DirectToU import thread (wowhd, blowitoutahere, deepdiscount etc.)

[andreasy969]

Feel free to post every DirectToU related issue, question, offer etc. here. All nationalities/regions welcome (because I don't give a fook).

Copying my last comment from the UK thread in regard to the ongoing IOSS issues with Germany over here:

After 7 days of silence and the tracking being stuck at "back at PostNL", another email from blowit:

And I asked for a refund again now, because I expect it to happen again unless they give me a reason to expect otherwise, no?

I have 4 more shipments on the way (one of those being a replacement for the first time this happened) and I'm not overly optimistic they will make it past IPZ Frankfurt.

What a load of crap.

DirectToU is (and I think I actually forgot one or two):
https://www.wowhd.co.uk
https://www.deepdiscount.com
https://www.importcds.com
https://www.blowitoutahere.com
https://www.moviesunlimited.com

[Sam_One]

Thanks for opening this thread.

Some news on the DeepDiscount front: they sent 3 replacements for shipments that were returned mid-to-end August. To my surprise, one of them actually turned up today (House of Wax). DeepDiscount didn't provide me with tracking details but based on the tracking data on the label it went through the Netherlands via PostNL, had a blue sticker on it and was delivered by Deutsche Post. It was not handled by German customs at all as was the case for shipments before all this crap started.

Also have a second package waiting for me at the post office, complete with customs charges and all. That should be Dune by Arrow.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by Sam_One

DeepDiscount didn't provide me with tracking details but based on the tracking data on the label it went through the Netherlands via PostNL, had a blue sticker on it and was delivered by Deutsche Post. It was not handled by German customs at all as was the case for shipments before all this crap started.

That's in line with the last item I received from them, which was my Nobody replacement (also no tracking etc.). So I remain both somewhat sceptical (they might send the replacements slightly differently for ex) and optimistic at the same time.

2 of my 4 pending shipments should enter the "critical section" real soon ("The consignment has arrived in the country of destination"), so I should soon have either good or bad news again as well. The other two are still looking good as well, with steady progress, but that was the case with the fails as well...

[andreasy969]

I'm pretty sure there's a difference with the Deutsche Post letter tracking with the 2 aforementioned shipments now: Usually (in particular when the delivery failed), it always starts with "non-eu item - preliminary import check". This time I've never seen this status and we're at "The item was processed on 08.09.2021 at our Logistics Center in Frankfurt Flughafen." already.

If there doesn't show up any status that remotely looks like customs anymore, I'm optimistic that the items will go through this time. Fingers crossed.

[Sam_One]

The item that I had to pick up from the post office was indeed the Dune set (and another item) from Arrow. I haven't got the foggiest how they came up with the 8.99 customs charges (though it's at least in the correct ballpark) and it's impossible to find out because the package has been plastered with customs and Deutsche Post stickers so that even the address label was only partly legible.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by Sam_One

The item that I had to pick up from the post office was indeed the Dune set (and another item) from Arrow. I haven't got the foggiest how they came up with the 8.99 customs charges (though it's at least in the correct ballpark) and it's impossible to find out because the package has been plastered with customs and Deutsche Post stickers so that even the address label was only partly legible.

This is not an Arrow thread.

[Show spoiler]/jk

Yeah, I don't even have to do the math to see that 8.99 EUR is too much. My Arrow Dune was 0 EUR (), but the identical Cat O' Nine Tails was < 6 EUR - that was with some rewards points, but it should be less even without. Heck, it wouldn't even be 8.99 EUR, if Arrow didn't remove the VAT (30 GBP + 7 GBP shipping = 7,03 GBP tax resp. 8,18 EUR today).

We're getting close (actually higher) with the stated RRP £34.99 + shipping though and I guess that's kinda what they did. I better be glad that I can collect this stuff myself I guess.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by andreasy969

I'm pretty sure there's a difference with the Deutsche Post letter tracking with the 2 aforementioned shipments now: Usually (in particular when the delivery failed), it always starts with "non-eu item - preliminary import check". This time I've never seen this status and we're at "The item was processed on 08.09.2021 at our Logistics Center in Frankfurt Flughafen." already.

If there doesn't show up any status that remotely looks like customs anymore, I'm optimistic that the items will go through this time. Fingers crossed.

Nope, I got that wrong: The usual "Non-EU item - preliminary import check" it is now (with one of the two) and so the waiting begins again.

[andreasy969]

I'm afraid this zavvi statement might apply to the DirectToU issues as well, hence me quoting it here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=1085

Thanks for getting in touch about customs fees.

I have recently chatted with the head of our courier team about this issue and they've confirmed that the correct information has been provided to customs however, no IOSS code has been provided due to a few shipping errors that occur when this is provided. We are currently chasing our teams for updates on this as we understand how disappointing the customs charges are but at the moment we are asking customers to pay the fees and we will refund them but because of the value of the fees you have encountered we should strongly recommend you reject the parcels and allow them to be returned back to you so we can refund you for the value of the item.

I can assure you that this frustration and disappointment isn't something that we intended to cause and we have noted all your feedback and suggestions on this matter so we can improve our service to suit our customers.

If there is anything else that we can do, please get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to help.

Now if only we would get such an insight from the DirectToUs as well. Or in other terms, the fact that we don't, doesn't have me overly optimistic.

No more zavvi or DirectToU orders for me for now at any rate.

[Professor Echo]

By coincidence I posted the following a little earlier today on another thread and then discovered this one, so thought it might have some relevance here. It's been awhile since I ordered from DD with shipping to Germany, so maybe none of this applies these days, but I'm still curious if anyone can answer the question I pose at the end.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I've had very good luck with shipping from DeepDiscount to Germany. Most items show up in less than a week and the packing has been really secure. The price was usually a little lower than Amazon, but I don't know now. I would much rather do business with DD than Amazon.

