The Energon Pub

Just put in my preorder in on Amazon yesterday; with the Prime shipping, I think its a good call.
However if I can get my hands on the SDCC version, that will be snatched up and the amazon order dropped.

megatronus wrote:

Arctorro wrote:I jumped on the Amazon pre-order and when BBTS opened their pre-orders I switched thinking my PoL would help soak up the shipping costs. All up (price + shipping) Amazon comes out $20 cheaper, even with BBTS's lower price, to ship down under and I'm wondering if anyone has had dealings with amazons "estimated" pre-order shipping costs. Amazon's seems waaaaay to low for international shipping, so I could get a last minute price hike, and I'm also concerned about the way they package things. +$20 might not be too bad in the long run, just not sure...

I order plenty from Amazon (most recently, Springer & Blitzwing), but I do so with knowledge that my orders will have absolutely zero package protection. I deliberate carefully for each item whether it's worth it.

I would look into whether they have a distribution center in Australia. That might account for the lower shipping cost. If they do not, I would not order Metroplex off Amazon at all - more likely than not, it will arrive banged up.

Thanks for the response. They don't have a distribution center here unfortunately so BBTS is sounding like the better option so I'll be sticking with them

Arctorro wrote:I jumped on the Amazon pre-order and when BBTS opened their pre-orders I switched thinking my PoL would help soak up the shipping costs. All up (price + shipping) Amazon comes out $20 cheaper, even with BBTS's lower price, to ship down under and I'm wondering if anyone has had dealings with amazons "estimated" pre-order shipping costs. Amazon's seems waaaaay to low for international shipping, so I could get a last minute price hike, and I'm also concerned about the way they package things. +$20 might not be too bad in the long run, just not sure...

I've never had any of my Amazon orders arrive damaged...well, except for an LCD TV I ordered, but that was the fault of UPS because they treat their packages like the Samsonite Gorilla.

Still, even with free Prime shipping, BBTS turned out to about $10 cheaper than the Amazon version so I switched my order to BBTS. When asked why I was cancelling my order I selected "Found it cheaper elsewhere." Wonder if Amazon will try to undercut BBTS on the price. A Metroplex price war would be interesting.

donxavier10 wrote:

Arctorro wrote:I jumped on the Amazon pre-order and when BBTS opened their pre-orders I switched thinking my PoL would help soak up the shipping costs. All up (price + shipping) Amazon comes out $20 cheaper, even with BBTS's lower price, to ship down under and I'm wondering if anyone has had dealings with amazons "estimated" pre-order shipping costs. Amazon's seems waaaaay to low for international shipping, so I could get a last minute price hike, and I'm also concerned about the way they package things. +$20 might not be too bad in the long run, just not sure...

I've never had any of my Amazon orders arrive damaged...well, except for an LCD TV I ordered, but that was the fault of UPS because they treat their packages like the Samsonite Gorilla.

Still, even with free Prime shipping, BBTS turned out to about $10 cheaper than the Amazon version so I switched my order to BBTS. When asked why I was cancelling my order I selected "Found it cheaper elsewhere." Wonder if Amazon will try to undercut BBTS on the price. A Metroplex price war would be interesting.

The only thing I've bought through Amazon is the Kindle, everything else has come from private sellers, and the Kindle's box was in good condition. With all the stories about damaged items BBTS does sound like the better option and the PoL can help absorb some of the shipping costs.

A Metroplex price war would certainly be interesting.

As far as Amazon's shipping, I have had figures stocked and sold by Amazon themselves that have had their cards intentionally bent back in half and some that have had bubbles crushed so they will fit into smaller boxes. On other occasions I have had things come in with the box banged to pieces because they shipped a voyager in a box big enough for a herd of cats with zero air packs or bubble wrap. Years ago they used to always have great packaging, but now its a toss of the dice. It doesn't phase me much as long the figures are not broken as I open all my toys, but if something were intended as a gift or you collect MIB it is something to keep in mind. I have actually had better packaging and quicker shipping from most Amazon vendors lately than from Amazon themselves

I'm gonna take a risk and just wait for the thing to come to brick-and-mortar retail stores.

Sabrblade wrote:I'm gonna take a risk and just wait for the thing to come to brick-and-mortar retail stores.

In all seriousness that's the best thing to do. Stores like TRU and Target are taking a big risk on this figure and if it doesn't sell as projected we may never see another one ever again, let alone the brand as a whole may suffer.