Anyone live near Bob Roberts

GoneMad

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Just wondering if anyone lives near Bob Roberts that can help me out. Bob not accepting Paypal and me being from Canada is a pain in the hoop. I have to pay to get a money order, also pay the currency conversion fees, then send it to him. Just would like to know if someone is close to him, could I just paypal the money to you to drop off to him. I have yet hear if this is OK with him, so this is still pending. Thanks.
 
I'm in the same situation, I'd love to order from him but being in Canada too, its get complicated. He mentions somewhere on his website that we can use western union? It's not really clear at all. I know he's an awesome person but damn I wish his site got a cleanup! Payment methods are just way too vague.. And i'm not going to send money or checks by the mail!! This is 2011 and I purchased thousands every year on the internet and i never ran into an issue..
 
I'm in the same situation, I'd love to order from him but being in Canada too, its get complicated. He mentions somewhere on his website that we can use western union? It's not really clear at all. I know he's an awesome person but damn I wish his site got a cleanup! Payment methods are just way too vague.. And i'm not going to send money or checks by the mail!! This is 2011 and I purchased thousands every year on the internet and i never ran into an issue..
Actually,, he DOES NOT accept western union transfers. He states this several times. I think it's just cash or certified checks.
 
I don't think living close by would help you. I read a thread someplace, here or perhaps in a news group, about a guy that lived a short distance away. He offered to drop by and pay/pick up in person. Bob declined. My guess is Bob did not want a parade of folks showing up at his house at all hours on any day of the week. Just a guess.
 
I live about an hour away; Bob doesn't allow drop ins in my experience. I know where he lives but I have always had to order through mail....
 
If you have online banking, you should be able to set him up as a biller, and have billpay send him a payment for xx amount. He gets a certified check, and you can do it from the computer.
 
Like Droler I'm about an hour away and have only been allowed to go see him in person once, but it was Christmas Eve and I desperately needed a part for Christmas day. Unfortunately I got his response to my email too late and missed the chance to go.
 
I don't think living close by would help you. I read a thread someplace, here or perhaps in a news group, about a guy that lived a short distance away. He offered to drop by and pay/pick up in person. Bob declined. My guess is Bob did not want a parade of folks showing up at his house at all hours on any day of the week. Just a guess.

+1 on this. I own a fulfillment company that sells merch from Internet based cartoonists and vinyl toy designers. Local folks and fans are always wanting to stop by. My job is hard enough as it is I don't need the BS.

He is not a traditional retail outlet. I can't say that I blame him for not accepting paypal. Over the course of the year the fees really add up. For me it's in the thousands and for others more.
 
Bob does NOT live in Gretna LA. Can't believe you noobs still think that. Bob realized a long time ago that he could not keep up with the orders, and yet he could not do like Santa and only deliver parts one night a year. After some thought, he contacted Santa and worked out a deal. He built a place next to Santa's toy shop and uses the elves all year while Santa doesn't need them.

But you didn't hear this from me...
 
It's not so much the fees (though the limited profit Bob has it definitely comes into consideration) but rather their heavy handed, basically, "all buyers are innocent" policy that will steal money from his account on any dispute and he never gets it back plus the buyer keeps the merchandise. Bob has a page on his site stating why he doesn't do PayPal for a number of reasons.

Online billpay, going to wal-mart and picking up a money order for 50 cents are all things you can still do to get payment to Bob.

Yeah his site is sometimes hard to find stuff (especially with all the little 'corners' of specials, discounts, etc.. that really should be merged), but it's HIS site, and nothing is forcing anyone to order from him. Go to Twisted Quarter if you want a shopping cart experience with similar prices or go to eBay or other sellers if you don't like his policies.

Bob is not the cheapest for many items, many others he is the cheapest and sometimes the only (realistic as in min qty) supplier. It's free market, spend where you like spending. I'll continue to shop with Bob and have no problems writing a check or getting a money order to him.
 
