Deposits on Exclusive Pre-Orders: Sideshow's New Policy?

[Enigma]

Are you not understanding my point? Throw past exchange/return/refund experiences out the window. According to Chicky's description of this new policy Sideshow will now have the discretion to say that a sub-par painted statue in production is not technically a manufacturing defect and thus could issue "exchange options" instead of a full refund. That is horrible and flies in the face of what the company has stood for up until now. It also shows that they're more willing to tweak their Customer Service policies than they are to get off their asses and fix these production/QC issues in the first place. This is bad.

if you did not have problems with returns/exchanges before you will not have problems now.

their policy has not changed from the current return policy.

 

[choopie]

This would be even worse, imo. This would do nothing but punish the customer. The deposit is a happy medium, assuming QC issues were in order.

Yeah, you got a point. Either way, the customer is being punished in some form or another.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

Are you not understanding my point? Throw past exchange/return/refund experiences out the window. According to Chicky's description of this new policy Sideshow will now have the discretion to say that a sub-par painted statue in production is not technically a manufacturing defect and thus could issue "exchange options" instead of a full refund. That is horrible and flies in the face of what the company has stood for up until now. It also shows that they're more willing to tweak their Customer Service policies than they are to get off their asses and fix these production/QC issues in the first place. This is bad.

Yes this is some crazy thought here. Basically, if they don't feel like giving a full refund they can decide that a bad paint job isn't a direct result of quality control and find some loophole (shipping, improper handling on the customer's side) to bypass the refund process. I've never asked for a refund yet from SS, but as long as they can remedy an obvious mistake that I am not responsible for I'm not picky with what they do.

 

[kl241]

Don't mind if I do...

There's gotta be at LEAST 15 infractions right there!

 

[choopie]

Yes this is some crazy thought here. Basically, if they don't feel like giving a full refund they can decide that a bad paint job isn't a direct result of quality control and find some loophole (shipping, improper handling on the customer's side) to bypass the refund process. I've never asked for a refund yet from SS, but as long as they can remedy an obvious mistake that I am not responsible for I'm not picky with what they do.

To me there should be obvious guidelines put in place on their web site in terms of what constitutes refunds and what constitutes an exchange. Rather than taking the almighty approach of "whatever we decide goes."

I agree with Sideshow that not liking a pose is a matter of personal taste and not subject to a refund. Something like changes between prototype and production, which would include poor paint apps, manufacturing defects like obvious repairs, and breaks, chips, paint flaws, etc. would be open to refunds or exchanges per the customer's choosing.

 

[IrishJedi]

if you did not have problems with returns/exchanges before you will not have problems now.

their policy has not changed from the current return policy.

Then you're not reading what I'm reading in Chicky's post...

Keep in mind that minor differences are not considered a manufacturing flaw as all of our items are molded, assembled, painted, dressed and boxed by hand. In cases where Sideshow believes there is not a manufacturer’s defect but the complaint is a question of one’s personal taste, we offer the client exchange options.

 

[divo]

Are you not understanding my point? Throw past exchange/return/refund experiences out the window. According to Chicky's description of this new policy Sideshow will now have the discretion to say that a sub-par painted statue in production is not technically a manufacturing defect and thus could issue "exchange options" instead of a full refund. That is horrible and flies in the face of what the company has stood for up until now. It also shows that they're more willing to tweak their Customer Service policies than they are to get off their asses and fix these production/QC issues in the first place. This is bad.

Excellent point! Now what can we to keep Sideshow honest!?

 

[fuzzylojiks]

The reduced ES will ultimately bring back the limitability of Sideshow's products. Without ES bloating, you'll see a return of grails and reduction of products sitting and clogging the warehouse.

No doubt there are other factors involved for stock being stuck like price, art direction, scale, quality etc. of the statues.

I think judgement of Chicky's comments as anything but constructive and an extension and affirment of the current return policy seems premature. I doubt there will be any change or refusal for returns if the customer has a valid point. Their CS department seems very good so far from my experience.

Personally, I see QC as an issue but one I've not had much problems with that in the statue department. (Not sure about 1/6 but Chicky says that this won't extend to that).

I see this a positive for the hobby in the long term without people cancelling left and right and increasing ES creating an unrealistic number that exceeds the current market demands.

 

[IrishJedi]

Excellent point! Now what can we to keep Sideshow honest!?

Unfortunately, only not ordering from them in the first place. They're all but removing the rest.

You'd think mass cancellations at shipping time on things like the Rambo PF would teach them that they need to step up their game on some items. Instead they react by implementing new policies like this? Like I said, I'm insulted.

