Frequently Asked Questions

Most consumers don't realize that when they place an order with another retailer who offers the ability to preorder a model, is that that inventory is NOT guaranteed by the retailer. We don't believe in taking your money up front and holding it for months only to find out the inventory we had tried reserving didn't become available to us.

We want to change the way preorders get handled by serving as the first retailer to offer deferred payments. Preorder items will be listed on the preorder page and when you checkout with a preorder item in your cart, it'll appear as a $0 charge.

Later, when we take physical delivery of the product, we'll issue you an invoice via email to complete the payment process. Once you've completed payment, your items will ship ASAP.

We don't wait for all of your items to arrive in stock before shipping. We utilize a 'fulfill on receipt' model to ensure your items are delivered as quickly as possible.

If you have a combination of in-stock and preorder items in your order, in-stock items will ship immediately while the preorder items will ship ASAP as they arrive to us.

No. Unlike most diecast retailers, Downskale charges nothing at preorder. We only invoice you once the model physically arrives and is ready to ship. This protects you from being charged for releases that get delayed, canceled, or reallocated by the manufacturer.

Most 1:64 diecast preorders arrive 6 to 9 months after the announcement, depending on the brand. MINI GT, Kaido House, Tarmac Works, Inno64, and Pop Race each operate on their own production schedules. We update the expected window on each preorder product page whenever the manufacturer revises it.

You can cancel any preorder for free, anytime before you've paid the invoice. Because no payment is taken at preorder, there's nothing to refund. Just contact us at info@downskale.com with your order number, or wait for the invoice and let expire.

If the manufacturer cancels the release, your preorder is canceled at no cost (no payment was taken). For delays, please understand that none of the brands share updated ETA's, so we generally won't have any updated information to share and we end up equally surprised when models get released.

Yes. You can place additional orders any time. Preorder items ship individually as they arrive, so adding more items doesn't delay anything you've already reserved. Subsequent preorder shipments tied to the same account ship free of additional shipping charges.

A chase car is a rare variant of a standard diecast release, featuring unique details
like raw metal finishes, alternate wheel colors, special paint, or hidden design
elements. Manufacturers typically produce one chase car per case of standard models, making them significantly harder to find and more collectible than regular releases.

We open every case and separate chase cars from regular releases. Chase cars are listed individually on our Chase Cars collection page (https://downskale.com/collections/chase-cars) so you can buy them directly without hunting through cases. For sealed inventory that may contain a chase variant, we note the possibility on the product page.

Chase cars are not guaranteed unless a product is specifically listed as a chase variant. Most preorder listings cover the standard release. If a chase variant exists for a release, we list it as a separate preorder with its own page so you know exactly what you're reserving.

Yes. Downskale sources directly from authorized distributors and the manufacturers' regional partners — MINI GT, Kaido House, Tarmac Works, Inno64, Pop Race, and QubeCarz. We do not sell bootlegs, factory rejects, or unauthorized copies. Every model arrives sealed in original manufacturer packaging.

Downskale specializes in 1:64 scale diecast (roughly the size of a Hot Wheels car, ~2.75 inches long). We focus on premium 1:64 from collector brands rather than mass-market scales like 1:18 or 1:43.

Shipping is free for orders over $50 for items currently in stock. For orders under this amount, we offer 2 shipping methods via USPS and UPS. The first shipping method is a standard 3-5 day service with tracking included. We also offer an expedited 2 day shipping option via UPS.

Cost ranges from $4.99 to $12.99 based on your cart items. Please use the shipping estimator on the cart page to estimate your cost. Additional shipping information can be found on the Shipping Information page.

Preorder items incur a separate shipping charge due to the fact that we ship preorder items individually as they arrive. For this reason, we incur multiple shipping charges for the same order. We balance this by charging a nominal one-time shipping fee for the first preorder shipment, and all others that are part of the same order thereafter are shipped free of charge.

Yes, Downskale ships internationally. International rates are calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. Customers are responsible for any customs duties or import taxes charged on arrival.

Domestic orders ship via USPS or UPS depending on size and speed selected. International orders ship via USPS, UPS, or DHL. Tracking is provided on every order via email once your label is created.

In-stock orders typically ship within 1-2 business days of order placement. Preorders ship within 1-2 business days of the invoice being paid (after the item arrives at our warehouse). You'll receive a tracking email as soon as your label is created.

Contact us at info@downskale.com within 5 days of the delivery date with photos of the damaged packaging and item. For lost packages, we'll open a claim with the carrier and either ship a replacement or issue a refund depending on availability. We stand behind every shipment we send.

For our detailed return policy, please visit our return policy page here.

You can cancel any unpaid preorder for free at any time. Once you've paid the invoice and the item has shipped, standard return policy applies — only sealed, unopened items qualify for a return.

To track your order status, check your email for your shipping confirmation email. This email contains your tracking number and contains a link to view the tracking page for updated information on your order's status.

Contact us at info@downskale.com within 5 days of the delivery date with photos of the damaged packaging and item. For lost packages, we'll open a claim with the carrier and either ship a replacement or issue a refund depending on availability. We stand behind every shipment we send.

Downskale was founded by Chris Boulas, a lifelong automotive enthusiast who bought his first car before he could legally drive. The store was built to bring premium 1:64 diecast to the broader car culture community — connecting JDM, Euro, classic, and motorsport collectors through a shared love of cars.

Downskale operates out of Irvine, CA in the United States, shipping domestically and internationally from our private warehouse facility.

Downskale has been serving the diecast collector community since 2024 with a 5 star review rating and tens of thousands of orders shipped.