Plain Archive - SteelBook Retailer Thread [Korea]

Please discuss shipping, customer service, availability etc about this retailer here.

FAQ:

Q) What is their website address?
A) http://plainarchive.com/

Q) Where in the world are they located?
A) South Korea

Q) I don't speak Korean, how can I place an order?
A) They provide an English language version of their website.

Q) Do they ship outside of Korea?
A) Yes, they ship internationally.

Q) Returns/Exchange policy?
A) http://plainarchive.com/pages/refund-policy

Q) What form of packing do they use?
A) A sturdy cardboard box with 2 layers of bubble wrap around the item.

Q) Do they declare a low custom value to prevent a customs fee in my country?
A) They do not officially offer this service, this is due to legal reasons. They do however state they will keep value down the best they can. See for more details: http://plainarchive.com/pages/on-import-duties-taxes

 

[sunnyx]

The thing is they had no issues. Everything worked as it was supposed to work. Just cause people didn't get what they want, they complain. It's the same with other websites that use the same checkout system. Right at the specified time, there are thousands of people trying to add to their cart. Just because someone thinks they were there right away, doesn't mean another few hundred people weren't there before them.

So you are saying that people that ordered on the second there were people before? I was there sat waiting the second it went live. I refreshed every second in final 10 second count down at the same time clicking on HDN link. If that doesn't work then I will never get an order in. So, am I too slow, or is it the site cannot accommodate the influx of buyers? So the end result - luck determines the outcome who got one?

 

[SlyFondle]

Wow! I always regarded Plain Archive's work as outstanding. And to know that there's 2 employees? Just an exceptional work with the care & effort they put on their exclusives plus great customer service. They are always helpful and accommodating with their emails. As with all limited items, collectors are bound to missed out. I was one of the ninjas who was vocally stoked for this release & could only get Paper Full Slips during live preorder. As much as I think there might have a glitch in the ordering, the fast sellout is a testament for the excellent work of Plain Archive in bringing us well conceptualized, trailblazing designs with their exclusives. Keep up the great work, PA. We are behind you, Juno & staff.

They're way over-staffed, that's twice as many as KimChi!

 

[RobertJoseph17]

So you are saying that people that ordered on the second there were people before? I was there sat waiting the second it went live. I refreshed every second in final 10 second count down at the same time clicking on HDN link. If that doesn't work then I will never get an order in. So, am I too slow, or is it the site cannot accommodate the influx of buyers? So the end result - luck determines the outcome who got one?

Yes, it's Especially with a limit of 2 copies, this was bound to happen. The same thing happened to me today, I was ordering from Bottleneck Gallery and the item went on sale at 11am, I was on right at 11, but I got the inventory issue message. I thought I was there right at 11, but there were 100 other people that had added the print to their cart before I had. Luckily, with enough patience, I was able to still get a copy by go back and forth between my cart and the checkout screen. If you try it enough times, and get lucky with someone backing out, it will push you to the next page and you can finally order.

 

[StifflersDad]

I am not condoning any bad behaviour or threatening behaviour towards Plain but if that's how the checkout system is SUPPOSED TO WORK then clearly that system is FLAWED. JUST BECAUSE THERE MAY BE OTHER COMPANIES USING IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS FLAWED. If Plain is as customer centric as they claim they should think seriously about choosing a better system.

 

[RobertJoseph17]

The thing is, this checkout system seems to be becoming quite popular, as I have run into it on multiple sites. Mondo uses it as well, and the same exact thing happens there.

 

[RobertJoseph17]

I am not condoning any bad behaviour or threatening behaviour towards Plain but if that's how the checkout system is SUPPOSED TO WORK then clearly that system is FLAWED. JUST BECAUSE THERE MAY BE OTHER COMPLAINTS USING IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS FLAWED. If Plain is as customer centric as they claim they should think seriously about choosing a better system.

I don't disagree with this.

 

[RobertJoseph17]

If you know how to use the system, you can actually make it work to your advantage, because the people that don't know how to use it give up after a few tries. When I order from different sites, it takes at least 100 tries before I'm able to order. I really shouldn't be giving up that info, cause it will be harder for me to order in the future, but I just wanted to let people know that it wasn't Plain's website that was acting up. Nor was it the checkout system that was acting up. It's just built that way.

