This cannot be true: AU is back (**OFFICIAL THREAD**)

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Chase Cat
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This cannot be true: AU is back (**OFFICIAL THREAD**)

Post by Chase Cat » Sep 18th 2003, 2:01 am

After weeks of absence (I guess no one has missed them), AnotherUniverse.com's online shop is back again :evil:. As if the terror doesn't ends, Mr. Rojek is still anouncing that AU is the EXCLUSIVE retailer of MSCL DVD box set here.

This is not enough, AU is grateful for costumer's patience. They want to make this the most exciting, fan-oriented product possible!

Can it get any worse? Yes, Ross mentions as shipping date 06/18/02 :x. Maybe if he's telling this to himself on and on, he will believe it one day.

So, now I've enough ranted for today :wink:.

EDIT: I've made this the OFFICIAL THREAD for this topic. Thanks Chase Cat! -g

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Chase Cat
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Law offense

Post by Chase Cat » Sep 18th 2003, 2:32 am

It's me again. I had a little time off this morning, so I've searched for some legal details (I know, I'm the law geek). I read that according to requirements of the US Federal Trade Commission a selling website must mention "Privacy Policy", "Terms and Conditions", "Return Policies" and a postal costumer contact address. All these regulations are ignored by "The New AU". There's absolutely nothing on the bottom of every single page of their website. Is there any possibility to hunt down Rojek, beacuse of this apparent law offense?
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Post by Sascha » Sep 18th 2003, 5:54 am

And it shows that they didn't have any money for a new shopping software. They just used a demo application from ASP.net called Commerce Starter Kit. Everyone can download it for free here: http://www.asp.net/Default.aspx?tabindex=9&tabid=47 (Of course you'll need a Micro$oft Server and the .NET framework)

But you have the possibility to leave comments to products on the new AU site. I'm looking forward to the comments for the MSCL boxset... ;-)

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Post by Chase Cat » Sep 18th 2003, 7:32 am

sab wrote:And it shows that they didn't have any money for a new shopping software. They just used a demo application from ASP.net called Commerce Starter Kit.
Even the lame examples over at Microsoft look better than Rojek's shop :wink:.

I have filed a complaint with FTC. I reported the past events as well as the new situation with their shop. As I see it, AU offends another time applicable law. But this time everyone can see it. In 16 CFR - CHAPTER I - PART 436 § 436.1 you can read:
In connection with the advertising, offering, licensing, contracting, sale, or other promotion in or affecting commerce, as "commerce" is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, of any franchise, or any relationship which is represented either orally or in writing to be a franchise, it is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the meaning of section 5 of that Act for any franchisor or franchise broker:

(a) To fail to furnish any prospective franchisee with the following information accurately, clearly, and concisely stated, in a legible, written document at the earlier of the "time for making of disclosures" or the first "personal meeting":

(1)(i) The official name and address and principal place of business of the franchisor, and of the parent firm or holding company of the franchisor, if any;

(ii) The name under which the franchisor is doing or intends to do business; and

(iii) The trademarks, trade names, service marks, advertising or other commercial symbols (hereinafter collectively referred to as "marks") which identify the goods, commodities, or services to be offered, sold, or distributed by the prospective franchisee, or under which the prospective franchisee will be operating.
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrh ... 36_00.html

Ross don't want to be disturbed. I hope the FTC will at least wake him up. In Germany penalties are up to US$ 50,000 for breaking similar rules.
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Re: This cannot be true: AU is back

Post by vapspwi » Sep 18th 2003, 1:34 pm

Chase Cat wrote:After weeks of absence (I guess no one has missed them), AnotherUniverse.com's online shop is back again :evil:. As if the terror doesn't ends, Mr. Rojek is still anouncing that AU is the EXCLUSIVE retailer of MSCL DVD box set here.
I notice that there's a comment mechanism on the product page. I think we should probably make our feelings known, although any negative comments will probably just get deleted...

JRjr

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Post by GaryEA » Sep 18th 2003, 5:28 pm

Things strike me as odd with the "new" AU...

1) It looks just like the old AU. The format, logo, every has been retained... including the Hulk banner (no pun intended :D). My guess is that it's back up for the sake of simply being there, considering that the listings are for product that is at least six months old, if not older.

2) MSCL, which used to be heavily advertised on the site, isn't any longer. No surprise there.

3) MSCL used to be the constant leader in the "Top 10". Now it's completely gone, which again doesn't surprise me.

