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.

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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

 

[urbeenjammin]

Amazon.it lately on steelbooks? Anybody ordered from them lately?

 

[adrenaline78]

If you go to their help page, there is a 'contact us' button on the left side.
I think you're suppose to login, click on the order that you have issue with and you should be able to send them a message.

Done. They are sending a replacement and I don't have to send the other one back! This is why Amazon is the best!

 

[funkydamo]

i need to have a quick moan about amazon.de
ok, they ship to the uk superfast, and with superlow shipping charges.
with awesome packaging.....
but....
tonight they tried to rob me!
i put 3 steels in my basket (fanboys, dragon wars and bugs life)
so i go through to chekout and my screen freezes so i come off internet explorer and reload the page.
i go to pay and the price seems out. fanboys was 10 euro, dragon wars under 7 euro, and bugs life was 11 euro. total says its 36euro before postage, thats not right???
so i check back and the price has gone up to 20 euro for bugs life!!!!!
surely when its in my damn basket they cant up the price on the sly!!!!
and now it says only 8 left in stock so its clear why the price almost doubled (they always have high prices when stocks are low)
so grrrrrrrr, im annoyed.
although i have to admit thier prices on some steels are amazing (dragon wars for less then 7euor!!. it might be a poor film, ive not seen it before. but fanboys is a top film, and thats a cent under 10euro)
rant over i guess.

 

[RobPaul]

I gave amazon.de another go last month.

They sent a damaged the raid and 2 lockouts (one with slashed spine, other with misaligned spine).

Thought I'd see how the returns process was so sent 1 raid and 1 lockout back separately. They received the raid and processed refund (+postage) no probs.

For Lockout though, they said they never received it, but after providing a scan of my posting receipt they gave the refund + postage, rather than me having to chase up Royal Mail on my end to make a claim. So the customer service in that case was spot on.

I just wish the packing monkeys at Amazon would look at the item and go 'hmm, this has a big bash in it, maybe I'll pick another one'

 

[Necroscope]

Ok. Gimme your thoughts. I placed an order for 2 steelbooks with amazon.de. After 4 weeks, I contacted them. I received an email telling me that they would send out a new copy of 1 of the SBs, but they were out of the other one, so they refunded it with their apologies. Fair enough. A little disappointed, but not the end of the world. Well, lo and behold, 2 days later, my original order arrived. Does it make me a total dirtbag that I kinda don't wanna mention it to amazon, and take the two free SBs?

 

[ninth]

Has anyone from Canada ordered from Amazon.fr and got charged with taxes/duties when it arrived?
I'm thinking of ordering all the Hobbit Steels and just wanted to know if I should split the order to avoid taxes but that would mean I'd pay a bit more for shipping.

---------- Post added at 05:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:40 PM ----------

Ok. Gimme your thoughts. I placed an order for 2 steelbooks with amazon.de. After 4 weeks, I contacted them. I received an email telling me that they would send out a new copy of 1 of the SBs, but they were out of the other one, so they refunded it with their apologies. Fair enough. A little disappointed, but not the end of the world. Well, lo and behold, 2 days later, my original order arrived. Does it make me a total dirtbag that I kinda don't wanna mention it to amazon, and take the two free SBs?

So they sent a replacement after the first shipment didn't arrive? But the original shipment finally made it to you.

I think you should return it to Amazon, or refuse the shipment so it's returned to them. Afterall Amazon has really good customer service, they sent you the 2nd shipment to you in goodfaith that you were telling the truth that it didn't arrive. Probably lots of people scam Amazon this way.

 

[The Rainmaker]

Good that they're making efforts but just a note of caution:

I've read more than one report where the edges of the cardboard that hold the case in place can dig in and make impressions and scratches on the steelbook's surface.

I haven't had any of these new packages myself so can't confirm whether that's the case or not, but I think it's something to pay attention to and keep under review. It would be a shame for the new packaging only to cause new problems. The old system of bubble wrap inside a fold-over carton worked pretty well after all.

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT VRob !!! This man deserves a prize:goldbig:

There has never been a single instance when my steelbooks arrived in a perfect OCD condition (i.e. since Amazon adopted the so called Frustration Free Packaging, which, actually causes a lot of FRUSTRATION btw ). I'm always returning/replacing steelbooks every time I receive my order in these boxes.

The edges that hold the steelbooks at the two sides always tear the shrink wrap and scratch the steelbook surface. I have been writing to them for the last one year regarding this issue and even leave a negative packaging feedback for each order. But I don't think they get the message. Next time, I think I'll probably send them a link to this thread, so that they can read themselves what we think of their new (steelbook killing) packaging.

 

[Slinchafi]

I've got the exact opposite experience, so far I've received six steels in this new packaging (all from amazon UK), all of them completely mint, and I'm very OCD about this as well. Not a single mark, paintchip, discoloration, anything. I would however like to see at least one layer of bubblewrap around the steel, just for my own peace of mind.

