Hidefninja new SteelBook™ Collector Lounge

[digitalbabe]

*For retailer-specific chat, please visit the new Retailer Steelbook Zone here

Welcome all Steelbook newcomers from around the world!

For more Steelbook lists, pictures, and resources visit:
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This is a thread for those new to the hobby or those with general questions about collecting Steelbooks, including retailer-specific questions.

To keep things organized, please keep all trading talk in the Trading forum, and search for specific Steelbooks for more specific title-specific questions.

I am sure our seasoned members are happy to provide assistance, so please don't be afraid to ask-we all started this addiction somewhere. Regardless if your collection is small or large, someone here can probably help.

Have fun!
DB

Steelbook & Collecting FAQ's:

Q: Where can I find a list of Steelbooks released?

A: blu-raysteelbooks.com

Q: Can I play movies contained inside Steelbooks on my Blu-Ray Player?

A: It depends-Blu-Rays are coded with Region A, B or C. Most Blu-Rays are "unlocked", regardless of what region they are, but it's always a good idea to check this forum or web resources before buying, as some are "locked".

Q: What are the differences between Steelbooks™, Iron Packs™, Metal Paks™, Viva Metal Boxes, Tins, etc?

A: Check out pics and discussion in our forum here

Q: What does "G1" and "G2" mean when discussing Steelbooks?

A: "G1" (1st Generation) refers to a Blu-Ray in a DVD-sized case. And "G2" (2nd Generation) refers to a Blu-Ray in a Blu-Ray-sized case.

Q: How to fix a loose disc on a steelbook you want to keep factory sealed that came with a floater?

A: Fixing a loose disc

Q: How do I navigate international shopping sites?

A: You can download a free 'add on' for most browsers called 'Google Translate'. Once you have it installed, the pages will translate automatically.

Q: I have many more questions-is there a general list of links to help me learn about Steelbooks, protecting them, etc?

A: Yes, here

 

[surfury]

@digs: Something you have to bear in mind when buying from UK sites is where the actual distribution centre is based. You tend to find out by the way they treat their shipping costs. Amazon is basically based on the mainland but does have a centre called IndigoStarfish which is based on Jersey (no not New Jersey, the Channel Islands). They have separate tax concessions there but have to ship items individually, however Amazon cover the cost in their usual shipping costs also they do not charge you VAT (20%) if outside the EU. Be aware that the packing as IS leaves a lot to be desired. You will be told where your purchase is shipping from in your invoice.

HMV.com ships from Guernsey (another Channel Island) and again ship individually. Their packing is better imo as it is card but doesn't travel long distances well, shorter UK distances are OK. They do not grant Tax concessions to Non-EU citizens though but at least they will ship to you, play.com (based in Jersey, again) won't ship outside EU. Have a look at the retailers list thread here for guidance. Hope this helps.

 

[digs5446]

wow, thank you both for all the great advice! to give you an idea of where i'm coming from, i used to be an avid DVD collector around 2000-2004 but then scaled way back b/c i was spending too much and they seemed to have released all the motherload special editions of all my most cherished films, and the DVD biz was just turning into a huge quadruple-dip joke.

when HD hit i was too cost conscious to adopt early or replace many titles, but i do have a few. Basically, if there's a movie i really like and the release is highly reviewed in terms of bonus content and i find a great deal, i go for it. i've also done that w/ a couple blind buys because i have a pretty good feel for titles i'm going to respond too.

in terms of steelbooks, i basically feel like i need to get any that are of movies i really really like AND the cover art on the Steelbook is unique from the standard release:

Canada - Inglorious Basterds, No Country, Shaun, Pan's Lab (wow!), Matrix, Departed, 2001

Germany - Kick Ass, Zombieland, Robin Hood, Das Boot, District 9

I'm def not a Steelbook completist (not enough money or space for all of them), not looking to resell for profit or keep sealed collectibles, and i probably wouldn't drop the cash on a really cool looking one of a movie i don't care for, or of a movie i love but inexplicably has the same steelbook art as the main US releases (Heat, Goodfellas...wtf?). In a nutshell, i love knowing i have the coolest looking packaging for any title i own. not into the huge gift sets (i like all mine on shelves), but i do love to peruse my collection and admire the limited run packaging, like the standard DVDs of Jaws 30th and and Batman Begins...

