Tamashii Soul of Chogokin C-3PO & R2-D2

[thorskywalker]

After my experience with Sideshow I'd avoid ebay sellers like the plague. With SSC I at least got the option of a full refund, even if I wasn't able to get a replacement. Would you have the same guarantee with your ebay seller?

My two cents is that you should spend the extra 10% and pick this up from HLJ, who will be able to - at the very least - refund you if you are unlucky enough to have problems with the figure. It doesn't seem like issues are widespread, but at least a few folks here have had one issue or another.

I am in the process of getting a refund from SSC, but in the meantime I picked up one from HLJ. Not a single issue with it.

And for me this thing is worth the money - it really is an outstanding piece.

Your comments really made me rethink my ebay purchase.. the good thing was that I have a friend coming from US (I am in Europe) and she will bring it to me personally so 0 customs fees etc.. If I order through HLJ, I will also end up paying a lot of customs fees because as far as I know, they never declare the value lower than actual value.. However, you are right, if the ebay seller screws me, paypal might refund me but that process takes ages and there is always a huge risk... I don't know.. with over 4.000 feedback and at over 99% positive, the guys seems credible enough.. Very hard decision...

 

[Husker75]

Ok guys.. so get this..

As you know, I had my five flaws on my first 3po from sideshow.. returned it, didn't take forever, but wasn't a short short process either.. get my second figure.. has two pretty major flaws, was not in plastic, and after two weeks of waiting for a response from the returns department, I got nothing. Finally I called, and spoke to daniel. Daniel and I talked for a bit.

I basically got this information.

Despite the fact that the figure is in stock, they will not replace your figure with one that is in stock if it is damaged. He didn't say this, but it was pretty easy to tell based on my options. I asked why mine was open, and out of plastic wrap. He said they inspected it. I said, well, if you guys inspected it, you suck, because the flaws were front and center, and VERY noticeable. You didn't even have to pick him out of the box to see them. After some careful wording, I was told that what I got for my second figure was the best of what they had from their replacement allotment. Basically, they have set aside a few figures, and only a few, to use for spare parts. Most of the perfect ones were used up quickly by those of you who got to them faster.

So I asked him what my options were. He said the old let me see pictures, and i'll see what we have here, and maybe we can replace those two parts for you, and then you can mail them back to us, and you'll have a good figure. So I did. And I waited.

After over another week of waiting, daniel just wrote me to tell me that they have no more from what is available that are in better condition than what I have sent photos of.(and yet figure is still easily in stock on the website)..

My options were a 25 dollar credit, or a 30 dollar refund, or send back the figure with an RMA for a refund.

At this point, since I used over a hundred in rewards points, i'm clarifying what he told me last week that I get those back with the refund, and i'm returning this thing.

Not only will I get my rewards points back, but I'm gonna order from HLJ and just get the figure for 100 dollars cheaper than sideshow. And at this point, whatever they send me will be less damaged (hopefully) than what sideshow is willing to do for its customers who have issues with this figure.

Majorly upset, and majorly solidified in my position to stop ordering from sideshow directly ever again. I'm gonna find something to use my points on when they come back, and then i'm done, I don't care how exclusive something is. The service sucks now for the price you are paying. I'd rather go with alter ego or something and get great service and care, with a great price.

The fact that it took me like a month to just get them to tell me they were not gonna give me a new figure, because they don't feel like it, really upsets me. Just really poor business.

So if you have a damaged 3PO from sideshow, don't wait through the process. Just return it and buy it elsewhere. So dumb.

I'm ordering from HLJ now, even if it is gonna be a while before I see that refund. alskdfsldjfsldjf..

so frustrating.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

While I understand your pain, I also understand that not being he manufacturer of these sideshows hands are somewhat tied, also being a longer term collector on these boards you'll know that the sideshow returns/replacement policy has been somewhat abused over the years by collectors, which in any good economic model had to change at some point. Ps not saying you are one of them. I'm sure yours is a genuine claim on this expensive piece

 

[thorskywalker]

Thank you everyone for your replies. After reading Husker's message, I am getting further away from purchasing this figure. I am actually disappointed to hear when someone calls something 'perfect' in their advertising, and the production has so many flaws, I don't get 'what part of it' is perfect... I sent a message to the ebay seller requesting him to open the box and check for defects.. and I even sent him photos I collected from this thread to show major defects.. He did not even bother reply.. as far as I understand, many of these evilbay sellers have defected products and they are trying to sell these asap...

