# Breaking News: JJP Talks CE Purchases

**Source:** Kaneda's Pinball Podcast (Patreon feed)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2022-06-08  
**Duration:** 10m 50s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/breaking-news-ce-67525943

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## Analysis

Ken Cromwell from Jersey Jack Pinball releases an official announcement clarifying how collectors can purchase upcoming Collector's Edition machines, with emphasis on first-come-first-serve ordering through their online store, US-only direct shipping, and distributor partnerships for international buyers. Host Jon provides detailed analysis of ordering logistics, speculates on pricing ($16,500 CE), production allocation strategy (750 distributor units + 250 direct), and criticizes the lack of per-customer purchase limits, while confirming Toy Story's imminent release.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Jersey Jack Pinball will allocate approximately 750 CEs to distributors and hold back ~250 for direct sales — _Jon (host) speculating based on previous Guns N' Roses allocation patterns and distributor conversations_
- [MEDIUM] Collector's Edition machines will sell out in minutes when direct orders open — _Jon predicting based on market demand and knowledge of CE value appreciation_
- [HIGH] Direct purchases from JJP require full payment, not just a deposit — _Ken Cromwell (JJP marketing specialist) in official announcement_
- [HIGH] International buyers cannot purchase directly from JJP and must use distributor partners — _Ken Cromwell official policy statement_
- [LOW] Toy Story CE will likely be priced at $16,500 — _Jon speculating based on market positioning and previous high-end JJP pricing_
- [HIGH] Distributors have not been informed of final CE pricing or exact unit allocation numbers — _Jon reports from conversations with distributor contacts_
- [HIGH] Jersey Jack Pinball previously sold Guns N' Roses CEs directly before allocating to distributors, creating distributor friction — _Jon citing historical precedent from past release_
- [HIGH] JJP is not implementing per-customer purchase limits for direct CE orders — _Jon noting absence of such policy in Ken's announcement and criticizing the omission_
- [HIGH] Louis Toy Story Collector's Edition is 'right around the corner' and imminent — _Ken Cromwell's opening statement and Jon's follow-up confirmation from distributor allotment discussions_

### Notable Quotes

> "When these order banks open up, that's it. This game is going to sell out so fast. So if you're not ready to go, you are going to be out of luck."
> — **Jon (host)**, ~04:20
> _Emphasizes urgency and first-come-first-serve nature of direct CE ordering_

> "you will not lose money on a Jersey Jack Pinball Collectors Edition. If you are even on the fence about this game you would be idiotic to wait because if you wait and then you want it you're gonna lose money."
> — **Jon (host)**, ~09:15
> _Strong market prediction about CE value appreciation; reflects collector confidence in JJP secondary market_

> "If you have an international shipping address, you have to reach out to one of our distributor partners internationally so that they can place that order for you."
> — **Ken Cromwell (JJP marketing specialist)**, ~01:45
> _Official policy clarifying international purchasing restrictions_

> "It doesn't take it out of our inventory. You have to complete the entire checkout process... Once you do those things, you'll receive a confirmation email that lets you know that you've secured your CE."
> — **Ken Cromwell (JJP marketing specialist)**, ~00:50
> _Clarifies the mechanics of securing a direct order and preventing cart-holding tactics_

> "Why is it that some of these Pinside guys always seem to have like three or four of every hot game for sale?"
> — **Jon (host)**, ~10:45
> _Raises concern about multi-unit hoarding and speculation in secondary market_

> "I bet they are praying to the playfield gods that there are no micro playfield issues."
> — **Jon (host)**, ~12:50
> _References known JJP quality concerns with playfield defects on release day_

> "when you buy direct from jerseyjackpinball.com you are paying for your game in full... your credit card will be charged the full amount of the game"
> — **Jon (host) citing Ken Cromwell policy**, ~05:00
> _Clarifies full payment requirement distinguishing JJP from deposit-based systems_

