17$ shipping for Europe is crazy

[viper1701]

Hi Telltale,

I'm an old customer who bought almost every single game since you started...

However I must say I'm very disappointed with the shipping cost for one freaking DVD sent to Europe (France in my case)

17$ for one DVD ? really ?

For comparison Amazon is charging 6$ for a dvd and very little more if you add one or two more.

I mean USPS is not even that good, it took weeks to receive Wallace & Gromit.

I'm sure there are less expensive shipping method, specially for telltale customers who receive this DVD as a "gift" and who probably don't mind waiting for a few weeks to receive their games (considering they can always download the digital version).

I hope you will be able to change this because this 17$ fee is really transforming the gift into a curse...

[xChri5x]

It's coming up as $18 for Canada...

[OzzieMonkey]

You know, you can get postage free if you spend more than 50 dollars at the telltale store (S&M Devil's Playhouse included).

[xChri5x]

Yeah, if I add an extra $50 worth of stuff to my order....

[harlequ1n]

Originally Posted by OzzieMonkey

You know, you can get postage free if you spend more than 50 dollars at the telltale store (S&M Devil's Playhouse included).

Will that free shipping also cover Europe then?

[Laserschwert]

Is that an error in the system? I have ordered from the Store so many times, and there was always a shipping option (to Germany) for less than $10.

[OzzieMonkey]

Originally Posted by Laserschwert

Is that an error in the system? I have ordered from the Store so many times, and there was always a shipping option (to Germany) for less than $10.

This is just for promotion of the Tales of Monkey Island DVD and Sam and Max:The Devil's Playhouse.

[dementia13]

I've always been under the impression that TellTale was on the gamer's side - near as I can tell, this increase in shipping is a scam - shall we say "incentive" - to get us to pony up for $50 worth of swag.

For the Sam & Max games I believe they had regular US Post ground shipping to Canada, and that came to something like $7. Forcing us to pay $18 for a "free" copy of something we've already purchased is not cool. I live in Canada and don't see why I should have to pay such an exorbant shipping price, especially when we got by perfectly well without it twice before.

Telltale, legitimately upset customers here, can we get a response please?

(Appologies for the re-post in other threads, but I really want to get my pre-purchased "free" copy of this game and don't want to pay twenty bucks for it. You can understand that, right?)

[corruptbiggins]

shipping prices have gone up yes, but not because of Telltale but because of the people they use for shipping (USPS I believe). They are well aware of the problem for international customers which is why they're trying stuff like this free shipping for orders of $50. They've even made it very easy to get to that total by just allowing you to get the TOMI Deluxe DVD package & pre-order the new season of Sam & Max - two things that most people on these forums want. Obviously not everyone wants them or can afford them but at least they are trying.

[viper1701]

Originally Posted by corruptbiggins

Obviously not everyone wants them or can afford them but at least they are trying.

I'm sorry, but making shipping free if you spend 50$ is not trying anything except to make you buy more stuff

Since TellTale exist I bought
Bones
Sam'n Max (all 3 seasons)
Wallace & Gromit
Monkey Island
+ some merchandising stuffs.

So excuse me if I don't want to spend 50 more dollars to deserve an honest price on shipping.

Also you're saying it's not their fault, it's USPS'. Well they always can change can't they ?

I am actually quite used to online shopping, ordering a lot in the US and in ASIA and believe me, 17$ for a DVD is unique. Even private seller on eBay would not ask as much.

[Falanca]

Originally Posted by viper1701

Also you're saying it's not their fault, it's USPS'. Well they always can change can't they ?

I wonder if it's that easy, changing their distributor at one spesific moment. Agreements are done and stuff.

And by the way, I've read about others' complaints a while ago and I've seen that Telltale staff theirselves DO KNOW about this "problem".

It's a very rude and an unfair attitude, trying to make Telltale look bad by even saying 'they can change their distributor so it's their fault!'. Heck, they don't even get any dime from the shipping money. And Telltale would really like having a easy solution to that problem. I believe it's not as easy as you think.

[bonnie]

Yes, ttg is very aware of shipping charges. Falanca is correct, there are contracts with the current distributor. We're looking into many different options but that takes some time. And, moving from one distributor to the next takes a whole lot of money. Moving inventory around is painful and costly. One option to consider is having a European distributor but I can't say that's in the works yet but certainly being thought about. The bug is in the ear of decision makers over here.

USPS IS the shipper of choice with our current distributor. Unfortunately, we don't get a whole lot of say in what shipping prices are and we only push back the shipping costs back to customers, we do not profit in shipping costs. Our profits are in selling more games and gear.