 

[The Rainmaker]

I've got the exact opposite experience, so far I've received six steels in this new packaging (all from amazon UK), all of them completely mint, and I'm very OCD about this as well. Not a single mark, paintchip, discoloration, anything. I would however like to see at least one layer of bubblewrap around the steel, just for my own peace of mind.

You mean to say that there was not even the slightest of mark/rub off on even the shrink wrap ? Maybe, your order was handled properly during transit. Anyway, that's nice to know

But if something so rough is holding something so delicate as a shrink wrap, there is definitely going to be some mark on the shrink wrap, which usually passes onto the steelbook, even if the shrink wrap is not torn.

How do I know this: I have checked many steels (in sealed condition itself), that became a victim of this packaging, under a light more than 85 CRI. It clearly shows all the flaws on the steelbook at that place

 

[megabee]

Some weird things are happening at amazon.de

When I try to order steels with movies rated 18 (red sticker/logo), they are unavailable to order to international addresses, including my country, and US, UK as well.

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B009NMYYT4/?tag=hidefnin0d-21

18-rated movies must be well-protected now.

 

[tonybsg]

Can't order to Greece as well.

 

[lost]

the amazon.fr is the worst store of amazon
both in delivery.
either in customer support

buy another item
and distributes the price of postage

 

[Kuzco]

the amazon.fr is the worst store of amazon
both in delivery.
either in customer support

Sorry but the worst store of Amazon is Amazon.ca
Amazon.fr is identical to Amazon.de and Amazon.es

 

[lost]

i buy a few things out europe because the custom house
but buy more of the USA

I buy only as special editions
digipack steel etc.. often comes all messed up
from France comes packaged poorly and when to cut open the crates in the warehouse
and shipping costs are overkill

 

[The Rainmaker]

i buy a few things out europe because the custom house
but buy more of the USA

I buy only as special editions
digipack steel etc.. often comes all messed up
from France comes packaged poorly and when to cut open the crates in the warehouse
and shipping costs are overkill

+1

The printing on the steelbooks is of the worst quality (I've ever seen) in the first place, not to mention the sloppy and thin shrink wrap that gets torn very easily. On top of that the "Frustration Free Packaging", that does a good job of tearing the shrink wrap at the two sides and scratching the surface of the steels . And of course, the shipping costs are high too unless you are ordering more than 4 steels.

Conclusion: I don't have a single French steel (i.e. ordered from amazon.fr) which is in a perfect condition even after buying, exchanging, buying again, exchanging again for so many times. Did this more than 6 times for The Thing steelbook, but in vain. So finally gave up and bought it off eBay to get a perfect piece.

 

[hatredhorror]

Some weird things are happening at amazon.de

When I try to order steels with movies rated 18 (red sticker/logo), they are unavailable to order to international addresses, including my country, and US, UK as well.

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B009NMYYT4/?tag=hidefnin0d-21

18-rated movies must be well-protected now.

youth protection laws are pretty strict here in germany

if you wish to order a 'fsk 18' item, you have to pay an additional 5€ for hand to hand delivery, where you have to identify yourself by showing your id

 

[megabee]

youth protection laws are pretty strict here in germany

if you wish to order a 'fsk 18' item, you have to pay an additional 5€ for hand to hand delivery, where you have to identify yourself by showing your id

I've read somewhere about this multi-layer, backward-assigning rating system for youth protection.
But the issue I was talking about seems to be fixed now. We have nothing to do with German youth, we are from other countries.

 

[Malky78]

I just received a steelbook from Amazon.UK with an address sticker taped to it and nothing else!

Needless to say its trashed

 

[SillentWolf]

+1

The printing on the steelbooks is of the worst quality (I've ever seen) in the first place, not to mention the sloppy and thin shrink wrap that gets torn very easily. On top of that the "Frustration Free Packaging", that does a good job of tearing the shrink wrap at the two sides and scratching the surface of the steels . And of course, the shipping costs are high too unless you are ordering more than 4 steels.

Conclusion: I don't have a single French steel (i.e. ordered from amazon.fr) which is in a perfect condition even after buying, exchanging, buying again, exchanging again for so many times. Did this more than 6 times for The Thing steelbook, but in vain. So finally gave up and bought it off eBay to get a perfect piece.

I have a few French Steels, and they all arrived in perfect condition.
I also ordered The Hobbit: Gollum Steelbook there. Hopefully It will arrive
in the same condition as my other Steels did.

 

[JimShakes]

Hi, can yo help me? I ordered a steelbook from amazon.de, I think from one of the sellers and its arrived bashed up :-( it was just in a jiffy...problem is I don't speak German and therefore I'm not sure how to report it as damaged to them? Anyone else had this problem or know a solution? Thx