A rant about Breyer

Breyer's web store is starting to frustrate me.  Specifically, their process for handling refunds on sold-out items.  In short, they don't seem to have a process. 

Twice now, I've tried to order one of their Warehouse Finds, the Clydesdale Mare.  Both times, it was listed as available and in stock.  Both times, my order has arrived without the Mare.  And both times, I've had to email, repeatedly, in order to find out what's going on, and get a refund.  Actually, I still haven't gotten the second refund, because I've only sent one email asking what's going on, and haven't gotten a reply yet - after a week. I would send a second email, but YahooMail is being a pill right now. 

Either their website store isn't linked in to the inventory, it's badly linked, or they're just messed up right now.  If something's sold out, I shouldn't have to ask for the refund.  I especially shouldn't have to ask multiple times.

Well, that was a waste

Bid on a Breyer lot, on a non-eBay website.  Some potential interesting horses - Classic swaps, polo pony, unfamiliar chestnut FAF and Five Gaiter.  Nothing earth shaking.

UPS dropped the box off a few minutes ago.  Inside the box is a layer of crumpled paper, a bunch of horses, and another layer of paper on the bottom.  If they weren't rubbed like crazy when they left the buyer, they are now.  A few could still clean up well - the CWP isn't bad, ditto the red foal, and the grey Swaps may clean up, since it's easier to get marks off than to cover up rubs.  The polo pony, though, is warped so bad he looks like he's about to fall over. 

So, overall, a waste of $37.  Oh well. 

Odds and ends

Bought some old Hong Kong copies recently - I didn't realize there was a mirror-image copy of the Semi-rearing Mustang. Not sure if the spots on mine are factory, or if someone tried to turn him into a leopard App, but he's interesting. Also bought a Breyer lot - mostly for the Clyde foal, since my original one had a run-in with mice, but there's also a nice Classic Rearing Stallion, a Running Mare, and a Jumper with a broken tail.

New Pretty

UPS delivered this guy last week:

He's a CM Bouncer, done by Chris Nandell, I got an awesome deal on him, and he's gorgeous. He's not fresh - done in 2007 - but you can't tell to look at him. He's got NAN cards, so I guess I'll keep the name he came with.

Shelves

Okay, now I have proof that I really need more shelves. Bought a Manco Capac last week, from a post on the Haynet Exchange. It was one of the 1/2 year collector's series releases, not really common, and I was sure I didn't have one. Until 3 minutes ago, when I was looking through my inventory spreadsheet, trying to find out how many old-style red roans I have. And while searching for "roan" - there it was. Bought a Manco Capac about 3 years ago. Ooops. At least I got a good deal on this one.

Alabaster Western Horse pictures

Pictures of the Alabaster Western Horse that I found at the flea market a while back.  Can't find my copy of Nancy Young's Breyer book (how can I lose something that big?), so I can't narrow down his dates.

He's got O-ring reins and a snap saddle - missing half the girth unfortunately.  No mold mark.  Feels like Breyer plastic.  Bridle and breast collar seem to be gold, but I don't have any sunlight right now for a good look.  Feet look grey, mane and tail are body-color (yellowed alabaster).   Eyes look sort of silver or grey.

I took the bait

And joined Breyer's Vintage Club for 2014.

Photo from Breyer's email

Mostly because I'm a Grade A Sucker for the old red roan, and the Mustang mold, so that one would be coming to my house anyway, and that speckled Appaloosa drafter isn't bad either.  Added bonus - I don't have any dapple blacks at all, and most of my charcoal models are in slightly- or well-loved condition. 

Hopefully I don't regret it.  Probably won't, but who knows.  This is my first year in the Vintage Club, and I'll admit, they sold me when they let us know beforehand what the horses for the year would be.  Sure, surprises are nice, but sometimes it's nice to know you'll get something you halfway like.