> "every distributor I talked to today they don't know the price and they don't know how many Collectors Editions are coming out so that is still a big question mark"
> — **Jon (host)**, ~05:45
> _Reveals information asymmetry between JJP and distributors, potential strategy concern_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Ken Cromwell | person | Marketing and Communications Specialist at Jersey Jack Pinball; released official announcement video about CE purchasing procedures |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer releasing Toy Story Collector's Edition; implementing direct-to-consumer sales model for CEs alongside distributor channel |
| Louis Toy Story | game | Upcoming Jersey Jack Pinball game based on Toy Story IP; imminent Collector's Edition release with first-come-first-serve ordering |
| Jon | person | Host of Kaneda's Pinball Podcast; industry analyst providing market commentary and speculation on JJP's CE strategy, pricing, and allocation |
| Guns N' Roses | game | Previous Jersey Jack Pinball title; referenced as precedent for direct CE sales strategy and distributor allocation patterns (~500 units to distributors) |
| Pinside | organization | Online pinball community forum where secondary market trading occurs; referenced in context of multi-unit hoarding by collectors |
| Stern Pinball | company | Competing pinball manufacturer; referenced implicitly as industry context |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Collector's Edition ordering and purchasing logistics, Jersey Jack Pinball direct-to-consumer sales strategy vs. distributor channel conflict, Toy Story Collector's Edition imminent release and market anticipation, Speculation on CE pricing and production allocation numbers
- **Secondary:** Secondary market value appreciation and FOMO dynamics in pinball collecting, International purchasing barriers and distributor limitations, Multi-unit hoarding and speculation tactics by collectors
- **Mentioned:** JJP product quality concerns (playfield defects)

### Sentiment

**Mixed** (0.55) — Host is excited about Toy Story's imminent release and appreciates JJP's transparency in the announcement, but expresses frustration with ordering logistics complexity, lack of per-customer limits, international restrictions, and skepticism about JJP's profit-driven direct sales strategy. Underlying tone is cautiously enthusiastic tempered by critical industry analysis.

### Signals

- **[announcement]** Ken Cromwell releases official Jersey Jack Pinball video clarifying Collector's Edition purchasing procedures, order process, payment requirements, and shipping restrictions (confidence: high) — Ken Cromwell's formal opening statement detailing direct purchase mechanics, confirmation email process, and international shipping policy
- **[product_launch]** Toy Story Collector's Edition confirmed imminent; Jon reports distributor allotments have been assigned and release window is days away (referenced as possibly Monday/Tuesday or while host is in Ireland) (confidence: high) — Jon: 'this game is right around the corner', 'distributors have been given their allotment number for this game', Ken's video timing suggesting immediate CE launch
- **[market_signal]** Host speculates Toy Story CE will be priced at $16,500 based on market positioning and JJP's premium pricing strategy (confidence: low) — Jon: 'I think it's gonna be like 16,500 for the Collectors Edition', noting JJP's historical high-end pricing for CEs
- **[market_signal]** Host analyzes JJP's likely production split: ~750 units to distributors, ~250 held for direct sales, based on Guns N' Roses precedent and distributor conversations (confidence: medium) — Jon: 'They are probably allocating 750 CEs to people out there in the distributor world and I think they probably gonna hold back about 250 and sell them directly', with caveat 'I don't know... they might sell 500 direct and 500'
- **[business_signal]** Historical tension between JJP's direct sales model and distributor relationships; previous Guns N' Roses direct-first sales created friction and potential reluctance from retailers to disclose allocations (confidence: high) — Jon: 'Jersey Jack Pinball did last time. They sold Guns N' Roses Collectors Editions directly before they allocated the games to distributors. And that's what created the issue last time around. Retailers are reluctant to say exactly how many CEs they're getting'
- **[market_signal]** Evidence of multi-unit hoarding on secondary market by wealthy collectors/speculators; host criticizes lack of per-customer purchase limits enabling this behavior (confidence: high) — Jon: 'Why is it that some of these like hyper fans, they have their name on the top of the list... with like three or four or five distributors', 'Why is it that some of these people in the Pinside marketplace always seem to have like three or four of every hot game for sale?'
- **[collector_signal]** Strong market confidence that JJP Collector's Editions appreciate significantly in value; host argues waiting to purchase results in financial loss (confidence: high) — Jon: 'you will not lose money on a Jersey Jack Pinball Collectors Edition... if you wait and then you want it you're gonna lose money', 'everybody knows now that a Jersey Jack Pinball Collectors Edition is going to go up in value'
- **[operational_signal]** Jersey Jack Pinball restricts direct CE purchases to US addresses only; international buyers forced to rely on overseas distributor network which is less robust than domestic channels (confidence: high) — Ken Cromwell policy statement and Jon's analysis: 'Our friends in Europe, our friends in Australia, they're going to be at the mercy of the very few distributors that exist for overseas for Jersey Jack Pinball'
- **[product_concern]** Host references known quality risk of playfield defects on JJP releases and speculates JJP management is concerned about microplayfield issues on Toy Story launch (confidence: medium) — Jon: 'I bet they are praying to the playfield gods that there are no micro playfield issues'
- **[sentiment_shift]** Host expresses relief and excitement that JJP has news and momentum after apparent quiet period; Toy Story release represents return to newsworthy industry activity (confidence: high) — Jon: 'Finally, we get some news. We get something to talk about', 'Finally, Jersey Jack Pinball has some news and some momentum', 'Finally, we can talk about something else'

