|
Community Links |
Social Groups |
Pictures & Albums |
Members List |
Search Forums |
Advanced Search |
Go to Page... |
|
Thread Tools |
06-30-2008, 09:22 AM | #1 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Rockford, IL
Posts: 2,285
|
Is anybody else a subscriber or reader of this magazine? Here is a summary of an ongoing issue that I have been experiencing with my new subscription. Any thoughts or feedback are welcome.
I have periodically picked this magazine up at various book stores and toy shows and generally have liked the alternate take that they give on the toy industry. I prefer their magazine to Tomart's magazine and think that it's just a slight personal notch below Toyfare (but not far below). I really like Toyfare and have subscribed to it since the beginning but Lee's Toy Review is a very close second and/or perfect supplement to Toyfare. I like to think that the two magazines work well to keep me informed of all the current toy news. After looking at the Lee's subscription page and associated toy premiums every issue I finally decided to make the call and subscribe to the two year deal with two toys. This would save me the trip to the book store to look for the latest issue. Of course, my two toys would obviously be the International Joe four pack and Steel Brigade trooper since I'm such a big G.I. Joe fan. I made the call and spoke to "Lee" himself over the phone. I was very clear about wanting the two year, two toy subscription with the regular shipping rate. I was told that the toys would be sent via first class mail and that the magazine ships via third class mail and should be at my house between the fifth and twenty-fifth of each month. I made it a point to compliment Lee on his magazine and told him how happy it made me feel to thumb through it each month and soak up his crew's toy news. That first call happened in late April of this year. About a week later I received a box which had been sent out via Priority Mail from the Lee's Toy Review office in Connecticut and was post marked April 30. Inside this box was the latest issue (Red Hulk is on the cover) along with some packing materials (a plastic grocery bag and some packing peanuts) which were protecting the International Joe four pack. There was no Steel Brigade figure in the box, much to my mild disappointment. I figured that a quick call back to Lee would correct this matter. This is where the story derails from my initial expectations: I called as soon as possible but being a Friday afternoon it was too late to reach the Lee's Toy Review office for the week. I called back that next Monday (May 5) and several other times since then and I still have not received the Steel Brigade figure. I have had my name taken down by the lady who normally answers the phone; I have been told several different stories about why I haven't been contacted back or why the figure was never sent out to me, including that the normal person who answers the phones has been out sick and that the office is recently undergoing a move; I have once again spoken with Lee who assured me that he packed the box himself and that he included a Steel Brigade figure with my initial shipment; and I have been told more than once that they'll just put another Steel Brigade figure in the mail. It's gotten to the point where all I have to say when I call is that I'm waiting for a figure to be sent to me and they know who I am right away. I have called at least another four times in the last two months and still have received no Steel Brigade figure. To make matters worse, my current issue is late by at least five days (if you count June 5-25 as the delivery window) and I am getting fed up with calling to ask for this figure. I don't live that far from the home office and the magazine should have arrived long before now. I am very disappointed with the level of customer service at Lee's Toy Review and am very close to canceling my subscription and asking for my prorated money back (since I received one of the two toy premiums and one issue of the magazine). I decided that before I call for at least the fifth time I would post my experiences here for a couple of purposes: 1. To see if any other HISS Tank members have had similar dealings with Lee's Toy Review and their subscription service. 2. To find out if Lee is a HISS Tank member and read his replies to this matter. 3. To allow anyone who knows Lee to communicate my level of frustration to him since my own phone calls are obviously failing to do so. I like Lee's Toy Review and enjoy reading the magazine to get my fill of toy news. Like I previously stated I have been reading and subscribing to Toyfare since the two seasonal specials over eleven years ago but I have never had a problem with that magazine's subscription service. Granted, they are a much larger operation under the Wizard corporate flag, but that can also mean that more mistakes can happen given the larger subscription base. Being a smaller operation I expected a higher level of customer service from Lee's outfit. I guess I was mistaken there. So now that I have told my story in more detail than originally intended, what do the HISS Tank readers think...? Any feedback is greatly appreciated since my next steps will be 1) to call and ask again for the figure and June issue to be sent as soon as possible to me and 2) if that can't be done within a reasonable amount of time (one week should suffice) then I'll cancel my subscription, ask for my prorated money back, and I will discontinue my readership of Lee's Toy Review. Anyway, that's my story.
__________________
----- Rock over London. Rock on, San Diego. Lucky Charms: They're magically delicious! Claim everything, concede nothing, and if defeated allege fraud. ----- Feedback thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...olyphenus.html Buy/Sell/Trade thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...de-thread.html eBay thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...-auctions.html |
06-30-2008, 12:12 PM | #2 |
...............
