Anovos Stormtrooper.... thoughts?

[Endless Wonder]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed, but how sure are we that the calf pieces are mislabeled? I assembled a set as the instructions said, and yes one is slightly larger with a strange overlap in the back, but once they're on and fastened, they look fine. And they, more or less, align right in both the front and back.

When I went to assemble the second set, I tried it the "corrected" way and the backs were horribly misaligned.

the absolute best way is to use a pencil to trace exactly where you want to cut. Then using a utility knife / box cutter / exacto blade, lightly SCORE a line.

Holy crap, some of your guys have the patience of a saint. The score/snap method would drive me bonkers :wacko I'm in the dremel camp. Took me less than an hour to trim out two Anovos kits with a dremel. :lol

 

[JJ Griffin]

Only some of the kits have mislabeled calves.

 

[cyberpyrot]

Only some of the kits have mislabeled calves.

Mine did and there not answering my emails about replacement parts so I guess im just stuck with it. Kinda sucks being a first adopter.

 

[DBoz]

Mine did and there not answering my emails about replacement parts so I guess im just stuck with it. Kinda sucks being a first adopter.

I think they are just swamped with emails. A friend and I both have tickets open for issues. It was a couple weeks before I heard anything and then it was just to basically say they were working on getting replacement parts, but there was no estimate. My friend pretty much had a similar reply, but didn't have to wait as long. They seem to be aware that replacement parts for various issues are needed and are trying to get some stock for that purpose. I have also heard they have plans to make individual pieces available for purchase, but don't know if it would be to the public or just those who have bought a kit. All this is just to say that I think they will eventually make things good, but who knows what kind of time frame we're looking at. Not playing apologist, just relaying my experience.

 

[Dann]

Taking note from someone who said the chemical gloves are murder in the heat, I'll probably just use a pair of Gorilla Grip gloves from the hardware store. They're close enough for me.

 

[jkno]

Nomex gloves are excellent alternative to rubber ones if trooping

 

[Clutch]

What he said. ^

 

[Getoninja]

sorry don't want go back pages to see if this question ha been asked

in your guys opinion which is better, Anovos or EFX helmets? seems Amazon has EFX for around $170shipped and Anovos has theirs for $150 for kit.

Just using as a display a piece. I don't have the money to buy Anovos Stormtrooper kit

 

[jkno]

sorry don't want go back pages to see if this question ha been asked

in your guys opinion which is better, Anovos or EFX helmets? seems Amazon has EFX for around $170shipped and Anovos has theirs for $150 for kit.

Just using as a display a piece. I don't have the money to buy Anovos Stormtrooper kit

Between the MR CE/EFX PCR Stormtrooepr helmet and Anovos Stormie helmet, and if you are interested at least a bit in accuracy, you should always choose the Anovos.

 

[TK7713Gra30]

An interesting policy by Anovos, I have a damaged breastplate from where something has pushed from behind and crazed the plastic so it has 2 white dots from where the plastic has been forced. I messaged Anovos and although quick to reply I have been asked to destroy my original and send pictures once trashed, a replacement is 8-12 weeks. Now I don't have a problem with that if and when they ship another, but I haven't received my soft goods yet and what if I'm 8-12 weeks I still haven't got a replacement. Plus in the meantime at least I can display the piece. I think it's a poor show in customer service, especially having waited so long, I've a good mind to send the whole lot back. They have received pictures of the damage

 

[JJ Griffin]

An interesting policy by Anovos, I have a damaged breastplate from where something has pushed from behind and crazed the plastic so it has 2 white dots from where the plastic has been forced. I messaged Anovos and although quick to reply I have been asked to destroy my original and send pictures once trashed, a replacement is 8-12 weeks. Now I don't have a problem with that if and when they ship another, but I haven't received my soft goods yet and what if I'm 8-12 weeks I still haven't got a replacement. Plus in the meantime at least I can display the piece. I think it's a poor show in customer service, especially having waited so long, I've a good mind to send the whole lot back. They have received pictures of the damage

What kind of manufacturer asks you to DESTROY the original defective product instead of exchange or keep it?

Imagine if you bought a defective TV or a laptop that was damaged during shipping, and the manufacturer asked you to destroy it instead of exchanging in order to use it's warranty for a replacement?

I understand ANOVOS' has full control over how it wants to manage it's warranty operations, but I agree this is a pretty strange policy. Clearly they want you to destroy to ensure you're not just in it for two breastplates or to give one to a friend, but if that's the case, why not ask it to be returned? If they don't want it back and you paid for it, what business is there's what you do with something that obv has no remaining value or use to the manufacturer?

Sorry, mini-rant, but this just seems like a really low blow for consumer rights to me

 

[jkno]

What kind of manufacturer asks you to DESTROY the original defective product instead of exchange or keep it?

Imagine if you bought a defective TV or a laptop that was damaged during shipping, and the manufacturer asked you to destroy it instead of exchanging in order to use it's warranty for a replacement?

I understand ANOVOS' has full control over how it wants to manage it's warranty operations, but I agree this is a pretty strange policy. Clearly they want you to destroy to ensure you're not just in it for two breastplates or to give one to a friend, but if that's the case, why not ask it to be returned? If they don't want it back and you paid for it, what business is there's what you do with something that obv has no remaining value or use to the manufacturer?

