Transformers Venting thread!

[GoktimusPrime]

Gawd I am such a NOOB at online shopping!!! I went and preordered MP Magnus about a month ago... then earlier this evening I went and checked on my order and noticed that it wasn't listed on my orders thing. I then noticed that it was among the orders that I'd cancelled! A lot of panicking later, I went and preordered it again!

So... hoping that I'll only end up w/ at least one Ultra Magnus toy. Gah... unchartered territory... and this is a toy that will probably end up seeing a local release here too.

hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping

[kup]

Gawd I am such a NOOB at online shopping!!! I went and preordered MP Magnus about a month ago... then earlier this evening I went and checked on my order and noticed that it wasn't listed on my orders thing. I then noticed that it was among the orders that I'd cancelled! A lot of panicking later, I went and preordered it again!

So... hoping that I'll only end up w/ at least one Ultra Magnus toy. Gah... unchartered territory... and this is a toy that will probably end up seeing a local release here too.

hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping

I don't understand your problem with online shopping. To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.

[Omega Metro]

I don't understand your problem with online shopping. To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.

So true. My collection would only be 10% of what I currently have if it wasn't for online shopping.

[Golden Phoenix]

So true. My collection would only be 10% of what I currently have if it wasn't for online shopping.

Second. And my wallet would be.....well pretty much the same size as I would have spent my money on other things, probably Lego.

[Mythirax]

I don't understand your problem with online shopping. To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.

So true. My collection would only be 10% of what I currently have if it wasn't for online shopping.

Second. And my wallet would be.....well pretty much the same size as I would have spent my money on other things, probably Lego.

Haha, this, this and this!

[GoktimusPrime]

What I dislike about online shopping:

* It feels anti-social. I much prefer dealing with people than machines as my first point of contact. It's one reason why I prefer TakaraTOMY's customer service over Hasbro's... when I call Hasbro, I usually get their answering machine where I leave a message and typically never get a call back. When I call TakaraTOMY's call centre, my call is always answered by an operator and my issue is promptly dealt with. Real life shopping is a social experience, and online shopping, to me, removes that social element of direct interpersonal contact.

* I'm not a patient person. When I purchase a toy, I want to play with it straight away. Sometimes I carry my Toy Emancipation Kit(TM) with me if I'm anticipating to make a purchase at a store (if not, I open the toy as soon as I get home). The idea of purchasing a toy, and then having to freakin' wait for the toy to get delivered drives me bonkers. Whenever I order a toy from Amazon I find myself constantly checking the shipping status wondering, "Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet?!?"

* I can inspect the condition of the toy and its packaging first hand when purchasing from an actual store. I also find it a lot easier and faster to do an exchange/refund with a faulty toy that's store bought, whereas I'm more reluctant if it's online bought. For example, my AoE Slug had a dodgy elbow, so within 24 hours I'd brought it back to the store where I bought it from and exchanged it for another. My online bought Generations Springer doesn't lock in flush in car mode -- a relatively minor flaw, but if it were store-bought I'd most likely exchange it. But being online bought, I'm ceebs to jump through the hoops to send the toy back and then wait again for a replacement to be sent! (waiting for the toy the first time was excruciating enough! )

* And yeah, I'll admit it, it's habitual. I've been collecting Transformers since 1984, and almost all of my collection is store-bought.

To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.

The deteriorating retail options here is driving me bonkers, and even forcing die-hard store shoppers like me to ever increase my online shopping. Which I just hate. Online shopping for me is something I do out of "necessity" rather than choice (i.e. when the toy is unavailable locally). I do appreciate your point -- and it's true that online shopping gives us an alternative option when local retail fails us... but it's not an option that I prefer, and only one that I take if I feel that I "have" to. If Hasbro Australia were able to release more stuff here, I'd most gladly buy it all locally.

[Mythirax]

What I dislike about online shopping:

* It feels anti-social.

* I'm not a patient person.

* I can inspect the condition of the toy and its packaging first hand when purchasing from an actual store.

Your first point, I'm not to phased myself. As I'm always pushed to go to a self serve checkout now which makes going out to stores anti-social in general. Which I absolutely hate, but hey, it's faster than the manned checkouts half the time. Except for when I'm grocery shopping. I can't stand putting all my food through myself

Your're second point I agree. I hate the waiting period. Especially when something becomes overdue and you feel like somethings gone wrong. But I've been buying online now on a regular basis for a good 10~ years.

And your third point is a major one. I always like to see what I'm buying. But I've found with online products so far, if something has been bad or a figure is a dud. I've never had an issue getting my money back hassle free.

All in all I do love online shopping though. Especially for things for my sister. She collects Harry Potter related things at the moment. And so far I've yet to find anywhere in Australia that stocks anything she's looking for. So online shopping has been a big savior in this case.

[BigTransformerTrev]

In regards to the current online shopping discussion, I had made the decision before the AoE toys came out that I would buy them all locally, since I usually by 80 to 90% of my toys online. Thought that for once we would pretty much get all the toys here and it would save me the usual few hundred I end up paying simply for shipping costs each year.


Then, in the review I wrote for AoE Leader Class Grimlock I read the following:

I've decided on a Takara Black Knight Leader Grimlock.

Having seen the preview pics, I'm inclined to do the same.

I went and looked up the figure online - wow - I LOVE his colour scheme compared to the Grimmy I bought! Starting to think I should have stuck with my usual habit of checking out places like BBTS each week, as I do think it is a superior toy. Perhaps I should of stuck with my online shopping habit after all

Then maybe one day I will find this figure cheaply (though this is unlikely) and purchase it on top of the Hasbro one I already have

[Sinnertwin]

Gawd I am such a NOOB at online shopping!!! I went and preordered MP Magnus about a month ago... then earlier this evening I went and checked on my order and noticed that it wasn't listed on my orders thing. I then noticed that it was among the orders that I'd cancelled! A lot of panicking later, I went and preordered it again!

So... hoping that I'll only end up w/ at least one Ultra Magnus toy. Gah... unchartered territory... and this is a toy that will probably end up seeing a local release here too.

hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping

I wasn't paying too much attention to it at the time & i've accidentally cancelled an order myself. You shouldn't let it deter you too much from using online sources

[Megatran]

On-line shopping has it's definite advantages as pointed out in several of the previous posts.

Buying on-line allows for discreet purchases. Not many of us these days walk into an adult toy shop to buy adult toys.