PRE-ORDER SYSTEM // STATUS: UPGRADED
Pre-Order Policy
Builders, we heard your feedback loud and clear.
We’ve rebuilt how pre-orders work at USA Gundam Store from the ground up: clearer supplier timelines, more proactive communication, and a lot less guessing when something runs late. This page explains exactly how our pre-order system works today and what you can count on from us at every step.
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Quarterly
ARRIVAL WINDOW UPDATES
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$0
FEE ON DELAYED REFUNDS
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Free
SPLIT SHIPPING ON DELAYS
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Pre-orders are the trickiest part of this hobby, because you’re trusting us with your money months before a kit ever leaves a factory. You told us you wanted clearer timelines, real confidence that your spot was actually secured, and to never feel stuck in the dark when something slipped. We took that seriously. Here’s how it all works.
THE BASICS
Tired of missing releases of highly sought-after kits and collectibles that sell out in minutes? Pre-ordering lets you lock in the items you want before they arrive, so you never miss a release you were counting on.
Once a manufacturer announces a new item and clears us to publish it, we list it for pre-sale with an estimated arrival window. A pre-order means we’re taking advance orders for an item that either hasn’t been released yet or hasn’t yet arrived at our warehouse. Every pre-order we list is backed by a real, confirmed allocation we don’t open pre-orders for inventory we haven’t secured.
TIMING
Arrival Dates & Quarterly Windows
Every pre-order listing shows an estimated arrival window, reviewed and updated on a regular cycle. When a supplier can’t yet commit to a firm quarter, we’ll say so directly instead of guessing.
We’d all love pre-orders to land right on schedule, but the toy and collectible industry can run into delays. Estimated arrival dates are exactly that estimates and are not guaranteed. Because of this, we don’t recommend pre-ordering for gifts or time-sensitive occasions.
When a listing shows a quarter, it means the item is expected within that window and an exact month isn’t available yet. Here’s what each quarter covers:
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Quarter
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Months Included
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Quarter 1 (Q1)
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January – March
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Quarter 2 (Q2)
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April – June
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Quarter 3 (Q3)
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July – September
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Quarter 4 (Q4)
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October – December
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PAYMENT
How Pre-Orders Are Charged
• Pre-orders are charged in full at the time the order is placed not when the item ships.
• Charging up front is how we secure inventory with our distributors and manufacturers on your behalf, locking in your spot.
01 · SUPPLY LINES
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Tighter timeframes, straight from the source
We work directly with our suppliers to lock in more reliable production and shipping windows a realistic picture of when kits actually reach our warehouse, not just a manufacturer’s initial release date.
• Every pre-order listing shows a quarterly expected arrival window, reviewed and updated on a regular cycle.
• Where a supplier can’t yet commit to a firm quarter, we’ll say so directly instead of guessing.
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02 · ALLOCATION INTEGRITY
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Proactive updates when allocation gets tight
Sometimes customer demand outpaces what a first production run can supply, and not every pre-order gets fully allocated on the first pass. Here’s what happens when that affects one of your orders:
• If your item’s allocation isn’t fully met on the first run due to a manufacturer shortage, we’ll reach out with your options before you have to ask.
• Distributors often release allocation in waves rather than all at once. We fill pre-orders first-come, first-served, so some orders are completed in a later wave.
• If your order falls into a later wave, we’ll let you know that’s the case rather than leaving you to guess why it hasn’t shipped yet.
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03 · DELAY PROTOCOL
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When something runs late, here’s exactly what happens
Even with better supplier communication, delays can still happen production hiccups, shipping bottlenecks, customs, or a manufacturer pushing a date. That part isn’t fully in anyone’s control. What we can control is how we handle it.
• Monthly status emails. If an item on your order becomes delayed, you’ll get an update every month with the latest information we have no need to reach out and ask.
• No-fee refunds. If your pre-order is delayed, you can cancel and get a full refund on that item at any time, with no cancellation fee and no penalty.
• In-stock items ship free when a delay splits your order. If your order has both in-stock and pre-order items and a pre-order item becomes delayed, we’ll ship your in-stock items right away at no extra shipping charge. Contact us at Support@usags.com to get your in-stock items sent out.
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SHIPPING NOTE
Orders combining in-stock and pre-order items may still be split into separate shipments, and standard split-shipping charges can apply. The one exception: if the split happens because a pre-order item is confirmed delayed, that in-stock shipment goes out free.
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CANCELLATIONS
Plans change, and we allow pre-order cancellations under the following terms:
• Within 7 days of placing the order: cancel any time for a full refund.
• After 7 days, before shipment: you can still cancel, but a 5% non-refundable processing cost is retained. This isn’t a penalty it covers the non-refundable payment-processing and administrative fees charged to us at the time of purchase.
• If your item is delayed: the 7-day limit doesn’t apply. A delayed pre-order can be canceled at any time for a full, fee-free refund (see Delay Protocol above).
• Once a pre-order has shipped: it can no longer be canceled and is handled under our Return Policy.
RELEASE DATES
Delays & Release Date Changes
• Release dates come from manufacturers and distributors and may change without notice.
• A confirmed delay qualifies you for a fee-free cancellation, even outside the 7-day window.
• USA Gundam Store isn’t responsible for manufacturer or distributor delays, but we’ll always keep you informed through our monthly status emails.
SHIPPING
Pre-order items are fulfilled separately from in-stock items. If your order contains both:
• Your order may be split into multiple shipments.
• In-stock items ship first; pre-order items ship once they arrive.
• Shipping is calculated per shipment except when a pre-order delay causes the split, in which case the in-stock shipment ships free.
For the fastest delivery and to avoid multiple shipping charges, we recommend placing separate orders for pre-order and in-stock items.
YOUR DETAILS
• You’re responsible for keeping your shipping address accurate.
• Address changes for pre-orders must be requested before the item ships.
• We’re not responsible for delays or losses caused by outdated or incorrect addresses.
OUR STANDARDS
What We’ll Continue to Do
Some things aren’t changing on purpose. A few core standards were solid before this upgrade and aren’t going anywhere:
• Every pre-order is backed by a real, confirmed allocation. We don’t list a pre-order unless we’ve secured actual inventory for it.
• Orders are fulfilled first-come, first-served, in the order they’re placed.
• We keep working directly with our distributors and manufacturers to get you the most accurate information available.
FAQ
Pre-Order Questions, Answered
Why do pre-orders get delayed, and why might another retailer or a marketplace listing ship before mine?
All of our pre-order stock arrives through bulk freight shipments from authorized, licensed distributors — the same supply chain nearly every hobby retailer in the US relies on. Stores that ship in smaller, faster batches, or that sell directly on large marketplaces, can sometimes get product out the door earlier simply because of how their shipping method and warehouse location line up with global logistics not because of anything about how we operate. Manufacturer and distributor delays are common across this industry and are outside our control. As builders ourselves, we know how much it matters to get your kit in your hands as fast as possible, and we work hard to get every order out the door the moment it’s ready.
THE FINE PRINT
• Pre-orders are placed in good faith and are intended for customers willing to wait for future releases.
• Excessive cancellations or abuse of the pre-order system may result in restrictions or refusal of future pre-order purchases.
• USA Gundam Store reserves the right to modify or update this policy at any time.
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Thank you, builders.
Your feedback is the reason all of this exists. We’re not done — this is the version of our pre-order system we’re proud to stand behind today, and we’ll keep refining it as we learn more.
USA Gundam Store Team
Now, back to building.
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