ANOVOS issues (ANOVOS ONLY discussion)

[kristen jones]

Did it feel like getting a photograph of a cow near midnight after ordering a steak dinner at 7 pm?!!!

Or is it actually good?

I didn't order one, so i don't know. I made my own.

When I saw the pics posted of it, it looked OK. Granted I think the 1700+ of us in the Rey Cosplay Community group made ones that looked better, we also were able to custom tailor them to ourselves, wheras Anovos can't do that. Those who did receive it were happy with it, and that's all that matters.

 

[kristen jones]

So what was the verdict on them?

Were they worth the wait?

They were excited to finally have it. and in the end it looks pretty good. Is it better than the one I made for myself? I don't think so, but then that's why i didn't buy one. The girls who did didn't feel it was within their skill to make one, so they bought one, and they were happy. It's a shame it took 3 years, but they *did* get them, and they were satisfied.

 

[Kroenen77]

I want this helmet desperately. Yet, is it something I'm willing to gamble my money on? Gamble, that I'll receive this helmet within 3 years? Gamble, that I'll receive this helmet before they go out of business (which I don't want!)? Gamble, that as soon as I preorder -& pay for- this helmet, someone more trustworthy -like RS- comes out with one of their own (like happened with my Luke X-Wing helmet)?
Honestly, do I expect this to ship when they say they expect it to ship? No. Saddly, do I expect this to ship at all, during any part of 2020 or even 2021? No. I want ANOVOS to succeed and flourish... but I've lost faith, & they've lost my business.

I really wanna know if the helmet is a DP copy.If so I can also go in the garage and make a mold of my perfect shaped DP helmet.And that costs me not 450$.

Yup. And while I'm a 7-3/8 to 7-1/2 hat size, my skull shape is longer front-to-back that the typical roundness hats tend to be made for. I can still get it in the DP, with difficulty, and it had mold shrinkage from the casting process, much like the other DP offerings. They say laser scanned from the original and, based on their other offerings, I trust that.

Ok..but a little bit expensive for a DP fiberglasscopy.The color looks also too bright.More like the Rubies.

 

[Pepperbone]

I want this helmet desperately. Yet, is it something I'm willing to gamble my money on? Gamble, that I'll receive this helmet within 3 years? Gamble, that I'll receive this helmet before they go out of business (which I don't want!)? Gamble, that as soon as I preorder -& pay for- this helmet, someone more trustworthy -like RS- comes out with one of their own (like happened with my Luke X-Wing helmet)?
Honestly, do I expect this to ship when they say they expect it to ship? No. Saddly, do I expect this to ship at all, during any part of 2020 or even 2021? No. I want ANOVOS to succeed and flourish... but I've lost faith, & they've lost my business.

As someone here proposed a few hundred posts ago; pre-order from another site like Entertainment Earth with zero-down.
Zero-down, zero risk.

 

[oblagon]

As someone here proposed a few hundred posts ago; pre-order from another site like Entertainment Earth with zero-down.
Zero-down, zero risk.

This still supports Anovos's bad business practices. Sure you're buying from a 3rd party, but that 3rd party is still giving money to Anovos for your pre-order.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

This still supports Anovos's bad business practices. Sure you're buying from a 3rd party, but that 3rd party is still giving money to Anovos for your pre-order.

Just because some of us have issues with Anovos, it doesn’t mean we want them to fail. I have 3 helmet reserve through Entertainment Earth because I don’t have to pre-pay. For me it’s not wanting to pay and have nothing to show for it for years. I can also cancel my orders at any time with no hassle.

I’ve suggested in other posts that I think Anovos should strictly sell through 3rd party vendors and not directly to customers. They just can’t handle even after er all these years.

 

[darthjones]

They were excited to finally have it. and in the end it looks pretty good. Is it better than the one I made for myself? I don't think so, but then that's why i didn't buy one. The girls who did didn't feel it was within their skill to make one, so they bought one, and they were happy. It's a shame it took 3 years, but they *did* get them, and they were satisfied.

Thanks for the update!!! This is good. I was told that all of the Kylo stuff was on that ship too but (insert red buzzer of stupidness here) NOT.

And at least they will have time to tailor it up where they can before costume season.

I HOPE I will have that time too but I doubt it.

 

[oblagon]

Doesn't make what I said any less true. Money to Anovos is saying you support their business practices.

it doesn’t mean we want them to fail..

This is exactly why we don't get quality prop makers. People are voting with their dollars that they agree with non-delivery and years wait with no end in sight.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Doesn't make what I said any less true. Money to Anovos is saying you support their business practices.


This is exactly why we don't get quality prop makers. People are voting with their dollars that they agree with non-delivery and years wait with no end in sight.

Nothing can happen to Anovos until there contract is up, And then who is it you want to replace them? Who is going to make a offer on the license? It’s not like there were a lot of people jumping at the the high end costuming license before. The only other high end Star Wars costumes were Museum Replicas and they only did a few costumes.

