EU Wharehouse closing?

[ecekat]

i required a shipping quote for mark1 maquette and i think it was 61,82 dollars which is lower than it was surely.

 

[Misterscruff]

I feel rather embarrassed for Sideshow on the way they have handled all this. It could quite easily have been nipped in the bud if they had been straight with us earlier on. Post 752 is on the whole a very helpful and frank reply (the rather condescending 'we are embarrassed for those posters' line I think is frankly unnecessary; tit for tat), and if it had been given earlier could have abated alot of the anger which we have seen. I think the level of feeling about this from EU customers has shocked Sideshow; so much that it's taken them a while to figure out how to respond. Thanks to Chicky for taking the trouble to explain it all.

I think Sideshow is missing the point when they say that FedEx will be faster, and I have no doubt it will be. Speed isn't really the issue though when we wait six months between pre-ordering and shipping from Sideshow itself.

It has been fantastic having the EU warehouse, but then nothing can last forever, especially in the tight financial climate we are in. It was a revolutionary idea in the first place, and it will be sadly missed.

 

[**16k**]

As I explained the USPS rates are much higher and they do not offer volume discounts like privatized carriers. They also have manual customs paperwork requirements and size restrictions, which do not accommodate all of our item categories. You did not mention names of the other legitimate companies you purchase from that never seem to have legal taxes assessed to their shipments, however we ship a large volume of items and have always had custom fees assessed to our packages regardless of shipping method. Years ago we shipped our smaller LOTR items USPS into Canada. Also had the wonderful experience of being back billed months later for the customs fees that the customer never paid upon delivery. So you may have skated on them but someone pays them, meaning the shipper.

I appreciate that you have had perfect delivery experiences. It is always our hope that everyone gets everything 100% perfectly, but that is not always the case. It seems that nobody cares about tracking or the efficiency of the delivery service until their package never shows. At that point, who should be financially responsible for it, the company who sent it or the customer who chose the ineffective shipment method? In the end, the customer gets reimbursed and the product is lost along with any revenue. Again our wonderful USPS Canadian shipment experiences.

I hope that we can keep this thread open and that the sniping is held to a minimum so that EU collectors can post the feedback of current packages being received!

Best,
Chicky

I had sworn not to come back to this thread, but since you require details, here they are:
I've bought mainly from Cotswold and Legend Toys & Hobbies. Currently, and in the future, Cotswold will be my main provider. They have an excellent communication, group orders and ship them when I asked them to do it. I've been ordering from them for years, so surely, if they'd had to pay additional fees, they would have asked them from me as I'm reguarly in contact with two persons of their team (And here I sallute the marvellous Becky and Mercury, I'm really endeted to their kindness!).
You know, basically, what I regret the most is the way things were communicated.
The situation can be summerized as such:
There is an international crisis = Sideshow has to cut on prices = so sacrifices have to be made = Sideshow being an American company, it is perfectly normal that they favour American customers. Who could possibly begrudge you for something as natural...
come on, we love Sideshow, and if things had been presented that way, first we would have understood and second, when people have problems, you help them out of compassion!
Instead, you sugarcoat it and make us believe you're doing ths for our own good! You know perfectly this isn't the case! I think it would just have been fair to say things the way they truly are. I think we deserved it, that's all...

 

[devilof76]

You know what you can do with what you think you deserve, bub?

 

[**16k**]

You know what you can do with what you think you deserve, bub?

Yep! Exactly what you're doing at the moment, bub!

 

[devilof76]

Wondering why I have to keep telling you off after you've been given all the answers you've asked for?

Oh, that's right. Because even though she extended this courtesy to you, you still can't reciprocate. Even though she explained the costs that Sideshow has eaten over the years to make things easier for EU customers, you insist upon demanding like a spoiled brat that they continue to kiss your ass. Even though they have done what they could to make the transition as painless as possible, you still can't find it in you to show the respect of unqualified appreciation.

You just keep taking swipes like you're owed something. You're not.

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

i required a shipping quote for mark1 maquette and i think it was 61,82 dollars which is lower than it was surely.

Yes, it seems, the bigger the item, the more chance you have to save a few $ on shipping. But chances are that this could get balanced out by higher tax and duty.
I have requested a few shipping quotes for 12" figures some time ago, but didn't get an answer yet, respectively got told that they couldn't give a shipping quote until approximately three weeks before the item is sheduled to ship. Oddly enough Sideshow sends me a processing mail for that item only 5 days later!
They also said that they would send out product arrival e-mail notifications for pre order items approximately three weeks before the item is due to ship. I never got those... looks like they skipped these all together and went straight to the processing mails.