 

[Enigma]

stop being worry warts.

 

[kl241]

stop being worry warts.

Stop being a troll.

 

[IrishJedi]

The reduced ES will ultimately bring back the limitability of Sideshow's products. Without ES bloating, you'll see a return of grails and reduction of products sitting and clogging the warehouse.

No doubt there are other factors involved for stock being stuck like price, art direction, scale, quality etc. of the statues.

I think judgement of Chicky's comments as anything but constructive and an extension and affirment of the current return policy seems premature. I doubt there will be any change or refusal for returns if the customer has a valid point. Their CS department seems very good so far from my experience.

Personally, I see QC as an issue but one I've not had much problems with that in the statue department. (Not sure about 1/6 but Chicky says that this won't extend to that).

I see this a positive for the hobby in the long term without people cancelling left and right and increasing ES creating an unrealistic number that exceeds the current market demands.

You are way too preoccupied with things like Edition Sizes, imho. There are much bigger fish to fry here.

 

[Enigma]

chicky is trying to help you guys. why jump on the message. they do all they can to help customers.

 

[Randy_S]

The reduced ES will ultimately bring back the limitability of Sideshow's products. Without ES bloating, you'll see a return of grails and reduction of products sitting and clogging the warehouse.

How so? Many of the items considered grails have edition sizes larger than what's out now. Cap ex, Green Hulk, Doom ex and regular sell for so much now because they were done well. A grail isn't by numbers, it's making a product that nearly everyone wants. just look at white Electra com, there's only 150 made yet not that many people even care about it.

 

[IrishJedi]

chicky is trying to help you guys. why jump on the message. they do all they can to help customers.

Chicky is awesome. We're not taking issue with her at all. We are, however, taking issue with the message (new policy). Because it sucks.

 

[The Mike]

Personally, I see QC as an issue but one I've not had much problems with that in the statue department. (Not sure about 1/6 but Chicky says that this won't extend to that).

Let's broaden our horizons. Can we agree that the root issue here is bloated ES and overstock in the warehouse? That this policy is extended to root out that problem?

Then, this as of now doesn't extend into the 1/6 figures. That doesn't mean that they aren't part of the problem because while they take up less space, space is space and an overabundance of 1/6 figures still creates a problem for Sideshow. This is a policy beginning with the bigger ticket items because in all honesty they lose more money there. Money though is money and once they stop the bleeding in the statues can one really think that they'll just stop and still overstock 1/6 figures out of the goodness of their hearts?

Now QC is a major issue, can we agree to that? Let's make the generalization that its more a 1/6 issue than a statue issue, even though that point is debatable, let's just go with that. So...it will still be an issue until that is directly handled right?

Eventually this policy if aimed at reducing both ES and overstock will go towards all products because that minimizes losses. They won't just stop at statues. The thing is if Sideshow handles QC now, then if/when it does go there it'll be a non-issue instead of raging its fierce head at that turning point.

Now I personally disagree with it being only a 1/6 issue I've seen multiple examples on these boards and others in all formats and scales but its still a problem that should have been dealt with in its entirety before any policys about ordering/canceling went through because as of right now anything I order from Sideshow still has that Russian Roulette factor despite scale, direct or not and that is the bigger issue here that is bleeding into this one.

 

[Boba Ben]

Stop making Scarlet Witch statues with boob bridges and then I will agree with this decision. Until then, it doesn't seem fair.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

How so? Many of the items considered grails have edition sizes larger than what's out now. Cap ex, Green Hulk, Doom ex and regular sell for so much now because they were done well. A grail isn't by numbers, it's making a product that nearly everyone wants. just look at white Electra com, there's only 150 made yet not that many people even care about it.

Doing it well, giving it time and whether there is a character out in another incarnation or not also factor into that. Elektra is recently released, had a red exclusive and regular and also a PF done. Look how the new IM impacted the secondary market price of the old one. Many different editions also factor into that. Venom seems to be doing well on the aftermarket.

That's only part of the equation anyways, whether you agree with that statement or not, you are entitled to your opinion as I am mine so we can agree to disagree. If they keep going along this track of mass cancellations resulting in edition size bloating, you're going to have tons of product spilling over in the warehouse which is what they are trying to avoid.

 

[The Mike]

You can't add aftermarket value into this equation whilst important to some (I personally could care less) its a non-issue for Sideshow since they've already made their money and aren't getting a cut of the resale. I guarantee while Sideshow loves to hear that they have collector grails out there, as a company it doesn't impact any kind of decision making sure Tom, John and Harry can sell it on eBay for anymore than retail price.

 

[Randy_S]

True, but making products people really want makes a difference.