3D Blu-ray importing and delivery thread (Amazon, Zavvi, Jpc, tariffs etc.)

[svenge]

I was thinking of getting in on the "Buy 2 Marvel titles for £15" deal, but when comparing carts between Zavvi and Amazon I noticed that the latter cost $3 more after shipping. Then I thought back on how my last Zavvi purchase was all crushed to hell and dealing with their customer service was like having teeth pulled, and then resolved that paying an extra $3 is worth it to not deal with those bozos.

[i007spectre]

So whats the best option for converting to USD when paying on Amazon UK?

[ryanmcv]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

So whats the best option for converting to USD when paying on Amazon UK?

Use a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees and pay in GBP. If you let Amazon convert to USD for you, they build in their own conversion fee.

[dhvsfan]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

So whats the best option for converting to USD when paying on Amazon UK?

Originally Posted by ryanmcv

Use a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees and pay in GBP. If you let Amazon convert to USD for you, they build in their own conversion fee.

Use the US Amazon credit card to pay in GBP. No foreign transaction fees and you at least get some Amazon points.

Not the triple points when you buy from Amazon US but single points. Helps some.

[TransAM]

Amyone know ??--When ordering from UK Amazon you can not use Amazon points but do you get credit from ordering from Amazon Uk??

[dhvsfan]

Originally Posted by TransAM

Amyone know ??--When ordering from UK Amazon you can not use Amazon points but do you get credit from ordering from Amazon Uk??

I think you get points on any purchase using the Amazon US credit card. You will not get the triple points but should get the single points.

Just to be exact: You cannot use points on Amazon US on the Amazon UK site
(well, unless you cash them in and use the cash to pay for the UK purchase - convoluted) .
If you have Amazon UK points, you should be able to use them on the Amazon UK site.

Can one get a Amazon UK credit card to build points in the UK ?

[i007spectre]

Still confused about ordering on Amazon UK and avoiding foreign transaction fees. And whether or not to use Amazons conversion tool.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

Still confused about ordering on Amazon UK and avoiding foreign transaction fees. And whether or not to use Amazons conversion tool.

There is no clear answer, since Amazon isn't transparent about the exchange rate they apply, and it also depends on your credit card. In most cases it's a bad idea to let merchants do the currency exchange when buying in foreign countries since they usually use worse exchange rates than the card-issuing banks (google for "dynamic currency conversion" for some background, e.g. this article). Even if your card has a foreign currency transaction fee it may still be less expensive to pay in pounds and let the bank do the currency conversion.

But I wouldn't worry about it too much with the amounts we are talking about here. The difference is most likely just pennies.

[Frank@Chicago]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

Still confused about ordering on Amazon UK and avoiding foreign transaction fees. And whether or not to use Amazons conversion tool.

If there's any downside (money conversion hit) to using USA dollars, I haven't seen it.

Ragnarok 3D cost me $24, which is exactly what a 2D-only copy would cost in America.

So basically, I'm getting 3D for free when ordering movies I want anyway from Amazon UK.


EDIT: You can also get a Credit Card from Amazon USA which might be beneficial as well.

[i007spectre]

I have an amazon store card but its doesn't show up as a payment option on the UK site.

[i007spectre]

Apparently Discover does not have foreign transaction fees either, but you can't pay with it there either.
Guess Ill just use my Visa and hope for the best.

[i007spectre]

Thought I found a workaround. I went to add a gift card on Amazon UK, and it gave me the option of using the Discover card to do so. So I put in the amount of the order in GBP and submitted it. The screen seemed to verify that it worked, but neither the balance on Amazon has gone up or a pending transaction shown up on my Discover account.

[i007spectre]

How long does an order at Zavvi normally stay in the processing stage? Been that for about 20 hours now.

[Red's got the Blu's]

I don't use Amazon UK. I tried to order from them years ago but for some reason they could not process any of my credit cards.

I've ordered a few things from Zavvi and have never had a problem with them.

