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Ouch, that gets sigged.

Dude, "rip your head off" could be a sexual advance!

Call him back!

Call him back!

(Him = me, or maybe Hellfury)

Yeah, some people shouldn't be allowed near communication systems.

/whistles innocently

Who honestly called him at 2 am?

Either way, I think I can safely say I'll never play "the Drop Zone" roulette.

Robert

We'll see, if the box turns up I'll take everythng back....I'll never shop with you again....but maybe I'll belive you had difficulties......

IF the box turns up!

Posted By Delephont on 03/18/2007 5:31 AM

Robert

We'll see, if the box turns up I'll take everythng back....I'll never shop with you again....but maybe I'll belive you had difficulties......

IF the box turns up!

Some how I do not belive you are that type of person, now if I was not a God fearing man I would wish that you had a family memeber or a child drop dead so you could see what turmoil it can cause in your life. but having had to bury a family member I can tell you I would never wish that on anyone.

At the end of the day you are simply the type of person who does not trust others. That is a horrible way to go though life and I hope you trust in God to change that. Some how I suspect that no matter what TDZ does to solve this issue will not be enough and you will continue to complain and whine.

Beowolfthehunter:

Customer dont care. I work retail. They dont want excuses, only results.

If he communicated more and better, it helps when you have difficulties, people would understand. But from what I gather, he didnt.

Sorry he had personal difficulties, but in the end, customers dont want excuses, only results.

First of all, I understand everyone is human, mistakes happen! People we love pass on....its tragic and when this happens, for some of us, our world grinds to a halt and we nothing more than to take some time out and reconsider our lot in life.

beowulfthehunter.

What do you know about this issue? and who are you to judge what type of person I am? If you're as God fearing as you suggest then take some time out from the internet and read some more of the Bible, theres some interesting stuff in there about judging others. Why you see a need to bring God into this equation is beyond my comprehension. I'm the sort of person who doesn't trust...hmm, well hey my God fearing neighbour, I have a great idea....lets test your trust shall we!

Right, you loud mouth, this is how we'll do it! You send me, via paypal $198....now, when Robert sends me the dark Angel army set he promised me ( if I payed him on time! ) I'll send the boxed set on to you.

Right I'll sit by my computer and wait for your trust to kick in......idiot!

...*whistles while waiting for beowulf to send the money*...

I have a strong suspicion beowulfthehunter is TDZ. I'd love for a mod to do an IP check...

Posted By Flagg07 on 03/18/2007 4:12 PM
I have a strong suspicion beowulfthehunter is TDZ. I'd love for a mod to do an IP check

Sure mods please do, anything more to make you guys look like the dumb asses you are.

Wow, you're SO right beowulf. It's OUR fault so many people don't have stuff they paid for, and it's OUR fault that Robert hasn't returned a helluva lot of PM's, emails, and phone calls.

I'm cool with Robert now (assuming my sabol is coming soon) - but beowulf, you're an idiot. If you don't like it here at dakkadakka, feel free to leave and find Anderton - you two would get along great.

Posted By chuckyhol on 03/18/2007 7:17 PM
Wow, you're SO right beowulf. It's OUR fault so many people don't have stuff they paid for, and it's OUR fault that Robert hasn't returned a helluva lot of PM's, emails, and phone calls.

I'm cool with Robert now (assuming my sabol is coming soon) - but beowulf, you're an idiot. If you don't like it here at dakkadakka, feel free to leave and find Anderton - you two would get along great.

I actully like Dakka, I use to be a member back in the day. What I do not like are a bunch of cowards posting this guys private info all over the web because they had to wait a few extra weeks.

Yes it is bad form to drop everything to deal with a family crisis but what I find funny are people who have been told he is not in the office/store yet complaining he does not contact them. Then for some one to question his situation, gee what do you want him to do, send you the mass card for the woman or better yet, I bet you would like a small zip-lock bag of her cremains to flock your bases with.

