OK, here's the low down - just in case anyone else ever wants to ship via the states to a boarder, then pick it up and bring it across yourself.


Firstly, this was one of the easiest thing I have ever done!  Basically, I used YRC shipping (VERY LOW PRICING), and had it shipped to Tonawanda, NY.  They called me on Wed. to tell me it had arrived.  I made arrangements and went down today (Friday) to pick it up.  Found the terminal via GPS, and became VERY lucky.  Since it was USA's Thanksgiving yesterday, and Black Friday today (Don't know why it's called Black Friday?, apparently the teamsters union has both thanksgiving and Black Friday off as a paid holiday.  So, when I showed up at the terminal, there really wasn't anyone there!!!!  I was lucky to find a guy (Management) leaving the building just as I was looking to get into the building.  He was extremely nice and found a guy doing overtime (only 2 guys working the entire terminal).  The overtime guy was very nice and delivered the pinball machine to my van.  He cut away the metal banding (that was on the cardboard crate), and helped me load it into my van.  Said my thanks and was off.

From there I "HAD" to grab some "UNO" deep dish pizza to bring home with me (The prepare uncooked pizza for home freezer).  So I bought 4 pizzas!!!!!  AWESOME!!!

Since it was Black Friday, I had to visit a mall too, since I was there anyways.  Bought a couple gifts, but nothing really different, and no real savings after you apply the Canadian tax at the boarder.

Being satisfied with my morning, I started my journey home.

Got to the boarder, guy asked me how much I spent, told him $3000 and showed him my bills, then he sent me inside to do some paperwork.  I parked and went inside.  No line-ups, and the Staff did all my paperwork (since it was for personal use).  I paid my $400 can, and was on my way.  The worst part of the entire day was looking for a parking spot at the mall on Black Friday, and crossing the boarder bridge due to construction.

Can't really say anything else.... it was dead easy!  I recommend it to anyone who wants a machine located in the states.

I'll post pictures once I get it unpacked and in my basement... can't find any stair lifting help tonight!  but I have someone coming over tomorrow.

Sounds exactly like my experience picking up my RFM in Ogdesnburg NY.

It's the way I do it. Well there is the odd time I have driven to New Jersey and skipped the whole shipper part as well.

I usually find someone I know in the US to ship the game to, and I either pickup from them or meet them somewhere states side.

Think I've done this for at least 5 of my games now, and besides the time spent driving it's simple.

D

Which is exactly what I'm probably going to end up doing. I'm picking up a STTNG from Tennessee. I have shipping connections through a friend but my situation is a bit of a shipping hassle. I'm trading two pins for the STTNG and shipping two down there and shipping one back up sounds expensive. So I'm just opting to do the drive myself. Heck, it's only 1200km each way. I'm a musician who's travelled arcoss Canada and the USA more times than I can remember and for Canada touring, 1200 km is a short haul!
Only thing I hate is I'm going to have to pay tax on my pin when I haul it up here. Silly because no money is changing hands at all, just a straight trade and I still have to pay tax. They get you no matter what!

Stan

and congrats on getting your GnR finally!

Quoted from Pinballed

Which is exactly what I'm probably going to end up doing. I'm picking up a STTNG from Tennessee. I have shipping connections through a friend but my situation is a bit of a shipping hassle. I'm trading two pins for the STTNG and shipping two down there and shipping one back up sounds expensive. So I'm just opting to do the drive myself. Heck, it's only 1200km each way. I'm a musician who's travelled arcoss Canada and the USA more times than I can remember and for Canada touring, 1200 km is a short haul!
Only thing I hate is I'm going to have to pay tax on my pin when I haul it up here. Silly because no money is changing hands at all, just a straight trade and I still have to pay tax. They get you no matter what!

Stan

and congrats on getting your GnR finally!

Money is just a convenient short hand for "trade" anyways. Whether you pay for a pin with money, chickens, or other pins, you're still buying a pin and have to pay tax. But yes, you do get screwed either way. There's no reason why we should pay tax on these items. Tax was paid when they were initially purchased!

I'm anxious to see the details on the G and R...I'm really hoping all is good! I'm also curious who Pinballed plays with ( in the music biz that is!)??

As convenient as NAVL was for me when I was buying Pins, I really wish i'd had the time to travel and get them, both from a $$ saved point of view and for what would have been a great way to see a lot of the U.S. I still think NAVL makes sense if you buy more than 1 machine from the same seller( 2 or 3 for 1 shipping), especially if you would have had to rent a bigger vehicle to bring multiple machines home with you. The broker of course is an extra expense you don't incur when doing it yourself.

Quoted from TGlover

Since it was USA's Thanksgiving yesterday, and Black Friday today (Don't know why it's called Black Friday?, apparently the teamsters union has both thanksgiving and Black Friday off as a paid holiday.  So, when I showed up at the terminal, there really wasn't anyone there!!!!

Black Friday is the day that businesses go into the Black. Everyday before then they were in the red ie losing money, every day after Black Friday it is all profit for the business. (It is based upon the overall average of all businesses in the US.)

Quoted from Jester

Black Friday is the day that businesses go into the Black.

I've heard various theories on this...

One is indeed related to money, as this is generally the biggest shopping day of the year
and every one is "in the black" .

I've also heard it was called Black Friday because the crowds at the malls
are like a sea of black ants "invading".

Either way, I'm glad I was not caught in it !



Steph

Here are some pictures.

Issues:
- Axel plastic broken (new this)
- Shooter/plunger plastic up ramp broken
- Some very minor leaf switch issues (contacts need adjustment)
- Playfield had some wear infront of kick-out, but was nicely touched up.
- VERY, VERY DIRTY (but this can be overcome)
- a couple minor nicks from shipping
- required all new bulbs (well at least I replaced them all)
- Legs were different lengths????  Lucky I had a mis-matched pair at home...
           (PS: The long ones are no longer for sale.)

Other then these the game is great.  I would give it a 7/10 rating.  Not as nice as I would have hoped, but acceptable to what I wanted.

Here are some pic's.

even more pictures:

Yup, that's GNR, welcome to the club! Good luck getting the Super Jackpot