Buying from Popondetta by email

[clem24]

Has anyone bought used stuff with ratings below/crappier than AB? Just wondering what to actually expect with stuff that have say B or B- rating, and how bad stuff with C rating would look. I find they can be all over the place - depends on the vendor. I think I'd know a little more I suppose if I buy a model with each rating and see what they look like hahaha. When I was in Akiba, there was lots of trains in "junk" bins that were super cheap that I picked up. No boxes, parts, etc.. Just wrapped in plastic. But they were essentially mint underneath. I totally regret not buying the entire bin though I don't know what I'd do with single trains from a set. Maybe model a scene for a railroad museum hahaha.

 

I find really that ratings compared to reality can be all over the place. And usually, I find the worst used stuff from Japan almost always look better than the best used stuff in North America, especially stuff at my my LHS. Those things should be beyond junk status but they want $$$ for it. Used american trains are usually very, very dirty and grimy and aren't kept in good shape (i.e. I think the Japanese are more likely to take out a train from it's box, run, then meticulously put back into said box and put away, whereas, Americans tend to throw out the packaging, leave trains on the track to gather dust, don't clean them as often, etc...). But then those are just my general impressions and there are always exceptions.

 

And then there's eBay, which is anywhere in between, and I usually have no clue whatsoever until the train arrives. I think I'd rather have a few scratches than yellowing. Yellowing is totally noticeable, whereas a few scratches are not usually a big deal and not generally noticeable.

[alpineaustralia]

I find really that ratings compared to reality can be all over the place. And usually, I find the worst used stuff from Japan almost always look better than the best used stuff in North America, especially stuff at my my LHS.

 

This is certainly my impression as well from buying on ebay.  I have mainly bought from Japan, UK and US.

For fear of starting an international incident, my experience is that the Japanese will under sell items.

[clem24]

Just made my first order. Now I am almost 40,000Y poorer 

 

Very easy to deal with. I just used the online shopping cart and check out instead of doing it through email. It was pretty easy to figure out. And they very fast at replying. I asked for both shipping methods (EMS and Seamail) and they were very good and fast about getting the estimate for both. It got shipped last night (Saturday for them). I guess this is right out of their store in Tokyo, because that would explain why they'd be working on Saturday.

 

It's sad because when I was in Akiba, Popondetta was actually the store that had the least amount of used stuff and was generally higher $$ than the other stores. But for being an ocean away, I can't really complain! Can't wait to receive my goods. My fave used store was this one where you had to go downstairs and was about 1 block away from Popondetta. The building a sign with a picture of a bomb on it. Looking back at my pics.. The store was in the same building as "PC Bomba Re*birth" LOL.

[to2leo]

Are you talking about Pochi?

[ToniBabelony]

Are you talking about Pochi?

 

Just par coincidence, I've asked them just yesterday if they ship to foreign countries, but that's unfortunately not the case.

[clem24]

Are you talking about Pochi?

 

I have no idea! There's 2 of about 6 shops I visited that I don't know the name to. This one, and one more that's on the main road, beside a curry bowl stand, through a tiny little door and up to the 2nd floor.

[cteno4]

I have no idea! There's 2 of about 6 shops I visited that I don't know the name to. This one, and one more that's on the main road, beside a curry bowl stand, through a tiny little door and up to the 2nd floor.

 

LOL, love that description, could be any of the hobby shops i visited in japan from my memory! they all seemed to be strange little doorways narrow passages usually some stairs and a curry or noodle shop very near! always thought i was visiting an illicit porn shop some were so nondescript and hidden!

 

cheers,

 

jeff

[rankodd]

I have no idea! There's 2 of about 6 shops I visited that I don't know the name to. This one, and one more that's on the main road, beside a curry bowl stand, through a tiny little door and up to the 2nd floor.

 

LOL, love that description, could be any of the hobby shops i visited in japan from my memory! they all seemed to be strange little doorways narrow passages usually some stairs and a curry or noodle shop very near! always thought i was visiting an illicit porn shop some were so nondescript and hidden!

