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

**Source:** Kaneda's Pinball Podcast (Patreon feed)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2026-02-04  
**Duration:** 24m 2s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/warning-common-149919834

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## Analysis

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.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] If manufacturers sold games direct with one-per-customer limits, scalping would end overnight — _Kaneda advocates this as the solution throughout the episode, contrasting current dealer/distro model with direct-to-consumer sales_
- [MEDIUM] Manufacturers could save $1-2M+ per title by eliminating dealer/distro middlemen — _Referenced as 'million and a half to two million more dollars' manufacturers could keep_
- [MEDIUM] Stern no longer has leverage over dealers; dealers now dictate terms and Stern must beg for orders — _Kaneda states 'the tide has turned' and describes shift from bulk-purchase requirements to dealers having control_
- [MEDIUM] Pokemon Pinball will sell well due to IP size and being the first Pokemon machine, despite mediocre gameplay — _Prediction based on comparison to Harry Potter and Star Wars licensing precedent_
- [MEDIUM] Stern's recent $13K LE pricing has backfired; machines now sell for $8-9K on secondary market — _Kaneda cites mediocre LEs pricing themselves out of value retention_
- [HIGH] Pinside's scalping fees are performative and Robin profits regardless through virtue signaling — _Detailed critique of Robin's fee structure, donation pivot, and inconsistent enforcement_
- [LOW] Robin earns ~$400K/year hosting Pinside — _Kaneda estimates audience income as rhetorical device during criticism_
- [MEDIUM] Scalping is a market signal that a game is genuinely good; bad games don't scalp — _Kaneda argues 'Nobody can scalp crap' and uses Beetlejuice premium as proof of quality_

### 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**, ~13:00
> _Core thesis: identifies structural root cause of scalping and proposes solution_

> "Nobody can scalp crap. Nobody wants to pay over for mediocre games."
> — **Kaneda**, ~48:00
> _Reframes scalping as positive market signal for game quality_

> "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**, ~38:00
> _Dismissive stance on Pinside restrictions; argues marketplace alternatives exist_

> "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**, ~49:00
> _Blames collector demands for FOMO-driven pricing that backfired on Stern_

> "Stern will never go direct because they're at the mercy now. The tide has turned."
> — **Kaneda**, ~28:00
> _Key insight into current power dynamics between manufacturer and dealer channel_

> "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**, ~55:00
> _Humorous offer to solve perceived downside of direct sales (customer service burden)_

> "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**, ~36:00
> _Frames Pinside's pivot to charity donations as performative public relations_

> "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**, ~08:30
> _Argues Pokemon theme lacks mechanical depth but sells on IP alone_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Kaneda | person | Podcast host and industry analyst; advocates direct-to-consumer sales model and critiques current dealer/distro channel |
| Robin | person | Pinside founder/operator; implemented scalping fee system and anti-scalping enforcement measures criticized by Kaneda |
| Pinside | organization | Pinball community forum and marketplace; recently introduced anti-scalping listing fees and enforcement |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major manufacturer; criticized for $13K+ LE pricing strategy and loss of dealer negotiating leverage |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Boutique manufacturer; cited as example that could test direct-to-consumer sales model |
| Barrels of Fun | company | Boutique manufacturer; mentioned as potential direct-sales innovator alongside Spooky |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Manufacturer selling Sonic CE directly; cited as example of successful direct sales model |
| Pokemon Pinball | game | Upcoming Stern title launching in one week; Kaneda's primary use case for analyzing market dynamics and IP licensing success |
| Harry Potter Pinball | game | Jersey Jack title; referenced as high-performing licensed game that would have sold better if it were the only HP machine |
| Star Wars Pinball | game | Stern title; cited as mediocre game that would have sold 10x better if it were the only Star Wars pinball |
| Beetlejuice Pinball | game | Recent Stern release; example of game commanding $4-5K+ premiums on secondary market, used to illustrate scalping and market signals |
| King Kong Pinball | game | Stern title; Kaneda predicts would auction down to $10K, contrasting with Beetlejuice valuations |
| Godzilla Pinball | game | Stern game; criticized for lack of mechanical depth (Godzilla doesn't move, open mouth, step on tanks, breathe fire) |
| Jaws Pinball | game | Stern game; criticized for generic toy-like Jaws pop-up mech |
| Dune Pinball | game | Spooky title; Kaneda praises worm mech as best recent example of magical mechanical design |
| Beetlejuice Pinball (Spooky) | game | Spooky title; praised for dancing worm mech as quality mechanical design example |
| Winchester Pinball | game | Referenced as sought-after machine that Kaneda has helped people profit from selling |
| Turner Pinball | company | Boutique manufacturer; listed as example of company using outdated dealer/distro sales model |
| Dutch Pinball | company | Boutique manufacturer; listed as example of company using outdated dealer/distro sales model |
| Project Pinball | organization | Charity mentioned as potential recipient of Pinside's anti-scalping fees; criticized for routing 50 machines with all volunteer service work |
| James Bond 60th Pinball | game | Stern game; example of secondary market loss—listed at $20K on Stern website, buyers lost $10K |
| Circus Voltaire (HEP Restoration) | game | Classic restoration listed at $20K on Pinside; Kaneda skeptical of claimed restoration costs |
| Pirates of the Caribbean Pinball | game | Example of extreme secondary market markup—bought for $12.5K, resold for $40K |
| Sonic the Hedgehog (Jersey Jack CE) | game | Jersey Jack limited edition allegedly sold direct; cited as successful direct-sales precedent |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinside scalping policies and fees, Direct-to-consumer vs. dealer/distro sales model, Pokemon Pinball market predictions
- **Secondary:** Stern LE pricing strategy and secondary market valuation, Mechanical design quality across recent Stern releases, Licensed IP as sales driver vs. theme-to-mechanics fit, Dealer/distro leverage and power dynamics with manufacturers
- **Mentioned:** Scalping as market signal of game quality

