The Nintendo Authorized Repair Center Program first emerged in 1991, though the idea for them came at least two years prior. Trademark records show that the word mark "Nintendo World Class Service" was filed November 16, 1989, published for opposition May 1, 1990 and finally registered on September 10, 1991. Initially, there were 127 centers located across the US but by the beginning of 2003, there were more than 182 distinct service center locations nationwide including shops in Canada, Puerto Rico and Guamas well as over 2000 independent Customer Convenience Centers (though these businesses did no repairs of their own). Workers at the Authorized Service Centers were not actual Nintendo employees, they were merely contracted for the sole purpose of serving Nintendo Customers who suffered from a wide variety of mechanical problems. In early 2005, Nintendo decided to indefinitely discontinue the World Class Service program; deciding that it would be more cost effective and less time consuming to have customers send out and receive their repairs by mail. Today, there are only a small handful of authorized service locations still in operation today.   

      There are a few reasons that I have developed such an interest in the old Nintendo Authorized Service Centers. If you take a look around the internet, you'll be hard pressed to find a lot of detailed writing on any of these items or topics. You'll find pictures and small descriptions here and there about the test cartridges and Test Station, but to be honest, that's really about all there is on the internet. There is still so much information regarding the Authorized Service Centers that has yet to be uncovered; it really is one of the few remaining areas of NES collecting where new information is still being discovered. What makes it even more exciting is that these items were never meant for the public to be able to obtain! All data given to servicers pertaining to anything Nintendo was to be kept strictly confidential. No items or data were to be disclosed to any individual or company who was not a certified service technician or affiliated with Nintendo. If the Servicer's relationship with Nintendo was severed for any reason, their contract stated that all test equipment, manuals and parts were to be returned. Luckily for us collectors, Nintendo broke their contract with all but a handful of servicers and as such, apparently decided to implement a rather lax policy for the return of their products and equipment.

     I am aware that I do not have all the testing equipment that has thus far been uncovered shown on my site. Currently, the only items listed and described on this site are ones I actually own. I like this notion, and am going to keep the site this way so as my collection grows, this site will be able to continually grow as well. All pictures taken are of items from my personal collection, and I ask that you do not take them for use in your own projects, listings or anything similar. Also, please be kind enough to properly credit my site if you use any information you've learned here. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me. Also, please sign my guestbook as I would enjoy hearing from you!