The Official "WTF MERCH!" Thread

[luralee]

Craig Reade I am so glad you got your refund!  I wish you had posted your article earlier, it was so eloquent and said so much that I wanted to say but could never say so well.  I will follow your advice for all future on-line purchases, from any source. 

So, it appears that there are 2 ways to get quick action - 1) threaten to file an internet fraud complaint a la Thegr8k8, or 2) be Craig Reade and post an article in a very prominent place.

Estabrookette and Ivaness are both so sweet that they could charm fox cubs from their dens, so apparently, being nice does not help to get a swift response.  If anyone deserves quick action, surely they do.

[StatSig]

I'm glad Craig got his money back.

Cristi, could I have mine, too, please?  Paypal transaction 5AS81148P6785061Y.  I don't have a well-read column, but I still deserve my $28 back.

[Ivaness]

Estabrookette and Ivaness are both so sweet that they could charm fox cubs from their dens, so apparently, being nice does not help to get a swift response.  If anyone deserves quick action, surely they do.

Thanks for the compliment, dear. Too bad, you're right that being nice doesn't get a swift response.  And while I agree that it is only a tshirt and 25$, that was still my money. I'll be okay if my order was the one that fell through the cracks, but some freakin' update would be nice before I ask for my refund, because I REALLY want that tshirt. (Plaid elephants are awesome.)

BUT... if Cristi knows that I will not be receiving my order, PLEASE REFUND ME. An extra 25 dollars in my bank account = 25$ worth of food that can go to my child's stomach. (Bread can be mighty expensive, especially when you go through 1-2 loaves a week.)
(Unique Transaction ID #0R173711NA666852M)

Even saints lose their patience sometimes.

[Shaolin]

I'm gonna try again.

I have ordered two t-shirts on the 3rd of December 2008. I haven't received any news regarding my shipment whatsoever. The transaction ID# is: 84089583G18884938, I hope it helps. Please, look into this case, I would really like either my money back or the t-shirts.

[Ivaness]

I would really like either my money back or the t-shirts.

Preferably both? XD

[Pypoli]

Very nice post Craig, it's well written and in all honesty quite fair. I liked the fact you mentionned they switched to topatoco and all should be well now at the end.

That said, I'm still waiting for my order/refund (and i repeat, preferably order) despite a late july mail saying they'd fix my order as soon as they got back from Comicon.

[gamergirl1337]

I just don't understand how they can respond to one or two people but they sure as hell can't respond to everyone at once...

its been 8 fucking months and not one single word from them other then the response saying they would be sending out everything by the end of the week (which was over 2 months ago) Ive sent message after message, and even contacted paypal and filed 2 disputes both of which is still waiting on their response...i was also told by paypal customer service that i could contact authorities over this! (im not doing that but still  )

I don't want to be rude about it, and like i have posted before its not REALLY that big of a deal, but i was layed off a few weeks ago and am not doing good money wise, so i would like to have either the shirt i really want, or a refund of some sort...i was supposed to get this shirt for christmas of last year and now i may not even get it for christmas of THIS year...thats pretty fucked up...

[EllJayusMaximus]

This is getting ridiculous. I last posted in this forum 2 months ago, sending an email to the merch address at the same time, regarding an outstanding order from last December, and no more official word has been sent along since then, let alone a personalized message. I wonder if that $25 helped buy a nice new tattoo or guitar... or maybe, ironically, a T-shirt.

[gentlemantom]

Okay, another two days and it'll be a year since I ordered, and still no sign of the t-shirt. It's getting to be like Moby Dick at this point- occasional sightings of information and then long expanses of watching the sea, and chapters of irrelevancies.

So. What the hell is up with my order?

[StatSig]

I was really hoping the QC Survey would have a "I bought something and never got it" option.

[luralee]

Isn't it great Jeph wasn't ripped off after all by that possibly fraudulent guitar transaction!  Gosh, Jeph, wasn't it horrible to have your trust violated when conducting business over the internet?  Isn't it great that your problem was resolved within a week?  Maybe this is a sign that we are on the cusp of great things to come!

I was really hoping the QC Survey would have a "I bought something and never got it" option.