### Sentiment

**Negative** (-0.72) — Kaneda is highly critical of Pinside's anti-scalping measures, Robin's virtue signaling, and the broader outdated dealer/distro model. While he expresses appreciation for the community and some game design elements (Dune worm, Beetlejuice worm), the dominant tone is frustrated, dismissive, and argumentative. He uses sarcasm, profanity, and mocking language throughout (e.g., 'bleeding heart European liberal,' 'Pinside babies'). Tone is combative but not personal—directed at systems and policies rather than individuals beyond Robin.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Dealer/distro channel represents outdated business model; manufacturers retain it despite ability to capture $1-2M+ margin per title directly due to inertia and conflict-aversion (confidence: medium) — Kaneda: 'manufacturers are a little bit lazy and just want to get that big check right away' and calls dealer/distro model '35 to 40 year old business model'
- **[business_signal]** Stern has lost negotiating leverage with dealers; power dynamics have inverted from manufacturer-dominant to dealer-dominant (confidence: medium) — Kaneda states 'Stern is more in a position now to beg these people to keep buying' and 'The old model where like, if you want 10 LEs, you gotta buy eight Premiums... that's not the case anymore'
- **[community_signal]** Pinside's anti-scalping fee system is generating community backlash and accusations of profit-driven virtue signaling disguised as consumer protection (confidence: high) — Kaneda's sustained critique of Robin's fee implementation, initial profit-taking, and subsequent pivot to charity donations as 'get out of jail free card'
- **[sentiment_shift]** Pinside forum poll showed overwhelming preference for free market (no intervention), but Robin ignored consensus and implemented fees anyway (confidence: high) — Kaneda: 'Robin over on Pinside sets up a poll... the overwhelming vote was to just leave it alone... And he didn't do that'
- **[design_philosophy]** Stern game mechanical design quality has declined; recent titles lack signature 'wow' moments compared to classics (Godzilla, Jaws, King Kong criticized; Dune and Beetlejuice worms praised) (confidence: medium) — Kaneda: 'They haven't really put anything cool in a game since the building in Godzilla' and contrasts with Spooky's Dune and Beetlejuice worm design
- **[market_signal]** Scalping should be reframed as positive market signal of game quality rather than problem to be solved; bad games don't command premiums (confidence: medium) — Kaneda: 'Nobody can scalp crap. Nobody wants to pay over for mediocre games' and argues scalp premiums prove game quality
- **[licensing_signal]** Major licensed IP (Pokemon, Harry Potter) drives sales primarily through brand recognition rather than mechanical fit to pinball; Pokemon has no natural mechanical expression (confidence: medium) — Kaneda: 'It's not a great theme for pinball, but it's a great IP to make a pinball machine because of the IP' and 'What do you mechanically want to see in Pokemon? Nothing.'
- **[market_signal]** Recent Stern $13K LE pricing strategy has backfired; machines now trade at $8-9K on secondary market indicating price ceiling above perceived value (confidence: medium) — Kaneda: 'now they made a bunch of mediocre LEs for $13,000 that are now worth like $8,000 or $9,000'
- **[personnel_signal]** Kaneda positions himself as unusual industry voice willing to speak uncomfortable truths about systemic issues others avoid due to industry relationships (confidence: medium) — 'Nobody wants to have these conversations. Nobody wants to do what Canada will do and just speak a little truth'
- **[market_signal]** Stern's aggressive LE pricing ($13K+) has created unsustainable expectation and market saturation; collector demand that drove price inflation has reversed (confidence: medium) — Kaneda blames 'Pinside crybabies' demanding more availability, forcing Stern to raise prices, resulting in overpriced mediocre games
- **[announcement]** Pokemon Pinball launching in one week; Kaneda predicts strong sales despite acknowledging mediocre game design due to IP size and first-to-market status (confidence: high) — 'one week from today, Pokemon Pinball will be out... I think it's going to do great, and I think it's going to be pretty lackluster at the same time'
- **[business_signal]** Boutique manufacturers should test direct-to-consumer sales models to eliminate dealer middleman markup ($1-2M+ per title) and scalping simultaneously (confidence: medium) — Kaneda doubles-dares Spooky to 'sell the game direct' and argues 'You won't lose a single sale'

