Let's see how Lucasfilm licensing appreciates a licensee treating us this way. I sent the following to them this evening:
Dear Mr. ****,
I got your information from Disney's Licensing website, and understand that you are the contact person for inquiries regarding Lucasfilm related licensing matters.
Is there a standard of quality that Lucasfilm requires from all their licensees? Because I have had a problem with an expensive item I orderded from one of your licensees, EFX Collectibles, to which they will not return calls, or emails related to the defective item I purchased from them, a Special Edition Precision Cast Replica of Darth Vader's Helmet from "Star Wars" which has since sold out on their website.
https://efxcollectibles.com/collect...helmet-precision-cast-replica-special-edition
The pictures I am attaching show how the item arrived, left on my doorstep when I was not home (had I been home I never would have accepted delivery). On removing the helmet from the flimsy cracked clamshell packaging within, although the helmet was miraculously not broken or damaged, there was a sticky glob of uncured paint on the neck my thumb brushed against, ruining the finish. This was an expensive item, and not only is it's value diminished with the outer box shredded beyond the ability to even contain the item in storage, to the paint finish still being sticky and uncured, it's value was destroyed before it even arrived in my hands. I simply asked EFX to respond to me to find out if I could have a new outer box sent to me, or to refund a portion of my payment to compensate for the damaged packaging, then when I took the helmet out to discover the paint issue, I requested an RA to send the whole thing back for replacement or refund, and they have not responded to any of my reasonable requests.
How a licensee can be informed that merchandise arrived this way, with an uncured paint finish, and fail to repsond to the customer is astonishing. I would be hopeful that Lucasfilm not approve of this kind of customer service related to items their licensees sell to fans. It appears from some of my other research on Google, that EFX has been negligent with other customers taking money and not delivering expensive collectibles that they sell. This is a real disservice to the fan community, and irresponsible to the Lucasfilm brand. I hope there is something your department can do to intervene or communicate to EFX regarding this abuse of enthusiastic fans that enjoy adding high end "Star Wars" prop replicas to their collections, since they cannot be bothered to respond when we try to reach them regarding items arriving in this condition.
I hope your office can offer soms guidance, or intervene on my behalf as well as other fans because this kind of irresponsible behavior by a company like EFX really sours the collecting experience. My corresepondence to them is below (I also posted this on their Facebook wall, with no response from them either.)
Many thanks for your assistance,
Jerry Vasilatos