Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: nipsmg on February 20, 2008, 04:25:02 pm

Title: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: nipsmg on February 20, 2008, 04:25:02 pm
Quote
I placed an order for the following:

27" monitor bezel
Maruqee Retainer
2 speaker grilles.

Total cost: $27
Total Weight: 3.2 lbs

They were to be shipped ground.  The next highest option was 3 day shipping.  Figuring at most a $10 surcharge, I selected this option.  Happ does not list the actual shipping costs on this website. (Maybe this is why, so they can completely rape their customers for shipping charges).

To my horror, I got an order confirmation telling me I was charged $62?!??!??!???!? for shipping and I'd be receiving it by friday.  I called happ expressing my disbelief at this charge and was told "that's just the way it works, the bezel is an oversized item, sorry". 

I have ordered one of these before for my other machine http://arcadia.gerety.net (http://arcadia.gerety.net), and there's NO WAY I was charged $60 for shipping, and I ordered a whole bunch more including every button and controller on my 4P panel, including a happ trackball.

I was told I could speak to a supervisor and was, of course, given a voicemail box to which I left a detailed polite message along with my phone number, but have yet to get a call back.

BE CAREFUL ORDERING FROM HAPP ONLINE!! I don't want anyone else in this position.

--Mike

The above was my original post.  After calling and submitting feedback on the form, I got an e-mail from a Julie Wallace at Happcontrols who said she would look into it for me.  This morning, I received an e-mail stating they would give a $45.00 customer concession to be credited to my credit card.  She said ups ships on "dimensional weight" which was 30lbs.   

I'm amazed that customer service like this still exists.  Especially in a day and age where the normal customer service call goes more like:

    Customer: I have an issue
    Customer Service Rep: F**** OFF!  We really don't care.

I take back what I said about Happ.  I'll be more careful now, but I'll definitely order from Happ again.  Next time, I think I'll call though.



Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: TelcoLou on February 20, 2008, 04:28:40 pm
Seconded!

I got my bezel & t-molding from Ebay .. $15 for the bezel + $10 for shipping
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: waveryder on February 20, 2008, 04:30:34 pm
I've always found happs service excellent. Mind you I call them I never order from their website.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ChadTower on February 20, 2008, 04:34:21 pm

Does that come with moon pies?  Sometimes when you order arcade parts online you get moon pies.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: waveryder on February 20, 2008, 04:38:54 pm
???? What the hell is a moon pie?  :dunno
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Dudeman on February 20, 2008, 04:39:43 pm
That's why I go through Divemaster. No moon pies.

But on second thought... I do like me a moon pie and an RC cola!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ChadTower on February 20, 2008, 04:40:01 pm
Last order I made got me seven

To be fair, some were banana.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: waveryder on February 20, 2008, 04:41:51 pm
Are you guys all really stoned? What the hell is a moon pie? Maybe this is a yank thing.  :dizzy:
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ahofle on February 20, 2008, 04:42:15 pm
Divemaster won't even ship those bezels anymore because of the shipping rates on them. 
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: shardian on February 20, 2008, 04:42:34 pm
There needs to be a warning somewhere that is easily readable here that says DO NOT ORDER DIRECTLY FROM HAPP!!!!!!!!

This has been covered a million times.

Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: lanman31337 on February 20, 2008, 04:43:30 pm
???? What the hell is a moon pie?  :dunno

Tastiest thing this side of the atlantic and pacific!!!

(http://www.revfry.com/stuff/MoonPie.jpg)

They come in banana and chocolate.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ChadTower on February 20, 2008, 04:43:57 pm
There should also be a warning that it is not advisable to yank your moon pies no matter what waveryder suggests.  That will just lead to a white creamy mess on your hand.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: shardian on February 20, 2008, 04:44:51 pm
Are you guys all really stoned? What the hell is a moon pie? Maybe this is a yank thing.  :dizzy:

You are in luck, there is an official Moon Pie website:
http://www.moonpie.com/

I'm not a huge fan of them myself, but they can be good in very small quantity.
pop culture relevance: If you've seen The Green Mile, it was a whole Moon pie that the convict chewed up and spit on the guard. ;D
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Dudeman on February 20, 2008, 04:45:19 pm
Mmmm... chocolate.


