Another thumbs up for toutiaotnto - around two weeks to have a Skywarp delivered to the UK.

 

Good to hear about your positive experience with toutiaotnto (link for USA customers).

 

Success!! Rumble & Ratbat have been received from liuminjinshui78!

That styrofoam packaging is super annoying, but hey it's here so can be at ease now.

 

Got my eye on something from seller "yellowb_85"

Anyone used them before?

 

Decided to order a KO MP-44 from Mascotzone. General consensus that their shipping is still slow as hell?

 

We've been told by one*day_bid (22,000 feedback seller) that yellowb_85 is one of their separate accounts, so they should be pretty legit overall. Also, @Kamui and @MagnusAfterDark both reported receiving their items from them just this month as well.

 

Seems like the issue might be more sellers based in Shanghai altogether. The Mascot group of sellers usually used Yanwen, which prior to cv-19 was a pretty good service, faster than China Post or SpeekPAK, but obviously not as fast as Fedex or DHL. Recently it seemed much of China Post was recovering well, but it seems Yanwen, or at least from the Shanghai region may still be struggling?

 

My order at the beginning of June took 14/15 days to arrive at my door. Details in the screen shot:

 

That sort of timeline would never fly with US customs. Just you tack another 10 days for screening, and another 5 for USPS redirecting and you'll have a proper delivery metric on your hands!

 

As @Sanity Bleeds mentioned, they've said that it's the same account as one*day_Bid. I ordered 2 larger items from them a few weeks back and they arrived from China in 10 days(I'm in the US). I was shocked at that speed. It came through China Post for reference. I'd definitely recommend!

 

Nice one. Thanks guys!

 

Update: Paypal refunded me today, so 21 days for resolution. I tried filing through both Paypal and eBay. eBay closed theirs because Paypal was looking into it - then sent me a survey asking if my issue was resolved satisfactorily.

 

So, getting a bit impatient waiting on an update from Bababobo00712. I received my IronTrans Star Saber on 26-Jun with a knee connector sheered in half. I contacted them via email right away, and heard nothing back after 3 days, so I contacted them via Facebook Messenger, they messaged me back on the 30th saying they contact the manufacturer. After a week of not hearing a followup, I messaged them again for an update, they said they hadn't heard back themselves and would contact the manufacturer again. Jump ahead 3 more days, and I message them for an update before the weekend, and I get no reply, so I wait over the weekend and contact them one more time on 13-July to see what is going on with this, and still no reply.

Gonna give it until this Friday to mark the 3 weeks since initial contact, and if there's not a helpful update, I'm unfortunately starting a Paypal claim on Baba. The 35 day wait for arrival despite the shipping up-charge after purchase was unfortunate, but I accept it. The demolished outer packaging was unfortunate, but I accept that, too. The manufacturer might be working on replacement part options and that could be the holdup, and I accept that, but the lack of useful followup from Baba over 2 weeks now is not acceptable to me. /rant

 

Got movement! Sweet!  

 

So today my order from aoxle123_4 came in. Neatly packed in styrofoam and yellow tape.

I ordered four older ko carbots but I am not quite sure whether all of them are kos.

The Smokescreen box is much more shinier and glossier than the other which look more matte. The character card inside is very crisp in photo details unlike the other three. It seems to be an official china version with the japanese language instruction and a second identical instruction in chinese characters. Also the box had two additional stickers, one small 3D hologram sticker and a bigger one with safety intructions, liability and adresses in chinese characters on it.

Maybe it is, maybe it is not. I like my Bots but now let's toyhax them.

 

Just another note to say yellowb_85 on eBay is continuing to show they're a very good seller! Ordered Fans Toys Terminus Giganticus from them and the first half showed up today, and they only sent it 2 weeks ago. The other part is due in the next 2 days.

 

Just placed an order with jinvichua on eBay for a Titans Return Gnaw. I'll update the thread when I have an outcome.

 

"Studio Series 32 Optimus Prime" is in the U.S. and cleared customs! If it checks out I'll be combining him with Jetfire in no time.  

So SpeedPak is back to 'normal'? I guess it'll take at least 5-10 more business days before USPS delivers it to me from "NY Inwood".  

 

my last order with hzj401 consisting of a few boxed items, not loose came only with bubble wrap and then plastic bagged. the smaller box for the MFT figure got mangled, and the other was my MS-toys prime and that box got some crushing and creases, but not as bad. when reported it, i asked why there was no extra protection like cardboard or foam used like other retailers, he said he charges $2 extra to do that.  

was that always the case with hzj401, or is this something new? this was my third order with hzj401, and i can't remember what it was like prior as i didn't have any damage to the original packaging and didn't take note of it.

i'm sort of miffed that hzj401 is charging for what i think should be something included in the price like others without yet another additional fee, as i'm already paying the few dollars more for the boxed version and usually extra shipping compared to loose. i know putting the items in another box, or adding cardboard/foam around it doesn't guarantee packaging damage, but i still think it's better than nothing and adds some protection to mitigate the risk.  

 

Most of my recent shipments from Baba have been kinda like this, where a single layer of normal bubble wrap is taped around the item package and then placed in a standard cardboard box for shipment. Sometimes they arrive just fine, sometimes they look like a winter doorstop.

I suppose like most things now, it's an "a la carte" service, where you're welcome to risk damage on the most basic services, but for an added fee, they'll offer insurance or added padding. It doesn't guarantee anything, and I'm really not even sure what the insurance coverage they offer even means, but the illusion of choice is probably just to discourage Paypal claims?