Interestingly, the last package I received from DeepDiscount here in Frankfurt had a return address of Berlin, Germany and a ship date of just two days prior on the label. Would DD have a storehouse in Germany or other countries? Or are they contracted with large international shipping warehouses?

[andreasy969]

Berlin seems strange at any rate. Especially if you're in Frankfurt, since, going by the tracking, their shipments always come in through Frankfurt. In my case that is.

If I ever receive a package from them again, I'll take a close look at all the labels for sure though.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Lo and behold, the replacements for my June order finally shipped! That is, most of them did. I am still missing the one title that has been holding the others up for a month and a half: The Hollywood Legends of Horror DVD-R collection from WAC, which incidentally now has completely disappeared from DD's shop!

The package was shipped with DHL and is expected to be here on next Wednesday, October 15.

It will be interesting to see how the taxation thing plays out. I have never had an order from DD shipped with DHL before. It is also the first DD order I receive after the July 1 change. Finally, as replacements, the value of all items are marked as $0. I expect trouble are incoming ...

[DAT_JB]

Reports from the german movieside forum also show that all shipments done by Hermes arrive without a problem. That makes me pretty optimistic that at least the Columbia set, which is too big for regular post, will arrive safe.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by DAT_JB

Reports from the german movieside forum also show that all shipments done by Hermes arrive without a problem. That makes me pretty optimistic that at least the Columbia set, which is too big for regular post, will arrive safe.

I also received big sets via Deutsche Post/DHL from them in the past (and Columbia 1 in particular) and regular small packages via Hermes as well occasionally.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

The package was shipped with DHL and is expected to be here on next Wednesday, October 15.

Is it normal for you (in Denmark I mean) that they ship with DHL right away? No RR Donnelley first? Wondering if they changed someting. Not that I really think so though, because one would think they'd communicate it. But then again I guess not.

It will be interesting to see how the taxation thing plays out. I have never had an order from DD shipped with DHL before. It is also the first DD order I receive after the July 1 change. Finally, as replacements, the value of all items are marked as $0. I expect trouble are incoming ...

With Germany, actual $0 orders should actually work and come without any tax, because the price you paid is what matters. Replacements (both if you received and didn't receive the original) are something else of course though.

[Sam_One]

Okay, now it gets interesting. I just received 3 packages from Deep Discount. One was a replacement for a returned shipment. The other two were the original shipments! All with blue stickers on the outside and no indication whatsoever that any of them had been returned. All came with Deutsche Post.

I just rechecked the tracking history for one of the "returned" items and this is what it looks like (starting with 12 August when the customs issue started):

08-09-2021 08:26 The item has been processed in the country of destination GERMANY
06-09-2021 19:25 The item is at the PostNL sorting center
24-08-2021 14:34 Undeliverable item, will be returned to sender
19-08-2021 22:05 The item has been returned and arrived at PostNL
19-08-2021 21:59 The item has been returned and arrived at PostNL
18-08-2021 10:32 The delivery of the item was unsuccessful
12-08-2021 14:24 The item is being processed by customs

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by Sam_One

Okay, now it gets interesting. I just received 3 packages from Deep Discount. One was a replacement for a returned shipment. The other two were the original shipments!

[Show spoiler] All with blue stickers on the outside and no indication whatsoever that any of them had been returned. All came with Deutsche Post.

I just rechecked the tracking history for one of the "returned" items and this is what it looks like (starting with 12 August when the customs issue started):

08-09-2021 08:26 The item has been processed in the country of destination GERMANY
06-09-2021 19:25 The item is at the PostNL sorting center
24-08-2021 14:34 Undeliverable item, will be returned to sender
19-08-2021 22:05 The item has been returned and arrived at PostNL
19-08-2021 21:59 The item has been returned and arrived at PostNL
18-08-2021 10:32 The delivery of the item was unsuccessful
12-08-2021 14:24 The item is being processed by customs

Wait what?!


What I can say is that my "Quiet Place II" replacement appears to have gone through customs now and according to Deutsche Post "is currently being delivered". ()

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by andreasy969

Is it normal for you (in Denmark I mean) that they ship with DHL right away? No RR Donnelley first? Wondering if they changed someting. Not that I really think so though, because one would think they'd communicate it. But then again I guess not.

No, this is the first time it has happened. Previously, packages were always shipped via RR Donnelley first. Usually they would come through The Netherlands and then be delivered by our local mail (Post Nord).

This time, I got a message directly from DHL with the expected delivery time of the package, just moments after the shipping notice arrived from Deep Discount.

[andreasy969]

I also just checked my initial "Quiet Place II" tracking (the one that was returned) and can confirm it having received updates again as well by now! WTF? ("Labyrinth" still ends with back at PostNL)

So either the replacements are the original failed deliveries sent again. Or, if I receive it twice now, DirectToU really doesn't appear to give a f resp. doesn't appear to bother really looking into anything AT ALL and PostNL tried again on their own accord.

[Sam_One]

All with blue stickers on the outside and no indication whatsoever that any of them had been returned.

Correction. I didn't look properly. The original package also had a white sticker on it that hides something. I removed it, held it against the light and could see 2 things:

1. a DHL bar code (Frachtpost International)
2. a second sticker that says:

Zurück/Return
Rückgabe / refused
fehlende CN22 / missing CN22

This certainly tells me a lot of theories in this forum about what's going on are very close to the truth. Question is: What changed and is it fixed? Somehow I can't Deep Discount delivering missing data and there is nothing else on the packaging indicating any kind of reprocessing.

[andreasy969]

Does it have a CN22 now?