The Energon Pub

I finally went out today and saw for the first time the FOC combaticons. I was so shocked to find all five at the same time I bought them all without hesitation.
When I got em home and outta the box, I could not have been more disappointed. I mean the foc deluxe line is just god awful.
So disappointed was I with the combaticons that I put them all back into their boxes and glued them shut so that I could take them back.
The store didnt notice and my money was returned. I didnt keep any weapons or anything, and every thing is as it was when before I took them out of the box, so at first I didbt think twice about it.
When I got home though I started to think about moc collectors and how someone may feel ripped at getting an opened figure. Is what I did a bad thing?
LOL I know it sounds stuoid and it may be, but I cant shake the bad feeling.
The fan in me tried to talk myself into keeping them, but I just couldnt do it. Theyre just so awful in all forms I couldnt justify 80 plus dollars on them.
Has anyone else ever been that disappointed in a figure and if so, did you take it back? keep it?

Usually, if you have to ask if it's wrong, it is.

However, in this case, I would say no, it is not wrong. For one, there's a glut of the Combaticons around here, and for another, most MOSC collectors examine the packages very closely. No matter how well you glued them shut, they'll notice, and won't be taken in.

As well, stores take returns for, among other reasons, the very one you describe - dissatisfaction.

So nothing you did was wrong.

Yes, it's wrong. You lied to the store, you passed your problem on to someone else instead of taking responsibility for your own actions, and now some other poor kid or collector is going to buy your opened no-longer-NIB rejects. You should feel bad. You acted selfishly and immaturely. I'm glad you don't shop in the stores in my town.

The fact that there's a "glut" of these (and BTW, there's no glut in my area) is no excuse for this poor behavior, and shame on you, Valander, for suggesting that's an excuse and trying to rationalize selfish behavior.

This is why I look up video reviews of figures when I can, and when I can't I examine pictures and pre-prod artwork and prototype pics (and in the case of third parties, look up reviews of their previous products) before committing. I'm sure we've all had buyers remorse at some point, but I think the fair thing to do would have been offer them up on here, or on ebay, with the packaging optional and with a very clear statement that they'd been opened and transformed once.

If something is broken when you get it opened, or even very shortly after (assuming you didn't damage it through carelessness) then I see no problem returning to store for a refund (or store credit maybe, whatever their practise is) but people intentionally lying to make money and excuse their own bad decisions doesn't sit well with me.

Still, could have been worse, you could have returned a bee-hive.

GuyIncognito wrote:Yes, it's wrong. You lied to the store, you passed your problem on to someone else instead of taking responsibility for your own actions, and now some other poor kid or collector is going to buy your opened no-longer-NIB rejects. You should feel bad. You acted selfishly and immaturely. I'm glad you don't shop in the stores in my town.

The fact that there's a "glut" of these (and BTW, there's no glut in my area) is no excuse for this poor behavior, and shame on you, Valander, for suggesting that's an excuse and trying to rationalize selfish behavior.

god!
Granted I asked if anyone thought this was wrong but the reasons you gave are ridiculous.
I doubt any child will be concerned with, or care to take note of a previously opened box. I didnt break the damn things.
Honestly guy, you are so frequently a jack ass, how can you continue to post at all?
P.S. Ive placed your quote on the bottom of my pages to showcase your frequently rude and assinine comments, not to honor you. My plan is to collect about 15 of them so that fans may read your comments all at once! That ought to highlight the already obvious fact that you are more often than not a complete JACK ASS!
Have a nice one guy!

This is why I look up video reviews of figures when I can, and when I can't I examine pictures and pre-prod artwork and prototype pics (and in the case of third parties, look up reviews of their previous products) before committing. I'm sure we've all had buyers remorse at some point, but I think the fair thing to do would have been offer them up on here, or on ebay, with the packaging optional and with a very clear statement that they'd been opened and transformed once.

If something is broken when you get it opened, or even very shortly after (assuming you didn't damage it through carelessness) then I see no problem returning to store for a refund (or store credit maybe, whatever their practise is) but people intentionally lying to make money and excuse their own bad decisions doesn't sit well with me.

Still, could have been worse, you could have returned a bee-hive.

Yeah, I should have looked at a you tube vid on these guys. Truth is I havent seen alot of pics if them ant the few I have seen made them look much better.
I certainly didnt set out to, nor did I make any money out of this.
My only concern would be that if a MOC collector got them but I think val made a good point that that type of person would look closely at them and see.
I just cannot justify keeping something that hideous for that price.
Also, What is a bee hive?

I think as a consumer you have the right to return items you're not satisfied with, but should always be honest about why you are returning said items. If you walked up to the costumer service department and said,

I bought these and after opening them to be unsatisfactory. I've repackaged them with all their parts and paperwork, and would like a refund.

, and they agreed to accept the return I see no issues here. As long as all the parts and instructions are there most kids aren't going to care that they were previously opened. I think most MISB collectors are vigilant enough to notice if figures have been repacked. Basically I feel it comes down to honesty with which you present the return.

El Duque wrote:I think as a consumer you have the right to return items you're not satisfied with, but should always be honest about why you are returning said items. If you walked up to the costumer service department and said,

I bought these and after opening them to be unsatisfactory. I've repackaged them with all their parts and paperwork, and would like a refund.

, and they agreed to accept the return I see no issues here. As long as all the parts and instructions are there most kids aren't going to care that they were previously opened. I think most MISB collectors are vigilant enough to notice if figures have been repacked. Basically I feel it comes down to honesty with which you present the return.

