Bandai 1/60 DX Chogokin Macross Plus YF-21

[Radioguy]

24 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

This is a first. So i was surprised.

I understand that's your personal experience. I do get that.

24 minutes ago, davidwhangchoi said:

Can you show me on this thread or on the entire Macross forums of anyone getting an entire valk as a replacement from bluefin? When you say it's standard practice for Bluefin to send a whole valk, can you show some past evidence? There are multiple threads on the Macross toys from Bandai Namco.  I've never seen one post till now.  

No. I spoke of items in general when I spoke of warranty coverage from Bandai Namco, and Bluefin before. When I speak of others' experience, it includes comments I have seen on other platforms, discussions with staff at local retailers, and friends which have experienced the same.

Insofar as expense goes, I have received several warranty replacements, including two retail-boxed SHMA replacements that were DX-comparable in price; in fact, which cost more than a YF-21.

So, based on that experience, that Bandai Namco sent out an entire YF-21 did not surprise me. I guess I don't need to repeat that again.

I only wonder now if they withheld the retail box because it wasn't on hand, or as a new matter of policy to prevent return/resale. The latter would be prudent, but hasn't happened in my experience.

[Radioguy]

30 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

See, the funny thing, from Bandai's perspective, I can kind of see how this makes.. "sense."

The thought process probably went something like this:

- "What's the absolute minimum factory-complete product unit we can send that will cover all of the complaints of broken parts we've received?"
- "The only way to do that would be to send the entire plane body, and the spare canopy."
- "If it means we don't have to disassemble anything or interact with the assembly line, fine.  Ship it."

It's basically the minimum amount of effort they can give to get you the replacement for whatever part of the valk broke.

BINGO.

Well, I did have one small, conceivably replaceable, part that didn't snap-in on one of my more costly items, and they still sent a new retail-boxed one.

Frankly, I wonder if they ever audit the warranty replacement process to see if they ought to fire anyone over sending whole products out. 🤪

[Apok451]

9 hours ago, Chronocidal said:

See, the funny thing, from Bandai's perspective, I can kind of see how this makes.. "sense."

The thought process probably went something like this:

- "What's the absolute minimum factory-complete product unit we can send that will cover all of the complaints of broken parts we've received?"
- "The only way to do that would be to send the entire plane body, and the spare canopy."
- "If it means we don't have to disassemble anything or interact with the assembly line, fine.  Ship it."

It's basically the minimum amount of effort they can give to get you the replacement for whatever part of the valk broke.

Absolutely!  From a business perspective, that was probably cheaper.  Positive customer experience?  Thats a bingo!  Sadly from the same business perspective, they cant do it for everyone.  But its cool as hell that he got a whole new one. 

[derex3592]

I'll share this quick story about customer service from my childhood which I will never forget...Huge GI Joe fan growing up in the 80's right?  So for Christmas on year I wanted the new Cobra Rattler more than ANYTHING on earth, there were TV ads for it everywhere, it was in the toy catalogs of Service Merchandise and Toys R Us, but there were NONE to be found in stores...I was beside myself. Apparently so much so, my dear mother, may she rest in peace, wrote a strongly worded letter to the President of Hasbro expressing her displeasure with all of this....  A few weeks later a GIGANTIC box showed up on our doorstep with NOT one but TWO brand new Cobra Rattlers and a brand new FULL GI JOE HEADQUARTERS playset, I don't remember for sure, but I believe there was a note as well from the Hasbro President apologizing to my mother for the trouble... The power of the pen IS mighty!!! ..... Now THAT was some good old 80's customer service!!! Bandai could learn a thing or two...LOL 

[pengbuzz]

1 hour ago, derex3592 said:

I'll share this quick story about customer service from my childhood which I will never forget...Huge GI Joe fan growing up in the 80's right?  So for Christmas on year I wanted the new Cobra Rattler more than ANYTHING on earth, there were TV ads for it everywhere, it was in the toy catalogs of Service Merchandise and Toys R Us, but there were NONE to be found in stores...I was beside myself. Apparently so much so, my dear mother, may she rest in peace, wrote a strongly worded letter to the President of Hasbro expressing her displeasure with all of this....  A few weeks later a GIGANTIC box showed up on our doorstep with NOT one but TWO brand new Cobra Rattlers and a brand new FULL GI JOE HEADQUARTERS playset, I don't remember for sure, but I believe there was a note as well from the Hasbro President apologizing to my mother for the trouble... The power of the pen IS mighty!!! ..... Now THAT was some good old 80's customer service!!! Bandai could learn a thing or two...LOL 

Do you still have Hasbro's address? Asking for a friend...