I guess I will stop collecting 1:6 and sell all my stuff, and focus on replica props etc...

Husker, I HOPE with all my heart your HLJ purchase will be a perfect figure. I have been practising aikido for over 10 years and I have had many dealings with Japanese people.. when it comes to customer service, they have a different sense of 'ethics' and I can guarantee you, even if the figure arrives damaged, they will make sure you get something perfect without any excuses...

 

[dsokyra]

Wow...glad I read this thread today...was about to pull the trigger on this guy and replace my Medicom 3po, but now I'm not so sure. Not worth it if that many have defects.

Ps...any word on when R2 will be out?

 

[joebizz34]

Thank you everyone for your replies. After reading Husker's message, I am getting further away from purchasing this figure. I am actually disappointed to hear when someone calls something 'perfect' in their advertising, and the production has so many flaws, I don't get 'what part of it' is perfect... I sent a message to the ebay seller requesting him to open the box and check for defects.. and I even sent him photos I collected from this thread to show major defects.. He did not even bother reply.. as far as I understand, many of these evilbay sellers have defected products and they are trying to sell these asap...

I guess I will stop collecting 1:6 and sell all my stuff, and focus on replica props etc...

Husker, I HOPE with all my heart your HLJ purchase will be a perfect figure. I have been practising aikido for over 10 years and I have had many dealings with Japanese people.. when it comes to customer service, they have a different sense of 'ethics' and I can guarantee you, even if the figure arrives damaged, they will make sure you get something perfect without any excuses...

Wow...glad I read this thread today...was about to pull the trigger on this guy and replace my Medicom 3po, but now I'm not so sure. Not worth it if that many have defects.

Ps...any word on when R2 will be out?

Honestly guys, I wouldn't let some bad experiences cause you to give up on 1/6 all together or pass on this particular figure if deep down you want him. For every bad experience, there are probably 3 or 4 times that of people who received the figure fine. I bought one off eBay and didn't think twice because I wanted the figure. If I buy something and there is an issue, then I deal with it. One time I bought a SS Tusken Raider from them and it showed up with missing parts. I contacted them, and they took care of it. Believe it or not, the people who post here make up a small percentage of what's happening around the world. I'm sure there are plenty of happy customers who received this figure that don't even post here. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Lejuan]

Honestly guys, I wouldn't let some bad experiences cause you to give up on 1/6 all together or pass on this particular figure if deep down you want him. For every bad experience, there are probably 3 or 4 times that of people who received the figure fine. I bought one off eBay and didn't think twice because I wanted the figure. If I buy something and there is an issue, then I deal with it. One time I bought a SS Tusken Raider from them and it showed up with missing parts. I contacted them, and they took care of it. Believe it or not, the people who post here make up a small percentage of what's happening around the world. I'm sure there are plenty of happy customers who received this figure that don't even post here. Just my 2 cents.

For all the trouble I went through with SSC - and by 'all' I mean by first world standards of entitlement - finally getting a minty-fresh figure a couple of days ago from HLJ put everything in perspective. This figure is a keeper. Long after I've forgotten the hassle of exchange of emails, phone calls and photo documentation, this awesome piece will be standing on my shelf making me feel awesome.

 

[Husker75]

I know some people probably abused returns policies in the past. But this figure is incredible. However, with that perfection comes the inevitable flaws, which can be numerous with a shiny finish on metal like this figure has. As a result, sideshow should have had an ample reserve of figures set up for returns and exchanges, or at least parts to do swap outs for damages. But they don't. And despite having a large in stock portion, they are unwilling to send out a new figure as a replacement. that is very sad.

it's a very expensive figure, and maybe deservingly so. it's amazing, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. It's absolutely worth owning. But the finish just makes it hard to get a perfect one in some cases. Not impossible.

Don't let the pictures and flaws of some of our figures sway you from getting it. In some cases, a lot of the flawed figures are just being boxed back up and sent out to others, and then they think they have a flawed figure themselves. In truth, someone else probably got my first figure with its five issues a long time ago, which is a shame. That, or they did eventually part it out.

