And their site says they are off until the 6th...Quote:
Originally Posted by hYpNoS
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And their site says they are off until the 6th...Quote:
Originally Posted by hYpNoS
LG Convobat has arrived, thanks PC
Anyone planning on posting a review? I'd like to see comparisons with the original please. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by CHILENO20
There's a review here (Not sure if that comparison is with the original or not at 11.30):Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5mJDp3ZmE
I'm a supporter of PC and their business model. I've spent a lot of money with them, but in the interest of fairness, I'll offer some (hopefully) balanced opinions. This is not meant to be critique/rant, but just my own experience/opinion. I will continue to shop with them in the future.
The good:
- hands down best prices (shipped in Oz) on the vast majority of 3P offerings and Takara/TTMall/EHobby releases. Exceptions are Badcube (seems to be on-par pricing with other vendors) and the on again/off again situation with Maketoys.
- great loyalty/points program, including recognition of high-spending repeat customer base (VIP program)
- the addition of an express service/option at checkout, and some recent clarification over the priority of orders (express, then VIP, then general orders)
The "not-so-good":
- Standard Hasbro releases are available after local retail release, and the price is better than RRP, but often equal to retail sale prices. The only advantage is avoiding the need to go hunting at retail. This confounds me a bit, because I was under the impression that Hasbro was aware of PC's volume, and was going to be working directly with them moving forward. Instead it seems that Hasbro has brought PC "into line" and not in a good way. Edit: this isn't entirely accurate, as PC got (for example) the Titan class Fort Max in fairly quickly and at a great price, but the leaders/voyagers/deluxes have really been slow, and priced on-par with retail "sales"
- Decision to stop carrying Hasbro legends-scale TF figures. Purely a business decision, but a bit disappointing.
- Communication - this is getting better. It's not "good" yet but it's moving in that direction with the email tracking system, and the decision to shut-down FB messenger and focus on a single communication stream.
- Timing: this bothers a lot of people, and I understand it. If we want continued best pricing, things are going to come in slowly. However I think we all agree that a lot of anxienty/ranting/messaging could be alleviated with more regular updates along the lines of ("shipment of X due next week, will be fulfilling 50% of orders, email with any specific concerns"). I would actually prefer a single webpage (maybe only available if you're logged in to your account) that shows a list of all products with a note next to each which shows a quick one-line update for what's going on.
- Related to good point #1 - the inconsistency of offerings with Maketoys and now the decision to drop MMC. There are of course other vendors available, but this takes away from the benefits of the loyalty program (IMHO). In other words - I would prefer a single source, especially when that source offers consistent best-pricing.
Edit:- StarTrack are complete and total B@ST@RDS, and while that's not PC's fault... they are in-bed with them (so to speak). I am fortunate to have the luxury of having stuff delivered at work, but the few times I've had StarTrack deliveries sent to home, they absolutely (without fail, without doubt) just stuck a card in the box without even trying to deliver the parcel. Their drivers are unreliable and driven by quotas, and this affects customers because of re-delivery fees, etc.
Although the lists above would suggest otherwise, the good points far outweigh thebadnot-so-good points (for me) and thus PC will continue to keep my business. I look forward to seeing them improve/streamline their business while continuing to offer best prices.
Best comment this thread has seen in a long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by OptimusNerd
Great comment OptimusNerd, I agree with all the points, good and bad.
There's an "express" option?!? Never saw it, but will pay more attention next time.
If i remember right, they deal with US Hasbro, maybe ASIA Hasbro, not AUS Hasbro.... so when they get their order in, it is oated from the US or wherever. This follows into why they probably skipped a Legends size Wave, as the dates of arrival, or shipping cost from overseas wasn't worth it.Quote:
Originally Posted by OptimusNerd
I have had no problem with startrack thus far. Must be a city thing maybe ?
I'm the same, moving to star track has been great for me. If I'm not home it just goes to the post office around the corner. Where as road runner and the others meant an unenjoyable trip to the airport.Quote:
Originally Posted by nsm034
Got Inferno today, packed awesome and arrived mint. Thanks PC
Maybe; StarTrack is a pain for me as if they miss me (they are super unpredictable so even days where I've stayed home except for like 10-15 mins they always come then) the depot is 20 mins away and has rubbish opening times (8-4, which rules put a pickup after/before uni and not open weeknds)...Quote:
Originally Posted by nsm034
But this seems to be a problem with the entire industry so eh
Finally got hasbro TR Blaster today, and MP Skywarp on Friday.
Wonder how much of 2017 will pass before i get my MP Ramjet.
Email them and ask
That might prove useful if their automated response of being closed due to holidays was turned offQuote:
Originally Posted by Sinnertwin
Got my MP Skywarp with coin today. Hope Inferno won't be far away as we are going overseas in about two weeks time already :eek:
for anyone else waiting, latest update I've gotten for my MP Thrust order is mid January
Got my Inferno today AOK.
