Hobby Search

[bill937ca]

The "additional details" about cancellations make it clear that preorders can only be canceled for a week after ordering, which I think is a big change from before (I don't recall any time limit in general, although items would sometimes be marked "this item cannot be cancelled").

 

 

The "pricing adjustments" is a bit more worrisome.  Are they raising costs (or eliminating the extra discount added last year) to cover additional overhead, or are they expecting manufacturers to raise prices?  Do Japanese manufacturers do annual price changes?

 

These are the existing rules:

 

You can cancel an order (or parts of an order) as long as it meets the following conditions:

1) It is not yet preparing for shipment.

2) The items do not exceed 20,000 JPY each.

 

Cancellation is possible ONLY before they are preparing for shipment.

We offer NO refund past that point and the order will be put through.

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/faq_e.asp?Typ1_c=104#c1

 

In other words you cancel it as long as HS was not processing order and they did not get stuck with high value items which probably move much slower.

 

Prices do not actually rise in Japan.  The Japanese economy has long had deflation rather than inflation. Some repeat travelers have remarked that prices have not changed since their first visit long ago which would be in the producer's/retailer's favor as the same Yen value has more purchasing value over time with deflation.

[bill937ca]

I've gone and shot my Train-related ordering early. I'm hoping that they don't end up lowering prices, making me feel like an idiot.

 

HLJ is busy getting manufacturers on board with the discounted prices. I'd find it odd if Hobby Search turns around and nixes the discount...

 

Some dealers like Hobby Link Japan (which doesn't stock much in trains) has moved away from sales and promotions that cropped up in the past few years.

 

http://www.hlj.com/specials/ourpriceall.html?utm_medium=slide&utm_campaign=TOP_page&utm_content=ourprice/our_price_bandai.jpg

[westfalen]

Maybe one of our Japanese reading members could have a look at the Japanese HS website and see what it says in regard to 'price adjustments', sometimes things get twisted around a bit in translation.

[cteno4]

Thinking positive, maybe HS is instituting a pre-order discount like HW has on many things at 26% if you pre-order. HW's preorder window is much smaller than HS usually though. Im guessing they may get a better price on a preorder than once its released so maybe they are trying to stimulate more sales this way and then closing the ability to cancel so once you order you are on the hook... but then i wonder what they will do with the paypal, make you pay earlier? or cancel your account if you dont pay up?

 

cheers

 

jeff

[bill937ca]

Thinking positive, maybe HS is instituting a pre-order discount like HW has on many things at 26% if you pre-order. HW's preorder window is much smaller than HS usually though. Im guessing they may get a better price on a preorder than once its released so maybe they are trying to stimulate more sales this way and then closing the ability to cancel so once you order you are on the hook... but then i wonder what they will do with the paypal, make you pay earlier? or cancel your account if you dont pay up?

 

There is already a provision to cancel your account if you don't pay for an order.

[cteno4]

There is already a provision to cancel your account if you don't pay for an order.

 

figured as much!

 

thanks

 

jeff

[cteno4]

anyone know the specifics of the japanese page pricing? i know there is an internal tax that is not included with foreign sales, but they seem to have a cash price and a regular price and a fixed price. they also advertise a 25% discount on pre orders that we dont get on preorders! too bad. HobbyWorld does the 26% on preorder but they are spotty on what they offer up on preorder and close theirs early.

 

i guess with the paypal charges it might be too much for hs to want to do the preorder discount.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[angusmclean]

Just had a browse and noticed that 'New' and 'Restock" items are now only 15% off, not the previous 20%, or had that changed some time ago?  Their 'Reserve' listings are at 20% off, so this might just be a readjustment of discounts.  Rainbow Ten still seem to be 20% of most items, with the occasional item even more.

 

Angus

[keitaro]

funny you say that because i don't beleive it's really 20% off or 15% etc etc.

 

When I was in kidsworld in denden town I bought the nguage thomas and it was not on sale. Checking on their site it's the same price ... I think it's more 15% less than rrp but it doesn't mean it's really on speacial.

