Payment Process When Ordering a New Machine

[66GTO]

First time ordering a new pinball game, so I was curious what the normal process is for making payment. A $1,000 down payment is made at the time of order. The balance is paid when distributor/seller has game in hand and ready to ship, OR when game assembly starts (shipping could then be days or weeks later after final payment)?

Thank you!

 

[RetroGamerJP]

my experience has always been that they distributor will contact you for balance once they have the game in their possession ans it's ready to ship to you.

 

[66GTO]

My distributor wants to collect the balance now, and I am told it should be shipping in the next few weeks. I don't like that there's no defined date, and it seems odd to me that its paid in full and yet could be days weeks or months before I see it.

 

[SaminVA]

I guess it all depends on who and where you buy your game but here is my experience with the one and only NIB pin I have ever bought.
I bought a new Stern Star Trek LE back in 2013. Total cost was $7,895.00 delivered to my house. It was drop shipped to me direct from Stern Pinball.
I ordered it on 6-10-13
I got my first invoice and sent first payment of $1,000.00 on 7-23-13
I got my second invoice on 9-12-13 and sent another payment of $1,000.00
I got my third invoice on 11-6-13 and sent finial payment of $5,895.00
My pin was delivered on 11-27-13
I see you are in Colorado. I live in Virginia but I bought my game from The Game Exchange of Colorado so if thats who you are dealing with your in good hands.
Hope that helps.

 

[GameyMcGame]

My distributor wants to collect the balance now, and I am told it should be shipping in the next few weeks. I don't like that there's no defined date, and it seems odd to me that its paid in full and yet could be days weeks or months before I see it.

I believe I've paid deposit and then balance when its ready to ship. Who is the distributor?

 

[RetroGamerJP]

I forgot to clarify... with all the Pro model machines I've bought (GB, MET, BM66) it has been 1K deposit then balance when the distributor has it in hand, ready to ship.

Now when I bought the StarWars LE, I had to pay in full at time of order and then wait. Patiently.

these were all through Game Room Guys

 

[KenLayton]

The way it works for game route operators:

1. Distributor sends out flyers announcing the newest machines (insert machine name here) have arrived and are ready for purchase.

2. Operator travels to distributor's show room to play machine to see if he likes it.

3. If he likes it, he decides how many he wants to buy.

4. Operator either pays cash in full for the machines or he signs a loan contract with Firestone Financial to get the money. Operator generally has 2 or 3 years to pay off the loan. Firestone Financial partners with a great many amusement game/vending machine distributors to help operators buy the machines they want/need.

As someone who has been in the amusement game industry for over 40 years, I have seen first hand several operators who have used Firestone Financial and everything has been 100% on the up-and-up and very professional with them. My bosses NEVER had any problems with them.

 

[66GTO]

Distributor is pinballpro. After seeing the responses and hearing from the seller, I'm more comfortable now with the process. Being new to this, I was a little surprised when asked for payment in full without a set delivery date, but I understand there's timing involved between delivery from manufacturer to distributor, then distributor to buyer. The early payment avoids delivery delays. Game is supposed to be delivered next week so all is good. Thanks!

 

[ovfdfireman]

Thanks for the business!

To provide clarity for all. There is certainly a difference between Pre-Order games and in stock games. In this case we are talking preorder. With a preorder game we take a deposit, then once we receive word from the manufacturer the games are slated for production we give our customer a two weeks notice to allow them time to collect funds and send them to us. This also allows adequate time to snail mail a personal check and avoid wire or expedite fees. I think most appreciate a bit of a notice, it also prevents delays in shipment if the $ are all taken care of prior to arrival. Then shipment is immediate.

In this case, notice was sent Sept 11th that we would need payment sent, and everyone sent personal checks via regular mail. Checks were deposited middle of last week. Pre Ordered games arrived on Friday last week and BOL were run for truck today. Which is exactly two weeks from payment Notice.

To compare....In Stock or in production games we collect full payment (not deposit) because they are ready to ship within a day or two. There is a clear difference between in stock immediate shipment games and preorder games.

Greg
Pinballpro.com

 

[ovfdfireman]

The way it works for game route operators:

1. Distributor sends out flyers announcing the newest machines (insert machine name here) have arrived and are ready for purchase.

2. Operator travels to distributor's show room to play machine to see if he likes it.

3. If he likes it, he decides how many he wants to buy.

4. Operator either pays cash in full for the machines or he signs a loan contract with Firestone Financial to get the money. Operator generally has 2 or 3 years to pay off the loan. Firestone Financial partners with a great many amusement game/vending machine distributors to help operators buy the machines they want/need.

As someone who has been in the amusement game industry for over 40 years, I have seen first hand several operators who have used Firestone Financial and everything has been 100% on the up-and-up and very professional with them. My bosses NEVER had any problems with them.

We use/offer Paramount Financial, seems okay. Maybe I should look into Firestone as well