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Post by mazfan on Jan 3, 2007 17:18:59 GMT -5
Have you guys ordered from Toy-wave.com? My spouse is planning on getting GX-35 for my birthday and we're not so sure if they are reliable--we typically order from BBTS. Oh yeah, we're opting to buy the robot here because it is only $69.99. But I guess the shipping can make it as much as BBTS's ($89.99).
Thanks.
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Post by rayar on Jan 3, 2007 18:57:14 GMT -5
If you want to save a couple of bucks and don't mind waiting a bit get it from Hobby Link Japan.
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Post by nikodiablo on Jan 3, 2007 20:59:23 GMT -5
I find the prices in Amenbo to be slightly lower than HLJ, though I have never ordered from them.
HLJ rarely gives discount on their items, except for early bird and clearance (sometimes).
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Post by MazingerC on Jan 3, 2007 21:15:21 GMT -5
I would choose Amenbo. They have better price and customer service (although their email/inquiry response is slow), their packaging is better than both HLJ (O.K packaging but lousy customer service) and Toy-wave (O.K service but poor packaging).
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Post by mpchi on Jan 3, 2007 22:12:23 GMT -5
I would choose Amenbo. They have better price and customer service (although their email/inquiry response is slow), their packaging is better than both HLJ (O.K packaging but lousy customer service) and Toy-wave (O.K service but poor packaging). I disagree. Amenbo is the cheapest in general on the item(good discount on almost everything), but shipping on the same item cost a bit more than HLJ's shipping using the same shipping method. Amenbo also has a somewhat difficult ordering system as I changed my credit card once, emailing them about it twice, still didn't get through on my orders. The credit card info never get updated after I re-sent it a bunch of times. Seems like they have hard time dealing with English speaking customers and emails, and not to mention response is slow. I still order from them, but they won't be my first store to go to, especially now that they start charging surcharge on paypal too... I never had any problem with HLJ. In fact, they always give me good service and response if there are issues or defects on items I ordered. If I can't find something at HLJ, then I'll go to Amenbo. Toy-wave is reliable. But you'll end up paying more than u thought. The price listed is only on the item, not including shipping. The shipping cost table/weight of the item is not accurate. Additional weight is always added due to the thick bubble wrapping, especially if you want your toy box undamaged and add a cardboard box outside(add another pound or two). On top of that, they add 4% paypal surcharge on the total(after the wrapping). You'll end up paying more, even if the price on the item is $10-20 cheaper than elsewhere. But they are good people though and you get response from them right away.
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Post by ultraking on Jan 3, 2007 22:45:16 GMT -5
HLJ used to be good (late 90's). If you are a 'box' person, stay away from HLJ, if you don't mind damaged toy box, go for it. My rule of thumb is :
1) Small/cheap item, I would go for HLJ 2) large /expensive item, I will pick Amenbo. I use credit card instead of Paypal for any purchase with Amenbo, never realize they charge extra fee. I agree , their ordering system is inefficient and diffcult to browse around. Based on my purchasing experience, their entire process (from the time of ordering to the receipt of item) is still faster than HLJ. HLJ is slow, even if you select EMS shipping method, they won't ship your ordered item out until their "preferred" day.
3) never purchase anything from Toy-wave before but my friend did. Fast service but he received a crushed toy box and he never receive any replacement nor compensation despite the item was insured.
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Post by supergetterv on Jan 4, 2007 0:20:49 GMT -5
Haven't tried Amenbo or toywave. I've ordered many times from HLJ and I like their service. Each one of the items I got was in great condition, not to mention they were shrink warp. The boxes they come in were all in mint condition. I guess it all depends on the mail courier at your location. Sometimes items get tossed around, other times it arrives in great condition.
