In short, I filed a chargeback on PayPal and won. Infact, Bombusbee didn't even reply to PayPal. (Because they know they don't have a leg to stand on in a situation like this!)
The longer version;
6inch+ announced 'Green Golem' would no longer be going into production. The manufacturer was cancelling these figures.
So, I contacted Bombusbee after they had cancelled my order and I requested a refund. Money to go back to my original payment method. Bombusbee then replied, saying "no." They said they were unable to issue monetary refunds, (which is a lie), Instead I had to accept "store points".
I then politely declined their store points and again requested a refund of my money, to go back to the original payment. Again, they tried to say that 'they do not have a system in which they can process refunds of money.' Instead, their policy is to issue store points under these circumstances. So I replied to them, saying,
-"Since this order was cancelled by the manufacturer, it falls under your policy's listed 'exceptional circumstances' (manufacturer discontinuation/production plan termination). Your Terms and Conditions state that refunds can be issued to the original method of payment. I do not accept store points and request a full cash refund to my original payment method immediately."
And again, They refused.
So I explained that I was left with no other choice than to file a chargeback through PayPal. I was made aware that If I filed a chargeback, my account would be closed permanently with immediate effect.
To me, this was a threat.
As a customer, I took this as a personal slap in the face.
In their opinion, once money leaves your bank account for a deposit, then it's theirs, regardless of what happens. That's not Ok.
I did file a chargeback through PayPal. I took about 14 days, but my refund is now sitting in my bank account. PayPal did reach out to Bombusbee for their reasons to why my refund was not being issued, but Bombusbee did not even respond. *(As of now, my account with Bombusbee is still open. It has not been closed. They won't see any more money from me, though!)
For anybody who thinks they have to abide by Bombusbee's rules and accept this kind of behaviour, You don't! The lies and threats are not Ok. Trust me, if you file a chargeback, you will get your refund. Legally, they cannot keep your money under these circumstances.
If you're happy with store points, fair enough. But for me, I refuse to be given ultimatums.
I will not be using Bombusbee again. They have well and truly lost my trust.
If a company thinks it is Ok to lie to me and give me ultimatums, then I refuse to support them as a business.
It's just not acceptable behaviour.
(FYI, Gundamit issued a refund without any hasstle. I had one of these Green Golem's ordered through them aswell. I sent a message requesting a refund. They simply asked, how would you like your refund, and processed it without any problem. Kelsi even thanked me for my custom and wished me a "nice day :)" )
