Wonderful 101 backers hit by customs

SchroDingerzat · Jul 3, 2020

Update 38: Shipping Status Update · The Wonderful 101: Remastered

This update is only viewable by backers of this project

www.kickstarter.com

I am unfortunately one of those bitten by this. I am also pretty sure that the FAQ didn't mention any of the customs stuff when I backed it originally.

So sadly many have paid much more for a game that will soon be in local shops, with little to nothing to show for backing it.

Honestly this kicktstarter has been quite pointless =/.....

EDIT: I am not going mad, they didn't update the FAQ until after the campaign started to say people would be liable for customs.

PlatinumGames Addresses Wonderful 101 Kickstarter Custom Fees, And Backers Aren't Happy

Things go from bad to worse

www.nintendolife.com

Jonnax · Jul 3, 2020

The logistics of handling customs is hard.
But also someone has to pay it.
It's either included in the price or passed onto consumers.

MatrixMan.exe · Jul 3, 2020

I'm starting to wonder why I even bothered with this.

Zhao_Yun · Jul 3, 2020

Still waiting for my copy to arrive in Germany. Wouldn't be surprised if it was still stuck at customs where they will determine how much customs I have to pay...
Don't really understand why they couldn't distribute EU copies from within the EU. There is a retail EU version so it should not have been that hard, right?

Deleted member 10737 · Jul 3, 2020

this whole campaign has been one huge mess. sorry op that you (and others) have been affected.

SchroDingerzat · Jul 3, 2020

Jonnax said:
The logistics of handling customs is hard.
But also someone has to pay it.
It's either included in the price or passed onto consumers.

Should of been handled by a EU logistics firm. If small board game companies can do this, then so can Platinum.

FPX · Jul 3, 2020

EDIT: nvm, forgot you couldn't get refunds on kickstarter

tiebreaker · Jul 3, 2020

Zhao_Yun said:
Still waiting for my copy to arrive in Germany. Wouldn't be surprised if it was still stuck at customs where they will determine how much customs I have to pay...
Don't really understand why they couldn't distribute EU copies from within the EU. There is a retail EU version so it should not have been that hard, right?

Same. Going by the tracking, it has arrived in Germany since last week. So, it's probably stuck in custom.

Let's see if I have to go to pick the game up myself.

Kane · Jul 3, 2020

Still waiting for my physical copy (Serbia).
I just regret supporting this kickstarter, and I am mad at Platinum for not letting me switch to a digital version.

Windrunner · Jul 3, 2020

Very glad I got the PS4 digital edition. I was tempted by the Switch physical version but the poor performance and then getting hit by customs would have given me serious buyer's remorse.

Mafro · Jul 3, 2020

I got hit with the custom fees too.

Jonnax said:
The logistics of handling customs is hard.
But also someone has to pay it.
It's either included in the price or passed onto consumers.

They didn't add information about the additional fees until more than a week after the Kickstarter went live. They sent an email out this morning basically blaming people for not reading the FAQ properly when the information wasn't even there to begin with.

Shady as fuck.

Geist 6one7 · Jul 3, 2020

Jonnax · Jul 3, 2020

Mafro said:
I got hit with the custom fees too.

They didn't add information about the additional fees until more than a week after the Kickstarter went live. They sent an email out this morning basically blaming people for not reading the FAQ properly when the information wasn't even there to begin with.

Shady as fuck.

Okay. That's fucked up.

JediEagle · Jul 3, 2020

SchroDingerzat said:
Update 38: Shipping Status Update · The Wonderful 101: Remastered

This update is only viewable by backers of this project

www.kickstarter.com

I am unfortunately one of those bitten by this. I am also pretty sure that the FAQ didn't mention any of the customs stuff when I backed it originally.

So sadly many have paid much more for a game that will soon be in local shops, with little to nothing to show for backing it.

Honestly this kicktstarter has been quite pointless =/.....

Yes, it was mentioned in the campaign that you would have to pay for customs yourself. That is one of the reason I did not pledge. I don't remember if it was FAQ, update, campaign text, but it was explained.

edit: I see that people are upset, because it was mentioned after the campaign started. ... and I checked my pledged kickstarter campaigns, I actually cancelled my pledge. Besides the customs thing, it was also vinyl soundtrack being to high a pledge. It's all coming back :D

ArjanN · Jul 3, 2020

SchroDingerzat said:
Honestly this kicktstarter has been quite pointless =/.....

While the customs thing sucks,

the game has a better version now on new platforms and will get even more content, so it wasn't pointless at all.

SchroDingerzat · Jul 3, 2020

JediEagle said:
Yes, it was mentioned in the campaign that you would have to pay for customs yourself. That is one of the reason I did not pledge. I don't remember if it was FAQ, update, campaign text, but it was explained.

Actually some on the Kickstarter have mentioned that it was updated to include the note about customs some weeks after the campaign started (which is when I backed). So actually seems they didn't.

fans have highlighted that this particular piece of info was only added to the Kickstarter campaign's FAQ section on 12th February, more than a week after the campaign launched and long after many had already pledged their support.

