The Energon Pub

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Kyleor wrote:At that price point the low level of paint/deco on robot mode and transformation issues are completely unacceptable.

The breakage issue is the rotten cherry on top of that sht sundae.

What does it say when you start initiating a return for it?

This was a really fun idea, but it seems the execution is a little lacking.

The SS Crosshair mold was only "eh it's fine" to begin with, mine snapped at the rear driver-side window near the pin where it's a pressure point during transformation. As this Bingotimus is still using transparent plastic again cor the whole roof section, I wouldn't dare touch this even if the alt mode looks good and at $35 CDN like a reg. DLX.


Thanks for the sacrifice to bring us this review...

-Kanrabat- wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Kyleor wrote:At that price point the low level of paint/deco on robot mode and transformation issues are completely unacceptable.

The breakage issue is the rotten cherry on top of that sht sundae.

What does it say when you start initiating a return for it?

Screenshot_20250104_164349_Brave.png

As for the why, I can't make head or tail of all that corpospeak.

I'm giving up on Amazon.jp.
Bad service with outrageous shipping costs.

Oh crap! I would still write to them to see what could be done. Very sorry to see this

QC issues seem to be increasing. Reasons anyone?

Dino-Snarl wrote:QC issues seem to be increasing. Reasons anyone?

Its a combination of things, on their end its budget cuts and use of a flimsier plastic, but also we have as fans demanded a lot of more detailed, thinner parts to achieve more accurate vehicle AND robot modes. You didnt have this problem in Armada or Energon days because bots were big and chunky and so were their parts.

The reason they didnt use a rubber for the mirror is probably because it needed to be paintable.

Flashwave wrote:

Dino-Snarl wrote:QC issues seem to be increasing. Reasons anyone?

Its a combination of things, on their end its budget cuts and use of a flimsier plastic, but also we have as fans demanded a lot of more detailed, thinner parts to achieve more accurate vehicle AND robot modes. You didnt have this problem in Armada or Energon days because bots were big and chunky and so were their parts.

The reason they didnt use a rubber for the mirror is probably because it needed to be paintable.

Excellent insights. Thank you!

Apart from the upper arms getting tighter for the ball joints and biceps, I have yet to experience any breakage for the mold but this is even worse with a more expensive repaint.

Did something change on Amazon Japan? Because I have successfully returned items "bought and sold by Amazon JP" even though they were shipped to me in Canada. For something damaged, they pay return shipping as well (although not until it arrives).

They say they want it sent back by DHL, but with some persistence you can get them to agree to a trackable cheaper method as long as you can fully insure it too (Canada Post/USPS). I've had to do it a few times over the years (the last one that jumps to mind is MPG-03). But you need to get their clear agreement in an e-mail to allow you to use that method and get reimbursed. There's some advice on wording I found online. Either way, whether DHL or Canada Post/USPS (approved) you get a refund of your shipping. Although if shipping is over a certain amount (10,000 yen I think) they refund the on a Gift Card.

Depending on the price of the item, they just give you a full refund if you want to keep the defective item (that happened with Lunar Rover Optimus Prime).

All to say, don't give up on a return without trying...

Flashwave wrote:

Dino-Snarl wrote:QC issues seem to be increasing. Reasons anyone?

Its a combination of things, on their end its budget cuts and use of a flimsier plastic, but also we have as fans demanded a lot of more detailed, thinner parts to achieve more accurate vehicle AND robot modes. You didnt have this problem in Armada or Energon days because bots were big and chunky and so were their parts.

The reason they didnt use a rubber for the mirror is probably because it needed to be paintable.

Budget cuts should affect a premium product that sets its own price point. I'd chalk this up to poor QC testing.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Flashwave wrote:

Dino-Snarl wrote:QC issues seem to be increasing. Reasons anyone?

Its a combination of things, on their end its budget cuts and use of a flimsier plastic, but also we have as fans demanded a lot of more detailed, thinner parts to achieve more accurate vehicle AND robot modes. You didnt have this problem in Armada or Energon days because bots were big and chunky and so were their parts.

The reason they didnt use a rubber for the mirror is probably because it needed to be paintable.

Budget cuts should affect a premium product that sets its own price point. I'd chalk this up to poor QC testing.

Emerje

Agreed. What we were thinking. Most are made in Vietnam now. Better than China or worse? Thoughts?

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Dino-Snarl wrote:Agreed. What we were thinking. Most are made in Vietnam now. Better than China or worse? Thoughts?

The first year when they started making the toys in Vietnam was NIGHTMARISH. I never saw as much QC problems than the Titan Return / The Last Knight year. I returned so much toys that had two left parts, broken parts, and missing parts.

But lately, things got much better, despite the occasional hiccups like that Bingo garbage.

That is an excellent point. Need time to work on expected production quality. Great analysis.

I got my Bingo Prime in, and I gotta say, I love this concept and the toy itself.

For one thing, it is amazing how much retooling was done, and not as obvious as you'd think. a HUGE chunk of the alt mode was retooled to match the actual race car. And almost the entire car is painted too, and very nicely I might add.

For another, the robot mode is still really neat. I adore this concept, and while I am not a big fan of the gray, I have always wanted a Prime with a trenchcoat.

I just love this thing. I love it when a crossover Prime isn't afraid to get weird, and this one is lovely