by robofreak » Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:40 pm
I'm coming into this late in the game, but after reading a few pages, i gave up reading the entire thread. I've been gone for a while, so forgive my ignorance on the issue.
So let me get this straight. FanProject created a black repaint/remold of the Protector set and then made it a TFSource exclusive correct? Okay, from there the preorders came and went and were then sold out with those who didn't get their order in scrambling to get their hands on it.
Now TFSource is saying that they actually had some leftover from a secret stash and then announced it on facebook that they were holding the product for a rainy day. Not only did they withold product, but they also marked it price up to about $200 above it normal price. This then caused a backlash from a large portion of the internet fandom in the form of this thread. TFSource has since deleted said posts about a secret stash from their facebook along with anything else that threw mud at their name.
Realizing they got caught with their pants down, they decided it was best to raffle the remaining Shadow Scythe sets for original retail at which point we don't even know if they did that.
Now I think I'm back up to pace with the current issue, but if I'm not, I'd love to be filled in. What bugs me here is the obvious price gouge from TFSource. I remember when City Commander first came out and then promptly sold out on BBTS. About 3 weeks after the fact, BBTS put more up for sale as they had finished a massive warehouse sort in which they found them. (If I remember right they ended up getting a ton of product that week which cause a backlog on the order) However, when they put them back up for sale, they were at normal retail even though City Commander was going for significantly more at that point.
Why did I bring up that situation? Because to me, that's honest business. To me it's dishonest to withold your own exclusive product and then sell it for more. I know it can be a honest mistake during a warehouse sort to misplace product. It happened all the time in my Dad's store, but at that point it should either be taken to ebay or put it up for sale at the store for either clearance pricing or retail.
I don't think this would have caused much of an issue had they been smarter about selling them. The could have very easily put them on ebay under ID names that no fan would have recognized and no one would have been any wiser. Instead, they publicly announce that they were intentionally holding back only to make a good profit off the fandom.
I think TFSource has learned a valuable lesson from this and will hopefully apply it to their business practices. I having never purchased from them cannot vouch for anything that they do. I will most likely one day give them a shot, but for right now, BBTS is able to supply all my TF needs.
I actually wish I had been here when Shadow Scythe was released. I don't own Henkei Wildrider or SG Rodimus, but I would have bought it for that day when I would buy it. If FP does end up making an Asian market exclusive then I'll probably pick it up.
Burn wrote:robofreak doesn't joke. He's all about the serious business of the internet.
ItIsHim wrote:My closet is filled to the brim with plastic children's toys. For myself