For the most part, most people are pleased with the quality. It’s their communication to customers and there willingness to accept prepayments so early in a product’s production cycle that is causing them so much grief.

 

[oblagon]

Nothing can happen to Anovos until there contract is up, And then who is it you want to replace them? Who is going to make a offer on the license? It’s not like there were a lot of people jumping at the the high end costuming license before. The only other high end Star Wars costumes were Museum Replicas and they only did a few costumes.

For the most part, most people are pleased with the quality. It’s their communication to customers and there willingness to accept prepayments so early in a product’s production cycle that is causing them so much grief.

I don't have to come up with a replacement company for my statement to be true.

People aren't pleased with the quality of items that aren't vaporware; take a look at the Jyn gloves thread. Not to mention all the Phasma helmets that were recalled/sent back due to bad plating, Kylo helmets that are cracking over time, along with all of the other QC issues that shouldn't be happening.

As someone who earlier in this very thread complained constantly about their Anovos non-delivery, I'm surprised to see you going to bat for them all of a sudden.

 

[Synz314]

The Kylo Ren helmets are cracking over time? I better go check mine. I know the chrome on my Phasma helmet is complete covered in cracks and is getting worse all the time.

I actually just got the Poe Dameron helmet today and it has a lot of paint app imperfections. Not to mention you can hear the helmet flex whenever it's held and the blast shield needs tightening.

 

[jkno]

The Royal Guard is one of the two helmets I might have been interested in, next to the unproduced Death Star Trooper. But being Anovos is not worth the hassle, especially since I already have a superb fiberglass Royal Guard helmet.

 

[Apollo]

I know the people who have been waiting for refunds for months are not to pleased....

For the most part, most people are pleased with the quality. It’s their communication to customers and there willingness to accept prepayments so early in a product’s production cycle that is causing them so much grief.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I know the people who have been waiting for refunds for months are not to pleased....

I know. That's what I'm trying to say. They are waiting for refunds because they are tired of waiting not because they are displeased with the product itself (for the most part).

I know there are some quality issues. For all the products that have been released, most are happy with the final product (but not the overall experience). Some quality worse than others but what I am saying is that it is not these quality issues that are creating the bad name for themselves. It's their ability to run their organization. The biggest problem is that they are not learning from their mistakes. If Anovos would simply not take payments until the later part of production when they know that items will indeed be completed by a given time, then they could meet promised ETAs, customers would not wait as long, and the main reason for asking for refunds is gone.

I don't know why there have been the quality issues there have been. I speculate that Anovos has not hired their own on site QA to oversee production and ensure the end product getting made is up to par. They may be paying the manufacture to QA their own product. This way they do not have to hire anyone themselves and QA errors are the financial responsibility of the manufacture. That's fine for Anovos that they do not have the financial burden for QA errors but the end result is that either the customer gets a bad product and/or a late product.

I've worked for a high end leather goods distribution center. And I can tell you even that even with a paid QA at the overseas facilities, there are still problems. To help guard against defects getting out to the public is do something like a 3% inspection before going out to customers. That means if they get 1000 trooper helmets in the shipment, they would do a visual quality check of 30 random units.

 

[Pepperbone]

This still supports Anovos's bad business practices. Sure you're buying from a 3rd party, but that 3rd party is still giving money to Anovos for your pre-order.

Does the 3rd party actually pay for a pre-order? Is that how distribution works with Anovos?
If that's the case, then that is messed up.

 

[Kroenen77]

The Kylo Ren helmets are cracking over time? I better go check mine. I know the chrome on my Phasma helmet is complete covered in cracks and is getting worse all the time.

I actually just got the Poe Dameron helmet today and it has a lot of paint app imperfections. Not to mention you can hear the helmet flex whenever it's held and the blast shield needs tightening.

My Kylo looks still good.But I really don´t handle it often.Its only in my detholf.But its so lightweight..the fiberglass can only be very very thin.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I don't have to come up with a replacement company for my statement to be true.

People aren't pleased with the quality of items that aren't vaporware; take a look at the Jyn gloves thread. Not to mention all the Phasma helmets that were recalled/sent back due to bad plating, Kylo helmets that are cracking over time, along with all of the other QC issues that shouldn't be happening.

As someone who earlier in this very thread complained constantly about their Anovos non-delivery, I'm surprised to see you going to bat for them all of a sudden.

I always try to be a big picture type of guy. There are big problems with Anovos and I stick by my past comments. My point is that people tend to think that if Anovos fail or Disney/LFL was to for some reason say... "you're out" someone else will immediately replace them and do a better job. I think that is wishful thinking. We are probably not going to have someone step into that roll anytime soon.

