Online TF shopping - where is the best place to spend your bucks?

[BigTransformerTrev]

Well, the original reason I started this thread was in part to see if Robot Kingdom was any good, and judging by the fact it won the poll I guess I have my answer. Currently have a big POL & Preorder going with BBTS but might have to move my online shopping in the future - thanks guys

Just one minor extra whinge about ebay - has anyone noticed how many of these sellers try and sucker you in with the postage? For instance, I was looking at a G1 Windsweeper tonight - he was $28.77 - which isn't cheap but isn't stupidly expensive. Then I noticed down below it the seller was trying to charge nearly $40 for the postage on this tiny toy! Dodgy buggers! I paid less than double that for the postage on my G1 Fort Max from the same country!

[Paulbot]

Mandrake are a second-hand store. A lot of their stock in in unopened condition, otherwise MIB. I've bought from them many times with no problems. Once you place an order they send you the postage cost and whether you want to go with SAL or EMS. If you don't like the shipping charge you can cancel.

I've used them a couple of times, mostly for Dragonball figures. They have great customer service and do their best to answer any questions in english. The one thing to look out for is they are a collection of shops, so ship different items from different stores, meaning if you get two items from two different stores, you'll have to pay two lots of shipping.

Shipping has always been fairly reasonable, I think it normally ends up about $15 for most bulkier items. They sometimes also charge a 500 yen handling fee.

Thanks for that information guys. I'm going to give them a try.

[griffin]

Well, the original reason I started this thread was in part to see if Robot Kingdom was any good, and judging by the fact it won the poll I guess I have my answer. Currently have a big POL & Preorder going with BBTS but might have to move my online shopping in the future - thanks guys

Just one minor extra whinge about ebay - has anyone noticed how many of these sellers try and sucker you in with the postage? For instance, I was looking at a G1 Windsweeper tonight - he was $28.77 - which isn't cheap but isn't stupidly expensive. Then I noticed down below it the seller was trying to charge nearly $40 for the postage on this tiny toy! Dodgy buggers! I paid less than double that for the postage on my G1 Fort Max from the same country!

As long as their postage amount is close to what they charge, they aren't to blame - because if they want to protect themselves from a dodgy buyer (someone who receives an item but claims they didn't), they need to use the more expensive tracking postage options. Some will still take advantage of it though, but take a note of the postage amount when it arrives and ask them for a refund of the difference or else you'll report them to ebay (there is a specific item relating to over-charging postage that you can select when reporting someone).

[kurdt_the_goat]

There's a heap of reasons why they'll boost the postage - either to dissuade international shipping for whatever reason, or just to initially appear cheaper in the listings (pretty pointless given the filter for 'price + postage - lowest first').

Take this for example - a credit card sized toy.. shipping at USD $95.36 with UPS "Worldwide Saver". Saving what i wonder...

At the end of the day though if you agreed to the postage initially I don't see why anyone would complain after the fact.
It's likely you know you're getting ripped off before you see for sure (once it arrives)... but you just don't care

[SkyWarp91]

BBTS - never had a problem with them. NEVER.

[DELTAprime]

I buy my Takara figures from RK, is see no point in paying extra to have the figure shipped to BBTS then have them ship to me. Fort Max is going to be up to $70 extra at BBTS because it has to be shipped to the US first. I've used RK for about 5 years, no problems.

I have used BBTS in the past for Hasbro figures but I stopped because Hasbro Australia was doing a better job at getting their figures in stores here. But now that local stores haven't gotten anything new since the PRiD first wave I'm reconsidering where I Hasbro figures from. Might try Amazon or TRU for the Generations stuff thats been shown at Toyfair this weekend.

I recently got a bunch of TFs for eBay, but it's a minefield.

[CHILENO20]

I've never used RK or TFSource before, the pricing has always come across as a bit much. I've used BBTS a few times and no problems with them. Packaging is always first rate and arrival times are what I've expected. I do agree with everyone here that eBay has gone down hill big time! So many jacked up prices on supposed "original MIB" or "guaranteed not a KO" and on shipping. Most of the time I try to buy multiple items from a seller just to keep costs down. Though I have to give a thumbs up to transformerland . I have bought of the guy's website for years and never had a problem. Shipping is fairly priced, always willing to negotiate, well stocked (though the popular stuff goes fast) and great communication. CapturedPrey also gets a nod from me. I've added numerous stocked items to a pre order I have with no problems.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Though I have to give a thumbs up to transformerland . I have bought of the guy's website for years and never had a problem. Shipping is fairly priced, always willing to negotiate, well stocked (though the popular stuff goes fast) and great communication.

I bought a G1 Fizzle from Transformerland a month ago and when I got him he had not been transformed in a few decades and broke with the merest touch. That said, I contacted the seller and he sorted it out for me.

[CHILENO20]

I bought a G1 Fizzle from Transformerland a month ago and when I got him he had not been transformed in a few decades and broke with the merest touch. That said, I contacted the seller and he sorted it out for me.

Ouch. Hope he sorted it all out for you dude.

[Iriorne]

I've used the following:

Amiami - Good prices if you can find an item they have stock of. Their catalogue seems to be full of items that have long since sold out so it can be frustrating trying to work out what they actually have on hand. Dealt with their customer service once and they seemed ok.

HLJ - Have ordered model kits from them in the past with no issues.

Robot Kingdom - Cheap prices, cheap shipping. Have heard some people have had problems with items not being reserved correctly but most people seem pretty happy with them.

TFSource - Prices seem like they might be a tad on the high side but not too bad. Shipping is quite expensive, though. Customer service is very helpful though it emails occasionally disappear into the aether. Good responses to 2 out of my 3 emails to them. In my one experience with them, they can be a bit slow to ship new items (MP Soundwaves didn't start shipping for nearly a week after other stores.

BBTS - Prices seem more or less the same as TFSource. Heard good things about their customer service. Shipping costs are substantially lower than TFSource. For an equivalent service (USPS express) on identical items, BBTS charges $35, TFSource charge $70.

Toys'r'us (US) - Very cheap compared to Aus retail and reasonable shipping.

Anime-export - Limited stock but prices can be quite a bit lower than else where. I have the MP cassettes on order for $35 each ex. shipping, which is half what they're going for elsewhere.

Ebay - Really depends on the seller. Postage can feel like a bit of a rip off sometimes but should be ok if you stick to high feedback sellers with a returns policy. Worth contacting a seller to see if they can reduce postage at all. Have had excess postage refunded once, which was a nice surprise.

I've not used Captured Prey but they're getting a lot of good rep over Quake Wave. Prices are slightly lower than BBTS but shipping seems to sit about halfway between TFSource and BBTS (for the same item and service as above). Customer service is very good, by all accounts.

Also heard good things about a site called chimungmung, but again I've not ordered anything through them.

I'm happy to use any of them again, it just depends on who has stock and at what price.