The Energon Pub

I've been a member of this "official" club since it began.

I've had many issues with it, mostly what us international members have to pay -vs- what we get for our membership.

Last year I had a problem with renewing my membership, their website couldn't process my credit card because they were having a problem with credit cards from Australia.

Fine, fair enough, they're still getting on their feet.

This year, I received no e-mail reminder about my membership, I happened to log in two days ago to see it was due to expire. So I went to renew it again.

Suprise suprise, it's still not accepting my credit card.

And it seems the only way to contact Master Collector is via their feedback form, something I used the other day and have yet to receive a response.

Yesterday I actually received my paper renewal notice in the mail, and today I logged in to discover my membership has since expired.

So the reminder arrives by paper a day before it expires. Wonderful.

And a problem with credit cards from a year ago has yet to be fixed.

I really do wonder if they should just drop the "international" part from their name because they seem to treat international members as second class members.

So as a member of Hasbro's TF club, can you tell me exactly what are the benefits of paying for such membership? I mean, all you get is news and get to see images of newly announced products first, right?

WhiteNoise wrote:So as a member of Hasbro's TF club, can you tell me exactly what are the benefits of paying for such membership? I mean, all you get is news and get to see images of newly announced products first, right?

And exclusive MTMTE style bios, probably what I envy most.

I've also had my fair shair of problems with the Club. I enjoy it, but it can be... taxing. Anyways, I noticed you said you were having trouble getting ahold of them. Did you try the 800 number? I know it sounds like a dumb question to ask you, as I know your not a dumbass or anything like that. The only place I've found that 800 number is once you log in Anyways, if you did try calling, sorry about your luck but if you haven't here's the number.

you can call 1-800-772-6673 M-F 9am-4:30 pm Central time.

My question to you is did they eventually accept your credit card last year or did you use a different method of payment?

I'm not calling. You know, international rates and all.

Soon after I posted this thread though I received a response from Angie. Not sure if she got mine or not though because my email program is being iffy with Vista.

Last year I ended up sending about 5 different emails with my credit card details broken up in them. Probably have to do the same this year as i've changed banks and gotten a new card.

ahhhh the joys of my hobby.

I agree, I live in Canada and I've always had a problem with how the club handles it's NON-US members. I find the cost vs. the payment is simply insane. 69 dollars US for 12 magazines, which are nothing more than a glorified newspaper with every other one including a small magazine with almost nothing in it.

The only real benefit you get is a discount on Botcon, and only then, if you can afford to make the trip. I was a member the very first year and dropped it for the second. This was the third year of the club and I decided to join so I could get the 2 exclusives Airrazor and Astrotrain as well as get my discount on Botcon as I will be attending this year.

Next year, they will have to do something incredible to keep me, and I somehow doubt they will. The Club store is no cheaper than retail, especially after you factor in their outrageous shipping costs to Canada so that's no reason to stay.

Maybe if we got a monthly comic or something to go with it, but we don't, we get a 6 page or 8 page story in the magazine 6 times a year, again, not worth the cost. Maybe they will get it through their heads that to keep international members they need to do more than give all the benefits to those in the USA.

I'm curious, a 1-800 number is toll free, is there extra charges for international calls or something? I know there are extra charges for normal phone calls to/from other countries but I've never heard about them for toll free numbers.

zorian wrote:I'm curious, a 1-800 number is toll free, is there extra charges for international calls or something? I know there are extra charges for normal phone calls to/from other countries but I've never heard about them for toll free numbers.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are. One gets charged for telephoning free numbers from one's mobile telephone.

Well Angie being the delightful woman that she is, found my incomplete order on the system (the system accepts the order but won't process it so it sits in storage) and was able to process it from there.

So all fixed up.

And I will say that is one redeeming factor about Master Collector, if you do have a problem they're quick to respond to it and fix it.

zorian wrote:I'm curious, a 1-800 number is toll free, is there extra charges for international calls or something? I know there are extra charges for normal phone calls to/from other countries but I've never heard about them for toll free numbers.

1-800 numbers in the US or Canada only work for the US and Canada for the most part.

Ok, I've never placed an out of country call. My international communications are through the internet or mail.

I'm glad your problem was corrected, but this further proves to me that I made the right decision all along.

I just can't fathom spending that kind of dough on a cheap ass magazine and repaints of figures I already own.

PASS.

Good thing you got that fixed.