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: I can't tell you or i'd have to kill you
Posts: 1,075
|
Well, i've been getting Lee's now for about 7 years or so and i've been trying to figure out if i want a membership myself or not. After hearing your experience though I think i'll just contiune to pick up each issue at my LCS. Although i have tried to email them from time to time with questions and never gotten any type of response which is something that has detered me from getting a membership as well.
|
06-30-2008, 04:48 PM | #3 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Rockford, IL
Posts: 2,285
|
Quote:
Well, i've been getting Lee's now for about 7 years or so and i've been trying to figure out if i want a membership myself or not. After hearing your experience though I think i'll just contiune to pick up each issue at my LCS. Although i have tried to email them from time to time with questions and never gotten any type of response which is something that has detered me from getting a membership as well.
__________________
----- Rock over London. Rock on, San Diego. Lucky Charms: They're magically delicious! Claim everything, concede nothing, and if defeated allege fraud. ----- Feedback thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...olyphenus.html Buy/Sell/Trade thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...de-thread.html eBay thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...-auctions.html |
06-30-2008, 04:50 PM | #4 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 699
|
I actually never read the mag. i thumbed through it a few times but never felt compelled to buy it. Sorry i cannot help. But best of luck
__________________
looking for SIDESHOW LEGENDARY SCALE MARVEL BUSTS--THOR,APOC,VENOM,DOOM,RED AND GOLD IRON MAN MY B/S/T : http://www.hisstank.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5184 MY FEEDBACK: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3757 |
06-30-2008, 05:04 PM | #5 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PaDdEd CeLL
Posts: 2,335
|
this is why I subscribe to HISSTANK.COM
here the Top 10 Reasons. 1. Unmatched Customer Service. (practically 24/7) 2. Thier news/updates are never late! 3. Registering is free and they don't charge for full page ads! 4. Hisstank never arrives bent/ripped with a "OOPS" decal. 5. They have thier own T-shirt 7. I never have to worry about hisstank getting lost in the mail. 8. The Threads, got to love those crazy posters! 9. The networking, Buy/Sell/Trade. 10. Ability to get up to the second information on pre-orders and special offers and not have to wait for 20+ days for info to arrive ;) |
07-02-2008, 05:41 PM | #6 |
Keeper of the Work Wives
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Osceola, IN
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
this is why I subscribe to HISSTANK.COM
here the Top 10 Reasons. 1. Unmatched Customer Service. (practically 24/7) 2. Thier news/updates are never late! 3. Registering is free and they don't charge for full page ads! 4. Hisstank never arrives bent/ripped with a "OOPS" decal. 5. They have thier own T-shirt 7. I never have to worry about hisstank getting lost in the mail. 8. The Threads, got to love those crazy posters! 9. The networking, Buy/Sell/Trade. 10. Ability to get up to the second information on pre-orders and special offers and not have to wait for 20+ days for info to arrive ;) Dave |
07-02-2008, 05:49 PM | #7 |
Iron Grenadier Sorcerer
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Silent Castle
Posts: 34,271
|
I thumb through it a Books-A-Million from time to time to look at the pretty pictures, but never considered a subscription.
I cancelled my magazine subscriptions a few years ago. One of them called me and said that they would have to downsize a whole department of people with children and families if I didn't renew my subscription but I told them no, thanks, I just didn't want it any more and I'd buy what I wanted from the rack. The person on the other end then told me his supervisor had a gun to his head and was going to pull the trigger if I didn't renew but I told him there simply wasn't anything I could do about that. He started to blubber and cry and pray and I hung up after that...sigh. |
07-02-2008, 08:20 PM | #8 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PaDdEd CeLL
Posts: 2,335
|
Quote:
http://www.zazzle.com/788_bars_hisst...937?gl=tfw2005 soon as i stop spending money i am gonna buy some of them like 3-4 and just wear them around town |
07-02-2008, 08:25 PM | #9 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PaDdEd CeLL
Posts: 2,335
|
Quote:
http://www.zazzle.com/788_bars_hisst...937?gl=tfw2005 soon as i stop spending money i am gonna buy some of them like 3-4 and just wear them around town |
07-03-2008, 09:25 PM | #10 |
Keeper of the Work Wives
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Osceola, IN
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
http://www.zazzle.com/788_bars_hisst...937?gl=tfw2005
soon as i stop spending money i am gonna buy some of them like 3-4 and just wear them around town Back on topic, thank you for posting this. I have kicked around the idea of subbing to Lee's, or joining the Joe Collector's Club. If I do go for Lee's, I'll likely skip the toy(s). If they do get around to shipping you another figure, ask them to use a method that has tracking associated with it. Even the USPS can track stuff now, so I don't think the request would be considered too over the top. Dave |
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
An awesome gift! (long story, but worth the read) | Kthakkar | G.I. Joe General Discussion | 11 | 04-22-2008 04:05 PM |
GI JOE 25th Anniversary Ad From Lee's #175 | DESTRO | G.I. Joe News and Rumors | 6 | 05-29-2007 08:36 PM |
G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Camo Long Range Review | DESTRO | G.I. Joe News and Rumors | 8 | 05-21-2007 06:08 PM |
Lee's Toy Review 173 G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Info | DESTRO | G.I. Joe News and Rumors | 12 | 03-18-2007 02:40 PM |
|
|