Put 'em in the microwave. They almost explode.

Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: lanman31337 on February 20, 2008, 04:46:32 pm
Sometimes they catch on fire in the microwave!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: waveryder on February 20, 2008, 04:47:35 pm
I ordered parts from happs and I didnt get any ---gosh-darn--- "Moon pies". Now I feel ripped off! Damn they looked tasty too and full off saturated fat!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ChadTower on February 20, 2008, 04:48:04 pm
    In A.D. 2101, war was beginning.

    Captain: What happen ?
    Mechanic: Somebody set up us the snacks.
    Operator: We get marshmallow.
    Captain: What !
    Operator: Main screen turn on.
    Captain: It's you !!
    CATS: How are you gentlemen !!
    CATS: All your moon pies are belong to us.
    CATS: You are on the way to destruction.
    Captain: What you say !!
    CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time.
    CATS: Ha Ha Ha Ha ...
    Operator: Captain!! *
    Captain: Take off every 'wrapper' !!
    Captain: You know what you doing.
    Captain: Move 'ZIG'.
    Captain: For great taste.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Dudeman on February 20, 2008, 04:48:21 pm
Are you guys all really stoned? What the hell is a moon pie? Maybe this is a yank thing.  :dizzy:

If you ever come to North Carolina, I'll buy you an RC cola and a Moon Pie.

Rednecks are weened on that.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: shardian on February 20, 2008, 04:50:15 pm
    In A.D. 2101, war was beginning.

    Captain: What happen ?
    Mechanic: Somebody set up us the snacks.
    Operator: We get marshmallow.
    Captain: What !
    Operator: Main screen turn on.
    Captain: It's you !!
    CATS: How are you gentlemen !!
    CATS: All your moon pies are belong to us.
    CATS: You are on the way to destruction.
    Captain: What you say !!
    CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time.
    CATS: Ha Ha Ha Ha ...
    Operator: Captain!! *
    Captain: Take off every 'wrapper' !!
    Captain: You know what you doing.
    Captain: Move 'ZIG'.
    Captain: For great taste.

 :laugh2: :laugh2:
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Sir Auros on February 20, 2008, 04:52:46 pm
I only ordered from Happ once and didn't have a problem other than my red joystick was on backorder for a while. What are the issues with ordering from them directly? Other than they prefer working with operators instead of enthusiasts.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: waveryder on February 20, 2008, 04:55:53 pm
Well the happs receptionist has a really sexy voice, thats why I order from them over the phone. But what I want to know is will someone ship me over a box of those moon pies. They look packed full of creamy goodness!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Dudeman on February 20, 2008, 04:59:11 pm
Where do you live that they don't have Moon Pies?

I think you should move.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Dudeman on February 20, 2008, 05:01:55 pm
Well the happs receptionist has a really sexy voice, thats why I order from them over the phone. But what I want to know is will someone ship me over a box of those moon pies. They look packed full of creamy goodness!

Hmmm.. art for Moon Pies.
I wonder what the exchange rate on that would be?
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: waveryder on February 20, 2008, 05:09:13 pm
Hopefully better than the $ - £ exchange rate!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Avrus on February 20, 2008, 05:10:47 pm
Must have shipped UPS.   :laugh2:
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: FrizzleFried on February 20, 2008, 05:13:52 pm
Happ charged me $23.00 TOTAL to ship a Vision Pro monitor!

Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Hoopz on February 20, 2008, 05:15:58 pm
A moon pie and an RC cola is it anymore.  It's a Moon pie and a bottle of ski now!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: TheShanMan on February 20, 2008, 05:39:24 pm
FWIW I'm here in the US (west coast though, not an east coast yankee) and as far as I can remember I've never heard of moon pies! I was thinking the same thing - what the hell is a moon pie? ;)
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: MaximRecoil on February 20, 2008, 05:40:58 pm
Are you guys all really stoned? What the hell is a moon pie? Maybe this is a yank thing.  :dizzy:

No, it is a "Rebel" thing. The closest things we Yankees have are "Whoopie Pies".
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: knave on February 20, 2008, 05:49:24 pm
FWIW I'm here in the US (west coast though, not an east coast yankee) and as far as I can remember I've never heard of moon pies! I was thinking the same thing - what the hell is a moon pie? ;)

