BBTS Pile of Loot Question

[Outbackk]

For those who have ever used BBTS PoL...

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate (see below) this function? I'm trying to find out at what point does it really pay off (item price vs shipping savings). Anyone with prior POL experience (good or bad), please feel free to give your two cents.

10 = An Amazing Experience
to
1 = No Thanks!

I understand that when comparing deals you have to look for price, possible shipping costs, availability & patience but I would love to hear what members of the Tank have to say!


******************************************** EDIT **************************************************


little side by side comparison (10/30/08):


BBTS
#3 DVD pk: $23.99 ($44.99 combined)
#4 DVD pk: $23.99
Wave 10: $49.99
Firebat: $19.99
Total: $117.96 - $114.97
Shipping: $12.79
Grand Total: $130.75 - $127.76

Pros: Ease of Doing Business, availability of product, pile of loot, quick shipping

Cons: No discounts, higher prices, lag time between "processing/entering the warehouse" to "shipping",



HTS
#3 DVD pk: $19.99
#4 DVD pk: $19.99
Wave 10: $7.99 each…..($47.94 total)
Firebat: $15.99
Total: $103.91
Shipping: $10.94
Grand Total: $114.85

Pros: Discounts (Grant Total after MDCREW 20% discount =$94.05), Ease of Doing Business, Prices are fairly close to retail price

Cons: Discounts are not always available, Products not always available, Shipping dates not always accurate



Retail
#3 DVD pk: $19.99 – $23.99
#4 DVD pk: $19.99 – $23.99
Wave 10: $6.84 - $7.99 each….($41.04 - $47.94 total)
Firebat: $14.89 - $15.98
Total: $95.91 - $111.90
Shipping: $0
Grand Total: $95.91 - $111.90

Pros: If you find it…no waiting, helping local independent shops and dealers

Cons: Cost of Gas, lack of available product, could take up quite a bit of time, disadvantage for those who are not in areas that cannot support the major markets.





Now, this is not taking in to account customer service (the importance of which depends on each individual customer)

I would guess that in order for the PoL to work there has to be a specific $$$ amount before it becomes a better deal. I would like to figure out what that $$$ amount is.


.::.

[Hicks_Royel]

Well, look at the situation we're seeing right now with waves 10, 11, and 12 and the wave 6 Comic Packs. BBTS is filling orders as I type. If the PoL function wasn't there, I'd be spending 10-15 dollars per wave getting them here. Since I waited to ship my newest CPs however, I'm only looking at maybe 20 dollars for shipping total as opposed to somewhere around 45-50.

[Duffmann]

if you are in no hurry to get your figures it is a great deal and you save a ton with shipping prices. so it all dapends if you can wait or want it right away. i would rather save money on shipping and ship all together to spend more money on figures. but that is me...

[botticus]

It pays off immediately if you're ordering from them. Their base shipping rate for UPS is $8.29, after which it adds $X per pound. If you order two cases and ship them separately, your shipping is a minimum of $16.58. If you ship them together in your POL, it would probably be somewhere between $9 and $11.

[Troynos]

It's definately a great idea if you don't mind waiting to receive things.

[Jeffrozup]

I think its a very good idea and helps everybody out. They are able to ship multiple items at once using one box instead of filling out a bunch of a little items and we are able to save money.

For example, I had some cases plus the latest vehicles in my PoL and then the Extreme Conditions sets came in and I added them and instead of the $22 shipping charge, it just added $5 shipping to my order so that saved me money and I got everything at once.

Its good if you know several items will be released at once such as Wave 10, 11 and 12 within a month.

[Glumby]

Awesome, for the following $628.88 order I paid $47.89 for shipping

Vehicles Series 01 - Case of 4
Wave 5 - Revision 5 - Case of 8
Shared Exclusive - Set of COBRA Desert & Arctic Assault Squads
Wave 10 - Case of 8
Wave 10 - Set of 6
Vehicles Series 02 - Case of 4
Vehicles Series 02 - Firebat
Vehicles Series 02 - Shark Tooth & Deep Six
Series 02 - Set of 2 Battle Packs
Vehicles Series 03 - Case of 4 (2 cases)
Wave 10 - Variant Clear Blue Wraith

Subtotal $628.88
Tax $0.00
Shipping $47.89
Total $676.77

[Outbackk]

Originally Posted by Glumby

Awesome, for the following $628.88 order I paid $47.89 for shipping

Vehicles Series 01 - Case of 4
Wave 5 - Revision 5 - Case of 8
Shared Exclusive - Set of COBRA Desert & Arctic Assault Squads
Wave 10 - Case of 8
Wave 10 - Set of 6
Vehicles Series 02 - Case of 4
Vehicles Series 02 - Firebat
Vehicles Series 02 - Shark Tooth & Deep Six
Series 02 - Set of 2 Battle Packs
Vehicles Series 03 - Case of 4 (2 cases)
Wave 10 - Variant Clear Blue Wraith

Subtotal $628.88
Tax $0.00
Shipping $47.89
Total $676.77

Wonder what that total would have been without it?

[Troynos]

A helluva lot more then what he paid. Consider at least 9 bucks to send each thing seperately. That's about $99 in shipping alone.

[Outbackk]

I can see how it can be a HUGE help for obtaining Joes. For those who don't live in a market that supports a lot of retail options, it would make perfect sense.

Shipping: I could see how POL would be your best bet. Without it, gas and shipping seem to even out and be a wash at best. The difference here is with shipping at least you are guaranteed that you are getting something

Availability: Online purchases are funny. First two sets of DVD sets were available at Target two months before the sets that I ordered @ BBTS were slated to ship...and Target was cheaper. However, now that has flip-flopped a bit. I could get the two new DVD sets with ease. With revisions and old waves clogging the shelves it seams that online retailers are getting the leg up at the moment.