Bitz Store? Prefer not Ebay

[Jakai_Musashi]

Does anyone have experience with Bitzbarn? I placed an order with them last week, and nearly a full calendar week later (almost 5 business days) it's still listed as 'processing'. I emailed them asking for more information but the response that came back sounded like the owner was half asleep. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with them and how long their 'processing' took.

Note: I ordered 2 Codecies as well as a few bitz, the email sounded like it was trying to say that ordering non-bitz slowed down processing but didn't give an idea of how long it would in fact take.

[TheRhino]

Not personally, but I have heard of non-bitz items in a bitz order can slow things down. I believe this is because bit sellers don't typically keep a ton of stock on-hand. I'd be willing to bet they took the order, and submitted it along with their weekly GW sheet. You get them after they get them from the distributor.
The bitz were probably on-hand, and are just waiting for the codexes to arrive.

[Jakai_Musashi]

Yeah I kinda suspected the same thing, which makes me frustrated that I could potentially wait another full calendar week for the order to be shipped, followed by the usual "Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery" crap.... Don't get me wrong, I do understand that bitz stores cannot keep stock on the "new retail" items, as this simply isn't practical for an online store, but it does get me grumbling waiting upwards of 3 months for a discounted sprue of bitz and 2 codexes... hell 3 months... that's the average lifespan of "Codex Space Marines" isn't it? lol

[MagickalMemories]

I've heard less than stellar things about their speed.


Eric

[Jakai_Musashi]

Note for future reference on it... it seems I'm cursed to not find affordable, reliable bitz and destined to be stuck buying full retail on kits that I may only need 3 parts from...

[oaflord]

Does anyone have experience with Bitzbarn?

FWIW, as an international customer of Bitzbarn, I have had great service, good delivery times (as good as international can be) and have bought from them on numerous instances. That being said, most of my selections are from their "Sprue Central" which I believe is entirely in stock items.

Jakai, when you bought from them, what was your method of payment? An e-Check from Paypal definitely can slow things down (just guessing here) but as stated before, I think it is the codices that are holding it back. Do not fret over the delivery time once they are out. These guys are great at underpromise/overdeliver and definitely overestimate their shipping times on purpose.

oAF

[Jakai_Musashi]

@Oaf
I used the pay by credit card option through Authorize.net which they process CC's through, not paypal (which I can understand PP dragging their arses on me).

The thing is I haven't received any estimate on shipping length, I'm just going by the usual 6-8 weeks that's thrown around by businesses. I think my experience with them would be different if I had some idea on when I can expect the order to start to move.

My order was a 'set' of Sprues from their "Sprue Central" section, a few bitz, and 2 Codecies. I agree that the delay is most likely the 2 codecies, and likely waiting on GW to ship them to Bitzbarn before they then forward it to me, but assuming I just missed their weekly order to GW then the order won't be placed for the 2 books til assumingly today (I placed my order last thursday, wee hours of the morning), further assuming GW's delivery to businesses being between Tuesday and Thursday of the following week... I'm not suggesting that they are less than reputable, how long did your 'Processing' take Oaf and if I may ask, what did you order?

[oaflord]

This is one of my recent (Feb 2011) orders.

2 x Blood Angels Sanguinary Guard
3 x 40mm Monster Base

I paid (using authorize.net) on the 21st, processing on the 22nd, dispatched on the 26th. Can't remember the actual date of receiving it in the mail, but that probably means it was acceptable to me (10 business days or less from dispatched date).

Like I said, I have had good experiences with these guys, I am sure others have not, that is the nature of business. YMMV.

oAF

[Jakai_Musashi]

Thanks for that info, I can assume that the Sanguinary Guard could have slowed your transaction, but I'd rather think that you bought them from the Sprue Central section which means they definitely had them on hand. Not to mention if I recall around that time was when the SG came out, so they most likely had a few boxes laying around anyway..

All in all, thanks for that info. It does make me a little more comfortable with them knowing that they have had at least 1 very positive response from a 'Towner... but like a kid at Christmas... I want it now dammit LOL

[eman1_2]

I have order from them 3 times or so, and have never had a problem with shipping time. Maybe a few days longer than an ebay seller, but nothing that was outrageous / out of line. Always ahd the parts within 2 weeks of ordering.

I have only placed orders for individual bits - nothing from the sprue central or books.