Anovos is Outta Business and Star Trek Fans SOL

I found this website and thread while trying to research my own issue with Anovos. My situation is fairly minor; I've been waiting for a $50 Enterprise hat since October of 2018. Thankfully, my purchase was on a Discover card so I called them and opened a dispute claim for the charge. They are issuing a temporary credit while they research with the vendor. I realize that my individual case is not likely enough value for them to thoroughly investigate, but maybe if more people open claims with credit cards companies and banks it will trigger enough investigation to get somewhere with the company, whoever they are now.

 

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but I notice that Anovos Productions LLC is still listed with "Active" status under California Secretary of State (that's the state where they always listed their contact info, even though the LLC is originally registered in Delaware). So maybe technically there's still some possibility of filing some kind of formal legal something-or-other against the business entity, since it still exists. Of course, that doesn't mean that the end consumers would end up getting anything to speak of.

Kor

 

New here but been watch star trek in all its iterations since about 1971. I stupidly kept up my faith in Anovos - I had order a number of items previously through them - TNG Command tunic, TOS S3 Premier line command, BSG Duty Blues, TNG formal/mess uniform, etc. All delivered, quality was excellent. Wasn't always the fastest - lots of delays - but they delivered. Most recently received the original series Battlestar Galactica warrior's jacked back in May of this year after about a 3 year wait. So when pre-orders were out for Kirk Bomber jacket, Scotty Bomber jacket. Landing Party jacket etc ... I ordered first wave. And have been waiting. I'm guestimating I'm out around US $3000 for various things. From Canada not sure if I have the same options re class actions. Wondering now if the credit card companies will refund/investigate for an unfulfilled order going back 3 or 4 years ...

 

STEPhonIT nice idea but I was under the impression BBB was more to warn people away from doing business with an outfit like Anovos (or worse). DId you ever get anywhere with a complaint to BBB?

 

The BBB has a process for businesses to resolve complaints that are submitted by customers. And some businesses do respond to those. But Anovos already has an "F" grade on the BBB, with lots of unanswered complaints going back quite a while. The page also shows that last year the company didn't respond to BBB contact. So at this point, more complaints to the BBB would probably be redundant, except maybe to make customers or the BBB aware that the company appears to have folded.

Kor

 

Good point - and the way things are every little bit helps

 

This is why…even if I had the money…I don’t shop on-line. I want the product in my bloody hands.

 

And why does anovos.com redirect to the new company?

 

That’s an old trick…re-organize, cast off debt…go back to the same old ways.

Ever wonder what the two Ls in an LLC is? Limited Liability.

Say Mr. Y runs a grocery warehouse with a truck fleet. He makes sure to not own the fleet..but have a near bankrupt proxy “shell” own it…so if the dolleys hooking two big trailers comes apart from a cheap tack-welded bodge—-Mr. Y can’t be sued.

It’s a way corporations have of stomping on the rest of us.

 

I asked the new company directly about it and got an answer. I’ll post it here when the article it’s in is live.

 

SO ... most of my outstanding orders - the ones over $300 each - I paid using the Partial.ly payment service to break up the cost. For Star Trek items. Some of you have reached out to your credit card companies - I'm honestly not sure how that would work given that I did pay through Partial.ly (who paid Anovos) using my credit card. I reached out this morning, got the following reply back (at this point in time at worst I'm out $2200 US through c/o Partial.ly ....:

Partial.ly Support (Partial.ly)

Oct 4, 2021, 2:09 PM EDT

Hello David,

Anovos has updated us and confirmed all orders will be fulfilled. They provided the following info for their customers:

For STAR WARS Orders:

Denuo Novo -- a wholly-owned subsidiary of NECA -- will be fulfilling the outstanding STAR WARS orders, as announced in Anovos's press release. You can read more about this here: https://www.denuonovo.com/pages/faqs

For STAR TREK Orders:


These orders will likely be taken over by Denuo Novo, but this is not confirmed yet. Customers will be updated on which company will fulfill their orders soon.

