Official Who To Preorder from Thread

[Ketchup]

After the huge mess of Wii U orders from the likes of Tesco and Zavvi going wrong along with other stores screwing up game preorders its probably time we had a thread that lists the best and worst places to preorder games and consoles from in future. Please leave your comments below and i'll try to update this first post every so often as shops become better/worse. Maybe this thread is should be pinned somewhere?

Please let me know of any other stores that need to be added to this list.

Store Name - Rating

Tesco - AVOID

Game orders generally arrive on launch day, however ALL Wii U orders did not arrive on launch day and still Customer Service is unaware if they are shipped or not shipped on Dec 6th

Zavvi - AVOID

Cheap, but you probably won't get your order for launch day. If you don't mind waiting a week or more may be worth it to save money. Beware of promises of vouchers, they are known to be for small amounts and for non gaming or even non zavvi sites.

Play - AVOID

You won't get your items on launch day, simple as.

Shopto - USE

Fast, efficient, sometimes cheaper. What more could you want.

GAME - CAUTION

The most expensive, games generally reach you on launch day or the day after but its a 50/50 risk.

Sainsburys - CAUTION

May not get games to you on release day.

Argos - USE

No issues noted so far.

Amazon - CAUTION

Wii U orders had bundled in games removed. Being a Prime member means your order ships later than normal 1st class post. Not all orders arrive launch day.

Grainger Games - USE

No issues noted so far.

Simply Games - USE

No issues noted so far.

When putting your comment use this guide so i can pick out posts easier. As more people add votes i'll edit the ratings.

STORE NAME - USE/CAUTION/AVOID

Then add your comments below as to why you have rated the store as such.

[The Mighty Ash]

Zavvi are more reliable for getting games to me on day 1 than sainsburys.

My card details got stolen from shopto.

Amazon never send for release day.

Game are expensive.

Tesco take payment upfront.

[JPickford]

Amazon sent Wii U out early. Some were missing Nintendo Land but they sent out download codes so lots of people ended up with 2 copies.

[Opinionated Ham Scarecrow]

ShopTo are awesome.

They text me nice picture.

Of my package early.

Did I do it right?

[deKay]

I got my Wii U from Zavvi on release day.

[Eighthours]

I never understand why anyone on here pre-orders from Zavvi or Tesco or Play, considering what ALWAYS HAPPENS.

ShopTo every time, for me. Never received anything late from them.

[robdood]

Just learn to deal with occasionally getting consumer electronics late, you neck-bearded manchildren.

;D

[DC Lemon]

Why is Zavvi avoid and Sainsburys use? Did Sainsburys deliver the console through DPD earlier than Zavvi? Did Argos? Zavvi were fine for the console (excellent for 3DS XL, which, I gather, is why some were so impatient this time). Less so for some of the games.

[DocG]

My Amazon pre-orders arrive a day late about 50% of the time. It's because they are invariably sent (to me, at least) via Royal Mail first class, which often doesn't manage next day delivery. Other than that it's fine.

[Harsin]

If people are moaning about Zavvi in the Xbox 720/PS4 threads in a years time, I swear I'll punch them in the junk over the internet somehow. I already get a nervous tic everytime I see DeKay has made another new post.

[Dandy_Sephy]

Shopto - USE/

I had great service from shopto for my Wii U. They got it to me the day before release despite only ordering it two days before. Then when that console proved to be dead they collected it next day, dispatched a replacement the next working day (upon receipt of faulty one) then had the replacement to me the day after. Can't fault that service, it was actually a day quicker than they quoted me on the phone. Slight blemish in them doing forced bundles by that point, but it still worked out cheaper for what I was going to buy anyway

Amazon - USE

I got my Vita from Amazon and they had that to me the day of release with a bundle offer they were doing. I thought having Amazon Prime was a great thing, but they dispatched all the other orders first before doing the Prime ones, so paying them £40 odd quid a year for better delivery doesn't give you any priority on shipping as non-Prime people got them the day before release. Other than that, no complaints.

[Dimahoo]

Grainger Games - USE. Very fast.

Shopto remains one of the best but GG sometimes has better offers.

[ryodi]

My Zavvi WiiU preorder arrived on release day. NSMBU arrived the Tuesday after launch and my copy Sonic Racing from Amazon was dispatched on last Thursday and still hasn't arrived yet. Game have got me all my preorders on release day apart from one just after they came out of administration.

[deerokus]

I would say avoid Amazon. I've never got any preorders of anything ever, game, dvd or whatever else until the day after, sometimes the next monday*. They frequently use shitty HDNL for game and dvd deliveriesm who are the worst company in the world. They're great for cheap buys of course, but if you want something on day of release, don't use them.

*With one exception. When I ordered Mass Effect 2. I was living in France, but they shipped it from Cardiff late the night before and got it there by midday the next day. The difference being that for express international shipping they use fedex, not Yodel/HDNL.

Shopto are excellent but their prices have gone up over the last year. How are SimplyGames?