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## Transcript

Kaneda's Pinball Podcast

Welcome everybody to Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, the only pinball podcaster that will talk to you at four in the morning about life, about other stuff, about what's going on inside each and every one of our heads. I just want to say, I really appreciate each and every one of you being a member of the Canada Club. We are a motley crew. We might have people in a $10 million house, people in a $300,000 house. And that's what makes this hobby so much fun. It brings us together from all over the world. We would never in a million years meet up if it weren't for this box of freaking lights that Robin over at Pinside is trying to control the free market. Have you seen this? He's going to put an end to scalping by putting more money in his pocket. His way to get rid of scalping is to say that if you sell a game that you are on a list for, he is going to take a cut. And then he gets called out on how much money he was going to take. He cut it in half. We're going to talk about it. And then he gets called out for profiteering off of scalping. So then he does what every damn bleeding heart European liberal does. And I'm not going to get political. He says he's going to give the money to charity. It's really like the get out of jail free card. So what's he going to do? Go give it to Project Pinball? Make them make a million dollars a year as they route 50 machines? And all the servicing that's done on those machines is volunteer work. And nobody wants to kick these cans down the road, but Canada. But we're not going to go down that road. We're never going to figure out the real truth behind that money.

What we're going to do is we're going to say: one week from today, Pokemon Pinball will be out. All of the speculation, all of the people wondering, "How will this game do?" I'm going to tell you right now, I think it's going to do great, and I think it's going to be pretty lackluster at the same time. I think those two things will happen because it's the biggest IP in the world and we have never had another Pokemon machine before.

The reason why Star Wars—if this was the only Star Wars machine, I mean this, if this last Star Wars machine, which is very mediocre, if it was the only Star Wars machine in the history of pinball, it would have sold 10 times better. This is the only Pokemon machine ever. Look how the only Harry Potter pinball machine is doing. And this IP is much bigger. And this IP comes from the same time period as Harry Potter. So it's going to sell really well. I also think it's not going to like blow you away as a pinhead. And it's fine. It's going to be a Stern.

Sometimes I feel like whenever Stern has a new game, we actually expect it to be better than a Stern game. You know, we actually expect there to be sculpts. We actually expect there to be like multi-levels of play. We actually expect some magnets. We actually expect some mechs and some mechanical wow and awe in the game. And then it comes out and you're like, "All right, man, the shark doesn't eat the ball." And they said that. They said they tried to make the shark eat the ball, but it wasn't any fun. Yeah, they haven't really put anything cool in a game since the building in Godzilla. And even that, you know, it's just a two-layer like diverter.