 

cheers,

 

jeff

 

I tended to find that they were much better at hiding their hobby shops than their porn shops...

[clem24]

Oh Gawd, this post is killing me. It's been exactly 10 days since my first order, and I *just* placed my 3rd order. Someone PLEASE.. ban me from Popondetta.

[cteno4]

LOL, you had the same reaction i had when i found you could order multiples of some of the tomytec vehicles! killer! now its the lurk for those odd OOP trains to try and grab second hand!

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Darklighter]

Do they still not offer SAL?

[cteno4]

last i ordered maybe 4 months back they still only did ems. cost about the same as hs ems, ems charge and usually a few bucks more.

 

jeff

[Darklighter]

Do they deduct the Japanese consumption tax?

[disturbman]

Of course. They even do it in their physical shops if I remember correctly.

[clem24]

Of course. They even do it in their physical shops if I remember correctly.

 

Nope. They stopped that practice as of January 2012. It used to be web price divided by 1.05 to get the price. Now it's just web price. My guess is likely the administrative headache.

[mwsteele]

What's the easiest way to search for stuff on their site? I find it very difficult.

 

Do they take Kato item numbers in their search?

[Guest Closed Account 1]

What's the easiest way to search for stuff on their site? I find it very difficult.

 

Do they take Kato item numbers in their search?

 

It's easy. Just go to the upper left grey box. It says ↑フリーワード検索 Free Word Search.

 

Yes, use the stock numbers.

 

Them email them (address at bottom) and ask politely that you want to buy Item Name, Item number, shipped EMS or SAL, and paid by paypal.  They'll send you an invoice when its ready to ship. They also reserve items too.

 

I'm going to try to use them as my sole foreign source for Kato, or BTtrains. Sometimes my local shop has a 20% off sale because they are also an ACE hardware. Otherwise I never buy from them.

[VJM]

Just made a purchase from Popondetta via the web.  Just waiting for shipping price from them now, but they would not deduct consumption tax.

 

When I asked, the answer was:

 

We are not tax-free shop.

You should pay consumption tax included.

Also, they only accept Paypal now, not credit card anymore.

[cteno4]

webskipper,

 

are they now doing SAL? have you done it there? in the past they would only do EMS to the us.

 

one interesting thing popondetta does is they break up the tomytec vehicle sets and sell them as individuals with you knowing what you are getting. things seem to start out about the same price, but quickly, the ones that sell the fastest seem to rise in price, so best to lurk right around when they are released.

 

translation engines do work with their website some to help you find things and use the search system more effectively.

 

they also do preorder requests, but they have always required EMS for all my order with them in the past by email or via the website, but its been a few months since my last order there.

 

jeff

[Guest Closed Account 1]

Oh, maybe I ass/u/me'd (Benny Hill reference). I'll ask next time I add to my bloating reserve list.

 

EMS is better because it is faster, insured, and I can track it on the USPS app on my iPhone. :)

[cteno4]

hey im dyslexic and i remember how to spell assume that way! i watched benny hill at much too young an age...

 

still love sal, its saved me literally like $3k now over the years. nothing ever lost and i have patience for being able to buy more trains for the $!

 

ems with the yen is pretty hideous now. the zoo train from hs cost 3200yen (over charged by like 600 yen) or $40 to ship. ouch. only did it  to have it for the cherry blossom festival show! not the 2 day service anymore as well, took 5 this time.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[clem24]

In Canada, I just EMS now. I've never been dinged with tax and fees on any EMS shipment, but have been dinged almost 90% of the time with SAL (and 100% if over Y10,000). So in the end, it'll cost me almost the same, but I get it much, much sooner.

[cteno4]

bummer, no tariff here luckily so SAL works out way way cheaper.

 

jeff

[clem24]

bummer, no tariff here luckily so SAL works out way way cheaper.

 

Says you.. Obamacare just wiped out at least 2-3x what I pay in tariffs on shipments...  Suckers!!!

[Guest Closed Account 1]

Popondetta said EMS only.

 

I couldn't reserve an item 6 months in advance.