Zavvi - Retailer chat [Europe]

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**Retailer charges cards when items ship

Per update received at HDN, starting with August 4,2014 releases, Zavvi will ship in boxes again.

[email protected]

Possible contact #s:

- 08442 640702
- 01606 336169
- 08442 439088

Thanks yeslek!

Current packaging is a cardboard mailer with the steelbook usually wrapped in either a layer of bubble wrap or foam

Spoiler: Past Packaging Updates

Update 9/5/2013:

https://www.hidefninja.com/forums/showpost.php?p=753977&postcount=1732

Current packaging-thanks dv8mad:

Spoiler

Previous packaging:

Spoiler

3/20/2013 Comparison of Play's old packaging to Zavvi's new packaging-thanks Zesty!

14/03/2013 By Wreck:
I now have confirmation that I can announce ... for all those worried about future packaging from Zavvi. My Play contact has been working with zavvi as well on this mission for better packaging. Between the 3 of us and the future comments from this community after its in place I'm sure it will be go over well.

View attachment 29368
from the pick line .........
foam inside

Spoiler

1/19/2013 Member Nyvo tweeted Zaavi about packaging concerns. They said they may be looking into alternate packaging methods.

http://www.zavvi.co.uk​

Zavvi shipping international list:
Zavvi UK

Box update1- 1/7/2014

Spoiler

https://www.hidefninja.com/forums/showpost.php?p=872703&postcount=2421

Box update 2-1/17//2014-we're told they have boxes again.

 

[Thomas Evans]

Really unimpressed with Zavvi's tactics right now.

First they allow few buyers to bulk up on dozens of the same purchase on announcement of pre-orders which means that people end up with dozens of sold out items to sell on Ebay, to sell at a vastly inflated price.

But they hold customers to ransom on an item that obviously hasn't sold out on the numbers that are advertised on the condition you buy a stupid box of rubbish nobody actually wants!

I haven't got 2 of the 3 Pirates Steelbooks or Ratatouille. But I am damned if I am going to buy the Z-Box or spend more than they cost on their pre-order opening date!

Zavvi have already treated me shoddily with regards a damaged Steelbook. Quickly losing faith in them!

 

[davhyl]

My email and response to Zavvi about the ridiculous prices of the steelbooks on "offer" with the ZBOX.

Spoiler

Hi,

I'm wondering about the prices of a few products and I'm hoping they are typos or mistakes.

All of these steelbooks, Wall-E, Ratatouille, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and 3 Pirates of the Caribbean, are £49.99 but the RRP of each of them was £24.99 from initial pre-order and still £24.99 whenever I get sent emails about those items. How is this possible??

Is this a marketing strategy just for people to buy the Z-Boxs, which look pretty poor and overpriced from viewings on Youtube.

Regards,



One of our customer services advisors has reviewed your query and we are able to confirm the following:

Hello,

Thank you for getting in touch.

I can confirm that these Steelbooks are at a higher price because they were part of an exclusive ZBOX promotion. However as this promotion has now ended I have requested that this is looked in to by our Customer Operations department.

If there is anything else that we can do, then please do not hesitate to get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to help.

Kind regards,
Sam

Zavvi.com Customer Service Team

As you probably already have guessed, they didn't really answer the question.

 

[UpsetSmiley]

This just in - past ZBOXs have re-surfaced. Quick only limited stock available!

http://www.zavvi.com/email/past-zboxs/email.email

Thanks, but you can keep them.

 

[JackRegan]

This just in - past ZBOXs have re-surfaced. Quick only limited stock available!

http://www.zavvi.com/email/past-zboxs/email.email

Thanks, but you can keep them.

Yeah, I got that one - can't wait; think I'll order two of each NOT!!!!!!!!

 

[vampire75]

For the people that want to buy the Avangers Age of Ultron steelbook... You only can buy it with a ZBOX.... Maybe this will even sell out before it is released without that stupid ZBOX....

ZBOX combination is live: http://www.zavvi.com/zbox/marvel-av...book-and-marvellous-zbox-bundle/11111620.html

Only the steelbook is still marked as sold out: http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/avenge...usive-limited-edition-steelbook/11107173.html

 

[Flash]

So is the steelbook on it's own not going live at 11am?

 

[Hamill82]

How can this be? 5 steelbooks arrived from zavvi today and not a single one damaged.

 

[Ricker]

Zavvi is a Joke. They could care less about customers its apparent when you can only order Age of Ultron with that stupid Z-box

 

[Ronnie3067]

Just had this email:

Anybody else have this happen?

 

[Scott]

Guys, how do I add my new card onto zavvi. Can't seem to work it out. Thanks

 

[Ronnie3067]

Guys, how do I add my new card onto zavvi. Can't seem to work it out. Thanks

The only way I know how to do this is to pre-order something and click Add New Card in billing screen, pay for it then I cancel the pre-order. I can't find any option just to add a new card at all!

