The Energon Pub

News Credits: 2 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:08 pm

Hey all, I just saw a couple of items on TFsource and I wanted to know your feedback from all of you who have oredered from there with your personal experiences. Thanks you all and I hope to read plenty asap.

News Credits: 5749 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:16 pm

They have a lot of patrons on here including myself. I've only ordered from them once, but I do have two pending pre-orders with them. Personally I don't find their site as user friendly as BBTS and only resort to ordering from them if they are the only source for an item or if BBTS has already sold out of something I'm after. The order I received form them arrived quickly and was well packed. I can't speak of their customer service since I've never had to deal with them, but others report that they are good to deal with. If I read their policies correctly you can't just go in a cancel a pre-order the way you can with BBTS. It seems they require you to contact them personally and special request the cancellation and even then it's at their discretion. That's about all I've got, hope it helps.

News Credits: 36 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:28 pm

Used them two or three times now, both for pre-orders and in stock stuff. Bomb proof packing, quick shipping time to Europe and customs friendly too.

No complaints here and they'll be getting more of my business.

News Credits: 8 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:43 pm

The only time I ordered from them was when they had the Fansproject Superion upgrade kit in the "Snowman" colors. Unfortunetly for me that was right around the time peoples accounts were getting hacked and some fraudelent chrages got made..Nothing major and Curt and the gang handled it very well. I've got some stuff preordered through them but IMO I prefer BBTS..Mostly because of the Pile of loot feature which if you order enough saves you a heap of cash for shipping...

Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:05 pm

I have ordered from TFSource.com over the last couple of years. Curt has been responsive to emails (from my experience).

The con already mentioned is there is no cancellation on preorder, sort of "by exception" at TFSource.com discretion. Never had the need to cancel a preorder here. No POL (Pile of Loot) feature like bbts.com.

The pros are:
- items are well packed.
- relatively fast shipping by priority mail.
- small discount for ordering two of the same items.

Never had a problem with an order.

News Credits: 13 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 7:33 pm

ive only ordered from them twice, but im happy with what i got and how it came. they really go out of thier way to make sure what you order is shipped in mint condition

News Credits: 3 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 7:38 pm

I have been using them for over a year. I got the Animated Sons of Cybertron set MIB. I use them for pre-orders because once they charge your card, the item gets here in about 2 days.

News Credits: 2 · Fri Aug 13, 2010 7:48 pm

all pros, no cons

well, their interface could be a little better, one small con.

other than that, perfect.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:07 am

Excellent feed back all, thanks a lot! I think I will be placing that order with them. My last question I just thought of to anyone is where are the based? Here in the states or overseas? Thanks again all

News Credits: 5749 · Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:26 am

Nemesis Destron wrote:Excellent feed back all, thanks a lot! I think I will be placing that order with them. My last question I just thought of to anyone is where are the based? Here in the states or overseas? Thanks again all

They're here in the states.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:02 am

Perfect, thanks El Duque and to everyone again with your two cents!!

Sat Aug 14, 2010 7:20 pm

Well, while you can't cancel a preorder, you can pay for it in full up front when you order it, partial pay for it up front, or pay for it all when it is in stock. I'm cashier and this is a huge deal for me. I got so many overdraft fees with BBTS because of unexpected events that it made me seriously consider shopping else where (BBTS only pays when they get the item in the Warehouse). Also, I think their prices are more competitive in many case over BBTS. Hell, Robotkingdom is based in Hong Kong and with shipping they're still cheaper than a BBTS toy before shipping, but returns are a bitch.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:17 am

I just received my first order from TFsource and I must say, I agree with everyone else who has had positive experiences with the company. Quick delivery, excellent packaging(even better than HLJ's packaging style), and great pricing for shipping.

Wed Aug 18, 2010 11:07 am

No complaints! I use them for all my special TF orders, mainly because I've found their shipping prices on single items/small orders to be better than BBTS, and their shipping speed is excellent. I've gotten a package a day and a half later after ordering, without any expedited shipping. Also, even though their returns policies look draconian, I've been able to return something with no problem. I'm planning on going with them for my Takara Animated Cybertron Mode Ratchet.

EDIT: Oh, and they're based in MN, so nicely central in the US.

