Amazon (Non-US) - Retailer Thread [Multiple]

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Feel free to discuss any service, shipping and other matters related to the international (non-US) Amazon sites here. Share feedback, discuss packaging, etc.

Contact links for...

Amazon France for 2. Sélectionnez un problème select the Contact Us in English option from the dropdown list.
Amazon Germany for 2. Bitte wählen Sie ein Thema select the Write to us in English option from the dropdown list.
Amazon Spain for 2. Selecciona un problema select the Would you like some help in English? option from the dropdown list.
Amazon Italy for 2. Seleziona un argomento select the Email Us in English option from the dropdown list.

ORIGINALY reported by Buffalo MX

Hey guys! Wanted to share this with my fellow US & Canada members.

I suppose some of our European members can benefit from this as well.

I think this is very news worthy for all us steelbook collectors, so it deserves it's own thread for now.

I just got an order in from amazon.de and I was very surprised at the SIZE
of the box that appeared, just for 6 steelbooks. Well, it appears that for any
NEW release, that they haven't packaged up yet or a catalog release that might be on backorder (like my order of Judge Dredd was), they have a new box.

We all remember that the package had been improved recently to bubble wrap inside a foldover box. :movie:

Well, now there is a new box, frustration free packaging, SPECIFICALLY labeled for steelbooks / metal packaging.

Pics below of the box, before opening and then after I opened it.

Spoiler

 

[Headhunter]

Thank you, great advice! I'll give that a try

 

[Headhunter]

My own experience with amazon.it is to ignore the standard link from your order page reporting a problem with your order and instead contact Customer Service direct, using the 'Contact Us' tab. There's even a facility to e-mail them in English, if you don't speak Italian. Explain the problem to them. They'll respond very quickly and in English. They will undoubtedly raise a replacement order for you, free of charge and tell you not to bother returning the damaged item due to the cost.

There is also the same facility on Amazon's other European sites.

Thanks once again for the advice - I tried this and they have responded within a couple of hours that they'll send a replacement and I can keep the dented one. Cheers!

[take note, Zavvi]

 

[augustus]

Thanks once again for the advice - I tried this and they have responded within a couple of hours that they'll send a replacement and I can keep the dented one. Cheers!

[take note, Zavvi]

Glad to assist. Over the years, I have found this to be the best method when dealing with all of Amazon's international sites.

 

[steelbobawny]

Are Amazon UK being consistent again with the normal packaging or are they still using flat, A1 mailer envelopes for delivery?

 

[claudius181991]

Just got my shipping notification on my amazon.fr order. As information to all of you who are still waiting for it. There is hope.

 

[Starling]

To clarify, the French government once ordered amazon.com to stop offering free shipping to its customers, because it was in violation of French predatory pricing laws. After Amazon refused to obey the order, the government proceeded to fine them €1,000 per day. Amazon continued to pay the fines instead of ending its policy of offering free shipping.

 

[MrBMT]

Are Amazon UK being consistent again with the normal packaging or are they still using flat, A1 mailer envelopes for delivery?

My two orders this week came like this (from Amazon UK):

Big flat outerbox, with the smaller box inside. Film used was just an example from the top of my Steelbook/Metalpak collection rather than one actually from Amazon.

 

[Lutzo]

me 2

Just got my shipping notification on my amazon.fr order. As information to all of you who are still waiting for it. There is hope.

I also got a shipping confirmation on both of my orders:

Taken, Taken 2 + Skyfall steelbooks for 14,12€ delivered

Predator Trilogy, Alien Quadrilogy and Terminator steelbooks 35,57€ delivered

Quite happy with this turnout, I just hope the usually $hitty packaging doesn't ruin everything!

 

[MrBMT]

I also got a shipping confirmation on both of my orders:
[...]
Quite happy with this turnout, I just hope the usually $hitty packaging doesn't ruin everything!

The packaging for Amazon France is normally better when it's not just a single Steelbook they're sending.

My order got shipped instead of cancelled too:

Les Croods (The Croods), Predator : La Trilogie (Predator Trilogy), Taken, Taken 2, Terminator, Time Out (In Time) for £30.81 inc shipping.

They're a day late now shipping something I pre-ordered & was released yesterday that they have in stock though

 

[keyjey]

The packaging for Amazon France is normally better when it's not just a single Steelbook they're sending.

My order got shipped instead of cancelled too:

Les Croods (The Croods), Predator : La Trilogie (Predator Trilogy), Taken, Taken 2, Terminator, Time Out (In Time) for £30.81 inc shipping.

