Change in Buying Habits
 

Before I go any further, this isn't an attack on BBTS, they've served me very well over the years and I'd happily recommend them to anyone.

For about the last 4 years I've bought most of my stuff through BBTS, I've just shipped my POL (which I build up to fairly huge size to save on shipping), and I've been stung with some hefty customs charges (not BBTS's fault but still a factor in my thinking) in the region of US$180.

Lately, it seems that it's taken BBTS longer to get stuff in (Doctor Strange anyone?), to the point where I've seen it in the UK first, in addition their prices have gone up - US$14.99 for some MU figures (more expensive than UK retail), and then for some waves you can't buy individual figures so have to buy the entire wave.

After the latest set of custom charges I realise that the only reason I use BBTS is the pre-order system is very convenient (I have to admit to small sense of satisfaction if I pre-order a figure to later find it 'pre-order sold out').

It used to be that you could remove items from your Pile of Loot, but now they've removed this feature (understandable because of the abuse it suffered), really they don't have any great advantage over any other retailer.

I've decided that I'm now to be doing my shopping at retail and eBay, if I can't find the figure at retail, then it makes sense to get the figure from Hong Kong or China and cut out the middle man. I think doing this will be cheaper and I get my stuff quicker.

I'd be interested to know how other non-US based toyarkers get their toys.

From Toyark












Seriously though, thank god for free trade between Canada and US, it makes a huge difference! However, HTS and main company sites like that enjoy anal raping Canadians with shipping. 31 Dollars to ship a Marvel Universe Comic pack is the dumbest thing I have EVER heard, no better than scalpers, worse even! However, now with me getting into these Dragon Ball Z Figuarts figures, BBTS is a must for me. Yet again I do not get charged customs fees. BBTS shipping is more than fair to Canada, and I have only heard good things. So with that being said I hope my first transaction with BBTS is a pleasant one!

Oh and that 180 customs fee...how much product did you flipping buy dude?!

Yeah, I can't deny that BBTS have great customer service. That is shocking on shipping charges to the Great White North, I guess it's a bit like Britain to Northern and Southern Ireland - shipping to Northern Ireland is the same as anywhere else in the UK, Southern Ireland is several times more expensive yet it's actually closer to where I live (South Wales).

My last POL was US$725, time before that US$709 and time before that US$715!!! This is more a reflection of UK customs, but the amount I've paid in customs has varied from ~US$50 to ~US$180. I think this is where I've been going wrong, better to buy in small lots and not pay any customs fees.

my reply isn't about BBTS, more as in buying as a whole.

this new year, i resolved to cut down on spending overpriced designer figures- but all as a whole. i'm almost out of room and when i thin out the flock, i think to myself, 'why did i buy this? impulse?' now someone will get my hand me downs wen i was killing and twisting in the wind for a figure i felt i 'needed to have.'

Ouch that's serious scammage from HTS. I am more than happy to get you what you need from the states so you're not raped by them!

As to the question, I'm based in the US but sometime it's still hard to find the good stuff. I've recently resorted to Ebay for the last MU wave and LCS for the newest CP. Only because I saved a lot more time, energy and gas by doing so...and I may continue to buy the new stuff on Ebay...

All I can really say (and I've said it before a couple times) is that once a package exceeds about 3-4 pounds, the post office automatically makes the shipper pay for Priority Mail, which costs at least $25-30. That is regardless of the size of the package itself, so beware.

Why is my post edited "From Toyark".

=/