I am very surprised by the wildly different experiences people are having with PC. Personally I have had great service from them, all items arrived quite quickly (for PC) which I am fine with as the price is so low. One box arrived damaged and I contacted them and was quickly replied to and given a discount voucher for my next purchase. Another box arrived with some small damage and again I contacted them and a quick reply was sent and I was guaranteed mint boxes on the next few purchases.
This has just been my experience and I completely understand why others are so unhappy with their (lack of) service. I will continue to use them unless things start to go down hill beyond reasonable expectations.
^I didn't know they gave discounts for damaged boxes. Thought it stated in their policy they don't guarantee misb? Handy to know
Still waiting for MP Inferno. Anyone else waiting?
Yerp, still waiting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smint
Yep. I'm not stressing though
That was at the very beginning and the box was quite damaged beyond the normal scuff marks and dents. One whole corner was crunched in, so much so that i had to check the figure wasn't also damaged.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZoonMaster5000
If you're a MISB collector then I don't think PC is the way you want to go. I've received many mint boxes from them (and quite a few non-mint), but there's never any guarantee, so I wouldn't count on it, and more importantly I wouldn't get agro if you do get a dented box.Quote:
Originally Posted by spiderken17
What they have done in the past is advertise on FB (for example): Hey there are 3 MP-27 boxes in our shipment that are dented. Does anyone with an existing order mind having one of these? We'll give you XX energon points as compensation.
Totally at their discretion, but I'm usually happy to put my hand up as I don't care about boxes.
I agree, i am not a MISB collector so it doesn't usually bother me if the box has a few marks, the two i received were beyond the usual damage that is why i contacted them. They were very good about it.
Waiting on MP Inferno and Primal. Heard nothingQuote:
Originally Posted by Bumbleb33
Still waiting on mine along with skywarp, ft lupus, Mas-01 Op, lg soundwave and condor, platinum unicron and dx9's hanzo. If your reading this pc please send me something! I'm having withdrawals:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Smint
Me too, also waiting for skywarp, soundwave, lg35 and TW YELLOW constructors' arms and legs.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Smint
While I don't normally get dented boxes from PC, I have in the past from other Australian users who post via Star Track. If this IS a problem for you, there is an Express Service and you can attach a note to your order requesting extra packaging. I suspect that Star Track workers are rushed and underpaid, so the local ones for my suburb cause hassles for ALL retailers who use them.
On boxed goods (Voyager, Leader, etc) at retail I often see dents in boxes (especially Titans Returns and Combiner Wars stock) and I doubt that there's intentional rough-handling by retail employees. If I see an undented box then I'll always take the pristine one every single time..... but if I want my toy now, I'll sometimes but a dinty. Especially if I'm planning on buying a second one for MISB. But as someone who is OCD (not the joking around kind of OCD, but the clinically diagnosed ) I can totally understand the frustration it will cause. I just think it's probably wider than just PC, who I continue to us for their pricing and good track record on my preorders. Your mileage may vary
i ordered the star wars black series k-mart Jyn Erso with scenery stand while it was on-sale and in stock around x-mas and it got here in a few days, well-packed, on NYE i think.
My Star Wars S.H. Figuarts K-2S0 just arrived today, I think at about the same time they are showing up overseas, well-packed again.
I am currently waiting on MP-11SW and MP-33. I have not asked about them yet, i may wait a week or so.
I haven't had any big problems so far. The biggest thing has been the wait for stuff that comes out locally and then goes on sale. In my case it was Hasbro Titans Return Galvatron and I think the first case of Hasbro Black Series Rogue one figures. I am still waiting on the next case but they have not shown up here yet, only in America and Asia so far.
What I think they really need to do, for a start, is something like a weekly newsletter e-mail update. This can go out to everyone and list any and all things like delays or shipment updates. When you browse sites like tfw2005, every week there are updates from shops like tfsource, robot kingdom etc. This might help alleviate concerns and also potentially the number of emails and enquiries from people asking 'when is xyz coming out'.
I really hope they're going to improve their VIP system this year. They used to respond very quickly to invoice requests, yet this is becoming a real issue as what's the point of a 10% off perk if I can't use it on in demand items that aren't in high supply because I'm waiting on an invoice to be issued (often never hearing back after sending multiple requests). I don't think it's fair for me to have to continually request these or to the staff that have to eventually wade through multiple requests or to other customers who have their queries delayed because staff are tied up.
I'm very grateful for the VIP program, but the number of VIP's has surpassed thirty from memory and I'd like to think that I'm not the only one that is affected and annoyed by these ever increasing response times.
I asked this earlier (or perhaps it was in the other non-feedback forum) but have you ever actually missed out on an item that you requested an invoice for within the first, say... 2 days of release?Quote:
Originally Posted by laproblematique
If you have that's bad... but you've requested a (hot) item a week after release, well - that's unfortunate, but probably not entirely unreasonable.
Yes, 4 requests yesterday were sent periodically for the Rogue One Smuggler's Bounty which was listed in the morning and sold out around midnight.Quote:
Originally Posted by OptimusNerd
Hope they put one aside for you. From your experience, have you been able to get an item which was listed as available when you email them but the email reply comes back after its listed as sold out on the site?Quote:
Originally Posted by laproblematique
Yeah that seems really suspect and unusual to me. I don't buy anything other than bots, but in my experience even if I don't hear from them immediately, I do get an invoice for the product even if it goes "sold out" on the website.Quote:
Originally Posted by laproblematique
My question always was: where does a VIP order put me in the queue?