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## Transcript

 Hey, what's going on pinball land? My name is Ken Cromwell. I'm the marketing and communications specialist at Jersey Jack Pinball. And with our next release right around the corner, I wanted to take a moment and talk about how you can put yourself in the best position in acquiring one of our collector's editions. Now many of you are going to be purchasing your collector's edition through one of our official distributor partners. But if you don't have a distributor, you can find one at the link below and that's jerseyjackpinball.com forward slash distributors. So if you choose to order direct, it has to be done through our online store. Phone calls and emails to Jersey Jack Pinball, those aren't options in which you can place an order for your CE. In fact, when you're in our store and you add your game to your cart, it doesn't take it out of our inventory. You have to complete the entire checkout process, which is going to include giving us your United States shipping address, as well as your credit card information for your deposit. Once you do those things, you'll receive a confirmation email that lets you know that, You've got your C E and then you'll be contacted by a member of our sales team in the near future to give you a status update on your order. Now you'll also notice that I said when purchasing direct that we were going to ask for your United States shipping address and that's because direct purchases will only ship domestically within the United States. If you have an international shipping address, you have to reach out to one of our distributor partners internationally so that they can place that order for you. And if for some reason you're in an area that you feel isn't covered by one of our distributor partners, you can go ahead and contact us direct prior to the reveal of the game to let us know and we can try to find somebody that will be able to get you in a position where you can place that order and ship to your international address. So hopefully this information will help you kind of streamline that process and get you in a better position to get that collector's edition. Everybody here at Jersey Jack Pinball would like to extend our sincerest thank yous and we wish you all the best of luck. Here's my home shipping address, Ken. I want my Toy Story Collector's Edition. Finally, we get some news. We get something to talk about. Ken Cromwell, the marketing and communications specialist over at Jersey Jack Pinball put up a video today, told us the collector's editions are coming soon and here's your best chance at getting one. And I've been saying it to all you crybabies who don't have a distributor relationship. This Week in Pinball Podcast, Terms==April 26, 2019, Your best bet to buy this game is going to be buying it directly from Jersey Jack Pinball. Now I also reached out to my friends at different distributors and they each have been given their allotment number for this game, which means this game is right around the corner Are we going to see it Monday Are we going to see it Tuesday I bet we going to see it when I in Ireland why couldn they have given me this game this week so I could order it and give them my home address and I could finally get toy story collectors edition but here what but let talk real quickly about this video it not going to be a full show I only going to talk about this video so I want to start out by saying I really like that Ken did this video being transparent letting people know if you On a collector's edition, here's your best chance. You have to buy it direct. Now, for those of you out there, here's how it works when you buy direct from Jersey Jack Pinball. It is first come, first serve. So you better be ready and buy your computer when this game order bank opens up. So don't give us some story how your kid's got a soccer match or you're washing your wife's hair. Like, this is it. When these order banks open up, that's it. This game is going to sell out so fast. So if you're not ready to go, You are going to be out of luck. Now I hope they have their servers ready because everybody knows now everybody knows now that a Jersey Jack collector's edition is going to go up in value. I think they are going to run out of their allotment in a matter of minutes. The other part is this when you buy direct from jerseyjackpinball.com you are paying for your game in full. This isn't some $1,000 deposit that then you can just sit on that deposit and sell your spot to someone else know your credit card will be charged the full amount of the game and every distributor I talked to today they don't know the price and they don't know how many collectors editions are coming out so that is still a big question mark we also don't know how many games Jersey Jack is gonna sell directly are there gonna be a thousand of them so if there's a thousand are they gonna sell a hundred two hundred two fifty but what I do know is this in speaking to Distributors who got allocated 500 Guns N' Roses units. I'm here to tell you that distributors they got just a little bit more of Toy Story. They didn't get a lot more than