I have never ordered from Matty Collector, and was wondering if it is usually easy to order a figure upon the day of release, or if you have to be a subscriber to ensure the order before sellout? I was also wondering what the taxes and shipping rates usually are? How long does it take for a figure to sellout? Thanks.
Depending on the figure it could be minutes, hours or days. It's mostly the re-issues that takes days. Depending on your time zone you really need to be sitting in front of the computer right when they go on sale.
Most get the subscription and only have to worry about two or three a year (weapons packs, convention pieces, re-issues) because they’re ordered automatically for you, others who don't want certain figures just take their chances. Shipping is through UPS most of the time, but I have got a few from USPS. They're boxed to protect the White mailer, but some of the boxes aren't too strong and I have gotten some that were crushed a little.
I for one think shipping for one or two figures is a little high, and if you have a subscription, but decide to order an extra figure on release day Matty does not combine shipping. So you pay two separate shipping charges.
Their customer service is not through Mattel, but Digital River, I personally have never had a problem with getting a replacement figure when I got one that was damaged or missing a part. I live on the east coast so when Matty starts selling its noon here, other places on the west coast have had their sales start earlier, or later I think. I went with the subscription; I got tired of the
“WHITE PAGE OF DOOM”, which is when their server is so jammed with orders you have to wait for it to clear some before you can continue with your order. You can get held up for so long that items can sell out while you’re waiting. Even if they’re in your cart they can still be sold from out from under you, Matty doesn’t consider them yours until they’re paid for.
I read that some dealers and online retailers where using some kind of automated system to order for them and were getting more than their limit (Which is 10 for everyone), but now before you can complete your order you have to type in a blurred word to prove you’re not a machine. I didn’t like the idea at first, but now I think that it is helping the actual Collectors and not just the dealers. People with subscription get theirs mailed early (a day or two), but I’m not exactly certain. For me it takes about a week to get my figures, but others get theirs in days.
So there is my run down, it may have been more then what you were looking for, but I hope I answered at least a few of your question.
Dollman