Tracking your pre-orders-how do you prefer to manage?

[Strikeman]

Touché, albeit I have tried this method and at times I have ended up not cancelling due to a steelbook being sold out and living myself stuck financially. Like have you any idea how hard it is to cancel an already sold out steelbook? Knowing you will not have the chance to get it again, while also bearing in mind you cannot afford the steelbook at this time in your life. Then there are the times when the money is taken earlier than expected and you don't cancel in time and it's like **** I wasn't expecting the money to go that quickly. The original post was satirical and not meant in bad form. But it also has an underlying theme that not everything is black and white when it comes to 'just pre-order and worry later.' I love collecting steelbooks and I started before I had other life commitments and many more work hours, but it's hard to simply stop. I am a moment where I have to pick and choose, and choose wisely. However I failed to pull the trigger in time on this one. You live and learn.

I have all of my pre-orders listed in a spreadsheet, ordered by release date. I have 2 columns that calculate the days remaining until release, and the days remaining +7 days and I use this +7 days column to act as a min threshold for cancellation so I know if that column is at zero, I have 7 days before release and should really make the decision to cancel now in case the retailer takes the payment in the next day or so.

For example my steel at the top at the moment is Place Beyond The Pines, the release date is 5th August so I am making the decision today whether to cancel or keep it in place.

 

[XXHAPPY GILMORE]

I use an Excel sheet but ordered by date. That way, I can easily follow thru the month to be sure I'm not missing anything and/or ordering twice the same steel!

I do that, but put each titles release date as a week earlier just in case they decide to post early (not pointing any fingers... Zavvi)

But with Zavvi titles its a pain because they are forever changing the release dates without letting us no and just updating their site, so then you get like 5 dispatch emails 3 weeks early

 

[snooloui]

I do that, but put each titles release date as a week earlier just in case they decide to post early (not pointing any fingers... Zavvi)

But with Zavvi titles its a pain because they are forever changing the release dates without letting us no and just updating their site, so then you get like 5 dispatch emails 3 weeks early

I think you're exaggerating quite a bit there.

Personally, I just keep a notepad file that lists all of my pre-orders. Just essential info like title, release date and price. I keep a running total for each month so I don't get any nasty surprises. August is a great month because there are only four Steelbooks I have on pre-order (The Jungle Book, Oblivion, The Place Beyond the Pines and Rambo: First Blood) which cost a measly £66.97 when comparing with the chaos to come in September and October.

 

[XXHAPPY GILMORE]

I think you're exaggerating quite a bit there.

Personally, I just keep a notepad file that lists all of my pre-orders. Just essential info like title, release date and price. I keep a running total for each month so I don't get any nasty surprises. August is a great month because there are only four Steelbooks I have on pre-order (The Jungle Book, Oblivion, The Place Beyond the Pines and Rambo: First Blood) which cost a measly £66.97 when comparing with the chaos to come in September and October.

Yeh i no what you mean
I don't keep a note of retailer or anything, just the title, price, and expected release date with totals (albeit that list can get very long ). And yeh, after reading my post i sort of did over do it a bit, i just meant that its unhelpful when dates change is all
Its not a specific Zavvi thing, just in general. Call me mad, but i actually like zavvi

Anyway, thanks

 

[Strikeman]

I think you've definately got to have some form of system in place otherwise its hard to keep track of orders, especially from the multiple retailers we use.

I agree the release date changes are annoying but isnt limited to just Zavvi in my experience, we probably notice Zavvi more purely because of the volume of steels they put out. I'm always lurking about on the forum so always get my information from here if a date changes

My system is by no means fool proof though, I had £10 come out of my account a few weeks ago that didnt correspond to my order sheet. I found out it was Zavvi taking payment for Casino which I had drunkenly ordered at 2am on a Saturday morning after being in the pub!!