send a bank draft in USD. BOQ charge me $15.00 and takes a day to process. I have never had any problems dealing with PBR in the past.

Correct - first order must be paid for and orders thereafter are sent out to you with an invoice. I used to pay each invoice via Western Union, but now I simply have the NAB write me an International Cheque. It costs me $30 + $2 to mail.

What I have been doing lately - I set up an account whereby I sent PBR US$1000 - $2000. I do this once every 6 months or so, and I pay once. They deduct the invoice from that account. It works a treat ! Machine specific parts are costly and cannot be sourced locally in most cases, so it makes sense to me.

I try to support the local guys first - If RTBB don't have what I'm after, I go straight to PBR. I just placed a very large order with them last night.

Also, keep in mind you need to keep your order AND shipping costs UNDER AUS$1000. If it goes above AUS$1000, then you will be held up in customs and have to pay GST.

I'm used to the ordering process at PBR, and I don't find it a hassle at all. I don't get ripped off with overpricing shipping (from other suppliers) and their prices are usually better.

[swinks]

Hi Steve

I have purchased once with PBR Aug 2010, it is a little bit of a hassle but went through the local building society with a money transfer to the specified Western Union account - swift number was the unclear thing as the Aus banks require that here but the in the USA they call it something a little different. It was about $22 for Western Union and my BS all up though it was advised costs to process would be about $30, any funds left over from the payment he leaves is left as a credit for next time - so I have about $8 US sitting at his business. He had the funds in about 2-3 days which was quicker than he thought.

I did offer to use paypal and I pay his fees but he did not want anything to do with it. He packaged the gear well and I got everything that I wanted.

Hope that helps.

[Caveoftreasures]

Nino,
I am missing something with PBR ? unlike Bay Area or Marco Spec, RTBB, Pinballsales, or Pinballspareparts, they have NO proper website and you can never find any parts for any of your machines.

Everyone says they are a great resource, but with my 30 machines (consisting of every manufacturer), how do i get prices and stock availability from this company.
* It doesnt make any sense to me. What am i missing ? how can i possibly spend my money with these guys if u cant find the part or the price ? If i sent them a email, it would contain hundreds of parts enquiries ? which isnt going to be practical.

Any advice on this ? I would like to use them, but i just cant see how. 

[pinnies4me]

Any advice on this ? I would like to use them, but i just cant see how. 

It's probably easier to comprehend for people who were buying before the internet took online shopping to a new level. PBR is the old school retail site, not a real e-commerce site.

PBR specialise in Gottlieb, but do have a wide range of other parts.

You have to locate your part number in a manual and when you have a list of wanted stuff, email them for availability.

While their web site is not a genuine e-commerce system, if you know your way around your games, you can use the "Game Specific" sections for Gottlieb parts as they standard parts in say a HH as the same as used in System 80 games for the years around that game.

I am amazed how often this issue is discussed, but I think we've all come to expect genuine e-commece sites these days, so much so that PBR seems an anachronism.

[MartyJ]

+1

RTBB is my first place for shopping, mostly for their friendly, reliable and honest service.  Although the highly trained guard cat is tricky to get past! 

I have purchased from PBR many times and its as simple as an email to them with a list of parts.  I just get them straight out of the manual (I've found with a few online stores have wrong parts listed for games) and Steve emails back whether they have them or not.

As far as payments go, I setup an online Western Union account, so generally the fee is $20 or so on top and I just email the MTCN number to Steve and thats it.

From a technical perspective, the PBR website is simply a small showcase of their services and their contact details.  Would cost very little to run, and they don't have any headaches with dealing with hackers, online fraud, paypal deceptions, etc...This would keep their prices low.

For a site like Marco's to setup, manage, keep secure etc would be a full time position and cost well over $50,000USD to setup - not to mention ongoing maintenance.

[pinball god]

+1

RTBB is my first place for shopping, mostly for their friendly, reliable and honest service.  Although the highly trained guard cat is tricky to get past! 

I have purchased from PBR many times and its as simple as an email to them with a list of parts.  I just get them straight out of the manual (I've found with a few online stores have wrong parts listed for games) and Steve emails back whether they have them or not.

As far as payments go, I setup an online Western Union account, so generally the fee is $20 or so on top and I just email the MTCN number to Steve and thats it.

From a technical perspective, the PBR website is simply a small showcase of their services and their contact details.  Would cost very little to run, and they don't have any headaches with dealing with hackers, online fraud, paypal deceptions, etc...This would keep their prices low.

For a site like Marco's to setup, manage, keep secure etc would be a full time position and cost well over $50,000USD to setup - not to mention ongoing maintenance.

Did I hear that Greg's got a pussy. Does it wear shorts as well? Now that would be scary.

[Caveoftreasures]

OK, that advice settles it.    PBR is definately not for me if they only have mostly Gottlieb, which i have a few of only, and their order system is just too old hat for me.

RTBB like Marty said is fine, but they seem to only have ramps and ramp decals unless there is a different website to the one i have.

Marco's and Mark C seem to still be the easiest to spend money with. I will say that it is great that Gottlieb owners do have PBR because Gottlieb stuff seems to be few n far between with everyone else.

[pinnies4me]

Did I hear that Greg's got a pussy. Does it wear shorts as well? Now that would be scary.

