My terrible online TF order (a warning) - Cybertron.CA - Canadian Transformers News and Discussion

obakemono · 04-01-2011, 01:25 AM

I'll admit this is a little bit of a rant but just as much of warning for fellow collectors (and humans who don't like being jerked around)

ok the source of the problem YAHOBBY.com

two weeks ago they were it as far as online retailers who had any stock of UN-12 JAZZ at a non jacked up price, so as I am wont to do I placed a small single order to try them out (the jazz). I've done this before and been crazy impressed by robotkingdom for example. Now the trouble starts.

5 days after initial order: order status still pending money taken. First e-mail sent.

10 days after initial order: order status still pending, no responce to e-mail. Second e-mail sent.

14 days after initial order: order status still pending, no replys to either e-mail, gave notice on wanting to cancel order, three day warning about contacting paypal.

17 days after initial order: order status still pending, contacted paypal to retrieve funds.

18 days after initial order: one line e-mail responce from YAHOBBY "new status: PREPARING", no further information was given, so I logged back into my account and the entire history had been wiped clear and my order # doesn't show up anymore. Sent yet another e-mail.

And that's where were at. I don't hear from them in a week and it's back to claims at PAYPAL.

I've only been back into collecting tf's for about 6 months now and the cybertron boards have been very helpful and just a good place to get information, and while this has been as annoying as all get out for me, really I just hope it helps someone on the boards avoid this dame mess.

Done.

SleeplessKnight · 04-01-2011, 01:58 AM

Ouch dude, that sucks. I'd be hesitant to try an online retailer I've never heard of before. I'd ask around the boards, here as well as other boards to find out what other people's experiences are when trying out a new online retailer. There are some pretty safe choices such as Automation, TFsource, BBTS, Robotkingdom, HLjapan, or just about anyone who is a sponsor on this site. Sometimes, shopping from an online store with a good reputation is worth it for that extra bit of security.

obakemono · 04-01-2011, 02:18 AM

They are a sponser over on seibertron.com and my choices for jazz were them or eBay, I chose poorly.

ARCTrooperAlpha · 04-01-2011, 02:34 AM

damn, that sucks. Did you manage to get your money back?

bikeguy · 04-01-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obakemono

I'll admit this is a little bit of a rant but just as much of warning for fellow collectors (and humans who don't like being jerked around)

ok the source of the problem YAHOBBY.com

two weeks ago they were it as far as online retailers who had any stock of UN-12 JAZZ at a non jacked up price, so as I am wont to do I placed a small single order to try them out (the jazz). I've done this before and been crazy impressed by robotkingdom for example. Now the trouble starts.

5 days after initial order: order status still pending money taken. First e-mail sent.

10 days after initial order: order status still pending, no responce to e-mail. Second e-mail sent.

14 days after initial order: order status still pending, no replys to either e-mail, gave notice on wanting to cancel order, three day warning about contacting paypal.

17 days after initial order: order status still pending, contacted paypal to retrieve funds.

18 days after initial order: one line e-mail responce from YAHOBBY "new status: PREPARING", no further information was given, so I logged back into my account and the entire history had been wiped clear and my order # doesn't show up anymore. Sent yet another e-mail.

And that's where were at. I don't hear from them in a week and it's back to claims at PAYPAL.

I've only been back into collecting tf's for about 6 months now and the cybertron boards have been very helpful and just a good place to get information, and while this has been as annoying as all get out for me, really I just hope it helps someone on the boards avoid this dame mess.

Done.

Sounds like an experience that I am still kind of in with an on-line retailler called ToyStoreInc in Brooklyn, NY.

Was looking for Transformers Movie Allspark WINGBLADE, found him on e-Bay but the prices I saw were kind of steep ($75+). Found him on ToyStoreInc.com for $29.99 + shipping, Canadian orders require money order so went ahead and sent it off. Waited, waited, tried contacting them (no phone #, e-mail correspondence only means of communication with them) response was "waiting for your money order".

To sum it up, did my money order get lost? Maybe, things happen. I've contacted Canada Post and there is a 3 month wait 'til they can process a claim for a replacement Money Order sent to the states (3 months, almost up!). I've given up contacting the retailer as they are no use, if this doesn't get resolved I'll chalk it up to a lesson learned. Research after the fact found a long line of unhappy/similar experiences that involved CC #'s and totally unrelated charges, thank god I didn't give them my CC #.

My experience pretty much mirrors yours, and I'll leave it with, stick with proven sources. I've had wonderful shopping experiences with e-Bay and BBTS, well worth a little more money.

Gone on long enough, just a heads up, thanks.

Bruticus82 · 04-01-2011, 07:26 AM

I had considered ordering from yahobby for quite some time...not sure if I ever did - probably not.

Good information to know.

I had a bad ebay experience early on, bought several things from a seller on Ottawa - Lemontreats - anyways she had like 130 positive feedback or something, but at the same time as I made my purchase she dropped off the face of the earth. Found out her phone # was a furniture store, e-mails weren't responded to, so I did an ebay dispute resolution thing, and I think I got back like 30 dollars, out of the 80 I spent, because I hadn't used paypal and there was some minimum dollar limit that some of the items didn't qualify for.

Hobbyist Prime · 04-01-2011, 07:32 AM

This is good to know! I was getting ready to order a few RC Helicopters from them. I won't now!

gagagalvatron · 04-01-2011, 09:03 AM

I was going to order something from them about six months back. I forget what it was, but I sent them an email about it.

Never heard back, so never ordered. Sorry to hear about your bad experience, but don't give up yet. Thanks for sharing it with us.

obakemono · 04-01-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCTrooperAlpha

damn, that sucks. Did you manage to get your money back?

Not yet. You have to go through paypals claimes resolution process, apparently by chaning my order status from PENDING to PREPARING was enough to stall paypal. Now wether their preparing to return my money, preparing to send the item or preparing to roll around naked in a pile of transformers I have no idea. Next step is to give them "a reasonable" amount of time to contact me and send out my order, if nothing happens it's back to paypal claims.

I appreciate everyone tossing in their storys,it's good to know what places to avoid. And I'm glad that the post got to a few of you before you ordered from YAHOBBY.

crimbot · 04-01-2011, 11:10 AM

Thats disapointing to hear. I placed an order with Yahobby this year because they had a killer price on the dreadwing exclusive set. I got the item in acceptable time, within a couple of weeks, and the product was good, the box was a little miffed, but I'm not a MIB collector.

All in all, they were no Automaton toys, but they got the job done for me. I'll bet their inventory system isn't quite up to date and by the time the order was placed they were already out of stock. Then they handled the situation poorly from there. Thats sucks.