looks like Bob Roberts cross-shipping is over (at least for me)

vintagegamer

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looks like Bob Roberts cross-shipping is over (at least for me)

As some of you may recall, I ordered a PS rebuild kit from Bob Roberts last week, in hopes of seeing it last Thursday. It did not arrive Thurs, Fri, or Saturday, so I figured it might be just due to Holiday flim flam.

When it didn't arrive yesterday, I wrote Bob (and Co) and asked for a status update- I was told it hadn't shipped bc they hadn't received my payment yet. I got a follow-up email stating they received my payment yesterday, and I would have it this Thursday.. :(

I don't know if the cross-shipping update is listed on his site or not, as I simply emailed him directly and requested the order. I requested in my most recent reply to him that he add that update to his email signature so people aren't blown away by this change, as I was last night.

I'm not knocking Bob's business in any way- I just "didn't get the memo" regarding the end of cross-shipping (if in fact it *did* end) and wanted to make sure others didn't incur the same surprise.

-VG-
 
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Quickest way I've found to pay is set him up as a "biller" in your online banking. Pay that "bill" for X amount online and he gets it in 3 or 4 days usually. Hate to hear if he quit cross shipping, but with as many people that have screwed him over, I wouldn't blame him one bit. Won't affect my doing business with him.
 
He cross shipped my Big Blue right before the holidays. I don't know the logistics of anyone else's transactions but what I basically do is throw a check in the mail either same day (if I get the e-mail bill in time) or the next morning. I haven't done nearly the amount of volume as most folks however as I normally order stuff as I need it. I like that he shoots me an e-mail after he receives the check though so I don't have to worry about its whereabouts especially during the holiday rush.
 
what I basically do is throw a check in the mail either same day (if I get the e-mail bill in time) or the next morning.

That's exactly what I do, have done in the past, and did for this order as well. So, maybe it's just me. All I know is I never saw that coming so it kind of sucked. Again though, if it's thanks to deadbeat payees, I can't say that the problem is a new concept by any means.
 
I have never ordered from him and probably never will until he pulls his head out of his ass and starts excepting some form of plastic, he loses so much bussiness by not offering other forms of payment
 
I have never ordered from him and probably never will until he pulls his head out of his ass and starts excepting some form of plastic, he loses so much bussiness by not offering other forms of payment

+1. reason why i have never bought there and pay more from digikey.
 
From what I understand, the guy is basically retired and does this out of his house -- purely from a passion to help people keep their machines running. I don't think he is in this to turn massive profits.

I think he's one of the biggest assets to the community and he and his parts have help me bring a number of machines back to life.

Also, let me know when digikey throws in some moon pies with your next order....


+1. reason why i have never bought there and pay more from digikey.
 
I did a cross-ship with him over Christmas. It went fine, in fact, he got my check a day before I got the stuff. I think that's the first time that that happened. Now, I have to say, I was one of two guys that talked him into NOT retiring years ago.

As for sellers who won't take plastic, they know that there aren't people who will deal with them. They just don't care. They make enough from people who understand that the prices are lower because of the lack of fees tacked on. And honestly, if you don't like Bob's policies, don't even think about dealing with Steve Young for pinball parts. That's an entirely new dimension.

I'd bet that Bob's wife is monitoring who really cross ships the check and who sends them a day or two later. If anyone is dealing with Bob going forward, when he sends you his total, reply back with "I'm dropping this in the mail tomorrow morning" and be sure to actually do it.

Just my two bits...
 
I have never ordered from him and probably never will until he pulls his head out of his ass and starts excepting some form of plastic, he loses so much bussiness by not offering other forms of payment

The biggest problem with accepting credit cards is the cost. If you loose a couple bucks per transaction then it adds up over time. Then the prices aren't as good and the competition will get more of your business so it's a loose/loose situation. Cross shipping is the best way to make up for not taking cards, let's hope that some jackasses haven't ruined it for everyone.
 
If anyone is dealing with Bob going forward, when he sends you his total, reply back with "I'm dropping this in the mail tomorrow morning" and be sure to actually do it.

Just my two bits...

X2.. I always confirm the total that bob sends me. In fact, it seems like he waits for this email before shipping
 
If anyone reads Bob's "status updates", you'd see he already puts in 15-20 hour days. Something tells me he doesn't care about "missing" a few sells because he won't take credit cards (or Paypal).

To awarner.....everyone should give Steve Young a call.....at least once in your life before death. It can be quite an "experience":D.

Edward
 
He still does it for me. I also tell him when I dropped the check in the mail, not sure if this helps.

Yes I order from him and will. Yes he's an asset to the community.

That said, just dont try to ask for a replacement part that was damaged due to packaging and not shipping. I had this once, a speaker got torn, not from the carrier.
Boy you would have thought it was the end of the world on trying to get another one! He did not accept blame, or accept it could have even happened on his end, even with my pictures of the box and items. It was just packed incorrectly and was just a $3.00 speaker. I never got nasty either, just wanted a replacement.
 
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He still does it for me since I'm ordering from Canada. I also tell him when I dropped the check in the mail, not sure if this helps.
Yep, this works for me. I would actually scan the money order receipt and send him the image file.

But I've only just discovered Digikey with cheaper cost of shipping ($8 cad -vs- $7 us + $7 cad (for money order fee)) and parts received the next day (vs- 7-10 business days) is hard to beat.
 
I will add that bob also helped me out previously when I had issues with a trackball and the 60-1. He connected me with another customer who had purchased many trackballs from him. Ended up that I fried an optic board (by drilling too close to the TB when it was mounted). He quickly cross-shipped me another board
 
I just got an update from Bob: apparently a couple of my payments in the past had exceeded a 10-day mailed payment window that they (Bob and Alice) monitor to keep a buyer in good standing. If your payments surpass that timeframe, it would seem that you get nixed from the "cross-shipping-worthy" list.

I unfortunately have no way to go back and check my records regarding these now, but as I mentioned to Bob I know that I would send an email indicating when the payment went, and thought that was being considered as acceptable. That does not appear to be the case (and I will simply have to remember that going forward).

I will try, going forward, to keep this 10-day payment window in mind, just wanted to keep everyone in the loop on what had transpired. I really *do* try to walk the line of doing things right, I don't know how I end up where I do sometimes. :(
 
Just got another order cross shipped yesterday, 2nd one in last couple weeks.

I find it hard to believe that Bob would stop cross shipping for established customers.
 
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