The Energon Pub

I recently ordered something from Toys n Joys. Something I recommend AGAINST anyone doing. I had ordered a Binaltech Wheeljack. They said it was in stock. They took the money and then emailed me with "backordered". At that point, it was no longer listed on their site. That's just not right. I got a refund, not a full refund mind you. I just think it's bad business to do things like that. Needless to say, I would never shop there or recommend the place to anyone. Just a fair warning as one of my other friends ordered a Masterpiece Prime with trailer and it was reboxed, in damaged condition, and sold to him as "new" shipped from Japan. He took a bunch of pictures which I will post soon. I just hate to see people (including myself) get ripped off my bad businesses. It takes all the fun out of collecting.

Luckily, I have found three other online stores that have been awesome. Anyone else have bad experiences with online purchases? I think it would be good to start a safe shopping thread.

I can link you to dozens of stories about poor service from ToysNJoys, including my own. I've heard that their physical store in Hawaii isn't bad, but for the most part, their online shop is less-than-adequate.

I actually had a good experience with them, but I have shyed away from going back to them because it took a long time to fill my order.

It was the only place I could find that had a Shadowhawk Cosmos-Type for sale...

How did they justify not giving you a full refund?

Toys n Joys does not get the 'Counterpunch <3' seal of approval.

They f'd me in the a on an order once, its just been so long ago I don't remember the details.

I've read numerous complaints about Toys n Joys. It seems that you never get much of either.

I used Paypal to get the money in to secure my order. Of course it was not in stock. Paypal takes a small percentage as a service fee. But here is my problem (not with Paypal).

As I ordered, Toys n Joys took the money and then sent a "backordered" email. MOST all companies take payment AFTER the item is in stock and shipped. It's like Toys n Joys said, "cool, free money."

After giving the backorder a bit more time, I finally requested a refund.

So, I was issued a refund through Paypal, but guess what? With the Paypal service fee, I did not get all my money back. Ok, still with me?

So I talk to Alex Le, the "owner". I told him about it and he said he would send the balance as a check immediately. No check ever arrived and they no longer respond to emails. So, the biggest problem is this, it's the ethical issue of good business. If you are the owner and you tell someone you are going to send them the remainder of the refund, you best bloody well do it! That would've been any last chance of making me a future customer.

Had the initial payment not been cashed by Toys n Joys in the first place, I could've just canceled the transaction. The fact that Toys n Joys takes the payment as soon as an order is placed, whether it has it in stock or not is bad. Payment for services not rendered. I sent an email again and no response. When I fly to Hawaii next time, I will make it a point to tell them what I think about them in person. At least they can't hide away like in email that way.

And the story about my friend's "new" used Masterpiece Optimus Prime? That is a another mess of a story for another time. And I will provide pictures.

I nver shop online anyhow, but seeing stuff like this, I know why.
But, anyone have good sites?

How can they justify not refunding you the full amount? I'd take this up with paypal and file a dispute that way. Or through your credit card if you paid that way via Paypal.

When someone refunds you money they can refund the full amount and not be charged any fees by Paypal. Sounds bogus to me.

I'd go through Paypal now since they don't appear to be responding to you anymore.

And thanks for the heads up on this bad store.

B

Ok, here's what my friend had to endure with Toys N Joys. His girlfriend decided to surprise him and buy him a Masterpiece Prime with Trailer for his birthday. (Seriously, what a great girlfriend to buy her man a Masterpiece Prime... with Trailer!)

Things turned for the worse as he opened the box. I had ordered my Binaltech Wheeljack and told him I ordered it from Toys N Joys. That's when I heard this tale. Here are the sequence of events that unfolded with him:

"INITIAL ISSUE
* The outside of the box itself is worn down; the corners of the box have smashed indentations with some tears.
* There are also punctured tears that are actual little holes throughout the bottom of the box.
* The openings of each side of the box were sloppily re-taped TWICE on each side.
* The items themselves have a consistency of dust, scuffs, scratches & metal chipping through out the robot and his trailer attachment.
* The robot's P31 weapon is missing his detachable arm rest attachment.
*The inner insert for the trailer is scuffed up and bent with a couple of twist ties
holding in the robot itself are undone.

Per my girlfriend’s conversation with Toys n Joys worker Art Molina, he apologized and ADMITTED that it was probably a display item. This was never indicated in the description on their website or invoice.

There were several calls and emails done to settle this issue spanning from Aug.29 to Oct.25.

Credit memo sent by Art Molina (2nd manager of Toysnjoys):
9/24/07- this credit memo was apparently inaccurate and bogus. Shortly after Alex Le (main manager) took over and claimed to have no knowledge of this transaction.

BIGGEST ISSUE
I made a return transaction with their store on- 8/29/07.
It is documented in their store return policy clearly stating "When we receive the return parcel, we will credit your account or send a refund check for the charges paid to return the item".

We received an email from Alex on 9/27/07 stating that our refund had been applied back to our credit card in the amount of $399.15.

About 2 weeks later we actually received the refund for only $367.95 which is only the amount for the item. They still owed us $31.20 for returning the item to their store.
I made 2 attempts to address this issue threw email. I made my last attempt giving Alex several options to contact me, I never heard from him again."

(Below now are the pics of the product of this disgrace of a toy store tries to sell the public. For a price tag of $400, it better be new or the last one on Earth!)






So now, $30 in the hole and NO Masterpiece Prime to show for it, Toys N Joys can rot. What a way to make a nice gesture from a nice girlfriend turn into a big financial mess. I hope no one else has to experience this scam of a store like my friend, his girl, and myself endured. They should be shut down.

sue them false advertizing

Can someone send me a link to a good and serious online store, that still has the MP-04 Optimus Prime?

I did order at Toys N Joys on 31. December 2007 and they told me that they have many of the MP-04. Two weeks later there still was no shipping or tracking number. No invoice or anything. I wrote them several times the only thing they wrote was this:

Art Molina, 01/09/2008

Hey what is wrong with you. Why are you so impatient?!? You sent e-mail on the 5tyh, but I am not at my desk until today and you send e-mails on the 5th and today. If you want to be so pushy maybe I should just cancel your order and refund you. Is that what you want????

Art Molina, 01/17/2008

Item has sold out, but we do expect a few more from Japan and the shipping should be end of the week or early next week.

Whats wrong with this company? How can they react this way? How can they treat collectors, who really spend much money, like this? Can someone give me the e-mail of the manager or owner of Toys N Joys? I can't belive he tolerates Molinas way to communicate with customers.

Thx and greetings from Austria, Europe

4motion:
Verklag die Schweine!

Random_Prime, do the same, meaning sew the **** out of them, as a customer you have certain rights, this is what you two should do:

Send them an email/Fax in which you complain about there services, you still waiting on your order/refund.

Give them a dead line to deliver you the MP Prime/your refund, tell them if they don't do as wished you will take legal steps.

State that you will send them a copy of this message per post.

If they don't give you what you want go and sew them.

Good luck to you.

The manager, Alex Le, isn't much better than Molina. I bet they are one in the same the way they run that "business". Who wants to all fly down to Hawaii together and take a poop in their store? Maybe then they'll take notice. (Of course I'm kidding... or am I?)

Any way you look at it, they are a horrible store and they really need to be shut down. What we can do as consumers now though, is to spread the word and prevent other people from being victimized by them. ONLY buy from known reliable dealers. Ask around. I'm sure this forum has lots of good online experiences as well! Keep the faith. Autobots, roll out!