I am sorry, I am sorry If I am the only one with balls here to say this is wrong!

Your drama is a tad over the top, Beowulf. Yep, I agree that if people were calling him at 2 am, that was out of line.

Of course, he was weeks late with peoples orders BEFORE he had a death in the family. So while unfortunate, it also doesn't excuse more than part of the problem.

And it doesn't excuse him making up stories about his GW rep messing up his orders.

Fact of the matter is, everyone has to deal with deaths in their family at some point. If you're in business for yourself, you have to deal with everything while still running your business. It's something that comes with being your own boss, especially if you have no one else working for you, and especially in a situation where people have paid you and are waiting on product. Not communicating with people makes it worse.

Your defense of him, with no post count before this started, is of course going to make you a target, with some people assuming you are associated with TDZ. No way to prove one way or another, but it's something you have to put up with when you appear out of nowhere, and are a bit..shrill.. in your arguements.

Posted By The Drop Zone on 03/17/2007 11:39 AM
...
What I also want to express is that I will not tolerate any more of the 2am phone calls to my home and the threats sent to me via email. You feel you have the right to post my personal information on the web and email me threats where you want to come in and I quote “Rip my head off and….” BE MY GUEST. BRING YOUR SORRY ASS TO MY STORE AND ILL GIVE YOU THE CHANCE. You know who you are, so grow a set of coconuts and come on down. You want directions?

...

Is it cool for a Dakka advertiserto be posting threats to Dakka members?

Mikhaila, as reliable as old faithful, hits the nail on the head again.

Beowulf, there is certainly no excuse for people calling at 2am, and of course we have sympathy for anyone who loses a family member. But TDZ failed to communicate with his customers, even to notify them in a timely fashion that such an event had occured and that there would be delays. The story about the GW rep, at least, is demonstrably false. His customers have every right to expect clear and timely communications, and to get their products when promised, even if the date has to be revised.  Remember- at the time these communications issues/delays started, he was still visiting and posting in general discussion topics on the forums.

If anyone did call his house late at night and make threats, they are antisocial idiots who have lost all right to criticize TDZ, but the fact that one or two idiots acted out doesn't make TDZ's macho response a good move from a business standpoint. Customer service is about fixing the problem, clear communications, and acting professionally and with dignity even (especially) when the customer doesn't.   If TDZ had informed people earlier, even some kind of bulk/mass email to everyone with outstanding orders and submitting new ones, I'm 100% certain that the folks who posted on this thread would have been understanding, and it never would have gotten to this point.  

True enough, thanks posters for adding some intelligent arguents to this case. I for own do not hold him blameless in this situation.

Now here is my question, where did TDZ state that he had problems with his GW rep and when i say that I mean where did HE say it not someone saying he said it? From expereince of having been on the inside of a few LGSs I can tell you that many a GW sales rep is a moron and has cost a few stores in my area customers and products. I have seen a few of these reps waffle like an IHO special. It ends up leaving the store owner looking like a crook.

Just my 2 cents

Well, I cannot believe this has gone on this long. THe drama and the agony. So what have we learned so far:
1. TDZ missed scheduled ship dates and pissed off some of their customers.
2. TDZ owner lost his grandmother, and got behind in shipments.
3. TDZ owner is having problems getting throught he backlog of email and phone messages.
4. Customers are really really upset about TDZ customer service.
5. Customers are internet savy and can find out personal information about store owners. (let this be a warning to you out there about hiding behind the internet)
6. Customers can contact both the FBI and BBB when they get bad service/feel they are getting ripped off.
7. It is easy, if communication is bad, for customers to feel like they are being ripped off especially while conducting business over the internet and their products do not arrive in a timely manner.
8. Some people have called the owner of TDZ late at night and alegedly threatened him and/or his family. (If true very bad form)
9. TDZ owner got the police involved and called out the caller and told him to speak those words to his face. (Police involved fine, calling caller out on the internet not best judgement, but understandable. I mean if I got a late night obscene phone call, I would probably go off as well.)
10. This has gone on much longer than it needs to and I can only hope that I am in before the lock.