I believe Greg hasn't had any pussy for a while.

[Redback]

I last payed with western union, went well.
(Previously with auction check(was ok for small order), but not again, now I have western union set up)

Small orders a cheaper and quicker to get locally.

Regards,

Red

[MartyJ]

OK, that advice settles it.    PBR is definately not for me if they only have mostly Gottlieb, which i have a few of only, and their order system is just too old hat for me.

RTBB like Marty said is fine, but they seem to only have ramps and ramp decals unless there is a different website to the one i have.

Marco's and Mark C seem to still be the easiest to spend money with. I will say that it is great that Gottlieb owners do have PBR because Gottlieb stuff seems to be few n far between with everyone else.

Brett,

I really don't know how to take your post.  I'm not slagging off any other parts suppliers (local).  I buy from Greg for the above mentioned reasons (in my post) and he is local which helps.

Ramps make up one out of twenty three other sections on RTBB's site.  They don't stock everything (nobody does), but certainly enough for your general collector of WMS/Bally, Sega/Stern & Gottlieb.
I've purchased basically everything I need to shop out my machines, each and every time.  Fresh rubbers, globes, flipper kits, coils, sleeves etc.
Some parts are hard to get, which I go overseas for.

 

[Strangeways]

Nino,
I am missing something with PBR ? unlike Bay Area or Marco Spec, RTBB, Pinballsales, or Pinballspareparts, they have NO proper website and you can never find any parts for any of your machines.

Everyone says they are a great resource, but with my 30 machines (consisting of every manufacturer), how do i get prices and stock availability from this company.
* It doesnt make any sense to me. What am i missing ? how can i possibly spend my money with these guys if u cant find the part or the price ? If i sent them a email, it would contain hundreds of parts enquiries ? which isnt going to be practical.

Any advice on this ? I would like to use them, but i just cant see how. 

"you can never find any parts for any of your machines" - Just because PBR don't have pretty pictures and tickboxes, does not mean they don't have the parts in stock.

PBR have been supporting the hobby LONGER than anyone else in the Business. Steve Young is a collector and hobbyist. Some people (including myself) credit Steve as being one of the "forefathers" of the hobby. To give you an idea of his inventory, add all the other parts suppliers in the USA together, and they still don't have the same stock as PBR. PBR SUPPLY other parts suppliers. His staff have never had the time to catalog and list his inventory, it would be impossible. Instead, they rely on people to research their machines and have a parts manual handy with the spare part number. You can't just call up and expect him to TELL you the part number, there are just too many.

Every machine ever produced has a service manual. They list most of the parts. Then there are specific spare part manuals. Everything goes back to these manuals. I collect spare parts manuals. I have spare parts manuals that go back to the 1940s. If I type in these part numbers into the e-commere sites, it draws a blank. If I email PBR with a part number, they usually have the part, or they can put me in touch with someone who might help. When I order, I am emailing a person who can give me an educated answer. Can't do that on an e-commerce site. Switch off the computers, I can still order parts from PBR. Can't do that with Marco, BAA etc..

Ever try ordering decals from Marco ? US$30 MINIMUM charge for "postage and handling".
PBR would send it in an envelope and charge you for the ACTUAL postage.

PBR are almost ALWAYS cheaper with the price of the part and shipping and handling. You just have to "pull your finger out" and do some of the hard yards instead of relying on pretty pictures with tickboxes.

As always, I support the local guys when possible. I buy from Greg often and I've never had a single issue.

OK, that advice settles it.    PBR is definately not for me if they only have mostly Gottlieb, which i have a few of only, and their order system is just too old hat for me.

RTBB like Marty said is fine, but they seem to only have ramps and ramp decals unless there is a different website to the one i have.

Marco's and Mark C seem to still be the easiest to spend money with. I will say that it is great that Gottlieb owners do have PBR because Gottlieb stuff seems to be few n far between with everyone else.

You will find that PBR stock MOST of the parts available on other supplier's web sites. In fact PBR would be one of their biggest suppliers. I can understand why owners of later machines don't go to PBR, it does require a bit more effort and knowledge of the machines, and people like to see what they are buying - pretty pictures and tickboxes etc. That's fine with me. But I've placed orders for Bally / Williams machines from PBR and they were 30-40% cheaper than Marco etc..

Case in point ;

Bally Williams DMD display - took me three searches on their slow website, but here's Marco's

http://www.marcospecialties.com/product.asp?ic=DMD32

That's US$189 + a minimum of $40 Shipping

http://www.pbresource.com/display.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page - now what's the price on EXACTLY THE SAME ITEM ??

$138.60 + ACTUAL Shipping cost.

Lets leave out the shipping cost. It took me longer to search on Marco's SLOOOOOOW website. By the time I've logged in, found the item and paid the rediculous shipping cost, I could have sent an email to PBR with the part number (DIS-128X32ASY) - actually, all part numbers different manufacturers use are denoted.

That's a US$50 saving just by sending an email. If I added the shipping cost, it would be PLENTY more.

I USED to compare orders Marco, Action Pinball, BAA & PBR and there's no comparison for price and service. But I DO understand WHY people don't order from PBR, and to be honest, it's their "loss".