Me too. And on the question where he asked what I would be willing to buy in the future, there wasn't an option for "I might like to buy something, but won't until all the pre-Topatoco orders are resolved."

[MrBlu]

Can someone point me to the thread where I tell Jeph to make those "SCIENCE" shirt that Marigold is wearing, or am I just gonna bug him on Twitter?

[luralee]

You might try twitter,  I don't think Jeph pays too much attention to the WTF merch thread anymore. 

Personally I wish Jeph would clear up the backlog of old orders before developing new merchandise.  However, I don't think he has too much incentive to honor his old obligations, since he is not worried about losing future sales through Topatoco.

[girl_withno_name]

I was really hoping the QC Survey would have a "I bought something and never got it" option.

Me also... I figured he wouldn't put it as one of the options, but a "free text" box to do some good old bitching and complaining would've suited me down to the ground! Although if it had been an option then we might've had some indication of the extent of the issue (and how many any unsatisfied customers Jeph has seemingly left behind in a distant past than he has long forgotten about)

This weekend marked 7 months since I made my order and, after delight at receiving an e-mail response and (false) promises of a prompt delivery, I am still bitterly disappointed.

On the whole "it's only $25" argument.... I have to say that I think this is a completely moot point as not everyone values money in the same way. For me that's almost 3 hours work and since I'm a student working part time the hours / money isn't exactly coming flowing in! I wouldn't even normally spend this amount of money on a t-shirt (say, for example, at a high street store), but I like the comic, I like the t-shirts and I thought I'd show Jeph some support. Now I wish I'd gone to a high street store - at least I'd have a t-shirt to show for my money then!

Obviously, aside from the "is this a lot of money... maybe not for me, but maybe for you", there's the whole principle of the matter, which applies no matter how much the sum of money in question might be. The customers support the comic and provide Jeph with an income, but he has indeed violated the trust of many of these customers. Also - it might only be $25 to me / you, but just imagine how much Jeph's gaining if there are even as little as 20 people he's ripping off!

Ciao!

[StatSig]

I don't think Jeph pays too much attention to the WTF merch thread anymore. 

Understatement of the year, ladies and gentlemen.

[gamergirl1337]

We need to get a mob together and boycott outside of his house until we get either shirts or money...WHOS WITH ME!!! 

[luralee]

I'd be with you, but I fear the plane fare would be ever so much more than the cost of the shirts I paid for.  Anybody in the area available to walk the picket line, for a small fee? Oh, wait, that would not be cost-effective either.  Curses on my poverty!   

[UTAlan]

I don't think Jeph pays too much attention to the WTF merch thread anymore. 

He's come right out and said he doesn't. Christi is in charge of Merch, not Jeph.

[Stewey]

It feels a bit poor posting in this thread as my first post.

Anyways, I was hoping to celebrate the 1 year mark of not receiving one of the 5 t-shirts I ordered but I realised after looking at my email records it has been 1 year and 2 months now. 

I don't think this will get resolved after this long a wait, i just felt like venting.

I loved the shirts you sent me, excellent quality and they get quite a few puzzled reactions out of people on the street.

Sorry guys, I would like to buy more off you but I can't trust that I will ever receive it.

Well it's been another 3 months and I'm over it.

I put a small order in to Topatoco last week and we'll see how it goes, I'm reasonably confidant though.

I just look at it as though I donated $25 to qc so that I can continue to enjoy the excellent comic.

[luralee]

I don't think Jeph pays too much attention to the WTF merch thread anymore. 

He's come right out and said he doesn't. Christi is in charge of Merch, not Jeph.

Christi doesn't seem to pay any attention to this thread either. 

Which means I am silly for even posting this I guess.

It feels a bit poor posting in this thread as my first post.

Anyways, I was hoping to celebrate the 1 year mark of not receiving one of the 5 t-shirts I ordered but I realised after looking at my email records it has been 1 year and 2 months now. 

I don't think this will get resolved after this long a wait, i just felt like venting.

I loved the shirts you sent me, excellent quality and they get quite a few puzzled reactions out of people on the street.

Sorry guys, I would like to buy more off you but I can't trust that I will ever receive it.

Well it's been another 3 months and I'm over it.

