Received my William Castle collection, thanks for everyone that posted here about its availability. was packaged well too. And I did receive a notice of shipping by email as well.

I really don't know. I had already recycled the package on my last shipment before you asked so I have no way to tell other than place a order. I typically don't pay much attention to shipment speed as I have such a huge backload that I rarely order something and want to watch it right away. With almost everything I order from any vendor I select the "slow boat from China" method as it's usually the least expensive. I generally only select faster shipping speeds for gifts I'll need fairly soon.

I placed an order but they don't specify. HB's reply to my email inquiry about the speed:

I do hope so! I'm so used to being able to track a Delivery Confirmation number. I've ordered from plenty of small webstores & distros run by a single person, this is the first time I can think of in years where I wasn't emailed a DC number.

So 15-20 days, I guess I'll just wait it out another week or two.

I think I've seen a delivery confirmation number on my orders. They must just keep it on file and not email it.

Sent them another email inquiry. They responded

Okay, just to keep my expectations low, I'll assume that it's being shipped via the slowest USPS service possible, that it's taking a long time for Media Mail to be shipped from CT to AZ, and that the holiday season is making the USPS even slower than usual. It's been 11 days since shipment. I'll be patient for another 10.

...Jesus, they've received 55 complaints regarding Delivery Issues on the Better Business Bureau site! http://www.bbb.org/connecticut/busin...ge-ct-49000011

I wouldn't worry. They are one of the best companies that I've dealt with. They always pack exceptionally well. I would rather buy from them than most other places. I never had a missing shipment with them in 20 or so orders. They happily sent replacements with any problems.
I would order from them over oldies.com any day.

^Ditto.

Yes, I'm surprised to see that. I've been ordering from Hamilton for about 20 years and the only time I've had a problem it was handled quickly. A friend has told me the same thing with his experience. The shipments generally take a bit longer than from other places but I just know to expect that.

Thanks, guys, I appreciate your feedback. I'd be a lot more anxious without it!

Looking at that link, some of the "Problems with Product/Service" are "Delivery Issues" too (so it's worse than you thought! ).

I only read a few of them, but some of them looked rather petty (one woman complained when she hadn't gotten her books four days after they shipped), and they were all taken care of (one guy's box had been opened in transit and a book was stolen - it was replaced by Hamilton).

*breathes sigh of relief*

My DVDs arrived the 23rd, 2 weeks after HB emailed the shipping confirmation.

While I'm looking at the shipping label on my package, it seems prudent I answer my own questions should any future buyer want to know.

Shipping speed: "PRSRT Media Mail"

Tracking: "USPS Tracking # eVS." I typed the # into the USPS Tracking site and nothing came up. Maybe it was never scanned. *shrug*

The 3 single-disc DVDs were brand new with no remainder marks. The packaging was indeed very secure.

However, I don't see myself ordering a small quantity of non-clearance DVDs from them again. The sluggish shipment of a relatively lightweight package, lack of faster shipping options, and vague store policies weren't worth it for me. I would have happily paid an extra few $ to upgrade to First Class / Priority or add Insurance, and really would have appreciated being informed in advance of basic things like shipping speed and Tracking #. The last time an order made me this antsy was with the WB Shop in 2007.

I do appreciate the DVD Talkers in this thread assuring me that my order would be received! Thank you again.

From having had an online business since 1998, I can say IT'S POSSIBLE that there local post office's service level for unknown reasons became dreadful this xmas. It's happened to me before, though thatk goodness, not lately. There was a time when i had a 2% shrinkage in the mail. Someone who KNEW what was really going on told me it was outsourced workers at a local sorting facility stealing mail. Of course the postal inspector refused to take it seriously, that would have meant taking responsibility (the USPS takes 0 responsibility for non delivered items unless the sender pays their blackmail (oops, I meant insurance.....)

And if it hadn't been we'd have taken care of you; glad you got it!

I understand your shipping concerns, but most of our customers simply aren't in a rush for stuff--we're unlikely to ever offer expedient delivery options. The overall cheapness of the shipping is what is the draw for our core customers (but that is a FAR bigger plus when you order one 30lb box of books for $3.50 flat, as opposed to $3.50 for a few DVDs, I get that for sure!).

Also I am sorry that due to it being Xmas I haven't been on here much....I'm not supposed to but I'd have tried to figure these two out for you guys, you're DVD talkers.

They mail out their stuff via "Media Mail" which takes up to two weeks to arrive. It's the "slow boat" of shipping - altho a lot cheaper than First Class Mail.

I should be getting my package from them any day now - altho I ordered a bunch of books, no DVDs this time!

I've been buying from them since 1992, and love those big catalogs I get in the mail from them!

Just placed another order with Hamilton... this for a handful of dirt cheap blind-buy dvds I've been interested in. Can't wait to get them.

Thanks for the reply, GoldenWheels.

It seems like being a new customer for Hamilton Books is sort of an initiation process.

I would order from HB again under the right circumstances (namely, cheaper items in more bulk). I was pleasantly surprised that the Synapse Patrick DVD had no remainder marks! For $1 I was expecting at least a hole punch or something.

No problem Living, and none of your complaints are really off in any way, I totally get them. We're kind of an anomaly left over from the mail order days.

There must be SOME form of initiation because our customers are crazily loyal and they keep us going!

I don't want to say really as I am unsure but I believe that evs number is for our internal postage manifest system and not supposed to be a customer tracking #.

I'm glad the Synapse had no marks....a lot of the dvds do, a lot don't, but even when I know for sure we don't put the "*" next to titles bought at remainder/bargain prices. That "*" is supposed to be for frontline titles only.

If you guys are particular about a title shoot me a message and I can check for the marks...it may take me a bit though, so be patient.

GW, any new Timeless TV series available at a good discount?

The location is interesting. I lived not too far from Falls Village, CT when I was a kid. Not to get too far off topic with my rural nostalgia, but it must be nice to operate a mailorder from a small town / rural New England location. I have this almost agrarian image of the HB warehouse.

I'm assuming HB has no physical walk-in location?

Thanks!

Nothing super duper I don't think.

If you like Andy Rooney "Hey Mulligan" is $5.95 ($29.98 MSRP.) Item # 4315596

I don't really like random collections vs seasons but "Wagon Train: Going West" is $6.95 (34.98 MSRP.) Item # 5511267

Wide Country (which I know ZERO about) is probably the best bargain. $9.95 (69.98 MSRP). Item # 5680557. But I think this one has been mentioned already.

Branded: Season One at 11.95 isn't too bad either (34.98 MSRP). Item # 4315200.

They are great folks at Timeless and give me lots of access to neat stuff. But as you might imagine, the low end stuff gets sold off way more than those big fancy Western sets they are known for!

No physical location...though that hasn't stopped the occasional customer from tracking us down!

You clearly know the area and how nice it is here. I've lived in CT my whole life and love it. However, business wise, I could live without the weather!!!!

Thanks for the update. Rumor has it that Shout will be phasing out Timeless sooner or later. I hope that's not true, but I always suspected that was the motive behind the "merger."

I would be really disappointed if that happens.

Have people actually shown up at the front door?!

If only I still lived in Winsted. Then I could have been an extra in The House of the Devil, and packages from HB would arrive much more quickly.

OT: Maybe I should ask this on the Scream Factory thread, but screw it. Do you know if any of the Horror/Cult Movies 4 You DVDs are worth getting if one already owns the films on the MGM Midnite Movie Double Feature DVDs? Any surprise commentaries or anything like Scream Factory's Horror Marathon Vol 2?