Is Happ having trouble?

[Agrajag]

I recently decided to give building my own controller a shot after considering the pre-built options (which I may have to reconsider after all this). I started by placing an order for buttons with Happ on December 12th. Nothing in the order but $44 worth of horizontal switched buttons.

Well, still no shipment and their site shows them still in procurement which is the same status as the day after I ordered them. All e-mails to them have been ignored as well.

Not a good start.

[Chris]

I just ordered some stuff from Happs just before Christmas and got everything quite quickly.

Have they charged your credit card yet?

Have you tried calling or faxing them?  

TOLL FREE PHONE: 888-BUY-HAPP(289-4277)

PHONE: 847-593-6130

TOLL FREE FAX:
800-593-HAPP (4277)

FAX: 847-593-6137

International Sales Fax:
847-981-2690


--Chris

[Silverwind]

I recently received an order for them before christmas also..
my order was placed after the 12th I believe..

two happ supers and about 18 horz pb's

[TazMan]

I know my contact at Happ told me they were shutting down for inventory and wouldn't be shipping again until I think she said the 3rd.  But, based upon your order date, I would have thought they would have shipped well before the shutdown date.  I would call them and check on the status.

I have had great luck with Happ - both in service and shipping.  I'll e-mail my contact and see if she can look into it.

[Agrajag]

I just ordered some stuff from Happs just before Christmas and got everything quite quickly.

Thanks for the phone numbers. Not sure why I didn't think of that. On the phone with them now. Credit card charged. They have NO idea what the hold up is. They're going to have to call me back.

I'm not thrilled with the customer service I got. At one point she said, "I don't think they'll ship this today when we figure this out because it's our first day back in the office and we're only shipping out UPS Red and Blue orders." I said, "Well since I've waited since the 2nd, couldn't you get me into that shipment?" She said, "To be honest, no."

What?!? They send my order into the netherworlds and won't spend to rush my order out a month after the fact???

Worse, they just called back. They have no idea why it was held up. They said everything was fine. All parts were in. All credit approved, all information provided. It just didn't happen. I read that as, "We screwed up" and based on that, I expect to be taken care of. Instead they're just going to send out the stuff "hopefully on Thursday".

Not my idea of a customer service-friendly organization.

I'll have to think twice before putting in another order with them again.

[Chris]

It just didn't happen. I read that as, "We screwed up" and based on that, I expect to be taken care of. Instead they're just going to send out the stuff "hopefully on Thursday".

Not my idea of a customer service-friendly organization.

I'll have to think twice before putting in another order with them again.

They're probably running on minimal staff today.  I've ordered from them twice with excellent service each time, but I completely understand how easy it is to get soured by one bad experience.  Realize also that they're customer base is arcade operators and casinos and such, not end-user hobbyists, so that also no doubt affects their customer service approach.

I do, of course, agree that they should have made extra effort to get it out today, but at least she was up front and didn't give you a "We'll try our best to get it out today" knowing full well that she couldn't...

--Chris

[Sasquatch!]

Nothing in the order but $44 worth of horizontal switched buttons.

I haven't ordered from Happ in close to two years, but a few weeks ago I got a box from them with like 20 coin mechs.    After calling them they sent me a return shipping label, and I was never charged for it, but that was some strange mojo.

[Agrajag]

I do, of course, agree that they should have made extra effort to get it out today, but at least she was up front and didn't give you a "We'll try our best to get it out today" knowing full well that she couldn't...

Agreed. It's just that I live by the "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" view and boy did they screw that one up. <grin>

[Chris]

There's always http://www.therealbobroberts.com ...

--Chris

[Trenchbroom]

There's always http://www.therealbobroberts.com ...

--Chris

Yep, I've ordered from both Happ and Bob and had no complaints about either--except for the customer service experience.  Not that Happ was bad per se but Bob was the BEST!  Personalized service, infinitely knowledgeable, etc.

Will always give Bob first crack at my business in the future.

[TazMan]

Agreed. It's just that I live by the "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" view and boy did they screw that one up. <grin>

I e-mailed my contact at Happ, she said she would take care of this.  Actually said she was disappointed that this wasn't resolved when it first came to light - heads will roll  
I have nothing but great things to say about Happ - it's a shame that this one seemed to slip through the cracks  

[spidermonkey]

I've ordered from Happ 6 or 7 times and always got the same sales rep. Sylvia. After the third or fourth time she knew my name just by hearing my voice. I always got my stuff quick and it was always right the first time. After a couple of larger orders she didn't mind shipping low cost items even though they do have a minimum order. Sorry but I've got nothing but good things to say about Happ but like any company they are bound to make some mistakes here and there. If we were perfect then we wouldn't be human.
S.M.

[Tiger-Heli]

There's always http://www.therealbobroberts.com ...

--Chris

Yep, I've ordered from both Happ and Bob and had no complaints about either--except for the customer service experience.  Not that Happ was bad per se but Bob was the BEST!  Personalized service, infinitely knowledgeable, etc.

Will always give Bob first crack at my business in the future.

Totally agree!!  I have contacted both of them on numerous occasions.  Haven't ordered yet, and can't say anything bad about either one, but Bob knows his stuff, won't try to push the more expensive product on you if you ask his opinion, has lower prices than Happ, no minimum, sometimes eats part of the shipping cost, and usually ships something extra with the order (he calls it lagniappe (see http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/ordering.html)

That gives him first crack at my business for any Happ item that he carries!!!

[djll]

I had the same exact experience as the poster.  I placed an order well before Christmas, around a week before and after calling in at the end of December because my status on the website showed they were still allocating items, they told me they were closing down for inventory until the 3rd.  I was displeased that my order hadn't already shipped and just told the rep to cancel my order.  That was easy and hopefully my order was cancelled.  I have since ordered from Bob Roberts and he is very, very kind, helpful, and quickly responds.  He even shipped my order at the same time that I sent the check out to him, without having ever done business with him in the past.  He also gave me discounted prices over Happs.  From what I read about Bob, he's not really making money off his sales, he's just trying to help out arcade enthusiasts.  Hopefully I'll have my order from him before this weekend is over.  So far, he has been awesome to deal with!