EU Wharehouse closing?

[theguru1]

My worry is that Sideshow will try and keep shipping costs down (they're calculated volumetrically) by skimping on the protective packaging required to get these items to us in undamaged condition e.g. oversize boxes, foam corner protectors, etc.

I actually very much doubt that, since it's my understanding that anything which arrives damaged, is replaced or fully refunded (including any new shipping costs) at Sideshows expense. Now sure, they may then have insurance 'options' to recover some of that expense, but either way, to much damage is only going to be a bad thing for Sideshow.

The worse case for the customer, is that they don't get the item they wanted, sure to piss them off, but never going to cost them a cent in the end.

 

[robomorph]

anything which arrives damaged, is replaced or fully refunded

Except the inner display boxes, which Sideshow won't do anything about if they arrive damaged. Despite the fact that many collectors view the packaging as part of the collectible and that mint/pristine packaging helps preserve the long term value of a piece. I'm fairly certain the new system will at least result in more handling wear and tear, which is why Sideshow should consider upgrading their packaging standards.

 

[ecekat]

i agree with robomorph..but the statue should be protected from the customs..if they damage one statue of mine,i will stop collecting...the problem is that the guys in the customs departments are not collectors and i think they dont care about statues...

 

[theguru1]

Except the inner display boxes, which Sideshow won't do anything about if they arrive damaged.

Yeah, I can see your point, but at the end of the day unless its some rare 20 year old toy, still in full original, unopened packaging, then I'm not sure it would really matter for 99% of collectors.

I collect statues, not full colour boxes. When I see some damage on the box, it's not the condition of the box that worries me, its if the statue inside has been damaged or not. I have enough problems with display space as it is, without working out how to display the boxes as well, those are all covered in plastic bags and out in the shed.

In many ways I really couldn't care if all boxes were just basic brown boxes, as long as it protected the statue and of course that there are no QC problems with the statue to start with.


However, in relation to customs, then yes, that can be a very real problem and I have no doubt that none of them really care what they are pulling apart, but who's to say they don't randomly look at specific boxes on a whole pallet, any more then they would look at the same number of boxes, posted one at a time. And at least if they do damage it, then its the same return or full refund as any other damage.

 

[-Super Hans-]

Is this an accurate shipping cost for the akuma bust

Item total: $ 189.99
Ship cost: $ 25.00
Total: $ 214.99

Im still confused with these shipping costs

 

[robomorph]

Yeah, I can see your point, but at the end of the day unless its some rare 20 year old toy, still in full original, unopened packaging, then I'm not sure it would really matter for 99% of collectors.

I collect statues, not full colour boxes.

Well I'd have to dispute your figure of 99% there. Some collectors don't care at all, some care very much - it's a subject that tends to divide opinion. But when you pay the purchase price of a Sideshow item, you are of course also paying for the box manufacture and design, the graphics work, the product photography, etc. etc. So I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect that when you mail order an item, then NO aspect of it should be damaged on arrival. The packaging should be good enough to prevent that.

Also, I've been through periods of having to sell portions of my Sideshow collection, both online and movie fairs, and I can tell you that it's always the stuff in worn/damaged boxes that gets left on the shelf. Most of us like to think that our Sideshow pieces are keepers, but financial issues can sometimes force us to rethink, and being able to offer items in mint packaging makes them much easier to sell. That's a lesson I learned the hard way.

 

[kj23]

asked for a quote on an item to ship to england, interested to see what i get back.

first item to be shipped via fedex is getting picked up today apparently and it's due next week. i'm almost scared to see the final bill, it's not that expensive an item but i'm nervous for all those charges.

 

[theguru1]

Well I'd have to dispute your figure of 99% there. Some collectors don't care at all, some care very much - it's a subject that tends to divide opinion. But when you pay the purchase price of a Sideshow item, you are of course also paying for the box manufacture and design, the graphics work, the product photography, etc. etc. So I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect that when you mail order an item, then NO aspect of it should be damaged on arrival. The packaging should be good enough to prevent that.

Also, I've been through periods of having to sell portions of my Sideshow collection, both online and movie fairs, and I can tell you that it's always the stuff in worn/damaged boxes that gets left on the shelf. Most of us like to think that our Sideshow pieces are keepers, but financial issues can sometimes force us to rethink, and being able to offer items in mint packaging makes them much easier to sell. That's a lesson I learned the hard way.

Well, yes, it's likely a bit less then 99%, but I think we could agree that way more care about the statue then the box. And yes, it does cost a bit in design work, etc, but then they are a display box more for retail shops, etc. Like I said, I'd just about rather a plain, brown box (double boxed for extra protection) and save the money on the fancy packaging.

