Ask Wreck: SteelBooks Questions

[Wreck]

I dont know how long I will do this, or if people have questions ... but I'll check this thread daily in case people have questions about steelbooks etc. I'll try to answer to the best of my ability from what I am allowed to say in some cases or just info you may not have seen me drop before in past threads.

 

[Sam Crow]

Hi Wreck,
do you know, whether the upcoming UK-Batman-SteelBook-wave is the exact same like the US-one (Batman and Batman Returns without an inside artwork)? And do you know anything about the print run height (US and UK)?

Push...

 

[TakingYoSteelz]

Huh? What's push?

 

[SaberTooth]

^^ lol i think he means "bump"

 

[Jango]

last time I checked up on them they were still on par , but I think its a case of trying to bring really good artwork. Will follow up in a week.

awesome

 

[JohnDoe93]

I know KB was selling really good, so it might be wise to pre-order one.

Thx, but no info on the finish? glossy, embossing etc.?

 

[blurayisnice]

Hey Wreck,

Why is Zavvi misleading us? They send everyone an e-mail saying that it was our ''LAST CHANCE TO BUY JUNGLE BOOK AND LITTLE MERMAID''. It was suddenly sold out (first Jungle Book and a few minutes later Mermaid, which was kinda weird), and they were put back for pre-order yesterday. Still not sold out.

Do you know why that is? Why they mislead people?

Or did they decide to increase the print run?

 

[Xavier]

Is man of steel getting a us release. I'm at Walmart now and the magnetic pre order card suggest it as in it looks like a steel

 

[jayhsong]

Hello Wreck,

I have heard of a rumor that Disney had some issues with FutureShop and BestBuy regrading their steelbook releases. Considering zavvi and Blufans are only retailers currently releasing Disney titles exclusively are we not going to see Disney steelbooks released in North America in the near future?

 

[Steelknight47]

Hello Wreck,

I have heard of a rumor that Disney had some issues with FutureShop and BestBuy regrading their steelbook releases. Considering zavvi and Blufans are only retailers currently releasing Disney titles exclusively are we not going to see Disney steelbooks released in North America in the near future?

Great question mate. I would also like to know. BB & FS at least include all the discs, unlike Zavvi.

 

[Cizzar]

Hello Wreck,

I don't know if this has been asked before, but do you know if the IM3 steels outside of the UK will have embossing aswell ?

 

[Civer]

Wreck,

can you tell us which version we'll get with the zavvi From Dusk Till Dawn steelbook? Is it the German 108 minute release or a cut version?

Thank you very much

 

[snooloui]

Hi Wreck,

Is it possible for you to pass on our concerns about Zavvi's prices to the powers that be? They should reduce the price of their Steelbooks in favour of increasing International postage costs. As a UK customer, I and many others feel that we are subsidising International customers.

 

[frankfish44]

Hi Wreck,

Is it possible for you to pass on our concerns about Zavvi's prices to the powers that be? They should reduce the price of their Steelbooks in favour of increasing International postage costs. As a UK customer, I and many others feel that we are subsidising International customers.

I often think it is a bit misleading to say high prices are due to international postage costs. One thing is that Zavvi does not remove VAT for their international customers thereby levelling the costs. Also I do think Zavvi being a company get discounted postage rates like the Amazon's of the world. What is gained in lower postage costs is lost in the fact that international customers still pay VAT

In addition, ES does not ship outside the UK, yet priced higher than any other steelbook retailer in the UK. Many times I prefer to order through amazon as after VAT is removed, it still works out to be cheaper than Zavvi.

 

[snooloui]

I often think it is a bit misleading to say high prices are due to international postage costs. One thing is that Zavvi does not remove VAT for their international customers thereby levelling the costs. Also I do think Zavvi being a company get discounted postage rates like the Amazon's of the world. What is gained in lower postage costs is lost in the fact that international customers still pay VAT

In addition, ES does not ship outside the UK, yet priced higher than any other steelbook retailer in the UK. Many times I prefer to order through amazon as after VAT is removed, it still works out to be cheaper than Zavvi.

It isn't misleading at all. Zavvi do not remove VAT because they use all kinds dodgy practices to avoid it. It is outlined here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/16/hut-avoid-vat-shipping-via-us

As for your point about discounted postage costs, well that is irrelevant. Any discount would be equal across all postage methods. So whilst it would be cheaper for Zavvi to ship abroad than it would be for me to do the same. It would also be cheaper to send to UK addresses. The difference in cost is still in the same proportion, albeit slightly cheaper.

As for ES, well their prices are down to their releases being very limited or the company being very greedy, depending on who you ask. Again it's not really relevant to this argument.

 

[snooloui]

So what is the point. Seems to me they are making money either way. How do you blame so called subsidized international postage for rising prices or is it just a matter of pushing the envelope to see if pple will pay higher prices????

