The Official Network Thread

[FastAndFluid]

It's not £80. It's £83.60 because you have to pay shipping charges on top.

And they take the money immediately even though it's a few months away from delivery.

I thought this sort of practice wasn't allowed in the UK?

[the blob]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Thankfully, all of the Blu-rays will be available individually. No need for this box set, given the outrageous international shipping policies of these sites.

Do you realise how few U.S. companies actually ship direct and the ones that do, how much their charges can run up to for just plain amarays alone?

If neither company are doing a lot of international shipping and bearing in mind there's a 200 page book involved as well, weight-wise you're probably actually not far off cost. International shipping, especially anywhere farther than mainland Europe, is a stupidly expensive game these days unless you're a massive company that can broker a good deal that often involves redistribution.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by FastAndFluid

It's not £80. It's £83.60 because you have to pay shipping charges on top.

And they take the money immediately even though it's a few months away from delivery.

I thought this sort of practice wasn't allowed in the UK?

Why wouldn't it be?

[FastAndFluid]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Why wouldn't it be?

I thought consumer protection laws meant that your card couldn't be charged until the goods were despatched.

Otherwise nothing to stop any shyster taking a ton of money and sitting on the interest for months before doing a runner.

[oddbox83]

I still think it's a cheek to be charging for postage even to UK buyers when it costs £80 anyway. Knowing it was a deluxe one-off, why not just factor it into the price to make it look better? I get the impression they announced it the other week before they'd even finalised the cost since they never mentioned the price until it went up for order even though people really wanted to know.

Though the international price isn't £80, it's 20% less given you don't pay VAT which does offset the overseas shipping cost somewhat.

I'm giving it a miss. My feelings have bounced back and forth today, being annoyed at charging even more for postage to being lulled back by the contents. But I'm going to stick to my guns, in my mind I said £70 tops including postage and I'm going to stick with that. I really want the book, but not that much.

I'm definitely going to be ordering individual editions of Filmed in Supermarionation and HD21 when they appear for sale.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by the blob

Do you realise how few U.S. companies actually ship direct and the ones that do, how much their charges can run up to for just plain amarays alone?

If neither company are doing a lot of international shipping and bearing in mind there's a 200 page book involved as well, weight-wise you're probably actually not far off cost. International shipping, especially anywhere farther than mainland Europe, is a stupidly expensive game these days unless you're a massive company that can broker a good deal that often involves redistribution.

Clearly this is not that situation, because Network charge a flat £40 fee outside of the UK, which includes Mainland Europe.

Network have already explained that the charge is because they use courier delivery. which is great, but for this set, I should be able to select a less expensive shipping option and risk receiving a damaged item or risk a lost item. That should be my choice, not Network's.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by FastAndFluid

I thought consumer protection laws meant that your card couldn't be charged until the goods were despatched.

Otherwise nothing to stop any shyster taking a ton of money and sitting on the interest for months before doing a runner.

Except, if you pay online, you normally do so by credit or debit card. If a credit or debit goes wrong, your bank or card provider can yank back the payment and you won't be out of pocket...

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Except, if you pay online, you normally do so by credit or debit card. If a credit or debit goes wrong, your bank or card provider can yank back the payment and you won't be out of pocket...

I don't think all cards give you protection. I remember a few years ago NatWest moved their debit cards from Maestro (MasterCard) to Visa as Visa insist on customers have protection online and for all other transactions if the retailer fails to supply. MasterCard used to just say tough luck you have lost your money.
Credit cards including MasterCard are different and all provide protection as you are buying with credit so they are bound by the consumer credit act.

With regard to companies charging upfront if you want attack one go for Arrow. They also take money on order and have had my money for Rabid Dog got almost a year now with its continual delays.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by malcy30

I don't think all cards give you protection. I remember a few years ago NatWest moved their debit cards from Maestro (MasterCard) to Visa as Visa insist on customers have protection online and for all other transactions if the retailer fails to supply. MasterCard used to just say tough luck you have lost your money.
Credit cards including MasterCard are different and all provide protection as you are buying with credit so they are bound by the consumer credit act.

