International Fan Idea: Let a US .org member ship your stuff over rather than Mattel

[MegaGearMax]

MOD NOTE: It's a neat idea and some members have already offered this up over the past few days. Please remember that all such transactions should be discussed and take place in the Marketplace, however.

If Mattel's shipping methods and custom charges are too expensive, why not get a US fan to send the International fans' stuff over for much cheaper prices?

• International fans buy the amount of subs that they wish to buy, BUT they get an American partner (someone that you KNOW you can trust on the forums) who is willing to give them their US address to use.
• The American gets the monthly MOTU shipment and tells the international fan of the exact shipping price, which is cheaper than Mattel's method.
• The international fan sends the American the shipping money
• The American ships the International fan his stuff, which is probably alot quicker than waiting a month.

Discuss. Hopefully this plan is viable. Stygian from the Matty forums has the same idea...

[Darkspecter]

I was unable to sleep, actually thinking about this option for International fans last night. The US fans could also mark each parcel as a gift, valued at $5 or something to avoid customs...if they choose to. No pressure.

Still, this would be a GREAT savings for International fans.

The other idea is that the US fan could buy two subs and have them shipped together, divide the shipping costs by 2 and the International fan pays for half of the US shipping, the figure and shipping to their personal address. It's pretty much the same idea as MGM's, but a little cheaper shipping.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, the US friend could ship the items QUARTERLY to save even more money for the International fans. Agent Gibbs figured out that if Mattel would allow quarterly shipments for International fans, it would save them $104 worth handling fees per year. So, if you're avoiding customs fees too, the savings just keeps getting larger and larger. I really, really think partnering up with a US friend/fan is the best way for International folks to get the figures at more reasonable and manageable prices. We just need to find people in the US that would be willing to partner up!

[Sabretooth]

I might be willing to try. But I already purchased my sub so maybe someone who has not a sub yet here in Europe would be better.
Maybe if they finally launch the 'my sub' website I will be able to change the shipping address without any problems. Still I do not know anybody here closer so far.
Very good idea btw.!

[Orko's Magic Hat]

I would gladly pair up with a US fan and buy 2 subs through them no problem!

I have yet to get my subs so let's give this idea a go!

Any volunteers?!

[mikethedrummer]

This is a great idea! I am willing to help as long as I can be set up with the funds ahead of time. Check out my feedback thread, I'm one of the most trusted forum members here and do what I can to help fellow fans.

[Jii Dee]

This is exactly what I did last year after my He-Ro shipment went missing and Matty gave me the finger, which escalated into a huge blow out that got me noticed by management. heh.
Anyway I suspect this is how I'll do it this year too. It's always nice to get a huge box of plastic in time for xmas!

[Barbecue17]

I'll help any foreign fans that are interested! This is brilliant!

Look at us solving Mattel's problems for them! Imagine if you shipped the figures loose as well (provided the receiving subscriber didn't mind). You could save tons of money and the US fan could QC check for you! No dealing with faulty figures overseas!

[Arvulis]

I support the Idea!

[bskcase]

I would help out as well. This is a good idea.

[chrisware]

I started a thread with an offer to do this for 5 or 6 international members days ago. A mod moved it to the market place and said I was trying to "sell" something.
At any rate, the offer is still good. Anyone that's interested, read my post now located in the market place and let me know.

[Zodach]

The US fans could also mark each parcel as a gift, valued at $5 or something to avoid customs...if they choose to. No pressure.

This is all fine and dandy, but who is going to take responsibility for lost or damaged packages? International buyers want cheap shipping (ie - First Class International). The tracking with this method is unreliable and I don't believe insurance is offered. Also if you mark the package with a value of $5, insurance would only cover $5 not the true value of the item. Are the U.S. subscribers willing to take on the risk of lost packages and refund the international buyers if that happens or are the buyers willing to accept that they may not get all their figures? That's my hangup with this plan.

[MegaGearMax]

This is all fine and dandy, but who is going to take responsibility for lost or damaged packages? International buyers want cheap shipping (ie - First Class International). The tracking with this method is unreliable and I don't believe insurance is offered. Also if you mark the package with a value of $5, insurance would only cover $5 not the true value of the item. Are the U.S. subscribers willing to take on the risk of lost packages and refund the international buyers if that happens or are the buyers willing to accept that they may not get all their figures? That's my hangup with this plan.

I knew there was a snag in this idea somewhere.

Would fans want to take this chance?

[Darkspecter]

This is all fine and dandy, but who is going to take responsibility for lost or damaged packages? International buyers want cheap shipping (ie - First Class International). The tracking with this method is unreliable and I don't believe insurance is offered. Also if you mark the package with a value of $5, insurance would only cover $5 not the true value of the item. Are the U.S. subscribers willing to take on the risk of lost packages and refund the international buyers if that happens or are the buyers willing to accept that they may not get all their figures? That's my hangup with this plan.

