KenLayton
In Memoriam
If you choose to go the route of using websites to tell your experience, be sure to stick to facts not opinions or ficticious things. Otherwise Stern could sue you for libel.
Is this common on NIB Sterns?
- Thread starter PensFan66
- Start date
Agreed.
Just to be totally honest, in my opinion your thread to publicize the issue in the manner you suggested is what caused the reaction on RGP. You could have played it completely differently, for example:
1. Post a message stating "I have this problem with my NIB Stern, do you think this is normal?"
2. Wait for reactions, I guarantee you would get a lot of people saying to contact Stern so they can assist. By the way Stern has replaced playfields for others in the past.
3. Then if you do not get a good response from Stern you could post back asking what to do next. You could say something like "I contacted Stern hoping to get my playfield replaced but they have have said this is acceptable damage. I'm having a hard time believing any damage should be considered acceptable."
You need to sell the situation to RGP just like with any other crowd. By automatically stating right off the bat that you were going to fight them tooth and nail without even trying a diplomatic solution you have already proven that you aren't willing to be reasonable. Whether or not that is the case is another story, you are going to get a reaction based on the perception of how you might handle the situation.
You could have asked "do you guys think it would be a good idea to setup a website to voice my concerns to get their attention?" In your mind you know what you are going to do but playing it differently will illicit a completely different reaction.
What kind of reaction did you expect to get from your post?
Look at how you started this thread. THAT is how you should have handled it on RGP.
MonsterBash
Well-known member
I was going to text you about the Nightmare discussions with Stern - just got too sidetracked. And its scary that you brought up the domain name - I did research into (Sternsucks.com and sternpinballsucks.com)
Like you said, it was more to tell my story and warn others that may not know what Sterns stance is on any "factory issues". I would have reconsidered the purchase, but most likely, I would have still purchased - Like most people I would have thought "Im sure Ill be fine - I wont get an "issue" machine".
Oh RGP was brutal, I cant go read the post again or Ill reply and that will just fuel the fire. My wife said the same thing "They probably didnt drop $4500 on a machine". My other machines arent mint but most wear is the outholes, and not one has a hex head gouged into the playfield.
Im letting it sit for a bit - I may just register the domain to hold it for now - Then I can make a small site with a collection of Stern Pictures and factory damage / defects. At least to warn people.
Shit.. for the $10 it costs to reggy the domain..I'd grab it and park it 'under construction' That alone with a nice little site counter might get their attention.
Since you're local I'll tell ya the NorthTownDodge Story...and I'm bored at work =)
Back about 3-4 years ago my truck was having issues in the winter so I started looking for a cheap short lease to get by with. Gas was $4+ and if I could pick up a $200 lease..the saving just on gas (from my Expedition) would be a wash. Dodge was offering $199/27 month Calibers..so I leased one. They were also offering lifetime power train warranty...so I considered buying out the lease.
The night I went to pick the car up it was raining..in late December and obviously dark out. I got dropped of at the dealership and was handed a set of keys by the salesman and he said 'the car's over here..thanks for the business' (outside in the lot). I wasn't walked to the car or 'shown the features' like every other time I purchased a car. I jumped in the car and went to the Sabres game that night.
Then next morning I head to work at 6AM (again dark out)...someone at work said something like ..is that your new car...what the hell happened to it? So at lunch I checked it out. The car was obviously in a hail storm and the top panels were badly dented. So now I really start looking at the car (I used to be an automotive painter for 10+years) and found all kinds of stuff wrong with it. Obviously the hail damage on the hood, roof and hatch. There was a scratch in the right side 1/4 panel and door down to the primer. The left front fender and front bumper were painted and way off color (I later found out from a friend that worked at the dealership that the lot bot ran it into a poll). I call the dealership...explain the issue.. and stop in that day.
I explained to them that I didn't want the car...and to get me another as I was very much considering buying it after the lease...because of the warranty. Thus I didn't want a new car..that has been almost completely painted. They refused but also agreed to fix the damage. I told them don't bother...because I'm not taking this car back.
They do the work and call me in for an inspection...the paint work was good. But I certainly could tell the different from the factory VS what they did. I point out numerous issues with the new paint...plus a bumper that has been painted now 3 times..looking at it the wrong way would crack it.
