I just don’t get it. There’s a certain toy dealer - whom I won’t name out of respect for his longevity in the field and the friends I know he’s amassed in the community – who I have nothing but bad luck with. The first time I tried to use his services, many years back, I waited for months after the initial transaction before e-mailing him only to find that he’d totally forgotten about me. Were it not for my diligence in keeping track of our e-mails and my payment receipts I don’t think he would have believed me. Even then, after my little reminder, it took him a few more months to get my items to me. I probably shouldn’t have judged him on that one transaction but, due to it, I steered wide of him thereafter despite the number of folks I heard singing his praises. As I got to know more folks in the community, I also began to hear stories of this dealer padding shipping fees – sometimes outrageously – yet the buyers in question just shrugged it off, singing the dealer’s praises outside the fact that he was gouging them with shipping. Earlier this year I got stupid and decided to try the dealer again. He mentioned a toy that I wanted, a limited item, and, after many assurances on his part that he could get me one, I bit. The festival the toy was released at occurs a few days later and I watch the toys from it begin appearing on Y!JP. After a couple of weeks of watching the toy in question go down in price in auctions, I contact the up-‘til-then silent dealer to see what the status of my order is. “Don’t worry.” I am told. “My agent got you one. I’ll have it in the mail to you by the 27th of this month. Thank you for your patience.” Cool! The 27th comes and goes. I contact the dealer again. “My agent was unable to get you the toy. They were limited and sold out. He knows someone at the company, however, and will get you one through them. He will be back in two weeks. Thank you for your patience.” Okay. Fine. Two weeks pass, I contact the dealer. “It will be in the mail to you by the 27th of this month.” Wow. Deja-vu. Alright. The 27th comes and goes. I contact the dealer again. “My agent is having trouble getting the toy. He knows someone at the company, though, and I am confident we will have it for you in two weeks. Thank you for your patience.” I allow more than two weeks to pass. By now I’ve picked up a clear and glow version of the toy and, to be honest, I almost don’t even want the black glitter version anymore. What I want is service. Answers. Maybe a refund? Something. Anything! I e-mail the dealer, mentioning that three months have passed since I sent him payment at his assurance he could get me the toy. “My agent is still getting the toy for you. It was very limited, you know. He has a good friend at the company, and we should have it for you by the 27th of this next month. Thank you for your patience.” Yeah. Right.
I really don't want to say the person's name. I know, I know, I should do so to protect others but, uh, this guy is near legendary in Japanese toy-collecting circles. Those old-schoolers who can guess, know, and that's all I'm willing to say. Guess I'm just venting . . . = P