 

[virkia]

I would like to thank Zavvi for giving us such a wonderful choice of steelbooks over the past two years. Of course some are better designed than others but all are welcome as choice is surely what counts - there should be something for everyone in these releases and those that do not like some may like others... I personally would prefer more "classics" such as the marvellously spine tingling "Don't Look Now" (now up for pre-order) as such films are few and far between in steelbook packaging.
I'm not precious about steelbooks and don't need lenticular magnets and other bells & whistles but I prefer at least some embossing/debossing on them even if it's just the title and it would be nice to have limited edition stickers in the style of the Entertainment Store. It goes without saying that I expect the best available content in what is after all meant to be premium packaging.
Whether it's necessary to have TED again in a steelbook is a non-issue as some, like myself, might prefer this artwork to that of the previous release and it should be remembered that for a limited run of 1,000 there has never been to my knowledge a steelbook so reasonably priced. It's also unnecessary for a fuss to be made about re-releasing the same film twice in different steelbooks as this is a far from unique practice
and I can think of quite a few examples over the past five years -in no particular order we have: TAKEN, STAR TREK XI (maybe four variants of steelbook!), TERMINATOR, SCOTT PILGRIM, SWEENEY TODD (soon to be re-released with artwork far superior to the original), GLADIATOR, DISTRICT 9, AVENGERS ASSEMBLE, FIGHT CLUB and RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
OK, both re-releases in futurepacks),BRAVEHEART, X-MEN, X- MEN 2, X-MEN:FIRST CLASS, CAPTAIN AMERICA, KICK-ASS, METROPOLIS, 10,000 BC, THOR, ABRAHAM LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER, F&F 5, PROMETHEUS 3D, ROGER RABBIT etc. Some will prefer the original artwork and others the new but at least it gives the chance to the more recent collector to pick up a title where the original might be OOP with the result that they cost more than they would like to spend. There are pointless re-releases which have the same artwork - examples being WILLOW, AVATAR, OLDBOY, and even LIFE OF PI 3D, if I remember correctly.
I also think we should forget about Play.com's GBP 9.99 steelbook offerings as they are dead and buried and they certainly never gave us anything like the choice that Zavvi has given us - probably less than 70 steelbooks in 4/5 years although of course the number of steelbooks released in the first few years by any retailer was negligible.
Zavvi's steelbook pricing is certainly no higher than that of other retailers at pre-order, except for maybe Base.com for some, but nowhere else but at Zavvi will you be able to pick up these same titles a few months later for under a tenner if you can play the waiting game and risk one or more going OOP in the meantime although there are some titles that you just know will not hang around long...

 

[jackanape]

snip

I'm fairly sure that Zavvi does read the threads form time to time, that makes sense. I have no idea if they actually post here or not - all I will say is that if Zavvi wanted to write a PR style post to big themselves up it would read a LOT like what you just posted. I mean, you even put NOW UP FOR PRE-ORDER when mentioning one of their products.

People are free to buy anything on its merits, but I think they are right to point out that this film is over priced and pretty much a cash grab. You can't even compare it to any other release that has 1,000 copies either as most of them do not have a much cheaper alternative in steelbook form. I think this is just a case of being a swing and a miss from Zavvi really. But it may help those who prefer this art to the old stuff - otherwise it is just the same disc with no other extras, for a higher price.

 

[JackRegan]

I think I am going to wait for the Film Arena version.

Or perhaps the Nova or Kimchi One Click, and we can all gaze in awe and wonder as they misread the market, and they sit on the shelves for two years

p.s. Jackanape - Couldn't agree more - Virkia sounds like a fully paid up member of the Zavvi fan club; or their professional promotions team - and not for the first time!

All I know for sure is that if he carries on like this I'll be in danger of losing my dinner . . .

 

[paulboland]

I'm fairly sure that Zavvi does read the threads form time to time, that makes sense. I have no idea if they actually post here or not - all I will say is that if Zavvi wanted to write a PR style post to big themselves up it would read a LOT like what you just posted. I mean, you even put NOW UP FOR PRE-ORDER when mentioning one of their products.

People are free to buy anything on its merits, but I think they are right to point out that this film is over priced and pretty much a cash grab. You can't even compare it to any other release that has 1,000 copies either as most of them do not have a much cheaper alternative in steelbook form. I think this is just a case of being a swing and a miss from Zavvi really. But it may help those who prefer this art to the old stuff - otherwise it is just the same disc with no other extras, for a higher price.

Zavvi do read these threads
There is members who are part of Zavvi but I doubt very much they will be announcing who they are and I would not blame them for keeping their connection to Zavvi a secret as I would hate to think what private messages they would get and would not be fair to them

We have had some issues yes from Zavvi with customer service but overall they have given us some fantastic steelbooks and we all have a choice to purchase or not I'm just glad we have that choice and a lot of my collection comes from Zavvi
I spent over €3,000 last year alone with them if I don't like a steelbook I don't purchase if its something I want I'm happy

In regards to the Ted release steelbook I'm surprised a lot purchased this as the previous one was good enough
Having any steelbook limited to 1,000 seams to sell lot quicker than it should for all steelbooks that are that limited

 

[steelbobawny]

I would like to thank Zavvi for giving us such a wonderful choice of steelbooks over the past two years. I too had to cut this down! paragraphs?