I think it's also an age and exposure thing...being middle aged and living on the west coast I just have heard of moon pies.  I even saw a special on the food network about them once.  Just dont ask me where you could find one out here. (I do think you can mail order them though)

We do have RC cola though. 
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: MaximRecoil on February 20, 2008, 05:57:33 pm
FWIW I'm here in the US (west coast though, not an east coast yankee) and as far as I can remember I've never heard of moon pies! I was thinking the same thing - what the hell is a moon pie? ;)

I think it's also an age and exposure thing...being middle aged and living on the west coast I just have heard of moon pies.  I even saw a special on the food network about them once.  Just dont ask me where you could find one out here. (I do think you can mail order them though)

We do have RC cola though. 

It is because Moon Pies are mainly a Southern U.S. thing. They certainly don't sell them in Maine. The first time I ever heard of them was in the early or mid-'90s Country song "Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous" (Tracy Byrd):

Quote
Yeah, our idea of high-class living
Is sitting on the porch on a cool night
Our Champagne and caviar
Is an RC Cola and a Moon Pie

Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ahofle on February 20, 2008, 06:01:09 pm
Didn't the game "Redneck Rampage" have moon pies around the map that gave you 'health'?  :laugh2:
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: MaximRecoil on February 20, 2008, 06:07:57 pm
Didn't the game "Redneck Rampage" have moon pies around the map that gave you 'health'?  :laugh2:

Quote
Like most first-person-shooters, [Redneck Rampage] offered a variety of ways for the character to regenerate health or hit points. These power-ups consisted of the allegedly redneck related moon pies, pork rinds, beer and liquor.

LOL!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: u_rebelscum on February 20, 2008, 06:09:07 pm
I placed an order for the following:

27" monitor bezel

They were to be shipped ground.  .... (Maybe this is why, so they can completely rape their customers for shipping charges).

To my horror, I got an order confirmation telling me I was charged $62?!??!??!???!? for shipping ... was told "that's just the way it works, the bezel is an oversized item, sorry".

Blame UPS.  Even DM would have charged the same (at least he'd tell you) if he sold it:
Divemaster won't even ship those bezels anymore because of the shipping rates on them. 

Go to ups.com and look it up yourself.  Be sure to do the detailed time & cost, as your package is "oversized": your 27" bezel outside size is 29.5" x 29.25" according to happs (assuming crt bezel), and a 30x30x6 package (ie bezel with no padding) will be changed by ups as if it's 29 lbs.  Add the rest of your order and any needed padding, and the size and thus UPS cost will go up.

Side story: when I worked for a small online store, we intentionally didn't give shipping estimates because we didn't know how many of each product could fit in the different boxes.  We knew the product weights, but that was (and still isn't) enough to calculate the actual shipping costs.  And the costs for a 4 lb package vs a 4 lb package @ 30 lb dimensional weight is huge (as OP found out).


I do feel for you that they don't give a shipping cost estimate, and you guessed the shipping cost wrong.  And if they packaged in a box bigger than needed, then you can really blast happs.  But happs at least now lists the outside dimensions of the bezel, so you could have (should have) estimated the cost yourself by going to ups.com before ordering.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Ken Layton on February 20, 2008, 06:10:58 pm
There needs to be a warning somewhere that is easily readable here that says DO NOT ORDER DIRECTLY FROM HAPP!!!!!!!!

This has been covered a million times.



Yes indeed this is well documented here and other forums.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: CheffoJeffo on February 20, 2008, 06:27:47 pm
Happ charged me $23.00 TOTAL to ship a Vision Pro monitor!

I HATE when that happens ...  ;)

People -- this one has been discussed to death and is even noted in the wiki ... most things that you would order from Happ can be obtained elsewhere (e.g. from distributors) for lower unit costs and lower shipping. Monitors may be the one area where this is not true (and is, indeed, the one item that I have ordered directly from Happ).

