The Energon Pub

I'm not exactly sure how to start this thread off, I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has stories like mine? The basis really, is have you ever been banned or black-listed from a store, or you yourself been so enraged that you said "I'll never shop here again"? Cause I have one of each!

Hobby Jungle
Once upon a time I put in an order a UW Galvatron, there was a sale or something, and maybe one other small item. When I received my invoice, the shipping fee was pretty jarring, and certainly nothing I was expecting. I emailed them and asked if there were any other shipping options and they said no. The invoice had a pay-by-date, and because of this and the unexpected shipping I asked for a 2 day extension of the deadline, to which they promptly said no. I replied with something to the tune of, I've spent a great deal of money here over a couple years and this is pretty bad customer service. They didn't reply, the invoice expired, and I sent another email stating the same thing and adding I won't be spending my hard earned money here again.

Amiami
This story is very similar with the previous one, which does paint me as a guy who can never pay, but I assure you that isn't the case. So, recently two pre-ordered items came in stock (at the same time) and an invoice was sent. MP36 Megatron, and a new Diaclone dude (that white space one). Together it was a pretty hefty bill. This time, the due date was actually the same day as my payday, but because of the time difference between Canada and Japan I was worried it would be late. I sent them an email stating that, and I might need an extension, not even 24 hours. To which... they simply stated no. With these types of stores, I know they have strict rules about non-payers stating things about black-listing, so I might be, but I wasn't informed of such. But I replied with basically the same thing I did said to HJ.


So tell me, what ever happened to customer loyalty? Is this just an online thing? Just because I don't have a face means they don't have to be accommodating or worried that on the other end there's someone unsatisfied or upset? I'm old school, and if it were possible I'd buy everything in person, in a store, and from a real human being I could talk to. But that's a dream world, and what we have now is a cold robotic engine that automatically dispenses things if you enter in an address and credit card. And god forbid if you ever have an issue and have to talk to one of the humans behind that robot....

I don't know about other parts of the world, but I'm constantly encouraged to "shop local".

Trouble with Japanese releases though, I can't physically "shop local". So when a Australian based online retailer started up, I figured that was local enough.

Now I don't want to name that particular website in case they read this and decide to delay my open orders, but screw local. I'm sticking with HLJ. Been with them for over a decade and they've NEVER done me wrong.

Burn wrote:Now I don't want to name that particular website in case they read this and decide to delay my open orders, but screw local. I'm sticking with HLJ. Been with them for over a decade and they've NEVER done me wrong.

I've done my importing basically from three places over the past few years: HLJ, Amiami, and Big in Japan. Usually it's just based on their minor price differences, and Amiami usually wins out by a hair. But obviously now I'm moving over to HLJ for the most part, as BIJ mostly only does MP's.

And it's kinda funny how things work out, that this nonsense with Amiami would happen pretty much at the same time as A3U launches their dot.CA site, and provides shipping breaks within Canada much like TFsource does for its Americans. So I think I'll be moving a fair bit of my business over to them. I've already put their customer service to the test as one of my Baldigus members was broken and they're replacing the piece.

Hobby Jungle? Same as "The Jungle" that everyone has a chub for? Google says yes. I had a falling out with them on my first purchase. Got a figure which was listed as used but complete, but the figure was missing a chest/hood panel. It took an act of congress to get them to even respond to my concerns and then they only offered a $10 store credit. Sure... so you can burn me again. Then after opening a claim with PayPal and contacting them some more, they offered a refund if I pay shipping back. Shipping was pretty steep to begin with. I would have been happy with a partial refund but they weren't cooperating. Some time had passed before I think paypal finally stepped in, but by then I said screw it and just kept the figure and called it a lesson learned. That experience incorporated every fear with importing from overseas. Well they've been black listed.

Even though I've had several smooth transactions with TF Source I'm very hesitant to do business with them again. They offer free shipping on $150 orders, and their return/pre-order policy definitely isn't consumer friendly. The deal with $150 free shipping is that it's on a stack/order of new or used/vintage figures, no mix and match and they sure don't make it easy to find that info.

Their shipping is a bit higher than what I'm used to for intra-states shipping. I had a huge stack two medium stacks with them and I was at the 6 month hold limit. So I figured ship it, it's free anyway. Well the new stuff was shipped free but I was $3.40 shy of free shipping on the used/vintage stack and they invoiced me for $29.50! Yup

Well after contacting their customer service they cancelled the invoice and shipped my second stack free, but they made a bit of a stink about it. That was the last time I did business with them.

carytheone wrote:I would have been happy with a partial refund but they weren't cooperating. Some time had passed before I think paypal finally stepped in, but by then I said screw it and just kept the figure and called it a lesson learned.