PlatinumGames Addresses Wonderful 101 Kickstarter Custom Fees, And Backers Aren't Happy

Things go from bad to worse

www.nintendolife.com

Mafro · Jul 3, 2020

JediEagle said:
Yes, it was mentioned in the campaign that you would have to pay for customs yourself. That is one of the reason I did not pledge. I don't remember if it was FAQ, update, campaign text, but it was explained.

edit: I see that people are upset, because it was mentioned after the campaign started. ... and I checked my pledged kickstarter campaigns, I actually cancelled my pledge. Besides the customs thing, it was also vinyl soundtrack being to high a pledge. It's all coming back :D

Se my post above your's. They didn't mention anything about customs fees until more than a week after the campaign went live.

Komo · Jul 3, 2020

SchroDingerzat said:
Actually some on the Kickstarter have mentioned that it was updated to include the note about customs some weeks after the campaign started (which is when I backed). So actually seems they didn't.

Shame that platinum would throw this on the backers.

MatrixMan.exe · Jul 3, 2020

SchroDingerzat said:
Actually some on the Kickstarter have mentioned that it was updated to include the note about customs some weeks after the campaign started (which is when I backed). So actually seems they didn't.

PlatinumGames Addresses Wonderful 101 Kickstarter Custom Fees, And Backers Aren't Happy

Things go from bad to worse

www.nintendolife.com

Yeah, I backed the day the Kickstarter went live so there was no way I'd have known unless I decided to go back and read the updated information.

Alent · Jul 3, 2020

I'm always getting hit with customs fees so i suspect i'll be an unlucky one too. It's worse when customs hold your package for 2 weeks. Hopefully it comes soon...

EtrianFOE · Jul 3, 2020

I won't be buying a Platinum game new going forward.

SchroDingerzat · Jul 3, 2020

ArjanN said:
While the customs thing sucks,

the game has a better version now on new platforms and will get even more content, so it wasn't pointless at all.

Didn't it come out that they didn't even need the kickstarter?

blaze · Jul 3, 2020

My copy hasn't even turned up yet, but apparently I have a £17 charge heading my way, then I get to wait a bit longer to have it delivered once I have paid. Ridiculous, I would have much rather paid a little extra in postage to have the game delivered by a company that was able to use DDP, instead Royal Mail now get to charge an £8 handling fee for doing nothing they don't already do.

Deleted member 5334 · Jul 3, 2020

God, if Portugal is as bad with customs fees as they were in the past (due to my friend's experience with them, as he lives there), I legit feel bad for anyone who bought it on kickstarter there. My friend once ordered a (roughly) 4800yen DVD from Japan. He paid effectively more for customs than the damn DVD itself (so ended up paying over double the price of what he bought/shipped it for). Not the first or last time he paid extreme amounts on customs there. I really hope that doesn't happen, because I'd honestly just tell anyone to just deny it.

AllMight1 · Jul 3, 2020

Yeah arrived to my country 2 weeks ago and havent received it. First and last time I support a game through kickstarter. Its just not worth it.

aisback · Jul 3, 2020

Not gonna lie this pissed me off

King_Moc · Jul 3, 2020

Happened to my housemate. The kickstarter and customs fee has come to a bit over £45. It's about £30 in the shops and he could have gotten it sooner that way too.

JediEagle · Jul 3, 2020

Mafro said:
Se my post above your's. They didn't mention anything about customs fees until more than a week after the campaign went live.

I agree that it's a scummy move, and specially unfair to any new backers on kickstarter. Most gaming (video/card/boardgames) usually tell in advance if the campaign is customs friendly or not. There is definitely blame to be put on Platinum, but people should check the updates and messages before the end of the campaign. There was no "customs friendly" notice on the campaign, so people should expect customs costs. I know, I had a similar experience, which cost me way more money. Again, it's scummy for saying nothing, but the "I didn't know" or "They updated it AFTER" does not cut it.

edit: ok, I checked my comments on Kickstarter, it seems I was just a pain in the ass in this campaign :) I believe I cancelled my pledge after they replied to me.

Theswweet · Jul 3, 2020

Between this, the PC Physical fiasco and the overall lack of communication, this Kickstarter has been a disaster. Never touching anything Platinum puts on the platform again.

ps3ud0 · Jul 3, 2020

Yeah I mentioned this in the main thread when I saw the shipping email. Not impressed in the slightest - any customs charges could have been included and paid up front if they weren't going to distribute via EU...

Just consider that somehow they got standard release copies distributed across the world and no issues with regards to custom charges. Yet with the Kickstarter everything has been blamed to COVID-19.

Platinum and their partners fucked up and probably did it to fans that they least wanted to get on the wrong side of. That's not a threat but if people go out of their way to support you on sites like Kickstarter those are the people you should got out of your way to embrace.

One point I read on KS is the consideration that this could have been labelled as a gift since we invested in the development and publication of the game and not in actually buying a copy of it per se. I don't think that flies (for insurance coverage for a start) but was an interesting idea.

ps3ud0 8)

Deleted member 10737 · Jul 3, 2020

Mafro said:
I got hit with the custom fees too.