EDIT: Since this discussion includes the issue of shipping monitor bezels ... those are expensive to ship most times. I have actually had a number of folks get the bezel shipped to the local distributor and I will pick it up for them and find a more efficient way to get it to them (e.g. local meet-ups).
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: AlexC on February 20, 2008, 06:33:15 pm
I recommend ordering parts from :

http://therealbobroberts.net/

Great guy and he usually sends out Moon Pies with the order  :applaud:
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: FrizzleFried on February 20, 2008, 07:05:27 pm
I am waiting on two switchers and 4 buttons (I should have ordered 5) that should be here tomorrow from Bob....

Bob is the beez kneez.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ChadTower on February 20, 2008, 07:24:04 pm
Great guy and he usually sends out Moon Pies with the order  :applaud:


Psst.... that's what all the jokes in this thread are about.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Daniel B. on February 20, 2008, 07:52:19 pm
Chad, when I read your moon pie post in the tank 2 thread I almost ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. Did you happen to take any pics of the package?


also....From http://www.therealbobroberts.net/ordering.html

What to heck is lagniappe?

Lagniappe is a custom practiced here in Louisiana & I'll give you Webster's definition........
"lagniappe or lagnappe n. 1. a small gift given by a merchant to a customer for making a purchase. 2. a gratuity; tip"
Whenever possible, something is randomly thrown in with your order that my wife or I think you may be able to use, or the brownie cookies or trinkets at Mardi Gras time, or sometimes even the shipping container such as the Rubbermaid containers that were used to ship buttons & joysticks several times. You never know what, or when, you'll find some oddball item in your order... calculators... telephones... tool sets... toys... extras of the same part... vid game posters... flyers... boxes of lamps or stuffed animals just to name a few of the items already sent out as lagniappe.


What?
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: MaximRecoil on February 20, 2008, 08:20:26 pm
Chad is one of the few people out there who will ---smurfette--- about free food.

What ails you?

Anyway?
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ark_ader on February 20, 2008, 08:26:21 pm
I order from Happs and go pick them up.  ;D 

Or:

Use www.groovygamegear.com  Give Randy your business.   :applaud:

If in the UK use www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk as their shipping is reasonable.   :applaud:

Build your own arcade controls....... :dizzy:

Don't be cheap and keep Happ in business.    :laugh2:

Oh and....

Moonpie = Wagonwheels in the UK.


Edited: Can't spell...
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: divemaster127 on February 20, 2008, 08:36:34 pm
In the states happ will ship everything ups, I prefer to use usps when possible due to its cheaper shipping, I will ship bezels but its not cheap & I will give you all shipping up front so that way you can decide whats best for you, I have done bezels usps parcel post & the shipping not horrible, if anyone needs a quote for happ stuff send me a pm & I will get you a quote for whatever you need
thanks
dm
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Havok on February 20, 2008, 10:07:15 pm
send me a pm & I will get you a quote for whatever you need
thanks
dm

How much to ship me a moon pie?
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: SirPeale on February 20, 2008, 10:21:52 pm
What?

Bulbs, dude.  He's talking about a box of bulbs. 
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: protokatie on February 20, 2008, 10:48:48 pm
Quote
It is because Moon Pies are mainly a Southern U.S. thing. They certainly don't sell them in Maine. The first time I ever heard of them was in the early or mid-'90s Country song "Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous" (Tracy Byrd):

I live in Maine, and the store I work at used to sell MoonPies. Ive never had one tho. Maybe there should be a BYOAC multicultural food exchange, I could send a bottle of Moxie in exchange for some food popular in other areas/countries. :D  (And then I would be sent a bomb after the person actually tasted Moxie; I seriously dont see how anyone can drink that stuff....)
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: TelcoLou on February 20, 2008, 10:57:27 pm
Quote
It is because Moon Pies are mainly a Southern U.S. thing. They certainly don't sell them in Maine. The first time I ever heard of them was in the early or mid-'90s Country song "Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous" (Tracy Byrd):

I live in Maine, and the store I work at used to sell MoonPies. Ive never had one tho. Maybe there should be a BYOAC multicultural food exchange, I could send a bottle of Moxie in exchange for some food popular in other areas/countries. :D  (And then I would be sent a bomb after the person actually tasted Moxie; I seriously dont see how anyone can drink that stuff....)

