SIDESHOW quality control sucks UPDATE! p.4

[GF]

As anybody had issues with Sideshow products?

I ordered a premium format speeder bike and had a dent on front, I asked for a replacement and they wanted photos which I sent them and they actually stated that all had the same exact dent, I told them no way, many on rebelscum who received theirs had no dent, they actually asked to provide photos which I did, only then they proceeded to send a replacement, they asked me to destroy the speeder bike and keep the figure and base, and send photos of destroyed speeder, I asked them if I could keep it intact until I receive the replacement to make sure it's not worst, they assured me that all replacements are inspected throughly and made sure it's flawless, to my surprise when i receive the replacement it was worst then the first one, no way it was inspected as all the complexe wrapping, tape ect... was intact.

The handle was bent, chipped paint, it looked like it was touched up, I sent photos of the problem and below is the reply I got ARE THEY BLIND!, of course I asked for a refund, the thing is I will loose the shipping cost, I will never buy from Sideshow again. MR products have much higher quality control by far and had much more complexe models.

BTW here are the photos, is this acceptable?


"Dear Gerardo,

Thank you for your email and photos!

I have forwarded your photos to my supervisor and neither of us is able to locate the reported damages. As such, we will not be offering a second replacement at this time. If you are unsatisfied with your item, you are welcome to return it for a refund of the product price only.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns."

Best regards,

Jaclyn Yudkowsky
Customer Service Representative

Sideshow Collectibles
2630 Conejo Spectrum Street
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 USA

 

[Lord Abaddon]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

That's depressing to hear. I was always very, very impressed with Sideshow from the beginning. I once had their 12" Lugosi Dracula figure and the first one had no medallion. They sent a replacement, didn't even ask for it back. Well the replacement had a damaged vest. They sent a third AND a Buffy as an apology ("So she can take on all the Dracs you have" was their reply!).

To see them go from that type of amazing service to this? Sad.

 

[zorg]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

MR products have much higher quality control

you cant be serious?

ill never buy MR crap again

i have 3 sideshow pieces and all are fine, no issuses at all.

dont get me started on the junk i got from MR

z

 

[Darth Infamous]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

Really? I would think that you are the minority here. All the purchases from MR that Ive had those pieces were fine. Phasers, Falcon, ATAT, Blasters oh my. Even my ROTS Vader helmet was fine. Hmmm.

Carl

you cant be serious?

ill never buy MR crap again

i have 3 sideshow pieces and all are fine, no issuses at all.

dont get me started on the junk i got from MR

z

 

[TazVader]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

Well I just traded in my first Arnie T-800 bust and the second one has flaws too. I am REALLY dissapointed. Not only glue problems but it isn't painted on some parts at all. I cancelled all my other SS stuff bar premium Indy. Sad for such an expensive item to be soo obviousy MASS produced LOL

As for MR all my stuff from them has been sweet as well

Regards
TAZ

 

[defstartrooper]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

All companies have quality issues it's how they deal with the customer that matters.

 

[TheGreenMachine]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

I've never bought any of the higher ticket price items from Sideshow, just the 12" figures and the occasional maquette.

But despite the fact the all the pieces are well assembled almost everything has had a middling paintjob. Some aspects great, some not so much. Overall just average. Certainly I've never received anything which approached the quality of the paintjob in the prototype photos that were posted.

Basically from what I've seen I'd be pretty unwilling to buy one of the higher priced items since I'm fairly certain for the money I'd be dissappointed with the finish of the piece.

Admittedly I'm also not as talented as a number of the folks who have turned really nice pieces with horrible paintjobs into showcase pieces with stunning new paintjobs. If I buy a collector grade or premium format something or other I'm kind of expecting to be able to display it as is.

- TGM

 

[Sidewinder]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

Its a shame SS et-al don't offer unpainted versions of 'stuff' at lower cost for those that can paint well.

SAS

 

[nightrider]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

No, that's unacceptable. Not only that but I would find out who's over them and send a copy of the pics along with their response to that person and see what they have to say. I know at this point you might just want a refund, but for them to say they can't see something that's obviously bent is preposterous and whoever is over them needs to know that's how they're treating customers.

