Raider Image Store gripes

[snevillio]

I'm relatively new to football, live in the UK and have supported the raiders properly from about 2004, i've endured a lot of crap over that time but i know its worth it and i couldn't support any other team. There are things that i willingly put up with, paying 160 pounds / 250 dollars so i can watch the raider games online as they are rarely on television here, the west coast time delay means that games don't normally finish til gone 1am here and the second game of the double header season opener will be on from 3-7am (i'll find a way) and the way they are never in the discussions to come over and play the London game.

I can accept all of these things and that's fine and part of being a fan, the thing that annoys me is the merchandise side of things, lets say i want to buy a Carson Palmer replica jersey priced at 99.99 dollars, US shipping varies from 10.99 to 39.99 dollars depending on your level of urgency, for me in the UK i have one option for shipping, UPS International which costs 59.99 or an extra 60% of the item cost, can't they come up with some better way of doing it and actually considering the international fan base.

As a comparison AmazonGlobal Expedited Shipping can deliver me a Milwaukee Brewers jersey for 8.18 dollars.

Can someone who knows anyone within the organisation ask them to look at how they interact with their growing international fan base?

[BVJ]

Try emailing them

[paul0660]

Amazon probably does 100,000 times more overseas biz than the store (heck, maybe a million or ten million), but you have a point.

You are a good fan. I watched the end of the game in the Amsterdam airport once. No idea what time it was but it was dark and no one was around. Also, about 12 bucks for a Heineken.

[Dj Diesel]

Awesome question and makes a lot of sense

[Midwest Raider]

How about NFL.com? Are they the same?

[gil03]

If I was you I would find an american buddy (military) that is stationed there and ask him to pick you up a jersey from the base or post exchange. They sometimes carry jerseys and NFL merchandise, if not they usually have catalogs that you may be able to order one from. Good Luck!

[Norm81]

I'm in the uk and I've used footballfanatics.com before and I've found them to be pretty quick considering, I think it took about 2 weeks, and everything was ok with the order

Just had a look on the webstie and apparently they've just introduced quicker international delivery as well -

http://www.footballfanatics.com/pages/Shipping_Info

£29.99 delivery for 4-10 business days or £24.99 2-5 weeks

[snevillio]

How about NFL.com? Are they the same?

NFL.com are 24.68 dollars for shipping so thats less than half the price of the Raiders store. I would also have an added import tax and handling charge across any of these methods for it entering the UK at a rate of 8 pounds / 12 dollars handling charge and 20% Value added tax so all in all to get that shirt from Raider store i would be essentially paying double the list price to actually get it.

The shipping is an issue but i can ultimately get round it with patience and shopping around but i would just prefer my money to go to the Raiders without feeling ripped off. That and some understanding/customisation for overseas fans would be great. Just wanted to share this perspective with others really.

By the way, if anyone ever comes over to visit London, i recommend Bodeans as a home away from home thats guaranteed to show football (maybe not the raiders) but NFL on tv or in bars here is very rare.

[snevillio]

I'm in the uk and I've used footballfanatics.com before and I've found them to be pretty quick considering, I think it took about 2 weeks, and everything was ok with the order

Just had a look on the webstie and apparently they've just introduced quicker international delivery as well -

£29.99 delivery for 4-10 business days or £24.99 2-5 weeks

Thanks Norm! Looks a good site and its actually dollars rather than pounds so even cheaper... makes you wonder why everyone else can do it cheaper (Oakland A's jersey shipping is 25.91 dollars also)

[Norm81]

Thanks Norm! Looks a good site and its actually dollars rather than pounds so even cheaper... makes you wonder why everyone else can do it cheaper (Oakland A's jersey shipping is 25.91 dollars also)

No worries

I've bought a couple of jerseys from NFL.com before and got totally screwed with import taxes. I've bought a few t's and hats when i discovered footballfanatics. Good service and cost and they always seem to have a pretty decent range of stuff. It's cool as well because they do other sports so I can order San Jose Sharks and San Fran Giants stuff all at the same time and cut down on postage costs.

[LINQ]

The Raiders boast a worldwide fan base, offer their site in multiple languages, etc. You'd think they could take care of this international shipping issue. I think you should contact them, speak to a manager (or email) about your concerns. It might get the wheels turning to get something fixed.

[Jimbo UK]

Thanks Norm! Looks a good site and its actually dollars rather than pounds so even cheaper... makes you wonder why everyone else can do it cheaper (Oakland A's jersey shipping is 25.91 dollars also)

You sure they are legit? In my experience prices like that mean only one thing, and believe me I've been burnt a ton of times...

[N.O.RaiDaNation]

You can get some really good stuff on EBay and other smaller jersey websites for a lot cheaper. For example, I've gotten a few authentic(fake) jerseys on Ebay for around $50 including the shipping(from China). In my opinion, the fake authentics look a whole lot better than the real replicas. Some people have a moral issue about purchasing fake merchandise. Personally, until I start making some serious Chee$e, I'll stick with the good-looking fakes. Good luck man

[Norm81]

You sure they are legit? In my experience prices like that mean only one thing, and believe me I've been burnt a ton of times...

Definitely legit. I bought a Raiders cap when I was in California a couple of seasons ago before the Raiders played the Eagles and got lucky enough to be in Rickys in San Leandro watching a Sharks game randomly before a meeting of the Raiders fan club. I asked what was going on and got told they were having a talk from Tyvon Branch. So we stuck around for the talk then got to meet him after and got him to sign said hat.

When I got back home I ordered the same hat from football fanatics to wear instead of the one I got signed and when it arrived it was exactly the same and authentic. Everything else I've ordered is legit too, I've not ordered a Jersey yet, but all the fakes you get online are "authentic onfield jerseys" they don't make fake "replica" jerseys, Football fanatics sell all 3 styles. It's a US website too and most fakes are from asia and places like that.

So that's my proof and shameless plug at the same time!!

(actually its the hat i'm wearing in my avatar!)

[Chewy316]

I feel your pain bro. The shipping cost is ridiculous for us international customers. When I buy something from the Raider Image, I tend to buy lots of items, that way at least the shipping cost is a smaller percentage of the overall cost of the 6+ items I might buy.