Shopping a pin

WHAT DO THE TERMS "SHOP" or "REFURBISH" MEAN?
You may hear vendors and game owners speak about "Shop" or "Shopping" to describe the work done to their games. The word shop very simply means to "clean and repair". This term originated because dealers used to bring pin games into their "shop" to perform periodical repairs and maintenance. That was yesterday and a fairly long time ago. Today, the term "shop" has become far more vague and in fact, has many possible meanings.
For Example, there is "A" Shopping (Full); "B" Shopping (Partial); "C" Shopping (Maintenance), etc. Each subsequent letter indicates that less and less is actually done to repair or update the game.  So when the a dealer says the game has been "shopped", what does it really mean?
At Pinballs Unlimited, we never merely shop a game. Instead we perform a much more comprehensive process and use a completely different word, i.e. "refurbish" to describe our full and complete service.
Thus, "Refurbishing" is a very close relative to "Restoring" rather than to the distant cousin, "Shopping".
The complete refurbishment details are listed here so there can be no doubts as to what we do to and for each and every game we sell.

WHAT WORK DOES PINBALLS UNLIMITED PERFORM IN A FULL REFURBishment?
THE PLAYFIELD
1- Every game's playfield is completely disassembled, meticulously cleaned and repaired as needed. This includes those worn and/or unsightly drop holes on all games but especially on 1996 or later games. Then the playfield is waxed many times to achieve the highest possible shine/gloss.
2. Every component part is inspected and repaired/replaced, as needed. All worn or unusable parts are replaced with factory fresh replacements as available. Otherwise used parts of high quality, professionally made or hand made replacement parts are used.
3. If any minor Playfield wear is present, it is fully repaired, color matched, brush touched and then finished with polyurethane (DiamondPlate) or mylar, as needed, to protect it so as to prevent re-occurrence.
4.   Out-holes (ball drop) wear areas, if any, are restored using epoxy. Colors are then matched, painted and finished with Polyurethane (Diamond-Plate), mylar, or both, as needed.
5. The underside of the playfield is stripped of ramps etc. and all moving mechanical parts are checked and replaced if not performing up to original factory specifications.
6. Ramps and Plastics are totally cleaned, then examined for cracks and possible FUTURE trouble spots. As necessary, they are repaired, additionally supported or replaced.
7. Broken plastic ramp entrance sides (a common problem) are rebuilt using high quality stainless steel or epoxy.
8. All plastics on the playfield are straightened and/or flattened as required.
9. Flippers, pop bumpers, kickers and sling bumpers are tested, examined, adjusted, repaired or replaced as necessary. Most all flippers are completely rebuilt.
10.   The game is then totally reassembled, new rubber installed and light bulbs replaced, as required.
11. Each game must then pass a minimum 3 hour full featured run time, pass all standard tests and then finally play testing to assure 100% performance.

THE BACK GLASS AREA
Also termed "LIGHT-BOX or HEAD"
1. Similarly refurbished, as is the playfield, without disassembly. Every game is given a complete backboard electrical and mechanical connection inspection. Bulbs are replaced, as necessary and all lighting is tested and checked.
2. Replacement of lighting and electronic components are completed as needed. Sometimes we find shoddy repair work, done by others and will take the extra time to redo the work properly.
3. Electronic boards are inspected for potential electrical trouble spots and repaired as necessary.

THE CABINET
1.   Cabinets sides and front surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and waxed.
2.   A cabinet may have minor scrapes, scratches or slight fading. Most used games have spent all or some part of their life on various public locations.  However, minor or moderate scrapes, gouges, cuts, blemishes etc. are fully refurbished by us, at no additional cost. Please note that fading or checking on the cabinet's sides is NOT covered under our refurbishment process. We will always advise purchasers of any game's cabinet fading or checking in advance, both in the game's description and verbally prior to their purchase.
3.   We also refurbish the inside side walls of the cabinet, so that the playfield is properly framed.
4.   Due to the nature and composition of modern pinball cabinets, please be aware that NO WARRANTY of any sort, is given on cabinet repair or paint work. We do our utmost to fully and completely refurbish each game's cabinet to the best of our ability.
5. The coin door and front of the cabinet are refurbished, painted as needed and dolled at no additional charge.
6. New locks with keys are provided.
7. Coin mechanisms, if available, are added on your specific request only.
Please note that re-imported foreign games cannot be fitted with U.S. style coin acceptors.
There is an additional charge to replace the door with a standard U.S. door, if required.
8.  The game cabinet is thoroughly vacuumed and all potentially loose parts are secured before being packaged for shipping.

THE WARRANTY
Individuals-Ordering a fully refurbished game for home use only, receive a 30 Day Parts Replacement Warranty. Included are all Electrical and Electro Mechanical parts, excluding the computer mother (main) board, which includes a (minimum $50) additional fee. After 30 days, we will refer you to our parts supplier, where you may purchase replacement parts at our cost.
Business Use-Games bought for commercial, business, placed on an employee accessed location or any other non-home use, are sold strictly "as is", but fully operational on shipment. No warranty of any type is offered for these business-type or employee uses.

SHIPPING INFORMATION
1. Professional packaging is always included with every refurbished pin at no additional cost. This is done to provide every measure of quality we can, so your Pinball, when received by you, is still in the same condition as when it left us.
2. We use EGL (Eagle USA) to provide professional service to any of their many U.S. destinations.   Please call or e-mail for additional information on their US locations and freight cost.
3. Most "Terminal to Terminal" shipments cost about $159 plus optional Insurance.
4. Optional Full Value Insurance is available for as low as 50 cents per $100 of insured value ($10 minimum).
5. Optional Door to Door shipping is available for $90 to $125 additional.
6. You may choose any 3rd party freight company, independent trucker or a dedicated pin mover.
Important Note: If you choose to use an alternative source for shipping, you must bear the risk and sometimes greater freight cost these carriers charge. In the case of dedicated pin movers, although generally competitively priced, many of those using these sources, have experienced long delays either before pick up, during transit and many times before final delivery. Also, some of these services are totally unreliable or may be dishonest. Most every 'dedicated pin mover' is self insured, so please be very cautious.
7. Delivery within 25 miles of Corona-Norco CA is a flat $50. Over 25 Miles, there is a $1 per mile additional charge.   Our delivery charge includes assistance in delivering the game to your easily accessible, first floor location and we will help with the initially set up. For 2nd floor deliveries, please call us for additional charges and limitations and general information.

      NOT Included - Sales tax and Freight!
1. California residents, or anyone without a current resellers certificate (issued specifically for amusement device purchases), taking delivery in the state of California, must add the current 7.75% Sales Tax.
2. All games are sold FOB Norco/Corona California, unless specifically stated otherwise.
3. Games commercially shipped out of the state are not subject to the California sales tax. Local, in state pickup, by out of state residents, is fully taxable in California.

OUR SHIPPING BACKLOG AND SPECIAL OCCAISION GIFT GIVING
Please remember to always order very early!
If you are planning to buy a pin game as a gift for that special someone or for any of the coming holidays, birthdays or other special events, please remember to order at least 7 or 8 months in advance.   Each year we have to turn away late arriving orders that are totally impossible to refurbish and ship in the time frame presented to us.  As an example, the early Winter months are an ideal time to begin your Lay-a-Way Plans for the next end of the year holiday season. Our inventory and game selection increases at that time to it's greatest point. Also, the backlog has reached it's lowest point and we will still have open dates available for most holiday shipments throughout the year.
By February or March annually, we are usually booked solid for the rest of the year.