Sorry, mini-rant, but this just seems like a really low blow for consumer rights to me

I'm not discussing if it is a good or bad policy, just that this is not unusual, it happens with Sideshow, Gentle Giant, Hot Toys, HCG and other collectible companies too. I had a damaged 1/6 Vader and Sideshow asked me to destroy it, take pics of the destroyed parts, and then they sent replacement. As Sideshow said this usually happens to international customers when sending back an item for a refund/replacement would cost too much (from their point of view).

 

[JJ Griffin]

I'm not discussing if it is a good or bad policy, just that this is not unusual, it happens with Sideshow, Gentle Giant, Hot Toys, HCG and other collectible companies too. I had a damaged 1/6 Vader and Sideshow asked me to destroy it, take pics of the destroyed parts, and then they sent replacement. As Sideshow said this usually happens to international customers when sending back an item for a refund/replacement would cost too much (from their point of view).

Ah, okay, I see. Personally given the wait time the customer will be forced to be without the full product (12 weeks, which sadly is good for ANOVOS but pretty poor in general), I would tell the customer to either keep the damaged one in order to mitigate the inconvenience of waiting (what they wish to do with it is up to them), or I would tell them to do with it as they will for the 12-week wait, but once their replacement is ready to ship they will be forced to destroy it.

I took from the story that ANOVOS wished them to destroy it NOW and then wait 12 weeks, but I could be wrong there.

 

[Getoninja]

Between the MR CE/EFX PCR Stormtrooepr helmet and Anovos Stormie helmet, and if you are interested at least a bit in accuracy, you should always choose the Anovos.

cool, do you know if Anovos is shipping out the helmets?

 

[Lichtbringer]

I took from the story that ANOVOS wished them to destroy it NOW and then wait 12 weeks, but I could be wrong there.

That´s standard handling with many companies to ensure it is really destroid before sending the replacement.

What do you think how many smartasses wouldn´t destroy the damaged when having the replacement in hands already?

 

[JJ Griffin]

That´s standard handling with many companies to ensure it is really destroid before sending the replacement.

What do you think how many smartasses wouldn´t destroy the damaged when having the replacement in hands already?

Right, but what I'm saying is, purely from a customer service/retention standpoint, I think the better course would be to say "Okay, we are processing your return now. In 8-12 weeks it will be ready to ship. At that time, we will require you to destroy the existing breastplate and send us photos. As soon as those are received, we will ship out your replacement."

Doing it the way they have ordered now simply leaves the customer without one of the most important elements of their purchase after they already waited almost a year after faithfully pre-ordering it. 12 weeks is already a long time and if I know ANOVOS (and I think we all do), it is likely to take even longer for them to replace it.

Imagine if, when I first created a ticket to have my fiberglass TFA bucket replaced back in early November, they had told me I had to destroy it before they even began processing a replacement? If I had done so, I'd now be going on FIVE MONTHS without a helmet for my TFA suit. I haven't been able to get a reply to my ticket in TWO MONTHS. Many others are having the same issues. Given how absolutely abysmal (or at the least, wholly unreliable) their customer service response times are, there is a lot of risk involved in completely destroying something you paid for in the hopes that ANOVOS will get around to fixing the issue eventually (especially when they still have so many items that people have been waiting years for that have yet to ship, and they are opening pre-orders on new items every few weeks).

Again, I understand entirely that there are other companies (Razor, etc) that do this kind of "break it and we'll replace it" kind of thing, but those companies typically have 1) been in the game a lot longer than ANOVOS so they have proven track records, and 2) don't require 12+ weeks to give you your replacement. At most replacement product might take 6-8 weeks, and while I understand ANOVOS doesn't have the same manufacturing capabilities as those other companies, they should take that into consideration before they ask inconvenienced customers to do the same thing as those other companies in order to receive a replacement. And other companies typically have Customer Service departments that actually respond to customers, or phone numbers you can call to speak to a live representative if there are issues/delays. You get none of that with ANOVOS and everyone knows it. If your product doesn't ship in 12 weeks you don't have much recourse other than to leave a voicemail or hope you aren't already at the 2-ticket maximum and just hope for a response.

ANOVOS asked people to place their faith in them with their pre-order system. For some (OT TKs, TFA plastic buckets) that has been rewarded. For a lot of others, it has not. It would be nice if, at least until ANOVOS resolves their enormous production/customer service delays, they could maybe have a little faith in their paying customers and let them hold on to damaged goods until the replacement is ready. Instead you get situations like this, where the OP has said he is tempted to just send the entire thing back for a full refund.

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Well here is the latest email and I have yet to receive a reply. Now as mentioned I don't have any problems destroying, but I don't see why I should destroy BEFORE they are ready to ship and confirm that, which is what I am after. Also 8-12 weeks for a replacement is far too long as most credit card companies will also say it's past its unfit for purpose deadline. It's just a replacement part and surely some stock is held, I run a company and any faults are replaced immediately. I just want assurance that I will be put on a replacement list, then nearer the time I will destroy, as a customer that HAS paid, I paid $650 in the end plus taxes, I think that is fair and I am still awaiting soft goods.


