Hi all,
Looking for some feedback on this to help further the cause.
Looking for some feedback on this to help further the cause.
Poll - Buying SteelBooks from Best Buy or Target
- Thread starter Wreck
- Start date
I order online for store pick-up as a way of making sure I get a copy. I can't get to the store until after work.
I order online for instore pickup, then I am there at opening grab what I wanted and check out the ones the store had reserved for me. check them over and put the rest back
What if my answer is dependent on retailer ?
Best Buy in store
But since I don't have a target I use the group buy here since I don't actually trust Target shipping
Best Buy in store
But since I don't have a target I use the group buy here since I don't actually trust Target shipping
I order online as a backup in case the handpickins are slim/nonexistent, but I much prefer choosing my copy in store, for various nitpicky collector reasons. 
Plus, both Best Buy and Target ship steelbooks with zero regard for their collectability -- two cardboard panels glued around a steel, a jiffy bag, sometimes unpadded, etc -- so the chances are pretty good that a backup online order will arrive in undesirable or sometimes even hilariously annihilated condition.
Plus, both Best Buy and Target ship steelbooks with zero regard for their collectability -- two cardboard panels glued around a steel, a jiffy bag, sometimes unpadded, etc -- so the chances are pretty good that a backup online order will arrive in undesirable or sometimes even hilariously annihilated condition.
Depends on the store, to some extent.
I don't have a Target OR Best Buy locally and driving out to one turns it into an all day event. As most releases are during the work week, that's obviously problematic. With some of the more limited/anticipated releases that have chances of low store stock even if you're there at opening, that's really problematic.
Ordering online should be the solution but as others have said the shipping is so poor that you have to buy multiple copies hoping for a single one not to be damaged...and then end up having to make that trip to the store to return them anyway because their online return systems are really, really archaic. I've had one shipment go missing before, and when we're talking 4-5 copies it isn't cheap when something like that happens.
I can manage Best Buy releases thanks to the option for in-store pick up, as it makes things a bit more flexible. I don't have to worry about making the long drive out and not having a copy at all due to demand, if necessary I can wait on the drive out for a few days, and the steelbook should be in at least average condition. I've yet to receive something that looked like it was used in a football match from in store pickup, unlike both retailers' online orders.
Target usually means only bothering with releases I really, really want and skipping most since I can't pre-order for pick up. If I know the release date will be problematic I'll join Andy's GB and pay a little extra for the convenience. Honestly, I should probably do that more often.
I don't have a Target OR Best Buy locally and driving out to one turns it into an all day event. As most releases are during the work week, that's obviously problematic. With some of the more limited/anticipated releases that have chances of low store stock even if you're there at opening, that's really problematic.
Ordering online should be the solution but as others have said the shipping is so poor that you have to buy multiple copies hoping for a single one not to be damaged...and then end up having to make that trip to the store to return them anyway because their online return systems are really, really archaic. I've had one shipment go missing before, and when we're talking 4-5 copies it isn't cheap when something like that happens.
I can manage Best Buy releases thanks to the option for in-store pick up, as it makes things a bit more flexible. I don't have to worry about making the long drive out and not having a copy at all due to demand, if necessary I can wait on the drive out for a few days, and the steelbook should be in at least average condition. I've yet to receive something that looked like it was used in a football match from in store pickup, unlike both retailers' online orders.
Target usually means only bothering with releases I really, really want and skipping most since I can't pre-order for pick up. If I know the release date will be problematic I'll join Andy's GB and pay a little extra for the convenience. Honestly, I should probably do that more often.
Best Buy
In store because packaging is unreliable. They limit online orders to 3 per order and don't ship them in a box so it's a crapshoot if you order one or three.
Ordering for in store pickup is a gamble too. Best bet is to hand pick them yourself but what sucks about Best Buy is they don't open to 10am. Kind of sucks when you have a 9-5 job.
Target
In store because I can stop in before work and hand pick. All dependent on the store though. Some stores have their acts together and have the product ready at opening or shortly after, while other stores are scratching their heads when you ask them about an exclusive product that isn't on the shelf yet.
In store because packaging is unreliable. They limit online orders to 3 per order and don't ship them in a box so it's a crapshoot if you order one or three.
Ordering for in store pickup is a gamble too. Best bet is to hand pick them yourself but what sucks about Best Buy is they don't open to 10am. Kind of sucks when you have a 9-5 job.
Target
In store because I can stop in before work and hand pick. All dependent on the store though. Some stores have their acts together and have the product ready at opening or shortly after, while other stores are scratching their heads when you ask them about an exclusive product that isn't on the shelf yet.
I always go to the b&m store so can look at the copies and pick, unless the steels are online only or something of that nature. Also I really don't trust the way they ship their packages, which is often just a cardboard envelope if you purchase just a single steel. Plus Target has the bad habit of sending out the amaray instead of the steelbook.
I often order online (when possible) as a safety net but try to pick the best copy the day they go on sale. Then I return the shipped copy. Sometimes the shipped copy arrives before the on sale date and it is in nice enough condition that I don't even have to go to the store.
I prefer to order online for in-store pickup, but sometimes that option is not available to me. With some releases, if that option is not available, I will order online to have the item shipped to me in case it sells out or in case all of the copies in-store are damaged.
There should be a 4th option in the poll:
- Order online for in-store pickup
this is the option I usually use
use @apsmith21 groupbuys for 2 reasons
1.quality steel provided
2.they don't ship internationally, but in all honesty much prefer andy looking over them than getting here with a spine slash, best buy shipping is not known for its quality i'm sure andy has to take some back. poor bloke
basil
Ditto here
Andy is a absolute gem for doing it for us non US members
I usually order online. Don't got time to travel to every store looking for the releases. These movies can always get re-released down the road, so for the 4-5 dented ones that I got from USA retailers, it really doesn't bother me.
For Target, them seem to have the wrong code for DCU so, I pick up at the store before going to work.
Bestbuy, I just order online and pick up at my convenience.
Bestbuy, I just order online and pick up at my convenience.
Group buy with @apsmith21 is the only way for me. Would take me weeks to swim that far to go in store! Boom boom! 
Similar threads
