GAD will be closed for the Labor Day weekend.
To our staff and customers – have an awesome weekend playing pinball!
Greater America Distributing (GAD) is a premier distributor and service provider of vending equipment, pinball and amusement games. GAD distributes and services entertainment solutions for both business and homes.
GAD inventories and orders pinball from the major pinball manufactures in the USA. In addition, GAD sells and inventories Golden Tee, claw (crane) games, electronic darts, digital music solutions plus many other games and equipment. GAD supports our equipment with a full service staff for phone support and on site repair (limited service areas). Our parts department is fully stocked with a vast inventory of repair parts.
All our equipment is supported with the latest cash and cashless payment systems. And, GAD Vending is a Midwest expert in ATM machine placement and service.
Vending, ATM machines and coin changers round out GAD’s equipment for home and commercial business.
The company has been operating for over 30 years with offices in Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; and Grimes, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines. We sell and service across the 5 state region of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Missouri.
GAD Knows Sales and Service
GAD recommends the AMI Co Pilot app for our digital music venues. What can the AMI Co Pilot app do for you?
Learn more and download the app at AMI.
Make your customers’ user experience immersive! You and your patrons can control the music, vibe and playlists. This can change through the evening and is a great way to add a revenue channel to your bar, restaurant, store or arcade.
Users get ease of pay, a wide music/music video selection and AMI helps promote use through user contests and promotions. Here’s how:
Learn more and download the AMI Music App here.
If you have questions if AMI digital music and jukeboxes are right for you, and you are located in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas, call GAD for customer service. GAD knows music.
What do we mean by this? GAD has a long tradition of selling, serving and selling parts for all types of games.
GAD has been selling to home customers for many years. We are able to sell our games for free play. Meaning home games come without coin acceptance equipment – which can be the single most expense component in a game.
GAD sells Golden Tee Home Edition, a variety of pinball games, Arachnid digital darts, and even vending machines for home game rooms.
All of our equipment sold by GAD is supported by our service department. If one of our customers can’t figure out how to update their software or have a parts issue, our service department is here to help. Call us to determine the level of service you need to get your game working.
GAD sells wholesale to service vendors that call on commercial bars, restaurants and arcades. This service vendors are vital to these commercial operators to keep the equipment serviced.
GAD sells all types of games including shuffleboard, commercial pool tables, basketball and large games. GAD also has a variety of claw toy redemption games. In stock. And with a fully stocked parts department.
Find the full compliment of support equipment as well. GAD has vending equipment, ATM’s and coin changers. As your service vendor for more information.
Our world is more connected than ever. The rapid pace of technological innovations has given us access to an unmatched level of convenience and speed in our day-to-day business transactions. But that innovation also comes with increased security concerns—especially when it comes to money and payments, where the security of customer data is paramount, and not all technologies are created equal.
As you consider which technology solutions are best for your business, security concerns should be top of mind. Here are five questions to ask a potential suppliers to help you find the right fit for your security needs.
When it comes to payments and the protection of your business data and customers’ information, a good partner should take security just as seriously as you do. They should have protocols and teams in place to continuously monitor all technology for potential weaknesses and threats, from the design phase all the way through implementation, service and updates. Look for a company with a dedicated Security Compliance Officer who ensures all processes are carefully followed, and has your business’s security as their top priority.
When you picture security—whether digital or physical—the first thing that comes to mind is protecting the perimeter from outside threats. In the physical world, these are things like locks and security guards—in the digital world, these come in the form of network firewalls and tools to protect technology from outside hackers. But today’s threats can also come through a different source: the applications and devices used by companies and their personnel. A good payments partner should understand the interconnected nature of modern technology and be prepared to address the security threats that come with it. That holistic approach, often referred to as “Security In Depth,” is key to protecting your customers’ payments and their privacy from all sides. Always ask potential partners how they view security – what you’re looking for is a robust, considered answer that reflects a culture of safety, not just a checkbox for your inquiry.
