Page 2 of 3

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:24 pm
by KNM2012
Rodimus Prime wrote:I'm a member already, and I would sign up for this if it had a different payment plan. I just can't afford it they way it is. If it was monthly payments of $50 or so, it would be fine. I wanted Jackpot, Breakdown, and Scourge mainly.

That was an issue for me. They do have a payment plan, but you have to pay a premium just to use it. I can understand if they said this is due to them paying some kind of fee to allow it to happen. But they said nothing more than it is part of their option.

Besides, you would think that they would say anything about that. But since they didn't, and I skipped on the set, I will just hope they do not repeat the number of fiascos and issues that came with their club/sets. :BOOM:

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:20 pm
by LiKwid
xyl360 wrote:
STngAR wrote:I cannot wait for Ultra Mammoth to arrive at my door! HELL YEAH!! :MAXIMAL:

THIS^...x12!!!

Beast Wars!!!! :D


You guys do realize these wont be released for quite some time right?

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:52 am
by JRFitzpatrick7
I feel like I was over charged for shipping... Can anyone explain or confirm this?

Image

Image

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:29 am
by Sabrblade
The TF Club wrote:25 years later a Matrix can be opened by a Magnus (or Ultra MAMMOTH as he is known now...)
BOOOOOOOOO!!! Ultra Mammoth is just Ultra Magnus in a new body.
:BOOM: :BOOM: :BOOM: :BOOM: :BOOM: :BANG_HEAD: :BANG_HEAD: :BANG_HEAD: :BANG_HEAD: :BANG_HEAD:

New character intrigue just fell to old character boredom. >:oP >:oP >:oP

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:37 am
by Mkall
JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:I feel like I was over charged for shipping... Can anyone explain or confirm this?

Image

Image

Considering I can't see the images, I can't confirm either way.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:06 am
by datguy86
Mkall wrote:
JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:I feel like I was over charged for shipping... Can anyone explain or confirm this?

Image

Image

Considering I can't see the images, I can't confirm either way.


Considering it's from the TFCC - Yes. You were overcharged for shipping.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:20 am
by JRFitzpatrick7
sorry guys, let's try this again.

Image

Image

In the event that these images do not show up, I went with the default shipping option:

Post Office Domestic Priority Mail: For 2 installments $20.90, 1 $10.45

The second image shows my confirmation page (right before purchase):

3 installments of $94.00 = $282.00

Total Shipping for all 3 installments... $62.70...

Now If I recall correctly, there are only 3 installments that will be shipped and the first 2 are paid for together leaving 1 more that should only cost $10.45 to ship. so where is the additional $31.35 coming from.

And don't get me started on the "Online processing fee"


Seems Legit... :michaelbay:

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:53 am
by mooncake623
I think I'm going to get me a green giant with the money not spent on this...

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:15 pm
by Mkall
JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:
In the event that these images do not show up, I went with the default shipping option:

Post Office Domestic Priority Mail: For 2 installments $20.90, 1 $10.45

The second image shows my confirmation page (right before purchase):

3 installments of $94.00 = $282.00

Total Shipping for all 3 installments... $62.70...

Now If I recall correctly, there are only 3 installments that will be shipped and the first 2 are paid for together leaving 1 more that should only cost $10.45 to ship. so where is the additional $31.35 coming from.

You forget that there's extra logistics involved in getting the figure from the massive shipping crates that will arrive at TFCC, or its distributor, on its way to you. Mostly paying some guy to prep an individual shipping box, grab a figure from the bin, place figure into the shipping box, attach shipping labels, then place it into the "out" box.

So yeah, it's probably accurate, but more expensive than what it would cost USPS due to middlemen.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:50 pm
by Bounti76
I never thought I'd say this, but I think Slipstream needs some lipstick.. black or purple...the head is a little too unisex without it.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:52 pm
by Banjo-Tron
Wowzers... I dread to think what the shipping to the UK would be. I have never seen more expensive shipping for comparable items than TFCC. I would expect hand delivery for the prices they charge, so good job none of this set is essential to have IMO.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:10 pm
by JRFitzpatrick7
Mkall wrote:
JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:
In the event that these images do not show up, I went with the default shipping option:

Post Office Domestic Priority Mail: For 2 installments $20.90, 1 $10.45

The second image shows my confirmation page (right before purchase):

3 installments of $94.00 = $282.00

Total Shipping for all 3 installments... $62.70...

