Exoto: ordering directly

In case you're not already familiar with it, here's a link to a good diecast discussion board. Maybe you want to ask the question there. Be sure to mention that you're in Europe. I think some people have experienced VERY high international shipping fees from Exoto.
http://www.scale18.com/cgi-bin/page/msg?proj=Bulletin&func=list

 

If you follow a few rules and are willing to wait extraordinary amounts of time, you can oder from Exoto direct. If not, don't even consider it!

First thing you MUST NOT DO is pay in advance. You are not supposed to be billed for a item until it's shipped but Exoto will bill you immediatley.

Be prepared to wait a very long time if you're ordering a model that has not yet been released. Totally ignore Exotos time estimates, they're never right and highly optimistic. I have personaaly had two models on order with Exoto for almost 4 years and still nothing! I've e-mailed them twice in the last month or so and not even the courtesy of a reply.

If you decide you want to try a direct order, you've been warned! Good Luck, you'll need it!

 

Beste, Ik heb ooit 1x een model besteld direct bij Exoto, over de levering niets dan lof, maar ik dacht dat alles betaald was. Toen kreeg ik nog een rekening van de douane, invoertaxen enz.. resultaat ik heb de auto 50% meer betaald dan in België, ik denk dat het voor Nederland wel hetzelfde zal zijn.
Ik heb toen ook gevraagd aan Exoto om het pakje als "gift" op te sturen en een laag aankoopbedrag te vermelden, maar daar wilde ze bij Exoto niet van weten!
Dus ik nooit meer!

 

Last time I checked it was an English-speaking forum. You do have an email address right?

 

I've bought about 8 cars over 4 orders direct from Exoto , but these were models clearly in stock. I've never had any problems with them in these situations, but I know many others have had problems for pre-ordered models, or ones that were "out of stock" at time of ordering. Personally I'm very cautious with regards to risk so don't pre-order anything. I'd rather wait and buy it when it's actually in stock.

You would be wise to review what others have posted about their experiences if you are interested in something that Exoto doesn't currently have in stock.

In regards to shipping, Exoto clearly displays their current shipping prices so there is no guessing:
Continental USA: $14 first item + $8 for each additional item
AK, HI, PR: $38 each
Canada: $20 each
International: $38 each
Le Mans Classiques (1:10) US: $80 each, Everywhere else: $105 each

Their shipping charges are quite high and a source of contention, but that's what they charge.

DYW

 

I have ordered three items direct from Exoto (two from their website, and one from an Ebay auction where I used the "Buy It Now" option). Never had any problems...everything always arrived in a timely fashion and undamaged. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Aaron