Conclusion: TDZ has failed to meet deliverables to some of their customers and the customers are upset. TDZ has tried to make ammends, and most of the customers seem to have accepted it and are getting on with their lives. So in the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along."

Have fun and happy gaming all.

I'm a new poster but old lurker in this forum. Some of you might recognize me from Bartertown though.

This could have all been avoided if TDZ had sent a "blanket email" (or whatever you call it) to all his customers explaining his loss and the delay in shipping. It would have taken all of 5 minutes and saved everyone alot of anger and headaches.
But some of these problems predate his loss of his family member.(some several months)

TDZ should not have been threatened. But if I was out $200+ and someone didn't reply to numerous phone callls/emails I would definitely try to track him down and call his house. At 2AM? Maybe the guy is in a different part of the state/time zone and didn't realize it. Perhaps not...
So what? That person has obviously been put through alot of grief/headaches, so IMHO he deserves to let TDZ know.
Anyway 1 or 2 people being very angry and calling/threatening does not make the dozens of other problems with orders go away.

This can simply be solved by TDZ taking a day or two, getting all the orders together and either shipping the items immediately with Priority 3 day and tracking or giving an apology with a full refund. Everything could be taken care of within seven days easily.

It seems any threads placed on Bartertown are "locked",being "non-constructive".(especially if Ancient Societ comments)
One thing bothers me though. If it was a "regular trader", not a business/Btown sponsor doing all this, would the Bartertown Mods be acting the same?? Hmmmmmm......
TDZ is simply not being held to the same standards a regular trader on Btown would be. A trader with that many negative references and bad trader threads would have been kicked off Btown. Yet TDZ is still a sponsor.

Do I think TDZ is a scammer or trying to rip people off??
No, absolutely not.

Is he doing the right thing and correcting the problem as quickly as possible??
No, absolutely not.

I'm not attacking TDZ, but I don't think this is being handled by him very well.Customers who pay for something and don't get what they paid for in timely fashion have every right to be very angry.Obviously phone calls/emails weren't working so what else were they to do?? They came here to have there voices heard.

To end all this TDZ could simply post a list of screen names with oustanding orders and give tracking numbers for orders shipped,or full refunds.
If he did that,I bet these threads would dry up.

thelosttau

Thanks for the summary, however, no, not all customers are getting their problems solved. I would like to add that in some respects this thread has gotten out of control. Originally it started as a thread where people experiencing the same lack of service from TDZ could air and compare their situations, perhaps even find a solution.

What has happened, and this IMHO is the reason why its spiralled out of control is becuase people who are not involved and have nothing constructive to add insist on adding unwanted opinions.

thelosttau, beowulfthehunter.....what are you doing here? why are you psoting on this thread? ok sure, you have the right to an opinion like anyone else, but what are you actually adding thats of service to the people who really have lost out to TDZ? nothing, aboslutely nothing.....you complain that the thread is dragging on, well, your extra ( useful ) posts have made the thread one post longer each time....or didn't that occur to you? and you haven't lost any money, so what exactly are you trying to say? that we should just forget it and move on?

Please, anyone feeling a need to post on this thread, please think about what your own incentives are before riding the butts of others....go back and read through the 11 - 12 pages of comments, understand the situation and then post if you have something usefu to post....if not, then read, amuse yourself on misfortune of others and then kindly move along.....

I am sick and tired of people telling me its no big deal to lose $198 of my hard earned cash. If anyone of you wants to send me the money then I'll happily laugh alongside you, but until you can put your money where your mouth is.....shut the hell up!