Well, different shipping options could be offered. I haven't done the math, but someone posted shipping costs for the cheap shipping vs DHL in an "Ask Matty." Their data shows that 5 figures is only about $3 more expensive than the cheap shipping. When you ship 6 figures or more DHL, it's CHEAPER! So, if the US friend ships stuff once every quarter via DHL (or do two shipments or only one BIG shipment at the end of the year), it's tracked (shouldn't get lost) and it's cheaper.

It's MUCH less risky than, for example, someone from Europe paying Mattel for the First Class shipping each month.

You would just have to let your subscription pal know that you can't afford to pay for lost packages. If they want it insured for the exact amount, that's fine too. It still ends up being cheaper for them in the long run (they WOULD have to pay customs fees this way though).

The US and International fans would have to work out a deal between them. What shipping they want, how many shipments, etc. It can all be worked out.

I'll try to find that post of the cost for First Class VS DHL for International customers.

EDIT: Found it!

# of figures for Int.Post/# of figures for DHL...

01: 13.75/01: 30.60
02: 21.70/02: 35.50
03: 30.15/03: 40.45
04: 38.25/04: 45.25
05: 46.60/05: 49.40
06: 60.25/06: 58.50
07: 69.70/07: 63.05
08: 78.60/08: 67.65
09: 87.55/09: 72.25
10: 96.15/10: 76.85

5 figures sent via DHL is $2.80 more (and tracked). 6 figures via DHL is $1.75 CHEAPER than the non-tracked method. The more figures you send, the more money you end up saving on shipping.
http://forums.mattycollector.com/eve...7&r=7371086767

[Skystalker]

I'm willing to help international fans. I have sold on the Marketplace before the feedback was posted on each profile, so that is why it is at 0. But I'm sure I can get some other members to vouch for me if you want. Here is my Ebay feedback: http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...k&myworld=true

I live in Florida, so South American buyers might be able to benefit from cheaper shipping.

[bskcase]

It still would be cheaper if we do bulk shipping and it would require a bit of trust on both parties.

[JonWes]

It's a neat idea and some members have already offered this up over the past few days. Please remember that all such transactions should be discussed and take place in the Marketplace, however.

[brock_snyder]

I would be willing to help out an international fan. As long as I received payment up front every .month

[tumalu]

All you guys are amazing, as an international fan I thank you so much for offering your help to us with the new shipping problem.

However, it's not that Mattel is quoting shipping prices higher than they are, it's just that DHL rates in themselves make buying a single figure so much more expensive and unaffordable for many.
Moreover, Digital River has the great habit of showing the total price paid for the transaction (inclusive of shipping) on the bill outside of the package, so we end up paying customs on shipping too, which should not be paid; with the new dhl prices this would mean a 100% chance to be custom-charged for a single figure.
(actually here you could help since it's a bit rarer to be charged when parcels come from a non-corporate sender, but that still leaves the problem of the expensive dhl fees).

International post was great and cheap but, should we ask our fellow us he-fans to use that shipping method, of course we couldn't hold them responsible in case the parcel gets lost and, at the end of the day, it would really be no different than having it shipped directly from Mattel (and of course there would be also the cost to have the figure shipped from Matty to you to be sustained).

Again, I really appreciate your kindness, but the problem really has not an easy solution.
I understand raising prices, but I wish Mattel hadn't changed their replacement policy: it was one of the (few) positive things of buying directly from Matty and now it's gone

[dagodfather]

I mail stuff out to international folks from ebay all the time. I'd also be happy to help some folks here as well.

[nuno]

Can any of you U.S. fans, who are willing to help out E.U. fans, give us an estimate for a shipping package of around 5 figures to Europe (we will have some 20 figures next year, so you could divide quarterly shipments of 5 figures each)? The shipping option should contain tracking code and some kind of insurance.

If we bought 5 figures on Matty through 3-4 months, with the cheap shipping option, it would cost us around 62.95 USD, knowing than in only one of those months we would have 2 combined figures for shipping.

If any of you guys can give us an option for shipping a combined pack of 5 figures for less than than it would be great!

Please P.M. if you want to deal.

[13977]

This is a great idea, thanks to all the US fans offering to do it you are very good people
I've already subbed for 2013 now but I was on the fence about doing it just because the increased price of the figure will mean custom fee's every month now so I kinda wish I'd held off now, oh well.
Should we be lucky enough to get a 2014 sub (or beyond) I would gladly take up a US fans kind offer to do this

[JonWes]

Okay guys, I 'm going to close and sticky this thread for visibility. Please feel free to make specific arrangements in the Marketplace section. Thanks!