But from what you say and what i figured, if there's a batch of 5 or 6 available from the same Amazon location and the price is relatively "standard" (roughly the equivalent of $20)

 

[digitalbabe]

No prob-dig-I am sure any long-time collector that has blown through either several formats, or several years/decades of collecting, can relate. Sounds like you have a good strategy worked out for yourself. Feel free to write or PM anytime with questions!

 

[Comrade]

Hi there !

I've just started my steelbook collection and I have a few questions about help from forum member.

Exemple : I want all Diney-Pixar steelbook, price => but that's not the worst thing, shipping cost are too expensive for me ( 30$/steelbook, wtf ? ).

So I want to know :

- If a forum member help me, how does it work ?
- Shipping cost will be the same ? Can you give me an exemple ( cost difference between one steelbook and a package )

 

[digitalbabe]

Hi Comrade-you can check the Trading Forum for current group buys. Guidelines are different based on the group buy leader, items purchased, and other factors. If you have any questions after reviewing any group buys posted by members, please contact the OP of the group buy thread, or contact one of the Steelbook moderators (apsmith21, justintime2k or myself).

Welcome to the site!
DB

 

[Wreck]

also when getting a bunch of steels from USA and you dont live in USA there's always possibility of international flat rate shipping.

small box - $13.95 shipping - fit one steel
medium box - $45.50 - fit anywhere from 5-12 steels
large box - $58.50 fit anywhere from 10 -20 steelbooks

these are my speculations for the above but the price points are 100% correct and are for flate rate international priority so you also receive your stuff a bit faster. I dont think the shipping prices are that bad when ordering in bulk or splitting cost with another member from your home Country.

 

[digitalbabe]

And keep in mind that not all flat rate Priority services offer tracking to all destinations, so if the buyer wants step by step tracking, Priority Mail (not flat rate) may need to be used.

 

[Wreck]

I also wouldnt ship a very valuable steel in the $13.95 option as it doesnt allow for much room for bubble wrap.

 

[digitalbabe]

+1 Yep, totally agree

 

[apsmith21]

INFO ON UNIVERSUM GROUP BUY - shipped at beginning of JULY 2011.

Tracking has been updated in Egham, GB & that it's stuck in customs.

I have no idea why it would have been "hijacked" in the UK as things usually go Germany -> United States.

I've contacted amazon.de and they stated we have to wait until August 3rd for me to request a reshipment...

I'm about to log an investigation with DHL global...

This is messy.

EDIT:

Thank you for contacting Amazon.de.

I am very sorry to hear about the delay.

I have checked your order (for order number see subject line) and can confirm that it was sent out from our fulfillment centre in Germany on 07.07.2011 per DHLGA_US_DIRECT_INJECTION. In this case we have no tracking information available and the delivery cannot be traced via "Mein Konto."

According to our carrier, the delivery to Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika may take up to 25 business days.

Once the package reaches your country, the actual delivery of the package is handled by your local postal carrier, and this may account for the delay.

May we ask for your further patience? If your package has not arrived on 02.08.2011, please contact us using the link below and confirm the shipping address we have on file for this order:

 

[apsmith21]

My response

Hello again - below is the response I received last time I sent a message.

It has been my experience that any DHL Global Mail package CAN be tracked via the amazon.de website UNTIL it leaves Germany.

The tracking _clearly_ shows a "Customs delay in Eggham" status from this screen shot I've taken.

<picture of order tracking>

This package OBVIOUSLY was not directly sent to the US. Why is the case? I don't know - I do know that packages of this size that amazon.de usually sends to me have been shipped via DHL with no problems at all in the past.

Packages that have been sent that included my previous orders were much smaller than this one.

