Anovos is Outta Business and Star Trek Fans SOL

[STEPhon IT]

@Fireproof78, it's the disbelief of it all which plagues me. Your profession and your science understands this, I want to believe this was all a major mistake and I would get a solution and get my item. But the reality hurts every time I dig, and see more evidence of a scheme, the headache of it all is I still want my stuff.

 

[mthompson1701]

@Hades Temperature Checker Thanks. What I have written now to send to CBS is laced with a lot of colorful metaphors. It's why I held off sending it to them because being diplomatic, and just telling what happened is the way to go. I'm more calm about the situation now then I was then, and probably will revise it in the next week or two. The more people who can contact CBS, the better.

I'll tell you all this story. In 2017 or 2018, I don't remember exactly when but it was around there, I ordered the Picard dress uniform jacket from Insurrection. It showed on the Anovos site as in stock, and I believe the shipping time said 10-15 business days. Five weeks later, I still hadn't gotten it, forgotten I even ordered it until I saw it on my statement. I reached out to Anovos, three days later what I got from them was less than impressive.

The response I got was that they were a small team, and that the item had been backordered. I checked, and it still listed as in stock in their site, and when I pointed this out to them, I got the run around. The only consolation was that I got the item a week later. I had no issue with Anovos when I ordered the TOS premier gold tunic after my DS9/FC jacket, and they fulfilled that within 3 months.

I still want the DS9/FC jacket. I have the red turtleneck, pips, and communicator. It's the last thing I need other than the vest, and I'm not getting my hopes up on being able to ever get that (that was going to be the next thing I ordered after I got the jacket). It could show up at my door right now, and I'd call it good.

 

[fireproof78]

@Fireproof78, it's the disbelief of it all which plagues me. Your profession and your science understands this, I want to believe this was all a major mistake and I would get a solution and get my item. But the reality hurts every time I dig, and see more evidence of a scheme, the headache of it all is I still want my stuff.

I want to believe it's all a major mistake too, that they just bit off more than they could chew in terms of fulfillment of the orders, perhaps underestimating the popularity (How, I don't know with these franchises) or the demand. Certainly I was always interested and was on their email lists for a while but could never justify the cost. And honestly, part of me wants CBS to be aware because I want a measure of resolution. Like, I have no iron in this fire, but I want you and @mthompson1701 and the rest of those in this thread who made good faith purchases to get what they purchased. I don't see that as unreasonable. If nothing else at least tell the truth!

 

[publiusr]

This is a public relations nightmare in terms of customer care, and since even you all who paid were unaware of this problem I can't imagine CBS or Viacom know much more, beyond possible licensing requests. It's clear there is a massive communication problem and I think making noise towards CBS is another possible avenue.

They are too busy doing C&Ds to folk who at least deliver products.

 

[Anaki]

Looks like Anovos has finally collapsed under the weight of delays and never delivering orders. It's gone, replaced by a new successor company, Denuo Novo (which translates to New Anovos). The new venture is in conjunction with NECA and Rubies.

It's uncertain who from Anovos is involved with this "replacement".

The Anovos site now redirects to Denuo Novo, which has picked up the Star Wars licenses and promises to fulfill orders Anovos never did for that line.

From their press release:



So far Trek orders and those who paid in full for them are shit outta luck. That's me. I'm among them. Paid in full, $500+, for a Beyond survival jacket. Five years ago at SDCC 2016. Five years and nothing to show for my money. And I'm not alone.

Trek Twitter is ablaze at this.

I also ordered the Star Trek Beyond Survival Jacket back in 12/2016 and I do have all my communiques from them starting from the original order accepted and paid receipts. I am trying to be optimistic. What do you think now that these lawsuits brought them down?

 

[1001001]

I really feel bad for all of you. I’m sorry this is happening.

There’s no excuse.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I also ordered the Star Trek Beyond Survival Jacket back in 12/2016 and I do have all my communiques from them starting from the original order accepted and paid receipts. I am trying to be optimistic. What do you think now that these lawsuits brought them down?

I’d like to be optimistic but I’ve already written this off as a complete loss.

 

[Anaki]

This reminds me of Star wars when the rich guy who started this lawsuit with Anovos (Palpatine) executed order 66 and down went the Jedi order. No one really cared for the Jedi so no one really helped them either. But thats Star Wars! I feel like the need of the one (Anovos) out weigh the needs of the many (us). The reason why I waited for my jacket is because my first 2 orders came on time and were great items (J. Archer's jacket and the wireless Vulcan earbuds with some pins. But I am glad I found others like me waiting. Is that wrong?

 

[mthompson1701]

Sorry for the late reply. I meant to do this sooner but got real busy. I finally did reach out to ViacomCBS at the contact page earlier in the thread. Here's a copy of what I sent them. I'm not sure if it will do any good or if I get a response out of it. but we'll see what happens. At least I tried.