Everybody, look: 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. You have absolutely nothing that comes to mind. Think about it. What do you mechanically want to see in Pokemon other than the Pokéball that opens up? What else is there to put in this game? And that's why it's not a great theme for pinball, but it's a great IP to make a pinball machine because of the IP.

See, it's much more fun when a theme has a world, right? A world under glass. We talk about this all the time. There are like elements of that world that come to life under glass. Not every game does it. Not every game has it. Not every game is a theme that lends itself nicely to that world. But we're a very forgiving bunch. We are a very forgiving bunch.

Harry Potter's doing phenomenally well. No Hogwarts castle under the glass. Crazy, right? How do you even design Harry Potter without Hogwarts under the glass? Godzilla doesn't even move. We made a Godzilla freaking pinball machine. He doesn't even move. He doesn't open his mouth. He doesn't step on tanks. He doesn't breathe fire. He does nothing.

Jaws pops up like a little $3 toy my kid puts in the bathtub. That's what they did with Jaws. At least King Kong moves his arms. At least we get that, right? Whatever happened to actually taking the main element and making it do something really magical?

I mean, the best magical mech that actually translates the best is the worm in Dune. Look at that thing. Look at that. It does like three, four things. Super cool. I'm glad they did it. We need more of that in pinball. I love the spooky worm in Beetlejuice. It dances. "Deo dee deo, de la come and dee one, go home." Everybody, I want to go home. I want to go back to the time when you could get a pinball machine spot and you could sell it for whatever you wanted.

Let's talk about that. Then we'll go back to Pokemon. What is this? You're not allowed to sell something that you bought. You put your name on a list and you bought it. You're not allowed to buy more than one—one per customer. I'm going to say this before I read what Robin wrote: I just want to say this—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. Is anybody in pinball doing that? No. Why are small manufacturers using a 35 to 40 year old business model to sell games using dealers and distros? Answer me that question. Why does Spooky Pinball, Barrels of Fun, Turner Pinball, like Dutch Pinball—why does anybody, when you think about it now, why are these boutiques selling to some middleman to sell you the game when you are willing to go to them directly and let them get the best margin on their product?

And the reason why, if these companies sold direct, it would end scalping overnight. Because the reason scalping happens is that one man can put his name on the list with four to five dealers or distros. Those individual dealers or distros don't know that. And the guy simply sells his spots, keeps one for himself, and the other four get sold and passed on to new customers.

If they sold directly, they would know that Bill Brandis has one game coming from us. We are not going to sell another game to Bill Brandis. And you could also do it where like, each game has to ship to a different name and a different address. So yeah, if you wanted to then scalp, Bill would need to go find four friends and mail them the games and then they could scalp it. But that is the easiest way to end scalping once and for all.

And I think we're going to get to a period real soon where a company like Spooky realizes: Why are we handing $1 million or more out the door to dealers to find us customers when the customers have already found us? It is an outdated business model. Everybody knows it. And everybody is terrified to push against the dealer and distro mafia that does exist in pinball.

Right now, my dealer and distro friends are like, "What are you saying this for, man?" But it's true. It's absolutely true. And with all the money that they could save, they could easily use that money to have customer service. And we all know that this isn't like a car. You're not going in for oil changes. There's not like every five [years], someone has to come and tweak your machine. If you have a problem with your game, guess what happens? You go to your dealer and then they go to Spooky. What is the dealer actually doing? They're not stocking the replacement parts. They're not sending like a technician. And if they have to send a technician out, it's probably not their technician.

How many of you have bought a game from a dealer or distro that's not even in your state? They're not sending their guy to fix it. They're just finding a tech in the area, which is what Spooky could do. You're not supposed to talk about this, Kaneda, but it's damn true.

Look, I don't think it's going to happen because here's why: I think the manufacturers are a little bit lazy and just want to get that big check right away. And then it's their problem selling the games because yeah, when a game is a hit like Beetlejuice or Winchester, it's great. But when a game is not a hit, what companies like Barrels and Spooky want—they want those dealers and distros spamming everybody on social media nonstop to sell that inventory. And if they go direct, the only way you can successfully go direct is if you have something that's going to have direct demand every single time.

