| Fifty4 | 15 Dec 2007 4:56 p.m. PST |
This announcement by Rackham made me wonder:
TMP link What's the law on pre-orders? Can the company charge your card prior to shipping? Or does it have to wait until the product is ready to go? |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 15 Dec 2007 5:10 p.m. PST |
|
| Supreme Dalek | 15 Dec 2007 5:23 p.m. PST |
In the UK a retailer can charge before shipping, but the customer can cancel anytime up until 7 days after they have received their order. |
| Supreme Dalek | 15 Dec 2007 5:25 p.m. PST |
Some retailers run a pre-auth or deferred transaction on your Credit Card, and only take funds when they ship. |
| nycjadie | 15 Dec 2007 6:12 p.m. PST |
I see no reason why they can't. A contract is a contract. |
| Chocolate | 15 Dec 2007 7:24 p.m. PST |
At one time in the UK, it was illegal for retailers to offer for sale by mail order any item that they did not have in stock. I don't know if that law has changed. |
| Brandlin | 15 Dec 2007 7:57 p.m. PST |
I think in the Uk that you can charge for pre-orders if you state thats the case and its clear when the product will be available. In that case, the customer is entering into a contract where they understand the conditions. |
| Zagloba | 15 Dec 2007 9:47 p.m. PST |
I'll take 2 boxes of Romans and 2 of Gauls. Rich |
| Privateer4hire | 15 Dec 2007 9:58 p.m. PST |
|
| Fifty4 | 15 Dec 2007 10:02 p.m. PST |
Thanks guys -- we'll be making a more official announcement in the next few weeks with release dates and prototype figure shots. |
| Fifty4 | 15 Dec 2007 10:03 p.m. PST |
Privateer -- made me laugh. I'll have to remember that one. |
| GarrisonMiniatures | 16 Dec 2007 6:40 a.m. PST |
Reminder of PayPal rules: all payments made via PayPal are taken from your account when you place the order. PayPal is basically acting as an intermediary, a method of sending money rather than as a credit card in its own right, and the retailer/manufacturer has no say in the matter. |
| Zagloba | 16 Dec 2007 8:44 a.m. PST |
My personal feeling is that as long as you ship within the chargeback period of most credit cards (60 days) I don't mind. The standard preorder scheme in my mind is GMT's P500:
gmtgames.com/s-2-p500.aspx It can be years from the time GMT announces a game until it is released, but cards are charged only at printing time. This generally is 6-8 weeks from when a preorder charges to when the game ships. Aside from GMT, most videogame stores do preorders, as does Amazon. So if its illegal you'll be in good company. Rich |
| CraigH | 16 Dec 2007 2:05 p.m. PST |
I read somewhere that in the US, the company cannot charge your credit card until they ship. Having said that, there may be an exception for pre-orders where the consumer is clearly agreeing to payment in advance in order to secure the item. |
