Steelbook Retailer of the Year Award

[Man of Steel]

Hi All,

I don't know if the Mods have thought of this, but I really think we should have a Steelbook Retailer of the Year Award!

If anything - I think this award will get the retailers to be more competive to give us better quality steels, or at least try and persuade the studios on thoughts of the collectors e.g. the finishing, embossing, artwork etc. (not mentioning any names, but one retailer stands out in particular).

This year has been an amazing year for collectors, and with retailers having more of an input into the steelbook themselves we've had some very unique steels come our way.

I'm going to dive right into this...

So here are what I would consider the main players that produce exclusive steels:

Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Amazon.jp
Best Buy
HMV
Play.com
FutureShop
Media Markt
FNAC
Target
KimchiDVD
K2DVD
JSDVD
JBHiFi
The Hut Group (added to cover request).

So tell me people, what are your thoughts? I'm looking at retailers that mainly provide the best exclusives!

Mods - please make any amendments, additions or changes if necessary.

p.s. The Poll closes in 20 days - I think that give us sufficient time to declare a winner.

 

[Cymon H]

I voted play.com prices better than most, packaging outstanding and great selection of exclusives.
FNAC France get worst supplier because my copy of Brave did not turn up, I tried emailing using a translator app but they just emailed saying when I could phone them which is no good as I don't speak French, I let the funky music do the talking!

 

[snooloui]

Only one winner here. No other retailer has released so many awesome Steelbooks for reasonable prices, improved their service (packaging, communication etc.) as much or taken on board the thoughts of collectors as Play.com have. Let's hope they do even better next year.

 

[SaberTooth]

If Amazon UK could ever get ahold of HMV's exclusive contracts, I reckon they would really give play a run for their money.

Outside of steelbooks, amazon remains the best overall online retailer in my book

 

[urbeenjammin]

i see that play is receiving a lot of votes.but i guarantee you that not a single vote came from a region that doesn't get shipments from them.the retailer should be a complete company that covers all the basics.if you are merely talking about steelbook production,then play is a very sensible choice but the emphasis here is "retailer" which associates SALES with the description.so definitely not play until they change their policy for INCLUDING all the regions in their shipping.they should know by now that they will make more money and should be experienced enough to handle all possible overseas orders.

 

[zoneism]

i see that play is receiving a lot of votes.but i guarantee you that not a single vote came from a region that doesn't get shipments from them.the retailer should be a complete company that covers all the basics.if you are merely talking about steelbook production,then play is a very sensible choice but the emphasis here is "retailer" which associates SALES with the description.so definitely not play until they change their policy for INCLUDING all the regions in their shipping.they should know by now that they will make more money and should be experienced enough to handle all possible overseas orders.

Voted for play. Good range, with exclusives, limited runs and nice artwork. Also, they responded to steelbook requests to improve packaging. Well done Play.com, now all you need is to ship outside Europe

Australia

Let's see:
Iron Man 1-2, Terminator (exclusive chosen by HDN community), Prometheus, Forrest Gump, Top Gun, Hulks, and much much more... and also a brand new packaging method that sets standard for any retailer on the planet...

Why is there a contest with such awesomeness???

Canada

Hands down...it's been Play.com's year....

their steelbook team should get a proper bonus! they listen, they adjust and they do their job well!...kudos to our Play.com unknown heroes!

Canada

Sorry, I have to disagree that a retailer has to ship worldwide in order to qualify. Otherwise Future Shop, Media Mrkt, BB etc need to be reviewed. Not even Amazon or HMV ship to every country

I reckon if an outlet generates a sale then it can be classed as a retailer. Every retailer on that voting list deserves their place and also gets a tip from my hat for the part they play in serving our hobby. They can't all be as good as each other or the best but without them my collection would be much smaller

And don't forget, the majority of retailers who don't ship worldwide are the ones doing the limited exclusive releases

 

[urbeenjammin]

you won't be able to convince me as i'm not comparing the actual steelbooks...in this category,its all about service and not production.sorry

 

[blu-steel]

Yep. I agree. Its about service. Amazon Japan wins hands down.

 

[zoneism]

I can't disagree, Amazon JP are hot

And I won't try to convince you otherwise urbeenjammin because that's your call. I was just disagreeing . But did I convince you that not everyone who voted Play lives in a territory that they ship to?

 

[urbeenjammin]

how can you(PLAY)neglect the country(forum) that's arguably made you the most money and profit from steelbook sales.inexcusable but maybe they will change their policy regarding worldwide shipping.i sure hope so for 2013.

 

[zoneism]

how can you(PLAY)neglect the country(forum) that's arguably made you the most money and profit from steelbook sales.inexcusable but maybe they will change their policy regarding worldwide shipping.i sure hope so for 2013.

Worldwide shipping would definitely make a huge difference to everyone. We're very spoiled here in the UK at the moment by all these releases. Hopefully it continues and ww shipping happens at some point soon

 

[blu-steel]

Japan doesn't send out paint chipped steelbooks. Play does.

The Incredible Hulk is also a mess. They must have done a second batch because 100% of them have a scratch right down the hulks back. I am told play wont take them back and refund by a member on here.

 

[Noodles]

Play all the way! Closely followed by Amazon.

 

[snooloui]

I voted amazon.jp

I prefer quality over quantity.

Yep. I agree. Its about service. Amazon Japan wins hands down.

Japan doesn't send out paint chipped steelbooks. Play does.

The Incredible Hulk is also a mess. They must have done a second batch because 100% of them have a scratch right down the hulks back. I am told play wont take them back and refund by a member on here.

Ok we get it, you love Amazon.jp

I'm sorry but I don't see how Amazon or Play have anything to do with shipping paint chipped Steelbooks, especially if the damage is hidden. Wreck has said in the past that studios have their own preferred companies for packaging Steelbooks, so all that your argument means is that the companies used to package Japanese Steelbooks are better. Other than the fact they seem to sell products which don't suffer from quality issues (which is not down to their superior service), Amazon Japan are otherwise inferior with poorer packaging, ridiculous postage costs and a very limited number of releases.

 

[urbeenjammin]

i think chip voted twice on the poll

 

[SaberTooth]

Perhaps all the different amazon regions should be considered as one overall retailer & their votes merged

...also, what happened to Future Shop?

1 vote?? - lol i thought u all loved FS? like thats all u ever hear when play does a catalog release. Like:

"play version sucks, FS version is much much better"

so y u no vote FS here then?

 

[Sigill]

I think this is due for declaring the winner now, it's 20 days after the poll was opened! It looks like its play by a fair margin! The results are,

1) Play.com,
2) Amazon.co.uk
3) Amazon.de.

 

[xxquartzxx]

Play.com all the way ... just for the iron man release

 

[ministry]

play.com did go all out this year with UK Exclusives Though some i felt hadn't been that great, but they did pull some good ones out.

 

[frankfish44]

My vote goes to MM for ground breaking lenticular steels

 

[SilverBlade]

How does one get the Play.com steelbooks over to US/Canada, since they don't ship directly?