Probably a bit of both, but the simple fact is that it costs four times as much to post to the USA as it does to the UK, so that money has to come from somewhere.

 

[snooloui]

So it is quite untrue then to suggest rising prices are due to subsidized international shipping. The main problem is that pple expect play prices which were cheap cheap cheap. 10GBP-11GBP ($15-$-17) was so cheap nobody complained. But those days are gone. Would I love those prices....ABSOLUTELY. At the end play wound up and Zavvi is here pumping out steels at rate no one expected. 15GBP or $24 is quite fair for a steel in my opinion. Typically what one pays for a new release anyway. In my opinion, they would be stupid not to push the envelope and see if they could not get that extra GBP out of their customers since they have a kind of monopoly on the UK market. Who can compete against them thus driving down prices? Also if I remember correctly, HMV also charged premium prices for steels before they went through administration.

How is it quite untrue? I don't think you're reading anything I'm writing. Zavvi charge 99p for International postage which is totally unrealistic (if I asked you to source a Steelbook at cost but then only offered to pay 99p you would tell me to get stuffed). The money has to come from somewhere so they have in increased the price of the product. £14.99 is a bit too high for catalogue titles, HMV are a bit different because none of their exclusives have been catalogue titles, so again that is irrelevant.

I know if it were to change it would negatively impact you and others on this site, but I don't see why International customers shouldn't be asked to pay more. You're in the fortunate position of being able to buy from Zavvi, whereas UK members only have the Amazon sites, no 99p postage either nor from Best Buy, Future Shop, Target etc.

 

[crossbow]

99p international postage should not be for all countries. For me, (to India) it has always been 9.99 GBP.
And now that also has bumped up to 14.99 GBP, Just checked when I added any SB in cart on Saturday.

Before some 1 year, it used to be 99p, but that was from thehut.

So, it used to be 9.99 GBP shipping charges per order, with so called 'tracked' shipping. And now it's 14.99 GBP shipping charges per order, again, with so called 'tracked shipping.
And that tracked shipping, for which I am not able to find out courier's website yet. Keep aside tracking online and 4-9 days delivery time.

Luckily SBs are arriving safe in 20 days' period ( Mostly after 15-16 days for me) till now. Fingers crossed. And I am still unable to understand, how they are managing shipping charges per order, instead of per item.

So, at least I am not understanding price rise due to "subsidized international shipping". I am already paying 9.99 GBP shipping (And if I buy in future, 14.99 GBP). It's just plain and simple price raised for me.

Spoiler

IM3 final price is coming out to 38.98 GBP for me. http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7721/3ii.png
In my opinion, that's too much for me.

Sorry for OT on zavvi, but discussion was going on that matter, so wanted to add my opinion.

But Wreck,
I know you are not working for zavvi. But I would like to request to you, IF and only IF, you have some good contact who can influence (Or at least introduce) some good changes at zavvi's shipping department, kindly pass on the message that they need to work out on many things, and not just packing material. And I am pretty sure Indian customer base for zavvi is not limited to 3-4 dudes at HDN from India. No disrespect meant in anyway. Thanks.

 

[snooloui]

OK. They keep VAT. Does that not count?

They use all kinds of tactics to avoid VAT, so don't be so sure they are keeping it. They are also under no obligation to deduct VAT (which may or may not be included in the item price) for International customers.

Also Zavvi is not a UK company but more international like Amazon.

That is not at all true. Zavvi are a UK company, based in the UK and subject to UK laws and taxation. Amazon on the other hand, have their EU sites based in Luxembourg, conveniently situated to avoid paying little tax on their income (you may or may not be aware that they are being investigated for tax avoidance in the UK).

Let's compare sales revenue. Last year TheHutGroup (owners of Zavvi) generated revenue of approx. $226,000,000 (£145.3m) as stated here, compared to Amazon who generated revenue of $61,000,000,000 as stated here. Hmm, hardly in the same league.

Do they not ship for free within the UK?

Yes but as previously stated, the 99p shipping rate does not cover the actual postage cost to the USA which is approximately four times the price of shipping to the UK.

This is my last post on the topic because this thread has been derailed and it needs to get back on track. The truth is that Zavvi are charging unrealistic postage charges, if they charged something closer to what it was actually costing, they could afford to reduce the price of their Steelbooks. That is a fact.

 

[Chief]

Hi Wreck,

Is it possible for you to pass on our concerns about Zavvi's prices to the powers that be? They should reduce the price of their Steelbooks in favour of increasing International postage costs. As a UK customer, I and many others feel that we are subsidising International customers.

 

[Ricker]

This thread should be used for asking Wreck questions about Steelbooks. Not a debate over shipping cost. Thanks