Dear Sideshow! A rant on your shipping.

[Chicky]

E-mail us and request to use Fed Ex. Also let them know to note your account to try and make sure they send you the best box they can. Our shipping department is really good at these special requests. We once had a guy who was fighting with his driver to the point the driver was stepping on his stuff before delivering it. The driver may have had a reason since the UPS driver refused to deliver and USPS required the collector to pick up his mail.

Keep in mind that sometimes with distributed items, they DO NOT send us replacement boxes to do exchanges with our customers so we do try our best in these circumstances.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Just a note - in my area at least, FedEx will not leave without an in-person signature, even if the shipper requests it.

 

[Deak Starkiller]

Where you at Dave? Compton?

 

[danald]

I quite oredering from SS as well due to the signature required part. I had two drive nearly 2 hours round trip to pick up my HT SC. I also now buy from AlteEgo Comics because it is so much less hastle

 

[Chicky]

I quite oredering from SS as well due to the signature required part. I had two drive nearly 2 hours round trip to pick up my HT SC. I also now buy from AlteEgo Comics because it is so much less hastle

You can waive the signature required on your shipment by sending us in a form, https://www.sideshowtoy.com/helpdesk/?p=66 , either by e-mail or fax! See post above!

 

[aussieinnyc]

I've never actually finalised a purchase with Sideshow - the closest I came was a preorder which, since I'm an international customer it would seem, was still sitting at "processing" a week after people in the US had received theirs in hand. By that time enough pictures of a sub-par paint job had emerged that I cancelled.

I know that most companies process and ship domestic orders before international, but with places like Alter Ego that has translated to 2 or 3 days, not over a week, so I will continue to shop with them.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Just a note - in my area at least, FedEx will not leave without an in-person signature, even if the shipper requests it.

Where you at Dave? Compton?

some fed ex areas are like that..mine is if the item is expensive enough

 

[SimFeliz]

I've never actually finalised a purchase with Sideshow - the closest I came was a preorder which, since I'm an international customer it would seem, was still sitting at "processing" a week after people in the US had received theirs in hand. By that time enough pictures of a sub-par paint job had emerged that I cancelled.

I know that most companies process and ship domestic orders before international, but with places like Alter Ego that has translated to 2 or 3 days, not over a week, so I will continue to shop with them.

How long ago was this? I remember when I started ordering direct from SS back in 04. Orders did take up to a week or two to ship. I find now I get my items pretty must around the same time as the US customers.

 

[aussieinnyc]

A while...whenever Raiders Indy shipped. And it was actually a fair bit more than a week if I really think about it - good to hear that I might actually end up having to follow through on my Yoda pre-order!

 

[robomorph]

My beef....your items arrive damaged

I'll say! The switch from the Euro warehouse has been disastrous for me, with 2 out of every 3 boxes arriving ripped, crushed or water-damaged. It's almost unbelievable how appallingly badly Fedex treat their shipments. My Alien Warrior Maquette just turned up like this:

The box was soaking wet and falling apart, and likewise for the inner product box. And it's not the first time.

I'm really at my wit's end with Fedex. It's getting to the point I'm seriously considering cancelling all my Sideshow orders because I'm sick to death of having to make claims for replacement boxes - NONE of which Sideshow have ever been able to supply.

Why oh why did you ditch the Euro warehouse, Sideshow? The condition of parcels arriving via Parcelforce was a thousand times better!

 

[Awesome]

That is ridiculous.

 

[jonny88]

I cancelled all orders with Sideshow today, except one - exclusive Emperor.

My beef: your shipping (signature) requirements are not convenient - I have to be home to sign 'Live' - not cool

On top of that, your shipping is double your estimates - did you negotiate new rates with UPS and lose?

Your items arrive damage - and yes, you guys rock with replacements - when you have them. I am stuck with a super awesome T800 with damaged box that is not mint - for $165 plus - I should have a collector friendly set

The camel that broke my back: I get an email from BigBadToystore.com telling me they dont have any collector grade Corporal Sandtroopers = I waited months to be told I get a NON MINT FIGURE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Getting points is no longer worth the headache - I actually hope my Sarah Connor figure arrives damaged (as usual) so I can legitimately send it back to you....but I gotta wait till Thur to sign for it in person....not that I have a job or anything

I just cant take it anymore - it shouldnt be this hard to collect toys!

