hmm-i just read back over the post about how QMX is not accepting money for preorders. does this mean that i cannot pay for a preorder on their website at all, or i that i just cannot pay for a preorder on their website using a card, and must use paypal instead?[/b]
The QMX preorder system will take a credit card and not charge the card until the product is actually sent.
If the customer uses Paypal, the money comes out right away.
QMX acts apologetic about the Paypal system because the money comes out and then if there are production delays, (a consistent downside to low-run, specialty product sales), the customer is "out" the money for months with no product in hand.
I prefer this method, however, because I am NOT swimming in financial reserves and I have a joint, debit card, account, so it is tough for me to keep the price of an expensive prop in my account.
I had the money for the Mal pistol when I ordered it. If I had used a debit/credit card and the Mal pistol was actually available 10 months after I ordered it (the likely scenario) there is a possibility that on the day I was billed, the money wouldn't be in the account. And then I wouldn't get my pistol at all.
By paying with Paypal, the money I allocated for my product is out of my financial picture.
I have confidence that QMX is a solid company and that I will end up with my product.
I have dealt with QMX's customer service.
There was an email provider glitch at first, but that was solved.
I am thrilled that a company has taken interest in an "orphan" franchise that I love (Serenity),
and that they are working with the movie's creative talent (like Geoff Mandel) directly
in the production of their products.
I like the fact that I see QMX staff on this board and
I am appalled that there seem to be some who post here
with the intention of bad mouthing the company and those who run it
to no purpose other than running those staffers into isolation.
QMX (or any fan product business) is trying to run a "fun" activity as a business.
I can't think of anything harder than having to reconcile
"wouldn't it be cool to have_________." with the reality of
sales and costs and legalities and distribution and customer expections and suppliers and...
YIKES.
I'm not cheerleading for QMX 'cuz I wish I already had my Mal pistol, too;
but I also am not wallowing in despair over the delay.
I think QMX's start-up trial and tribulations are pretty typical, and
are not due to incompetence or malice, but are driven by business realities.
I think that the blueprint release has been handled well with regard to the
timeline of teaser info to pre-release info to actual product availability.
I just hope the 750 quantity doesn't keep me from getting a set.
Mike