For GHOSTBUSTERS and OTHER BRANDs Orders:

These orders will be handled by Anovos and they are working on completing fulfillment of those orders.

Anovos Website and Contact Info:

Anovos's website is currently inactive while they relocate to a new URL (www.ANOVOSRETAIL.com) in the coming weeks, as they are revamping their approach to e-commerce. In the meantime, you can access Anovos's helpdesk at https://anovosproductionsllc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us. You can click the Submit a Request button on the top right to contact Anovos directly.
Partial.ly Support
support@partial.ly

 

That just brings up more questions. One, I thought Denuo Novo was run by Ruby, but now it's NECA? Interesting. Two, Anovos still has their own website? And finally, Anovos is still fulfilling orders?

I have no stake in this game but this feels like a shell game of the worst kind. Also, I would still reach out to the credit card company and see if there is any recourse because of all this shenanigans. Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

Hades - my understanding was that Rubies - which had also filed Chapt 11 over the last couple / few years - was partially involved but not outright owners. There was something I read out there somewhere about that. I'll see if I can find it ...

Anovos - the support website (through zendesk) is still up. I reached out to them last week - so far no response. The answer from Partial.ly (who just offer the option of splitting up the payments - no cost to the purchaser) came as a surprise.

I have nothing to lose by reaching out to the credit card company but then again the earlier orders go back over 3 years. I'm not sure that they'll be inclined to do anything. That said nothing to lose by trying.

Worst case scenario - what I had mostly come to terms with - is that I'm out the roughly $3000 US that I had on pre-order items. Who knows maybe they will make good on it. I'm not holding my breath however.

 

It would be less suspicious if Anovos actually informed me or the customers through email or a phone call they're doing these transitions??? I am continuing to get updates on this thread. Nucking Futs!

 

STEPhon IT - agreed completely. At this point I've already lost. Nucking Futs indeed!

 

Yeah, it was surprising and makes me wonder if Anovos is telling payors one thing, while telling customers another. Wouldn't surprise me but the inconsistency is confusing.

Yeah, no kidding, especially since the different pieces of information come from so many different sources. I know customer service is a lost art but wow...this is terrible.

 

The only way I'm getting updates is through this thread. I still haven't gotten a response to my support ticket. I know I said I was going to reach out to CBS, and I intend to, I just haven't written anything that I consider to be professional enough to send to them.

I used partial.ly as well since it was offered. At the time I knew I wanted the DS9/FC jacket, but couldn't pay all at once. Three months later, after a couple payments had been taken, I was able to pay the whole balance off. I still would like to have it if I could get it, but I'm not getting my hopes up anymore.

 

I honestly didn't know I was duped until this thread. I simply just went on with my busy life and took what was told to me with face value. The pandemic was an Ace of Spades of an excuse for the delays of my order. Writing an informative letter to the powers who are would something I think, at least they know what is going on. TrekCore is covering a bit, and I'm sure the publisher may already started the ball rolling. Keep your head up, and I'm sorry this happened to you, mthompson1701

 

@STEPhon IT Thank you. I didn't figure I was duped until this thread either. I knew Anovos track record, and that it's what they do. Promise one date, then put it off, put it off, put it off, and eventually deliver. In August I figured enough time had passed, and I wanted an update. I went on their site, and couldn't find anything. I was ok with it as long as there was an estimated date. I shrugged it off, cause I really didn't have time to do anything more with it. Ten days later here comes this thread.

I'm not as upset now as I was a month, month and a half ago. I'm just going to be on the look out for any news I can get with this situation. I'm frustrated that Anovos isn't communicating, and they said there would be an announcement in September, well that's come and gone. We'll just have to see what happens.

 

I am so sorry for you, as well as others, who have been taken by this scam. Honestly, I would encourage many people to write to CBS and share their story. 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.