Episode 1204: "Maybe Kaneda's Pinball Podcast Just Isn't For You"
Teolis mediates Spooky Pinball feedback drama, advocates for better pre-production testing and transparency.
Spooky drama, a unique request and the 25 minutes you will never forget!
Synopsis
Host Jeff Teolis criticizes both Spooky Pinball and the pinball community for their handling of feedback and quality issues, arguing that manufacturers should solicit more operator testing during development and customers should contact companies directly rather than airing grievances on Pinside. He discusses long wait times for Turner/Yukon Yeti impacting secondary market value, early production issues with Pokemon machines, and advocates for transparency in production progress for boutique manufacturers. Teolis also makes a public appeal to Spooky Pinball to expedite delivery of a Beetlejuice for a military servicemember's birthday.
Highlights
- Pokemon Pro made $937 in one week on location, which annualizes to over $40,000 per year
- Jaws LE is now trading at 11-5 (approximately $11,500) on secondary market, down from higher prices
- Yukon Yeti orders at 300+ will wait until late 2027 or 2028
- Back to the Future is expected to ship at ~750 units per year from Dutch Pinball
- Winchester has 525 units total production; Dunes has 700; Beetlejuice has 999
- Alice owners have been promised to 'cut the line' on Back to the Future orders under previous American Pinball leadership
- Spooky Pinball machines historically have more issues on location than Stern Pro models
- Early Beetlejuice builds had topper deliveries distributed unevenly and without clear communication
Notable quotes
“Maybe Spooky Pinball is not the company for you”
“The worst thing that could happen to anybody is silence. When people are so disgusted with your product, they don't even want to share the feedback.”
“Stop running to the internet immediately. Put on your big boy cargo shorts and call up the company and ask them what they can do to solve your problem.”
“You shouldn't have to unbox anything and start filing down metal... That should be caught at the factory. These are so expensive.”
“If you lock your money in and the wait is forever... it's just going to be brutal”
“I just don't think that Turner, with this kind of production schedule, can really work out.”
“There's too much of what the problem is on Pinside and not enough of what the solve is.”
“I think that makes sense and I think it would solve a lot of headaches for all parties involved.”
Entities
- American Pinball· company
- Dutch Pinball· company
- Spooky Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Turner (Entertainment)· company
- Alice· game
- Back to the Future· game
- Beetlejuice· game
- Dunes· game
- Jaws· game
- Pokemon· game
- Winchester Mystery House· game
- Yukon Yeti· game
- Pinside· organization
- Antonio Verdasco· person
- Barry· person
- Bug· person
- Greg Coulton· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Joe· person
- John Kearns· person
- Luke· person
- Melvin· person
More from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast
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Episode 1229: "Something We Can All Agree On"
Kaneda condemns Stern's incomplete game launches and urges community to withhold support until quality improves.
Everyone wants the same thing, but we won't get there if we keep buying right away.
Episode 1228: "The Shills Coming for Kaneda & Everything Happening in Pinball Right Now!"
FRIDAY SHOW SPECTACULAR!