To me, I don't consider it vaporware until I put my money down. Otherwise it's just a planned future purchase. I personally feel better in that type of transaction. I would encourage people for their own sake to go through places like Entertainment Earth and not pay till shipping. Yes, this is not a boycott of Anovos but it does do a few things. One, people do not get suckered into the Tier 1 pricing scam which I think is like giving them an interest free loan. The other thing is not every item Anovos pre-sells is available in places like EE. So the items would not get any pre-orders. Otherwise I would not buy anything form Anovos unless it was in-stock. And if they did not deliver by the promised date or within 30 days, I would get your credit card company involved. If everyone who had a not-shipping-stock-items issue did this, I think the problem would greatly diminish.

Selling on the Internet: Prompt Delivery Rules

By law, you must have a reasonable basis for stating that a product can be shipped within a certain time. If your advertising doesn't clearly and prominently state the shipment period, you must have a reasonable basis for believing that you can ship within 30 days.

If you can't ship within the promised time (or within 30 days if you made no promise), you must notify the customer of the delay, provide a revised shipment date and explain his right to cancel and get a full and prompt refund.

For definite delays of up to 30 days, you may treat the customer's silence as agreeing to the delay. But for longer or indefinite delays - and second and subsequent delays - you must get the customer's written, electronic or verbal consent to the delay. If the customer doesn't give you his okay, you must promptly refund all the money the customer paid you without being asked by the customer.

In the end, I want Anovos to be a success because if they did do what they were supposed to do, they would be a great asset to the costuming community. My suggestions are just that... suggestions. I would encourage everyone to pursue their current and future purchases based on how Anovos is performing now. Don't do it based on "hope" because you will be disappointed. For instance, I am comfortable with late products as long as I have no money down and knowing that order cancellation is just a click away. If you are not, then don't do it. If you are comfortable with paying for something and knowing you are going to be waiting for a long, long time and may have issues with refunds, then go ahead and proceed. I'm okay with Anovos succeeding if the customers support them for "what they are" and not on what they "hope them to be".

 

[oblagon]

Does the 3rd party actually pay for a pre-order? Is that how distribution works with Anovos?
If that's the case, then that is messed up.

Sure someone has to pay for that pre-order.

I always try to be a big picture type of guy. There are big problems with Anovos and I stick by my past comments. My point is that people tend to think that if Anovos fail or Disney/LFL was to for some reason say... "you're out" someone else will immediately replace them and do a better job. I think that is wishful thinking. We are probably not going to have someone step into that roll anytime soon.

Honestly it would be better if someone else got the license. This idea of it's better to have any company hold the license than nobody, when that license holder doesn't bother to make anything and just take money is crazy.
Star Wars is so popular companies like EFX and Anovos know some fans are so desperate to own item 'X' that all they have to do is put a pre-order up and deliver whenever they feel like it. The community is nothing more than a free cash register to them; just look at all the items Anovos hasn't put out for years and still puts up new pre-orders monthly with a delivery time of 3 years...really?! Guys working in their garage get items out faster and it's not because of Disney. Trust me, Disney wants product out in the stores as fast as possible to generate interest/hype. This is all Anovos's doing.

To me, I don't consider it vaporware until I put my money down.

Well that's the whole point of this conversation, is voting with your dollars. People waiting for Anovos to decide to get around to developing product or give refunds firmly consider it vaporware. Anovos requires money down if you order direct or a 3rd party pays for the pre-order.

I am comfortable with late products as long as I have no money down and knowing that order cancellation is just a click away.

Waiting years with no end is sight and lying about delivery times isn't late, it's irresponsible and they will keep stringing people along forever. At Anovos there's no such thing as order cancellation, just read on this very thread to see how people are ignored, blocked and their money never returned.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

I always try to be a big picture type of guy. There are big problems with Anovos and I stick by my past comments. My point is that people tend to think that if Anovos fail or Disney/LFL was to for some reason say... "you're out" someone else will immediately replace them and do a better job. I think that is wishful thinking. We are probably not going to have someone step into that roll anytime soon.

The track record is not good. Every company that has taken up the high-end costuming license has either failed or spent years recovering -- to any degree -- from having it. I feel like there's a lot of BTS stuff we're not privy to that makes that one in particular such a fraught license. Everyone's obviously gone into it with the best intentions, and just as obviously fallen short of what they thought they'd be able to accomplish, and the 'why' of it remains elusive. I feel like if it was as simple as communication or QA or whatever else has been proffered, it would've been licked several licensees ago.

And I also have to ask... If ANOVOS give up the license, have it taken away, or go out of business entirely, who do y'all think is left to take up the license? Who would want to, after seeing what it's done to Icons, Master Replicas, Museum Replicas, the Propstore, ANOVOS, eFX...?

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Waiting years with no end is sight and lying about delivery times isn't late, it's irresponsible and they will keep stringing people along forever. At Anovos there's no such thing as order cancellation, just read on this very thread to see how people are ignored, blocked and their money never returned.

It's not your place to tell other customers what they are or are not comfortable with. If you are not happy with the current state of affairs, then that is fine. I would prefer things to be better myself, but there is a certain set of circumstances in which I am comfortable with. I make suggestions to others and share my experiences and give my advice, but I not going to tell people they are not entitled to their feelings good, bad or even meh.