To make a long story short, we here at ttg hear you loud and clear about shipping prices being too high. All I can say is we are working on it.

Cheers,
bonnie

[Laserschwert]

THANK YOU! Finally a thorough statement.

Now I can go and buy stuff for more than 50 bucks

[Macfly77]

USPS is the United States Postal Service and is the cheapest international shipping option (from the USA).
As my family lives in Belgium, I tried to see how much shipping would cost if I lived in San Rafael (like Telltale) and shipped a package to my brother in Brussels.
The cheapest UPS option (if the package is dropped off at a UPS shipping center and packed in a flat rate UPS envelope) comes to $69.34.
The cheapest FedEx option (if the package is dropped off at a FedEx shipping center and packed in a flat rate FedEx envelope) is $48.48 (oddly enough for their Priority service; their Economy service will set you back $69.66).
As for USPS, their flat-rate Priority envelope (or small box) is $13.45 if the package is taken to the post office ($12.78 if paid online), whereas using your own envelope would be $7.12 for 1/2 pound.
UPS and FedEx include a tracking number and the contents are insured (for free) for up to $100.
No insurance is included with USPS but it might be available for purchase at an additional cost (I'm not positive and can't find it on the USPS website; also, keep in mind that any insurance would let the customs know the value of the contents)
As for tracking a package shipped via USPS, registered mail will add $11.50 to your total.
None of these costs include handling.
Shipping did go up (I live in California and since I moved there in late 2002, stamps have gone up in price 3 times - and had apparently gone up shortly before I moved there) and there's not much that Telltale can do about it, except being their usual awesome selves and offer free shipping over a certain amount.
Sure some other companies may offer cheaper international shipping, but those companies do a lot more volume (saleswise) than Telltale and can afford to eat part of the shipping costs.
Plus, Telltale is so nice that they give you easy ways to reach $50 (Monkey Island swag, Sam & Max Season 3).
So, of course I wish shipping were cheaper but, I am sure, so does Telltale!

[Avistew]

This is not directed at telltale at all, but I feel like ranting.
I used to live in France. I ordered stuff from the US and it cost a lot to ship. I ordered stuff from Europe and it didn't cost much to ship.
I moved to Canada.
If I order stuff from the US it costs exactly the same to ship as it does to ship to France.
If I order stuff from Europe it costs much more to ship than it did when I lived in France.

I thought "okay, I'm moving to Canada, I won't need to spend much on shipping from the US". Think again. It didn't change anything. There are even times when it costs more for some reason.

It's annoying.
[/rant]

[nachtritter]

Originally Posted by bonnie

Yes, ttg is very aware of shipping charges. Falanca is correct, there are contracts with the current distributor. We're looking into many different options but that takes some time. And, moving from one distributor to the next takes a whole lot of money. Moving inventory around is painful and costly. One option to consider is having a European distributor but I can't say that's in the works yet but certainly being thought about. The bug is in the ear of decision makers over here.

USPS IS the shipper of choice with our current distributor. Unfortunately, we don't get a whole lot of say in what shipping prices are and we only push back the shipping costs back to customers, we do not profit in shipping costs. Our profits are in selling more games and gear.

To make a long story short, we here at ttg hear you loud and clear about shipping prices being too high. All I can say is we are working on it.

Cheers,
bonnie

So basically... that's what I said in http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/...&postcount=182

[viper1701]

Originally Posted by bonnie

To make a long story short, we here at ttg hear you loud and clear about shipping prices being too high. All I can say is we are working on it.

Bonnie, thanx for your answer.

I hope TellTale will be able to find a solution to satisfy his European (and apparently Canadian) customers.

In the the meantime I will continue to buy everything you produce like I always did.

Amitiés,

Romain

[Adrianr]

I agree, I'm appalled at this new shipping rate. They want to charge me $18US to ship to Australia.. I've ordered both seasons of Sam & Max, Wallace & Gromit, Strong Bad and each time the postage was only a few $.

I order games from so many overseas sites and the most I have ever been charged is only $4.95 for postage where do they get off charging $18!

From what I understand it's because of USPS or w/e service they are using but thats just BS prices... I can send stuff to America, England, France with the weight of 300g for $4.15AU.. 1/5 of their asking price.. They cant say it costs 5 times more to go the other way. For $18 I would expect it to be flown into Australia and hand delivered to me by the postal company.

[Macfly77]

A little under 300 g (300 g would be about 10.6 oz) from the USA to Australia via USPS (cheapest international shipping service in the USA).

[Adrianr]

Yup 1st class mail $9 how can they justify $18... its absurd..