darkSpyro

Hello out there to all the Portal Masters and Portal Scalpers who sell on eBay!

Unlike some, I think many of you provide a useful service to Skylanders fans all over the globe. I don't often resort to buying figures from eBay, but when I do, I can almost always find exactly what I want - usually within my alloted price range. So, thanks!

With that said - I will no longer buy "new" or "in package" Skylanders from eBay unless your auction speciffically lists that the item will ship securely in a box. (Unless it's something I *really* want - then I'll message you to find out.)

I do not understand sellers who ship these items out in bubble mailers (and this goes double for those shipping internationally). Folks, if someone's buying the figure and doesn't care about the package, there's probably a ton of "used" or "loose" auctions all over eBay that are a lot cheaper than yours. If we're paying more for your auction, it's probably very likely we're interested in the package as well.

I've shipped before - and while I can't speak for our various international sellers, I can say here in the states, shipping in a box is not significantly more expensive than shipping in a mailer (and can sometimes be cheaper!) - so, take care of your customers and ship their products with care.

PS: This goes for you, too, Toys R Us.

I always use a box for Skylanders when I ship them, BUT having said that, a cardboard box can weigh anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds. The post office has made all kinds of changes to their pricing system in the past six months alone. For example depending on distance, they no longer do 2-Day priority mail. Instead, it's now 3-Day priority, etc. And everything costs more, especially if the box is too big.

Therefore, keeping the weight down keeps down shipping costs.

I agree that if you're not going to ship in a box then that should be clearly stated in your auction. At the very least, weigh the package and charge the buyer actual shipping costs or give an option to ship in a box. Some buyers are willing to pay a little extra to get what they paid for.

Buyers also need to consider the seller's location because if I'm in Florida and you're buying from California, the shipping cost will be higher! There's no way around that.

Asda in the UK also have done something like this. They purposefuly bent the top half of the Skylander box and completely flattened it over just to fit the Molten Hot Dog figure in a small box.

I always ship my stuff in a box, cause that's what people who care about their customers do. It's great to proactively call that out in an auction...saves me a message to the seller. If I get even a hint of a complaint, I'm outta there.

FYI--shipping is more. My packages were 5.65 for 2 day priority in 9 x 6 x 4 box. First class tops out at 13 oz I think, but even first class prices remind me of yesterday's 3.85 priority shipping prices. So yeah, I totally get that people aren't going to ship a $10 skylander that sold for $5 with free shipping and expect to eat $5+ in shipping if it's free.

Middle road is to offer a choice and let the buyer decide. Some will care--others wont.

When I start selling, I'm not offering international. Not worth the pain.

Quote: UncleBob

PS: This goes for you, too, Toys R Us.

HA!!! Well Played!

Quote: big_matt

Quote: UncleBob

PS: This goes for you, too, Toys R Us.

HA!!! Well Played!

It's always playing Russian Roulette when I order from them.

Quote: UncleBob

PS: This goes for you, too, Toys R Us.

Samesies.

TRU is the only retailer that carries Skylanders and ships them out in a bubble envelope. I've purchased figures from Gamestop, Walmart, Target and Best Buy, and every time they're delivered in their own box. It's like the size Amazon ships most of their smaller products out in.

I understand on some points that it's probably cheaper to send them in bubble envelope, but when we're paying $5 for shipping (and in the case of the Gill Grunt, a special edition figure only available at that retailer) it'd be nice to have them in a box, and I think it's acceptable to hold them to that.

I've tried emailing them before and I've told them every single time something comes damaged about this problem(and this is going all the way back to SSA)...so I dunno if they just don't care at this point or what.

I have never shipped Skylanders before, what is the best way to make sure the packaging of the figure stays in good condition inside the shipping box?

Quote: newkill

I have never shipped Skylanders before, what is the best way to make sure the packaging of the figure stays in good condition inside the shipping box?

Bubble wrap and packing air bags help a lot.

Quote: GhostRoaster

It's always playing Russian Roulette when I order from them.

Yeah, it really is - sometimes they come out ok, but most times there is at least some sort of dent if not a total crush. If they have something you really want to order, you are often better off ordering another figure or two along with it. If that is the only one you want, just order a couple filler then return them locally, shouldn't affect shipping cost too much (and if you happen to go over their free shipping bar, then win!). Make it so they cannot fit your order into a bubble mailer. Unlike Best Buy, they aren't big on shipping things individually, but Best Buy uses boxes for Skylanders so it works out ok for them.

It's a shame you have to play these games over collectible items with TRU, but it is what it is. Fortunately they don't have things online before the store very often.

This is a little off-topic, but I was wondering how long it typically lasts for an item to be shipped from the UK to the United States? If it's 2 weeks today, should I contact the seller and see if there is tracking?

Thanks in advance for any help. This thread has reminded me I ordered something (non-Skylander, but video-game related) from abroad.

I agree completely with what you are saying. The things I have noticed is that for most ebay auctions they are charging a set fee for shipping which normally is pretty high to begin with, but since they don't state how they are shipping it to you they send it int he cheapest means possible so not only are they getting the increase in price for the figure they are getting the extra on the shipping that they are saving as well. I have noticed on many items if you sort by cheapest price you will see a bunch but what you don't see is the shipping cost. Most people just look for cheapest way to get there item and buy it without seeing the price of shipping. very sneaky. But then again that's how they make there money catching the few that aren't paying attention.

Quote: Skylanders Dad

This is a little off-topic, but I was wondering how long it typically lasts for an item to be shipped from the UK to the United States? If it's 2 weeks today, should I contact the seller and see if there is tracking?

Thanks in advance for any help. This thread has reminded me I ordered something (non-Skylander, but video-game related) from abroad.