I switched my bank account to one that is $4 more a month but I get as many transactions as I want and free US/CAD money orders just because of Bob. None of us (Canadians or Americans) are thrilled about the MO thing, but it is what it is and his stuff is worth it. He stocks more variety of arcade parts than anyone else out there and typically his prices are better or atleast the same as anywhere else. He charges actual shipping rates and is a good guy that is always willing to help and his guides are great for newbies aswell.

Pay the $6 for the US MO and you are still better off ordering from him than trying to find someone in the US to get the parts and forward them up to you.
 
If you do online banking, there is no need for money orders. Haven't done a money order in years. After setting him up as a biller, like you would a storage place, water bill, etc.. his name/address stay in there. You just click on the biller, enter amount, and send "bill". He gets a check from the bank. It literally takes seconds to do. I think a lot of folks either don't use modern online banking or don't know about this. It's easier than Paypal.
 
Hmm I'm tempted to set this up with my institution. Unfortunately though that shit takes 3-5 days to process and mail so he probably gets my payment quicker if I just go get a MO.
 
Bob does NOT live in Gretna LA. Can't believe you noobs still think that. Bob realized a long time ago that he could not keep up with the orders, and yet he could not do like Santa and only deliver parts one night a year. After some thought, he contacted Santa and worked out a deal. He built a place next to Santa's toy shop and uses the elves all year while Santa doesn't need them.

But you didn't hear this from me...

can you sell me some of that?
 
I opened a free chequing account at Harris Bank, located in Illinois, just so I could order from Bob easier since I do buy a lot of stuff from him. (see http://dan.matan.ca/Free-US-Checking-Account-For-Canadians-BMO-Owned-Bank ) This is one of the few banks I've found that allows Canadians to open accounts with, and the entire process is done online or by fax, so you don't actually have to go into a branch. I periodically send the bank a Canadian cheques which they convert to USD and deposit into my account. I can then write Bob a USD cheque using the free cheques Harris gives me and he can cash it like any other US cheque. It doesn't cost me anything extra aside from the stamp to mail it.

I just visited the Harris web site and unfortunately it looks like they're started charging a monthly fee for their new chequing accounts unless you keep a high balance. :001_smad: Glad I got in when I did. Postal money orders and monthly bank fees for 'free' money orders really cut into the 'arcade' fund.
 
I opened a free chequing account at Harris Bank, located in Illinois, just so I could order from Bob easier since I do buy a lot of stuff from him. (see http://dan.matan.ca/Free-US-Checking-Account-For-Canadians-BMO-Owned-Bank ) This is one of the few banks I've found that allows Canadians to open accounts with, and the entire process is done online or by fax, so you don't actually have to go into a branch. I periodically send the bank a Canadian cheques which they convert to USD and deposit into my account. I can then write Bob a USD cheque using the free cheques Harris gives me and he can cash it like any other US cheque. It doesn't cost me anything extra aside from the stamp to mail it.

I just visited the Harris web site and unfortunately it looks like they're started charging a monthly fee for their new chequing accounts unless you keep a high balance. :001_smad: Glad I got in when I did. Postal money orders and monthly bank fees for 'free' money orders really cut into the 'arcade' fund.

He's going to figure you out, though, because you spell Check the wimpy Canadian way.



J/K gotta show love for the Canucks.
 
Hmm I'm tempted to set this up with my institution. Unfortunately though that shit takes 3-5 days to process and mail so he probably gets my payment quicker if I just go get a MO.

The way mine works is you pick a date for the check to arrive there - I'm sure it's approximate. The earliest you can pick on the calendar is of course several days out. I think it mails out pretty much immediately for me.
 
The way mine works is you pick a date for the check to arrive there - I'm sure it's approximate. The earliest you can pick on the calendar is of course several days out. I think it mails out pretty much immediately for me.

Chase is probably quicker than my bank. But with mine you schedule it for the same day and they still take about 2-3 business days to get it sent out. So including transit time in the mail it takes about 5 for them to get it.

Had my rent end up late a couple times cause I didn't realize that. :/

Speaking of which I think I need to go make a payment on my storage unit. Can't have my PaperBoy cabinet or Peter Pack Rat kit ending up on Auction Hunters. :D
 
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