I looked at Bartertown and Mikhaila's claims were ignored because they apparently were "hearsay" according to some members. Why then aren't TDZ's posts about threats to his person mere allegations? Has he provided phone or police records? No, it is merely his word, which to me, after reading all this and being a neutral party, does not hold much water. Since shipping problems predated any death in the family, its macabre use to justify them, as well as the "threats" he received merely point out that he is trying to shift the focus and blame from his shady business practices. And all this of course while he was happily posting away in other sections of the forum. Very suspect behaviour, if I might say so.

Also,just for the record I was a TDZ customer. There was a problem and some very angry words exchanged by both. It was taken care of though. I don't hold a grudge. But would I order from TDZ again? No.
I hold a distinct honor. I was the first person TDZ "banned" from ever ordering from him again on Btown.Not that I planned on any future orders after that.

Delephont is absolutely right. Its easy to sit back and say B.S. like "can't we all get along?" if you aren't out $200. If it was me I'd be screaming for blood.

Delephont and other customers ofTDZ:
I did not mean to imply that having an unfilled order approx $200 is not a big deal, it is huge and I agree that it is a reason to be upset. It would seem that the customer service of TDZ over the past month as reported on this thread is a bit lacking and I was not trying to diminish your loss.

Delephont specifically, while I feel your loss and agree that bad customer service can piss you off, having myself been stung by that before, in completely different areas and under different circumstances. Once you file a complaint with your credit card company and or pay pal claiming you have not received your goods and you want your money back, Why on earth would you expect a retailer to bend over backwards to get you your product. They way I understand this to work, a Credit Card company stops payment to the retailer and credits your account until the situation is researched. Iif the credit card company after researching the issue, feels the payment was made in error, ie you did not receive what you ordered, they demand their money back and ensure the bill is removed from your card. Once that happens is like you did not ever pay the company and they owe you nothing. So to be fair to TDZ, realizing that you feel screwed and it sounds like you have a right to because of TDZ poor customer service, once you turn the negotiations over to Pay Pal and/or the credit company, you have basically said I have given up on seeking a equitable solution with TDZ and now you just want your money back. So if you have not gotten your money, your beef is now with Pay Pal, Master Card, Visa etc. and their ability to research and solve this problem to your satisfaction.

So.....after following this thread with interest, just like I follow most threads dealing with online retailers, because they tend to be cheaper than Brick and Mortar stores and because I have had friends who use to be in the hobby business, but for various reason are no longer, I like to try and understand the issues with customer service in these areas andf how to avoid problems.

Starslayer has a good point, if TDZ had sent a blanket email or had an automated response that stated the persoinal issues he was having and a time frame for a solution, then this could have been nipped in the bud. Also, this is the first I ever heard of a continuous problem with TDZ, that i assume is well document on Bartertown.

All of this being said, like I stated before, it seems as though TDZ is making a good faith effort to rectify his business issues. Atleast that is what he stated in his post and Chucky, has received his goods.

So, this thread has accomplished at least 2 things, 1. It has brought to light customer service issues at TDZ and now gamers can go into business transactions with him with their eyes wide open (or shut as the case maybe) and 2.The orignal posters or most of them have recieved their products.

So with everyone warned about TDZ, I appeal to the MODs to please just lock this thread and end the vitriol both ways. What more can we accomplish here but continue to rehash stuff that is already convered.

I guess this is just more gasoline for the fire, oh well, I best put on my asbestos underware and wait for the flames to start.

thelosttau

Dude.....I'm just speechless. Listen, thanks for your sympathy....but you're missing the point! Who are you to "request" the thread be locked? Are you TDZ in disguise? do you work for / with him?

I think this is simple, if this thread is causing you some grief , or, for your own reasons, is unsavoury....here's an idea....and feel free to ignore it!...but I'll give it anyway......

DON'T READ THE THREAD, DON'T POST ON THE THREAD.....JUST IGNORE IT

Posted By Delephont on 03/19/2007 12:30 PM

DON'T READ THE THREAD, DON'T IGNORE  THE THREAD.....JUST POST ON IT  

Fixed your typo.

