I think they should go with Platinum/Gold/Silver. Get rid of the scarcity names and problem solved. This way people get what they want and there isn't this mad dash and price gauging going on.

Pinball peeps are usually one big happy family. This collector's edition stuff has always created an unnecessary cloud. Love the idea of order what you want when you see the product for sale. If the machine is awesome (and I hope it is), people will buy what they can afford and everyone will get what they want based on how much they want to spend.

There is zero reason to limit CEs or Stern LEs at this point. They won't lose any sales over it. People willing to shell out 14-16k with tax don't care about resale value. The limited aspect only mattered when prices were below resale, which they no longer are.

Yeah, they need to capture all the whales they can in this market. More of a Stern problem than anything, as they continually nerf LEs with anniversary editions and remakes.

But as the old saying goes, a whale and their money…

So here's the thing... at what price do people walk away?

I am committed to a $15K CE... I am not loving that commitment right now, but I plan to honor it....

Add tariffs and whatever else....

$17.5K... honestly, I am out.

What point are people going to walk? I think I have a pretty hard line at $15k.

PS.... Also... that doesn't mean I shift to a LE at a lower price. I have no interest in a $14K LE either

If it looks the part and plays the part, i'm going to get a LE. At 12k it's 19k usd here in sweden.
For a LE, that is my breaking point.

I wouldn't go higher even if it itches a bit if ce's have an awesome topper.

I’m not going to buy this pin but will be curious to play it on location. So the price doesn’t matter to me. I’m more hoping JJP rolls out Pinball Connect with this and the former pins when this launches

I understand the reasoning not to limit CEs and LEs. But I think saying they would not lose sales is not quite accurate. I would like to a CE, but if they’re not going to limit them, I will just wait till they are on the secondary market instead of buying one NIB and I’m pretty sure I would not be the only one. I think they will probably raise the number of CE’s that they will sell so that way they can say they’re truly limited but get the most they can.

… if they don’t limit them and raise prices, then I’m definitely not buying NIB.

Unlimited CEs would make me just consider getting a “pro” and accessorizing it my way.

I 1000% agree. JJP is so far behind the online connectivity game, by the time they release this it will be outdated. Just wave the flag and sign a deal with Stern for IC. I hate using a different app for everything

I don’t know, but I think that price is lower than you think.

1) JJP has had a bad run of games. They’re not batting a high percentage right now.

2) This might be the GOAT pinball license, but we’re staring down the barrel of the worst economic crash in 17 years. EVERYTHING is up in the air.

If you think they're so bad, why do you have Elton John on your wishlist?

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It’s definitely my favorite JJP in several years, and I enjoy dropping $0.75 into it every couple of months at AYCE GOGI, but there’s a reason I haven’t pulled the trigger on one.

Wait, it will fall in price, grab one next year when the next guy is ready to move on.

Unlimited CE’s is the way to go in helping the Distros. It seems a price hike is coming across the board in pinball, and the last thing anyone wants to get stuck holding is a NIB JJP CE. My belief is this is a terrible time to release HP if the license has a tight window, and for obvious reasons. A lot of the HP hype may be coming from people who will be priced out imo. I just look to a stagnant used market for indications of this. We shall find out. I really want one, but may have to wait and see what happens. H

International Harry Potter Day

Friday, May 2, 2025

Any true Potterheads will know this but in case your Potter facts aren't up to scratch, May 2nd actually marks the date of the Battle of Hogwarts during which Harry Potter heroically defeats Lord Voldemort.

It won’t help the distros if a lot less people buy CEs due to lack of exclusivity…after all, Jack himself said the Arcade tier has pretty much everything…

Interesting. When I read your post, I was a bit irritated because I did not recall in the book a date being specified when Harry defeated Voldemort. A brief bit of research yielded the information that the date of May 2, 1998, was indeed not mentioned in the book, but apparently stated by the author subsequently. Jeepers, I guess I don’t qualify as a Potterhead…

Is there anyone in this thread that has either worked for a pinball company or knows someone who has or does? I'm curious as to roughly what percent of a pinball machine's total build cost might be affected by an increase in material costs. Labor, license, building overhead (lease, utility bills, etc), profit margin, could make up a big part of the price. There's also parts that could have been stocked up on 6 months ago, like coils and lcd screens. Is there more than 2K in unique title dependent parts per machine that couldn't have been stocked up on that are subject to tariffs? Maybe a 2025 release that's 10K will only turn into a 10.5K for a game released in 2026. Yes I know 500 bucks isn't pocket change, but in relation to 10K it isn't a big jump.

Spoiler alert!!