BBTS, is good but costly when compared to the Japanese sites. Most of their package come in good conditon because they use the fragile sticker. I've always choose UPS ground when ordering from BBTS and so far nothing was crush, except for when you buy clearance items from BBTS. Whenever BBTS have a sale on SOC's they never mention that the item order is in sub par collectors grade, until they ship. My last order for the GX-02R and GX12, I didn't even notice it was in sub par condition until I looked at the invoice with the tracking info. I am just hoping that the box isn't horribly crushed and that the Chogokins aren't damage.
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Post by wilson on Jan 4, 2007 2:56:39 GMT -5
i have problem with toywave. hlj and Amenbo last year. i rather buy from BBT even if its 10% to 20% more because i know i will be taken care of if theres a problem. its all about service when buying high end chogokin toys.
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Jan 4, 2007 9:47:22 GMT -5
I go with Toy-wave because they are insanely fast. I don't know how they do it, but my order always arrives within 2 weeks from the other side of the freakin' planet. Also, they have a tendency to under-declare the value of the order so out of maybe 5 or 6 orders, I've only been caught by Canada customs once - that's not a bad record at all. I don't know about them charging any more on shipping than others, but from all the taxes and import duties I've saved so far over the years, it definitely has added up. I've paid border duty on EVERY package from HLJ and believe me, it costs.
Yes, they use bubble-wrap like crazy. But for an SOC, it won't likely get crushed because SoC are always packaged in a foam tray, right? Yamato Macross products will risk crushed boxes but not Bandai SoC.
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Post by boogeyman on Jan 4, 2007 10:30:16 GMT -5
ultraking is right...
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Post by boogeyman on Jan 4, 2007 10:32:30 GMT -5
opsss a post started even if I didn't finished ^_^ I was saying that ultraking is right becouse HLJ is the best but a lot of times the box of the toy arrives damaged.I bought from them many times before that a friend of mine living in hong kong became a daniel&co partner
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Post by lancerx on Jan 4, 2007 15:23:39 GMT -5
toy wave are serious, go with them, i have worked with them b4
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Post by Getterteam on Jan 4, 2007 18:18:54 GMT -5
toy wave are serious, go with them, i have worked with them b4 that's right Bro, they are one of the best from so far
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Post by lurkerx on Jan 12, 2007 22:04:56 GMT -5
out of the three mentioned here I've only tried HLJ and they're excellent.
My stuff arrives as anticipated, I'm informed of any delays.
They would charge your credit card prematurely.
they send emails throughout your order processing.
I always chose EMS over SAL as the tracking no# is quite helpful.
I've really got nothing bad to say about them [to date]
Angloz is also pretty good.
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Post by 95sihb on Jan 13, 2007 7:16:26 GMT -5
toywave-------------A+++++ HLJ--------------------A+++ kickshobbyjapan---A+ toysNjoys------------B+++
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Post by lurkerx on Jan 13, 2007 11:24:36 GMT -5
Wow all these praises for toy-wave I should give them a shot someday. as for ToysNJoy ....SIMPLY INCOMPETENT ! ! ! ! Perhaps their "Brick and Mortar" shop gets by, but as for an on-line store? they suck big time ! ...and they're overpriced to boot To go further they're the worst on-line store I've ever dealt with !
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Post by Chen on Jan 13, 2007 11:27:28 GMT -5
My only problem with HLJ is that I always get charged duty fee's on my items, and like my fellow Canadians can attest our duty fee's are ridiculous. That's why I'm not buying from HLJ anymore and gonna stick with Ebay and toy-wave.
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Post by demizer on Jan 13, 2007 18:16:13 GMT -5
Wow all these praises for toy-wave I should give them a shot someday. as for ToysNJoy ....SIMPLY INCOMPETENT ! ! ! ! Perhaps their "Brick and Mortar" shop gets by, but as for an on-line store? they suck big time ! ...and they're overpriced to boot To go further they're the worst on-line store I've ever dealt with ! Plus they have the slowest server in existence.Loading pages is a nightmare and I have cable DSL!
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