Stern will never go direct because they're at the mercy now. See, the tide has turned. Stern used to have all the leverage and could basically hold these distros and dealers hostage to getting LE allotments. Now it's the opposite. Now Stern needs them more than ever. These guys are no longer buying in bulk like they used to. They now have the leverage and they are now dictating more of the terms and conditions of how they're going to buy games from Stern. Stern is more in a position now to beg these people to keep buying. They can't force them. The old model where like, if you want 10 LEs, you gotta buy eight Premiums for every LE and another like five Pros or whatever it was—like people were buying like 50 games to get 10 LEs. That's not the case anymore.

All right, so Robin over on Pinside sets up a poll. He asked people, "What should I do?" And the overwhelming vote was to just leave it alone. "Don't touch it. Let the free market do what the free market will do." And he didn't do that. And we started to see something was happening. You know, when Beetlejuice came out, people were scalping them on Pinside for $4,000 to $5,000 profit. Then, you know, we've got to remember this game has been out for over a month. So then some guy recently tried to sell a Beetlejuice. He paid the $35 listing fee, and then his listing was removed. He didn't get the $35 back, and he realized that Robin is now preventing people from listing their Beetlejuice for sale.

Now he's got a whole new system here. I want to read what he wrote. He goes, "My last post explained the final after-poll thoughts. However, I realize I never posted my final implementation details. We do not endorse scalping practices. The option of selling your pre-order spot on Pinside is intended for non-commercial reasons only." I don't even know what that really means.

"Pre-order spot ads must explicitly list deposit, transfer, markup amounts separately in your ad description. The ad price amount field must be set to the markup profit you make on the pre-order spot listing. At no profit, then set your price to zero to avoid fake account selling spots. Only Pinside Plus members who have been a member for at least three months can list. These pre-order scalping for large profit sucks." Okay, just right there. Who are you, Robin? Who are you?

So Robin, is it just pre-order scalping that sucks, or I just saw a guy list a HEP Circus Voltaire for $20,000. Does that suck? And the guy is listing it saying, "This is not even how much went into this game." That's a lie. There's no way that a Circus Voltaire restored by HEP had more than $20,000 go into restoring that game. Does it suck, Robin, that someone bought a Pirates of the Caribbean for $12,500 and now wants to sell it for $40,000?

You know what sucks even more, Robin? Stern Pinball listing James Bond 60th for $20,000. And if you bought it off the Stern website, it was $22,000. And so those buyers have lost $10,000. Does that suck? Are you going to give those people a refund when they lose money on a pinball machine?

Okay, so here's how he's going to price it. The base listing fee for every game is $25. For pre-order listings, they now charge $25 a listing fee. I think this is all new. I think it used to be like in good faith you would pay him if you sold a game. Now he's charging up front. He's like, "This isn't just about scalping. We found that nearly all pre-order spot listings go unpaid. Given the profits made on some of these, a modest listing fee seems reasonable."

"The anti-scalping fee." Doesn't that sound like some dystopian, crazy governmental name? "The anti-scalping fee." As for the scalping practices discussed in a poll, we've decided to charge an additional fee on any excessive markup. We define excessive as profit over [He originally had $250, now it's $1,000] on a pre-order spot.

Okay, so let's just follow this real quick. He thinks that 250 bucks initially is excessive. In a hobby in which toppers cost $2,000, for 250 bucks you can barely get a Stern shooter rod that's just got a sticker on it. "We also felt without any costs, listing pre-order spots becomes a bit too casual. Oh, it's just so casual. I just got these five Beetlejuice spots. I don't know, Martha, I might list them on Pinside today. I'll meet you at brunch at three."

What is he talking about? "A why-not-try situation with zero downside. Adding a small fee balances the risk-reward and encourages more serious listings." I need to know, Johnny. I need to know if you're going to list this—that you're serious about this, Johnny. This ain't no casual listing here. I need to know you're serious.

There's babies dying in the Gaza Strip. There's cancer killing millions of people every year. Susanna Guthrie's mom has gone missing. There's so much horrible stuff happening in the world, but I need to know, man, with all of that happening in the world, are you serious about this Beetlejuice listing? Are you serious that you want to make an excessive profit of over $250 and give it to a man who makes about $400,000 a year hosting a website about pinball—America's toy—run by a guy overseas?

Let's keep going. "Here are some examples of these new fees in place. A markup of $500, your fee is $25. A markup of $1,000, your fee is $25. A markup of $1,500 is $50. And a markup of $3,000 is $125 commission."

