Steelbook Questions |OT| of questions that don't deserve their own threads

[BDestroyer8418]

Originally Posted by maverick22

I’m in the US and have used Zavvi for about 12 steelbook purchases. I have only had 1 come with damage but have read several users here with back luck.

With steelbooks you’re always taking a chance. Hell, buying from the store is risky as well. I’ve had so many steelbooks from Best Buy in-store with spine slashes/dents/chips.

I bet I purchased over 200 steels from Zavvi. Not much in the last 3 years and I only had at tops 10 damaged shipped to the US. The packaging is crap but somehow they arrived fine.

Best Buy, Target, Amazon I have more damaged but also buy from them more. This year I feel like more than 50% of my purchases are damaged and most are damaged before. With increase of online orders from more buyers now than ever not going to get better.

They just pick items and fill orders. Most of it could be fixed with a little better shipping as in ship everything in a box to start off. I would pay a small fee for an upgrade in shipping but they just do not care and most buyers would not want to pay more shipping fee's.

[Gregc11]

haven't had issues with steels yet, but i hate ordering boxsets online anymore because they always come damaged.

it's the biggest downside to online ordering these days. distributors don't care about carefully packaging stuff anymore. quality has gone downhill. it's almost like if you want something in mint condition you gotta go instore to get it.

[GreatGreg]

I purchase probably 50x SteelBooks from Zavvi per year and the damage rate is actually very low.

There are some people who exaggerate the Zavvi problems, but to tell you the truth, Zavvi used to be worse both in shipping and customer service, but both have improved.

When it comes to damage, it depends on the retailer.

If you are buying from a massive retailer that sells books and doodads and USB cables, and you want free shipping, they will not ship a SteelBook in anything other than a jiffy bag with next to zero protection. You are taking your chances.

When you purchase from a media retailer like Best Buy or HMV and ask for the cheapest shipping possible, you will get reasonable packaging. Sometimes it is a box, but if you only order one item you take your chance that it might also be a jiffy bag.

If you order from a collector, you should get decent packaging.

If you order from a premium retailer like Kimchi or WeET or Nova, you are paying more, but the packaging and shipping is almost bulletproof. They will package SteelBooks individually wrapped with several layers of bubble wrap in a foam case inside a box.

You can't expect that type of packaging from a free or almost free service.

Also keep in mind the distance it has to travel. If you are ordering domestically, you will have less time in the postal system so your chances of damage is lower.

[stratford]

Originally Posted by BDestroyer8418

I bet I purchased over 200 steels from Zavvi. Not much in the last 3 years and I only had at tops 10 damaged shipped to the US. The packaging is crap but somehow they arrived fine.

Best Buy, Target, Amazon I have more damaged but also buy from them more. This year I feel like more than 50% of my purchases are damaged and most are damaged before. With increase of online orders from more buyers now than ever not going to get better.

They just pick items and fill orders. Most of it could be fixed with a little better shipping as in ship everything in a box to start off. I would pay a small fee for an upgrade in shipping but they just do not care and most buyers would not want to pay more shipping fee's.

Wow that is a lot of steel books. What you say about paying a bit more for a shipping upgrade is most agreeable. The packageing is the most important part

[stratford]

Originally Posted by Gregc11

haven't had issues with steels yet, but i hate ordering boxsets online anymore because they always come damaged.

it's the biggest downside to online ordering these days. distributors don't care about carefully packaging stuff anymore. quality has gone downhill. it's almost like if you want something in mint condition you gotta go instore to get it.

Buying in store would be nice. If the price was the same or C&C I'd do it. Sadly near me they are being killed off by greedy landlords.

[stratford]

Originally Posted by GreatGreg

I purchase probably 50x SteelBooks from Zavvi per year and the damage rate is actually very low.

There are some people who exaggerate the Zavvi problems, but to tell you the truth, Zavvi used to be worse both in shipping and customer service, but both have improved.

When it comes to damage, it depends on the retailer.

