Ahhh, here we are the eve before we, the hopeless fools who ordered from a website with reviews like this: http://www.epinions.com/pr-Online_Stores_Services-Video_Game_Central_com/display_~reviews
ordered our TE stick out of pure desperation because the bigger boys either stopped taking pre-orders or just didn’t have pre-orders ready- get to figure out what happens to our money! I gotta tell you guys that I don’t forum too much but from the first time I spoke to these guys I thought why do these guys sound so mad? Why do they sound so street tough? Why do they sound like Eminem? I sure as hell don’t know, it made me feel uneasy but I still gave the CC digits and preordered. Since then I’ve called 3 times after reading about shortages and preorder cutoffs with other companies and finally to address the extended amount of time they left their preordering up for the stick on their website. Every time I called in I was assured my order number was in fact in line to receive my TE stick in the initial shipment going out 2/17/09. I should feel safe right? Well, why don’t I then? I started to stalk the various game sites that I’ve either been to or heard about in the past and here I am. I love video games. I’m no pro but I love games and I have owned a couple arcade sticks in my time going back to the NES Advantage (I know, gross). I’ve spent into the tens of thousands of dollars on games, accessories, systems…you name it- over the last 17 years of my life and before that I was fortunate to have parents who bought me a thing or two back to the Atari/Colecovision days. I’ve never spent this much on an accessory-ever. I know to the new generation of hardcore gamers apparently, $150 or so on a few arcade sticks is commonplace but not me. I’ve got mouths to feed besides my game habit. So it is for this reason that I am prepping all those who ordered from this place to be ready. Just like SRK has shut off search options and what have you for the release of SFIV, I also have to anticipate my next move and that’s why I’ve done some brunt work here so you guys don’t have to- that is if it’s even needed. If all of us work together if there happens to be a problem then we shouldn’t have much of one. Here’s the facts:
Video Game Central is a “sister company” if you will of Game Trade Central. In the IRS books they’re one in the same and even share the same non-toll-free customer service number. A little research shows some bad reports to the Better Business Bureau of NY and no resolution with the issues reported. Another issue that should be mentioned is that they were actually using the BBB’s logo on their GTC website stating that they were members which was blatently false and later squashed by the BBB themselves which is all there for everyone to view in the report that cares. This can be seen at these 2 links:
http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.aspx?id=38831&pid=44&page=0&FindStr=7183231515&SearchBy=phone&Address=&City=&Phone1=718&Phone2=323&Phone3=1515&MembersOnly=False
http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.aspx?id=83777&pid=44&page=0&FindStr=VideoGameCentral.com&SearchBy=company&Address=&City=&Phone1=&Phone2=&Phone3=&MembersOnly=False
So starting when we call in 2/17 about our TE Sticks what do we do? Well, if they provide us with tracking numbers- nothing. We wait and see what arrives. If it’s a new, untouched, sealed, non-tampered with TE Stick they’ll be my best friend. If they have their phone lines shut off for the day (my guess) we keep trying until we do get hold of somebody. If they are rude to us and tell us they screwed up preorders, never respond to us, don’t answer e-mails, don’t communicate with us in any form we all simply file complaints with:
NYC Department of Consumer affairs- http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/resources/complaint.shtml
**NY State Consumer protection Board- **http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/complaint.htm
**Office of the Attorney General/ Consumer Complaint department- **http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/complaint.htm
…AND the BBB which can be submitted via the links earlier in this post. That’s complaints with four agencies that they should care about and if every SRK member who has a problem threatens that then that should hopefully light some fire under their ass to humble the ghetto customer service I know I’ve been receiving. In the end, I don’t get my product I charge back and fight them on whatever they claim. In the end I’ll win.
Again, if this thread gets removed or a moderator bans me I don’t really care but I’m not sure why they would. Just trying to help those that I feel might get the shaft like I think I will and I know how to get what I want. Hope this helps you guys that ordered from VGC and we’ll see pretty soon now won’t we. Please, if you have nothing to do with ordering from VGC keep the stupid, infantile, immature comments to yourself and enjoy the sticks you may have already gotten. If there happens to be any SRK members out there that actually work at VGC, maybe you can stroke my dick a little and make me feel special so I can just get back to my nostalgic thoughts of playing Street Fighter like when I was a young punk much like you.
Now what to do if I do get my stick and it’s not working right because of MadCatz being incompetent…hmmm. Gotta wait and see.
Peace
UPDATE 5/4/09: VGC has delivered one, that’s right- ONE TE stick to Kikoshou and this is the only person who has come forward to report them doing so. Almost 3 full months after their original ETA date of 2/17. NEVER BUY FROM THEM. If you’re even thinking about doing so, read through this thread.
UPDATE 8/6/09: further proof that VGC is officially a scam and some internal turmoil has gone on in the last month with their “server problems”, site being down and changing, etc. Skip to page 33 of this thread and read Old Skool Fool2’s post and then the post immediately after. Whomever these guys really are is not important but it just shows what an umprofessional company it is and always has been.
