So if BBTS gets stuff later than other merchants resulting in people buying from other merchants, leading to less sales, does the cheaper cost really work to their advantage?

 

They had Omega Supreme before most anybody else

 

I agree with your point, but in general I see other stores getting Siege figures before BBTS and some figures it seems like BBTS hasn't gotten any stock at all (or very little). I like BBTS, but it seems like I would be better off right now canceling a lot of my BBTS preorders for Siege figures and buying them from stores where they are currently available. You would think a direct relationship would get them stuff in at least around the same time as other places.

Maybe Omega Supreme was a deal between Hasbro and BBTS for getting everything in late.

 

I'll take a job at either.

 

Not really.

Between
- later stocking (sometimes with unknown if ever stocked)
- 10%+ higher costs compared to other venues (ie, $20 MSRP TF/ML for $22-25)
- and now tax
I've cancelled most of my preorders. In fact, I'd been canceling most of this year, yet-unfilled orders available elsewhere in stock. The most damning was when figures were popping up on eBay/Amazon for less than MSRP months after release (example: NECA), yet BBTS still did not have stock. (And if BBTS ever removes the ability to cancel preorders, I'll avoid them altogether.)

I'm all for supporting smaller niche operations, and shunning big-box SOBs like Walmart and Amazon. But at the end of the day, that matters to me less than my own collection and pocketbook. If I can get my figures for less elsewhere, and immediately, why wouldn't I?

After all, they apparently watch out for themselves first, squeezing out every last dime of profit (ie the possible lower direct-from-Hasbro costs), meanwhile either inconveniencing or outright screwing the customers.

The phantom/ghost listings are concerning, they don't have their act together.

And fake sales do piss me off. For example, the "Halloween Sale" is 99% the same stuff they've been trying to unload for the past 6 months, with some items having been "on sale" for years. I'd never do it, as I like BBTS, but stuff like that is an FTC complaint waiting to happen.

It's not all bad, of course. Nice customer service, usually-great packaging. But is that enough? Sometimes it's not.

 

Because you're "all for" supporting small operators and shunning big box SOBs?

They are _not_ screwing customers or inconveniencing us on purpose. Stock arrives when Walmart feels like letting Hasbro send it. End of story. There's nothing they can do. Would you like them to just close up shop and have their customers fight over the scraps at your local Walmart(s)? I'm 100% sure it's because of specialty shops like BBTS eating their lunch that these big box SOBs have started offering preorders that they then bungle but are apparently forgiven because it's $1 cheaper if they manage to deliver. Something to think about.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I have no problem screwing Walmart over if I can. They misplace something or misprice it, and I want it, I'll grab it. And since I tend to buy multiples, it tends to be the smaller people who get the bulk of my money.

 

I have no problems screwing walmart over after all the times they screwed me over. Like this last time with the Bluestreak preorder. Couldnt fill my order that I had in less than 5 minutes after it was listed but hey they were able to fill those that put in orders week it was released. And they could fill the 2 walmarts within 8 miles of my house but couldn't say hey want to come pick it up here instead of us having to ship one? NO? So we are gonna cancel it since we don't know when it will be back in stock. Razzafrakinnogood&#&#&#@! Believe me if I find that clearanced jetfire for $20 at walmart I will buy another.

BBTS is pretty much my go to for 3rd party I missed or they are the only ones who still have it in stock. But even my 3rd party stuff is limited to MMC, PlanetX and Fansproject now. And a lot of it has to be on sale. If PX Star Saber goes on sale for Black Friday I will pick one up. But the whole seacons fiasco made me go ahead and cancel my preorders from them and get it elsewhere. Last thing I ordered from them were 4 titans return Bumblebee's still at $8.99 price, and the on sale 2 pack Roadburn and Brawn...just to make customs of Bumper, Searchlight, Rollbar, a Goldbug, and few others.

