WARNING...COMMON SENSE RANT FREE SHOW: Episode 1183: "KANEDA SOLVES PINBALL SCALPING ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!!"

PodcastAnalysis updated 6d agoFeb 4, 202624 min listen

TL;DR

Kaneda critiques Pinside's scalping fees as virtue signaling; argues manufacturers should sell direct to end scalping.

From the creator

It's so simple how to end this practice and move pinball sales into modern times.

Listen on Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast

Synopsis

Kaneda launches a multi-part critique of Pinside's anti-scalping measures and broader pinball business model inefficiencies. He argues Robin's fee-based scalping restrictions are performative virtue-signaling that won't solve the underlying problem: that manufacturers should sell direct to consumers instead of relying on dealers/distros, which would eliminate scalping overnight while manufacturers keep an extra $1-2M+ per title. He positions Pokemon Pinball as an upcoming test case and frames scalping as a market signal of game quality.

Highlights

If manufacturers sold games direct with one-per-customer limits, scalping would end overnight
Manufacturers could save $1-2M+ per title by eliminating dealer/distro middlemen
Stern no longer has leverage over dealers; dealers now dictate terms and Stern must beg for orders
Pokemon Pinball will sell well due to IP size and being the first Pokemon machine, despite mediocre gameplay
Stern's recent $13K LE pricing has backfired; machines now sell for $8-9K on secondary market
Pinside's scalping fees are performative and Robin profits regardless through virtue signaling
Robin earns ~$400K/year hosting Pinside
Scalping is a market signal that a game is genuinely good; bad games don't scalp

Notable quotes

“If these companies really wanted to prevent scalping, they could easily do it. The only thing they would have to do is sell their games direct: one per customer.”

Kaneda

“Nobody can scalp crap. Nobody wants to pay over for mediocre games.”

Kaneda

“I think it's stupid. I don't really care. If you have a machine, go sell it. You can find eight other avenues to sell your machine.”

Kaneda

“Do you want that? See, that was Stern listening to all the Pinside crybabies. 'Why don't they make more? Why is it so hard to get a game?' Okay, so now everybody has to pay over.”

Kaneda

“Stern will never go direct because they're at the mercy now. The tide has turned.”

Kaneda

“With all that money will come work for you... I will be your customer service guy. I will personally make sure that nobody's game goes without a fix.”

Kaneda

“This whole thing is weird. It just reeks a little bit of the typical virtue signaling that we see in the world these days.”

Kaneda

“It's Pokemon. If I were to ask you right now, mechanically, what do you want to see in a Pokemon Pinball machine? Guess what your answer is? Nothing.”

Kaneda