Free upgrade from "regular" to "exclusive"

[Blackthornone]

Good for business or not, I still say Sideshow should offer to upgrade the order to an exclusive at the exclusive cost. Sideshow isn't a major airline or Ticketmaster, they are a relatively small company who claims to pride themselves on having the best customer relations and service. This in my opinion is not holding themselves to that standard they claim to be all about, its a handshake to a one group of customers while a kick in the nuts to another group.

Is Sideshow sending out emails to all of the customers who paid full price for their EXs when they pre ordered? It sounds like some people are acting as if this is the case. If they wanted to insult their customers, THAT would be the real way to do it.
I think the ticket analogy is a reasonable one. In the end, people who preordered the EXs agreed to pay that price because they thought it was worth it. If Sideshow decides to offer EXs for less money later to people who bought the reg, then the people who preordered the EXs have no one to blame but themselves for missing out on a better deal. They agreed to pay more, so it's their own fault for paying more. For that matter, it's possible that such an EX might lose money on the secondary market anyway, due to lack of demand.
Should Sideshow simply offer a $10 rebate in rewards points to everyone who preordered the EX? That's a possible solution that would make everyone happy, except Sideshow.
Sideshow's product is more overpriced than ever. Hopefully they can see that and reduce the prices now.

 

[Blackthornone]

It is. I'd be livid if I was on the waitlist.

I wonder if it's really happening.

I doubt it. Why would Sideshow discount the EX to reg customers when they could offer them to wait listers for full price?

 

[risingstar]

I doubt it. Why would Sideshow discount the EX to reg customers when they could offer them to wait listers for full price?

Good point.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

I doubt it. Why would Sideshow discount the EX to reg customers when they could offer them to wait listers for full price?

True, unless they have exhausted the waitlist or are deciding to convert everyone retrospectively.

 

[Blackthornone]

True, unless they have exhausted the waitlist or are deciding to convert everyone retrospectively.

I think the word you are looking for is "retroactively".

 

[fuzzylojiks]

I think the word you are looking for is "retroactively".

Nope, make a retrospective decision to do something. As in look back and decide to make a change. But my point is clear, even tho I shot down the grammar police.

 

[kinqcuonq]

I'm surprised no one posted this in the Ask Sideshow Thread and voice your thoughts in a place where they can see them. Either that or we can all call SS on the same day and complain

 

[Enigma]

someone got a better deal. good for them!

 

[dombards]

It would be great to get the upgrade if you had missed out on the exclusive in the first place though!

 

[traylorc]

I see a number of people defending Sideshow saying its a sound business practice to increase profits, and that is true!

Selective breeding is a common scientific practice to increase the fittness or promote desirable traits of a species. Though, when Hitler decided to impliment the technique towards human beings...well we all know the end result.

I'm not comparing Sideshow to Hitler or saying these two events are on the same level of severity! My point, is that every "common practice" has its place, and places that it doesnt belong. Sideshow's "customer friendly" business practice is great, but it means they are held to a higher standard then other companies.

Think of it as Sideshow is a straight A student. When a C average student gets a B parents clap. When a straight A student gets a B parents worry. In other words, Sideshow is held to a higher standard then other "average" companies and thus are condemned faster for any minor failings!

To be honest, given some of the really questionable/shady practices that we have seen out of companies ranging from Enron to Lehman Brothers over the past few years...this whole "upgrade" deal feels mild in comparison. That's just my perspective, I'm not saying that everyone should feel the way I do.

How each of us interprets this business practice is going to depend on our perspective. To some consumers this practice feels "wrong" and deceptive. To those who own, manage, or finance businesses this practice may represent prudent inventory management. I re-iterate my point that manufacturers that maintain an abundance of stale inventory in today's economy risk put themselves at risk. Companies that want to survive in this economy had better implement some proactive, and aggressive inventory management practices. This does not apply just to SS, it applies to any manufacturer.

As a consumer what SS is doing bothers me...it feels "unfair". I get that. But the business side of me, understands why SS has implemented this business strategy. Every business strategy potential consequences...so SS better be able to handle the outrage as some customers are going to feel slighted.

