So I've preordered one of these things from BBTS, after shopping around and finding nothing cheaper from a reputable website:

 

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TOY10279&mode=retail

 

However, I do know that BBTS takes forever to get stock in sometimes. How long can I expect to wait before it gets the stock and starts shipping it out? Keep in mind, this has been expected to arrive soon for at least a month, since December 2009.

 

I'm willing to wait for a long time, but I wouldn't mind having a rough, though more accurate than BBTS seems capable of giving, time frame.

They use to take a while with shipping cause things would spend a week in the wharehouse before being handed to a carrier.. I don't order from them often, but the last few times I did it seemed the wharehouse step was skipped and my stuff went right out arriving within a week.

 

Since it's a preorder it may take a bit longer because they'd have to inventory it first, but they have been getting faster.

 

So conclusively, all I can say is I don't know. But you should do better then if it was 2 years ago.

BBTS usually has great customer service. My MP Grimlock was pre ordered and sent out pretty quickly.

Thanks for the answers. Since this product seems to be extremely popular and is two years old, I'm assuming it might take a long time getting the preorders in if they have to negotiate with a bunch of sources who want more than BBTS is willing to pay for them.

I've found HobbyLink Japan is faster then BBTS and they are in Japan so they are a little bit cheaper except for shipping.

HLJ doesn't have the Origin of Valkyrie set anymore.

Well here is a place that sells it for $5 less: http://www.imageanime.com/rovfbmaxsuva.html Never had problems ordering from them, but I've never preordered from them. I don't know where you reside, but they have a store in New York. They do ship faster when they get their orders compared to BBTS because with BBTS, you have to deal with the order processed one day, then the order going to the warehouse on the next and then have it shipped on the same day or next. I placed my order around 630 AM with that site, got a confirmation email like ten minutes later, and then got a shipping confirmation in the afternoon of the same day. BBTS is actually closer to me than ImageAnime, so the delivery doesn't make that much of a difference, it all depends where you live.

I have a pretty good idea of what to expect from BBTS and its reliability, which is why I preordered a Valkyrie from them. I haven't heard of Image Anime before. Can you link to some reviews of IA and expound on your experiences with it? IA still has the Valkyries dated for 2009, which seems a little odd, since we're a third through January.

 

Also, since BBTS and IA both have the Valkyries on preorder status, does anyone know anything about their suppliers? If they have the same suppliers, what's the story on their Valkyrie stock being shipped out?

I think this is the same item, http://www.laftoys.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_70&products_id=325, but a bit more pricey, but in stock. Shipping took a while even though I chose Priority, but the owner said they were switching sites or some sh*t, which I call BS. Recommend? Probably not, just thought I'd bring it to your attention.

 

Don't know about any online reviews for IA, just in store reviews, but all I can say is that I have made several orders from them and have never been disappointed. I'll be receiving a package from them this coming Wednesday.

 

Doesn't BBTS get their pre-orders late? I've only had one experience, which was TFX-03 Add-On parts, where TFSource got there's in several weeks before BBTS.

I think this is the same item, http://www.laftoys.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_70&products_id=325, but a bit more pricey, but in stock. Shipping took a while even though I chose Priority, but the owner said they were switching sites or some sh*t, which I call BS. Recommend? Probably not, just thought I'd bring it to your attention.

 

Don't know about any online reviews for IA, just in store reviews, but all I can say is that I have made several orders from them and have never been disappointed. I'll be receiving a package from them this coming Wednesday.

 

Doesn't BBTS get their pre-orders late? I've only had one experience, which was TFX-03 Add-On parts, where TFSource got there's in several weeks before BBTS.

 

Man I gotta agree with you on Lost and Found toys. I ordered something from them in December that they had in stock. I finally got it last week. He took a long time to ship and never answered email. The only email I finally got was one of the shipping label being made. Of course the label number never worked so I was just happy to see my stuff. I doubt I will order from him again. Tf wise I usually order from 3 places. Digital toys (which does have robotech stuff)they usually ship within a week of receiving the order. The only thing with them they sorta lie when they say free Stuff with your order. I ordered $50 of Transformers to get a free Transformer Item. Well the Item turned out to be a very bad K.O. that broke being shipped to me. Very Disapointed. The Second is BBTS but lately I have noticed that they are taking longer to ship. They seem to be taking 3 - 5 days for the order to be processed at their warehouse. The best Place so far has be Tfsource I usually order on Tuesdays and my stuff is in delivery by Wed or Thursday at the latest