Here's the link greg:

http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/it ... 37204.html

Yeah nowhere does it say missing removable heads. All it says is header is damaged, if you use google translator it only comes up with this:

Bag header damaged pain header bag: Monster Battle Set Sandaga Ira

I'd contact Mandarake and complain. Get them to sort something out as there is no mention of the heads being missing and no set were sold without the heads. Seems bizarre someone would just gank the heads!

Pulling out some big guns now. This is my kryptonite.






T-28 is at the top for me collecting-wise, and the M1 versions are sublime. There is nothing about them I do not love. One of those toys I can really not only be a kid playing with, but can just stare at for hours and enjoy too.

Thanks man. I did contact them. Let's see what happens.

Yeah, it is definitely their fault Greg, the description should have been made very clear. One thing though, for future reference to other folks out there reading this, you can clearly tell this is a re-pack. While I know sometimes packages can be re-stapled, and with Japanese headers this way, you can't always tell for certain a toy is 'mint,' you can clearly see this is not 'brand new, sealed' because the bag is so loose around the top, the extra crinkle lines in the baggie, and how it comes out the side of the header. M1-Go would never sell anything looking like that. A few M1 toys I have purchased have been opened and re-sealed, but usually this is mentioned in the listing.

But still, even being opened, they have to describe it as being incomplete. Though, as I have said in the past, they do sometimes fall back on the "AS IS" and "photo for reference" disclaimer. Hope you have some luck with it. I am sure they will do a refund for you if you want it, as it was probably an honest mistake.

One thing I would just add is that you do have to be careful sometimes. In the worst of cases I have seen certain unscrupulous people (I won't name names, but they are out there for anyone paying attention) re-selling figures without mentioning they have been re-stapled, and worst of all, missing the mini figures inside and not saying a thing about it. Sucks that we have to deal with this kind of thing, but in any collecting hobby there are those who will take advantage.

Wow...I never realized the vinyl had glitter. I always liked the Nostalgic Heroes version better but I may have to get the M1 version as well

^ Yeah, this one was from a pair (with a Black Ox figure) that were released for one of the laserdisc exclusives. I actually prefer this version Kevin, so I guess now we are just gonna have to fight.

I am guessing that what probably happened in this case is that the previous owner wanted the actors' heads to go on other Gargantua bodies, so they kept them to swap out on other toys. I wouldn't get too worried just yet Greg, but I know it is incredibly frustrating. Mandarake is good about helping people out though - you might just lose on the shipping (which is not nothing, I know). You could get a full refund even [in addition to the figures], as this has happened in the past, but it depends on how much cost they are willing to eat. It is not like they don't have the pockets for it.

I hope so. I will let you guys know what they say.

So Mandarake got back to me and said the picture is what the item is that I bought I tried to explain that this item was never released without the 2 heads but all they said was if it came with "extras" they would have showed it in the photo. Guess I'm stuck with an incomplete set. Great,ugh.

Greg, I'm sorry to hear that. I have been hesitant to say that my first (and so far only) purchase from Mandarake was bittersweet; I bought a Toygraph Goji that didn't say it had any problems*. Here's the only photo that they posted:



What you can't see from that angle is a severe warping of the whole torso, like he got warm and was squeezed in your hand and then plunged into cool water to set it. I didn't even try to get a refund honestly, because I'm hoping to de-warp him at some point. But he's my X-Mas Godzilla!

*Google translation of the title/description is "[Complex (Akihabara) Store] ■ TOY ■ toy graph Godzilla Chronicle series standard size first generation Godzilla 2010 Sufesu". Sorry for the derail folks!

Well another email just asked if I would be happy with a 1000 yen refund. Doubt I'm gonna find the other heads for $10 anywhere.

They're rarely understanding with problems like that. I once bought a toy that was advertized as "red" and red in the picture... But it was clearly purple in hand. They said the maker called it red, so they couldn't do anything about it. Mandarake. Love them. Hate them.

My rule of thumb with Mandarake is that if it is out of the bag and priced too good to be true, you can expect damage they are not showing in the pic. Most of the time they let you know if something is wrong. Most but certainly not all of the time.

Any good feelings I had toward Mandarake died when I saw this nearly 300% mark-up
http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/item_s-1570838.html
sorry for further derailing, but FU Mandarake

I mean, just check out their new logo

To be fair though, I doubt Mandarake staffers go to events and buy toys with the intention to resell. Given that they buy toys at a fraction of the price people would get for them on YJA or eBay, I can only assume people that are desperate for money RIGHT NOW are their main source of toys, or people with huge collections that can't be bothered to parcel them out.

Mandarake is an exception, as long as they keep the doors open. A lot of stuff they sell insanely cheap, occasionally they get a hyped toy and try to make a little money. If Mandarake closed, this hobby would be done.

They usually have posters at all their branches announcing what they're looking for and how much they'd pay, and the items on the list are the usual suspects: nags, bemons, etc.

I have over half my toys because of Mandarake. Now if only they would do hold boxes. I know they are too big for that though.

Well I asked for a refund which they will do this one time only but here's the best line of the email:
"The faces are bonus items, and not actually part of the original retail item". Uh yeah it was part of the item. Im gonna lose shipping to and fro but since I'm still going to be looking for this set with the extra heads anyway it will be worth it.

Glad you got your refund greg. While Mandarake might flip hyped toys, and I certainly don't dig their penchant for buying vintage on YJA for resale at jacked rates, I've never really had any issue with their customer service. Certainly we would all have a lot less toys in our collections if they were not around (especially since no one really sells via pre order stateside anymore). The "one time only" statement might be more of an insurance on their part so everyone does not start asking for refunds on the tiniest of defect, and of course to save face a little bit. It does sound like that rep did not know much about the set though because the heads were definitely not a 'bonus'.

Happy you are getting your money back Greg. It is too bad you have to lose out on the shipping on top of it all, but like you said, best to just get a proper set later on which is what you wanted to begin with. I do still think Mandarake is pretty good, despite occasional bad practices, and this was an honest mistake. Having shopped many times at the Osaka stores, I can say firsthand that the customer service there is excellent - far better than I received in Tokyo - and this was probably an isolated case. I think their one time disclaimer is the same as their warning emails, just something they do regularly to weed out abuse of the system. As for replacing the set, I'll let you know if I see one come up. It took me a while to grab mine, mainly because of timing and circumstances matching up, but they do appear for sale from time to time.

that's a nice T-28 steve

I am sure greg's case is genuine and at least mandarake did do something about it.
Over the years in this hobby, i have quite a few friends in manda. They get abused quite a bit for their online sales. Paypal disputes, folks who get the items intact but claim missing parts, etc etc etc.
sometimes i wonder why they even bother to do online orders and especially to overseas.
Of course i know most of their premium hyped items, especially sofvi, goes to international market so this is important lifeline for them.
Manda is a business not charity hence they are measured by profits down to the various sections within manda. Sofvi has lost a bit of clout.
It is only natural they try to maximise profits on certain premium hot items.
Usually they pay high prices for these as well.
I am sure we noticed as well that 'over priced' items to sit in their inventory so they do carry quite a bit of risks.
Anyway, i share joeman view, if manda is gone, this hobby suffers.

Pre-order green Kanegon and GID Barunga have shipped out. Can't wait to open the box when I get home.