 

[Theokan]

To be honest, given some of the really questionable/shady practices that we have seen out of companies ranging from Enron to Lehman Brothers over the past few years...this whole "upgrade" deal feels mild in comparison. That's just my perspective, I'm not saying that everyone should feel the way I do.

How each of us interprets this business practice is going to depend on our perspective. To some consumers this practice feels "wrong" and deceptive. To those who own, manage, or finance businesses this practice may represent prudent inventory management. I re-iterate my point that manufacturers that maintain an abundance of stale inventory in today's economy risk put themselves at risk. Companies that want to survive in this economy had better implement some proactive, and aggressive inventory management practices. This does not apply just to SS, it applies to any manufacturer.

As a consumer what SS is doing bothers me...it feels "unfair". I get that. But the business side of me, understands why SS has implemented this business strategy. Every business strategy potential consequences...so SS better be able to handle the outrage as some customers are going to feel slighted.

I agree here, and just to add to that..

Sideshow is giving this upgrade for free to a lucky few here, the only customers who complain about free stuff are the ones who missed it. Those of you who are complaining, if you were the lucky one getting a free upgrade, would you say no to it because "oh my principle is too great to allow such unfair practices... blah blah blah" No you won't, you'll just take it and feel lucky as it would probably have brighten up your day. If you can't allow this to happen to anyone else without getting an equally sweet deal yourself, then you're just being selfish. Even if you take aside the business perspective of things, the company here is offering someone something for free, how you see this as an act of evil just shows how little you understand about the world...

And I assure you, the $10, being such a minimal difference, has a lot to do with it. If the upgrade were a $50 difference, Sideshow will probably let it sit longer before offering other discounts to clear the stock, let alone even consider offering them for free, which is still an act of generosity if that somehow flew over your brain. Long story short, you guys are just over reacting over $10. If Sideshow can give away $10 to a lucky few, you can live with paying the $10 difference in retail that you signed up for.



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[Hulksmashed]

I agree here, and just to add to that..

Sideshow is giving this upgrade for free to a lucky few here, the only customers who complain about free stuff are the ones who missed it. Those of you who are complaining, if you were the lucky one getting a free upgrade, would you say no to it because "oh my principle is too great to allow such unfair practices... blah blah blah" No you won't, you'll just take it and feel lucky as it would probably have brighten up your day. If you can't allow this to happen to anyone else without getting an equally sweet deal yourself, then you're just being selfish. Even if you take aside the business perspective of things, the company here is offering someone something for free, how you see this as an act of evil just shows how little you understand about the world...

And I assure you, the $10, being such a minimal difference, has a lot to do with it. If the upgrade were a $50 difference, Sideshow will probably let it sit longer before offering other discounts to clear the stock, let alone even consider offering them for free, which is still an act of generosity if that somehow flew over your brain. Long story short, you guys are just over reacting over $10. If Sideshow can give away $10 to a lucky few, you can live with paying the $10 difference in retail that you signed up for.

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Now that's just nonsense. You can't pull the "would you turn it down" card. No one is going to turn down a favorable offer (a legal one anyway) and I don't believe anyone has claimed they would.

That being said, I'm not after the "deal". I'd be just as happy if NO ONE got a free upgrade. Myself included. If they offered it to me, would I take it? Yes, but if Sideshow asked me if they should extend offers like that to people I would say most definately not. Even if I would have been a potential recipient.

Still, I think you are missing the bigger picture. Only those that have ordered the non-exclusive are being offered the $10 reduction price. That's the issue. If they were randomly drawing names and offering those of us with exclusive orders the same deal, then all would be fair!! It's like holding a drawing for $1000 in a high school and saying only students with a B average or lower are eligible for the contest.

 

[darren1228]

Yup very stupid argument and he has no idea what we are arguing about. This is not a matter of a $10 difference but the principle behind how Sideshow is treating customers who were willing to pay more for the exclusive. And for those that don't believe that Sideshow is offering this deal I have asked about 3 people here and confirmed it (for the Carnage Comiquette, Jack Sparrow PF, and Ms. Marvel PF). There was also this posted

https://www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=109268
https://www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=108763&highlight=carnage

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

have they ever told what the ES is?

