The Energon Pub

[funklizard]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of taking things back to the store simply because I didn't like them.

I think it's worth distinguishing between a figure that's just not to one's taste and one whose design is actually defective in some way. There's nothing noble about not returning a toy with a defective design because you feel like you should have known better. Maybe you should have; but that doesn't justify manufacturers shipping badly engineered or badly built products. Send a message: send it back. It might not be the retailer's fault that the toy is flawed; but in most cases they are the guarantor of its quality. And if they see enough returns of a lousy toy, you can bet the manufacturer will hear about it.

[joesaysso]

I think it's worth distinguishing between a figure that's just not to one's taste and one whose design is actually defective in some way. There's nothing noble about not returning a toy with a defective design because you feel like you should have known better.

I'm not sure I'm clear on your meaning of defective. However, I already established in my earlier post, and I think its pretty universal for everybody here, that if a product does not do what it is advertised to do, I have no problems returning it. I am merely sticking with the OT. It is clearly written in the title of the thread "didn't like it".

It might not be the retailer's fault that the toy is flawed; but in most cases they are the guarantor of its quality. And if they see enough returns of a lousy toy, you can bet the manufacturer will hear about it.

Yeah, this part I don't agree with at all. I, personally, have never walked into any mass retail store and seen signs hung that said that the store guarantees that quality of the product on its shelves. Stores like Walmart do not guarantee the products on the shelves. They guarantee your experience with the store. They offer exchanges and refunds on products because A) they know that keeping you happy means you'll spend way more money there in the future to well off-set the loss of a $13 toy and B) they know that there is resources available to them to recoup the loss of the item your returned.

Also, if Hasbro designs a crappy toy, i.e. 2007 movie Megs, why should Walmart assume any responsibilty for the figure when all they are doing is stocking a product that they know consumers want to buy? Its not Walmarts fault that the figure stunk. Why should I hold them accountable for a figure that does exactly what it was designed to but after I bought it, I didn't like it and was struck with a little buyers remorse? This is why manufactures of the products have their own customer service for you to go through. This is why the message that you are trying to send by returning a product probably isn't getting back to the people you think it should be getting back to. Because instead of talking to the people who made the junk, you are talking to the middle man who sold the junk and then are relying on them to send your message back to the people that you think it should go to. But most of the time the stores don't care because not enough people bothered themselves to return the product that you did for them to waste their resources trying to make your statement to the people that you think it should go to.

Besides, when it comes to toys specifically, who honestly here thinks that a toy manfacture doesn't already know that they are shipping junk but they ship it anyway? You don't think that Hasbro knew that Animated Arcee's hands broke after putting her gun in her hand more than one time. Of course they did. But they shipped it anyway. Because they already made the toys. Trashing the toys that they made, fixing the problem, and shipping a quality product is just too costly for an item that only sells for $12-$15 a pop. So then you take it back. So what, they don't care. Because for the 1000 toys that got returned by collectors because the hands broke, there's a million more out there that little kids broke. And instead of being taken back, the just got tossed to the bottom of the kids toy box and Hasbro's profit is secure. The only message that you are sending to Hasbro when you return a toy that you don't like is "I'm a collector. I'm not Hasbro's target consumer."

[Autobot032]

It might not be the retailer's fault that the toy is flawed; but in most cases they are the guarantor of its quality. And if they see enough returns of a lousy toy, you can bet the manufacturer will hear about it.

Yeah, this part I don't agree with at all. I, personally, have never walked into any mass retail store and seen signs hung that said that the store guarantees that quality of the product on its shelves. Stores like Walmart do not guarantee the products on the shelves. They guarantee your experience with the store. They offer exchanges and refunds on products because A) they know that keeping you happy means you'll spend way more money there in the future to well off-set the loss of a $13 toy and B) they know that there is resources available to them to recoup the loss of the item your returned.

Also, if Hasbro designs a crappy toy, i.e. 2007 movie Megs, why should Walmart assume any responsibilty for the figure when all they are doing is stocking a product that they know consumers want to buy? Its not Walmarts fault that the figure stunk. Why should I hold them accountable for a figure that does exactly what it was designed to but after I bought it, I didn't like it and was struck with a little buyers remorse? This is why manufactures of the products have their own customer service for you to go through.