I put a small order in to Topatoco last week and we'll see how it goes, I'm reasonably confidant though.

I just look at it as though I donated $25 to qc so that I can continue to enjoy the excellent comic.

You will probably get the new order, no problem.  And as long as he keeps getting new orders, why should Jeph ever care about clearing up the backlog of old orders?   

Look, I have donated money before (to other artists).  But I have done that of my own choosing, by clicking the "donate money" button.  THIS time I clicked the buy merchandise button, by which I meant "I will give you $60, and you will give me 3 t-shirts."  Since my intent was not to donate, I refuse to say, oh well, I will just consider it a donation now.  I WAS ROBBED.  YOU WERE ROBBED.  Enough of us were robbed that Jeph and Christi won't just give us our money back.  If it were a trivial sum, why would we not have been refunded ages ago?

So what are my options?  Complaining doesn't help.  Asking nicely doesn't help.  Forgiving and going on is all very nice, but where is the justice?  Complaining to the Better Business Bureau won't help - they've already given QC an "F" rating.  I don't have a prominent column on the internet. 

So, anyway, you can order new merchandise if you like, but I won't until all the back orders have been taken care of.

[gamergirl1337]

I think im going to start a website dedicated to the people who HAVEN'T got their orders from QC....A site warning others about it (even if topatco is a good site to order through) and Hopefully we will get some kind of retribution from that...from what i have seen it looks like at least 1000$ worth of stuff hasn't been delivered...that money was probably used on his guitar or at the bar, or while at all those conventions they go to. Its pretty ridiculous and enough of us together could at least help the situation...

[Pengraffe]

Give me your transaction ID. I will refund you. I have refunded everyone whose email I have seen, or tried to send them their shirts. I don't have access to the Topatoco stock, so if I don't have the shirts in my old stock, I cannot send them to you. I can refund you, and I don't mind doing it. Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise, but no one seems to care about that.

[Shaolin]

I just got an email today, that I received a paypal refund! Thank you, Cristi!

As for others who wanna start some big retaliaten: Come on. I've been waiting for t-shirts or a refund since December 08. And now I have a refund! Granted, it took a while, but I have my money back. Don't go about messing up the reputation of Jeph while you are still reading and enjoying his comic.

[MightyMouse]

Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise, but no one seems to care about that.

Probably most customers don't know that. Bear in mind that your own merch page was never updated, and that Jeph's name is and was the only name listed on QC. Updating oneself to know that "Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise" would require a study of this 11-page thread. And dear Christi: it is not the customers' responsibility to know how you operate your business. All they should be expected to do, is use the qcmerch@mac.com that you (and/or Jeph) provided - you should in turn be expected to read them, answer and do follow-ups. Let me also remind you, that when you registered the qcmerch@gmail.com address, you never updated it to show on the QCpage. In order for your customers to use that one, they still need to find it somewhat hidden on page 4 of this thread (and if they find it, they might expect an answer within 24 hours, as you then promised).

Basically: take responsibility for your business and your customers - and don't blame us/them when we use Jepsh's name when asking for our merch.

[gamergirl1337]

Give me your transaction ID. I will refund you. I have refunded everyone whose email I have seen, or tried to send them their shirts. I don't have access to the Topatoco stock, so if I don't have the shirts in my old stock, I cannot send them to you. I can refund you, and I don't mind doing it. Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise, but no one seems to care about that.

Transaction ID:  2YR65045U5924013Y


btw Exactly what Mighty mouse said....I love the QC comic and I though it would be a real simple order just like all the other purchases i have made online, it turned out that it didn't and instead of getting a response from the 10+ emails i sent to the Merch email address....i get shit...nada, nothing...except 8 months of waiting and waiting and waiting...If i would have got at least one response to my emails i would have been ok...but I never got anything...Thats why im so pissed about everything....Even filing a dispute with paypal did nothing for my order or refund...So the blame does go to the person who deals with the merch...but since jeph is technically the "owner" the blame shifts itself to him...

[aurenta]

All right, let's try this again.  So, the PayPal ID number for the transaction is 3780-8891-1589-9953, and I ordered a "She Blinded me with Library Science" tote bag in January.  My email address is aurenta at earthlink dot net, and I would rather have the bag than a refund, but I'll take a refund.  I am not sure what the transaction number was.