I've never dealt with HLJ, but i've started the process. I tried to pay with paypal, and it said my order was complete.. but I never entered any paypal or card information.. from what I can gather, they send you that when they are ready to charge you? am I right? Any help anyone can give me on that end is appreciated!

still very excited to get a great 3po, hopefully from HLJ! I'm gonna keep going till I get one, because it's an amazing figure with amazing potential (but with that comes the possibility of flaws).

 

[Lejuan]

I've never dealt with HLJ, but i've started the process. I tried to pay with paypal, and it said my order was complete.. but I never entered any paypal or card information.. from what I can gather, they send you that when they are ready to charge you? am I right? Any help anyone can give me on that end is appreciated!

I agree, I can't believe a figure this complex and with this finish didn't end up with far more issues than it apparently has. It'd be interesting (though not interesting enough for me to bother doing it ) to go back through this thread to see whether there's a pattern regarding where the QC issues are slipping in, ie SSC, HLJ, amiami etc.

I went with the paypal option with HLJ also. They charged it within a day or so and sent out the figure shortly after that. They are a first-class store, I can't believe I didn't just go with them to begin with.

 

[r3dPyramid]

I ordered mine from eBay and, my figure is pristine. I have yet to receive a faulty figure from sideshow though. I have on the other hand received faulty figures from Medicom so, I feel for you guys.

 

[DCFett]

I've followed this thread from the beginning and was one of the first to pull the trigger here from SS's stock, back before the first low quantity alert. There are not that many members with issues. I think maybe 4-7 folks in total ranging from broken neck piece, to wonky pistons, to some irregular paint application. Out of all the people who have posted in this thread, I'd say that's a miniscule percentage of folks with issues. Plus, those issues are pretty evenly spread with HLJ, SS, and Ami. From the history here, folks have gotten small refunds from HLJ and Ami but no replacements alltogether. So the fact that SS is trying to offer some replacement parts is a little better, but just not a consolation considering the higher price.

That said, it would seem to me on an overwhelming average, the figures are "perfect", but mileage may vary. All three major sellers aren't bursting at the seams and bending over backwards to get the most perfect figure in collectors hands. I think SS is getting a bit of a ribbing because the folks who have had problems figured that they'd get the typicall award winning SS CS, but it's not really going that way as they are really responding how they use to in the old HT days.

IMH, I'd definitely get it, and if I had a problem with mine and SS was reluctant to replace the parts, I'd get a full refund from them and then buy it again...with my points. Just saying...

 

[dsokyra]

Thanks for the feedback guys...Now I think I'm gonna order it! It looks pretty awesome...any word on the ETA for R2?

 

[Hydeous]

A tamashii rep during the toy fair a few months ago told me they are expecting R2 for 2014.

 

[dsokyra]

Oh wow...it's still a way off. Thanks Hydeous!

 

[Lejuan]

IMH, I'd definitely get it, and if I had a problem with mine and SS was reluctant to replace the parts, I'd get a full refund from them and then buy it again...with my points. Just saying...

I thought you lost your points for a purchase when a refund is issued? Plus there is a lag time between the actual purchase and when the points can be activated isn't there?

Thanks for the feedback guys...Now I think I'm gonna order it! It looks pretty awesome...any word on the ETA for R2?

The period from the first con pics of 3PO to the actual release was reasonably quick, like 6 months. Hopefully POs will go up in the next month or two for a January/February 2014 release. Hopefully

 

[Raymond F.]

It definitely makes it harder to enjoy this figure without r2 here's hoping he comes out soon and looks better than he did in the display

 

[Hydeous]

Im kinda tempted on getting him now, since ive broken my SW collecting rule i set up for myself

 

[VintijDroidGutzz]

It definitely makes it harder to enjoy this figure without r2..

Why?

I'm enjoying mine perfectly fine on it's own so far thanks.

 

[DCFett]

I thought you lost your points for a purchase when a refund is issued? Plus there is a lag time between the actual purchase and when the points can be activated isn't there?

Typically, but I thought someone said they negotiated to get their points back? If you cant, then sure, going somewhere else is a must.

 

[dsokyra]

Does anyone know if they fixed R2's dome?