Anyone Ever Deal with Statue Toys?

[Slave1]

Just like the title says. Just wondering if anyone else has had dealings with them.

I had ordered from them before, and they were slow to deliver and slow to communicate, but I did get my item from my first order.

More recently, I ordered another item in November. Started asking about it 3 wks later, kept waiting for a response to my email, and expected a delay due to the holidays. Then I started calling. FINALLY reached a real person. The guy said my item was on back order but it would "ship tomorrow."

A couple weeks later and still no item. Decided I'd better file a complaint through Paypal, but the window of opportunity had just passed, because of my delay based on his promise to ship tomorrow.

My emails go unanswered. They NEVER answer the phone.

So has anyone else had dealings with these folks?

 

[Slave1]

No one else has had any dealings, good or bad, with these people?

 

[saberMaN]

i would stay away from them. They're rude when you talk to them and i ordered something that they guaranteed they had in stock. it took them 3 weeks to get back to me to tell me that they didn't have it when they said they did...then it took them another 2 weeks to refund me


i would advise to stay away from them

 

[GeorgeC]

I dealt with Statue Toys several years back when I started collecting sabers.

I got the 2004 SDCC Exclusive "As First Built By" Obi-Wan lightsaber from them off of e-Bay.

I daresay it took well over a month for me to get my item from them! I e-mailed them several times (at least 4-5 times over 3 weeks) and they were just really, really slow to answer.

Finally, I got the item from them just shy of making a threat and taking some action.

To me, that just is not a way to do business. I was far more patient than I should have been with these guys.




P.S. -- What really stunk about the e-Bay business on the mini-saber was the fact that they never advertised the "stock status" of said-item. Why put something up for bid if you don't have it in your hand at the time unless it's a pre-order? I bought said-item TWO YEARS after it was an SDCC exclusive!

It's the mark of a very poor seller when their communication is that poor and they don't get back to you within 2-3 days tops...

I'd make the suggestion to anybody who doesn't like the way they've been treated by sellers not to do business with those particular people again. Even if it costs you a bit more, good service is preferable to stingy behavior.

 

[Slave1]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I pretty much suspected I couldn't be the only one who'd had bad dealings with them.

The first time, I chalked it up to a fluke and gave them the benefit of the doubt. I got the item eventually, and everyone can have an off-deal that wasn't 100% to the buyer's satisfaction.

This time, it has gotten to ridiculous proportions, though.

Since they never answer any calls and never respond to emails, I have sent a certified letter, insisting that they call me to discuss either the delivery of the item or the refund. At this point I would prefer a refund. I've already reordered my item through Entertainment Earth now.

 

[GeorgeC]

You're welcome.

You're only going to find out about this stuff if you ask around or look in on other threads.

That's how I'm learning, too!

 

[steveo]

Dang it! I preordered some things from them back in November and just TODAY, I got a refund for one of the items, which they still have available on thier site. Now I'm curious why. I hope it doesn't take them forever to email me back or to send the other item I preordered, especially since it's already payed for! I've never heard of this type of paying - paying on the day you order instead of when item is in stock. i will be staying away from them in the future.

 

[GeorgeC]

They're based in the Chicago area.

My experiences with sellers from Chicago (the companies, not individuals from The RPF in particular) has been mixed.

Guys out in the suburbs tend to be good businessman. Guys closer/in the city not-so-good. I haven't bought anything from the area in about 4 years, but I know there are still good people there. The city just tends to squeeze them out.

Chicago retailers tend to have an attitude. Heck, a lot of Chicagoans have a chip on their shoulder, PERIOD.

I lived there for 3 years and experienced the city's corruption first-hand. I just don't think you can live in that city for very long without becoming damaged by the experience! (Frankly, I think I got out in time. My faith in humanity hasn't been damaged THAT badly. I still have hope. I do think certain areas of the country are beyond redemption, though.)

