After thinking about the entire procedure for a night, here's the summary of how I could purchase the Khetanna in Germany:
1. I bought the Sail Barge with the eBay app on my cell phone (iOS). It was connected to my university's WiFi. The auction went live about 20 seconds after 3 pm EST, 8 pm GMT+1 (Berlin).
This delay might've been caused by transmissions beween international servers, the website on eBay being that busy and/or the speed of my cell phone/app.
2. Payment with my credit card was not accepted. I had to re-type its number and lost precious seconds. Simultaniously I was asked by a lady, why the building was already closed (I was standing right in front of it, just for the WiFi connection). So this pushed my pulse even more. What an adventure with Hasbro Pulse...
So on the second try I chose PayPal as payment option, which was successful, but not the best solution for me. But I didn't take the time to select the initially planned shipping address. I think I have to deal with that and do some further logistics when it arrives...if it arrives.
I honestly suspect eBay to do this on purpose. $200,000 USD plus another $200,000 USD for shipping & import fees deposit changed owners within 13 minutes and I'm sure PayPal and eBay wanted to get as much $$$ of that amount as possible with their fees.
Not cool.
On the other hand PayPal is the safest payment method for me.
3. The purchase was completed after I paid with PayPal. I received two bills:
- Seller:
eBay - HasbroToyShop (hasbro-pulse) Item: Star Wars The Vintage Collection Jabba's Sail Barge (The Khetanna)
Price: 499.99 USD
Exchange Rate: EUR 1 : 1,085 USD
Price (in EUR):
460,82€ -
Pitney Bowes, Inc. Positions:
Import charges: 196,36 USD
Shipping: 209,98 USD (Destination: Germany)
Amount: 406,34 USD
Exchange Rate: EUR 1 : 1,085 USD
Price (in EUR):
374,51€ Total: $906.33 USD // 835,33€ (EUR)At its peek back in 2008, the exchange rate was EUR 1 : 1,58 USD (and even at 1,61!!) when I was in New York. So back then I would've paid 573,63€ instead of 835€, but I better don't think about it any further...
I haven't heard of Pitney Bows, Inc. before but I found out that they are specialized on logistics:
https://www.pitneybowes.com/usAnd I wonder if Hasbro work together with them on a regular basis. It doesn't seem as if
FedEx will deliver the international Barges. I'll probably receive clarification on this later.
4. Approximate delivery (according to eBay) after completed purchase/before shipping: April 4 - Apirl 17, 2019
Note: I assume it'll take at least two weeks and hope to receive it by the end of April. After waiting fo so long and not expecting to ever get it for the regular $499.99 (plus) I honestly do not care how long it will take to arrive here in Germany.
Most important to me is that it arrived UNDAMAGED.
I doubt there will be a possibility to return it if damaged.
5. I haven't received an official message from the seller (HasbroToyShop - hasbro pulse) with business & return policies or a shipping notification, yet.
I will keep you updated and will post my comment on the entire thing later on.
I wouldn't be surprised if my order was cancelled, again because this was just a whole mess.
Only and when I have the Barge standing in front of me, I believe it actually worked.''
So far this has only been a crazily expensive venture for me.And the second disappointment besides the restricton/"error" of Payment Methods is that eBay showed me a total of only 805,48€ whereas PayPal will book 835,33€ to my bank account!
Not fair.
Let's see what happens...
Tamer: You were right. The auction went live on time at 3 pm EST and ended at 3:12 pm EST.
400 units were sold.
If this is it, it would be ridiculous.
I still hope there will be a second run and that everyone reading who wanted one, successfully got one.
"THIS IS MADNESS!"
I still wish you good luck ladies & gentlemen for further supply by Hasbro and a safe delivery across the planet!
May the force be with us all!Heads up from Germany!
- Philipp