I would like to say this whole time I was always super calm...and extremely laid back...never raising my voice or being confrontational...even joking around with the salesman and manager. I was probably the nicest asshole you'd wanna meet =).
I leave the car there as they were going to 'fix' the problems I pointed out with yet more paint. That's when www.NorthTownDodgeSucks.com went up telling the story in a very non-opinionated, nonthreatening way.
Needless to say..it took about 10 days...but I ended up with a different car.
The short on the other story...
Purchased a Whirlpool washer and dryer on Black Friday (about $1800) for a house we were waiting to close on (11-26-2010).
Close on the house 1.4.2011.
Delivered 3.17.2011.
My wife and I have no children..so we probably do 5 loads of laundry a week..if that.
The bearings in the washing 'tub' explode on about 12.1.2011. One week after purchase warranty expired...but not delivery warranty.
$600 to have fixed and not covered.
www.whirlpoolsucks.com 'Putting the Poo' in appliances goes up with the story.
Repair covered in full
lol - Yeah, its sad that it come to anything like that - So get this - I got the Translite today but no T-Shirt as promised - Oh, and the transite has a pretty bad scratch in it, and looks worse lit up (See the pic).
Can they do anything right for this issue???? I have to say that Im not impressed at all by this whole issue and how its been handled
I had a Problem with a BRAND new Saturn that had a paint blemish that I didnt see for 3 days - took it back to West Herr and they said no problem - had it for 2 days and they fixed it, had a bill for $500 or so - and the waived it (of course) - and it looked brand new. Thats whay BRAND NEW should be.
Can they do anything right for this issue???? I have to say that Im not impressed at all by this whole issue and how its been handled
I had a Problem with a BRAND new Saturn that had a paint blemish that I didnt see for 3 days - took it back to West Herr and they said no problem - had it for 2 days and they fixed it, had a bill for $500 or so - and the waived it (of course) - and it looked brand new. Thats whay BRAND NEW should be.
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RareHero
Well-known member
WTF!??!!?
Tron is cursed, dude.
Seriously, if there's anything fucked up on my Transformers LE...I'm out of the NIB Stern game....and that's a shame, cuz i'm the type of retard who buys NIB games...plural...and, I'd really like to support Steve Ritchies new game (if it truly turns out to be AC/DC, of course) ...but if if they fuck this one up, I'm out.
Yeah no doubt - I did send an email to Patrick at Stern and asked why Stern hates me so much - Sent a picture of the translite and mentioned no T-Shirt was sent. Not that the shirt is a big deal, but it was offered.
Frax
New member
Well of course they sent you the jacked up translite. They either figure they got away with giving away something else damaged, or that you won't know the difference because everything else you've had from them has been f'ed as well.
:|
:|
AUSyTyIN
Well-known member
I talked with Patrick yesterday (well, played phone tag to be honest) and he gave me an update on my situation. Do you have/want his phone #?
lol - Yeah, its sad that it come to anything like that - So get this - I got the Translite today but no T-Shirt as promised - Oh, and the transite has a pretty bad scratch in it, and looks worse lit up (See the pic).
Can they do anything right for this issue???? I have to say that Im not impressed at all by this whole issue and how its been handled
I had a Problem with a BRAND new Saturn that had a paint blemish that I didnt see for 3 days - took it back to West Herr and they said no problem - had it for 2 days and they fixed it, had a bill for $500 or so - and the waived it (of course) - and it looked brand new. Thats whay BRAND NEW should be.
That really sucks.
Just to be clear I think you are totally in the right in this situation, they should send you a new playfield. I can tell you if my Transformers has those issues I will be complaining.
Here's hoping with all the Tron debacles, that Transformers does not suffer this fate.
Hell after hearing all the Tron issues..its completely put me off from buying NIB ..EVER. I was toying with the idea..but if Stern can't get the QC or the customer service right then I would rather just buy used from reputable Klovrs that are good at repairing their own machines and fixing the little things that are wrong from the factory.
THE COUNT
New member
They won't step up QC for Transformers any more than they did for Tron. Why would they? Tron sold like hotcakes. They are willing to sell them with crappy quality and unfinished code if people are willing to buy them. I guess they would rather do that and deal with the small minority of picky collectors than to get better QC and ship out an actual "finished" software.