If you are buying from a massive retailer that sells books and doodads and USB cables, and you want free shipping, they will not ship a SteelBook in anything other than a jiffy bag with next to zero protection. You are taking your chances.

When you purchase from a media retailer like Best Buy or HMV and ask for the cheapest shipping possible, you will get reasonable packaging. Sometimes it is a box, but if you only order one item you take your chance that it might also be a jiffy bag.

If you order from a collector, you should get decent packaging.

If you order from a premium retailer like Kimchi or WeET or Nova, you are paying more, but the packaging and shipping is almost bulletproof. They will package SteelBooks individually wrapped with several layers of bubble wrap in a foam case inside a box.

You can't expect that type of packaging from a free or almost free service.

Also keep in mind the distance it has to travel. If you are ordering domestically, you will have less time in the postal system so your chances of damage is lower.

That is a lot of steel books. If I use amazon international or local HMV then I use the expensive shipping option that way things have less time to get damaged. I've bought 5 movies from Amazon-US before a few times, a little box and bubble wrap or air bags is unusual

[C.C. 95]

I'm in the U.S. and I have
1300 steelbooks in my collection. I have ordered from Amazon US, Germany, Uk, France, Italy. Zavvi, Kimchi, Nova, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, FYE Etc.
I have only have only had about 6 damaged steelbooks total.
Are there some whose packaging is better than others - yes.
But I have to think that this largely comes down to the carrier.
I wonder if, say, people in a certain country or region have a higher occurance of damage than other regions?
I have a buddy in California with as large a collection as mine, and buys from the the same vendors - and he has the same story: etremely low occurance of damged steels.
So I think it comes down to who is delivering it in your region. (Higher occurance with DHL, UPS? Or damage occurin the final stretch at local post office?)
Some of the Amazon sites (Italy, sometimes Germany) have shipped with the Jiffy bags - which amazingly arrive intact a lot of the time. Obviously, Manta Blufans and HDZETA ship in apocolypse-proof packaging. Zavvi's white mailers have always been dependable. (I even reuse those to send stuff).
I think some regions just have post offices that play Rugby with the packages.
Hopefully people can track the point of failure.
In my area - The postal delivery has had moderate turnover over the years, and I can attest that I have had guys who are great (deliver to door), and guys who were terrible (jamming packages into the mailbox when they don't fit).
Another trick (especially when ordering from overseas Amazon vendors) is to pay the extra $3 for gift packaging - another layer of packaging essentially.

[stratford]

Originally Posted by C.C. 95

I'm in the U.S. and I have
1300 steelbooks in my collection. I have ordered from Amazon US, Germany, Uk, France, Italy. Zavvi, Kimchi, Nova, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, FYE Etc.
I have only have only had about 6 damaged steelbooks total.
Are there some whose packaging is better than others - yes.
But I have to think that this largely comes down to the carrier.
I wonder if, say, people in a certain country or region have a higher occurance of damage than other regions?
I have a buddy in California with as large a collection as mine, and buys from the the same vendors - and he has the same story: etremely low occurance of damged steels.
So I think it comes down to who is delivering it in your region. (Higher occurance with DHL, UPS? Or damage occurin the final stretch at local post office?)
Some of the Amazon sites (Italy, sometimes Germany) have shipped with the Jiffy bags - which amazingly arrive intact a lot of the time. Obviously, Manta Blufans and HDZETA ship in apocolypse-proof packaging. Zavvi's white mailers have always been dependable. (I even reuse those to send stuff).
I think some regions just have post offices that play Rugby with the packages.
Hopefully people can track the point of failure.
In my area - The postal delivery has had moderate turnover over the years, and I can attest that I have had guys who are great (deliver to door), and guys who were terrible (jamming packages into the mailbox when they don't fit).
Another trick (especially when ordering from overseas Amazon vendors) is to pay the extra $3 for gift packaging - another layer of packaging essentially.