You're both right and wrong, here.
Right: The companies (let's not put all of the blame on Hasbro here.) do put out product they know isn't up to snuff. FansProject's current offerings of Munitioner/Explorer, Thundershred and Protector various QC and design problems. Breakage, bad joints, etc. All of that is on the heads of the companies.

Here's where you're wrong:
I worked for Wal-Mart, my girlfriend works for Target and both return policies are satisfaction guaranteed for the item and services. I know for sure that's the policy for both. It's not as simple as you made it sound. Not by a long shot. BBTS is another retailer that has satisfaction guaranteed.

Here's why: Even though they didn't produce the item, they're the middle man and bought it to resell to you, the consumer. If Hasbro and FansProject and TakaraTomy produce an item and have no way to get it to you directly (and they don't, you can't just call them up and say "Send me a case!"), they must go through a middle man. When that middle man obtains said product and flips it for a profit, it's on their shoulders as well. They knew this when they signed an agreement to conduct business with the company(s). I have no right to sell you an item and when it's flawed and faulty, look you square in the face and tell you "Piss off." Some of that burden would rest on my shoulders.

Both the production company and the retailers shoulder the blame. Look at the notice wall in any Wal-Mart. They show you product recalls. Where did that information come from? Consumer complaints to the manufacturer and the retailer, plus 3rd party sources such as parents groups. The retailer complies and lists the information for you to see. Most of the signs tell you "Return item to retailer if possible." The retailer will then work out a system to correct the problem. It shouldn't be at the cost of the consumer. Why should it? Shouldn't an item work if you've paid for it? Aren't you entitled to some form of compensation for your troubles? Even if it's not a refund, at least a replacement, or store credit.

BBTS even mentioned the Thundershred issues and said they're taking customer returns on the figure and they have no idea what FansProject is going to do about it. If I remember correctly, they hadn't even received a response from FP about the damages. That's not the customer's fault. BBTS sold it to us (the consumer), they shouldn't be selling a faulty item and they take the steps necessary to correct it.

There's nothing wrong with that policy, so long as they know what they're getting into. Obviously they do, so why does it bother anyone so much that they want to keep a customer happy? Like it was said, the customer will return for more business if they're treated right. No one should be stuck with an item that doesn't please them. While I know that that system can be abused, it doesn't mean it is always.

Sometimes the product sucks. All times, they'll help you find your satisfaction. It's as plain and simple as that. If that's a big deal, stop buying things. That's all you have left to you.

[joesaysso]

Here's where you're wrong:
I worked for Wal-Mart, my girlfriend works for Target and both return policies are satisfaction guaranteed for the item and services. I know for sure that's the policy for both. It's not as simple as you made it sound. Not by a long shot. BBTS is another retailer that has satisfaction guaranteed.

Perhaps its just semantics that you and I, as well as others are looking at from a different perspective. Stores like Walmart and Target get their products from so many different sources that its nearly impossible to put a personal guarantee on each and every item. They know that in a gigantic store with so many items, some items inevitably will have issues. Its just the law of averages. They aren't guaranteeing items. They are guaranteeing your satisfaction with the store, not the item itself. They will do what is necessary to keep its customers happy because happy customers come back to the store.

Here's why: Even though they didn't produce the item, they're the middle man and bought it to resell to you, the consumer. If Hasbro and FansProject and TakaraTomy produce an item and have no way to get it to you directly (and they don't, you can't just call them up and say "Send me a case!"), they must go through a middle man. When that middle man obtains said product and flips it for a profit, it's on their shoulders as well. They knew this when they signed an agreement to conduct business with the company(s). I have no right to sell you an item and when it's flawed and faulty, look you square in the face and tell you "Piss off." Some of that burden would rest on my shoulders.

Again, like the other person I was talking to, you are making the mistake of straying out of the context. I refer you to the title of the thread: "didn't like it, so I returned it." We aren't talking about items that have issues. We are talking about items that work as advertised but you simply didn't like it. Stores cannot guarantee that you will like the item you buy. And stores shouldn't be held accountable because after the fact, you changed your mind about an item. Why is Walmart responsible because you bought a figure that doesn't quite fit in your display so now you don't want it or you just don't like the way it transforms or whatever reason that you simply don't want a toy? Why should target be responsible because you decided to buy the newest video game on an "impulse buy" and it turns out to not be that good or its not what you thought it was? I think thats a foolish attitude to have and its passing off responsibility for your actions onto someone else instead of assuming them yourself.