 

[RobertJoseph17]

So, the ones that had no problem ordering and didn't run into those issues were just there before the ones that started running into the inventory message.

 

[sunnyx]

Yes, it's Especially with a limit of 2 copies, this was bound to happen. The same thing happened to me today, I was ordering from Bottleneck Gallery and the item went on sale at 11am, I was on right at 11, but I got the inventory issue message. I thought I was there right at 11, but there were 100 other people that had added the print to their cart before I had. Luckily, with enough patience, I was able to still get a copy by go back and forth between my cart and the checkout screen. If you try it enough times, and get lucky with someone backing out, it will push you to the next page and you can finally order.

Shame it comes down to luck as well. I personally don't think I was ever that slow. Not sure where I am more cheesed off with, not getting the PET, or the fact as I was up at 1am in the morning with my coffee looking like a right clown for no reason.

 

[RobertJoseph17]

Shame it comes down to luck as well. I personally don't think I was ever that slow. Not sure where I am more cheesed off with, not getting the PET, or the fact as I was up at 1am in the morning with my coffee looking like a right clown.

Yeah, it only really comes down to luck (and speed of going back and forth) if you're not part of the first batch of people that added it to your cart. So, it's a combination of luck/speed after that.

 

[SlyFondle]

So you are saying that people that ordered on the second there were people before? I was there sat waiting the second it went live. I refreshed every second in final 10 second count down at the same time clicking on HDN link. If that doesn't work then I will never get an order in. So, am I too slow, or is it the site cannot accommodate the influx of buyers? So the end result - luck determines the outcome who got one?

There were a lot of people doing exactly the same as you at exactly the same time. If there are 10 items and 100 people try to buy them at the same time, 90 will be unlucky.

 

[sunnyx]

There were a lot of people doing exactly the same as you at exactly the same time. If there are 10 items and 100 people try to buy them at the same time, 90 will be unlucky.

The question brings for big exclusives like this, PA should consider changing their checkout approach to accommodate the hundreds of people trying to checkout, or just hope my luck determines if I source a copy? So next I miss our from PA I just blame luck. And for those that miss out next time bad luck right? I don't think there many people impressed with that explanation.

 

[Zyrin]

I am not condoning any bad behaviour or threatening behaviour towards Plain but if that's how the checkout system is SUPPOSED TO WORK then clearly that system is FLAWED. JUST BECAUSE THERE MAY BE OTHER COMPANIES USING IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS FLAWED. If Plain is as customer centric as they claim they should think seriously about choosing a better system.

I find this a little ironic. I understand the frustration, I really do, but I distinctly recall people asking for Kimchi/Nova to implement a system very similar to how Shopify works: if you're fast enough to get it in your cart and start checkout, it's reserved for you (within limits) even if the rest of the checkout is a little slow.

How many times have people lost out on Kimchi or Nova releases at the final stage of checkout because one of the steps lagged, the server was crashing, or they were just too slow? I absolutely remember people floating the idea of a 15 minute grace period to checkout or something similar Amazon's lightning deals implementation.

It's a race to the finish for the whole process or it's a race to start the checkout. Either way people are going to miss out even if they do everything right, that's just the way limited editions work. The main criticism I have is that they should be much more clear what the inventory error really means (all stock is currently tied up in some stage of checkout) vs sold out (all stock has successfully gone through checkout) while it's going on, as that seems to be the key point of confusion for people.

I'm curious what kind of system you'd suggest these companies use that wouldn't be as flawed?

 

[RobertJoseph17]

I find this a little ironic. I understand the frustration, I really do, but I distinctly recall people asking for Kimchi/Nova to implement a system very similar to how Shopify works: if you're fast enough to get it in your cart and start checkout, it's reserved for you (within limits) even if the rest of the checkout is a little slow.

How many times have people lost out on Kimchi or Nova releases at the final stage of checkout because one of the steps lagged, the server was crashing, or they were just too slow? I absolutely remember people floating the idea of a 15 minute grace period to checkout or something similar Amazon's lightning deals implementation.