News Credits: 10 · Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:08 pm

Pro: Fair price, excellent packaging, excellent customer service. They sometimes get items faster than BBTS and have a few exclusives like the different colored Fansproject Superion upgrade.

Con: Have to pay first for pre-orders unlike the Pile of Loot system for BBTS (That's a big deciding factor for me). Interface at BBTS is better for checking on preorders, account history, etc...

Even so, you can't go wrong with TF Source if they have what you want.

News Credits: 11 · Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:40 am

To be honest, there aren't many flaws, but BBTS still has them beat for convenience and flexibility. Packaging however, TFSource all the way. BBTS's is excellent, but TFSource's is amazingly sturdy and well-protected with cellophane wrap and cardboard sleeves.

However I do have a problem with the way TFSource price gouges on popular items which are low in stock. I know they're a business in it for the profit, but all it does is put people off when you double the price of an item they've been saving up for for months.

Chupacabra Convoy wrote:Well, while you can't cancel a preorder, you can pay for it in full up front when you order it, partial pay for it up front, or pay for it all when it is in stock. I'm cashier and this is a huge deal for me. I got so many overdraft fees with BBTS because of unexpected events that it made me seriously consider shopping else where (BBTS only pays when they get the item in the Warehouse). Also, I think their prices are more competitive in many case over BBTS. Hell, Robotkingdom is based in Hong Kong and with shipping they're still cheaper than a BBTS toy before shipping, but returns are a bitch.

A tip, you can email BBTS to request the option to choose your payment method when the items arrive in stock. This lets you pay when you are ready, although there is a deadline (which can be extended if you email them with a good reason). It also allows you the option to use Paypal instead of a Credit Card for preorders, as well as the discretion to cancel the item if necessary, and avoids unexpected payments which could result in overdraft fees like you mentioned. I'm not sure if this is only available to long-standing customers only or to everyone, but you have to request it.

News Credits: 9 · Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:29 pm

great place to order from
they do a clear wrap on their items that add an extra level of protection
shipping is reasonable and items are well packed
have done 4 orders and will go back for more

only con, the wrap is sometimes done too tightly, leading to minute creases in packaging
not enough to get a reorder/refund but enough to be annoying
however for the good the wrap does, i would rather take the risk

News Credits: 1082 · Sat Aug 21, 2010 2:44 pm

Hmmm... weird that people have differing opinions on whether you pay up front with them or when the item is in-stock. I have always been charged up front for any item I pre-order with them.

I agree with, or I guess you can say, I had similar experiences to what many on here have had with them. They are a good online company, and you can expect to get what you pay for when it is in stock, and quite quickly (again, when in stock).

I also like that they do store exclusives, stocking stuffers-- which is where the snowman superion set came from, as well as, many of the WST justitoys dinobots repaints.

News Credits: 1235 · Sat Aug 21, 2010 2:59 pm

I just had a situation with the starscream coronation kit, just one email and they are sending replacement parts.

News Credits: 6 · Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:14 pm

I'll try and fix a couple things from what some have said.

The cancellation, yes it's not like BBTS where you can cancel it yourself and yeah you have to send them a message but the one time I wanted to make a cancellation on two items they gave me no problems they said "it's done". At first I didn't think they would cancel one of the items because it was a pre-order item and they had been holding it for over four months and just recently I canceled a Primus because my friend changed his mind on it again no problems so the no cancellations on pre-orders is wrong they'll take the pre-order off no problem. Curt said his main thing is with people canceling really big orders.

The pile of loot option that's a yes and no they don't have it as an option but they are working on it and should have it up soon. Really if saving on shipping is what your looking for all you have to do is purchase the item and say what order number you want it added to and they have no problem with that.

Paying up front on pre-orders A couple people have said this but there is more than the pay now option there is also a pay later option so no you do not have to pay up front for pre-orders, I have never ordered an item while it was instock through them and of course I've never paid up front for a pre-order. At least with TFSource say you make an order in April for two items one arrives in May and the other in August you don't have to pay for either of them until everything is in for that order and then your card is charged and it's delivered in two days and maybe one time has it arrived in three days.

Also, yes you can use PayPal on TFSource just like BBTS.