With regard to companies charging upfront if you want attack one go for Arrow. They also take money on order and have had my money for Rabid Dog got almost a year now with its continual delays.

As far as I knew every reputable debit card company does it, but I could be wrong. My guess is, if necessary you could elevate it to the Ombudsman and he'd do something about it...

[the blob]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Clearly this is not that situation, because Network charge a flat £40 fee outside of the UK, which includes Mainland Europe.

Network have already explained that the charge is because they use courier delivery. which is great, but for this set, I should be able to select a less expensive shipping option and risk receiving a damaged item or risk a lost item. That should be my choice, not Network's.

I'll grant you that if it's a flat fee for anything at £40 which is extreme. In this particular case though, having sent lots of vinyl and large packages across the Atlantic, there would still be a hefty cost if it went regular Airmail and there's a possibility it may not even be viable as that has a 2kg limit, which the book may help to take it over.

[Patient-X]

Just received an email from Amazon saying Black Narcissus has been despatched. Feels like a very long time since I pre-ordered it.

[FastAndFluid]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

As far as I knew every reputable debit card company does it, but I could be wrong. My guess is, if necessary you could elevate it to the Ombudsman and he'd do something about it...

Only credit cards are covered and I use debit card for payment all the time.

[Millibar]

Does the supermarionation set mean we can expect the full series of captain scarlet, joe 90 & stingray to come along sometime in the future or is this "best of" as good as it's gonna get?

As good as this set is I'd like to have the individual series to complement my thunderbirds box set rather than a hash of everything.

[FastAndFluid]

Originally Posted by Millibar

Does the supermarionation set mean we can expect the full series of captain scarlet, joe 90 & stingray to come along sometime in the future or is this "best of" as good as it's gonna get?

As good as this set is I'd like to have the individual series to complement my thunderbirds box set rather than a hash of everything.

Nobody knows at this stage.

But given what happened with the "Retro" series where there were hopes if sales were fantastic they would produce full sets of all the showcased series, and given the history of sales on TV titles, and the fact that they've had to offer even this "extract" series as a limited edition run to get it to sell I'd be pretty sure the answer is "No".

[oddbox83]

I think it may be one of those buy these if you want to show how much you want complete series boxes job.

I'd be up for Thunderbirds in the correct ratio too. I still haven't bothered to pick up the ITV Blu-ray.

[Ste7en]

No way would I shell out 80 quid for a set containing 'selected episodes'. I don't care how much other pap they cram in.

I'd be happy enough paying that for a complete Thunderbirds or 60 for a Captain Scarlet though.

[Le Grande Blu]

I've been hoping for a complete UFO. There's a Japanese set which is too far out of my price range.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

No way would I shell out 80 quid for a set containing 'selected episodes'. I don't care how much other pap they cram in.

I'd be happy enough paying that for a complete Thunderbirds or 60 for a Captain Scarlet though.

That's just the deluxe version currently up for preorder. Those selected episode sets are coming out individually at some point and they'll be considerably cheaper.

[BigNickUK]

My Black Narcissus arrived this morning, looks amazing so far. My original ITV release is packed away so cant do a comparison but I am presuming its from the same master as Network didnt mention a new one

The Jack Cardiff feature is pretty good too

Not played the Powell Scorcese commentary yet

[rapta]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

My Black Narcissus arrived this morning, looks amazing so far. My original ITV release is packed away so cant do a comparison but I am presuming its from the same master as Network didnt mention a new one

The Jack Cardiff feature is pretty good too

Not played the Powell Scorcese commentary yet

Looking forward to watching it again. I sold my ITV copy on to get this one for the features and the better artwork! Waiting for it to arrive from Amazon. Seems Network heard my calls for more Powell & Pressburger as well as Roeg!