TL;DR
- Retroid seems to be transport US Pocket Flip 2 and Basic pre-orders forward of different international locations.
- Retroid has not formally introduced this coverage, however the proof is overwhelming.
- Shipments from China to the US will cease on April 25, so only some days stay to satisfy pre-orders.
The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 and Pocket Classic are two of probably the most hyped retro gaming handhelds to come back out thus far this yr, however the budding commerce conflict between the US and China has thrown a pink shell into the launch cycle. Whereas the corporate hasn’t confirmed it straight, it seems that pre-orders headed to the US are leaping to the entrance of the road to beat the approaching tariffs and cargo halts.
Pre-orders for the 2 units began on March 18, with the Pocket Flip 2 shipments beginning on April 13 and Pocket Basic shipments beginning on April 16. Nevertheless, customers on Reddit and Discord are discovering that many day one pre-orders have but to ship, with US pre-orders from weeks later taking priority.
This seems to be the case for traditional orders, as properly. A person on the Retro Handhelds Discord had their Pocket Flip 2 order ship just a few hours after putting the order. This got here after a brief dialog with Retroid’s customer support, through which the corporate assured that “We’ll prepare cargo inside 3 days” to stop the order from being canceled.
Android Authority contacted Retroid in regards to the delay, however was solely informed that “We’re prioritizing shipments based mostly on order dates and can purpose to dispatch this week.” Nevertheless, plainly shipments are being despatched based mostly on colorway, then the nation of vacation spot, then pre-order dates, with US orders leaping to the entrance of the road.
Retroid has been dashing to get orders shipped earlier than April 25, when all shipments from China to the US will halt. Anbernic has additionally ceased shipments to the US, encouraging customers to purchase from its US warehouse whereas provides final. Retroid has no US warehouse, so it solely has a number of days left earlier than the deadline hits.
Clients exterior of the US might want to wait a number of extra days for his or her handhelds.
Initially, the de minimis exemption for small shipments to the US was set to expire on May 2, however issues escalated within the following weeks. Tariff charges have been quickly tripled, and Retroid states that transport firms have responded by halting shipments.
Final week, Retroid knowledgeable US clients that three colorways would not arrive in time to beat the deadline. The Teal, Berry, and Kiwi colours won’t ship to the US, so anybody ordering these fashions must contact customer support to choose a brand new coloration. Regardless, any US orders that don’t ship within the subsequent few days will possible have to be canceled.
Clients exterior of the US will possible want to attend a number of extra days earlier than receiving their handhelds, however at the very least they will achieve this with out the stress of unpredictable customs charges ruining the enjoyable.