I once traded foodstuffs with a guy from New Zealand; he never had Kool-Aid or Twinkies, so I sent him a package. He sent me in return, some Vegemite and wheat cereal and a candy bar. Not knowing what Vegemite tasted like, I scooped out a HUGE spoonful of the stuff and tasted it.  :laugh2:
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Daniel B. on February 20, 2008, 10:58:39 pm
What?

Bulbs, dude.  He's talking about a box of bulbs. 

Ahh light bulbs, "lamps" I get it now. For some reason I just imagined an old retired dude sending people boxes of 70's/80's style lamps, and charging them to ship them....Thanks for explaining!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: MaximRecoil on February 20, 2008, 11:19:53 pm
Quote
It is because Moon Pies are mainly a Southern U.S. thing. They certainly don't sell them in Maine. The first time I ever heard of them was in the early or mid-'90s Country song "Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous" (Tracy Byrd):

I live in Maine, and the store I work at used to sell MoonPies. Ive never had one tho. Maybe there should be a BYOAC multicultural food exchange, I could send a bottle of Moxie in exchange for some food popular in other areas/countries. :D  (And then I would be sent a bomb after the person actually tasted Moxie; I seriously dont see how anyone can drink that stuff....)

How long ago was that? And in what store? I've never seen them before. I know they don't sell them in any store local to me. I should order something from Bob Roberts because I want to try some.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: protokatie on February 20, 2008, 11:36:47 pm
Quote
How long ago was that? And in what store? I've never seen them before. I know they don't sell them in any store local to me. I should order something from Bob Roberts because I want to try some.

A few years ago, and at a small convie store that I work at on MDI. The store isnt a chain, so we carry stuff you wouldnt normally see in a Big Apple or Irving Mainway... Maybe we should team up and trade Moxie with other people for their food, Im sure we will find 1 or 0 people out there who like it... ;)
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: AlexC on February 20, 2008, 11:50:58 pm
Wish I could send some you guys up north some Blue Bell ice cream.
Now that's some good stuff   :)
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Sir Auros on February 21, 2008, 12:01:19 am
What I want to know is how the hell are people in California getting RC cola? I thought that was strictly a Southern thing (like Cheerwine), and I can't even find it here anymore.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: MaximRecoil on February 21, 2008, 12:04:11 am
Quote
How long ago was that? And in what store? I've never seen them before. I know they don't sell them in any store local to me. I should order something from Bob Roberts because I want to try some.

A few years ago, and at a small convie store that I work at on MDI. The store isnt a chain, so we carry stuff you wouldnt normally see in a Big Apple or Irving Mainway... Maybe we should team up and trade Moxie with other people for their food, Im sure we will find 1 or 0 people out there who like it... ;)

I just got back from the Big Apple and no MoonPies of course. I did pick up some Hostess CupCakes and some Drake's Yodels, RingDings and Devil Dogs.

I've only had Moxie once, like 20 years ago. I don't really remember what it tasted like, other than I didn't really care for it. There is a restaurant here in town that has a big collection of Moxie bottles on display, going back like 100 years or something.

"Italians" are another food that most flatlanders aren't familiar with.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: TheShanMan on February 21, 2008, 12:20:33 am
Chad, when I read your moon pie post in the tank 2 thread I almost ---Cleveland steamer---. Did you happen to take any pics of the package?


also....From http://www.therealbobroberts.net/ordering.html

What to heck is lagniappe?

Lagniappe is a custom practiced here in Louisiana & I'll give you Webster's definition........
"lagniappe or lagnappe n. 1. a small gift given by a merchant to a customer for making a purchase. 2. a gratuity; tip"
Whenever possible, something is randomly thrown in with your order that my wife or I think you may be able to use, or the brownie cookies or trinkets at Mardi Gras time, or sometimes even the shipping container such as the Rubbermaid containers that were used to ship buttons & joysticks several times. You never know what, or when, you'll find some oddball item in your order... calculators... telephones... tool sets... toys... extras of the same part... vid game posters... flyers... boxes of lamps or stuffed animals just to name a few of the items already sent out as lagniappe.


What?

Lol. I've never gotten an extra "goodie" in things I've ordered. It sounds to me like this guy uses it as a way to get rid of things he and his family no longer want (i.e. garbage)!
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: protokatie on February 21, 2008, 12:22:17 am
Created this "regional foods" thread in everything else for the food related stuff here, so we dont derail a "main" too much.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76904.0
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ErikRuud on February 21, 2008, 09:42:43 am
What I want to know is how the hell are people in California getting RC cola? I thought that was strictly a Southern thing (like Cheerwine), and I can't even find it here anymore.