I emailed him yesterday and still haven't received a reply.  I would have hoped that, being the one who started this thread, I would have heard from him by now.

Robert, you got my money on February 14th.  Did I just forget to pay the "Vendor Will Actually Talk To You" fee?

Has anyone actually successfully gotten the Credit Card company to refund them for a failed purchase or goods not recieved or whatever? Honestly, once the money has been paid, they don't put a "stop payment" or anything. They just take it from both ends!

I've been double charged before over the internet. Both sides, (the credit card company and the retailer) claimed they did not see a double charge. After months and months of fighting and even a credit card statement with two identical charges from from the same retailer in less then a second's time, and the retailer's daily tally showing two identical charges at the same time, both sides STILL refused to refund or even admit that a problem had occured. Long story short, I was stuck paying twice. As it was a relatively small amount of money, I chalked it up as a loss and lesson learned.

I would imagine that PayPal may be more receptive, but I sincerely doubt that filing a claim with your credit card company will get you anywhere fast, if anywhere at all.

As a merchant, I recieve notice of customers wanting to do charge backs a couple of times each  year. So far, It's always been a case of husband uses wifes credit card, wife has no idea who "Showcase Comics" is, and she calls up and tries to reverse charges, claiming they are fraudulent.

As a merchant, I usually have a couple of days time to prove I actually have the credit reciept, and send in a copy of it. If I don't send a legible copy by that time, the CC company automatically reverses the charges.

In a case of a dispute over merchandise not shipped, it would be similar I think, with the merchant having to show some proof that it was a legitamate charge, with proof it was delivered.

While not automatically successful, talking to paypal and your CC company are definitely worth doing.

@IGFan: Actually, I posted re: the hypocrisy of a certain mod on Btown complaining about mikhaila's "hearsay" and then defending TDZ's allegation of "threatening phone calls". The thread was promptly locked afterward as it wasn't "civil" - even though I wasn't the one threatening people with violence. Hypocrisy? Damn right!

@Starslayer: Thanks for the support. Like I said though, I have a feeling TDZ's time as an advertiser on any site within the Dakkaverse (Dakka, BT, Warseer, etc.) is slowly coming to an end. There is only so many people you can screw over before word gets out.

@Iorek: So you STILL have not rec'd your stuff? Do you have an acct @ bartertown? If so, open up a Bad Trader Report on him.

@Whitedragon: Call your CC's customer service or dispute center in these cases. I have a Chase card and when I was double-charged at a merchant, I called, opened a dispute, and got my money back within 2 days.

Bad trader alert posted on Bartertown.

Click the link above if you really want to see the transcript of this monstrosity.

Nice.  The mods at Bartertown deleted my post, and I know it was up for at least a little while, as I recieved a PM regarding it.

This is what it was; any idea why they'd nuke it and not say anything to me?

------------------------------------------------------------

After over a month of waiting since I paid, I have not received my product from this guy. I've emailed him twice since he "reappeared" on Dakka, but still haven't heard from him. I also left him a voicemail in late February/early March, but I don't have a record of that.

My biggest problem was communication. Once he had my money, I only got a hold of him once, and that was because I happened to catch him on Google chat. I was the one who started the thread on Dakka, and all I want(ed) is some communication. I still don't have the Chaos Warhounds, though. It's not a big order, but it sure is pissing me off.

Caveat Emptor.

All exchanges were electronic:

05-Feb
to thedropzoneonline@gmail.com
date 05-Feb-2007 15:25
subject Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Hello! I found your site from the Dakka forums, and wanted to see if you have any boxes of Chaos Warhounds in stock (part 99119915017). I just need one.

Thanks!


05-Feb
from Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
to Andrew Everett <andrew>
date 05-Feb-2007 20:51
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

I dont have it in stock but id be happy to order it for you
Robert

06-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 06-Feb-2007 09:59
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Sure, let's do that. What do you need from me, payment-wise?


