BEWARE: Anime Export

[primetime]

Was this prompted by you contacting PayPal or you bank?

I've heard the spam filter excuse before from various Japanese retailers over the years...

It was prompted by me - after I sent them numerous e-mails to:
1. To their customer service rep directly (no response)
2. To the store manager Boris (no response)
3. On their FB page sent a message
4. Sent also via their contact us message box on their website

I think either 3 or 4 would have triggered it - although yeah the excuse sounds really thin on paper, and imagine if you have paid A LOT of money on pre-orders - these jokers could just disappear at any time and you'd have little recourse.

[speros]

the reason your Fort max was retaped was a customs check something of that size they slice a small hole / cut tape and retape for a small inspection. you would be surprised they check even small envelopes.
I work in shipping and I know my stuff...

Also when it comes to fort max I know your pain of searching I bought an original fort max body about 3 years ago and spent 5months searching for all the parts to complete him. that little cockpit window was as difficult to find as an original Cerebros!!!

no offence but you would have been better off ordering it from a US website rather than Jap website.

[Gouki]

no offence but you would have been better off ordering it from a US website rather than Jap website.

What makes you say that? I find shipping items from Japan to be faster, cheaper and more reliable than shipping from America.

[speros]

I've had alot better dealings with the USA sites than the Jap ones I've waited up to 6weeks from japan and sometimes they don't transform as wel as they are supposed to also missing parts as the above problem... if only the US wasnt so expensive.

I work on cargo vessels in NSW and speak to Customs officers all the time they open sealed boxes and if there is big toys scanned with big holes in them (like fort maxes jail leg) they can be taken out of the box for illegal substances checks. you wouldn't be able to tell they have taken them out unless the small hole or tape is cut

[lancalot]

when custom open your packages they reseal them with an custom sticker tape.... letting you know that they open it .... and not the couriers ...

[Bidoofdude]

Japanese toys from either a US or Japanese dealer would be pretty much identical, unless they got a bad batch, which again is to chance.

IMO, one of the only problems you may face is getting replacement parts, sometimes, as it can be hard to communicate, but most of the time, either the company (Takara) or dealer should happily replace it.

[primetime]

I've now posted the following message on CollectionDX FB page:
Hi CollectionDX, just wanted to share a warning for fellow collectors re: ANIME-EXPORT. Recently I've sent nearly 20 odd e-mails to them via their e-mail, website contact form, FB messageall of which has gone unanswered - this was to enquire for a Fort Max replacement part as well as my Frenzy & Buzzsaw which they omitted from their shipping to me.

Later on (2 months later) they got back to me saying that the non-response was due to a fault in Google JP e-mail system resulting in all their e-mails being bounced off so I gave them another chance. How is it that Google JP is even responsible for a non-receipt of a web-form sent request??!!!

I've sent them some more of the same e-mails 4 days ago to get them to ship off my Frenzy & Buzzsaw anyway - no response whatsoever again - FB message, e-mail, web contact form - nothing.

I don't have confidence in a on-line company which can't even sort out their communications, and on top of that they still have not provided information on the replacement part for my Fort Max to date (excuse was TT was still sorting it out) and on top of that requesting IMMEDIATE payment for ALL purchases.

I'll be removing AE from ALL my future collectibles purchases - no matter how good their prices are - if you think you can ignore customer's e-mails and requests - do it at your own peril.

I'd ask fellow collectors - take your money elsewhere and save yourself a world of worry from these people.

[Sinnertwin]

the reason your Fort max was retaped was a customs check something of that size they slice a small hole / cut tape and retape for a small inspection. you would be surprised they check even small envelopes.
I work in shipping and I know my stuff...

All first run Encore 23 Fort Max boxes were opened, inspected and resealed due to a QC issue.

http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpo...4&postcount=39
http://www.seibertron.com/transforme...e-taped/26953/
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/p...75&mode=retail

Ive been purchasing online for years now, and while i have had customs open a shipping carton, theyve never opened a sealed item inside.

[UltraMarginal]

TROLOL