Play Meter

Letters to
the editor • • •
Pinball parts
With the video light growing dim-
mer I have been looking once again to
pinball a a tronger , more con i tent
earner.
Pinball game appeal to a different
target audience and have been per-
forming remarkably well in appropri-
ate location .
Of course, more pin on the route
mean more ervice, maintenance, and
parts to tock . Imagine my urprise
when I aw that a William 'end of
stroke witch now co ts about $4.
My di tributor informed me that
William doubled all of it pinball
parts price within the last year.
William contend it wa losing money
selling at the old prices and had to rai e
them. I find thi hard to believe .
Gottlieb didn't increase any parts
prices from 1978 until 1982. Four
year - even in the wake of rampant
inflation! The other manufacturer
ha e managed to keep their pricing
somewhat rea onable al o.
The cost of William ' replacement
parts discourages preventi e mainte-
nance so vital to pingame . Your ill-
timed policy will not help pinball make
the comeback it deserve .
Evan R. Wessel
Mercury Amusement Co.
Havertown, Pennsylvania
(Editor 's note: Here is Williams' reply
to Evan Wessel's letter.)
We at Williams certainly agree that
non-video games, e pecially pinball,
have a mo t definite place in our
market. We have had tremendou
respon e to our Big Strike Shuffle
Alley and our Time Fanta y pinball.
PLAY METER. August 1. 1983
We further agree that now i no time
to di courage preventive maintenance
on non-video games . Ba ed on your
letter, an analy i wa made of90 spare
parts elected at random to verify our
parts pricing. In addition to that, 40 of
the most currently u ed part were also
analyzed. Ba ed on this analy is, we
can factually ay our part pricing is in
line with our competitor '.
Over a year ago there wa a change
in policy which reflected an overall
decrease in parts pricing by Williams.
We appreciate your letter and will
continue to be on the watch for parts
mispricing.
Joseph P. Dillon
Vice President of Sales
William Electronics
Chicago, lllinoi!:
Home games editorial
I have ju t reread Mr. Boa berg's
guest editorial (See Play Meter, May I,
Audio VIsual
Amusements
Offering the finest
new and used
equipment
REPRESENTING LEADING FACTORIES
• SALES, PARTS, SERVICE •
IN STOCK AND DELIVERING
AND IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
Dragon's Lair • Cosmic Chasm
Gyruss • Mario Bros.
YOU'VE TRIED THE REST,
NOW TRY THE BEST
WE'RE EAGER TO SERVE
1809 Olive Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
(314) 421-5100
For further information, ca ll Pete Entringer
(collect)
9