Some good words there. As many say there is a lot of luck involved. 100% a good idea 'Another trick (especially when ordering from overseas Amazon vendors) is to pay the extra $3 for gift packaging - another layer of packaging essentially.' that someone else mentioned, that I'll give serious thought to with over seas orders, I order at least 3 titles then to justify the expensive but faster shipping

[Felix_ro]

Originally Posted by stratford

Any idea which stores use poor packaging?
Might sirprise you, I have the Almost famous 4K Steel book. Sent in a jiffy bag from Amazon-usa to UK nothing else to protect it, arrived 100% mint.

Have a good one

Your Almost Famous SteelBook 100% mint, I think is rather an exception.
As I also think about the very few (four or five) that I've ordered from JB Hi-Fi Australia, which also come in just a cardboard envelope and arrived fine.

In my experience, the most times I got damaged SteelBooks was when I ordered from Amazon France and Amazon Italy; not that I did not got damaged also from Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and Amazon US (and Spain).
Just recently I received from France a package with several SteelBooks (the X-Men with lenticular cover and others), and NONE other than the SINGLE one, the "Basic Instinct" had damages, and was (what do you know?!?) even in the middle of them all, which could not conclude otherwise than it was shipped this way, already damaged.
The "Last Action Movie" which I've ordered from Amazon US, also come with some dents, and for this and the one from France I contacted them and still did not get replacement; they now ask us to send back the item and they just then issue replacement, which, in my view is an aberration, cause usually you got another with more damages or even can't order anymore being sold out, and clearly, this is NOT our fault when we receive them badly packaged and shipped already damaged.

With Zavvi had way fewer issues with damaged items (but had some, and several other issues, like non-delivery), that is I believe mostly because they use that special designed cardboard box for SteelBooks, which usually protect them quite well, unless someone really step on them (I had one from Germany if I recall correctly, which was almost 90degrees bent because of something like this; I think I can still find some pictures with it, at home).

As others above said, it seems that the longer a package (especially with SteelBooks in it) stay in "transit" (postal services), the higher the chances to get damaged. But surely, that's not a "for sure" thing, cause had items coming via DHL or UPS that just spent few days (about a week maximum) and still got damaged (or were sent this way in the first place), and had items that spent at least three (3) weeks or more and come without damages (JB Hi-Fi Australia and Zavvi).

Hope this helps...
Have a good one!

[stratford]

Originally Posted by Felix_ro

Your Almost Famous SteelBook 100% mint, I think is rather an exception.
As I also think about the very few (four or five) that I've ordered from JB Hi-Fi Australia, which also come in just a cardboard envelope and arrived fine.

In my experience, the most times I got damaged SteelBooks was when I ordered from Amazon France and Amazon Italy; not that I did not got damaged also from Amazon Germany, Amazon UK and Amazon US (and Spain).
Just recently I received from France a package with several SteelBooks (the X-Men with lenticular cover and others), and NONE other than the SINGLE one, the "Basic Instinct" had damages, and was (what do you know?!?) even in the middle of them all, which could not conclude otherwise than it was shipped this way, already damaged.
The "Last Action Movie" which I've ordered from Amazon US, also come with some dents, and for this and the one from France I contacted them and still did not get replacement; they now ask us to send back the item and they just then issue replacement, which, in my view is an aberration, cause usually you got another with more damages or even can't order anymore being sold out, and clearly, this is NOT our fault when we receive them badly packaged and shipped already damaged.

With Zavvi had way fewer issues with damaged items (but had some, and several other issues, like non-delivery), that is I believe mostly because they use that special designed cardboard box for SteelBooks, which usually protect them quite well, unless someone really step on them (I had one from Germany if I recall correctly, which was almost 90degrees bent because of something like this; I think I can still find some pictures with it, at home).

As others above said, it seems that the longer a package (especially with SteelBooks in it) stay in "transit" (postal services), the higher the chances to get damaged. But surely, that's not a "for sure" thing, cause had items coming via DHL or UPS that just spent few days (about a week maximum) and still got damaged (or were sent this way in the first place), and had items that spent at least three (3) weeks or more and come without damages (JB Hi-Fi Australia and Zavvi).