Now, he lowered that commission. It was initially $250.

Here's my take on all of this: 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. Heck, hit me up at canadapinball@gmail.com, and I could find you a buyer for any of your sought-after machines. You know how I know that? I've helped some people sell Beetlejuice spots for a really good profit. I've helped some people sell a Winchester spot for a really good profit.

So this whole thing is weird. It just reeks a little bit of the typical virtue signaling that we see in the world these days—like I'm going to go to war and stop something. And remember, initially all this money was going back to Robin. And then he felt that pressure. And now it's going to charity. I think the whole thing is just gobbledygook. It's just spin. It's unnecessary.

He's making so much money already for doing nothing. It is his site, though. In the end, it's his site, his rules. He can do what he wants. He can do absolutely what he wants.

The reason why I think it's stupid is I think Robin should just shut up and just cash those checks every month for doing very little and just stop. Because the more he does this, the more he's gonna make Pinside suck, and the more he's gonna make people realize that maybe there should be an alternative. And the more he angers people, the greater the opportunity is someone's gonna make a better Pinside with a better marketplace, with a better forum, with something that's more inviting to the companies.

And yeah, just make it free. Why can't people just list it? Why can't people pay the market price for the game? Why can't we have a fun place where we could go and watch people bid on a game to see what the true market value is?

And when I say that, I don't just mean scalping. I mean just seeing what the market value is. I wanna see a Beetlejuice hit the auction block in a live auction and see the bids go to $18,000. The same way I wanna see a King Kong Ali hit the auction block and sink all the way down to $10,000. Because that's what would happen, and it would be fun. And it would be the ultimate display of the free market at play.

Ladies and gentlemen, none of us need these machines. Ladies and gentlemen, I remember a time when games were scalping for over listing, but listing wasn't so high. These games are really expensive. The reason why I like scalping, the reason why I like seeing people get $5,000 over for their Beetlejuice, is simply this: It means a great game was made. Nobody can scalp crap. Nobody wants to pay over for mediocre games.

Stern Pinball, $13,000 LEs. They've baked into the price of their game the scalper price. We used to pay over for a $10,000 Stern LE that was great—like $13,000. Now they made a bunch of mediocre LEs for $13,000 that are now worth like $8,000 or $9,000. 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? I don't want to pay over." Okay, so now everybody has to pay over. You idiots. Do you not see what you did, you Pinside babies? You made it now so that everybody has to pay over for every single Stern machine. You should have just got in early or paid a little bit of the scalper price. Instead, you moaned and you groaned, and now you got what you want.

And I think it's just a matter of time before companies like Spooky, companies like Barrels, they figure it out. They could end it all tomorrow, and I bet they do in the next couple of years. And that's the solution.

You know, if you wanted me to analyze the pinball market, the solution is Jersey Jack sells all of its Sonic the Hedgehog CEs direct. Why? Why do they need to hand a $2,000 to $3,000 profit to the dealer distro? Why? What are they doing? How many Harry Potters are being worked on right now? And when you look at the millions of dollars going out to dealers and distros for doing nothing—you don't need their marketing. You know what the marketing is for Harry Potter? It's Harry freaking Potter. The marketing for Pokemon is Pokemon. They don't need, they don't need any help. They do not need any help to get these games sold.

You know, test it out. Test it out, Spooky. On your next game, I double dog dare you: sell the game direct. Sell the game direct and see how you put another million and a half dollars into your family, into your company, into your product. You won't lose a single sale. Not only that, you won't have a single headache that comes with it because with all that money will come work for you.

Think about it. You will make a million and a half to two million more dollars. I will be your customer service guy. I will personally make sure that nobody's game goes without a fix. Oh yeah, every once in a while, a forklift is going to go through a box. So what? So what? With all the money we're going to save, we can deal with every once in a while there's a shipping issue. So what? So freaking what? There's something called insurance on the shipping.

Nobody wants to have these conversations. Nobody wants to do what Canada will do and just speak a little truth. With everybody, happy Wednesday. Let the free market reign and may these boutiques keep the money that they generated. Remember, you made this game. Of course they want to come over and film content and you give them 100 games. Of course, because you just handed them $100,000 for a 20-minute video. Come on, guys. It's time to wake up.

Kaneda out.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 34916955-c95c-469f-a1b2-b9a643405b3e*