It's a cesspool of ultra-poor/ultra-rich, competing radical agendas and cut-throat Fortune 500 businessmen bribing people left and right, and conceited, arrogant jerks running politics who don't know the first thing about integrity and community service that benefits the whole of society instead of special interests.





P.S. -- I have never had problems with the import (video) gamer specialists I've used in the NYC. Both Tronix and NCS (NSCX.com) are excellent companies with solid customer support. I don't buy as many import games as I used to, but their prices are reasonable and shipping isn't that bad.

 

[steveo]

Update - I received a reply from them last night and the response was that they didn't have that item in stock but the other item that I had preordered with it has been shipped which is why they were refunding money.

 

[Slave1]

They're based in the Chicago area.

My experiences with sellers from Chicago (the companies, not individuals from The RPF in particular) has been mixed.

Guys out in the suburbs tend to be good businessman. Guys closer/in the city not-so-good. I haven't bought anything from the area in about 4 years, but I know there are still good people there. The city just tends to squeeze them out.

Chicago retailers tend to have an attitude. Heck, a lot of Chicagoans have a chip on their shoulder, PERIOD.

Great info for dealing with anyone in Chicago, but Statue Toys is in Memphis.

Update . . . my certified letter worked. I received a call from a Daniel today, who went on to say that the item I had ordered had been out from the manufacturer all this time but it was now in stock. I proceeded to tell him I was told 5 weeks ago, when I finally reached someone, it had come in and would ship the next day. All he said was, "Well, you were misinformed." He asked if I wanted it now that it was in stock or a refund. To which I said I would prefer a refund at this point. My original order date was 11/7/08. I received an email which basically said I had a refund pending. We'll see if it goes through.

 

[steveo]

Another update - they sent the wrong item. I've emailed them and even tried to call them with no updates. I'm going to give them a few more days and then I'm going to file a dispute with my credit card company.

 

[Slave1]

Steve, don't delay. Go ahead and dispute the charge.

My update . . . the email I had basically said the refund was pending but the refund might not show on my financial institution's records for 3 -5 days. Well, it's been ten.

I've been out of town for the last several days, but I believe I've been more than patient. AND NO REFUND has shown up on Paypal.

The fact that their email said I should see a refund within 5 days would seem to suggest actually initializing the refund is the one thing they did NOT do. And gosh, isn't that the most import of the refund? Actually moving funds, not just talking about it?

If these folks aren't out-and-out thieves, they are at the very least very incompetent.

 

[gbeef]

hey im on a another statue board, and ive heard nothing but bad things about these guys i would act fast and just get your money back.

good luck

 

[Slave1]

hey im on a another statue board, and ive heard nothing but bad things about these guys i would act fast and just get your money back.

good luck

Could you PM or post which board that is? Maybe even point me to a thread or two? I did a search for them before and never saw anything.

 

[steveo]

Well, I was hoping to report something fairly decent out of my dealings with Statuetoys.com, but unfortunately no. I filed a dispute with my credit card company and after a lot of rigormarole, I finally got my money back. I'm GLAD to be finished with this transaction. My words of advice :

STAY CLEAR of Statuetoys.

 

[Laffo]

Look at this. This was February.
http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=170637&page=3
Laffo.

 

[steveo]

Look at this. This was February.
http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=170637&page=3
Laffo.

Sounds like the problems I was having. I tried their number and always got the voice mail with no way to leave a message. I tried at different hours of the day. When I let my credit card company know, somehow they got a hold of them. I guess they have better numbers for this company or maybe Statuetoys has caller ID and saw that it was a credit card company calling. I really hate to say anything bad, but I was frustrated and the amount of money I could have been out really got me upset, so I thought if my experience could help others, then I should say something.

 

[Laffo]

They seem to be bordering on piss poor. I'm getting fed up with it. I've had two deals go bad this week alone. I've never had this many Pay Pal disputes.
Laffo.