 

[tripoli]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

Master Replicas was super in the beginning. They just floundered at the end there before the Corgi fiasco. But I had 6 orders in a row that got goofed up. When Amy finally called, no apology nothing but hers your refund, goodbye. When they screwup and then give up because of their own mistakes, thats really sad to see. Lost faith in MR after my much of nothing talk with Amy.
If you see the same thing with another company, thats rough. When the employees don't worry, it means they don't care about their own welfare from the job they hold. Moral and caring that is so low is a pretty good indicator of the product and service you are going to get. You do get a bad apple every once in awhile but when you start seeing multiple aspects of the business going bad, its not a great sign. I would sign it up to product quality control along with a very poor service rep not caring about the product they carry. See it multiple times like that and you know the company is on a slide down which can happen as a company tries to grow.

 

[Polsnulspace]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

I personally dont like SS full stop and its down to the 1:1 endoskull fiasco. I found them very unhelpful when I recieved a flawed skull. Anyhoo, after that, Ive placed three orders and cancelled all three. I hate the way they price their goods also. My most recent SS order was Ironman 1:1 bust.......its now been cancelled and reordered at Play.com.

 

[Jedi Dade]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

That is a real shame. I've never had any such problems with Sideshow. One of my buddies had a premium Format Dagobah Luke/Yoda that came with the fingers broken... they repalced it no fuss with a perfect one.

I agree though that all companies have problems with QA. If the customer service is quality as well though it can be a positive experience. MR had pretty good customer service in my experiences with them.

With Sideshow I do not have direct experience - but like I said my Buddy had no issues perhaps you caught the wrong person on a bad day...

Jedi Dade

 

[GF]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

you cant be serious?

ill never buy MR crap again

i have 3 sideshow pieces and all are fine, no issuses at all.

dont get me started on the junk i got from MR

z

Depends what you got, some dolls or simple looking props?

Got a MR Snowspeeder, AT-AT, Falcon, training remote, Boba Fett helmet ect... all came flawless, the assembly was super clean, no blobs of glue or rough spots, these are way more complex props than most of what Sideshow made to date.

The Falcon and At-At alone are way more complexe than a simple speeder bike, they should stick at producing large dolls, even then I heard some bad stories.

GFollano

 

[KnightAsylum]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

Wow, I have not heard bad things about them before like this. that sucks. This is one of the few items I would really love - yet is way out of my price range. BUT if I did spend the money I sure would want to get what I paid for.:thumbsdown

 

[KenKenobi2]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

I had a Hellboy Samaritan for a little while and was less than impressed by its build quality. Any skilled RPF'er IMHO could have built a better one. Sold it. This issue, while not surprising, is chracterized by customer service. I think going a level up on it is not a bad idea. Send something in writing to the the CEO's office, certified mail. That gets more attention than email.

Ken

 

[MR BARLOW]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

Have the Lugosi and Nosferatu premium figs . Fingers broke on both of em when arrived .
Pricing on things has gone through the roof and the extras w their exclusive figure have gotten really crappy especially for the price difference.

 

[fettster]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

I personally dont like SS full stop and its down to the 1:1 endoskull fiasco. I found them very unhelpful when I recieved a flawed skull. Anyhoo, after that, Ive placed three orders and cancelled all three. I hate the way they price their goods also. My most recent SS order was Ironman 1:1 bust.......its now been cancelled and reordered at Play.com.

i just cancelled my iron man bust with sideshow and ordered from play.com.

If nothing else, i have just saved myself over £100 wit sideshows shipping quote

 

[BobFett]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

I had some issues with my Speederbike as well - I had to bend the handlebar - my base had some problems. SS asked me to bust it up, send photos, and then they would send the replacement. The replacement came and wasn't much better.

I had some serious issues with my 1:1 Endo. They ended up making good on it as they replaced several parts and then discounted it.

I have bought several items from them and have had problems with every single one - ranging from minor to flat out "how the %$%$ did QC miss that?" :sick

 

[KnightAsylum]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

If anyone else needs to bust up there bike and throw it away...do it in a few big pieces and then send it to me:rolleyes Nothing some glue and bondo will not fix.

 

[rmschneider104]

Re: SIDESHOW quality control sucks!!!!!

I have purchased several Sideshow PFs over the years and have only had one problem, which they corrected just fine. Bummer to hear you are having these problems.