Costco is a major US retail chain that has emerged as a strategic distribution partner for Stern Pinball's home edition games since at least 2020. Beginning with Arcade1Up cabinets and evolving through Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and Pokemon home editions, Costco serves as Stern's primary vehicle for reaching casual/first-time pinball consumers at slightly discounted prices ($4,999-$5,000 range). The partnership represents a significant market expansion strategy for Stern, positioning physical pinball machines as impulse purchases for Costco's membership base, though questions persist about long-term viability and brand positioning in this channel.
No aliases
Costco has ordered 3,000 Pokémon pinball machines
Costco placed an order for 3,000 Pokemon pinball home edition units
Costco's Star Wars pinball machine is successfully driving awareness and grassroots interest in pinball among casual consumers
Don mentions playing Star Wars (another version) at Costco recently; destroyed Death Star on ball two
Retail partnership with Stern for Jaws homebrew distribution; high-ticket item positioning; strategy for reaching non-endemic audiences
Retail partnership with Stern for exclusive Jurassic Park Home Plus Epsilon distribution; hosts skeptical about consumer fit and logistics
Major retail partner selling Stern Star Wars Home Edition at $4,800; platform for introducing pinball to mainstream consumers
Retail partner for Stern home edition machines; criticized as ineffective growth channel
Retail partner selling Stern pinball games; experiment in distribution with well-heeled demographic; games selling well and expected to clear by Christmas
No linked glossary terms
Retailer that has sold Arcade1Up cabinets (MK2, Pac-Man) with premium bundle features like lit marquees
Retail warehouse chain selling NBA Jam Arcade1Up cabinet; membership required for purchase
Expected to carry Pokemon Pinball home edition; represents mass-market distribution strategy
Retail partner for Stern's Jurassic Park Home Edition Plus at $4,999 price point; strategic distribution channel for reaching casual consumers
Retail partner; currently carries Stern's Jurassic Park at ~$5,000; mentioned as potential distribution channel for Wonderland machines
Major retailer where Stern offers less expensive, smaller pinball machines to introduce new audiences; reportedly 7 million daily foot traffic
Strategic partnership with Stern for home pinball games; well-heeled demographic; games designed with user experience enhancements (real wood playfield, ball loading without glass removal, IC registration on phone); selling well with expected sell-through by Christmas
Retail distributor of Pokémon Pinball home editions at ~$5,000 MSRP; ordered 1,000-5,000 units for 2025 season; historically has ordered additional stock each year
Retail partnership with Stern to sell Jurassic Park Home Edition at $5,000; select locations only
Retailer distributing Stern's Connected pinball machine at $4,799 MSRP; major market expansion for pinball
Big-box retailer previously targeted for distribution of Pin titles; not involved in Star Wars Pin distribution
Retail partner for exclusive distribution of Batman Lite across 16 stores in 12 US states
Retail partner stocking Arcade 1UP cabinets in stores; per hosts, primary brick-and-mortar distribution channel
Retailer offering Quest 3 at discount during holidays; limited to 512GB model availability currently
Retail location where Jared plans to monitor Attack from Mars cabinet availability starting mid-March
Stern distribution partner for mass-market pinball availability; discussed as market expansion vs. inventory liquidation strategy
Retail partner for Stern Home Edition distribution; placing Jurassic Park Home Edition in warehouse stores at $4,999 price point; strategic partnership to reach casual consumers
Retail partner for Stern home pinball versions; King Kong home version planned for fall 2025
Retail partner for Stern home editions (Jurassic Park, Star Wars); George Gomez confirmed success of Jurassic Park version
Retail distribution partner for Stern; allegedly ordered 3,000 Pokémon pinball units; Kaneda questions viability
Retail partner reportedly approaching Stern to stock Jurassic Park Home Edition pinball machines; Gomez claims very strong sales
Major retail partner for Stern home editions; selling Jurassic Park Home Edition Plus at 150 US stores; previously sold Batman Home Edition (2007)
Partnership with Stern to sell Jurassic Park home edition ($5,000 MSRP) during holiday season; venue placement strategy for awareness building
Stern's retail partner for home pinball versions; rumored to potentially carry Pokemon home edition; positioned as alternative gateway to new players
Retail partner selling Jurassic Park Home Edition; maintains floor display model for play-testing
Referenced as potential retail partner for physical cabinet placement alongside Stern's Jurassic Park Home Edition
Retail location where Jared encountered Arcade1Up Star Wars cabinet selling for $699; venue for hands-on hardware evaluation
Retailer carrying Arcade 1UP cabinets in both US and Australia with exclusive Super Pac-Man variant and bundled accessories
Expected retail location for Arcade One-Up cabinets by Christmas 2020 per Jared's prediction
Retail partner; Arcade 1Up and digital pinball cabinets previously sold there; availability declining
Retail location mentioned as carrying Stern Jurassic Park Home Edition; potential future venue for AtGames cabinet placement
Retail partner distributing Star Wars Home Edition; previous home edition program; planned repeat program with new themes annually
Retail partner mentioned as venue for Stern's home edition Jurassic Park distribution
Retail partnership for Stern Pinball home games targeting new first-time buyers
Referenced as source of Star Wars home edition; host uses as comparison point for lack of differentiation between home and commercial versions
Retail partner with special edition Star Wars packaging featuring Kenner aesthetic
Retail distribution partner for Star Wars home edition pinball; pricing at $4,999.99 ($200 below MSRP); also carries Pac-Man XL and arcade OneUps; primary venue for Walt's analysis
Retail partner for entry-level pinball games; carried Jurassic Park home edition successfully; receiving Star Wars Costco edition in development; positioned as market expansion vehicle
Retail partner selling budget Star Wars pinball machines; criticized as 'cash grab' with inferior specifications
Retail partner ordering Star Wars Home Edition pinball machines; likely to receive new Home Edition game for next holiday season
Don planned to visit Costco after Star Wars session; no Star Wars game available there
Retailer selling Star Wars home edition; Don observed $1,000 price drop at one location
Retail partner with Star Wars pinball home edition placement; strategic market entry vehicle for casual consumers
Retail partner for Star Wars Spike 3 platform games
Source of Pokemon card supply access creating unfair advantage for local traders with employee connections; driving Albert out of Pokemon market
Mentioned as potential retailer context for Star Wars game pricing discussion
Rumored to have ordered 3,000 Pokemon home version units at ~$5,000 each
Retail partner; Stern pushing home version through Costco at lower price points
Reported to have ordered 3,000 Pokemon machines for home/consumer market; represents major retail partnership for Stern
Distribution channel for Stern games at ~$5K; questions about actual impulse purchase viability
Retail partner with 3,000-unit Pokemon pinball home edition order; raises questions about brand positioning and market strategy for Stern