They didn't add information about the additional fees until more than a week after the Kickstarter went live. They sent an email out this morning basically blaming people for not reading the FAQ properly when the information wasn't even there to begin with.

Shady as fuck.

yikes, very bad look for them.

It’s Time To Go · Jul 3, 2020

I also got stung by customs, won't be backing anything platinum does again.

Wireframe · Jul 3, 2020

Yep cost me an extra £15 in the UK.

Tempy · Jul 3, 2020

I dunno. If a KS project doesn't specifically say it's customs friendly, why assume it is when the default isn't?

I don't need a "customer is liable for customs" in the FAQ to know that that's the default of all packages coming to me that originates outside of the EU.

Mafro · Jul 3, 2020

ps3ud0 said:
Yeah I mentioned this in the main thread when I saw the shipping email. Not impressed in the slightest - any customs charges could have been included and paid up front if they weren't going to distribute via EU...

Just consider that somehow they got standard release copies distributed across the world and no issues with regards to custom charges. Yet with the Kickstarter everything has been blamed to COVID-19.

Platinum and their partners fucked up and probably did it to fans that they least wanted to get on the wrong side of. That's not a threat but if people go out of their way to support you on sites like Kickstarter those are the people you should got out of your way to embrace.

One point I read on KS is the consideration that this could have been labelled as a gift since we invested in the development and publication of the game and not in actually buying a copy of it per se. I don't think that flies (for insurance coverage for a start) but was an interesting idea.

ps3ud0 8)

Yep the bolded just makes them come out of this looking even worse.

Giving out free Steam keys was nice for the people that were able to actually use them.

Vamphuntr · Jul 3, 2020

Received mine a long time ago. I'm in Canada and didn't pay any customs fee. The holographic slipcase is nice.

Deleted member 8593 · Jul 3, 2020

It has been a pretty badly handled Kickstarter so far. I almost cancelled my pledge so I could order it at retail here but decided against it. Game still isn't here and I'm pretty sure I'll have to pay up as well. Too bad.

Mafro · Jul 3, 2020

xero93 said:
If anyone hasn't received their copy yet or hasn't opened the package, try refusing the package on arrival or returning the unopened package to the shipping company. They might still try to come after you for customs charges, but if you're willing to fight back for them (do NOT pay customs for an item you didn't receive or have!) then you can get the game cheaper anywhere else.

This wouldn't work. You have to pay the customs charges before you actually receive the item from Royal Mail. If you don't pay after a certain amount of time (two or three weeks, can't remember) then it just gets sent back and as far as I'm aware you can't claim refunds on Kickstarters for something like that.

Wil Grieve · Jul 3, 2020

Worst thing is, after all this, people will actually have to play the game.

Possum Armada · Jul 3, 2020

Some things have recently changed regarding customs. I know one of my Blu Ray stores recently had a post about this and DHL shipments getting hit by it.

HardRojo · Jul 3, 2020

I received a shipping email on the 11th, then another on the 12th saying there was a mistake and the package had to return to them. Nothing since then and when I wrote them a few days ago they only replied with a generic "Due to the volume of tickets, it might take a while to respond" or some shit like that. Yeah, at this point I think I'm not receiving shit and I'm never backing any physical products again.
I'm from Peru btw.

Nakazato · Jul 3, 2020

I got mine. It took an extra 15 days from my ship email though

Deleted member 10737 · Jul 3, 2020

Blue Skied And Clear said:
Some things have recently changed regarding customs. I know one of my Blu Ray stores recently had a post about this and DHL shipments getting hit by it.

off-topic but i love your username, that slowdive song (and the whole album) is so good.

WillyFive · Jul 3, 2020

Wil Grieve said:
Worst thing is, after all this, people will actually have to play the game.

FPX · Jul 3, 2020

Mafro said:
This wouldn't work. You have to pay the customs charges before you actually receive the item from Royal Mail. If you don't pay after a certain amount of time (two or three weeks, can't remember) then it just gets sent back and as far as I'm aware you can't claim refunds on Kickstarters for something like that.

Oh right. Kickstarter.

mclem · Jul 3, 2020

Yeah, I had to pay for Customs. To be fair, I generally expect to have to pay customs fees on larger kickstarters, although sometimes I've managed to dodge a bullet (and quite frequently now you'll see "europe-friendly shipping" meaning they'll send it to an EU-based port at their cost and then distribute it within the EU at normal shipping costs.

Shadow Walker · Jul 3, 2020

If it helps any the game is still fun as hell and runs great on PS4 at least not sure about of or switch.

Soul Lab · Jul 3, 2020

yea the whole situation sucks. really curious what I have to pay for the bigger package with all the goodies. lol

Billfisto · Jul 3, 2020

Canadian, still waiting on mine. I'm never ordering anything fulfilled by The Yetee again. Their shipping is an opaque, inexplicable mess.

Rotobit · Jul 3, 2020

Yeah I got hit by it, if Platinum does another Kickstarter I'll either just go with the digital tier or not bother.

The lenticular cover is cute but not worth the extra £16 at all.

Also FWIW I've kickstarted a bunch of physical products in the past and this is the first time I've been hit by customs.

Wonderful 101 backers hit by customs

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