PlaymoFriends
General => Direct Service/Parts Queries => Topic started by: Jay on February 25, 2014, 03:06:29
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Well, I had an email the other day about a 20% off on purchases so I waited today to call because I wanted some parts as well. So, after waiting while listening to a recorded message where the person continually mispronounces the company name, I finally get a person. After going through the list of items I want to buy, (he had told me that parts was a different service) he tells me that the discount is for on-line purchases only. Fine, I can do that even if it is another big hassle. So, then I go through the parts list: discountinued, out of stock, etc., etc. etc. Finally I get a part that I want, but the discount doesn't apply for that, nor can it go with the other order, which means that they charge shipping.
I tell him that I have credit from a previous purchase they screwed up, but of course, they have no record of that.
Btw, one of the things I was trying to get were the sailors from the new/old schooner, but they are 'discontinued.'
GEEZ!
So, I do go on line, and order, but no where in my email does it say anything about on-line only.
As it is, and I could be wrong, but I seem to think that previous sales were 25% off, not 20%.
The plus to this, of course, is that there is no tax, and orders over $50 ship free, plus, I don't know of many companies where you can order small parts without having to get a whole item.
Still, the can do so much better. But this is just one more example of the condition of the company in the US.
Btw, this is from the official site:
PLAYMOBIL is a registered trademark. pronounced: play-mo-beel
The recorded messages continually pronounces it as Play -mo-BULL. What ever the heck that means. You'd think someone in the company would have enough sense to have it recorded over.
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Play-mo-bull. :doh:
Sorry to hear about your experience. I really wanted some of those sailors without getting the schooner. Guess that ain't happening.
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Yeah, that is INCREDIBLY sad that the recording would actually mispronounce the name! There is absolutely no excuse for that.
As for the sailors from the schooner, parts from a set generally aren't available until the set has been available in the US for six months or so, so I'd try again in a few months and see. Something tells me they will still be hard to get, though.
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it's just not yet an integrated system but from the direction the german site has gone, playmobil is obviously working on changing that which is great. all in all, it just seems to me that the company has been slow to transition from an old model of customer service and fulfillment while our own expectations as consumers have changed tremendously over the last decade.
as to pronunciations, i encountered the same thing with the voice recording and when speaking to some staff by phone. i believe this 'mispronunciation' is more of a reflection of a central new jersey accent.
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as to pronunciations, i encountered the same thing with the voice recording and when speaking to some staff by phone. i believe this 'mispronunciation' is more of a reflection of a central new jersey accent.
I don't think it's a mispronunciation based on regional accents. I think they just handed the script to someone to do who had never heard of the company or the way it's pronounced. The fault is the company rep who approved it. I don't detect an accent at all. As it is, it's too professional sounding to be someone just working around the office.
Anyhow in the US who hasn't heard it, and has five minutes, call the customer service number and see what you think.
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Seems DS-service in the US is quite horrible compared with DS-service for Germany and Benelux-countries... :-\
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Yes, it is quite inadequate. Especially unaccomodating when you need new feathers for knight helmets and pirate hats. :'(
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I believe this is an American issue. I've heard it called that before. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrfHrirV07Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrfHrirV07Y)
I think that is why Playmobil has a pronunciation guide on their boxes.
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I believe this is an American issue. I've heard it called that before. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrfHrirV07Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrfHrirV07Y)
I think that is why Playmobil has a pronunciation guide on their boxes.
Interesting point. I've know it by the correct name, but I learned it in Germany. But I just can't think of an excuse for this, particulary when it's on their own site!
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The TV ads in the US pronounce it correctly. But who takes notice of the ads. They could win an award for the shortest and most ineffective toy ads ever.
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Seems DS-service in the US is quite horrible compared with DS-service for Germany and Benelux-countries... :-\
They seem ok, very polite. I got 17 out of 28 parts requested so could be better on having items in stock.
They were having trouble with the phones today (anybody notice?) . I kept getting disconnected and it took a good 9 or 10 back and forth phone calls with the customer service rep to complete the order.
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Glad that you got the parts you wanted.
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The US parts department is staffed, or at lest used to be, with very nice people. They have always been accommodating with me and I have had few problems with their service. The problem I have is how the German ds keeps the US ds stocked. They used to get many orders in a year but more recently they decided to only do a few big shipments which is why I think they have such a high out-of-stock rating. Now they are less likely to sell off inventories to collectors to avoid parents not having access to the same parts one at a time. It's a tricky situation. If US collectors could just buy from German ds through the pcc we could all avoid the hassles. I am now going through playmofriends to get parts outside the US.
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... I am now going through playmofriends to get parts outside the US.
I think that would be the way to go for US people, after hearing this. German- and Benelux-DS are really helpfull and can order almost anything.
On large orders the shipping to the US might be a small hurdle, but hey... 8-) ;)
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I would order in a heartbeat from German ds... but I would probably need to get more organized first to get 6 months worth ;D
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Btw, one of the things I was trying to get were the sailors from the new/old schooner, but they are 'discontinued.'
GEEZ!!!
They're not discontinued at all.I ordered AND received 10 more today, so they're still around. ;)