Guns N' Roses allotment. But also don't forget what Jersey Jack did last time. They sold Guns N' Roses collector's editions directly before they allocated games to distributors. And that's what created the issue last time around. interviewer at InSports reluctant Exactly how many CEs they getting and so that leads me to believe that Jersey Jack is doing something like this They are probably allocating 750 CEs to people out there in the distributor world and I think they probably gonna hold back about 250 and sell them directly Now if you Jersey Jack every direct sale nets you more money So I don know you know they might sell 500 direct and 500 through distributors It's to their financial benefit to sell the games directly. Distributors are still very necessary because they're not just a sales force. They help you if you have any issues with your games. Now, look, obviously, if you bought a game directly and you went directly to Jersey Jack Pinball, sure, you could do that. But we do need pinball distributors. The other thing that I thought was really interesting was the overseas statement that you can't buy a game if you don't have an American address. So our friends in Europe, our friends in Australia, they're going to be at the mercy of the very few distributors that exist for overseas for Jersey Jack Pinball. They don't have as many distributors. And I think if they're smart, these guys, come on guys, you're on pin side. There's something called the internet. If I were overseas, I would be contacting my friends in the United States and say, hey, look, even if you don't want one, Will you buy me a Jersey Jack Pinball Collectors Edition and then air freight it to me? The air freight is like 1500 bucks. You are gonna end up spending so much more money than 1500 over sticker if you get locked out of the initial run of these games, you know, but then there's also like all these import taxes So, I don't know. Maybe you don't make much money. Maybe that's not a good way to go But all I know is this in the great United States of America I think if you are by a computer when the order banks open I think you're gonna have a really good shot of getting this game I also kind of feel like it's gonna be expensive I do I think it's gonna be like 16 5 for the collector's edition and I will say when you're sitting in front of your computer and it's in the cart and you're being pressured to check out how often do you have something in an online shopping cart that is like 16 grand like most of us are not I'm not used to buying stuff this expensive but trust me on this you will not lose money on a Jersey Jack Pinball collector's edition. If you are even on the fence about this game you would be idiotic to wait because if you wait and then you want it you gonna lose money And if you act fast and you get one you are going to gain money I was surprised about one thing that wasn mentioned in this video which I thought would have been a golden opportunity to mention it And that is this We are only selling one per customer One per customer Cause right now you could buy one direct you can buy one from your distributor And for some of these like hyper fans they got their name on the top of the list The Top of the list with like three or four or five distributors and we see this happen John Youssi it on some of these pin side guys Why is it that some of these people in the pin side marketplace? Always seem to have like three or four of every hot game for sale Are we gonna sell for to Bill Brandis does Bill need for toy stories? Does Bill need the money? No, he does it Billy. I'm coming for you. I'm coming for you I think they missed a golden opportunity to say we are only selling one per customer. If you order direct, we are going to match up your name with your home address and we are only sending the game to that name and home address. And if we get another order going to either that name or that home address, your order will be cancelled if it's your second game. I really think they could have done that. But look, they don't really care, right? At the end of the day, they don't really care. We know that this is probably more of a nightmare day for them than a great day because there's going to be more people who want it than can get it. They know going into the first day of sales, they are going to disappoint thousands more people who want one. And that's not what they're in the business to do. They are in the business to bring people pleasure. So I bet if you're Jersey Jack, you are probably saying, let's just get through this day, get All 1000 of them allocated and make sure we don't have duplicate customers and let's get on with making the games. Okay, and I bet they are praying to the playfield gods that there are no Mirko issues. Everybody. This has been Canadian's quick little podcast. Super excited because this means Toy Story is right around the corner. Finally, we can talk about something else. Finally, Jersey Jack Pinball has some news and some momentum. Everybody have a Thank you for watching. Have a great day. We'll talk to you soon.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: f733d7ea-2b47-486e-9c13-53987fdd37fb*