As for the worn/damaged boxes always being the one's that don't sell, is that really about the box, or the fear that the statue inside was damaged given the state of the box.

Even so, giving what half the worlds postal workers are like, short of steel covering boxes or soemthing, I'm not sure there's much SS can do to make sure every display box arrives totally undamaged. And then of course, that's likely to increase packaging cost's, add weight and hence increase postage costs, etc. Would it all really be worth it.

 

[kj23]

my final invoice without the extra charges on obviously, seems like it used to be $25 for shipping so no saving there,

Item # Description U/M Ordrd Shpd Back Price Ext
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments: 1/14/10 Printed and sent to shipping. LG
PC 1 1 0 $159.99 $159.99
AH! Mystique Comiquette
------------
Sub Total: $159.99
Discount: - $0.00
Freight: $32.24
Sales Tax: $0.00
------------
Invoice Total: $192.23

 

[Bullseye]

The more I see the more I am convinced this is not giving cheaper shipping as indicated by SS.

 

[kj23]

could be. i've had one quote and my final shipping cost and both have been higher than they would have been beforehand i think.
it's the extras i'm most concerned about and how and when they want the money.

 

[**16k**]

I was expecting to get something shipped from Sideshow to make a final decision, but it seems like many of my pre-orders were about to be processed, so I've just cancelled everything....

 

[-Super Hans-]

I was expecting to get something shipped from Sideshow to make a final decision, but it seems like many of my pre-orders were about to be processed, so I've just cancelled everything....

 

[ecekat]

I was expecting to get something shipped from Sideshow to make a final decision, but it seems like many of my pre-orders were about to be processed, so I've just cancelled everything....

and?????

 

[**16k**]

and?????

... and I will re-order from Cotswold to bypass fedex and have my stuff shipped through Usps, so I'll avoid paying custom fees!

No, seriously, I'm not doing this with pleasure, but I wanted to check whether the new system would be troublesome before doing this. My Alien Big Chap and Dead Punk have been processed and I've received the Fedex shipment notification. I really was expecting to get this before any other item got processed to see if it would be more expensive or if it would be a big hassle with customs. But yesterday I got a sideshow notification that Silk Specter and Wolverine would be processed starting Monday.
Now if I hadn't cancelled and that the new system gives me trouble, I would have been stuck with these orders without the possibility to cancel them, so let's call this cancelletion a prevention measure...

Besides, none of them were exclusive, so no big loss and nothing I can't replace!

 

[JosephCPR]

The more I see the more I am convinced this is not giving cheaper shipping as indicated by SS.

Did you ever believe in cheaper shipping???

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

I was expecting to get something shipped from Sideshow to make a final decision, but it seems like many of my pre-orders were about to be processed, so I've just cancelled everything....

... and I will re-order from Cotswold to bypass fedex and have my stuff shipped through Usps, so I'll avoid paying custom fees!

No, seriously, I'm not doing this with pleasure, but I wanted to check whether the new system would be troublesome before doing this. My Alien Big Chap and Dead Punk have been processed and I've received the Fedex shipment notification. I really was expecting to get this before any other item got processed to see if it would be more expensive or if it would be a big hassle with customs. But yesterday I got a sideshow notification that Silk Specter and Wolverine would be processed starting Monday.
Now if I hadn't cancelled and that the new system gives me trouble, I would have been stuck with these orders without the possibility to cancel them, so let's call this cancelletion a prevention measure...

Besides, none of them were exclusive, so no big loss and nothing I can't replace!

Understandable. Since we lost the preferential treatment, there's no reason to buy from SSC direct anymore, is there? It's no fun canceling, but you can find most items cheaper else were now. Also, it's very discouraging when every other mail you received back from SSC ends with a laconic "If you need to unfortunately cancel any of your orders please let us know… . "

 

[ecekat]

Understandable. Since we lost the preferential treatment, there's no reason to buy from SSC direct anymore, is there? It's no fun canceling, but you can find most items cheaper else were now. Also, it's very discouraging when every other mail you received back from SSC ends with a laconic "If you need to unfortunately cancel any of your orders please let us know… . "

well,what about the exclusives???do you think ss will ever open an eu warehouse already???

 

[maverick]

Wolverine is shipping? Crap I dont have the money yet

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

well,what about the exclusives???do you think ss will ever open an eu warehouse already???

I don't know, I wish I did. Perhaps in a few years, when economy is better, but it is not very likely. I have the impression that the EU market is no longer of interest for SSC.
Still, I wish they could figure out a way to keep at least the exclusives in reach of European & international collectors, without upsetting the US collectors. The US is Sideshows most important market, and it is pretty obvious that they currently are doing very much effort to please them. It was all over their '09 end of year online events.