 

[Theokan]

Now that's just nonsense. You can't pull the "would you turn it down" card. No one is going to turn down a favorable offer (a legal one anyway) and I don't believe anyone has claimed they would.

That being said, I'm not after the "deal". I'd be just as happy if NO ONE got a free upgrade. Myself included. If they offered it to me, would I take it? Yes, but if Sideshow asked me if they should extend offers like that to people I would say most definately not. Even if I would have been a potential recipient.

Still, I think you are missing the bigger picture. Only those that have ordered the non-exclusive are being offered the $10 reduction price. That's the issue. If they were randomly drawing names and offering those of us with exclusive orders the same deal, then all would be fair!! It's like holding a drawing for $1000 in a high school and saying only students with a B average or lower are eligible for the contest.

But that's why you're being selfish. You would rather no one gets the deal, then to allow someone else to get it just because you're not qualities for it. You can't just be happy for that person instead? Move on with your life til the next time you're the one in the "select group" with the advantage. That's how the world evens out, if you didn't know it by now.

I get that it doesn't seem fair, but the next time you missed your chance on the exclusive and settle for the normal, you may be the lucky one who gets the free upgrade. If this is meant to help a B student to get an A, the next time you inevitably get a B/B+ you'll appreciate that same help, and in the end the world is a better place. you shouldn't feel mistreated by all this, but see it as an opportunity for you later down the road that there is still hope if you miss out on the exclusive.

And about the $10 difference, it does matters because if it were any higher, Sideshow wouldn't just give it away in the first place. The fact of the matter is, Sideshow charges us almost the same price between the normal and the EX, the true value lies on the exclusivity as opposed to the mere $10 difference in retail. They could have charged those people the $10 for the upgrade, and you wouldn't be complaining then, but $10 is so little compare to the true value of the EX that Sideshow just upgrades them with no extra charge. They assumed costumers who already have their EX secured wouldn't be turned off by this since it's such a minimal difference in retail. Sideshow is big enough to not milk the extra $10 off those people, You should at least be big enough to not be bothered by all this.

And to sum it up, getting the EX is more like getting into that VIP area, some people paid to get in, some people got in for free, some willing to pay but never got in. Same thing with Sideshow, you can pay retail for the EX, get it from BBTS for more if they have it, get a free upgrade from SSC based on chance, or pay second market price for it. But in the end you only pay what you agreed in order to join the exclusive club, and you should know there are always more than one way to get in. You guys are simply under the misconception that paying retail price directly from Sideshow is the cheapest way of getting the EX, which is not always true.

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[darren1228]

I gave Sideshow a call to voice my concerns and they were super helpful. Basically the manager explained to me that this promotion runs quite often for products that do not have sufficient pre-orders and mass cancellations. Not all regular orders were upgraded to exclusives (the number is more like 20). The manager understood my displeasure and offered to take $10 off my exclusive order.

 

[Hulksmashed]

I gave Sideshow a call to voice my concerns and they were super helpful. Basically the manager explained to me that this promotion runs quite often for products that do not have sufficient pre-orders and mass cancellations. Not all regular orders were upgraded to exclusives (the number is more like 20). The manager understood my displeasure and offered to take $10 off my exclusive order.

And with that, the problem dissapears. I'm not gonna bother calling over $10, but the fact that they were willing to work with you nullifies the problem.

 

[darren1228]

And with that, the problem dissapears. I'm not gonna bother calling over $10, but the fact that they were willing to work with you nullifies the problem.

Someone also emailed and got the $10 so I would still email if I were you. I still don't like this practice but it does make me feel a little better knowing that not all regular orders were upgraded.

 

[goldbuffalo]

Someone also emailed and got the $10 so I would still email if I were you. I still don't like this practice but it does make me feel a little better knowing that not all regular orders were upgraded.

So I guess Carnage is going the way of Sabretooth and not Venom.