SmartPost was one of the reasons I switched my pre-orders over to CoolStuffInc. That and the fact their reward program is better and I like how they sponsor the Dice Tower.

I use CoolStuffInc all the time, and they do, in fact, use SmartPost, if your order is light enough. See this reddit discussion.

SmartPost was one of the reasons I switched my pre-orders over to CoolStuffInc. That and the fact their reward program is better and I like how they sponsor the Dice Tower.

I use CoolStuffInc all the time, and they do, in fact, use SmartPost, if your order is light enough. See this reddit discussion.

I'm not surprised. However, I tend to take all pre-orders for the 4 members of our gaming group into my order at once, so you're usually looking at $250+ worth of X-Wing, so I get weight-bumped out of the SmartPost bracket. The difference for me has been how fast CSI moves product out of their warehouse. MM seems to take a couple more days to process that CSI does not. It adds up. It has never taken a CSI order over a week to reach me (and I live in Oregon, all the way across the country from Orlando), while MM usually takes 8-10 days from St. Louis. Not sure why, but if the cost is the same (free and X-Wing prices are always about the same), but it's quicker, and I prefer their rewards, I am just going to go to CSI. That is in no way a sleight against MM; they have been outstanding.

SmartPost was one of the reasons I switched my pre-orders over to CoolStuffInc. That and the fact their reward program is better and I like how they sponsor the Dice Tower.

I might have to give CoolStuff a try this wave if their shipping is reasonable. MM's customer service has been outstanding, I'm just not fond of their shipping. My orders from them via FedEx Smartpost (to Washington state) take 10 to 12 days when every other shipping method is 3 to 7.

Its possible I've been spoiled by Amazon Prime though and now have little patience for shipping. LOL

Anyone old like me and remember sending in Proof of Purchase tokens to Kenner and waiting 2 or 3 months to get an Admiral Akbar action figure sent to them? I'm so glad the "6 to 8 weeks shipping" is a thing of the past. That was an absolute eternity as a kid!

I live in Oregon, so that shipping time from MM jives with my experience. For me, Cool Stuff has been a couple days faster.

I totally remember sending in Proofs for Star Wars stuff, and points from G.I. Joe. I remember getting Sergeant Slaughter and Major Bludd that way.

I have three copies of the original cobra commander and one with the hood...

I live in Oregon, so that shipping time from MM jives with my experience. For me, Cool Stuff has been a couple days faster.

I totally remember sending in Proofs for Star Wars stuff, and points from G.I. Joe. I remember getting Sergeant Slaughter and Major Bludd that way.

I'm just across the border from Portland, OR.

Drives me crazy when my package hits the FedEx terminal just outside of Portland (Troutdale), which is a 30 minute drive from my house, only to be thrown on a truck and driven right past my place to Seattle. Then it spends a couple days transferring to the Post office so they can bring it right back down to where FedEx already had it.

Well, I hope that means that MM will be able to ship to have it arrive on the day it comes out in the stores.

Not that it has any direct bearing on MM's practices, but for comparison... since CoolStuff has changed their release date to Mar. 17 on their website, I emailed to ask whether they'd be shipping for arrival on Mar. 17, or shipping on that date. They said they would be shipping on the release date.

Got my shipping notification from Amazon (third party seller) last night for the TAP and Mist Hunter. Says it should arrive 14-17.

I called MM to ask if there was anyway they could ship it so I get it the 18, and they said that even with one day shipping it was not guaranteed as they might get them on the 17 or a day later.

a local store is doing a release event with discounts which is awesome. that's how you compete with online stores while still making money.

CSI and MM always ship on the street date, in my experience. The price of a steep discount is getting stuff a week late.

MM just went from "Order Awaiting Release" to "Preparing for Release".

Whatever that means.

MM just went from "Order Awaiting Release" to "Preparing for Release".

Whatever that means.

MM just went from "Order Awaiting Release" to "Preparing for Release".

Whatever that means.

Same here, lol.

Next will be 'Scheduled for release' followed by 'Releasing soon' and 'Any day now, we promise'