Now If I recall correctly, there are only 3 installments that will be shipped and the first 2 are paid for together leaving 1 more that should only cost $10.45 to ship. so where is the additional $31.35 coming from.

You forget that there's extra logistics involved in getting the figure from the massive shipping crates that will arrive at TFCC, or its distributor, on its way to you. Mostly paying some guy to prep an individual shipping box, grab a figure from the bin, place figure into the shipping box, attach shipping labels, then place it into the "out" box.

So yeah, it's probably accurate, but more expensive than what it would cost USPS due to middlemen.


If that was the case, TFCC would have listed handling on the invoice, my concern is that the total shipping price costs twice as much as it should. What I'm saying is that based on the math involved, the shipping for all 3 installments will total $31.35. They shouldn't come out to $62.70. And a handling cost wouldn't cost exactly as much as the shipping and is typically built into the price of the figure itself since this is a retail establishment after all.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:30 pm
by redoutlander
You are paying for Six transfomresr mailed one at a time. So you pay 94 for the first two transfomers (month one and month two) and Shipping (month one and month two) at 10.45 each. thus the 62.70 total shipping fee. So basicly We will be getting One Transformer EACH month for six months and Will need to make aditinal payments durring the Second and Fourth Months.


this is from the TFCC main page:

4. You can either pay In Full or by Installment. There will be 3 installments. When you subscribe and choose pay by Installment, you will be billed for the first two months’ shipments. Then sometime during the second month, you will be billed for the 3rd and 4th months’ shipments and sometime during the 4th month you will be billed for the final 2 months’ shipments.

5. The figures will be shipped in random order. All members receive the same figures each month. So if you don't mind, when you get your shipment each month, PLEASE do not go online and tell what you received. We want each shipment to be a surprise for as many members as possible.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:03 pm
by LiKwid
So TFC Uranus and Fansproject menasor it is then...

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:09 pm
by JRFitzpatrick7
redoutlander wrote:You are paying for Six transfomresr mailed one at a time. So you pay 94 for the first two transfomers (month one and month two) and Shipping (month one and month two) at 10.45 each. thus the 62.70 total shipping fee. So basicly We will be getting One Transformer EACH month for six months and Will need to make aditinal payments durring the Second and Fourth Months.


this is from the TFCC main page:

4. You can either pay In Full or by Installment. There will be 3 installments. When you subscribe and choose pay by Installment, you will be billed for the first two months’ shipments. Then sometime during the second month, you will be billed for the 3rd and 4th months’ shipments and sometime during the 4th month you will be billed for the final 2 months’ shipments.

5. The figures will be shipped in random order. All members receive the same figures each month. So if you don't mind, when you get your shipment each month, PLEASE do not go online and tell what you received. We want each shipment to be a surprise for as many members as possible.


Nailed it. Dude this is all the info I was missing, thank you. For some reason I was under the impression we were getting 3 sets of 2 (probably because of the installments. My mind is at ease.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:33 pm
by redoutlander
JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:
redoutlander wrote:You are paying for Six transfomresr mailed one at a time. So you pay 94 for the first two transfomers (month one and month two) and Shipping (month one and month two) at 10.45 each. thus the 62.70 total shipping fee. So basicly We will be getting One Transformer EACH month for six months and Will need to make aditinal payments durring the Second and Fourth Months.


this is from the TFCC main page:

4. You can either pay In Full or by Installment. There will be 3 installments. When you subscribe and choose pay by Installment, you will be billed for the first two months’ shipments. Then sometime during the second month, you will be billed for the 3rd and 4th months’ shipments and sometime during the 4th month you will be billed for the final 2 months’ shipments.

5. The figures will be shipped in random order. All members receive the same figures each month. So if you don't mind, when you get your shipment each month, PLEASE do not go online and tell what you received. We want each shipment to be a surprise for as many members as possible.


Nailed it. Dude this is all the info I was missing, thank you. For some reason I was under the impression we were getting 3 sets of 2 (probably because of the installments. My mind is at ease.



Yea no problem! The Shipping costs are a little much but hey We get Exclusives mailed to us for six months! This is the first set like this I don’t have to pay scalpers. Next year will be good.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:09 pm
by QBKiller94
I've gotta be honest, i'd rather save my $300 and buy one really good Masterpiece figure or a bunch of Prime figures. There are only one or two TFCC figures that look decent and the base price and shipping costs are unreal. Exclusive or not, it's not even remotely worth it to me.