[Marcdachamp]

Yeah, I never do this, and never will. Does it suck paying full price for something that sucks? Of course. But I made the call to buy it. I'll suck it up and live with it. And if I hate it that much? eBay or Carbombya it is!

I used to do it when a toy broke shortly out of the box, but I think the last time that happened was G2 Fireflight, back in the day.

[Autobot032]

T:;DR (Too long, did read)

You're missing my point. Wal-Mart does guarantee the products. I know this because I was told so. I worked for them. I mean, what else do you want me to say to you to tell you that you're not getting the whole picture here?

The only reason they refuse opened videos and games is because of an anti-piracy system they have.

I'm not saying it's right, nor does it always make sense, but they do guarantee that you'll enjoy your trip to the store and the item itself. Satisfaction guaranteed, or your money back. That includes products and services.

I don't write the rules, I'm just telling you what I was told when I worked there. If you're not happy with the product, they think you'll go elsewhere. *shrugs*

I don't know what else to tell you.

[joesaysso]

You're missing my point. Wal-Mart does guarantee the products. I know this because I was told so. I worked for them. I mean, what else do you want me to say to you to tell you that you're not getting the whole picture here?

I don't want you to tell me anything else about the subject. You and I are looking at this guarantee from different points of the spectrum. I guess then if Walmart guarantees all of the products, it is well within my right to sue walmart then if one of my kids becomes hurt or worse from one of their products. Is that what you are telling me? If a piece of a hasbro toy comes off that isn't supposed to come off and some kid chokes on that piece, should walmart be sued for selling the item? Because I bet if you ask that question to Walmart, Walmart will say, "wait a minute, we didn't make the toy, its Hasbro's fault." And it doesn't stop at toys either. Because what you are telling me is that if anybody gets hurt by anything that was bought at Walmart, then its partly Walmart's fault for selling the item and they guaranteed it. And as such, Walmart could then be sued for selling a faulty product that ended up hurting somebody. Either you are drinking the kool-aid or you just aren't using common sense. I bet under the scenario of somebody getting hurt, Walmart would be thinking exactly the way I am.

I don't write the rules, I'm just telling you what I was told when I worked there. If you're not happy with the product, they think you'll go elsewhere. *shrugs*

Why, because the Transformers that can be bought at Target are some how different than the ones that can be bought at Walmart? Common sense says otherwise. What else is Walmart supposed to say under the circumstances? Fickle people buy items and then take them back for no other good reason than "they just didn't like it." Instead of claiming responsibility for their own actions, they would get upset at Walmart if Walmart didn't take the item back. By this goofy notion, I should just be able to walk down they toy aisle and open up every single figure that I feel like until I find the one that I'm confident that I will like. Then I could go pay for the one that I want while I leave the opened ones in a heap on the floor so Walmart can clean up my mess. Does this sound like the way it should work to you? Because anybody who justifies taking something back simply because they didn't like it is supporting a scenario just like that one. People need to wake up. For some reason, people think that they are entitled to a lot more than they actually are and nobody seems to want to assume responsibilty for themselves.

If anybody would like to debate this issue further, I have no problems with that. Send me a PM. I think at this point we have gone past that line and into territory where the OP said he didn't want this thread to go.

[dirk2243]

If a product is defective....absolutely. Why not.

I've returned a loose figure that couldn't hold his car mode for the life of it. Got the same guy and it was fine. If it wouldn't have been.....guess what. He would have went back too. I'm not paying cash for crap.

If I get it as a gift...and never opened and didn't like it.....absolutely going back.

The stores policy says "you" can return it if "your" not satisfied....then do so. I say if it's returned and missing pieces....you shouldn't be getting anywhere near full price for it. People who buy a product for just the gun and return the product should suck it up and turn to Craigslist or EBAY. Those people suck cause some poor parent who is only getting it for there kid is going to get it and more then likely be stuck with it or return it also and thus the cycle will keep going.

If you stop and honestly look at a toy in the package you "could" probably tell if your going to like it or not. "sometimes not" but more often than not...probably so. As long as the stores accept them, it's going to happen.