The Energon Pub

by **Rocketeer** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:16 am

On Saturday (10/18), I decided to give in and just order Universe Tread Bolt through the Hasbro Toy Shop, because I doubt I'll see it in the stores around here.
The figure is supposedly in stock and "usually ships within one business day."
No big deal, right?

The "Track Order" thing said "Expected Ship Date: 10/19/2008"
Given that the 19th was a Sunday, I knew better than that.
When Monday hit, the expected ship date was changed to 10/20, but the order status was changed to "Partially Shipped."
How can the order as a whole be "Partially Shipped" if the only item in the order is marked "Not Shipped"?

So today I go and look at the status, thinking maybe it was shipped yesterday and that they just don't update until midnight or something.
No, it says the same thing today, except the expected ship date is now 10/21 (today).
A bit odd, no?

Is this normal routine for HTS, with me just blowing things out of proportion?
Or are my eBay-born anxieties about online ordering on the right track?

So how's everyone's experiences with HTS been?
Good? Bad? Mediocre?

Mainly, I'm just wondering:
How can the order as a whole be "Partially Shipped" if the only item in the order is marked "Not Shipped"? :mrgreen:

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:22 am

They are incompetent.

But you usually get your items...

by **Bonger** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:33 am

Counterpunch wrote:They are incompetent.

But you usually get your items...

What he said..they suck, but everything always gets here

by **Rocketeer** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:27 am

How comforting...

About how long does it usually take them to ship, anyway?
Any chances I'll have Tread Bolt by Halloween? Lol...

News Credits: 5 · by **--B--** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:45 am

The whole "changing the shipping date everyday routine" eh? Happens all the time, but for the most part the item(s) get to you. How they are packed, that's a whole nother issue.

All of my SDCC stuff was crammed into a box too small with one "airpack" to keep it still.

The only package damage was to items I planned to open anyway, but for the MISB collector, it could get a little scary.

The best thing to do is not look at it everyday, and just wait for the shipping email. Not the easiest thing to do, but the best.

by **Rocketeer** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:57 am

Thankfully, I'm not after MISB.
I just want a Jetfire-style TF, and the Blue Angel deco didn't hurt matters.

So I'll just kick back and wait.
I just love how I'm hearing "The items *usually* get there."
Is this like when the plumber says "I'll be there tomorrow," but tomorrow is two weeks away? Lol...

by **necare** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:01 pm

Last fall and into the winter they were Fantastic for me. Everything was accurate and smooth.

Starting with the SDCC figures their system online started to go completely haywire. expected ship dates, even tracking numbers reported incorrectly.

However I always got my stuff within about a week or so and always packaged just fine! So I give one thumbs up due to their cheaper prices than anything online elsewhere and their ability to get things to me before they hit the stores about 50% of the time!

take for instance Shockwave animated, he'll be with me LONG before I will ever see him in a store.

Hasbro is fine, just don't trust the tracking numbers, if after 7 business days you are still lost then perhaps be concerned.

by **diosoth** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:25 pm

My first order for animated Blackarachnia, voyager Optimus and Universe Onslaught, on sale, $47. Delayed to ship(ordered Saturday, shipped Wednesday), and was given a tracking # with no indication what shipper was used. USPS, UPS and Fedex had no record. I had to call their customer service line to find out it was Smartpost.

Box arrived rather badly abused. Toys were fine, though.

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:27 pm

They take too long to ship and don't provide good order/shipment tracking info, so for me I would only use them as a source of last resort for something I can't find anywhere else.

In my experience, if you "preorder" something from them, you won't get it until after it's been in stores for weeks, which defeats the whole point of preordering.

But, on the positive side, I always got what I ordered, and the items arrived in good shape (better shape than what I find on store shelves, actually). I also had decent experiences dealing with their customer service. (Then again, I wouldn't have needed to call customer service if their website, ordering system and account management system were better.)

News Credits: 1 · by **newOrder** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:32 pm

very bad, but they let you return the item to them for free, I recently ordered the universe robot heroe arcee and rumble they sent me the rhinox and waspinator set, they don't allow exchange, just send it back and reorder it, just too much hassle. I just eat it.

by **Rocketeer** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:56 pm

If the system hadn't said "Partially Shipped," I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it.
It just struck as odd.

Of course, now the listing for Tread Bolt says that the projected arrival time is around 10/31.
How odd.

Is it just me, or do most large companies let their automated systems go to pot?
For example, the few times I've ever had major problems on eBay was when I ordered from larger stores/companies.
Buying from individuals on eBay seems a lot more dependable these days.
As another example, though, try using *any* company's voice recognition call system. :roll:

But anyway... I guess it's a 50/50.
Either Tread Bolt gets here or he doesn't.
Just gotta wait and see.

News Credits: 5 · by **Barrelass** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:29 pm

I really havent had anything too bad, other than the Nemesis Prime boxes (which I think everyone got a crushed one). Every order other than that has come in great shape to me. Last order of mine was for a GI Joe Serp for my cousin (only thing on that order), and they ended up shipping me two of them. Now it may not be the most sought after Joe, but I like a bonus.

The problems:

1. That shipping update where it says shipping today every day.
2. The fact that the tracking numbers never work until after you have received the items.
3. I don't think I got a confermation email for the last item that is in transit now, but maybe I missed that one.

