I'm sure the arcade operators would be more interested in fixing a problem if it were preventing people feeding £20 notes into their £500 jackpot machines in the over 18's area!
Agree, it is a shame if someone's first experience of a pinball machine on site is one with lots of problems - I've been embarrassed before when I've persuaded friends to have a multi player game on an arcade pinball on site only to find weak flippers, non working features, etc - and then get "I can't see why you like them so much" from my friends, not understanding that a well maintained machine is much more fun to play
I think us pinball fans are in a tricky situation highlighting problems to operators/arcades, as if we appear too picky the site may get rid of the machine altogether, but then again serious problems do need to be highlighted, otherwise nothing will be done. I think it is commendable that people offer to fix simple faults FOC, and I would do the same if it were something within my skills, but I can also see an arcade would probably not be keen with someone messing with their machine.
I think the problem is, a faulty dirty machine probably takes similar money to a clean fully working one, as most players put in their money and don't realise how bad it is until AFTER they put them money in, at which point the money is spent. Ironically, a well maintained fully working machine might encourage longer ball times and more professional players, who also don't spent much as they win extra balls and replays etc.
If you look at Bournemouth Pier, where the pinballs are all well maintained (I think from Pinball Heaven according to the instruction cards), but even then there never seems to be many people playing them. Phil - any idea how the pins there do? Was nice to see a WoZ there last year!
Not sure what the answer is, and out of some misguided loyalty I always have a couple of credits on any machine I see on site, so I suppose I'm partly to blame for the operators complacency.
Cheers, Mark