Given the choice I buy domestic but obviously if you want the 3D disc more and more you have to import.

[GreatGreg]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

How long does an order at Zavvi normally stay in the processing stage? Been that for about 20 hours now.

If it's an in-stock item it usually ships within 24-48 h, but it depends on the item.

[jruc03]

Originally Posted by kurosawa

Apparently, there is no rhyme or reason when it comes to orders shipping from Amazon UK to the US. I ordered Geostorm 3D and Thor: Ragnarok 3D together (to save a couple of pounds/dollars in shipping costs) on Jan. 31. I chose standard delivery and "Group my items into as few deliveries as possible". I fully expected they would ship in one package despite different release dates (Feb. 19 and Feb. 26). However, Amazon UK shipped them separately (which happens occasionally, at no extra cost).

And the results:

Thor: Ragnarok 3D shipped Feb. 24..."expected Mar. 19"...(Royal Mail)
- arrived Mar. 2 (only 6 days later!)

Geostorm 3D shipped Feb. 22..."expected Mar. 9"...(Asendia)
- arrived Mar. 12 (only 18 days later!)

What's interesting is that Amazon UK on Mar. 10 posted on the "tracking" page for Geostorm 3D We're sorry your parcel is late. Please contact Amazon for the next steps (for refund or replacement). How do they know? There is no tracking for Asendia on my end. Is there tracking on their end? Or, is this just automatic because it's after the expected date? I probably should already know this, having ordered from Amazon UK countless times, but I don't recall having any messages about a late, untracked shipment. I've had messages about late, tracked packages before.

First World problem, I know.

On the plus side, not only did I receive Geostorm 3D today, wedged next to it in my mailbox was Justice League 3D from Best Buy...with slip and trading cards.

I contacted them yesterday on mine when it still didn't show and said the same thing after they told me to wait patiently until the 21st. I was like how would you know if showed up as you have no tracking on it. They refunded me without me even asking for it and said that I could reorder with expedited shipping if I wanted. I'm holding off for now to give it a few more days that way I may end up getting it for free. If its not here by Friday i'll probably have to place another order

Originally Posted by Battail

No show for me either. all it said is sorry for the delay arriving Monday. I assume that's next Monday. no way to track asemdia. I had same problem withT2 too.

They need to stop using them as its only going to have them losing money in the end. Does anyone know who Asendia uses for final delivery? I'm assuming it's USPS?

[3DFan63]

Correct. Mine came on time yesterday via USPS.

[jruc03]

Originally Posted by 3DFan63

Correct. Mine came on time yesterday via USPS.

Thanks that's good to know so if my normal mail has already come I don't have to wonder if it will show up some other way.

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by jruc03

i contacted them yesterday on mine when it still didn't show and said the same thing after they told me to wait........
They need to stop using them as its only going to have them losing money in the end. Does anyone know who asendia uses for final delivery? I'm assuming it's usps?

ASENDIA

Screen Shot 2018-03-13 at 7.27.29 AM copy.jpg

[vinnie97]

Originally Posted by kurosawa

Apparently, there is no rhyme or reason when it comes to orders shipping from Amazon UK to the US. I ordered Geostorm 3D and Thor: Ragnarok 3D together (to save a couple of pounds/dollars in shipping costs) on Jan. 31. I chose standard delivery and "Group my items into as few deliveries as possible". I fully expected they would ship in one package despite different release dates (Feb. 19 and Feb. 26). However, Amazon UK shipped them separately (which happens occasionally, at no extra cost).

And the results:

Thor: Ragnarok 3D shipped Feb. 24..."expected Mar. 19"...(Royal Mail)
- arrived Mar. 2 (only 6 days later!)

Geostorm 3D shipped Feb. 22..."expected Mar. 9"...(Asendia)
- arrived Mar. 12 (only 18 days later!)

I decided to save $10 and do the same with some upcoming preorders. It says they won't arrive until June, but you give me hope.