Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

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Darryl B.
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Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Darryl B. »

I got this e-mail from a gaming expo mailing group that I'm on. Interesting...

Stern Pinball is conducting a limited market test exclusively in select Costco stores, offering a modified version of the Batman pinball designed for the consumer market. The initial test involves 48 Batman games with fewer features and a less complex playfield than the commercial version of the same game.

Participating Costco stores have three games each. Stern is conducting this test to study products best suited for various segments of its market. These games are shipped from the factory set on free play and have only one fixed coin setting of five credits per one coin.

Stern says it will not sell any more of this test Batman in this configuration in the U.S. If the test is successful, Stern says it will further simplify future game design for tested market segments. Such changes would likely include a redesigned and simplified cabinet and replacement of the current dot matrix score display.

However, it should be noted that Stern will continue to build its full line of traditional commercial coin-op pinball games, as well as special collector models.

Costco Store test locations are the following:
Carlsbad, Calif.
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Simi Valley, Calif.
North Fresno, Calif.
Reno, Nev.
Tigard, Ore.
Issaquah, Wash.
St. George, UT
San Antonio, TX
Houston, TX
Overland Park, Kan.
Deerfield Township, OH
Chantilly, Va.
Alpharetta, Ga.
Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Melville, NY


Best of luck to Stern, being THE only pinball manufacturer left on the planet, they're going to need it. I just wonder how much they cost though.

Also, Sears had been selling some pinball machines last year as well, dunno if they're still doing that though.
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Rob
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Rob »

Hmmm... kudos for Stern and Cosco for this plan. Let's hope the price is right!

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Darryl B.
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Darryl B. »

Actually it appears that they sell the *regular* arcade games too, since someone wanted a photo of one when I put it up on another forum, and I came across the Wheel of Fortune machine for $4,000 when I did a search on the Costco site...so I assume that's the original arcade version.

Unfortunately I got a follow-up e-mail of a guy in my group saying that he had tried out the Batman one...said the ball kept on getting stuck somewhere at the top of the playfield.

Dammit...I want Stern to succeed here... :(
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Zap! »

Believe it of not, I've never even been to Costco, or any other store where you need a membership just to step inside. Everyone tells me I'm missing out on a lot.
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Darryl B.
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Darryl B. »

No biggie, I've never been to one of those types of places either...no need for it really...
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Zap! »

Darryl B. wrote:No biggie, I've never been to one of those types of places either...no need for it really...
B.J.'s is another one. I am no expert, but I believe they are like $50 a year to join, but what's inside is a great deal, and they have lots of things in large quantities. I guess it's worth ir if you go shopping a lot and for a lot of people. Those I know who go there love it.
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by TwinChargers »

I take it this didn't work out?

Bummer. I always thought it would be cool to own a pinball machine.
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Re: Want a pinball machine? Then go to...Costco?!

Post by Darryl B. »

No idea, I haven't done any research for a follow-up on how sales went.
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