update expectations from online suppliers

[Ralph Wiggum]

Yeah, any Australian based seller/supplier I consider are second tier stockists who receive a trickle of items over time. That includs PC, Figuresdirect and fellow forumers who mass purchase for others. So I expect a delay in receiving the item and accept that others in the same pre-order group may receive theirs first.

If you want an item first off the bat, order from Japan or US based stockists but expect to pay a premium. You get what you pay for.

[Raider]

Actually I'd say that PC is delivering a premium service in this regard. Anyone who follows their FB page would note that they regularly post pictures of the arrival of new stock and indicate that they will start shipping. Not many places even go that far.

I am totally biased though, I am in love with PC <3

[CoRDS]

ive been waiting for ft03t from TFI since i paid in full in december

i still have no figure . if i had ordered from ANY of the overseas places i would have had my order in december.

i get things extremely fast from overseas vendors the only one ive ever had issues with is the ones in .au

[Trent]

There' some generalisations happening from all sides here.

Yes it is dumb to whinge about how your toy hasn't been shipped yet when the supplier clearly hasn't got it in stock. It is also silly to expect daily updates from said shop. And you're an entitled brat if you whinge because person "X" got a shipping notice before you.

However, it is not unreasonable to enquire after the status of your order, when 3 weeks after purchasing an "in stock" item it has still not been posted. By now most people have caught on to the fact that when TFI say something is "in stock" it is really in stock with his supplier and may not get to him for several weeks. But it's highly annoying when you don't know this and he won't answer your emails. (And just to be clear, TFI is not the only Australian seller I have experienced this with. It's quite misleading)

The main difference between someone like PC/TFI and BBTS is that if you have an issue with BBTS, you email them, they answer (promptly) and you're happy. The Australian retailers actively encourage us to contact them through social media rather than email. Thus, our enquiries become public and others can jump on your thread and turn a simple question into a s#!t storm of epic proportions. So in a way I see this as a problem of their own making. While some people need a good slap upside the head for their man-babying, of course these things are going to happen when your major contact path is through a public social media site.

[Jetfire in the sky]

It's definitely a first world issue problem (does that sentence even work? )

The want for plastic crack has become so great that some of us have lost touch with reality, and I mean no offence to those who live in that realm, because it's not a bad place to be.

It seems that people want "it" yesterday and for free, patience is not a word that may understand. I won't go on a Grandpa rant here but, yeah, people need to chill the F out!

I like Trents points about (un)social media and direct e-mail, any solid business will e-mail you with any difficulties if they have your hard earned dollars in their account and can't come with the goods within the specified time frame, to deal with this on FB, Twitter or elsewhere is beyond unprofessional and should be a big indicator of how that business really feels about their customers.

P.S.
Trent, your sig
But Man-babying: Yes!! (This could end up in the campaign)

[MayzaPrime]

I disagree that using social media is unprofessional... this is the way society is heading (like it or not) this forum is social media.

I do agree that this with the whole lack of patience being a problem. I haven't had a problem with any online store, and I am one of the people that hasnt had MP Ironhide shipped out yet but I don't mind as I have said in a previous post, it will get here when it gets here.

[Megatran]

Great thread. It's like a sacrificial thread. People can dump their 'I want it now!' or 'why haven't I got notification yet' grievances in this thread and leave the 'Retailer's new items' & 'Retailer's feedback' threads for what they were originally set up for.

[Jetfire in the sky]

I disagree that using social media is unprofessional... this is the way society is heading (like it or not) this forum is social media.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, or old LOL

I do get what you are saying though and it is absolutely necessary for any current business to have a social media space and it is how things are and/or are going; but to use that as your only platform for group or individual communication is not on and absolutely unprofessional when your market is, and not restricted to, G1 guys who are after MP's of their favourite characters. Yes I know that a lot of MP collectors aren't 30 plus, but put it this way, if you had an issue with a big chain like Myer or whoever would you think the best way of initial communication was through a public forum like facebook? As the customer I'd be pretty F'n pissed off if it took me to that point to try and illicit a reaction from the retailer.

There is no doubt that chucking a tantrum in the online public marketing world of facebook or other platforms can get results, but to me that should be the last resort, public shaming went out a long time ago (in most countries), but it's quicker and easier to do it now for the lazy angry keyboard warriors who want results yesterday for no price, and to me this goes back to the premise of the thread.

As you have stated this forum is social media and the warnings/reviews that many have given to us all about certain e-tailers are invaluable. But as an individual trying to make first contact to an e-tailer or retailer about an item that hasn't been sent or not received this is definitely not the place for it. On the flip side the e-tailer solely using a particular platform of social media to try and inform their customers of a delay of non-delivery is also not on. That is not customer service, that is a lazy assumption that everyone reads your posts online wherever that may be.
We all have e-mails, they are as good as a mail box out the front of the house, if an e-tailer can't be assed to use that then they can GTFO imho.

Old man rant over

[DELTAprime]

I just wish PC would update their expected arrival dates like BBTS do. It would be better than seeing a date that has been and gone.