For a Hot Toys figure I know I’m getting, I preorder because I’m only paying around $14 more than from BBTS ($4 flat rate shipping in the US) which sometimes sells out within a fairly short window after release. If I’m super busy around the time the figure actually releases, which can definitely happen, I’d rather not risk overlooking it. Some people also like to spread their payments out, although at this point I usually just go ahead and pay the entire amount on preorder so that once the figure releases it ships immediately once it arrives at SS’s warehouse. Again, this is for a HT figure that‘s must-have for my collection.
I’ve recently been buying third party figures (2009 Watchmen line and Snyderverse Knightmare future) and for those my go-tos are Giantoy and TNS. Preordering from either of these sellers has been a great experience thus far. Shipping is “free”—or, well, actually not really, i.e., I’m sure its factored into the price. But the price not unlicensed figures is almost always reasonable compared with HT. And the quality of many third party figures is often neck and neck with HT. Those Chinese sellers don’t charge you until the figure releases.