PLEASE update your Contact page with valid, recent email addresses.  Nothing I have tried has gotten anywhere.

[luralee]

Please check into my order.  I have received neither the shirts I ordered, nor a refund, nor any sort of response to my emails.

If you need my e-mail address, please tell me where to e-mail you with it separately.

PayPal Shopping Cart Contents
Item Name:      Coffee of Doom Shirt Mens' XXL Domestic
Item Options:      Shirt size: XXL
Shirt Color: Black
Item Name:      Rock Pintsize Mens' XXL Domestic
Item Options:      Shirt Size: XXL
Shirt Color: Light Blue
Quantity:      1
Item Name:      Unicorn Shirt XXL domestic
Item Options:      Shirt Color: Black
Quantity:      1
Cart Subtotal:      $67.00 USD
Sales Tax:      
Cart Total:      $67.00 USD   
Payment details
Transaction ID:      3MA934745M6679513
Item Price:      $67.00 USD
Total:      $67.00 USD

[Tari]

Hello, it would be nice if you could check my order too, or otherwise give me the refund. I got a response from Jeph to one email I sent in April, and in which he said he would check that day. Sadly, thats all I got, and this is again five months ago.

I ordered my t-shirts on

November 20th 2008
Number: 9J674227CS0442306
One "Hanners worries" T-shirt in womens size M (25$)

and on

November 22th, 2008
Number: 6ER39153F30436144
One "math´s delicious" T-shirt in Mens size M ( 27 $)

So this would be 52$ as a refund.

[girl_withno_name]

Give me your transaction ID. I will refund you. I have refunded everyone whose email I have seen, or tried to send them their shirts. I don't have access to the Topatoco stock, so if I don't have the shirts in my old stock, I cannot send them to you. I can refund you, and I don't mind doing it. Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise, but no one seems to care about that.

My transaction ID is 5DB61763T2440071T

The last I heard from you on June 24th my t-shirts were due to be dispatched within the next few days, but I've not received any further communication (nor the merchandise). I want the t-shirts since they were discountinued and would like confirmation of when they will be dispatched.

Many thanks!

[estabrookette]

Hello, Cristi.  Here is all the information I have for my order.  I would also much prefer a shirt to a refund, since I can't just reorder this one from topatoco.

Paypal Receipt Number: 4036-4133-0355-5226

Item Name:      Isopod Shirt Mens' Domestic
Item Options:      Shirt Size: Small
Shirt Style: Black ink on pink shirt
Quantity:      1
Total:      $20.00 USD

The email address for this order is estabrookster (at) gmail (dot) com.

Also, I sent several emails about a new address.  Please pm or email me, and I'll give you the new one again.  Thank you!

[gentlemantom]

My transaction number is  4FU38524V2808174L

Item Name:      Library Science Ladies' International
Item Options:   
Shirt Size: Large
Quantity:       1
Total:       $27.00 USD
      
Thanks. I also sent an e-mail with my new address, in case you actually have the t-shirt in stock. At this point I'm no longer with the person it was intended for, but hey. Either way still works, I'm sure I can find someone who likes librarian t-shirts.

[Pypoli]

So, after now 9 months of waiting for my order, and receiving on the July 26th a promise that my order would be fixed "As soon as they got back from ComiCon", I still have received no update on my order.

I'm a patient guy, I really am, but this is it. Really.

I just sent a new, and last message to them basically saying that if they don't get their shit together, send me my order, or reimbourse me by friday the 11th, I'm going to the authorities with this.

I'll keep you posted on how that turns out.

Best of luck with your own orders.

[Pengraffe]

Ok, I think that I have either refunded or emailed everyone that has replied or emailed since my last reply to this thread.

[Gressory]

Hiya, I ordered some shirts back on 11-26-08 and never received them.

My Receipt Number is 1787-9683-5326-2228.

If there is any other information that is needed please let me know.

[Pypoli]

Ok, I think that I have either refunded or emailed everyone that has replied or emailed since my last reply to this thread.