 

Let's not forget that if your preorder they throw multiple authorization charges on your account, even if the order is canceled. I had a order that was long ago canceled keep charging me over and over and only /tomorrow/ may I finally get that fixed.

 

At the end of the day, purposefulness vs. happenstance really does not make a difference. Screwing is still screwing.

However, as stated, and remembering that the thread is about BBTS, the fair question is this: Why does BBTS seem to have a chronic issue in allocating Hasbro toys with any degree of timeliness? And not just Hasbro, but Diamond Select, NECA, and others. They charge more, arrive last. Why? Not just days, or even weeks, but literally sometimes months.

And what's this problem with phantom email solicitations that isn't on the site, gives an error page?

I don't think Walmart has any say in this. It just shows up on their docks when Hasbro feels like delivering. That's really how it goes for any store. That's why you can have boxes of figures arrives weeks in advance, but that "street dating" nonsense means it can't be sold. Hasbro seems to hold all the cards, and that BS needs to end. Hasbro screws stores, stores in turn screw the customers, the end. BBTS is not immune. I direct my anger at BBTS/etc (where I send my money), and they in turn need to direct it at Hasbro (where they send their money).

Likely.

No.

 

Got my ten day notice for Amazing Yamaguchi Optimus this morning. Noticed my MP Soundwave reissue arrived yesterday as well. I just hope the last Iron Factory DJD arrives before I have to ship.

 

I wanted to wait for Alkaid before shipping my POL but decided this morning I'd be better off shipping it now and cancelling that preorder (all the other IF DJD members are still available so I'm gonna hold off on the last one until around Christmas).

Unfortunately I misclicked and ended up shipping with the flat rate option when trying to change it. So hopefully I'm not waiting another month to get it.

 

I bought that set at Toys ‘R Us. They got TRU’s stock that never made it to shelves.

As far as I can recall, the only exclusive was SG MP Optimus.

 

No toys r us had the other pack as their exclusive
Chaos on velicitron had a tru exclusive sticker and siege on cybertron had a bbts sticker

 

Ah! You are correct.

Even so, wasn’t it widely known that was meant for TRU and pulled due to delinquent payments?

 

Man, I still want that Titans Returns Siege on Cybertron set. Always get pushed towards the bottom of my want list, and Siege stuff is making previous lines look less appealing now.  

Hoping it goes on sale on Black Friday. I think if it goes $75-90 ish, I will buy it for sure.

 

I got my very first real Pile of Loot today!

Up until now I'd only bought an item here or there and shipped them immediately, but the anniversary sale got me to actually add stuff over the course of three months. The centerpiece of this shipment is Warbotron Whirlwind-- an accessory pack of four teal swords, two miniature guns, a giant gun barrel, and comes with a robot that transforms into a helicopter. It's probably one of the bigger inspirations of giving swords to helicopters I can think of. (ED: thankfully the sword parts work perfectly with my custom Deathcobra)

The thing that really disappointed me was the Dr Wu Alpha Trion sword, but I pretty much got what I paid for. If only you could remove the end so you could slide the weapon into closed-fist guys it would be more useful, but I'm just going to have to saw off the end regardless (I was alwasy going to give it to TR Galvatron).

ED: apparently it DOES come off. My bad. Still, I was a little irked when it seemed to not be the case so I guess my first impression when I bought it was correct after all.

Didn't really have any issues with delivery, but it's likely because we're in a slow period right now.

 

I know its only been like 30 hours but I'm already getting irritated that my POL is still processing. I accidentally clicked the flat rate option and couldn't be bothered to call and change it. But I cant help but feel like if I had it would have shipped by now.

 

I was using the Flat Rate since it came out and it always seemed to take anywhere from a few days to almost a week to ship. Last order I did standard fed ex shipping and it was like the next day it shipped. Not sure if it was a fluke, but others swear theres a difference in speed if you don't do flat rate.

 

I used Flat Rate every time and every time it took a week from when I pushed the button to receive it. This last go I sent my PoL last Wed and received it this Thurs, so 8 real days.