They seem to have addressed that question recently by saying (my interpretation, they haven't written this) that order priority is: express-paying orders, then VIP orders, then general purchases in the order they were received.
From here:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...pitdrink-1.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by OptimusNerd
Holy crap-in-a-hat that's expensive! :eek:
Convobat's RRP is 5000JPY (approx. AU$60), making PC's price nearly 67% above RRP! :eek:
Compare this with say PC's price for MP Thrust vs MP Thrust's RRP. Thrust's RRP is MP Thrust 15984JPY (approx. AU$190) and PC's price was $195. While this is certainly an expensive price for an MP Seeker I think that PC's price was really good considering that it was pretty close to RRP (which PC doesn't set of course). Only $5 dearer than what you'd pay if you bought it directly from the source in Japan, but PC gives free shipping whereas shipping from Japan to Australia would definitely cost more than $5, so PC's price ultimately worked out cheaper. And being 5c under $100 means that the toy isn't eligible for free shipping, so you're gonna have to fork out the cost of shipping on top of the toy, which would bring it well over $100.
You all know that I'm either usually on the side of defending PC, and one of their strengths is their competitive prices... but I find charging $99.95 for a toy that normally costs $60 to be somewhat indefensible. :( Given the number of ongoing complaints that PC receives, I wouldn't be so keen to give up on their #1 competitive advantage - their prices. Cos I can only imagine two reasons why this price is so ridiculous:
1/ PC are being ripped off by their supplier, in which case they need to find a better supplier as they have been able to do in the past with toys like the MP Coneheads.
2/ PC are being greedy and jacking the price up themselves to exploit fans. I don't need to explain why this is bad corporate practice. Fans aren't stupid.
So either the supplier is trying to scalp collectors here or PC are. I hope it's the former, and I really hope that PC considers dumping them as a supplier for future stock.
And hlj is charging 7,800yen, add shipping...then convert our rubbish dollar...if I didn't get him in one of my "massive boxes of toys I shouldn't get every 2 months" I'd be reeling.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
E hobby items are always going to be over priced, considering legends transformers are waaay more than their hasbro counter parts and then e-hobby comes along and charges more for essentially the same but with a spiffy paint job and accessories that weren't theirs, and from what I can tell from previous e-hobby items they basically ask for their straight item price from retailers and retailers have to foot that bill as well as shipping, then go crazy and try to make a profit somehow.
Only way to get a cheap e-hobby is mandarake or having a damn good proxy, if you go PC its because you didn't know better or just want to buy Australian :D
I have only missed out once and that was reissue Hasbro Soundwave. I believe I missed out as they overlooked my invoice request. I requested an invoice immediately too. From my experience, PC tend to hold enough stock to cover potential VIP requests for at least 2 days after the item becomes available. So even if it sells out on the site a vip should still be able to order if done so within 48 hours of listing.Quote:
Originally Posted by OptimusNerd
Continued here (as I go off on a tangent that's no longer related to PC :p)Quote:
Originally Posted by hYpNoS
The MP Coneheads are overpriced too, they really are. But at least PC were able to give good prices (only $5 above RRP) for those figures which actually worked out cheaper than getting them directly from Japan with shipping. PC have demonstrated that they are able to sell limited exclusive Japanese figures at good prices. eHobby Convobat is really overpriced too (see rantage in link above), but these hiked up prices come from the original sources like eHobby or TakaraTOMY-Mall, so it's not the retailer's fault. I'm just talking about the mark-up on top of the toy's RRP, and Convobat's mark up seems exorbitantly higher than what we've seen on the likes of the MP Coneheads.
I can't imagine why, because if I were to order either the MP Coneheads or Convobat directly from Japan the cost would be effectively the same, i.e. RRP + shipping. If I were to get MP Dirge directly from Japan, it'd cost me 15984JPY plus shipping. If I were to get eHobby Convobat from Japan, it'd cost me 5000JPY plus shipping. I'm not sure where this extra $40 charge is coming from, and that's a fair amount of money to be unaccounted for in the pricing. Even though I'm able to get any of these toys directly from Japan, I've chosen to go with PC because they actually work out cheaper than if I go direct because their price is almost the same plus free postage. Cos as overpriced as the MP Coneheads are, I can tell you that I would absolutely have skipped PC and bought these toys directly from TakaraTOMY-Mall if PC's prices weren't so competitive. In fact, I nearly did pre-order MP Dirge from TakaraTOMY-Mall because PC's page for MP Dirge kept on showing up as "SOLD OUT." I had to go and cancel my TakaraTOMY-Mall pre-order after I was finally able to pre-order one from PC!
My loyalty with PC will only go so far. As long as their prices are competitive then I'm more than happy to shop with them and support an Aussie business. But if not then I'm also equally willing to go with another source.