I get the impression that most concerns about the innumerable failings of Funpub never reach anyone of importance's ears at Hasbro and even if it did I think it would have to get even worse for them to ever care.

Hopefully one day someone will replace them but as there seems to be a bit of a lack of other more professional brand event organiser waiting to take over I'm not going to hold my breath.

But I do think the would be best got rid of sooner than later before they do anything other than continue to just massively irritate hundreds of people time and time over for years on end. they certainly have shown no will or wit to get any better at handling the club and convention, as far as I've noticed they remain quite slapdash.

Which is why can never recommend to a parent to let their kids join the club in good faith ; as long as they remain the group handling it. as I know they'd do something wrong and it would reflect badly on me for having recommended them. I like to see a club I could recommend to anyone of any age and anywhere in the world in good faith - I don't think Fubpub can ever provide that though.

And I do wonder from time to time what the Gi Joe fandom thinks about them too ?

 

Yeah well I went and got a pre-paid Visa just for renewing. Money Order/ Checks are just not an option for a lot of people overseas so I can't see an alternative option right now to renew other than using a pre-paid Visa.

I tried to go the check/money order method and it was too costly plus conversions was going to be too messy as I could only send them in Australian currency not US.

 

I will try to answer your questions/concerns

First. My comments were directed at those who attacked fellow board members by shouting them down. As a member of these boards for 10 years I found that to be unfair. So yes, a few members who blast us and their fellow members is really uncalled for.

We have said repeatedly that we are upgrading our systems. New boards and new online presence.

All payment options are on the table.

If you would have checked our website over the last year you would have seen contests and other exclusive content. We engage the fan base in many different ways.

We do not send a 5 page Magazine. I am not sure what publication you are referring to. We send out a 16 page magazine with content you can not find online. The TFwiki actually breaks down each issue, so I would suggest checking that site out to see the enormous amount of exclusive information we have revealed over the last 7+ years. This includes the exclusive reveals and so on from Hasbro. You will be hard pressed to find anything in the magazine online "first" or at all...

The first look at Toy Fair is always through the TCC

When we get the new boards up, we look forward to expanding our club experience and to continue reaching out to new members through social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

We have seen a huge influx of new members over the last two years and we are confident that when we get everything back up we will continue to grow with the support of the amazing fan base!

 

Of course, with the caveat that nothing regarding your pathetic customer blame and lack of coherent response to the issue be discussed on Facebook. Right?

 

Pete here is the problem in a nutshell:

1) No one has ever explained why Fun Pub was saving our credit card info. Would you please explain that to us? Yes, it very much is our business to know this.

2) No one has explained why you asked for so much personal information from members who were hacked. This stuff is honestly why you aren't getting many e-mail or phone calls because it seems extremely intrusive for no good reason. If there is a good reason, we should know.

3) The Club has done a very poor job of helping fill in the blanks about what happened in February. Sure -that really is none of our business - but the fragmented comments from the Club almost make it sound like you knew there was a problem and you were intentionally letting people get hit so you could investigate the problem. Of course, you would never admit this if that was the case, but at least give a better sense of what has been happening.

4) Lastly this is a Club. I am a member. What does that mean though when communication is so little and everything is secretive. In most clubs, it is about feeling like you are a part of a community. I say that to say this: the actions of the Club have kind of alienated the customer in many ways. In recent days, that has somewhat changed. I think what people are asking for us is that Fun Pub try to act like you care about our predicament instead of making it about your own. It is far easier to want to empathize when we feel like you care about us. Statements like "your bank will take care of you" along side "we are victims too" don't do that.

I want the club to do well. Heck, I want it to be amazing. I want it to shine. But right now, it seems more like you want us to like you and let it be like before, but without explaining what happened and what you are doing to heal some pretty serious hurts.

I'm glad people are supportive. I wish they didn't have to be.

 

We never blamed the customer. As we were trying to determine what was going on we simply wanted everyone to send us their details and also check the way our site was being used and how they were ordering from us. We were looking at all possibilities.

If any of that came across as blame, we apologize.

 

Might I suggest the "Asia" counterpart to Fun Pub in respects to holding a Hasbro license and conducting a Transformers event.:

Stategic Public Relations Group

This is a COMPANY.

I'm not trying to be rude, but Fun Pub is a house, not even an office. Google Earth:225 Cattle Baron Parc Fort Worth, Texas 76108 According to the contact address, this is a Garage Company.

 

As all of this is still ongoing, I can't discuss any of that right now. As soon as we can, we will... But no, we NEVER let anyone get intentionally hit.

 

Pete, a response to my questions would be appreciated before you go

 

Of course. We are working on additional options as we want to make sure every member that wants to renew can. I am hoping to have an update in the next couple of days. The absolute LAST thing we want is for anyone that wants to get Runamuck to feel like they can't...

Anyone that can use the PDF, we still suggest that. But we will have additional updates very soon...

 

So please understand, that is the problem. You can't discuss anything that really, really matters - that answers the questions. You just demand blind trust. And that is frustrating a lot of people who paid a nice some of money to be a part of this club.

 

Thanks for the response. If your store isn't back up before the 16th will there be considerations for an extension of the cut-off date?

Oh and is it too soon to assume I am now a renewed member if I haven't had contact from FP before the 16th telling me otherwise?

 

This makes me happy. I look forward to seeing how it all turns out. Hopefully both paypal and a professional site come out of this. This would be a definite start to improving things.

 

Personally, I think the club having its own forum is a waste of time and resources. You can't and won't beat TFW2005. I may have said it before, THIS is the Transformers Collectors Club IMO.

Focus more on news, updates from Hasbro, reveals, contests, exclusive content, exclusive toys. Accept PayPal. Leave the message boards to the ones who are already doing an awesome job of it.

 

I would have to agree with that. Anyone active here wouldn't bother to really be active is at all over there and they already said they want to do more with facebook and twitter. So I would that would really cover anything a forum there would.

I think it would be nice to see more fun things like contests, seeing the comics published in a trade paper back maybe. And more exclusive comics would be awesome I would love to see more from Shattered Glass. I would really sink the time and all into more fun things for members.

 

Yes ditch that forum.

 

i didnt know TFCC had a forum. Im pretty sure, someone here would post whatever is over there.

 

I mailed a check with my renewal notice on, like, February 27 or 28. According to my bank, the check hasn't been cashed yet. I don't need to start worrying yet... do I? (My membership expired March 4.)

 

I sent a money order last week to renew my membership. With the site in flux, how can I find out if it got renewed?

 

Today Capital One fraud department called to inform me I had 2 seperate charges for a total of $2,000 on the card I used with TFCC. Thankfully it is a card I hardly use and I won't be held responsible for it.

In theory, the club seems like a great idea...but the QC issues, choice in characters/figures and now security issues...not sure its worth it.