Buyer beware tnsfigures!

[Black Sheep]

I may be relatively new to this site/forum, I'm NOT new to collecting figures. In the 15+ years I've been collecting, I've NEVER had a negative experience until I dealt with TNSFIGURES during an eBay transaction this past year. After being taken for $240 by TNSFIGURES (on ebay), I was quite shocked to see them actually register, and post/advertise here recently. This seller does pre-order listings on ebay, typically requiring a small non-refundable deposit due up front, then the remaining balance payable "when the figure arrives". TNSFIGURES sent me an invoice in October for the remaining balance, acknowledged receipt of my final payment, then just disappeared. No tracking number, no email replies or responses to my ebay messages looking for updates. TNSFIGURES knows how to work the system. Ebay stated they couldn't help me because the listing was over 30 days old (initially paid deposit in June) and they referred me to PayPal. Paypal said they couldn't help me because the listing was past 45 days, and referred me back to ebay. To add to this, I used the cash I had in my Paypal account so I can't even file a fraud claim with my bank or credit card company. Did I mention I couldn't even leave negative feedback to warn other buyers because the listing closed before I received the invoice for the final payment? Before the mods deleted the posts/comments, I discovered I was NOT the only one taken by TNSFIGURES in this manner. So, in short, I wanted to warn potential buyers to beware of TNSFIGURES, especially when it comes to pre-ordering figures.

 

[Aka_ugly]

Is this the guy? If so, he's a member of this forum.

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/...tion-hk-include-neca-custom-1-6-hot-toys.html

 

[Black Sheep]

Yes. This is the guy. Just disgusts me that he can get away with it and continues to prey on unsuspecting, trusting people.

 

[CleverGirl]

I actually had the same thing happen... the sellers name on eBay was: babygy14

I purchased the Ironman Heartbreaker in April as a preorder through eBay and the seller was on top of all my messages and seemed friendly up until november when I got antsy and demanded my figure be shipped... the seller informed me it would be shipped the following day... well it never was... and from that moment on I did not hear from them through eBay...

So I called eBay and they said there was nothing they could do because it was purchased in April 2014 and it was now January 2015... but they DID give me their home number... I called dozens of times... only once again DID NOT hear from the seller... The seller was so rude that this person literally was ignoring my phone calls/texts (don't have an iMessage READ CONFIRMED message if you are not going to reply back lol)

Anyways, I called Ebay again and asked to speak to an "appealment specialist"

I spent an hour on the phone with her explaining the situation, her name was Ashley and she literally told me she, "had never heard of this happening before." She explained that eBay DOES NOT protect their SELLERS when it comes to a pre order item, BUT IT DOES PROTECT THE BUYER aka YOU!

The only problem she could see with me not getting a refund was that the actual Heartbreaker was released in November and I waited till January to contact her (even though I had been on the phone with Ebay the entire month of January)... A week later I have the money ($245.00) deposited into my paypal account...

CALL EBAY AND ASK FOR AN "Appealment specialist" and if you can, ask for Ashley! Explain your entire situation again, EVERYTHING down to a tee... and you should win the case! Never take no for an answer with Ebay

Please let me know how it goes! And stay away from babygq14

 

[Rambler]

I ordered a KO Jim Gordon head from tnsfigures a month or so ago. After paying for it, I had not heard anything for a few days. I emailed them and asked what the hold up with shipping was and they replied that they "could not find" the two pairs of glasses that were supposed to come with him.

I did ask for a refund and got it. Just a waste of my time because of them advertising and selling an item on eBay that they cannot hold up on their end. I probably won't use them in the future.

 

[Ipodimusprime]

I am sorry to hear that you guys had such a bad experience.

The main lesson I think I take from this thread is to avoid pre-ordering on eBay. For me it is too easy to be anonymous selling there. I know that there are reputable sellers and shops that sell on there but I have tended only to bid for or buy for things that are listed as in stock. With this 30 day/45 day rule stuff, I think it is too easy for crooks to take your money and keep you waiting until it's too late to file a claim. I'm glad Clevergirl found a way out but it just sounds like too much hassle for me to risk eBay pre-ordering.

 

[Rambler]

Absolutely. NEVER PO anything on eBay. Not worth the hassle.

 

[sithlord13]

Also be careful long shipping quotes. I recently ordered something from the Far East that was too cheap. Thankfully I fhlly expected never to see it and made a claim in time. Cost ebay money thou - they need to tighten up

 

[Motuxmen]

I actually had the same thing happen... the sellers name on eBay was: babygy14

I purchased the Ironman Heartbreaker in April as a preorder through eBay and the seller was on top of all my messages and seemed friendly up until november when I got antsy and demanded my figure be shipped... the seller informed me it would be shipped the following day... well it never was... and from that moment on I did not hear from them through eBay...

So I called eBay and they said there was nothing they could do because it was purchased in April 2014 and it was now January 2015... but they DID give me their home number... I called dozens of times... only once again DID NOT hear from the seller... The seller was so rude that this person literally was ignoring my phone calls/texts (don't have an iMessage READ CONFIRMED message if you are not going to reply back lol)

Anyways, I called Ebay again and asked to speak to an "appealment specialist"

I spent an hour on the phone with her explaining the situation, her name was Ashley and she literally told me she, "had never heard of this happening before." She explained that eBay DOES NOT protect their SELLERS when it comes to a pre order item, BUT IT DOES PROTECT THE BUYER aka YOU!

The only problem she could see with me not getting a refund was that the actual Heartbreaker was released in November and I waited till January to contact her (even though I had been on the phone with Ebay the entire month of January)... A week later I have the money ($245.00) deposited into my paypal account...

CALL EBAY AND ASK FOR AN "Appealment specialist" and if you can, ask for Ashley! Explain your entire situation again, EVERYTHING down to a tee... and you should win the case! Never take no for an answer with Ebay

Please let me know how it goes! And stay away from babygq14

Sounds like you got lucky. Ebays own policy states it won't cover buyers after a certain period of time. If the item is not in stock within 30 days of auction close technically you shouldn't get your money refunded. I'm happy you did, but this won't be the case for most people.

As stated by others, do not preorder on ebay if the item is not in stock or you know FOR SURE it will be. The way hot toys works with releases its pretty hard to know. But pre orders in ebay have to be shipped out within 30 days of auction close and in hand with the buyer 2 weeks after that. So if they say it will take 20 days for shipping you bail on the order. File a complaint right away. I would never preorder on ebay personally, especially for hot toys.

 

[Black Sheep]

Latest update... After going up the food chain with my bank (remember, I used cash in my paypal account to pay this seller instead of a credit card I had on file), I reached a manager who had experience in dealing with internet scams. Short story, all I had to do was sign a single document, and she did the rest. Within 30 days I received a call from the bank manager stating that THEY were able to get PAYPAL to investigate my claim. Within 7 days, PayPal had refunded my money from TNSFIGURES.

Also, to add to CleverGirl's comments, she was not the only person taken by seller Babygq14. As 'luck' would have it, I had a couple figures on order with this seller as well. If not for her comment, I'd likely still be waiting for my items. In this instance, I called eBay, stated my case and who I was dealing with, and was told I'd be refunded within 7 days pending an investigation. After 4 days, I received an email stating that they've had several similar complaints regarding Babygq14, and my claim was upheld. I did have to call twice before I reached a claims rep who was willing to listen, so keep this in mind when you call ebay for assistance.

In the end, I was quite fortunate to have been made whole after nearly falling victim to scams by once reputable sellers on ebay. To reiterate the underlying message; do not pre-order items on ebay. The risk isn't worth the small savings you may never get anyway.