Tomix Points

[Guest bill937ca]

After recently purchasing some switches, I have noticed that it's getting hard to put together an order with several switches.  At least one of many of the pairs are sold out.

 

Now that Tomix's 3 way points should be appearing on the market shortly in late February perhaps there will be a general restocking of Tomix points.  At present the following are out of stock at Hobby Search:

 

Tomix 91082  Mini Rail Set & Point Set (Rail Type MB)

Tomix 1231    Mini electric Point N-PR140-30(F)

Tomix 91069  Rail Set Y Points Lay-by Set (Pattern Y)

Tomix 91065  Rail Set Carve Point Set E

Tomix 1244    N-PR280-30 Electric Points (F)

Tomix 1248    N-CPR317/280-45 Electric Curved Points (F)

Tomix 1247    N-PX280 Electric Double Crossover Points (F)

Tomix 1241    N-PR541-15 Electric Points (F)

Tomix 1209    N-PR541-15 Manual Points (F)

 

Availability at Rainbow Ten isn't any better either as they only have the Y switches (1240, 1243, 1244) and 1245 and 1246 switches and the double crossover point 1247 on their stock list.  Rainbow Ten does have some of the switch sets (91062, 91064, 91065, 91066, 91067, 91068 and 91069).  Stock as of 2/21/08.

 

Stock levels like this make it hard to set up a siding let alone a yard. I suspect this situation indicates that the wholesale level is sold out in Japan.  It will be interesting to see how long this trend take to reverse itself.

[CaptOblivious]

I saw that too! I hope soon! I was lucky that Hobby Search at least had the one point I needed for my last order—but I was hoping to have several more  :( . But It's not just points: A lot of viaduct items are out, too (I need a bunch of the 55.5mm style island-station viaducts and various pylons for Akihabara Station).

[Guest bill937ca]

As of now I have managed to get two more switches.  One through Hobby Search and one from Germany.  Let's see if they arrive.

[Guest bill937ca]

I saw that too! I hope soon! I was lucky that Hobby Search at least had the one point I needed for my last order—but I was hoping to have several more  :( . But It's not just points: A lot of viaduct items are out, too (I need a bunch of the 55.5mm style island-station viaducts and various pylons for Akihabara Station).

 

Well, the items are starting to come back.  My RSS feed let me know this morning that Hobby Search is taking reservations for Crossbeam for Viaduct size S.

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10028694

 

Hobby Search is also taking reservations for the 1231 140-30 switches often used for tram layouts.

[Bernard]

Bill,

I've never done reservations from Hobby Search. From your experience, on an average how long does it usually take to get the item?

 

Also is there a recommended why to order from overseas? Why I ask is I get an additional charge on my credit card for converting US dollars to JPN yen.

[Guest bill937ca]

Bill,

I've never done reservations from Hobby Search. From your experience, on an average how long does it usually take to get the item?

 

Also is there a recommended why to order from overseas? Why I ask is I get an additional charge on my credit card for converting US dollars to JPN yen.

 

If you look at the link I posted their is an expected delivery date.  There can be delays of course.  I have a Modemo NT11 reserved.  I reserved it in early February but it is not expected until the end of June.  MY Kato Tsubume 787 was a month late but I still got it.  Once the item is in you will get an email notice.  The order ships within the usual time unless you encounter a Japanese holiday or holidays.

 

On some items if you don't reserve you may not get it.  Really popular items (like magazines) can go from reserve it, to available for purchase,  to sold out within a matter of hours on being released. 

 

By the way for those that are interested Japanese train magazines usually appear around the 22nd-23rd of each month.

 

The credit card fee is only  about 1-2% of the total order.  I regard it as a cost of the item and I do track what I spend.  I've got an accounting background.

 

Many Japanese dealers offer a points or discount program.  Hobby Search's program  gives points worth 5% of the purchase value.  Each point is worth one Yen. 1000 points will reduce your total by 1000 Yen.  On my last large order I took 2232 points from Hobby Search which were worth 2232 Yen and reduced my credit card bill by 2232 Yen.  ;D Today that is worth $21.60 US or $21.48 CDN.

 

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/faq_e.asp?Typ1_c=104#p1

 

I feel the Points Program is well worth while.

[Guest bill937ca]

One more thing about buying from Japan with a credit card.  Japan is a cash society and credit card processing is in the stone ages there.  I understand all credit card charges are still processed manually at the end of the month. It takes awhile for these charges to appear on your credit card statement sometimes.

[CaptOblivious]

I've found that the conversion fees are much easier on the pocketbook, esp for small orders, via PayPal. Hobby Link and Rainbow Ten take PayPay, so I usually try to order through them. My point (as in switch or turnout) order with Hobby Search arrived quickly, but Bill is right: They only do credit cards at the end of each month, so although I've had my order for a couple of weeks now, it still hasn't posted to my CC yet. I dislike that.

 

Anyway, good to see bits coming back into stock!

[Guest bill937ca]

After doing some research on Japanese Wikipedia I have now a better idea of what is going on.  March 31 is year end for Japanese corporations, particularly the ones traded on the stock exchange. This makes since in a way because at one time the Vernal Equinox was regarded as the beginning of the new year. 

 

Most places I worked at tried to minimize ordering going into year end.  Nobody wants to count inventory.  Plaza Japan just added an amazing amount of new items today.

[Guest bill937ca]

Just an update. Looks like Tomix is reissuing several points with improved detailing and mechanisms.  Here's a few dates:

 

1271 PR541-15 June 2008

1272 PL541-15 June 2008

1273 PR280-30 September 2008

1274 PL280-30 September 2008

1278 CPR317/280-45 August 2008

1279 CPL317/280-45 August 2008

[Guest bill937ca]

This is the complete list of switches to be reissued:

 

1215 < > manual point N-PR541-15(F)(complete selection type)

1216 < > manual point N-PL541-15(F)(complete selection type)

1271 < > electric point N-PR541-15(F)(complete selection type)

1272 < > electric point N-PL541-15(F)(complete selection type)

1278 < > Electric point N-CPR317/280-45(F)(complete selection type)

1279 < > Electric point N-CPL317/280-45(F)(complete selection type)

1273 < > electric point N-PR280-30(F)(complete selection type)

1274 < > electric point N-PL280-30(F)(complete selection type)

 

Release dates are June-September 2008

 

http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomytec.co.jp%2Ftomix%2Fproducts%2Fkettei%2Fseihinkakettei.htm%2320080422&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2

[alpineaustralia]

Does anyone use one of those tomix 3 way switching points?

What sort of motor does it have? what sort of decoder have you installed in it?

Does it use the same sort of motor as a Kato switch?

[C62]

I have the Tomix 3way points but not the Kato ones. The Tomix 3way points have the usual Tomix motor. As it uses DC, too I think the Tomix ones are similar to Kato.

Thomas