4) Mentioned earlier, the listings for the MSCL set still have a shipping date of 6/18/02, and are incomplete (photos missing), which leads me to believe that the page is either not supposed to be there, or hasn't been worked on. At the same time...

5) The bonus items are no longer listed. At all. But that might be because of point #4.

The key fact is that you can still add the set to your cart and order the thing, so posting comments wouldn't be a bad idea. I did, but who knows if they'll post it. :twisted:

Gary

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Post by Jason R » Sep 18th 2003, 6:13 pm

I find Ross very tiring. But I don't only blame him.

I blame a criminal justice and legal system that allows him to continue to rip people off.

I guess the thing that keeps me pretty happy in life is my belief in karma (and hell).



GaryEA wrote:Things strike me as odd with the "new" AU...

1) It looks just like the old AU. The format, logo, every has been retained... including the Hulk banner (no pun intended :D). My guess is that it's back up for the sake of simply being there, considering that the listings are for product that is at least six months old, if not older.

2) MSCL, which used to be heavily advertised on the site, isn't any longer. No surprise there.

3) MSCL used to be the constant leader in the "Top 10". Now it's completely gone, which again doesn't surprise me.

4) Mentioned earlier, the listings for the MSCL set still have a shipping date of 6/18/02, and are incomplete (photos missing), which leads me to believe that the page is either not supposed to be there, or hasn't been worked on. At the same time...

5) The bonus items are no longer listed. At all. But that might be because of point #4.

The key fact is that you can still add the set to your cart and order the thing, so posting comments wouldn't be a bad idea. I did, but who knows if they'll post it. :twisted:

Gary

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Post by JPP13 » Sep 18th 2003, 6:19 pm

For some reason they wouldn't display my review. :)

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Post by starbug » Sep 19th 2003, 5:00 am

Mine either :D

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Post by vapspwi » Sep 19th 2003, 9:32 am

JPP13 wrote:For some reason they wouldn't display my review. :)
Heh. Yeah, me either. Either there's nobody at AU reviewing the things so they never get posted [can't rule that out-they aren't much of a company, after all], or they DO have somebody filtering out the vitriol. :-)

I was kind of hoping we'd get lucky and they'd get automatically posted for a bit before somebody wised up and yanked them. But I guess they know they're all scumbags and are acting accordingly.

JRjr

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Post by Chase Cat » Sep 22nd 2003, 1:45 am

Ross "The Lurker" Rojek was spying again. Now, as we have blasphemed about "The New AU", he has changed it. Not that you think he uses now a paid software. Nah, it's the same free software, like Sascha said. But his team of design experts (and DVD author specialists :wink:) has created even a new logo for our beloved comic shop:

Image

I don't know what to say, at least they are finally facing the truth:

Image

It's really from AnotherUniverse.com :shock:. See here.
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Post by andrewgd » Sep 22nd 2003, 1:49 am

HA HA HA, they just changed the image, thats all. They still have the code in there for their hulk "promotion".

I think someone just ordered nigh $300,000 worth of merchandise. First of all, it accepts made up Visas. Visa numbers are made from a algorithm, and most (real) checkout systems check the entered number against that algorithm. Unless whatever was guessed happened to be a real visa code, its messed up.

Second:

"The estimated ship date: 1/1/0001"

"If you have any questions regarding your order feel free to email sales@anotheruniverse.com"

I wonder if they'll take email regarding this purchase.

I also wonder what they'll do if they're getting hundreds of orders for MSCL now. :) I like the idea that Ross might have to manually check each of our orders to see if the VISA code is right. Try it out, it might be fun!!
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Post by Chase Cat » Sep 22nd 2003, 2:04 am

andrewgd wrote:HA HA HA, they just changed the image, thats all. They still have the code in there for their hulk "promotion".
Oh yes, this is a cool feature. And if you click on shopping cart you will be returned to AU's homepage :lol:.

Is it just here in Euroland, that AU's shop shows me the prices in Euro? Maybe an automized feature, but the exchange rate USD:EUR is never 1:1!
andrewgd wrote:"The estimated ship date: 1/1/0001"
Maybe he feels like Jesus :roll:.
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Post by Jason R » Sep 22nd 2003, 3:37 pm

This sounds like a great site. I want to spend $25K of my hard-earned dollars there.

Oops. I did.

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Post by GaryEA » Sep 22nd 2003, 4:22 pm

hmmm...

The MSCL DVD set isn't on the site anymore.

Gary

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