New "Affordable" Transformers "Pin"

paulliadis

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New "Affordable" Transformers "Pin"

Did any of you see this today?

http://www.amazon.com/Stern-Transfo...&qid=1349109010&sr=8-8&keywords=stern+pinball

I can't imagine the audience that would pay $3k for that monstrosity. Heck, I'm looking for my first pin, but yeah, I'll pass on this. Just terrible, in my opinion.

The worst part is in a few years when we have to wade through craigslist ads when all these come up on a search for "pinball".
 
home pin

unless the price is 1199 or less,
i would think everyone would want the real thing for 1 or 2k more
 
Huge TF geek here. I want the real pin even though it has a bad reputation attached to it, I still like it. But no way in HELL am I going to buy something like that for $3000. I don't really think this is going to appeal to anybody, and will fail miserably.
 
I've seen the pictures and can't stop laughing :)
Have no idea what Stern is trying to achieve.. all they do now is killing and cheapening their brand.
The last manufacturer of real pinball machines has become a toy manufacturer.

Just imagine when this gets a little bit popular (not that people buy it but are aware of its existance). Try as a Transformers LE owner who just paid $7000 or so explain to your friends what you bought.
- Ah yes that Transformers toy pin we saw.
- No mine is not a toy its another version
- yes that red one made by Stern a real one we saw it on amazon but it looked like a crappy toy we laughed with it and didn't think real men would buy it
- no mine is different I paid $7k for it
- you did ? man you got taken I believe its only $3k online and we even thought that was too much because it looks crappy
...

Stern is now killing their brand name.
They should have launched it under another name. ToyStar. StarPinball. Anything but Stern.
 
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they should have done some research and relized that the value of a home use machine without coin doors (like all those brunswick machines)
alive was $700 new in 77-78 (which is thousands in todays money)
now you can buy them for $200 working
collectors dont care about these and they certainly wont go on location lol...
they are generally cheaply made. so im really wondering about the quality?????
 
Found this listed in the FS section of Amazon... obviously not serious...

HUO TF pin for sale $5200 OBO. Rare oppurtunity to get the Pin edition of Stern's beloved TF pinball machine. Game has 25 plays on it and only slight wear and a few minor mechanical problems. I love this pin like a child but I need to raise the $10k to get an Avengers LE so I'm willing to part with it. I've extensively modded the playfield with geniuine rubber rings and sleeves to get that "I'm playing a pinball machine" feeling. PM me on facebook because this baby is priced to sell.

Since total weight is only 120 lbs. no shipping arrangements are necessary - I will personally lift and carry this machine to your house once payment is confirmed.
 
Lots of questions come into my mind about this machine that are not answered or addressed in the press release:

Is the playfield the standard size, thickness, and composition?

Is the playfield clearcoated?

How about pictures of the underside of the playfield and cabinet interior?

What is the cabinet made of? How thick is it?

How do you get the playfield glass out?

Is the glass the standard 21" by 43" size?

It looks like the ball shooter rod simply goes straight into the cabinet. Is there no standard Stern shooter rod housing?

Is the ball shooter rod the standard diameter and length?

What does the power supply look like? Is it a cheap wall wart?

How about some pictures of the boards in the backbox?

A person can judge a lot about a machine from what's in the manuals. Why are there no manuals or schematics posted on the Stern website? Do you have to purchase them?

Are any manuals included in the machine when you buy it? If so, are they complete with full schematics, including all board schematics?

What's with the straight cabinet legs that bolt into the cabinet? It makes the machine look more like a foosball table than a pinball machine. Why aren't standard pinball legs used? Even the old Bally home pinball machines and the Vacation America machine used normal pinball legs.

Someone feel free to copy & paste my questions to Stern and see what they say.
 
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Looks like a complete plastic cabinet to me.. playfield glass seems to be in a frame together with lockdown bar, similar to Bally electromechanical games in the early 70ies..
 
Wow...just...wow.

If this were $1500, or better yet $1000 - something that provided a decent pinball experience for a home user, got them interested in arcade pinball, and got them out to the arcades (those that are left) to throw money into the "real" games, then I could see this as an investment in pinball - get it in peoples minds, more exposure, and trying to build market share.

But $3000? Seriously? Was it really that long ago that a standard, full-sized NIB Stern went for between $3000 and $3500?

Of course, 5 years from now when all NIB pin's go for $9000 to $10000 or more, I guess this will look like more of a bargain...

I'm not going to slam Stern over this - I'm truly more puzzled, but I'd truly love to hear Gary's positioning and logic behind this move. I honestly hope they are keyed in to a market we're not aware of and sell the hell out of them, but I definitely have questions/doubts.

I'll reserve a lot of judgement until we know more about the construction - if this is a full-sized playfield, using standard arcade components as claimed - but simpler in design (no DMD, no fancy playfield toys, no coindoor, etc.), but using the standard suite of Stern boards in the head, perhaps (?) the price would make more sense.
 
I now present a Craigslist Ad from the year 2013.

WTS STERN Transformers Pinball!! $2000! Great Condition, HArdly Used!! ::STERN:: Sold New for over $3k!!! $1000 off!!!

No Low Balling, I know what it's worth. Go Check Amazon...No Scammers.

Also WIlling to trade for:

Dirt Bike, Guns, Another Pin (Stern only), Car, Boat, Motorcycle.
 
The TF "Pin" is about 4/5 the size of a real pin, in all dimensions. It is supposed to have tempered glass, but few of the parts are likely to be standard. (They say the flippers, slings and pops are "real" but the rest of the game is likely to be cheap components.) $3000??? Really???????
 
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