1/6th Scale Sideshow Tauntaun

[jedibear]

Tonight was the opening of a new pop culture store in my town with an opening special of 20% off. Picked up the only Tauntaun they had. Paid a little over the USD price in AUD which given our exchange rate is pretty darned good at the moment. Will set up this weekend. Very happy to add this to the collection.

Congratulations on that acquisition, momaw! Looking forward to some pics.....

 

[aeluna]

Sideshow is shooting themselves in the foot with the NRD's and their shipping prices. I just picked mine up at BBTS and got it shipped for $12.50! If you take into account using a coupon at SS plus the reward points received, you really aren't gaining that much by ordering through SS. Honestly, with how many things are being released that I want, the safe bet would be to start ordering through BBTS. Inevitably I'll have to juggle what I have on PO to match what I can afford/really want and those NRD's will start to hurt.

 

[Pixelpiper]

Sideshow is shooting themselves in the foot with the NRD's and their shipping prices. I just picked mine up at BBTS and got it shipped for $12.50! I

I've also bought the Tauntaun from BBTS, they run a great shop, but there's no reason to bad-mouth Sideshow.

Sideshow sold out of Tauntauns over a week ago. BBTS still has a stack of them. I'm not an accountant, but...

An NRD is a deposit - that's what the "D" stands for - so I'm not sure why it's relevant to the Tauntaun which has been shipping, and therefore has required full payment, since March. BTW, how many places allow lay-away (flex-pay) like Sideshow does?

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

I've also bought the Tauntaun from BBTS, they run a great shop, but there's no reason to bad-mouth Sideshow.

Nice pickup. But sideshow has earned every negative comment they get regarding their shipping practices.

 

[Pixelpiper]

Nice pickup. But sideshow has earned every negative comment they get regarding their shipping practices.

They still offer a lot of items with free shipping, others with $10 flat rate shipping and everything else at a lower shipping price than most people could obtain at the counter or even online. And taken as a whole with their promotions and discounts, they're very competitive overall. As a distributor, it would also not be in their interest to outcompete their retailers at every turn. Lastly, maybe people shouldn't take their business so personally.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

everything else at a lower shipping price than most people could obtain at the counter or even online

False. They charge more than the standard rate and that is without factoring in a bulk rate.

As a whole I agree that they are a solid company, I just strongly dislike the shipping for profit.

 

[Pixelpiper]

As a whole I agree that they are a solid company, I just strongly dislike the shipping for profit.

They're not "shipping for profit" - but as a business there's nothing wrong with that anyway - it's just that some people forget all the times they're shipping at a loss - everything has to balance out somewhere. As a consumer you're free to shop around, but even with the higher shipping prices on some items, they still come out less expensive more often than not, including on the Tauntaun which is the subject of this thread. Wonder how that can be. Time and again someone accuses Sideshow of inflated shipping, yadda yadda, but the usual outcome when I check rates via my account at FedEx, their charges are still lower than mine - BTW, don't forget to factor in insurance coverage.

It doesn't change the fact that they run a great business and are doing great business. They've been around a long time and it's clear as day they know how to run their ship. They're not shooting themselves in the foot with their shipping policies nor NRD as evidenced by their continued ability to move and clear inventory while still supplying most of the stores around the globe that sell this stuff.

 

[aeluna]

They still offer a lot of items with free shipping, others with $10 flat rate shipping and everything else at a lower shipping price than most people could obtain at the counter or even online. And taken as a whole with their promotions and discounts, they're very competitive overall. As a distributor, it would also not be in their interest to outcompete their retailers at every turn. Lastly, maybe people shouldn't take their business so personally.

I'm assuming that the free shipping/flat rate pertains primarily to inventory items Sideshow wants to clear out? Within the last month or two, every new item I've received has had double the shipping costs. This might not be any fault of Sideshow's but that's irrelevant. The main reason I stay with Sideshow is because of their point system. But they put items up for PO months in advance leaving a huge gap for other things I might want buy to be released. Then I have to decide between the ones I want most, which inevitably leads to me canceling a figure with a NRD. Take situations like that into account and the increased shipping costs then it removes any benefit to the point system. This applies more to someone on a budget. If you're rich or don't mind managing debt for the rest of your life, then you'll PO everything you want and never think twice. But at this point BBTS just offers a better service for someone like me whose money conscious.

 

[Pixelpiper]

I'm assuming that the free shipping/flat rate pertains primarily to inventory items Sideshow wants to clear out?

No. Generally speaking many Hot Toys items and Sideshow's own 1/6 have a $10 flat shipping when they're first put up for PO.

If you're on any kind of budget, here's a tip. Don't pre-order. Not ever. Save your money and plan for what you'd like to get, but only buy when the item is available and when your budget allows.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

I'm not on board with notion that because SS does a lot of things well, that they deserve a pass when it comes to blatantly overcharging on shipping. They are coming out ahead even on the flat $10 shipping.

I work for a company that ships a lot of stuff, but not nearly as much as sideshow. We ship large heavy boxes all the time all over the place for about five bucks. Bulk rates are pretty sweet.

 

[Pixelpiper]

I don't care to defend their shipping prices except to say that I can't, by and large, match their prices with my accounts. But I will defend the right of any business to run their business the way they want, including setting whatever shipping prices/policies they want. They also don't get "a pass," they get a fair shake and a fair comparison - which to anyone paying attention puts them in a very competitive position. If you don't think so, then there are other retailers to choose from - in this free-ish market.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

I don't care to defend their shipping prices except to say that I can't, by and large, match their prices with my accounts. But I will defend the right of any business to run their business the way they want, including setting whatever shipping prices/policies they want. They also don't get "a pass," they get a fair shake and a fair comparison - which to anyone paying attention puts them in a very competitive position. If you don't think so, then there are other retailers to choose from - in this free-ish market.

I agree that they are competitive.

And I am glad you acknowledged the difference between "free" and "free-ish". Anyone with a clue knows Sideshow has a couple distinct advantages over the other retailers when it comes their own in-house products and hot toys which are what I primarily buy. When it comes to certain things they are like a utility company, you either deal with them or you are SOL.

 

[jedijim3002]

Is this the Taun Taun thread? I couldn't tell.

 

[Darkseed]

Is this the Taun Taun thread? I couldn't tell.

This isn't the Taun Taun thread you seek.....move along

 

[momaw]

Congratulations on that acquisition, momaw! Looking forward to some pics.....

Thanks. Gonna set this up on Sunday when I have some free time. Will be sure to post some pics.

 

[Pixelpiper]

Mine is sitting in my Pile of Loot at BBTS waiting for a few things to come in stock - see, I do pre-order sometimes. I have to build a new cabinet onto which I'm going to shift some of my displays, including the Tauntaun - should have that done and the statue in hand sometime in October.

 

[kl241]

If you don't think so, then there are other retailers to choose from - in this free-ish market.

You mean "Sideshow Authorized Retailer."

 

[Pixelpiper]

You mean "Sideshow Authorized Retailer."

You could always import from Asia.

 

[jedijim3002]

This isn't the Taun Taun thread you seek.....move along

Moving along sir! LOL

 

[The Ween]

I just ordered one through BBTS. I think TimeWalker Toys still has them too at the same price but I have no idea on their shipping.