Nothing gets a Collector to drop $15-$20K on a pin faster than hearing it has an “unlimited” run

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So odd. Unlimited runs and all games equipped with same gameplay only aesthetic changes? Sure sounds like they're taking a play straight from the BOF book. It's smart. I know my earlier comment on guessing prices fell flat, but if the only thing different is in fact the aesthetics, then how much extra can you actually charge for such simple difference? Powder coat? Yawn. LE/CE topper "yawn". Somebody somewhere will likely run short on cash soon enough and dump their topper anyway. Saying that part out loud, what's the chances JJP has the topper interface board exclusive to the LE/CE? That would force some people to buy an LE instead of a pro. (maybe even code restricted?) And Mirco selling Radcals, doesn't stop someone from upgrading their standard cab with them eventually.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is for the first time in JJP history I am not "yet" seeing a reason to need anything more than the standard. Thoughts?

If there are Radcals on it then I don’t want it. Those things get scratches like you wouldn’t believe. Regular decals, please.

My bet is 2,000 CE's. 500 for each "house" with specific graphics and art for each one? A muggle can dream

That’s the plan! But it’ll have to drop quite a bit for my tastes.

Wow - that would seem like a lot of work - even if just cabinet art. But who know, maybe they will. CEs will almost certainly have special "sizzle" kind of playfield artwork versus the "wizard" or "arcade" models - just based on what they did with Avatar and Elton John. So that's an additional difference in models other that art blades for the inside cabinet, topper, radcals, invisiglass, shaker, etc.

And Hufflepuff sells for more than Ravenclaw on the secondary market. This would be a total PITA for distributors... No! I wanted a Slitherin!

I believe many Pinsiders tend to view machines through an enthusiast-driven lens. We're often comfortable with, and even enjoy, upgrading, troubleshooting, or modifying our machines—some may even prefer that process over playing the games themselves.

On the other end of the spectrum are those who simply want to purchase a fully complete machine that fits their aesthetic preferences or features a favorite theme or character, without the need for additional upgrades.

For some, even tasks like lifting the playfield, removing rails for powder coating, or installing shaker motors or mods can feel overwhelming or intimidating.

I love the theme and trust JJP. If you’re only buying for potential resale value, then you’re setting yourself up to be dissatisfied.

That's an idea, different cabinet art or translite for each house, buyer can choose at purchase.

Hmm, I wonder if they add a % as a whole and if that is in line with what actually went up in price. You know damn well Labor hasn’t gone up, at least not even a smidge enough to keep up with inflation of late.
I always thought a top tier (JJP CE, Stern LE) should get an exclusive Topper that adds to the game and a mech that the mid tier does not have. JJP was close with Coma Lock, but something of more importance on the play field. Then naturally the mid tier having some extras over the bottom tier as Stern does now. The extra mech on the top tier seems to infuriate some people when I bring it up, but I don’t understand why. I would love a dozen top tier pins and a Corvette but I’m not in that bracket right now. Big deal.

I worry more about Eric making the game. Just don't have any confidence after Godfather. Looked so good but played so bad I would not even open the box. Took my loss as I learned a little.

This is exactly what I have suggested and would love it. Gimme slitherin green powder coat.

I thought Rad Cals are less prone to scratching?
Not sure.

Is this the voice actor they hired?

Or possibly Josh Petersdorf who did work at the theme park. He’s the sorting hat voice heard during the intro here.

Ever?

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Didn’t Stern patent IC and threaten JJP when they were working on something similar?

You know things are looking good when our closest comp is the CIVIL WAR lol

So far it’s a run of the mill stock market hiccup in result to a possibility that tariffs might shave a single percentage point off of GDP growth this year and add a few points to inflation in a one time adjustment… IF the tariffs all go into affect as announced, which is a huge IF.

Nowhere near the civil war, Great Depression, GFC, S&L crisis, opec oil embargo, WW1, WW2, etc.

Back to pinball.

The plastic coating can get hairline scratches like you wouldn’t believe.

Could make it like a surprise box. “Guys I had to open 16 before I finally got Ravenclaw”

Have never heard that, interesting. Whatever would scratch a Radcal would do more damage to a thin decal.

Maybe May 22.

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CE's won't be unlimited. They'll just have a window to order them and then after that no more CE's. However many orders they get, that'll be the CE run. Plenty of people with FOMO will be jumping in, as well as people who just want "the nicest one". I can see the argument that it hurts the collector market, but I don't think it'll matter in the long run. JJP will sell plenty of these. After that, if you want a CE you'll just have to hope they A. take a dip in price and B. people are willing to come off them regularly. Theres a good chance resale remains strong. Elton has plenty of people waiting for the dip and while it has taken a small loss, its holding strong compared to most JJP's and they really aren't coming up for sale all that often either. Besides, if collectors really cared about scarcity, they'd be buying the SE models of yesteryear, as those are by far the rarest.

M....more info please?

That's all I got besides...

• Arcade Edition
• Wizard Edition
• Collector’s Edition