I've shipped things to the UK, and they arrived very quickly. It really varies by what kind of shipping they offer.

Quote: Matteomax

Quote: Skylanders Dad

This is a little off-topic, but I was wondering how long it typically lasts for an item to be shipped from the UK to the United States? If it's 2 weeks today, should I contact the seller and see if there is tracking?

Thanks in advance for any help. This thread has reminded me I ordered something (non-Skylander, but video-game related) from abroad.

I've shipped things to the UK, and they arrived very quickly. It really varies by what kind of shipping they offer.

Customs can be a crap shoot as well. Not sure what its like from uk to here, but from here to there, a bad harmonization code can really delay a package.

Oi, I found a fuzzy springtime trigger happy at a TRU the next state over and had it shipped to me. They shipped it in a box with air bubble packets, but had taped the receipt to the box, then ripped it off, then taped it again to the back of the box. So in the end, it was pretty damaged. Stupid TRU.

Quote: DaMadNes

Quote: Matteomax

Quote: Skylanders Dad

This is a little off-topic, but I was wondering how long it typically lasts for an item to be shipped from the UK to the United States? If it's 2 weeks today, should I contact the seller and see if there is tracking?

Thanks in advance for any help. This thread has reminded me I ordered something (non-Skylander, but video-game related) from abroad.

I've shipped things to the UK, and they arrived very quickly. It really varies by what kind of shipping they offer.

Customs can be a crap shoot as well. Not sure what its like from uk to here, but from here to there, a bad harmonization code can really delay a package.

Yeah. I've had a few figures get massively delayed, but I've gotten lucky a few times.

It's about 10x worse ordering from China, though. 3-4+ weeks.

For the record, I just weight the bubble mailer and the three layers of bubble wrap that my most recent purchase came in and one of the tiny boxes that the individual Frito-Lay figures came in (Fright Rider, in this case).

The box weighed less.

Quote: spyroflame0487

Quote: UncleBob

PS: This goes for you, too, Toys R Us.

Samesies.

TRU is the only retailer that carries Skylanders and ships them out in a bubble envelope. I've purchased figures from Gamestop, Walmart, Target and Best Buy, and every time they're delivered in their own box. It's like the size Amazon ships most of their smaller products out in.

I understand on some points that it's probably cheaper to send them in bubble envelope, but when we're paying $5 for shipping (and in the case of the Gill Grunt, a special edition figure only available at that retailer) it'd be nice to have them in a box, and I think it's acceptable to hold them to that.

I've tried emailing them before and I've told them every single time something comes damaged about this problem(and this is going all the way back to SSA)...so I dunno if they just don't care at this point or what.

Now it's been a while since i have worked for the R Us company but back when i did how online orders worked is that the nearest store with the product in stock shipped it out to you. With that said, the one in charge in back would go out into the store, find the product, find something to ship it in, print out the label, and send it. Now i dont know how it is for other stores but ours was only supplied with the bubble envelopes for shipping not the boxes. If something needed a box they would find one laying around or one that has been saved from the last time they stocked shelves and emptied a box. So basically what i am saying is that envelopes are in much greater supply and thats why anything that can be shipped in them is <.<

i believe it also has to do with the fact that the vast majority of people who buy or order skylanders are not collectors and dont care about the packaging. They are toys for a "kids game". How the package looks, isnt a priority in their minds while they ship them out

Hmmm. I assumed that online orders where shipped from one or more warehouses. Interesting

They could have changed it by now <.< it was 2 years ago that i worked there, but thats how it was explained to me when i was there.

Quote: ace

Quote: spyroflame0487

Quote: UncleBob

PS: This goes for you, too, Toys R Us.

Samesies.

TRU is the only retailer that carries Skylanders and ships them out in a bubble envelope. I've purchased figures from Gamestop, Walmart, Target and Best Buy, and every time they're delivered in their own box. It's like the size Amazon ships most of their smaller products out in.

I understand on some points that it's probably cheaper to send them in bubble envelope, but when we're paying $5 for shipping (and in the case of the Gill Grunt, a special edition figure only available at that retailer) it'd be nice to have them in a box, and I think it's acceptable to hold them to that.

I've tried emailing them before and I've told them every single time something comes damaged about this problem(and this is going all the way back to SSA)...so I dunno if they just don't care at this point or what.

Now it's been a while since i have worked for the R Us company but back when i did how online orders worked is that the nearest store with the product in stock shipped it out to you. With that said, the one in charge in back would go out into the store, find the product, find something to ship it in, print out the label, and send it. Now i dont know how it is for other stores but ours was only supplied with the bubble envelopes for shipping not the boxes. If something needed a box they would find one laying around or one that has been saved from the last time they stocked shelves and emptied a box. So basically what i am saying is that envelopes are in much greater supply and thats why anything that can be shipped in them is <.<

i believe it also has to do with the fact that the vast majority of people who buy or order skylanders are not collectors and dont care about the packaging. They are toys for a "kids game". How the package looks, isnt a priority in their minds while they ship them out

All of this is clear based on how they act, but it isn't up to them. They should protect ALL product that gets shipped, PERIOD. Also, they ship in multiple boxes which tells me TRU has NO IDEA how to run an online business and ship appropriately.

Quote: ace

They could have changed it by now <.< it was 2 years ago that i worked there, but thats how it was explained to me when i was there.

They have changed. Everything I ordered from them last Christmas came from a fulfillment center, which I suspect is a third party. As well, it's common to have items available online but not in stores, or the opposite. TRU would be smart to invest more in their online customer base. I don't know what online sales figures are or what the trend is, but it seems pretty clear that it will need to be a significant part of any national retailer in the future.