When such things happen, I don't get how people still can't understand that some SSC customers are upset and disapointed with Sideshow and continue to defend them. But o.k., that's their prerogative.

I guess things like these are normal, since SSC is a company that is made up of many people. It's practically impossible to get everything right all the time.
I'm still looking forward to the shipping quotes, and finally see the naked figures. I'm not very optimistic though.

 

[**16k**]

When such things happen, I don't get how people still can't understand that some SSC customers are upset and disapointed with Sideshow and continue to defend them. But o.k., that's their prerogative..

They do defend them because, like my good friend from the previous post, they won't experience the problems...

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

Wondering why I have to keep telling you off after you've been given all the answers you've asked for?

Oh, that's right. Because even though she extended this courtesy to you, you still can't reciprocate. Even though she explained the costs that Sideshow has eaten over the years to make things easier for EU customers, you insist upon demanding like a spoiled brat that they continue to kiss your ass. Even though they have done what they could to make the transition as painless as possible, you still can't find it in you to show the respect of unqualified appreciation.

You just keep taking swipes like you're owed something. You're not.

It is not that SSC has done this for charity, you know. They got something in return for their service: $$$. As much I would love to tell you just how much money I spend with them over the years, I'm not going to.

 

[chris rankin]

Wondering why I have to keep telling you off after you've been given all the answers you've asked for?

Oh, that's right. Because even though she extended this courtesy to you, you still can't reciprocate. Even though she explained the costs that Sideshow has eaten over the years to make things easier for EU customers, you insist upon demanding like a spoiled brat that they continue to kiss your ass. Even though they have done what they could to make the transition as painless as possible, you still can't find it in you to show the respect of unqualified appreciation.

You just keep taking swipes like you're owed something. You're not.

Bravo

 

[devilof76]

They do defend them because, like my good friend from the previous post, they won't experience the problems...

No, I'm pretty sure Karma pointed out exactly how it will have detrimental effects for us. Doesn't change a thing.

It is not that SSC has done this for charity, you know. They got something in return for their service: $$$. As much I would love to tell you just how much money I spend with them over the years, I'm not going to.

And you got something (many things) in return as well. Don't make it seem as though SSC is the only one who profits from their relationship with their customers.

 

[Bullseye]

Why do you feel the need to get involved in this conversation which has no bearing on you? If you see something which is derogatory towards someone why not report the post and let the admin or mods deal with it.

EU customers have contributed in making Sideshow a success and in return they have provided wonderful product. We don't need you to tell us that the evidence is on our shelves.

This is why I think the thread should be closed as we do not had enough data on whether this truely is going to be benefical to both parties. By the end of January middle of February we should be in a better position to give better feedback to Sideshow and it's decision.

 

[devilof76]

Of course it has a bearing on me.

But I have no problem shutting my mouth now. I think I've made my point.

 

[Bullseye]

What bearing does it have? I would genuinely like to know. If it has a bearing on US collectors they should be heard too.

 

[**16k**]

Actualy, Devil may be right about that. In the long term, it may have a bearing on US collectors.
First, closing down the EU warehouse seems to say that the financial health of Sideshow is in joepardy, otherwise, I'm sure they would have kept it open.
Then, no EU warehouse means less EU buyers, so I guess that, yes, in the long term, it will have an impact on US collectors, notwithstanding the fact that with HT products, Sideshow has lost its former supremacy in the 1/6 realm.
Now, this impact is difficult to grasp now. I guess that many will continue (I included) to buy Sideshow products from other sources, so a percentage will definitely end in Sideshow's pockets, but it will certainly change things drastically in the long term...

 

[KCLasse]

Chicky thanks for all your replys - now I better understand Sideshow choice for the shipping in the future !

I will in my case keep all my orders and NOT cancel any ! I will give the new FedEx shipping / tax system a chance !
BUT as my monthly Sideshow budget are 400 $ max included shipping an increase of the cost will result in less orders from me and other customers in EU / Denmark - but again let´s try it and see how it works !

Happy new year and best shipping / tax wishes

KC Lasse
Denmark (in EU)

A littel Denmark information about tax here

"Denmark = everything tax 25 % + handling amount 50 $ for each packet"
"Denmark = new car price + 180 % in tax"
"Denmark = rebuild old danish car = 105 % in tax
"Danish state charge tax 40-68 % of the paycheck in tax depending of income !

 

[gun9uk]

see this thread is locked

 

[ecekat]

where did you see this????

 

[Webb]

see this thread is locked

 

[ecekat]