[Cosmic_Guru]

Every game pre-ordered from Shopto since I started using them 6 months ago has reached me at least one day before the official release - the price may not be the most competitive these days but the reliable service justifies the small premium IMO. I will be using them for the new Xbox hardware for sure. USE

Before that I used Amazon and they would post out Thursday and, with first class paid for, the game would arrive Friday / Sat probably in 80/20 split. Probably better to go for free delivery from them and don't worry about timing..

I only use Zavi for non-urgent sales items and to use up discount vouchers - they can take weeks to turn up sometimes.

[Kevvy Metal]

Shopto 100% of the time.

SimplyGames are meant to be great too, but I wouldn't know.

[Ketchup]

Why is Zavvi avoid and Sainsburys use? Did Sainsburys deliver the console through DPD earlier than Zavvi? Did Argos? Zavvi were fine for the console (excellent for 3DS XL, which, I gather, is why some were so impatient this time). Less so for some of the games.

Initial ratings are based on my knowledge but they'll change over time as more people add in votes. Its not about who gets orders to people earlier, but who actually delivers on launch day and with the least fuss. For example Zavvi are well known to not deliver things on launch day. Same with Play who i'll add to the list. Zavvi are great if you're not in a rush and want a cheap price but preordering with them can be risky. Whilst DeKay got his order on launch he was told it was cancelled, had issues with emails and other users on here have said they are still waiting for games to arrive.

I've also updated the first post.

[Down by Law]

Over the last 12 months I ordered the following from Tesco's :

Batman Arkham City, Battelfield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Max Payne 3, Halo 4, and Black Ops 2.

Everyone came the day before or on release date without any problems and way cheaper than anyone else.

Never use Amazon for games as they are always a day or 2 late. Same with Play.com, though there always early with films for some reason.

Zavvi once took 3 weeks to get a copy of Splatterhouse to me, haven't used them since.

Shopto are absolutely excellent but rarely the cheapest. And that's my two pence, thanks muchly and goodnight.

[Fuddle]

i've never had a problem with Amazon. my Vita actually came the day before the release date.

[MagicalDrop]

My Vita pre-order arrived from amazon a day early.

My shopto pre-order for BLOPS2 arrived 3 days after release date, although Forza Horizon, Borderlands 2 and Halo 4 were all a day early.

Is someone keeping tally??

[moosegrinder]

If you want a DVD sized game on release day from Amazon avoid at all costs, it won't arrive on release day 99% of the time. Anything bigger than that they use a delivery company like DPD or Yodel and have more chance of getting it.

ShopTo have never let me down for games. So really you need to differentiate what you're ordering from the companies as to whether you should order from them or not.

[Uzi]

Tesco for price and delivery combined have been the best online retailer for me. Most games arrived before launch, sometimes by several days (got Gears 3 about 3 days early). This may change now that the tesco entertainment site has gone but I think sticking a massive avoid over them or other retailers who mess up one or specific events (shopto have messed up one of my orders before but I wouldn't say avoid them) when they might be great most of the time.

[SMD]

Preordered my Wii U and 3DS from Amazon, each time the console arrived a day before launch (yes, even using the dreaded Yodel) and the 3DS games arrived the next day.

I've preordered games from Amazon and Shopto and both companies got them to me either on release day or the day before.

[Doc NI]

every game I have bought in the last 4-5 years has been a day or two early from Shop to.

50 + perfect transactions at the very least, over multiple formats and console launches

One problem with Halo 3 Limited edition being banged up (microsofts fault)

But was instantly refunded with no problem at all, customer service was aware of the problems (doppy disc packaging by MS meant almost all posted copied rattled around and got scuffed)

[LowCostMonkey]

I have to say every game I've ever pre-ordered from Tesco arrived the day before launch. Although now they've changed the entertainment bit around I don't know if that will still be the case.

[Ketchup]

This may change now that the tesco entertainment site has gone but I think sticking a massive avoid over them or other retailers who mess up one or specific events (shopto have messed up one of my orders before but I wouldn't say avoid them) when they might be great most of the time.

As mentioned i will edit the first post as more people post. So if 99% of people have great tesco orders for example then it'll change to use. Hopefully people will update this thread over the months/years as companies get better or worse.

[bradigor]

Shopto are great, only ever received one thing late, for which they gave me a credit. Another thing once went missing and the refunded me (as I ended up buying from high street) and an extra credit.

[MattKB]

Are shopto still good? I always used to get the games the day before, however looking on their site now, cheapest delivery is 2-4 days which doesn’t sound like an ‘on release day’ guarantee

[MattKB]

What despatch option did you select?

[Down by Law]

My last two orders from shopto : Shenmue 3 collectors edition and Doom Eternal both came on launch day.

I bought a PS+ sub from them yesterday for £29.85 that came in code form within 5 minutes. Personally i still think they are great.

 

Lot of love for base.com as well who have never delivered a pre order late.