It is my concern, and this concern has not been addressed - that if a replacement package is reshipped via DHL Global mail, the same thing will occur again - as I have found similar reports of packages being misrouted through Egham, United Kingdom. This includes multiple times with the same package.

The package has NOT entered the United States as it can not be currently tracked via the DHL Global website.

http://webtrack.dhlglobalmail.com/

When my packages shipped in this manner have arrived in the US, a few days later I'm always able to track them at the website link above. Any of my previous received orders will clearly show a tracking status.

THEREFORE, I do believe that this package was misrouted, and it will be returned to amazon.de.

My address, as shown by amazon.de is correct.

I realize that I will have to wait until August 2nd before a new package can be sent.

HOWEVER, I would IMPLORE that when amazon.de ships that replacement package via the regular DHL service and NOT DHLGA.

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

 

[Colombianlove41]

I say we fly to Germany and I start handing out Colombian neckties until we get some positive results...

 

[apsmith21]

I say we fly to Germany and I start handing out Colombian neckties until we get some positive results...

Yeah, we might have to do that. I know that everyone that participates in my group buys understands that I charge a small premium on the titles because I'm the one that deals with stuff so you guys don't have to.

Gotta LOVE the latest from amazon.de

Geography was never my strongest subject, but you'd think...if they'd just READ my message...that Egham, GB is not in the US.

Egham is in the United Kingdom. ARGH!

thank you for writing to Amazon.de

I´m sorry that you still could not receive your items.

As far as I see the status of delivery is still "Customs delay in Eggham", as you have seen already.

This means that there is a town called Eggham with a Customs office and the items are held there by US customs authorities.

As we do not have any influence on US customs all we can do is wait until the parcel is cleared by customs and will be forwarded to your address.

I´m sorry for the inconvenience caused. Please take my sincere apologies if previous e-mails failed to clarify this matter.

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.de

 

[apsmith21]

Just an update since it's been a bit since I've posted anything here.

No change in the status of the package.

It's been confirmed that a certain someone that a few of us are familiar with that hosted a "few group buys" on another forum is having a similar issue.

So we're not alone.

I also heard from a member here who had a similar problem with a package a while ago from amazon.de.

He said it showed in the tracking about a week after it was supposed to be delivered. I'm going to give it a couple more days and if it doesn't show up in the US by then, I'll be contacting amazon.de for a replacement shipment.

If you have any questions, please PM me and sorry in advance for any problems.

 

[Wreck]

I had this problem with my Underworld Trilogy order ... 2 weeks after it was "supposed to arrive" I contacted them and told them even tho it still acted like it was shipped in the tracking system they just sent me another. I only received that one, so my guess was it got sent back or something

 

[Colombianlove41]

Lets go get our stuff man!

 

[apsmith21]

No kidding. I've been in contact with amazon.de about this order - I'm trying to get it resent.

In their most recent response they expressed their confusion about the order - as the original one contained True Grit - but the system split that from this package.

So it was part of the original order, and not bothering to really look at it, the rep told me that they couldn't be resent since they did not have any more True Grit copies.

TG wasn't in this package amazon...

SIGH.

 

[apsmith21]

I've copied some posts from the Universum group buy to this thread.

I had not received an order from amazon.de since the last time DB had problems with her stuff being returned. Now the same thing has happened to me!

This is a FYI to our US members out there, unsure about Canada, but it appears that until someone gets a customer rep from amazon.de that cares, we'll all have to get our stuff shipped express mail to avoid issues.

This is my speculation of course, but after hearing about a lot of folks getting stuff returned, I'm starting to think there are problems elsewhere impacting DHL Global mail shipments to the United States.

 

[Steelie]

I have had no delivery problems so far here in Canada from .de or .fr

 

[apsmith21]

I have had no delivery problems so far here in Canada from .de or .fr

That's good to hear Steelie - I'm suspicious that there is something going on with the US.

All I know for sure, if you were to check the tracking number of my package that was returned, it never left the United Kingdom - I don't know why it was sent there - usually they go directly from Germany to the United States.

The great thing is that amazon.de told me that my address is wrong.