It's a race to the finish for the whole process or it's a race to start the checkout. Either way people are going to miss out even if they do everything right, that's just the way limited editions work. The main criticism I have is that they should be much more clear what the inventory error really means (all stock is currently tied up in some stage of checkout) vs sold out (all stock has successfully gone through checkout) while it's going on, as that seems to be the key point of confusion for people.

I'm curious what kind of system you'd suggest these companies use that wouldn't be as flawed?

I think, it's a combination of that plus this is the first time a lot of people have run into this system. So, they thought something was going wrong with it, when it all actuality, the system was working like it was designed to. That's why there was a lot of frustration. The first time I ever came across this system, I thought I was going crazy, and then I realized how the system worked.

 

[paulboland]

The question brings for big exclusives like this, PA should consider changing their checkout approach to accommodate the hundreds of people trying to checkout, or just hope my luck determines if I source a copy? So next I miss our from PA I just blame luck. And for those that miss out next time bad luck right? I don't think there many people impressed with that explanation.

Even if they changed the software for checkout it would still be the same result
With 5,000 available stock for example If you have 6,000 people at the same time clicking add to cart its still only going to be 5,000 getting an order in

With ZDT they should have went with a limit of 1 of each edition per account and not 2 per account
It still would be sold out fast but more would have managed to complete checkout but their still would have been some who would not have succeeded in getting an order in

I figured from the start that this was a lot more popular release than some expected and was not surprised a lot missed out and ran into website problems trying to order as the demand for the Pet Slip and especially the Lenticular 1/4 Pet Slip was more than the available stock

Lot of people were trying for the Lenticular 1/4 Pet Slip and the One click Packs as soon as the Lenticular 1/4 Pet Slip available stock was reached all one clicks packs became instantly sold out

It also important to remember from the start the available stock was reduced before going live due to a good few Group Buys already been allocated stock

To me for a release like this that very popular with very high demand that's more than the print run and with worldwide shipping
Its best if they don't provide stock to group buys

Group Buys help a release to sell and also a help for those who cant be available when a release is going live but it should never impede the majority of customers ability to order direct with a high demand release

 

[Zyrin]

I think, it's a combination of that plus this is the first time a lot of people have run into this system. So, they thought something was going wrong with it, when it all actuality, the system was working like it was designed to. That's why there was a lot of frustration. The first time I ever came across this system, I thought I was going crazy, and then I realized how the system worked.

The wording for the error is pretty obtuse, so I definitely get the confusion. The first time I went for a Mondo drop with the new Shopify backend I had no idea what I was doing wrong.

Between most steelbook retailers not using the reserve system and their tendency to have errors, I can see why so many are assuming that PA's site failed them instead of them just being beaten to checkout. I just don't necessarily agree that the system is inherently unfair, even with missing some Mondo releases along the way.

 

[StifflersDad]

Since Andy has hooked me up with a PET slip I am going to cancel the paper slip from plain. How easy is it to cancel something from them?

 

[jacobsever]

I don't know about anyone else...but the clock PA goes off of at the bottom of their page was about 1:30 ahead of my computer's time. It was 6:58 (Mountain Time Zone) when I refreshed and the page went live. Was able to get through the checkout pretty fast (order #5372), and my confirmation email came in at 7:00 on the dot.

 

[SlyFondle]

The question brings for big exclusives like this, PA should consider changing their checkout approach to accommodate the hundreds of people trying to checkout, or just hope my luck determines if I source a copy? So next I miss our from PA I just blame luck. And for those that miss out next time bad luck right? I don't think there many people impressed with that explanation.

Ok, you're obviously the victim of a global conspiracy

 

[paulboland]

I don't know about anyone else...but the clock PA goes off of at the bottom of their page was about 1:30 ahead of my computer's time. It was 6:58 (Mountain Time Zone) when I refreshed and the page went live. Was able to get through the checkout pretty fast (order #5372), and my confirmation email came in at 7:00 on the dot.

I checked at the live time before it went live and it was exact in sync with my PC time at Work

I have also just checked the time at the bottom of their website just now
Its bang on correct to the second
Here is a screen shot to show the time is exact to the second

Look at your computer time and compare and do you have your computer time set up to sync with a time server to make sure the time is always correct