06-Feb
from Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
to Andrew Everett <andrew>
date 06-Feb-2007 11:52
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Andrew
let me call gw today and make sure i can get one i shouldnt have any issues once i know i can ill order one and let you know
Robert

08-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 08-Feb-2007 16:44
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Any word on those Chaos Warhounds?

Thanks!


08-Feb
from Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
to Andrew Everett <andrew>
date 08-Feb-2007 19:56
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

sorry yes i can gte them i have to gte them from mail order
they are going to be redoing them in the near future do you want them now or wait?
if so ill get them asap they would only be 20% off tho
Robert


08-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 08-Feb-2007 22:20
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

I need them now-ish, and 20% off is just fine. Let me know what my total payment will be, and how you want it (PayPal, check, whatever).

Thanks!

- Andrew


08-Feb
from Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
to Andrew Everett <andrew>
date 08-Feb-2007 22:29
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Ill order it tomorrow and have the total for you in the afternoon
checks credit cards paypal is ok small additional fee for it they charge me 3% sorry


09-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 09-Feb-2007 11:24
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Let's do PayPal, unless you have a secure website set up for credit card transactions. I don't mind the 3%; you're still cheaper than ordering it from GW!

When you say "get them from mail order", do you mean that you're going to have to pay full price for 'em? I'd hate to cost you money on this!



09-Feb
from Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
to Andrew Everett <andrew>
date 09-Feb-2007 19:35
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

i have to order them from the mail order section
i get a discount just not as much thus the price difference
if you want you can just call in your credit card over the phone save you some money
704-236-4329 is the direct number
thanks

============
14-Feb Instant Message Transcript

10:08 Robert: andrew?
me: hello!
10:09 Robert: you needed the chaos warhounds correct ?
me: Yeppers
Robert: okie dokie no sweat ill get them asap Smile
me: How much do I owe you?
10:10 Robert: for this one box dont worry about it right now since i have to deal with mail order i wont worry about cost till i gte them for you... 20% off retail is your price
10:11 me: so, that's ... $32.00?
Robert: that sounds right
just shoot me an email with your shipping address i should have tem in 3-7 days
10:12 me: Sure thing. How do you want to do payment?
10:13 I can do Visa over the phone
(don't want to do it on AIM; not secure)
Robert: ill shoot you an email when the item comes in if you want to try to call me again Smile i can do the cc over the phone or if you feel safe just email it
no no no
i dont blame you
10:14 me: I may just PayPal you; it's only an extra dollar, and you're still giving me a really good deal
Robert: thanks.. rlecomputers@bellsouth.net is my paypal account
10:16 illlet you know ehn they come in .. have to run the dark angels are arriving today !!!!
================


14-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 14-Feb-2007 10:23
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Hey! I just sent you payment via PayPal. Let me know if there is any problem with this.

My shipping address is:
Andrew Everett
Blah blah blah, etc. (Note: my actual shipping address was in the email).

Thank you!



23-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 23-Feb-2007 11:41
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Any word on my order?

Thanks!


27-Feb
from Andrew Everett <andrew>
to Robert Eveland <thedropzoneonline>
date 27-Feb-2007 11:51
subject Re: Warhammer order - Chaos Warhounds?

Robert, what is the status of the Warhammer Chaos Warhounds? It's been almost two weeks, and I haven't heard anything from you.

Thanks!

=================
05-Mar - Instant Message Transcript
13:06 me: Any word on the Chaos Warhounds?
13:07 Robert: box should be here today or tomorrow i orderd them from mail order last monday
me: Could you PLEASE PLEASE let me know when they go out?
Your communication has not been good.
Robert: i will send you dc info as soon as i send the box
i have been away from the store the last 4 days sorry im way behind right now
13:08 you can always rwach me at the store number 704-236-4329
me: I left you a message there last week and didn't hear back
Robert: ill have to re chck the machine ill let you know asap
13:09 me: Thanks
=================