Initial email

Hi I received my order but on receipt and now having looked at the parts the breastplate has been damaged during packing and shipping. It has 2 areas of stress marks where pieces have been pushed against the back causing white areas and slight stressing visible from the front of the plate. I attach pictures although it is hard to take with lighting, please can a replacement be sent and I will then return this piece.

Regards and many thanks



Responses, please note my replies are shown at the top
This is first Anovos reply and mine at top.


Hi, yes the marks are under the plastic film, the pictures I sent are with the plastic removed.

What do I need to do to get a replacement, I am still waiting on soft parts and a bit reluctant to damage more until I get a replacement.

Thank you

Graham

On 2016-03-07 00:42, ANOVOS Customer Support wrote:
contact,

A customer support staff member has replied to your support request,
#581137 with the following response:

Graham,

Did you remove the plastic film from this piece? If not, please do so
as some damage may have occurred on the film later and not in the
piece itself.

Should the item still be damaged, we will need for you to destroy your
chest piece so that we can affect a replacement.

We hope this response has sufficiently answered your questions. If
not, please do not send another email. Instead, reply to this email or
login to your account for a complete archive of all your support
requests and responses.

http://support.anovos.com/view.php?auth=o1xsqhqaadshuaaa5CMtiV9Dht/sUA==

Regards,

Joe B.
ANOVOS Customer Support



This is second Anovos reply, mine at top and as of yet I have not had a reply

Hi, I have no problem destroying. Please can I destroy when you are ready to ship the new one, 8-12 weeks, or I will be completely out of a breastplate and I have waited a long time already and still do not have soft goods.

Regards
Graham

On 2016-03-08 05:03, ANOVOS Customer Support wrote:
contact,

A customer support staff member has replied to your support request,
#581137 with the following response:

Graham,

We'll need for you to destroy the part and send us photos of that.

We'll be arranging for shipment of a replacement breast plate when we
get our replacement stock in the next 8 to 12 weeks.

We hope this response has sufficiently answered your questions. If
not, please do not send another email. Instead, reply to this email or
login to your account for a complete archive of all your support
requests and responses.

http://support.anovos.com/view.php?auth=o1xsqhqaadshuaaa5CMtiV9Dht/sUA==

Regards,

Joe B.
ANOVOS Customer Support

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Just a quick update. I've sent a final email asking for assurances of a replacement, if no joy I'm going to my credit card company on faulty goods, I'm sure they will investigate and at worse I'll ship the lot back and buy a RS set, which I have been after for a while. I still don't see why it has to be destroyed if the pictures of the damage are clear enough, it's not company policy in many UK companies that's for sure.


On another note, any you guys want a free breastplate I will send you some pics over, different angles and background etc, , I am joking of course but it shows how ludicrous the policy is

 

[Lichtbringer]

Why should they let anyone keep a part that the customer says it´s unuseable and therefor is needed to be replaced? Why should anyone want to keep such a part if not thinking it still might be useable for anything?

Even damaged parts still have a certain value for stormy costumers. They can be used for alterations like deathtroopers, .........

And reading their copied response sounds a little different than the first version:

We'll be arranging for shipment of a replacement breast plate when we
get our replacement stock in the next 8 to 12 weeks.

For me that reads not like destroy now and then wait 8 to 12 weeks for the replacement. THEY get their replacement stock in 8 to 12 weeks, so they can´t send it sooner. But they never said you can´t wait 8 or 10 or 12 weeks before destroying it and then send the needed pics.

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Why should they let anyone keep a part that the customer says it´s unuseable and therefor is needed to be replaced? Why should anyone want to keep such a part if not thinking it still might be useable for anything?

Even damaged parts still have a certain value for stormy costumers. They can be used for alterations like deathtroopers, .........

And reading their copied response sounds a little different than the first version:



For me that reads not like destroy now and then wait 8 to 12 weeks for the replacement. THEY get their replacement stock in 8 to 12 weeks, so they can´t send it sooner. But they never said you can´t wait 8 or 10 or 12 weeks before destroying it and then send the needed pics.

Mate, read my posts again, I haven't said anywhere about keeping it, hell its damaged why do I want it. My point, as a prop builder and collector, is why willfully damage it if they don't want it returned, goes against my ethos and certainly means the cost to them is less than shipping a part back, about £20 by parceks2go, seems a bit ludicrous to me. If a customer of mine has defective parts I send replacements, and I know a many many of my colleagues that do the same, I run a high quality figure manufacturing and casting business.

I do hope your assumptions of not having to destroy it until ready to ship is correct, but so far Anovos haven't confirmed it, despite at least 3 emails without reply so you are assuming and I read it different, like send pics and we will put you down for a 8-12 week wait.

I can only assume you think 8-12 weeks is also reasonable after waiting nearly a year. This was also to be a display piece so unless I am allowed to trim it before destruction I have another 3 months before I can build and display the kit, but that's good business I suppose aslong as they can be sure I haven't profited a free breastplate even after sending pictures of the damage.