I have never heard of Cheerwine, but RC Cola has been available in the Chicago area for as long as I can remember.  I mostly associate it with the neighborhood pizza places because they all seemed to have RC instead of Coca-Cola or Pepsi when I was a kid.

Moon Pies are usually available at Cracker Barrel restaurants.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ChadTower on February 21, 2008, 09:55:31 am

There is a huge Cracker Barrell like a mile from my house... not very good, but quite inexpensive.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: ErikRuud on February 21, 2008, 10:23:16 am

There is a huge Cracker Barrell like a mile from my house... not very good, but quite inexpensive.

Yes, they used to be better, but I have been disappointed the few times that I stopped at one.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Dudeman on February 21, 2008, 10:36:40 am
Cheerwine and Sundrop! Man that's some good stuff. They have them in sherbet too!

Sudrop sherbet is awesome!
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: nipsmg on February 22, 2008, 09:20:16 am
Happ totally redeemed themselves.  Read the first post.. It was altered.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: lanman31337 on February 22, 2008, 12:14:17 pm
I wouldn't say they redeemed themselves.  They just tossed you some store credit because you thought shipping was expensive.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: ChadTower on February 22, 2008, 12:24:46 pm
I wouldn't say they redeemed themselves.  They just tossed you some store credit because you thought shipping was expensive.


What more would you have them do?  Seems reasonable enough to me.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: lanman31337 on February 22, 2008, 12:48:41 pm
45 dollars in UPS credit of course  :angel:  And a year supply of moon pies  :notworthy:
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: Dudeman on February 22, 2008, 12:57:19 pm
I saw the FSM in a moon pie once... then I ate it.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: nipsmg on February 22, 2008, 01:07:25 pm
I wouldn't say they redeemed themselves.  They just tossed you some store credit because you thought shipping was expensive.


What more would you have them do?  Seems reasonable enough to me.


I agree it was extremely reasonable.  They could have stuck with what one of their service reps said --- "Well, the site says it's oversized, so that's why it was expensive.  there's nothing I can do. Would you like to speak to my supervisor?"...   I fully expected a response of "Sorry, your screw up", which is what I originally got.

Granted, they should show their shipping costs on E-Happ but....   this was a more than satisfactory response.  And no, they didn't give me store credit, they refunded $$ to my credit card, how do you figure that's store credit?

Wow people are cynical..--
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: Dudeman on February 22, 2008, 01:10:46 pm
I wouldn't say they redeemed themselves.  They just tossed you some store credit because you thought shipping was expensive.


What more would you have them do?  Seems reasonable enough to me.


I agree it was extremely reasonable.  They could have stuck with what one of their service reps said --- "Well, the site says it's oversized, so that's why it was expensive.  there's nothing I can do. Would you like to speak to my supervisor?"...   I fully expected a response of "Sorry, your screw up", which is what I originally got.

Granted, they should show their shipping costs on E-Happ but....   this was a more than satisfactory response.  And no, they didn't give me store credit, they refunded $$ to my credit card, how do you figure that's store credit?

Wow people are cynical..--

I think you got treated great. You are right, most places would say, "Tough titty".
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: lanman31337 on February 22, 2008, 01:28:31 pm
No Moon Pies for you.  One year!

I'm not being cynical, not at all.  I do apologise for not reading and seeing that it got placed on your credit card instead of store credit, but there were options for the initial order.  You could have cancelled the order and tried to get ahold of someone to see why it was too big, you could have shopped around to see what other places would have charged, etc... Or you could have called Happ and asked what shipping would be on the stuff.  A few people here, including Divemaster, have mentioned that it is costly for oversized things, such as bezels.
Title: Re: Warning: Ordering from HAPPCONTROLS may cost you a FORTUNE!
Post by: Mark_Wolfe on March 03, 2008, 05:59:15 pm
There needs to be a warning somewhere that is easily readable here that says DO NOT ORDER DIRECTLY FROM HAPP!!!!!!!!

This has been covered a million times.