Hello. I am writing to you because of your license with Anovos Productions to make replica Star Trek uniforms. I purchase the First Contact/DS9 jacket in August 2018, and still have not received it. I did not think there was a problem because there was an estimated delivery date on the page for the item. Originally it was June 2019 then delayed to fall, then to winter 2020. I went to check on status again in August 2021, and received no communication from Anovos, after opening 2 support tickets. Toward the end of that month, their website now directs you to another company’s site, and that says nothing about Star Trek at all. I am very displeased with the service I received from Anovos, and upset hat ViacomCBS would allow a company practices business the way Anovos does to have a Star Trek license. I know of some fans who were able to get a response from Anovos to be told an announcement regarding fulfillment of Star Trek orders would come in September. There was no announcement made that I am aware of. I feel like Anovos duped me, and as the license owner, I am reaching out to you to make you aware of the situation from my perspective. Thank you for your time, and attention.

 

[Anaki]

Sorry My purchase date for the Star Trek Beyond Survival Jacket was 7-29-2017. I just found my order confirmation and receipt and every transcript between me and Avonos. I don't know if I will even fit in it now!

 

[Daddy Todd]

Sorry My purchase date for the Star Trek Beyond Survival Jacket was 7-29-2017. I just found my order confirmation and receipt and every transcript between me and Avonos. I don't know if I will even fit in it now!

Well, since you’re never gonna get it, fitting into it isn’t really an issue.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Well, since you’re never gonna get it, fitting into it isn’t really an issue.

I'd laugh... but it's true. And I'll never see mine either.

 

[Richard Sutcliffe]

Sorry, I’m a new member and bit late to the Anovos party so to speak! I purchased in late 2017 the Mr Scott Bomber Jacket and department undershirt. I think at the time their ETD was earlier (I.e. 2nd quarter) delivery in time for Star Trek Destination in October 2019 in Birmingham UK. However when it got delayed, I cancelled as they couldn’t fulfil the order and was promised a refund..and was still chasing last year until I was given some advice on another forum. Of course, couldn’t claim with my bank due to time elapsed and contacted Denuo Novo about this, to which (to their credit I suppose) apologised for the problem and stated they couldn’t really do much as they only held the Star Wars license.
So, I’m in a bit of a pickle..any advice appreciated, obviously I was told to go through a solicitor/lawyer, but being UK based, the cost probably would outweigh the return gains. ‍

 

[Dave Femiak]

Sorry, I’m a new member and bit late to the Anovos party so to speak! I purchased in late 2017 the Mr Scott Bomber Jacket and department undershirt. I think at the time their ETD was earlier (I.e. 2nd quarter) delivery in time for Star Trek Destination in October 2019 in Birmingham UK. However when it got delayed, I cancelled as they couldn’t fulfil the order and was promised a refund..and was still chasing last year until I was given some advice on another forum. Of course, couldn’t claim with my bank due to time elapsed and contacted Denuo Novo about this, to which (to their credit I suppose) apologised for the problem and stated they couldn’t really do much as they only held the Star Wars license.
So, I’m in a bit of a pickle..any advice appreciated, obviously I was told to go through a solicitor/lawyer, but being UK based, the cost probably would outweigh the return gains. ‍

Richard sadly I don't think there's a lot of advice. Varying degrees of "pickledness" here for sure. I'm actually surprised that you got them to agree to a refund. Then again I don't remember now when they changed their policy to "no refunds"

 

[Richard Sutcliffe]

Richard sadly I don't think there's a lot of advice. Varying degrees of "pickledness" here for sure. I'm actually surprised that you got them to agree to a refund. Then again I don't remember now when they changed their policy to "no refunds"

Hi Dave!
Thanks for the reply. Yes, they agreed to a refund in 2019 after they weren’t going to make the delivery date for when I was going to the Con in Birmingham Uk in October that year. Chased them on a number of occasions regarding this to no avail!
Pickledness all around methinks!

 

[Dave Femiak]

Hi Dave!
Thanks for the reply. Yes, they agreed to a refund in 2019 after they weren’t going to make the delivery date for when I was going to the Con in Birmingham Uk in October that year. Chased them on a number of occasions regarding this to no avail!
Pickledness all around methinks!

I had been buying from them for years. I think it was the TNG Command tunic that I got first. And they were good - even let me exchange it when I got the size wrong. A NUMBER of other items - same thing. Good customer service, slow to delivery but deliver they did. Then. Now I'm waiting on a Scotty Bomber, Kirk Bomber an a number of other items. Pickledness methinks .. absolutely. I'd love to see something from this but the money now has been gone for so long ... just disappointed now.

 

[publiusr]

When it comes to merch, trek fans are always underserved.

 

[fireproof78]

Always?

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

When it comes to merch, trek fans are always underserved.

Yeah. But I will say it has gotten a helluva lot better in the last decade under John Van Citters, especially the TOS merch, which from what I understand is still the best selling merch of all Trek.

 

[Dave Femiak]

Problem now Ryan is that fans who might have spent some serious coin on merch are going to think twice. Then again maybe not. I bought from Master Replicas before Anovos ... but then again with MR I always got what I had paid for - on time no hassle no disappointment (and no law suit)