Why is the partial refund NEVER an option?? There's been times where I have been dissatisfied with a transaction, but wanted to keep an item or it was more work than it was worth to return. I've suggested a partial refund before and they won't even consider it. And yeah, I've done the "grumble grumble screw it" before too. I'm stubborn, but sometimes they make it exhausting.

carytheone wrote:Even though I've had several smooth transactions with TF Source I'm very hesitant to do business with them again.

Oooohhhhhh yeah.... The Source.... I had a bad transaction with them once. Don't really recall the deets, but because of that and all the shady BS I've heard about them over the years I'll never deal with them again.

shajaki wrote:Why is the partial refund NEVER an option?? There's been times where I have been dissatisfied with a transaction, but wanted to keep an item or it was more work than it was worth to return. I've suggested a partial refund before and they won't even consider it.

If they would have just given me just a little loving back on good faith I'd probably still be buying their ridiculously cheap toys.

BBTS just upped their shipping game to 11. Shame they don't include the Canadiana. $4 flat rate no matter how big or how many. BBTS has always treated me right and that's why I keep telling them to shut up and take my money.

I would consider TFS again, but only under extreme situations to fully take advantage of their free shipping. I know what they're about now and how to navigate the land mines.

I've also become a huge fan of Aliexpress and their back alley ways. I know I'm dealing with some shady pirates, so I go in prepared. According to WJ88 they ship to Canada on the cheap as well. So far everything I've gotten has shipped free and no taxes. My damn state just started making us pay taxes on all online orders (including digital). Honestly though, I really don't mind that pot hole(s)....

Toywiz is a site I will never buy from. They inflate prices to insane amounts and intentionally deceive customers. Now most of us know how much a toy costs and won't pay that much unless it is the only option. (I'd rather play the waiting game on the secondary market)

The worst part about toywiz is that they use other sites to sell their things, walmart being one of those sites. Friends and parents of collectors that don't know the price of a toy will go to walmart. They expect based on walmart being low priced IRL to have the lowest price online. If they don't know better they will get ripped off.


This is what to look for! Don't be caught unaware!
(this screencap was taken when this toy was readily available for MSRP)

Now they don't just do this with Transformers toys, the also do it with pretty much any collectible toy. It is also not just Toywiz that does this. I saw an instance a long time ago where a private company (I can't remember so I am not going to name names) sold a set of beyblades over amazon for 50$. At the time you could get the same set for 25$ at your local walmart/target/ect. It broke my heart to see a review left by a boy's grandfather saying it was expensive and not worth the money but his grandson loved the toy. Boils my blood that they ripped off an old man like that.


Again, another example of an overpriced toy.

At the time this screencap was taken these were available for MSRP in the actual walmart stores. A lot of the listings have changed since I have taken these screencaps. I do this because I want people to be informed that 3rd party sellers - not just toywiz can be very shady. I find it personally very upsetting when a company uses something I love to take advantage of other people.

I post this in hopes that it makes people make an educated choice about whom they purchase things from and to let whomever buys TF's as gifts know what reasonable prices are. I'm not telling people they can't buy from toywiz/whoever if they so choose. It is up to the individual to make the their own choices, but also to be aware.

WreckerJack wrote:"Toywiz is the devil"

But have they ever burned you personally? It is a free market, buyer beware.

carytheone wrote:

WreckerJack wrote:"Toywiz is the devil"

But have they ever burned you personally? It is a free market, buyer beware.

No, but I almost fell for it when I used to be into beyblade. Luckily I shopped around, but I almost make a purchase I would have regretted.

Like I said - the buyer can make whatever choices he or she wishes. But beware of deceptive pricing.

I learned the hard way, never buy anything from Kmart.com if you actually want a specific figure. They just grab any random toy of the same size class and send that. I ordered PRID Kup, they sent me Knockout. Good figure, but one I already had. Fortunately after this Kup started to get MUCH easier to find at retail (previously I hadn't been able to find him) so I returned KO to the Kmart across the street and wound up with Kup under the Christmas tree that year.

Yeah, I still bought from Kmart, but only in person, the website, never again. No wonder they're going under.