I find the digression of this thread to be not only distasteful but downright ignorant. Are there any actual forum moderators working these halls?

I WISH someone here WOULD clearly state that ordering from HAPP directly is problematic because when I read reviews about various joysticks, buttons, spinners, et al, I always see the name HAPP as being on top in terms of quality, yet my recent ordering experience with them has proved to be quite frustrating. No one EVER says in the context of a review for  a given joystick or button that ordering directly from HAPP should be avoided, yet they always give high marks to their products.

Please spare me the down-the-nose, superiority themed  throwaway comment about how everyone should know this because it's been mentioned so very many times... perhaps they too were buried within mounds of moonpie discussions?

I will spare you the minute details since you all seem to be more interested in discussing snacks, but suffice to say, getting basic questions answered was like pulling teeth and I find it quite infuriating that expecting a company to include basic wiring instructions, installation instructions and at the very least a ---smurfing--- PARTS LIST would be something HAPP could handle... but unfortunately this was not and is not the case.

There are very few instructions on the website and none supplied when you order something. Forget about a parts list, they don't exist at HAPP. There are some "exploded view" layouts on some things but most only have part numbers assigned with no actual part names or a detailed list of parts included nor any sign of any sort of implementation diagrams for pin-outs and wiring.

For hobbyists such as myself, this is without a doubt, MADDENING!

my arcade cabinet for any interested:
http://liveatthespace.com/happ/1.jpg
http://liveatthespace.com/happ/2.jpg


Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: divemaster127 on March 03, 2008, 06:50:17 pm
Happcontrols makes awesome parts but what I do not understand why would anyone order direct from happ when you can get better prices & shipping from many other sources, ponyboy, myself(divemaster127) we sell on the forums, GGG(randy), ultimarc(andy), or lizardlick all of the mentioned sellers would appreciate the business & generally give you much better deal overall.
dm
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: Mark_Wolfe on March 03, 2008, 07:19:10 pm
Happcontrols makes awesome parts but what I do not understand why would anyone order direct from happ when you can get better prices & shipping from many other sources, ponyboy, myself(divemaster127) we sell on the forums, GGG(randy), ultimarc(andy), or lizardlick all of the mentioned sellers would appreciate the business & generally give you much better deal overall.
dm

I can't speak for anyone else but for me, familiarity, safety, reputation, etc, are all factors in buying anything on line.

I did not get 'raped' on shipping, it was reasonable and as for price, I hardly see where a couple dollars matters here or there.

The sticking point for me is always going to be customer service and product support and that is something you simply can not get anymore it seems.

Why is it unreasonable for me to expect a company that manufactures a product to back it up? this has little to do with which webstore I used to buy it from.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: CheffoJeffo on March 03, 2008, 09:31:01 pm
All I can say to Mark_Wolfe is to perhaps do a little research and read a bit before you spout off ... because it HAS been covered a million times.

I'm sorry that you have found the various comments to be "down-the-nose", "superiority-themed" and throw away. The very fact that you find it to be throwaway indicates to me that perhaps you didn't bother to do any research and are just pissed off because somebody didn't hold your hand and tell you exactly what to do, what to buy and who to buy it from.

I, for one, would have perhaps found the following comments about ordering direct from Happ Controls useful (and you don't even need to use Search!).

Quote
Recommeded only through a reseller

Quote
I would recommend buying Happ products from Divemaster127 or Ponyboy instead of Happ Controls.

Quote
I would second the suggestion to order from Ponyboy or Divemaster if you can get the parts from them

And don't 'diss the moonpies ... as far as I am concerned, ANYTHING that Bob Roberts does (e.g. including moonpies in as a freebie, along with everything else he does for this hobby) is better than the guy whose only posts are complaints and who, pretty clearly can't be bothered to read or ask reasonable questions.

 :banghead:
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: Dudeman on March 04, 2008, 10:11:04 am
Happ is not in the business to help us build our one off cabinets. They are there to provide the parts necessary for the people who work on amusement games for a living.

Of course they don't provide instructions. If you know enough to order the parts, they assume you know enough to install it. It's like that for any place that supplies to the professional. If you buy a receptacle from Home Depot, chances are good it will have wiring instructions in the package. But go down to your local electrical supply house, all you'll get is a receptacle and bill. If you are lucky, they guy behind the counter might know something about electricity, but chances are good he just knows how to pull the stuff off the shelf.

