Toy News Magazine

Forbidden Planet Review

Website: www.forbiddenplanet.com

Forbidden Planet is the world’s largest science fiction, fantasy and cult entertainment retailer. They’re
perhaps best known for selling merchandise from cult TV and movies, but they also specialise in action figures, books, comics, DVDs, graphic novels and toys. With stores up and down the country, we investigate their online range to see if it lives up to their undeniable reputation.

Range
Whether it’s Marvel or DC Comic merchandise, Dr. Who toys, or a t-shirt for your favourite cult movie – Forbidden Planet is the place to go. You will also find every possible product that can be merchandised, emblazoned with Star Wars logos and characters. It’s a niche market, I’ll grant you, but they have completely cornered it and so are the first place fans will go to.

Usability
Right from the home page, the Forbidden Planet website offers you a range of categories, menus and search options. Whether you want to see a character range, everything from a manufacturer, or the full action figure or comic range – you can click straight to it from the main page. The search box is incredibly accurate and I couldn’t trick it. The site is easy to browse, but also easy to find what you’re looking for if you’re on a mission.

Registration and Checkout
You do need to register before you can checkout – but it’s a simple process. The forms are short and concise with just the usual questions. The VeriSign seal of approval is on evey page of the checkout process just to reassure you that every part of your details are secure. I had no hesitation in ordering from them.

Delivery
Delivery is based on item cost not weight and the low prices put other websites we’ve looked at to shame. Prices start at just £1 and top out at £10 for items of more than £250 value. The delivery times are not as attractive as they claim that everything is delivered ‘within 28 days’, however, you will receive an email after you order to let you know exactly when to expect your goods, and we received ours much quicker!

Location
The company is stationed in London, but they have stores across the UK. Their store locator page tells you exactly where to find them, along with opening times. Very handy.

Overall
I can’t believe it, but we may have found our first 5 star toy store! Checkout was simple and secure, the range was extensive, but kept within the theme of the store, and the website navigation and shopping was easy and efficient. I have some tiny niggles, like ‘preorder’ products being listed before those in stock – but in comparison to the rest of the site it doesn’t even register as a complaint. The design is great, the product descriptions are straight to the point and the images are large and clear. I have no hesitation in recommending this website to all Toyhype readers – go forth and see for yourself.

Don’t forget to let us know what you think as well!

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