I can confirm that I, for my part have indeed been refunded.
Thank you for that, and I can confirm I will probably be making a new order to your shop at some point.

[luralee]

I got my refund!  Thank you! 

[gamergirl1337]

Thank you for the refund...got it yesterday...

[Phantom]

My ID# is : 4833-6532-1904-2794.

[Pengraffe]

Gressory, Phantom, I have emailed both of you using the email accounts on your original orders. If those do not reach you, please email me at qcmerch@mac.com .

[Ivaness]

Thanks for the refund that I had no idea I had gotten! XD  This is what happens when I never check my email. I do plan on ordering through the new company. (Gotta show my QC love to the world before I have to wear uniforms to work. T_T )

Thanks, Cristi!

[girl_withno_name]

Ok, I think that I have either refunded or emailed everyone that has replied or emailed since my last reply to this thread.

I have received an e-mail (thanks!), now just for the t-shirts (hopefully  )

[pwhodges]

Ok, I think that I have either refunded or emailed everyone that has replied or emailed since my last reply to this thread.

Sorry, no!  But I sent mine to qcmerch@gmail.com - I've now duplicated it to qcmerch@mac.com. 

Also my email address from PayPal is given as pwh-paypal@..., whereas I have emailed you from pwh@... which goes to the same mailbox in fact (where ... = cassland.org).

[Phantom]

I got my email; thanks Cristi!

 

[StatSig]

Got my refund.  Thank you, Cristi!

[Smile In The Dark]

Hi, Christi, I've sent a  couple of emails to both addresses and also talked to you on the AIM screen name, but I haven't heard anything in awhile, and was just wondering what exactly is going on with my order from the old store. Unique Transaction ID #45Y23039VD095012M. Please let me know. Thanks.

[EllJayusMaximus]

Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise, but no one seems to care about that.

Well, he DID put you in charge of merchandise at one point... it's pretty obvious by now that he dropped the ball on that one! At this point it's pretty moot whether I get my shirt or refund or anything, because I am never supporting QC financially again. This customer service experience has consisted of no replies on a half-dozen emails (mostly from my girlfriend that placed the actual order as a gift for me), and several VERY terse forum posts. I'm getting information on my backorder on a FORUM page. This stuff doesn't fly at Amazon. There is no excuse besides gross incompetence for "losing track" of orders, and subsequent emails to a merch-only email address. You two should consider yourselves lucky that I still bring pageviews to your homepage.

PS: Jeph might consider using the T-shirt money to seek professional psychological counselling. His mental state provides the only shred of sympathy I still have for your business.

[girl_withno_name]

Hello all - just wondering if anyone's had any luck with their orders yet?

Cristi told me that my order would be a couple of weeks going out and that was about 12 days ago, so fingers crossed it'll be in the post soon!

[Zombiedude]

Jeph's got shit-all to do with merchandise, but no one seems to care about that.

Well, he DID put you in charge of merchandise at one point... it's pretty obvious by now that he dropped the ball on that one! At this point it's pretty moot whether I get my shirt or refund or anything, because I am never supporting QC financially again. This customer service experience has consisted of no replies on a half-dozen emails (mostly from my girlfriend that placed the actual order as a gift for me), and several VERY terse forum posts. I'm getting information on my backorder on a FORUM page. This stuff doesn't fly at Amazon. There is no excuse besides gross incompetence for "losing track" of orders, and subsequent emails to a merch-only email address. You two should consider yourselves lucky that I still bring pageviews to your homepage.

PS: Jeph might consider using the T-shirt money to seek professional psychological counselling. His mental state provides the only shred of sympathy I still have for your business.

ouch man

[Scathraax]

Well, might as well throw my complaints on the pile..

I also placed an order in January, for a shirt.
Since then, I've tried contacting Jeph, and the merch account (Abandoned?) about this order, and received no reply as of yet.

Hopefully, somehow, this post will finally get my shirt to me!

PayPal Receipt Number: 4217-8545-0311-1644

[Surgoshan]

Clearly, not everyone has cause to complain.  I found this while looking for some fun math to do.  Stop laughing; I'm serious.  Stop laughing!  I hate you!  You're not my real dad!  I'm running away!