Hope this helps...
Have a good one!

I might give Zavvi a chance to see what happens, propper s-b packaging is a good idea.
Only if time allowed, I'd love to see 'I had one from Germany if I recall correctly, which was almost 90degrees bent' trully a unique item. Someone knew what they where doing.

Have a good one

[C.C. 95]

I'm always surprised when I get cardboard envelopes from Amazon France and Amazon Germany - and nothing is dented. The worst I ever got was (years ago) when I prdered two steelbooks from Amazon Germany and they shipped them in a box that could have held a subwoofer. And the kicker was - there was no stuffing. Just these two steelbooks tumbling around. (I haven't had any issues with Amazon.de since then).

[Kitchenman1967]

What happened to the Sept. 7th release of Zack Snyder's Steelbook?
I was all set to make my order at Best Buy when it seems to have disappeared.
Is it delayed or what?

[FlamedLiquid]

I'm hoping the other best buy steelbooks that come out the 7th come back for ispu soon.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Would it be feasible to put my entire SB collection on ebay as a lot? It's not that many but I want to get rid of all of them and the thought of making individual listings gives me nightmares.

[soaptrail]

Originally Posted by A Tortured Duckling

Would it be feasible to put my entire SB collection on ebay as a lot? It's not that many but I want to get rid of all of them and the thought of making individual listings gives me nightmares.

You definitely can, i see people selling multiple movies as one orders on eBay all the time.

[Ironhorse75]

What time do BB orders go live in the morning?

[Jipilo]

Ok, I need to vent. Lately, every single best buy steel that I've ordered has been heavily damaged. Why does this keep happening? Surely they have read the countless number of complaints online for the past decade regarding all the people that are upset about this. I mean, there are so many of us that are upset about damaged steels that they could likely add a $5 fee to add more protection and most of us would probably complain about that less than what we deal with now. They could actually make additional profit by simply packing them better.

Normally I just angrily add the steelbook to my collection. But my most recent one is too damaged to even close.

How do you all normally resolve this issue? Returning the item in store wouldn't be worth the $25-30 to sit in traffic, so it's such a huge pain.

Edit: UGGGHHHH now my pre-order for the Clockwork steelbook has been "delayed." So when I get this one in 2034, it'll likely be in a SUV-sized shipping box with five mjolnirs in the box for protection.

[Kylo_Ren]

I asked this elsewhere, but I think this may be a better spot for it so I will post it again here.

I wanted to ask these questions of those in the US who have ordered steelbooks from FNAC in the past:

Do you typically have to pay any additional import/customs fees at the post office to receive their packages or is this all covered in their default "international shipping"?

Also, if one places an order with them and it hasn't shipped yet, do they allow you to cancel the order or are they like Zavvi where for in-stock items they completely lock you into the purchase and you can't cancel?

How fast do they refund you if you use PayPal and cancel?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

[garnuts]

Originally Posted by Kylo_Ren

I asked this elsewhere, but I think this may be a better spot for it so I will post it again here.

I wanted to ask these questions of those in the US who have ordered steelbooks from FNAC in the past:

Do you typically have to pay any additional import/customs fees at the post office to receive their packages or is this all covered in their default "international shipping"?

Also, if one places an order with them and it hasn't shipped yet, do they allow you to cancel the order or are they like Zavvi where for in-stock items they completely lock you into the purchase and you can't cancel?

How fast do they refund you if you use PayPal and cancel?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

I just placed my first two and last orders from FNAC.

Both orders had damage because they were shipped in oversized boxes with no packing inside. They just banged around inside the shipping box.

There was no extra import/customs fees. I don't know about cancelling or refunds.

I've read others always have good results. But for me, 2 strikes and they're out

[GreatGreg]

I have had no problems with FNAC.

They are easy to order from and they have been packaged in a strong box like the Zavvi boxes. Shipping was very fast (within 2-3 days) but was not cheap.

I've used them several times but don't recall ever having to cancel anything.