The parts providers like Divemaster, Ponyboy, GGG (Randy), Bob Roberts and the others are very helpful when you get into a spot. As is everyone else on the forum.

As CheffoJeffo said, reasearch goes a LONG way. I can't remember a topic (not that there aren't any) posted about controls available from Happ where it wasn't mentioned that purchases should go through a 3rd party.

You can also expect some people on this forum to get annoyed when they see the same topic pop up again. Jeffo, for example, has been on here since Christ was a child, and I'm sure he's seen this more than he'd care to count. Not that he's annoyed, but you see the point. Just ignore the people who get ugly about it, and thank the people who help.

Search the forums and ask questions. NEVER just jump in with both feet; all you'll do is get in over your head.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: Mark_Wolfe on March 04, 2008, 02:17:38 pm
The bottom line for me is, there's no excuse for being a --cream-filled twinkie-- on a forum. Belittling people's concerns and questions and digressing a topic only shows that moderators here could give a crap about it. If a topic is started that is a repeat or has been covered, a moderator should lock it and point to the relevant thread. Similarly if it turns into a huge pile of moonpie excrement, the same should be done and guilty parties should be warned. There's simply no excuse for what this thread has turned in to. For the record, I did not start this thread, I merely added my two ON TOPIC cents.

There will always be new people in this hobby and people who do research like myself, but perhaps did not participate on the discussion board... forgive me for having a life and little time to deal with moonpie obsessed 40-something year-olds. I think the pictures I linked to of my cabinet shows I DO have the ability and knowhow and reflects my level of research.

As for the comments regarding a company that sells to professionals, I will concede  the point regarding installation and wiring manuals but I still maintain that asking a company to provide a detailed PARTS LIST with the packing list is not asking too much.

edit:  I have order several times from Randy at GGG as well as from UltiMarc prior to my recent purchase from Happ. The articles I have read here and through google regarding my need to know subjects, NEVER mentioned anything about ordering directly from HAPP. EVER.  I did not ask anyone to hold my hand nor am I really complaining.
Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: FrizzleFried on March 04, 2008, 02:32:40 pm
...looks like Mark's squeezin' in on McCoy's territory here.   Where are you McCoy?  You need to set this guy straight.  You're the ONLY official unofficial moderator here!!

Title: Re: HAPPCONTROLS redeems themselves: Read first post (thread was Hijacked).
Post by: CheffoJeffo on March 04, 2008, 02:55:35 pm
edit:  I have order several times from Randy at GGG as well as from UltiMarc prior to my recent purchase from Happ. The articles I have read here and through google regarding my need to know subjects, NEVER mentioned anything about ordering directly from HAPP. EVER.  I did not ask anyone to hold my hand nor am I really complaining.

I may have been overly harsh, but, frankly, I am tired of folks complaining about people here not explicitly explaining every little detail when many people have put a lot of time and effort into things like the wiki (where they can also add information):

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Happ_Controls

There are load of posts like this (and, no, I'm not going to search for them all ... this came up in the first page of the first search I did):

Hey Ponyboy if you read this how do I order from you.

PonyBoy (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36770.0)

DiveMaster (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=47066.0)

Don't order direct from Happ.

Cheers.

EDIT: post crossed with DM's post.

My problem wasn't so much that you had an issue with Happ and didn't know not to order directly from them, but rather that you have chosen only to post in order to complain that people didn't warn you and to call people names.  You are the one who has chosen to be a --cream-filled twinkie-- and ---smurfette--- at people who actually DID mention (for the eleventieth time) exactly what you said people didn't mention.

So far, you are the single worst-behaved person in this thread. *You* are the one calling others names and posting about how you have a life and they don't.

Ironically, you seem to think that the mods should spend all of *their* free time cleaning up and cross-linking threads in a forum where *you* can't be bothered to even post (except to ---smurfette---) because you "have a life".

And, *IF* you have a problem with a post or thread, there is a little link called "Report To Moderator" -- stop whining and use it.

 :banghead: :banghead:

EDIT: I do like your cab -- particularly the colour scheme.