 

[Radioguy]

4 hours ago, derex3592 said:

I'll share this quick story about customer service from my childhood which I will never forget...Huge GI Joe fan growing up in the 80's right?  So for Christmas on year I wanted the new Cobra Rattler more than ANYTHING on earth, there were TV ads for it everywhere, it was in the toy catalogs of Service Merchandise and Toys R Us, but there were NONE to be found in stores...I was beside myself. Apparently so much so, my dear mother, may she rest in peace, wrote a strongly worded letter to the President of Hasbro expressing her displeasure with all of this....  A few weeks later a GIGANTIC box showed up on our doorstep with NOT one but TWO brand new Cobra Rattlers and a brand new FULL GI JOE HEADQUARTERS playset, I don't remember for sure, but I believe there was a note as well from the Hasbro President apologizing to my mother for the trouble... The power of the pen IS mighty!!! ..... Now THAT was some good old 80's customer service!!! Bandai could learn a thing or two...LOL 

I loved those Service Merchandise catalogs. My mom did not.

Yes, those were the days. When mothers wrote letters, and presidents were afraid of them.

[Powered Convoy]

I decided to go with the lower cost for this one having the YF-19 already (and despite having the Yamato from 20 years ago). Arrived intact. Haven't gotten around to transforming it though. 

[Lolicon]

6 hours ago, derex3592 said:

I'll share this quick story about customer service from my childhood which I will never forget...Huge GI Joe fan growing up in the 80's right?  So for Christmas on year I wanted the new Cobra Rattler more than ANYTHING on earth, there were TV ads for it everywhere, it was in the toy catalogs of Service Merchandise and Toys R Us, but there were NONE to be found in stores...I was beside myself. Apparently so much so, my dear mother, may she rest in peace, wrote a strongly worded letter to the President of Hasbro expressing her displeasure with all of this....  A few weeks later a GIGANTIC box showed up on our doorstep with NOT one but TWO brand new Cobra Rattlers and a brand new FULL GI JOE HEADQUARTERS playset, I don't remember for sure, but I believe there was a note as well from the Hasbro President apologizing to my mother for the trouble... The power of the pen IS mighty!!! ..... Now THAT was some good old 80's customer service!!! Bandai could learn a thing or two...LOL 

That is so awesome.

Sadly, we live in the age of short term gains and private equity where once great companies get hollowed out and stripped of everything so a few rich a-holes can get richer. Hmmm that sure sounds familiar... oh well, that's a discussion for a different forum. 

[Apok451]

1 hour ago, Powered Convoy said:

I decided to go with the lower cost for this one having the YF-19 already (and despite having the Yamato from 20 years ago). Arrived intact. Haven't gotten around to transforming it though. 

Awesome, it is a solid valk.  

[MacrossJunkie]

On 5/8/2025 at 9:24 PM, locidm said:

Bluefin finally sent me replacement part, except it’s a nice surprise. Instead of sending me a replacement antenna and fins, they sent me the entire valk instead. They put the valk in the plastic tray and sent it in a shipping box. Yes, the antenna and the fins on the replacement valk were all good. Props to Bluefin. It took a looong time but they delivered. 

Wow. That's pretty crazy that they basically sent you a whole valk minus accessories. 

A week or so ago, I got a FedEx notification that a package was being shipped to me. I couldn't figure out what the heck it could be since I didn't order anything that would be shipped through FedEx. Got an email later that the shipper was from BNTCA. I realized it was my replacement parts that I've waited close to 9 months for now.  I wonder if they'll do the same or if I'm getting just the parts. I don't care either way. I just want a non-bent head laser and a canopy with an unbroken hinge. That's all I've wanted and I hope they inspected the replacements before sending to me because otherwise, I'm going to be extremely pissed waiting this long for damaged parts.

[ALEXD]

I too recieved a full valk. 

[davidwhangchoi]

That's awesome! Getting a new valk is great.

I hope everyone that got denied in the past get one each

[Duymon]

You can tell if you got a valk or a just parts by the shipping weight that fedex emails you. if it's less than a pound you just got parts. If it's 2.05lb it's a valk. 

Sadly I only got parts . my shipping weight was. 0.45 lb and I got 1 antenna and 2 canopies 

Edited 1 hour ago by Duymon

[MacrossJunkie]

44 minutes ago, Duymon said:

You can tell if you got a valk or a just parts by the shipping weight that fedex emails you. if it's less than a pound you just got parts. If it's 2.05lb it's a valk. 

Sadly I only got parts . my shipping weight was. 0.45 lb and I got 1 antenna and 2 canopies 

Good info. Thanks. Mine shows 2.5 lbs, so it sounds like they sent me the whole thing. I should get it some time today.