|
|
Post by Fulano on Apr 27, 2013 23:50:36 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Maethius on May 1, 2013 11:16:38 GMT -5
Sad panda... seems that the line will be available ONLY through Takara-Tomy's store.  |
|
|
|
Post by Snowflake on May 1, 2013 13:46:56 GMT -5
Beter than letting a store needlessly give it a markup. It makes the most sense for them to sell it directly since there's no way for a physical store to improve the experience of getting it it'd just be nice if they let foreigners buy them |
|
|
|
Post by gurenseven on May 4, 2013 16:25:16 GMT -5
No, the only thing that accomplishes is helping the scalpers get rich.
I guess I am just sick of being marginalized by the Japanese toy companies because I do not live in Japan.
TT is in real trouble financially right now...if they continue to be isolationist in regards to offering their product to the western market their profits will continue to circle the drain.
I was really hoping to pick up one of these, it looks great, but if TT does not want my U.S. dollars, I guess I will spend them with somebody who wants my business.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snowflake on May 5, 2013 12:41:49 GMT -5
Yeah the isolation part is stupid
but selling directly from the store is smart
as is taking pre-orders and finding out who (across the planet) wants a product before going into production, so they don't overproduce less desirable models *cough*Gojulasgiga*cough* and underproduce highly desired gems (panzer, CP-03, sturm tyrann, etc)
offline stores add another disconnect because they just buy up a certain stock based more on shelf space than actual consumer demand.. then try getting refunds for unsold stock
|
|
|
|
Post by Tilly on May 6, 2013 0:28:07 GMT -5
Yyyyyep on the selling directly/preorders. Smaller/direct from X sales are not that weird, especially these days. This lets them control much better how many they make without ending up with a bunch of leftovers or having to deal with getting them out to lots of stores/communicating with a bunch of stores/etc.
As for Japan-only, international orders would add payment processing issues (currency conversion, what cards are accepted where, etc), language barrier issues (you could find someone who speaks decent English, but you're still having to deal with that and possibly others), and shipping—go international and suddenly you have to deal with customs and a whole lot of people who don't know jack about shipping complaining to you when either their SAL package vanishes for a month or their EMS box costs a lot/gets taxed and on and on and on.
The number they'd sell offering them directly to overseas customers likely wouldn't even pay for that in time or aggravation, both for Mirage Fox and a lot of things. Seriously, I know within Zoids fandom there's a lot of people who want the Fox and aren't in Japan, but that doesn't amount to that many in the wider scheme of things. Especially not for a sale that seems to be more testing the waters than anything.
And overpriced resellers aside, there's plenty of proxy services who will handle said aggravation and time spent. For a fee, of course, but they have to make a living too ;p.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snowflake on May 6, 2013 12:42:25 GMT -5
so it's really customs' fault (though I've never had those problems before.. i guess it's like a tax audit? just random selection to harrass someone?) ffff
oh well, anyone know how to contact one o' dem proxels?
|
|
|
|
Post by Maethius on May 7, 2013 9:56:37 GMT -5
Not really... customs certainly plays a role, but the biggest problem right now is transportation costs... fuel. Look at basic shipping. I got a quote on a Mirage Fox... the puppy runs about $20 (for the sake of argument) and the best shipping cost to me from Japan is $20. I'm literally paying 100% for shipping. Even if we are talking case lots and cargo containers... I have a lot of Zoids (a 3'x3'x3' cube, or a cubic meter) waiting in Manila; the cost to ship to Seattle? About $400.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snowflake on May 7, 2013 12:28:19 GMT -5
Man I blew 400 bucks shipping a slightly larger cube from MINNESOTA to seattle, and that was largely zoids.
I would be willing to blow 40 bucks on a new zoid right now, especially if it's one that was hard to get in the original line like that
|
|
|
|
Post by wolves on May 7, 2013 15:34:18 GMT -5
I've asked Japamart for a total quote. I'll report back when I get their estimate. Celga wasn't even sure they could order one.
|
|
|
|
Post by wolves on May 8, 2013 2:39:51 GMT -5
The quote for Mirage Fox is $45.42 BEFORE shipping to its final destination. 90% sure I'll bite but ah. I'm not thrilled. Since I have a Fox display in the works, I'll probably go for it and customize my HMM as a Fire Fox because I missed that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snowflake on May 8, 2013 12:44:12 GMT -5
100 percent shipping markup
ehh
150 percent proxy markup? Come on.. just come on
|
|
|
|
Post by wolves on May 8, 2013 12:53:35 GMT -5
I know Here's the breakdown: Item price - $22.33 Commission - $10 Japan internal shipping - $8.93 Bank fee - $2 Transaction fee - $2.16 I have no idea what the difference between bank and transaction fee is. Perhaps a charge to convert the $? Or maybe a Paypal fee? I'm still not sure whether to pull the trigger. I have 2 days to decide or it might sell out before that. Ugh! It'll cost more than the HMM, it's crazy. |
|
|
|
Post by Tilly on May 8, 2013 13:28:40 GMT -5
The people running those services have to pay their employees, have to store stuff, and a bunch of other expenses. It's like...a whole other layer of business worth of expense on top, so that's really not that high a commission.
Er, more at Snowflake than you. Oops. Though the bank fee is just that, the fee for them paying the seller via bank transfer thing in Japan. Kind of like how PayPal takes a cut—though actually, if you're a seller you're not allowed to ask for PayPal fees separately (it's in their ToS, seriously) so that's likely part of the commission too.
(also apologies, I am being too cranky about this.)
|
|
|
|
Post by wolves on May 8, 2013 15:32:46 GMT -5
^ Haha no you're fine. I actually agree with the commission. It's not a lot for their service. I just keep staring at its picture and talking to myself. How much do you really want it wolves? lol I don't actually say wolves though. I might get a Konig Wolf instead because I can customize it and...bah I'm so undecided I want to cry.
|
|
