American forwarders thread - Stackry, Am-Forward

[jhird2007]

Update. The package has cleared customs so looks like I avoided the death taxes

[jhird2007]

My package arrived yesterday in good order.

In total 22 Criterion Blu-Rays and 1 Criterion UHD. $464.77 (£385.31)

I didn't need to consolidate as it was all one package from Barnes & Noble. I choose the cheapest Global Mail which was $55.99 (£46.28)

Altogether the blu-rays worked into £18.58 each and the UHD £22.83. 11 days from US to UK. Delighted!

[Sifox211]

Impressive haul! But how did you get B&N to ship everything together? I've had orders of 15 disks arrive in 13 packages before!

[jhird2007]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

Impressive haul! But how did you get B&N to ship everything together? I've had orders of 15 disks arrive in 13 packages before!

I've no idea. Maybe I just got lucky that is all came in one package

[Fabhui]

Originally Posted by jhird2007

I've no idea. Maybe I just got lucky that is all came in one package

Out of curiosity, was your parcel delivered by Royal Mail or the dreaded Yodel??

[drush9999]

My last stackry package came via Royal Mail when hit the UK. Shame as I had a crush on the DHL lady

[jhird2007]

Originally Posted by Fabhui

Out of curiosity, was your parcel delivered by Royal Mail or the dreaded Yodel??

It was Royal Mail

[wabrit]

Last stackry package delivered (eventually) by dpd, who despite me registering post code, what 3 words and a map photo pinpoint with them, had great difficulty locating my address.

No fault of stackry, who have continued to be excellent.

[Mr. Thomsen]

I am dropping Shipito completely now and switching to Stacky permanently.

The last two times I have had a package consolidated at Shipito, there have been payment issues.

I have spoken to my bank and there are no issues with my card. It also works perfectly everywhere else. Yet I keep getting in trouble with Shipito.

The culprit seems to be when they use my card data on file, because when I manually pay (through WorldPay), there are no issues at all.

The really annoying part is that when the charge does not go through, you don't get a notification about payment issues. Instead the package will just sit and wait in storage, until the allotted storage time runs out. By that point you will be charged for over time.

As they also have a disclaimer on their site that one should expect extra long handling times due to Covid, it is an easy recipe to rake in some of that expensive extra storage time.

So what has happened the last two times is that I asked for some packages to be consolidated into one and then to be shipped out with my chosen courier. I have not been worried when the consolidated package did not ship immediately, as that was to be expected per their disclaimer. Then, suddenly, after some time, I get a message that storage time for my (consolidated) package has run out, and that I need to pay for extra time. At no point has Shipito contacted me and said there was any issues with payment - I only discover this when it turns out the package has not been shipped and instead has been laying around for a week or more.

The first time Shipito waived the extra charges, but this time they won't. That's an extra $13, all because they have not contacted me about problems with the payment, so I could not rectify it. I am done with them.

Incidentally, I have been trying out Stackry twice now, the last time just yesterday, and they have no issues charging my card, not even when they use the same data on file as Shipito.

[CouncilSpectre]

Latest Stackry haul came through safe and sound:

[Show spoiler]

7 days from despatch to hitting the doorstep. DHL > Royal Mail, zero customs issues. About £100 saved in VAT.

[TheRingshifter]

Used this for the first time and it was more expensive than I expected. I wanted to just get a few things because I didn't want to be "locked in" if I was disappointed with how it turned out. I know maybe I should have just trusted other folk's pics but it's one thing seeing and another thing actually having them!

It was definitely more expensive than I expected personally. I got two 4ks from Kino, and then two fairly heavy and expensive books. The shipping was, I think £40 (price of the items was like $140 and the shipping would have been like $100 from their websites). Still saves a bit of money but not much. I'm guessing the scalling with weight makes it worth it to order bigger stuff... ah well, see how it turns out.

[grahams76]

Books are heavy so would hugely increase postage.

[CouncilSpectre]

I’d say it’s a great option for bull ordering where you spread the shipping cost over the range of the included items, but when you’re ordering only a few items, particularly bulky items, you won’t benefit as much.

The key factor for me is that the shipping cost more than offsets any VAT avoided. So far, for me, I’ve saved on £100s in import fees, even with the shipping.

[drush9999]

I love how as soon as you see that blue tape on the package, you know what it is

[chip75]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

The key factor for me is that the shipping cost more than offsets any VAT avoided. So far, for me, I’ve saved on £100s in import fees, even with the shipping.

Not sure if they've changed it, but weren't books exempt anyway?

__________________________________________________ _____________

Not from Stackry, but I had my MovieZyng order yesterday. Very pleased with the order.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by chip75

Not sure if they've changed it, but weren't books exempt anyway?

__________________________________________________ _____________

Not from Stackry, but I had my MovieZyng order yesterday. Very pleased with the order.

I don’t know if they’ve changed it either but they definitely WERE at least. When I was picking up the B5 script books years ago they definitely came over sans import fees.

I was quite pleased with Moviezyng too. Absolutely painless order/delivery. Will definitely be putting another order in when they run their next WAC sale

[chip75]

Originally Posted by grahams76

Books are heavy so would hugely increase postage.

There's a golf book I'd love, which is quite reasonable (and new) in the US, but a few hundred pounds secondhand over here, weighs nearly 8lbs. Would be a about $35-40 with Stackry to ship, but I'd have to pay shipping from the manufacturer on top as well.

[wabrit]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

I was quite pleased with Moviezyng too. Absolutely painless order/delivery. Will definitely be putting another order in when they run their next WAC sale

I've used Moviezyng twice now (for the last 2 WAC sales) and I've been impressed by well ordering and dispatch to the UK worked. Will definitely be looking out for the next WAC sale too.

[Quake1028]

Originally Posted by chip75

There's a golf book I'd love, which is quite reasonable (and new) in the US, but a few hundred pounds secondhand over here, weighs nearly 8lbs. Would be a about $35-40 with Stackry to ship, but I'd have to pay shipping from the manufacturer on top as well.

Would it be something I could get and ship to you cheaper? I'm always willing to help out.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Quake1028

Would it be something I could get an ship to you cheaper? I'm always willing to help out.

I'd imagine it would be around the same. Stackry's shopping costs aren't too bad.

I really appreciate the offer, that's very kind. If I can find room for it I might go for it!