"Antics online complaint poor service" Topic

I purchased a couple of Corgi vehicles from Antics online. They sell military vehicles as well as all kinds of non gaming items such as BB guns slot cars radio control and model trains.

The way the online store works is you pay for your items plus an initial 5 GBP for shipping and then they eventually bill you for the remaining shipping amount.

Several days after that I got a bill for 4 GBP. That seemed like reasonable shipping and I paid. Another week passed and I got an additional bill for 7.50 GBP. I inquired why the shipping total was 16.50 and was told my items weren't in stock at the same time. I accepted the explanation and eventually got my two models.

Here's the kicker the box of the second model I received had been opened, it was damaged, and the machine gun was missing.

I immediately opened a paypal claim (now I knew why it was on sale) Antics responded that I could send the model back (at cost to myself) and get a refund. The cost of shipping back is half the value of the model. I upgraded the claim and paypal immediately denied it. Paypal "Our investigation into your claim is complete. As stated in our User Agreement, the claims process only applies to the shipment of goods. It does not apply to complaints about the attributes or quality of goods received. Therefore, we are unable to reverse this transaction or issue a refund."
Thanks Paypal and Antics Online for wasting my time and money.

Apologies for the length of my grievance

"Goods not as described" should be a valid PayPal complaint. Call and talk to a person.

Sorry to hear the problem. I had a similar problem with an eBay purchase. I ended up returning the product on my dime, but I got the entire purchase and original shipping back so I was out my time and about $10 USD in the end.

What machine gun do you need?

Thanks for the comments.

Paypal does not cover this and yes I did phone. They only cover certain merchants and Ebay purchases in these matters. This may have to do with the fact that it was a Canada/UK transaction. I believe I may have had coverage if the parcel didn't show up at all. It's a great system that encourages people to lie and say they didn't get packages rather than be honest and ask for a partial refund like I did.

I had a similar problem a few years back with a company called Monolith Designs. I placed an order that ended up arriving incomplete and with broken pieces. Same Paypal result.

It's the Corgi M3A1 Halftrack and it's missing all the machine guns. If you have any to spare I am happy to buy them from you so this isn't a total waste. I went back to Antics and noticed it wasn't on sale anymore…gee I wonder why?

Ask any Canadian, shipping from Canada is expensive it just isn't going to be worth it to return. If londoncopper has some machine guns that would be great, otherwise I will search for them online or jury-rig something. I am done with Antic's antics.

I will hunt around for a spare .50 cal I may still have.

The .50 is the part I really need most. Thanks.

I have a spare .50 from an M3 that elevates, still attached to the 'Pulpit'.
Contact me at pskingATblueyonderDOTcoDOTuk and it is yours.

I had a similar problem. I bought something from someone here on TMP and my order got mixed up with anothers. I filed a claim with paypal, stating that I got an order, but not the items I had ordered. I got in contact with the other person, and we shipped each other's minis. The cost to ship for me was $17. USD Paypal found in my favor, but only allowed me a $10. USD claim. I was out $7, but that's better than nothing I guess. Sometimes it does not pay to be honest. That's the problem with the world today. Sometimes it's easier/more productive to be dishonest. I can remember when honesty was a virtue.

Paypal is convenient, but truly awful on a number of levels, including lack of real consumer protection (like this) but also an international system that plays by different rules depending on where you live. Their ideological biases also show through in arenas related to military history like collectable firearms. In short, they (BLEEP) but we are often left with little choice if we want our goods. Avoid when possible. Sorry to hear of your troubles!

I've made around 1400 online purchases since 2003 using my credit card and paypal and I've had around 25-30 problems. Only some of the troubles required paypal assistance. Paypal has certainly made money from me.

I did some enquiring the item I bought was supposed to come with 3 .30 cals, a .50 and an ammo box. I got none of it.

I've now got some help with the .50 (thanks londoncopper) but I am going to e-mail corgi and see if I can buy replacements for the rest.

All the best.

It sounds as if "Antics Online" is aptly named!

I wonder if this is a Canada/UK thing.

In the US I use Paypal, only as a "front" for my credit card. In the US (stressing again, US of A) if you use a credit card (NOT A DEBIT CARD) and do not get what you paid for, then you contact the credit card company.

They credit your account, and then contact the seller and get to the bottom of the issue. If you ordered a model with 3 MGs and the box was opened, and all MGs were missing, then you did not get what you paid for.

Credit card companies have large departments of people that research claims like this. They have lawyers. They work for you. Why? They loaned you THEIR money.

I had an issue with one seller, when I used Paypal. I contacted my credit card company, not Paypal. I got the entire purchase credited to me.

When you use funds in your Paypal account or use PayPal as a front for your Debit Card, you are spending YOUR money. If the issue is not resolved, you are out YOUR money. It's as if you handed them cash. You have to work to resolve it.

I'd rather the credit card company work to resolve it. I keep copies of all my orders until I get the items and inspect them. If this had been my transaction, and my records didn't say "used" or "as is" or "damaged" or in any way had indicated it was not "new", I would have called my credit card company. I am sure I would have those funds back on my account.

Sorry you got taken.

Steve

I'm not sure if it's only Canada/UK but the seller has a verified status and so do I. No, I didn't use my credit card. I started using direct payments from a bank account a couple of years ago because I found I wasn't staying within my budget (I went a little bit miniature crazy!).

Please don't find out you aren't covered the way I did, use your credit card.

Not to be too much the pollyanna, but I have found that the great majority of people with whom I do online business through paypal or other payment methods are honest and willing to make good on any problems.

A remarkable anecdote: I once mailed a ruleset to Australia, uninsured (it was a $10 USD ruleset), and it never made it there. I examined my US Postal Service reciept and realized the USPS had charged me postage to Canada in error; the address was …Toronto Street or such, Somecityin Australia. In any case, the package never made it to its intended victim. No doubt it was left orphaned at some Postal Depot in Toronto, Canada, sans postage to Australia.

My agreement with the Australian gent was that he would paypal me when he recieved it. Of course he never did get it. Do you know he offered to pay the shipping by way of splitting the loss with me? I refused, but that is the typical gentlemanly style that I've come across repeatedly in the wargaming world.

I realize the odd bastard is out there, but reflect on just how well paypal and internet commerce works. These are the best of times for wargamers. Products are widely available, inexpensive, and of general superior quality compared to my early miniature days in the 80's.

Of course, I admit bad experiences make for better press.

Jim

You did read the part when I wrote…
"I've made around 1400 online purchases since 2003 using my credit card and paypal and I've had around 25-30 problems. Only some of the troubles required paypal assistance."
Right?

When I get particularly bad service I want others to know. Don't you?