I won't be renewing my TFCC membership next year. It's wildly overpriced. I liked my membership figure this year, but it's a $12 figure for a $40 membership price. I can afford it, but I'd rather save my money for quality figures.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:40 pm
by Mkall
QBKiller94 wrote:I won't be renewing my TFCC membership next year. It's wildly overpriced. I liked my membership figure this year, but it's a $12 figure for a $40 membership price. I can afford it, but I'd rather save my money for quality figures.

I'm sorry to be quoting you, as this is not directed specifically at you; but anyone who makes this strawman argument. This is not a $12 dollar figure, this figure is priced pretty accurately at whatever it is. You're rolling your eyes and thinking I'm an apologist or whatever and you're probably going to stop reading here. But should you continue I shall explain. For the sake of argument, I'm going to compare TFSS Circuit to Hasbro's Banzai-Tron. A straight repaint, not factorin in extra costs such as new headmolding.

1) There will be fewer Circuits made than Banzai-Trons, probably in the amount of tens of thousands. That means production costs will have to be covered over a fewer number of figures.

2) It costs the same amount of money to set up a manufaturing line for TFCC's Circuit vs Hasbro's Banzai-Tron. I don't know what that number is, I've heard anything from $50,000 to 1 million before the first completed figure rolls out of the line. This takes into account
--communication with the factory
--instructing the factory workers on what is required
--retreiving the proper molds and prepping all the consumables (plastic, paint etc)
--starting the line
The flip side of course is that with a shorter product line some costs can be saved
--Less money is spent on worker hours
--Transportation costs might be cheaper
--less consumables such as plastic will ultimately be consumed. Why did I not mention paint? Read on.

3) Circuit will require more paint apps than Banzai Tron. TFCC stated at a previous Botcon (2010?) that one of their deluxe figures has on average twice the amount of paint apps than the Hasbro figure it used. Such detail work actually requires skilled (perhaps it should be called less-unskilled) labour and more time than a Hasbro figure.

4) Distribution. Hasbro bulk ships to stores and washes their hands of the whole thing. TFCC needs to receive those bulk shipping containers and individually get them into smaller boxes (another consumable) and then get them to their customer. As this is done in the US, minimum-wage labour is required which is much more expensive that that used in China.

All in all it adds up. Compare this to other exclusive repaint figures and you'll see that these are some of the cheapest on the market right now.

I don't care if you don't want the figures, it is your oppinion/collection/money after all, but you justify it poorly.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 4:54 am
by QBKiller94
Thanks Mkall for the detailed breakdown of the manufacturing process and costs. Well written and informative.

My point is a simple one. If the consumer is paying a premium price, then the product should be exceptional. I don't find this to be the case with this line.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:13 am
by gavinfuzzy
I. don't. need. them. ... :-( Must not read Mkall's comment again...

Must. Not. Buy. Maybe if scourge or breakdown gets to the store alone I might pick him up...

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:50 am
by Mkall
QBKiller94 wrote:Thanks Mkall for the detailed breakdown of the manufacturing process and costs. Well written and informative.

My point is a simple one. If the consumer is paying a premium price, then the product should be exceptional. I don't find this to be the case with this line.

And I cannot fault you for that. If you don't feel you're getting your money's worth, then it's your call. I feel different but it's all a matter of taste.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:17 pm
by Sabrblade
*bump*

Why the bump? Well, it's because I finally got my blasted confirmation email.

23 days after I placed the order. About darn time, Fun Pub.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:09 am
by Kibble
I think the prices are actually fairly decent...problem is the figures aren't. I want Scourge, but not $300 want him. And I don't want to have to dick around with selling the rest. And the incentive figure is lame next year. So I'll sit out the next dance.

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:56 pm
by Ruthless Cynic
Anyone know when the second and third installment payments will be due?

Re: TFCC Transformers Figure Subscription Service (TFSS) Press Release - Deadline Sept 10

PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:31 pm
by LOST Cybertronian
Ruthless Cynic wrote:Anyone know when the second and third installment payments will be due?


I do believe the second installment is due shortly after the second figure ships and the third payment shortly after the fourth figure ships.