EU Wharehouse closing?

[IronFingaz]

Not sure, but don't we have the option to switch to USPS? I'd do it alone to stop giving my cash to FedEx.

I think it's UPS but it will be more expensive since they havnt made a deal with them like with Fedex.

I'm curious how my Donatello and The Evil Queen will look

 

[**16k**]

Not sure, but don't we have the option to switch to USPS? I'd do it alone to stop giving my cash to FedEx.

No we don't! And that's the big problem here!

 

[robomorph]

Here is the e-mail we composed to sideshow. Wonder if we'll hear anything.

"Hello

I recieved my 1:2 endoskeleton today which is very nice and the statue itself is fine. However I am very unhappy with Sideshow using Fedex as thier delivery company because the shipping box it arrived in was damaged beyond belief. The product box is also in a less than satisfactory state aswell.I consider the box to be part of the product and I was wondering if there is anyway I could get a partial refund because I will not be able to sell this statue and I shall also struggle if I need to move house. I have seen many complaints and photographic evidence of boxes arrivng to the UK in a bad way by Fedex. Many people including myself are not impressed with your decision to cose down the EU Warehouse and use Fedex as your shipping company because the fees are higher and they don't take enough care with these valuable items.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards "

I also sent an email of complaint regarding the state of Fedex-delivered boxes, and received a reply which included the following statement. (I'm posting it here because it has no personal content and only reiterates company policy.) It might be of interest to those concerned about shipping damages:

"Please know that we provide the best packaging possible for all of our statues that not only protect the collectible statue inside but also do not cause our customers to incur any additional charges to their shipping costs or item costs. However, we understand that it is not always possible for an item to ship from our factory in Southern California, overseas and to your country, pass customs inspection and transit to its final destination and arrive with a mint condition box. As such we offer our customers a “pack out” option. For a fee beginning at $10 for our 12” figures and adjusting according to size, we will pack out the customers collectible when possible. This includes packing the piece into a larger box with additional padding if possible. However, this will also add weight and dimensional size to the item and will increase the shipping costs. Please let me know if you would like this option added to your account."

 

[Ash Housewares]

So basically Sideshow taking avantage of our misfortune and a chance to make even more money off of us. Appaling. Absolutely shocking. How about change the shipping company to one that looks after packages? When parcelforce delivered them they were usually in great condition.

Sideshow sucks balls

 

[-jay-]

So basically Sideshow taking avantage of our misfortune and a chance to make even more money off of us. Appaling. Absolutely shocking. How about change the shipping company to one that looks after packages? When parcelforce delivered them they were usually in great condition.

Sideshow sucks balls

That's what i was saying the other day. I've only had one so far from Fedex and it was in great condition lets see how i do on my second that should be here soon.

 

[Bubbles]

My Samaritan 1:1 just arrived and the box is damage free, just dreading how much this is going to cost me in tax.

 

[DinoLast]

Well I'm just waiting for my EX Emperor, and then Sideshow and I are done professionally.

 

[Misterscruff]

No we don't! And that's the big problem here!

I don't know if you are referring specifically to shipping to France, but here in the UK we do have the choice of FedEx or UPS.....we just have to email Sideshow for a quote. I asked their customer services back in December when this all kicked off, and they said it was fine, but the rates with UPS may not be as good as the negotiated FedEx rates.

 

[robomorph]

It's a bit hard to swallow that SS accept that their standard packaging is not always adequate to allow a package "to arrive with a mint condition box." That consideration to me should be built into the design and costing of a product. I would say that the economies of doing so might be prohibitive except that so many other companies succeed in doing so where Sideshow don't. I consider it another extra cost in the decision to move operations to the UK, and so will instead spend more of my money with companies like WETA, who have an EU-based facility.

I can only hope that the "pack-out" option is exercised diligently as it's an unofficial arrangement arranged by personal request and can't be entered into account details at the customer end. If it happens as it's supposed to, I'll be glad to report it here.

 

[robomorph]

the rates with UPS may not be as good as the negotiated FedEx rates.

The Fedex rates for larger items are actually very good. Some of those items if shipped via UPS would actually have prohibitively expensive shipping. The smaller items might not be much different.

 

[theguru1]

The Fedex rates for larger items are actually very good.

Yes they are. My Evil Queen PF shipped a couple of days ago, $47USD for postage to Australia. All past things considered, that's darn cheap. Means I get the Ex PF within about a week, for the same price of getting the Reg locally, a couple of months later.

Won't know till Tuesday what condition the box, etc is in, but so far, its a total win.

 

[FrodoEyes]

Well I'm just waiting for my EX Emperor, and then Sideshow and I are done professionally.

Professionally? So you can still go out for a drink with them at least?

 

[Dusty]

Just wanted to say that if you receive a package that has been noticeably 'destroyed' by the carrier... ie: holes punched in it, torn, inner printed box torn up, etc... please send photos to our Returns department - [email protected] - and they will see what they can do - sometimes we can fight that out with the carrier

 

[robomorph]

sometimes we can fight that out with the carrier

Yes but with respect, Dusty, that still leaves the customer with a damaged product box, even if Sideshow offers a partial refund.

What I can't understand is why the packaging isn't beefed up in the first place to help avoid the need for claims and refunds. Two very small but significant improvements would be to:

1) Use thin plastic corner protectors where shipping economy is a prime consideration (eg. items such as the smaller dios & maquettes, etc). This would greatly assist in protecting against handling impacts.

2) And for larger packages where the printed box is suspended inside the shipper, switch to a thicker and more heavily-corrugated corner protector, as the ones used now crumble so easily that there's almost little point in using them.

Measures like these would have little impact on overall product cost, and would help to give a further measure of protection. What's really needed here is preventative security not retroactive compensation.

 

[Ash Housewares]

My mate has had a response saying they will try and arrange a partial refund for his damaged 1:2 endo box. It will be interesting to see where this goes. We will keep you posted.

 

[IronFingaz]

I'm about ready to kick Fedex's ass My Evil Queen PF has been out for delivery all day and now i check the status and it says delivered :emperor I've looked everywhere and they didnt just drop it off so i have a feeling the driver got lazy and decided to not to bother and instead have someone do it tomorrow It better show up tomorrow or there'll be hell to pay

 

[vodoun]

Why is Sideshow even using FedEx with the tainted rep that Fedex has?

 

[theguru1]

Got my Evil Queen PF today. I missed the initial delivery by less than an hour. I called up and they were able to drop by again about an another hour later, since I was now home.
So that was really great.

The outside box has some 'travel' ware, dark marks were it was clearly slide along on some dirty surface or something and a couple of part holes on the side, but nothing too bad.

The inside art box had no matching holes or dents in the same place, tho one of the bottom corners is somewhat crunched in. However the outside box doesn't really have a matching corner, so I think that may have happened at the factory.

Still, not that much of a big deal and the statue is all just fine, plus I got a $25 GC.

So all in all, for $47 postage, can't really complain about FedEx at my end, guess it really does matter which country your in and who you get.

 

[The Tuggernaut]

So all in all, for $47 postage, can't really complain about FedEx at my end, guess it really does matter which country your in and who you get.

$47 for postage to Australia? Damn, that's pretty good. Usually it costs around $100-$200 for a PF. Something must have changed.

 

[ChaserFan]

$47 for postage to Australia? Damn, that's pretty good. Usually it costs around $100-$200 for a PF. Something must have changed.

That is indeed unbelievable! A PF costs between $90 and $150 for me........I may be buying from SS more often!