Pre Ordering from Amazon (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Garman]

So I'm planning a party for Pirates of the Caribbean on Blu Ray, and was wondering if I pre order it them both from Amazon, when they would arrive. The party is planned for May 22, but I'm curious to know if Amazon ships the discs as soon as they get them or if they ship on the street date. I pre-ordered Casino Royale from DVD Empire back in March and the disc arrived at my door on the street date. Not that I need them early, I just need them before 7pm Tuesday the 22nd. Gosh, I cannot wait!

AJG

 

[Robert Crawford]

I wouldn't order from Amazon then because most of my preorders arrive on the Wednesday or Thursday of the release week.

 

[Southpaw]

Yup, every preorder I've ever done with amazon arrived that Wednesday with prime 2 day shipping. The only time I got it on Tuesday (street date) is if I upgraded to next day shipping. Otherwise, ships Monday - received Wednesday every time.

 

[Paul.S]

Are you in a city with a b&m store where you can buy BDs, Aaron? If so, there's no way I'd recommend even the usually-reliable Amazon shipping you something if your social calendar depends on it. Get up from the 'puter and go physically make arrangements to have them held for you at a store.

 

[Aaron Garman]

Oh there is plenty of b&m, but I was looking for the best deal and Amazon seems to usually have them. Thanks for the tips though.

AJG

 

[Chris S]

I use Amazon Prime which gives you free two day shipping for an annual fee of $79 a year and I almost always get titles on their release date. Of course now I've guaranteed myself that I'm not getting Pirates on May 22nd.

 

[Paul Hillenbrand]

To date, after 182 HD disc shipments from Amazon, my observations of getting titles "almost always" on their release date depends on where you live, what shipping site they decide to pick for a particular title (in my area, HD DVD's seem to come faster than Blu-ray, because of the location of the centers they have chosen) and the person that happens to be shipping the item.Also, I find that making each disc title as a single shipped order, increases my chances of getting some of the discs on or close to the release date, but many come, IMO LATE!

Having Amazon Prime and also selecting the "free two day shipping" as my common choice, I find it very irritating that many, not all, of my shipments are still being sent by 3 day. Tracking utilities show this information.

When calling Amazon to complain about not honoring the 2 day choices, they refer to the "Delivery Estimates" section of "shipping" that reads:

"We calculate delivery estimates by taking the estimated shipping date and adding the time it takes a package to travel from our facilities to your destination address, based on the shipping speed you've chosen."

"Also, when you select One-Day or Two-Day Shipping, we may use air or ground shipping as necessary to get your items to you within the promised time frame.

They use a two day time frame from the release date = (3 days)!

Paul

 

[Tim Glover]

The shipping at Amazon is rather inconsistent. Back in the early early days of HD DVD ...last summer and fall specifically, I always got new releases at least the day after (wednesday) using the free promotion prime 2 day shipping Paul spoke about. Shipping was good.

Now, though I find I still get most of my titles on Wednesday or Thurs using the free shipping method. But here's the catch. If they use a hub near Dallas, then it gets here fast. Or if not, like Planet Earth, took a week to arrive. I also think they fudge a bit on the estimated arrival time with hopes you will pay for standard shipping.

Amazon is great though and I have used them for about 99% of my HD DVD purchases.

 

[Brian Price]

As another person mentioned I really believe this has a LOT to do with how close you are to a distribution warehouse. I have probably ordered 10-15 BD's from amazon and chosen the free 2 day shipping. Every single one of my BD's arrived on the release day. I'm in Cincinnati and the warehouse they use for me is in Louisville and this is a direct UPS route. For me almost everything I order from them arrives in one day even though I don't select next day shipping.

 

[Tim Glover]

May have to start using DVD Pacific more as by my pleasant surprise, Mr. Mailman delivered today the HD DVD for The Fountain! Too cool as the release date is Tues, May 15.

Already watched it and feel rather snobbish having this early. They weren't expensive on this title as that's the reason why I went with them for this but their prices are a bit higher than amazon. But getting the disc 5-7 days earlier is kind of nice. Not sure if this is their normal practice or perhaps they knew this was my first time with them & want to woo me in?

 

[Paul Hillenbrand]

 

[DanHal]

May I ask what Mailman delivers mail on Sunday?

 

[Tim Glover]

I posted that yesterday, which was a Saturday. I think most U.S. cities get mail delivered on Saturday.

 

[kevin_y]

A few years ago I often got preorders (mostly Criterion discs) ON Tuesday, the release day. And that was only free media mail. Maybe some manufacturers sent Amazon early shipments. One time I got a Criterion disc 2 weeks before release date.

Now, like you said, all preorders arrive Wed or Thurs, and that's if I preordered early.

 

[Jason Harbaugh]

I cancelled my Amazon preorder after I noticed that it said ships May 30th!!

Went with DVD Pacific on wed. Not shipped yet, but they did try charging my card today, of course there was an issue so hopefully after my email they try again today and get it out today.

 

[Scott Kriefall]

Many of my recent Amazon pre-orders (SD & HD) haven't even shipped until Tuesday or Wednesday of release week...