I would take quality over quantity when it comes to steelbooks, steelbooks are a premium product and should be treated as such, Zavvi have some say in getting quality products out to customers, they can always reject some releases, the Zavvi pricing is very inconsistent as well. When there are problems with a release Zavvi do not communicate well, in todays whole range of social media and technology, this is not acceptable, even in previous times this would not be acceptable.

For a known online retailer that has some exclusive content, Zavvi has a poor quality customer service and system, Amazon customer services make them look real stupid and incompetent in that respect.

I still go looking for the Play steelbooks now and then to add to the collection, to me they will never be dead, to collectors no release is dead and buried if they like it, there is ebay and trading in forums.
If it was not for the Play.com steelbooks we would not have the steelbooks we have today. There would be blu-ray banners on the steelbook, age certificates in the UK, text on the back (yes lots of the other clutter like on a plastic keep case), we have a certain Ninja community member to thank for this too for his great work at play, he also worked hard with members here, we have much to be grateful for.

Back on topic this release is over priced, I may like the artwork better than the first release but older movies and another release for the same movie should come down in cost, it's not a new release. It's like another attempt of a cash in from Zavvi like a good few of their other releases, some for horrible movies that don't deserve premium steelbook releases.

Steelbook Blu-ray has an interesting interview with Zavvi too with questions answered, this shows they do have some influence on their steelbook releases.

 

[virkia]

Apologies in advance to the wonderful people who run this excellent forum - please feel free to move this to the Zavvi retailer site if you see fit.

I don't deny being a Zavvi fan - I consider Zavvi to be the the veritable home of steelbooks and I wouldn't wish it any other way.

We all know that no other company has much interest in exclusive steelbooks This is clearly demonstrated by the figures from Amazon, HMV and Entertainment Store over the past few years.

I feel that Zavvi have done an excellent job in bringing us all genres of film in steelbook packaging and that they should receive praise for that fact instead of constant bitching which I find irritating.

At the risk of boring the good contributors here I'll express my opinion in the way of a list:-

- Hardly ever had issues with Zavvi regarding damaged steelbooks in this two year period and the returns process has improved recently IMO.

- Play.com is history and I see no point in going on about GBP 9.99 steelbooks several years later. Although I have all of Play's steelbooks I do not miss them in any way apart from maybe for their superior packaging. Some of their steelbooks were memorable but others that I could mention the less said the better IMO (think those with the horizontal front artwork).

- I have no issue with this new TED steelbook priced at GBP 16.99 and don't mind paying extra for the more pleasing artwork and the fact that it is limited to 1,000 instead of 4,000 is the icing on the cake.

- I have no issue with Zavvi's steelbook pricing though I nearly had a heart attack on Sunday when they forgot to change the not yet live price of GBP 24.99 for POLTERGEIST and I had to re-visit the site several hours later to double check.
I don't consider their steelbook pricing at pre-order over the top unlike that of some other retailers and it goes without saying that those unhappy with any of these steelbooks can probably pick them up from other countries if they are so inclined.
I buy most on my steelbooks from Zavvi and admit to playing the waiting game particularly for some of the GBP 15.99/16.99 Studio Canal releases in the hope of catching them in flash sales a few months down the line but others that I feel may go OOP before release I try to pre-order on "live" day if I'm around.
As far as I can see no other company is bringing us GBP 14.99 steelbooks - HMV? I don't think so. Entertainment Store ditto.

- I obviously have no idea if Zavvi has choice over which steelbooks to sell but it would surely be dumb in the extreme if they released steelbooks just for the sake of it, not caring if they will sell. It is a business after all and no business can survive by filling their warehouses with unsold steelbooks and this is probably why we now have the customary 2,000 print runs.

- There is probably only one thing I would change if I could and that is to have steelbooks of films that have not yet been released in the UK - AMERICAN PSYCHO please - and there are tens of thousands of those to chose from. It's unfortunately very rare for me to buy a steelbook of a film that I don't already own in one of those nasty blue cases.

 

[ChrisIW]

OK I'm convinced...virkia works for zavvi

 

[nefilim]

Just remember - do NOT send them photos.

You are under NO OBLIGATION whatsoever to play their game!

If they insist on photos tell them your camera is broken and you can't afford a new one or some such.

They assume that everyone they deal with is a moron and doesn't know their consumer rights - don't indulge their fantasies.

why not send photos. everytime I have refund or new steel has been sent.

just wondering ?

 

[virkia]

I wish!
If I did, I wouldn't have to spend so much of my income on steelbooks and they would let me know when steelbooks go live.

There is one thing that would shake my faith in Zavvi and that is to do with their policy(?) of limiting to 5 the number of steelbooks per customer. Is this true? Do they really cancel multiple orders? I wouldn't know because the most I've ever ordered is 2 and I've never had a cancellation from Zavvi unless it was for an item they could not source from their suppliers.

I understand that some people might pre-order the 5 allowed, keep one and sell the other 4 on eBay - this makes perfect sense to me and would appear to be the case for those sellers with 3 or 4 to sell there.

It doesn't explain however the p - - - - - offering 39 copies at almost GBP 40 or the other offering 10 unless the 5 per customer is untrue or these people work for Zavvi.