Episode 50: Is Stern Pinball a victim of its own success?

In this episode of The Flipside, we dive into one of the biggest conversations happening in pinball right now. There is a growing perception that boutique pinball manufacturers are offering more value than Stern Pinball, and we explore whether that perception is fair, exaggerated, or something Stern should be paying attention to.

This is not a Stern bashing episode.

Instead, we take a balanced and honest look at why many players feel boutique pinball offers more for the money, how Stern’s size and scale may have unintentionally created a perception gap, and the difference between perceived value and real world execution.

We also discuss why boutique companies can take creative risks that Stern simply cannot at volume, whether online pinball discourse is shaping opinions more than actual gameplay, and how community sentiment has shifted since 2023.

This episode also highlights what Stern still does better than anyone in the industry, why their games dominate locations and home collections, and how being the market leader changes expectations from the pinball community.

If you have ever wondered if Stern is getting boring, if boutique manufacturers are really offering more, or if pinball sentiment has shifted over the past few years, this conversation is for you.

Whether you are a long time Stern fan, a boutique buyer, or someone new to the hobby trying to decide where to spend your money, this episode focuses on why the narrative exists, not just whether it is right or wrong.

Let us know in the comments what you think. Is the Stern value gap real, or is it just internet perception?

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