Agreed. I mean, it wouldn't be right to force someone to keep what they spent good money on if they weren't satisfied with it, as long as it's still in mint condition.

El Duque wrote:I think as a consumer you have the right to return items you're not satisfied with, but should always be honest about why you are returning said items. If you walked up to the costumer service department and said,

I bought these and after opening them to be unsatisfactory. I've repackaged them with all their parts and paperwork, and would like a refund.

, and they agreed to accept the return I see no issues here. As long as all the parts and instructions are there most kids aren't going to care that they were previously opened. I think most MISB collectors are vigilant enough to notice if figures have been repacked. Basically I feel it comes down to honesty with which you present the return.

If the store has a policy against returning opened items, then it's not OK, regardless of how one justifies it. He agreed to their return policy (whether aware of it or not, believe it or not) as soon as he made his purchase, period.

Most stores wouldn't have a problem with it, as most will take back opened toys for a full refund as long as everything is there and they aren't damaged. If this store has a policy against it, then he should have shopped somewhere else. A lie is a lie and fraud is fraud, and that's exactly what this is, no matter how 'minor' or innocent it may appear.

He didn't mention the store having a policy against returning opened items, so for me, there's no problem with it. And...

GuyIncognito wrote:Yes, it's wrong. You lied to the store, you passed your problem on to someone else instead of taking responsibility for your own actions, and now some other poor kid or collector is going to buy your opened no-longer-NIB rejects. You should feel bad. You acted selfishly and immaturely. I'm glad you don't shop in the stores in my town.

The fact that there's a "glut" of these (and BTW, there's no glut in my area) is no excuse for this poor behavior, and shame on you, Valander, for suggesting that's an excuse and trying to rationalize selfish behavior.

... Good flippin' lord. You're kidding me. It's not like he repackaged another toy into the box. It's not like he kept parts. I'd say compared to how some people are, he's the soul of kindness and honesty. This is a ridiculous answer and makes little to no sense to me, either.

I've returned/exchanged a few items in the past in the US, where Return Policies are pretty lax compared to Europe. However, what Megs did in his case, is perfectly fine, even according to (stricter) European policies. As long as the items are complete, and if the packaging is in good enough condition for selling, or if a mechanical fault in the toy can be proven, you can return the item within a certain time, as long as you have the receipt. More strict and specific rules depend on the store itself, and should be quite clear even before purchase.

What's done is done, however I'm not gonna judge anyone without bad intent. Maybe it's a good idea to next time read up on the store's policies before purchasing to shake this bad feeling?

Whereas Guyincognito's response is a bit harsh, Megs, your reponse to it- slinging names and flat out discounting the answer he gave smacks of a guilty conscience to me. It sounds like you came here hoping people would ease your guilt, and when someone upbraided you for it- overreaction or not- you overreacted just as bad.

Whats done is done at this point, and the only person you have to square up with is yourself. But asking a public forum for opinion, one needs to be ready for a full range of reponses.

Just my 2c.

Megs for pres wrote:
Honestly guy, you are so frequently a jack ass, how can you continue to post at all?
P.S. Ive placed your quote on the bottom of my pages to showcase your frequently rude and assinine comments, not to honor you. My plan is to collect about 15 of them so that fans may read your comments all at once! That ought to highlight the already obvious fact that you are more often than not a complete JACK ASS!
Have a nice one guy!

You asked a question, I answered it; no need for name-calling or playground antics.

xyl360 wrote:

El Duque wrote:I think as a consumer you have the right to return items you're not satisfied with, but should always be honest about why you are returning said items. If you walked up to the costumer service department and said,

I bought these and after opening them to be unsatisfactory. I've repackaged them with all their parts and paperwork, and would like a refund.

, and they agreed to accept the return I see no issues here. As long as all the parts and instructions are there most kids aren't going to care that they were previously opened. I think most MISB collectors are vigilant enough to notice if figures have been repacked. Basically I feel it comes down to honesty with which you present the return.

If the store has a policy against returning opened items, then it's not OK, regardless of how one justifies it. He agreed to their return policy (whether aware of it or not, believe it or not) as soon as he made his purchase, period.

Most stores wouldn't have a problem with it, as most will take back opened toys for a full refund as long as everything is there and they aren't damaged. If this store has a policy against it, then he should have shopped somewhere else. A lie is a lie and fraud is fraud, and that's exactly what this is, no matter how 'minor' or innocent it may appear.

That's what I saying, if he was honest about the reason he was returning them and they agreed to accept them an issued a refund, no harm no foul. Now if the store had a policy against returning opened items, and he didn't disclose that they had been repackaged that would be wrong.

Dont lie..You're obviously a grown adult.This subject makes upset to say the least.

Take the hit.
They've been out long enough for sooo much commentary to hav been researched by you.
I only have Onslaught, was a gift, he's nowhere as horrible
as your description made him or his partners seem.
You didnt even try, maybe your brain couldnt absorb all they had to offer.
Next time you do this dont tell anyone, cause it makes you seem like a creep. You really spent the time glueing the packaging?
Sounds like you got too much time and disposible income.
A grown manchild
Man up. Take the hit.

Good lord, why is there so much rage in this topic? o_O;

RAcast wrote:Good lord, why is there so much rage in this topic? o_O;

It's enough to make a Mod who has just woken up want to lock it!

Oh wait ...