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:40 pm

I'm having the exact same issue right now. I saw that they had TFA Shockwave and Skywarp in stock and it stated they usually shipped within one business day. With the new promo code I could get them develivered right to my door for a couple of bucks less than retail. Plus my pre-order with BBTS states they will not be in with them until December. I figured I would give it a shot, but just like you every time I check the status of my order is says partially shipped, then when you pull up the order detail is states neither has shipped. This is ridiculous.

News Credits: 1 · by **alh77** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:35 pm

I ordered Universe Sideswipe, Ironhide, Silverstreak, Treadbolt and Stormcloud on 10/1, received shipping e-mail on 10/7 and they showed up on 10/10. I also had the the "partially shipped" status, but everything arrived at the same time in the same box.

by **ChronosWar** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:26 pm

Barrelass wrote:other than the Nemesis Prime boxes (which I think everyone got a crushed one).

I know mine certainly did. Not terribly bad, esp. since I take all mine out of the box, but i try and keep the boxes in decent shape, which this one is. I'm not a pro grader or anything, but it's probably 7-7.5, maybe less. Just crushed a bit, but no damage to the art that I've noticed.
As far as shipping, I got the rare joy of doing the fastest available shipping method, which was FedEx Express, I think. I ordered it probably 10:30 PM EST Tuesday, and it was at my door at 2 PM EST on Thursday in the condition described above, packed with three or four of the balloon packaging things.

by **Rocketeer** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:09 am

Y'know, I regret more and more that I missed that free shipping coupon code.
I woulda gotten Nemesis Prime if I'd paid attention.
What are the odds they'll produce another reissue/repaint/rehash of that mold for retail? Lol...

UPDATE:
Last night, the expected shipping date changed to 10/22.
This morning, however, the item was suddenly listed as shipped on 10/21.
The tracking number is there, but - as y'all said - it doesn't say how it was shipped.
Of course, UPS, USPS, and FedEx have no records of any such tracking number.

Oh well...
At least the thing is shipped.

by **diosoth** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:02 pm

I KNOW I posted this but I don't see the rpely in the thread...

https://spportal.fedex.com/sp/track

Fedex Smartpost tracking. Hasbro sues this service because it's cheap. If your # doesn't work on Fedex or USPS, try it there. It will only show up on USPS once THEY have it, usually 1 day before you get it.

by **Rocketeer** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:20 pm

Thanks, diosoth.
The tracking number works there.

According to the tracking stuff, it actually shipped on the 20th.
From Mechanicsburg, PA, which is only a few hours away from me. :shock:

From there it was sent to Martinsburg, where it sat motionless for two days.
Now it's waiting in Pittsburgh.
I'll never understand the routes that parcel services take. Lol...

But on the bright side:
It's getting closer.
Maybe I'll have it by Friday. :mrgreen:

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:31 pm

I've only had good experiences with them.
Even back when people were getting Nemesis Prime in crushed boxes, both of mine (which I ordered at different times) came in GREAT shape.
Same thing with the last 4 figs. I just ordered--
Sideswipe
Silverstreak
Acidstorm
Swoop

As long as there's a good coupon code, I'm all in.

News Credits: 7 · by **shortround** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:37 pm

I order rest of universe deluxe figures sideswipe,silverstreak and ironhide on sunday and got them on the next saturday so it just depends on were you are in the shipping order for a figure nothing you can do about.

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:43 pm

Just checked my order and it does now say fully shipped. I used the link diosoth provided and the tracking number actually worked. I might actually get my Shockwave this week.

News Credits: 2 · by **Star_ling** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:55 pm

My first ordering experience with them was horrible. I ordered SDCC NP from them the day he came out on July 28th. A week later I checked my email to find they said I had no orders. I emailed them about the problem and they didn't get back to me till almost a month later. So I initally gave up on it since they never charged my account either. Why is it they charged my account last week and he arrived on Saturday.

I didn't even want him anymore, so I said so and he's going back tommorow.

I hope they're not always this bad because I REALLY want Dragstrip and don't wanna run around my local stores to find Cyclonus and Starscream.

News Credits: 1 · by **Powersa** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:27 pm

I have no complaints because basically I only buy HTS exclusives there, usually with 10% or 20% off codes too. Can't get those anywhere else without a markup. As long as I get my stuff I'm happy.

News Credits: 5 · by **Barrelass** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:41 pm

Is anyone else noticing that the invoices that they have been sending with the figures don't have the discounted total when you use a discount code. Also, I just looked at my last one (ordered a preorder item and a GI Joe), and it has all the taxes rolled to this invoice, so it looks like $2.35 in tax on a $6.99 figure. I am pretty sure it is just some funky invoice thing that tacked all the taxes onto the part of the order that shipped already, but it sure is confusing. They didn't used to do all this.

by **diosoth** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:05 pm

Rocketeer wrote:Y'know, I regret more and more that I missed that free shipping coupon code.
I woulda gotten Nemesis Prime if I'd paid attention.
What are the odds they'll produce another reissue/repaint/rehash of that mold for retail? Lol...

It was exempt from the discount. Seems any sort of exclusive they sell is excluded from such sales. Believe me, I tried to order one at one point, and found the FALL20 coupon didn't work on it.