Rant over

Matt

yup. that is why l do not buy direct from sideshow. there quotes to canada are not right. and they do not ship usps. all other shipping companies charge insane boarder fees. but usps is cheap. l only buy second hand from the lovely freaks here. if sideshow had right quotes and shipped threw usps. l would have many orders threw them as we speak. but l do not because of that.

 

[theguru1]

Wow robomorph, that sure took a beating, product box as well.

Was at least the statue all OK?

 

[robomorph]

Was at least the statue all OK?

Yes, it was fine thanks, guru1 (great statue too btw) and for sure that's the most important thing.

However, if the need should ever arise for me to sell it, I now have no shipper box and a product box that's trashed. That's going to make it hard to shift. So damage like that effectively devalues the whole product.

I can't understand why Sideshow don't just beef up their packaging standards to prevent this sort of thing. It wouldn't take that much: hard rubberised corner protectors instead of those useless crumbling ones; a second, inner shipper box (as used by Palisades, Code 3, Sixteen-12 and Cinemaquette); and sturdier grade card. It's a real pity that the best manufacturer of movie collectibles is also the worst at being able to deliver them in decent condition.

 

[Darkmatter]

I cancelled all orders with Sideshow today, except one - exclusive Emperor.

My beef: your shipping (signature) requirements are not convenient - I have to be home to sign 'Live' - not cool

On top of that, your shipping is double your estimates - did you negotiate new rates with UPS and lose?

Your items arrive damage - and yes, you guys rock with replacements - when you have them. I am stuck with a super awesome T800 with damaged box that is not mint - for $165 plus - I should have a collector friendly set

The camel that broke my back: I get an email from BigBadToystore.com telling me they dont have any collector grade Corporal Sandtroopers = I waited months to be told I get a NON MINT FIGURE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Getting points is no longer worth the headache - I actually hope my Sarah Connor figure arrives damaged (as usual) so I can legitimately send it back to you....but I gotta wait till Thur to sign for it in person....not that I have a job or anything

I just cant take it anymore - it shouldnt be this hard to collect toys!

Rant over

Matt

got mine from bbts. although not officially 'mint' grade, the collector box and figure appeared as close as you can get to perfect.

also, i receive packages at a mail box etc.. that way i never have to worry about someone being home to sign, and i know my package is safe and secure until i pick it up. cost $90 for a year.

 

[KillingYouGuy]

You can waive the signature required on your shipment by sending us in a form, https://www.sideshowtoy.com/helpdesk/?p=66 , either by e-mail or fax! See post above!

I just tried this on my last order and it did not work, I filled out the form and faxed it in and my package is now sitting at the UPS drop site a half hour away awaiting me and my... signature.

 

[Chicky]

I just tried this on my last order and it did not work, I filled out the form and faxed it in and my package is now sitting at the UPS drop site a half hour away awaiting me and my... signature.

That is very odd. Please PM me your information so I can track what happened for you. If it was our error i will certainly make sure that it doesn't happen again to you. Please keep in mind that if UPS or Fed Ex feel the location is unsafe they override signature releases. Even if there was no signature required they would not leave the package in an unsafe location.

 

[Lejuan]

I've read a lot about SS's shipping costs. I've preordered the Bruce Lee DX04 exclusive and to my knowledge this can't be obtained anywhere else outside of some SE Asian distributors now long pre-order stopped. So SS it is. Hope when I get my shipping quote I don't have a heart attack, I'm all the way over here in Oz.

 

[DeadLeaves]

SS are pretty hit & miss on freight to Aus. I've had shipping costs in the past anywhere between 35 - 100 bucks for a single 1/6 fig.

The $100 was for HT Deunan & I was not at all ____ing impressed (seriously, that's a whole other fig in freight - the quote was 30) but that was a fair while ago now. I don't know why it varies so much from month to month.

I'm pleased that shipping costs from SS have been much more reasonable this year.

 

[SimFeliz]

I'm pleased that shipping costs from SS have been much more reasonable this year.

Oh yes, much better! I just paid $27 shipping for HT T-1000. A few years back I was paying close to $100 shipping on HT figures. Mind you, their packaging is more compact now days.

On a side note - Loving the Aussie dollar right now.