They're a day late now shipping something I pre-ordered & was released yesterday that they have in stock though

congratulations guys. my order got cancelled like others

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[augustus]

Quite happy with this turnout, I just hope the usually $hitty packaging doesn't ruin everything!

You'll be okay. With 3 items in each consignment, they will be shipped in cardboard boxes. The problem is when it's only 1 or 2 items. Then they tend to use A1 or A2 mailers.

Ordered the French Fox lenticular of "Avatar" last week when it was on special offer for Eur 14.99. Shipped in an A2 mailer. Arrived yesterday. Steelbook case is undamaged but I can hear one of the discs rattling around inside. Yet to check it out. Hopefully, it's the DVD and not the blu-ray.

 

[UpsetSmiley]

What packaging are Amazon Italy currently using? For example, if I bought three items would they ship in a box? Thanks!

 

[augustus]

What packaging are Amazon Italy currently using? For example, if I bought three items would they ship in a box? Thanks!

Have placed a number of orders with amazon.it recently. Provided they're shipped together, they'll come in a cardboard box. If less than 3 items, they'll be shipped in A1 or A2 mailers. If there are different availability dates involved, utilise the ship when complete option.

 

[UpsetSmiley]

Have placed a number of orders with amazon.it recently. Provided they're shipped together, they'll come in a cardboard box. If less than 3 items, they'll be shipped in A1 or A2 mailers. If there are different availability dates involved, utilise the ship when complete option.

Just what I needed to know, cheers!

 

[Jondog21]

I just got an order of 4 steels from Amazon.it. They came in one of those wraparound cardboard mailers that hardback books are often mailed in. 3 of 4 were fine, but 1 was absolutely crushed.

 

[MrBMT]

Wow, Amazon UK... what on earth happened with my order today?

3 Steels arrived... in a single box about 8 times or so too big for it, loosely, with a bit of paper on top.

Let me present... Brazil:

Sunshine (wasn't even shrink-wrapped either):

And last but not least, 28 Weeks Later:

Needless to say, they're all going back.

Oh, and they were part of a 3 for £17 deal, of which all but one have already sold out... so no replacement, just a refund.

 

[FanOfGaming]

I don't like the (relatively) new Amazon policy of charging import fees upfront. Of my probably hundreds of orders over the years from online sites, I've been charged customs fees 4 times I think. I'd rather deal with that minor hassle rarely then pay an extra fee "just in case".

Personally I think it should be an opt-in/opt-out style choice. They say they refund you if there is no charge but how much can you trust that...

 

[MrBMT]

Personally I think it should be an opt-in/opt-out style choice. They say they refund you if there is no charge but how much can you trust that...

I've ordered lots of things (though generally not Steelbooks) from Amazon US in the past which resulted in the import fees and have been refunded any differences a few months down the line.

 

[Dano]

I ordered 6 steels in the "Three Blu-ray Titles for £17" offer from Amazon UK on Monday. The steels shipped yesterday, are currently in Philadelphia and are scheduled for delivery tomorrow. This is via standard UPS delivery. 2 days from the UK to the US! How is this possible?

 

[Heche1981]

These last couple of months I have noticed that Amazon.co.uk have switched from the chunky packaging to newer slimline boxes. For the most part, these are fine, although I have experienced several cases where the SteelBook has slipped and gotten stuck to the super sticky heat-glue which is supposed to hold the inner plastic diaphragm in place. This is highly frustrating, and a huge flaw on the part of the box manufacturers (Lil'). Aside from that, the packaging is sufficient, and much more adequate than the Lil' cardboard envelopes which Amazon sometimes use (which Zavvi seem to have also adopted now). Amazon.co.uk still send out some SteelBooks using these envelopes though, so they really need to focus more on shipping SteelBooks using the right packaging


I have noticed a dramatic increase in the amount of SteelBooks (and normal Blu-Ray releases) which arrive with slashed spines! This is clearly carelessness on their part, and Amazon don't seem to be doing much to prevent this from happening! It used to happen about 2% of the time, but is now as high as 10%-15% of all orders I receive from Amazon.co.uk, but most frequently whenever there's a massive release day (like when FOX release a big batch of SteelBooks)


I have also experienced Blu-Rays missing their slipcovers. Sometimes a replacement will arrive with the appropriate slipcover (after complaining), but more often than not the replacements also arrive missing their slipcover.


Amazon.co.uk are far from perfect, but they are still the lesser of two evils, plus their customer services are second-to-none when it comes to sorting out replacements! Finding older orders is also effortless, and you can go directly to the order straight from the product listing page via a link which appears, so that's a nice handy feature!