The more interconnected devices and applications your system has, the more targets cybercriminals can potentially exploit. But that interconnectedness is key to doing business the way customers expect in 2021—so how are your payments partners protecting your system as a whole? Any holistic security approach should include detailed, dedicated security for connected devices and applications, in addition to network security. If your partners can’t speak specifically to their device-level protections, that could be a red flag.
Security is not a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. New threats and vulnerabilities are arising every day, and the speed at which cybercriminals are taking advantage of those vulnerabilities is accelerating. Any potential security partner should readily acknowledge this reality, and have protocols in place to stay ahead of the latest threats. Look for a partner that is a part of the IoT Security Foundation, which rapidly updates members on relevant security frameworks and threats, allowing all members of the foundation to proactively address threats before they become a problem.
While it’s vital to stay on top of evolving threats throughout the industry, it’s just as important that your suppliers continuously examine their own technology for potential weaknesses, and are positioned to rapidly respond. Tools like Black Duck allow companies to identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Your partner should continually monitor all their software and tech, quickly identifying and patching any weak points to keep your data and your customers’ data secure and safe. Transparency is key here – if your partner is open, communicative, and engaged in sharing and correcting potential threats, that’s a good thing – don’t mistake candor in threat communication and correction for weakness in security. It could be a sign that your partner is on top of evolving technology threats, and proactive in solving them. And you can be sure that if your partners aren’t proactive in protecting their own systems, they won’t be proactive in protecting yours.
When it comes to the security of your business in an interconnected age, the stakes are high—but the right partner can help mitigate those risks and keep your business protected from evolving threats. Any good partner should treat your security concerns as an ongoing discussion to help keep you protected. These questions can serve as the beginning of that discussion as you find the payments partner that’s right for you, your customers, and your business. And while there’s no single way to address security, you can gain confidence in a partner who is open and confident engaging in a discussion, and offers a depth of analysis that goes beyond a simple “yes” or “no.”
Looking for more resources that can help you improve the safety and security of your payment systems? GAD Knows Vending. As an authorized distributor for Crane Vending, GAD knows how to help you secure your vending machines.
CHICAGO, IL –August 3, 2022 – Stern Pinball, Inc. expands its award-winning Insider Connected platform with new features making it easier to access the service. With Stern Insider Connected, over 43,000 users track their scores and earn achievements on our network of more than 11,000 connected machines. New features launched today include an easier to use mobile ID card and Home Team system that will automatically log in home users. Code updates are available today for all 18 Stern commercial LCD pinball machines that include Home Team and additional improvements across titles.
Insider Connected now offers our players the ability to save an ID card with their personal QR code in their mobile wallet. It saves time previously spent retrieving a QR code by logging into the Insider Connected service on a phone or by finding a previous screenshot of your QR code saved somewhere in your photo library. These mobile ID cards can be used on connected machines.
With Home Team, users’ home pinball machines will remember them. Owners will be able to set standard home Insider Connected user profiles that are always available without needing a phone to scan in. Guests won’t be left out either. When guests scan into a Home Team enabled machine their profile will be temporarily remembered for rapid replays, until they log out or the machine is turned off. Turning on Home Team can be done through the service menu on free play machines and accessed by pressing the flipper buttons before starting a game.
For more information on how to set up your own Mobile ID Card and Home Team, visit sternpinball.com/support/faq/ where you will find:
Stern Pinball takes the safety of our customer’s data seriously. Stern works with both legal and security organizations to vet all aspects of Insider Connected for legal compliance and best practices worldwide. As part of this effort, our new machine updates will notify users if any third party code modifications are identified that may put data at risk.
Insider Connected enables users to automatically download and update code across their machines. All code updates and read me files are available at sternpinball.com/support/game-code/. Every new machine produced by Stern Pinball comes from the factory Insider Connected-enabled. Upgrade kits for earlier Stern Pinball LCD Machine are available through authorized dealers and distributors or at shop.sternpinball.com for both Pro and Premium/LE game editions.
About Insider Connected
Insider Connected is a comprehensive technology initiative to connect the universe of Stern pinball machines. The platform is designed to enhance and extend player engagement with the games across both home and commercial environments. It also presents professional operators of the pinball machines a robust set of tools to drive location play, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines.
Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/. Players can also register at a connected game by scanning a registration QR code on the machine. Once a player registers, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine anywhere in the world. When a player scans into the machine, they can track progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.
“Insider Connected is transforming how players interact with pinball machines. Operators are benefiting from new tools that drive repeat play and help maintain games while players benefit from easier log-in access both on location and in their homes,” said Seth Davis, President of Stern Pinball, Inc.
About Stern Pinball, Inc.
Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball. Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.
Recent Stern Pinball titles include Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.
Looking for a fall road trip? Destination pinball.
If you are looking to play a lot of different pinball in one place or participate in a tournament, there is an event for you this fall. These are linked to Stern’s website but there are lots more listed at the IFPA events website.
Here’s a few:
Sept 9-11 IFPA Event in Lynnwood, WA
Sept 15-18 ClePin Pinball and Arcade Show in Cleveland, OH
8 Players. One Game. Epic Prizes! The Stern Heads-Up Pinball Invitational is going down August 10th at 7pm CST with our players showcasing their skills on Godzilla. Who will be crowned King of the Monsters? Find out on the official Toho YouTube Channel!
47% of all sales that total under $25 are paid in cash
It’s 2022–Retailers have recognized the value of self-checkout technology and the benefits it will bring to their stores including easing labor shortage problems, improving the customer experience, and, of course, increasing the bottom line. Now you need to consider how to deploy your self-checkout to best suit the needs of your stores and your customers; the big question is—do you automate cash, or go completely cashless?
You may be leaning toward cashless—it’s less costly upfront, and card payments seem more like “the future.” Let’s examine that assumption—can you get the full ROI you expect from your self-checkout without adding cash? First consider from the perspective of the speed of service; self-checkout will move your customers through the line faster and eliminate long lines at peak times of day. If you’ve only automated cashless payments you haven’t solved the complete problem, and will not be able to repurpose cashiers to take on additional store related tasks, like cleaning, stocking shelves, etc. Stores that struggle with staff shortages will find relief by allowing their customers to checkout without their assistance, ensuring only one cashier is required to ring up age-verified products.
41% of customers will abandon their purchase if they see a long line
What is your customers’ experience? For the average purchase in convenience stores, consumers overwhelmingly choose cash; 47% of all purchase values under $25 are paid in cash. The percentage of cash usage in your stores may be even higher given that the average c-store transaction is between $3.75-9.00; recent studies report around 40-50% of purchases are made in cash. In addition to preferences, the Federal Reserve estimates 20-28% of the population is currently “unbanked,” or “underbanked,” and do not have access to card payments. Cashless only self-checkouts could lead customers to perceive unfairness—why should they wait in line while the card paying customer can breeze right through? It’s not worth the risk alienating such a large portion of your customers.
Card-only self-checkouts will still require a cashier to handle all cash payments, increasing the likelihood that lines will continue to be long at rush hour, and risk customers walking out without purchasing. 41% of customers will abandon their purchase if they see a long line, and one bad experience can sour customers on your entire business. Almost half of consumers avoid a specific store if they have to wait longer than 5 minutes. No one wants to lose business due to customer dissatisfaction, and these lines can be effectively eliminated by deploying cash automation with self-checkout.
Lastly, cashless processing isn’t always as cheap as it seems to be. There’s a good chance cash payments cost less as a percentage of your revenue than cashless. Driving customers to cashless may actually increase costs and negatively impact profit margins.
In order to fully reap the benefits of your self-checkout deployment you need to include both cash and cashless payments. Cash automation makes it a well-rounded solution and delivers a superior ROI for your business.
If you are looking for self check out equipment that accept both cash and cards, give GAD a call. Our sales team is knowledgeable to help retailers save on labor cost, speed check-out, and improve customer experience.
So many great photos of families at play on our favorite games! Whether in costume, at an arcade or playing at home – these photos bring smiles.
GAD has curbside pick up or can help you arrange delivery in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri or Kansas. Our warehouses are located in Omaha, Des Moines and Kansas City.
Our sales team will give you a quote that is all inclusive – no surprises.