 

i could be wrong but same thing my kiha 130 was 79800 yen here it's 78840 yen http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/kenall_e.aspx?search=hidaka&sender=kenall

 

so I question is it really cheaper ? thank say going into their real store

 

not that i care i still find the trains to be great price

[bill937ca]

That must have been the change in pricing mentioned when they changed their cancellation policies in January.  For competitive reasons HS may feel they don't need to offer 20% off. A Kato 11-105 that I bought December 28 for 1600 Yen is now 1700 Yen. Interesting. My outstanding reservations are still at 20% off (reservations closed status), but once they are again available I assume the price will rise.

[bill937ca]

funny you say that because i don't beleive it's really 20% off or 15% etc etc.

 

The price difference is mainly because the taxes are deleted. If you shop in a store, the taxes are included.

[Darklighter]

funny you say that because i don't beleive it's really 20% off or 15% etc etc.

 

The price difference is mainly because the taxes are deleted. If you shop in a store, the taxes are included.

 

The "Regular Price" on the English website of HS is the price without taxes (5%) so you actually get/got ( ) 25% discount at HS.

[cteno4]

Ok so im not going crazy, i thought i noticed some things loosing the 20% discount, but i have only shopped for some odd things recently.

 

oh well i guess too good to last! now we really need the yen to drop!

 

jeff

[Guest ___]

could this account for the change in exchange rates?

 

BTW: I like how FOREX.jp is using Golgo-13 in its advertising. 

[keitaro]

seems HW is clearing out there thomas stock :( http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/kengte.aspx?mk=&sc=28///103///806

 

i now have 4000 + points on their site was going to order a james or gordon :(

[The_Ghan]

Hi Angus,

 

Yes, I noticed this.  I've got an E5 on reserve.  I spend a lot of money with HS and currently have around 17k points.  I'm going to use them against the E5 set in March.

 

I've also noticed their shipping price has gone up over the last 6 months.  In August I bought about 4 trains in one order - 6 folders in total, plus some track that all came in a box measuring about 2'x1'x1', give or take.  Shipping was Y5800.  EMS.  A similar order in mid-December cost me Y8900 shipping.

 

My latest order has come from Banzai Hobbies ... still 20% discount.

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[westfalen]

Wouldn't the blame for the shipping going up lie with the Japanese postal authorities?

[cteno4]

They may also be using a shipping agent of some sort to take packages from them and get it into the postal system, break down could be there as well.

 

also since sal goes on space available i wonder if other events or JIT shipping might muck up the SAL going onto planes for a while and take some time or everything to get back to normal.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[The_Ghan]

Further,

 

Over Y1900 or $25 appears to be a "handling" charge.  The actual shipping on the box was around Y6900.

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[harukablue]

You think thats bad,,,only 5% of my TOMIX HO EF510 :(

[bikkuri bahn]

You think thats bad,,,only 5% of my TOMIX HO EF510 :(

 

Welcome to HO scale.  Though I think of the prices as keeping me from indulging too much- every time I think of a purchase, I think, does this fit into my era/region/operational plan?

[harukablue]

This will be my 15th Japanese HO loco, I normally wait until they are cheap on Yahoo auctions but with popular locos like the EF210 and the EF510 they sell out quick so i dont want to chance missing it,

[The_Ghan]

Wow!  I don't know if this has been discussed before but I've just discovered that locals get a better deal than foreigners on Hobby Search by 5%.  See comparison below:

 

Japanese site: http://www.1999.co.jp/list/603/0/1

English site: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/603/0/1

 

This would be illegal in Australia.  I'm going to buy more from hwJapan and Banzai Hobbies from now on.  What do others think.

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[westfalen]

Interesting. I'd never really looked at it, I always thought if anything we would get a better deal as we are not paying the local equivalent of GST.

 

If anything I might do more shopping around to see if anyone has a better price than HS.

[The_Ghan]

My latest orders are coming from:

http://www.hwjapan.com/ and

http://www.banzaihobby.com/ ... Just had a small delivery from Banzai today via SAL.  Everything seems fine.

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan