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Post by bocasas on Feb 18, 2021 19:40:02 GMT -5
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Post by GetterBoi on Feb 18, 2021 20:33:41 GMT -5
Metal Build "Dragon Scale" From last year's Tamashii Show, seems like this Dragon Scale line will be a new super robot product line to separate from the Gundams. They showed a drawing that included Shin Getter and Mazinger Zero.
These Mashin Hero Wataru characters just don't appeal to me. I like SD figures like Mini Deformed and NXEDGE but these... I dunno.
I think Sentinel also made a high end one in recent years, for METAMOR-FORCE and it even got KO'd. Bandai added them to their Robot Spirits and NXEDGE lineups too.
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Post by locidm on Feb 18, 2021 23:51:53 GMT -5
Ya it’s a weird choice since it’s covered by many other lines from Bandai and other toy companies already. The robot spirit one is not bad and really good enough for me. I grew up watching the show so it’s definitely nostalgic. I might get one to check it out and see if improvements are worth the money.
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Post by GetterBoi on Feb 19, 2021 11:06:55 GMT -5
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Post by locidm on Feb 19, 2021 14:41:31 GMT -5
22,000 yen...... This hobby really has turned expensive.
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Post by mpchi on Feb 19, 2021 15:01:21 GMT -5
22,000 yen...... This hobby really has turned expensive. Tell me about it. Rather than 10000-20000yen being the normal price range, we are going by 20000-30000yen as the entry price, while bigger release is like 50000yen and up, with shipping can easily hit $100, which was unheard of not that long ago. I am interested in this Ryujinmaru, but want to play it smarter this time, since it is not a high priority. Either get cheap shipping from Amazon Japan, or see if I can secure one in US shops. Securing early preorders in Japan while give me a peace of mind (if we are lucky enough to do so), it often end up costing more due to DHL shipping outside Amazon. I wonder if Bluefin will carry this, since it is not a popular franchise in US.
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Post by bocasas on Feb 19, 2021 15:54:28 GMT -5
yes, it becoming more and more expensive really fast. I guess production costs has increased, but also pricepoint and how much collectors are willing to pay. 500usd was a very big number a few years ago, and not many stuff reached that price, however we are now seeing 500 bucks releases everywhere. Bandai is having the best prices though, yet we are getting almost a 30%~50% pricepoint raise from them... I live in a country with 60% annual inflation, and 60% tax over price+shipping, so adding that into equation and I have to be very picky about what I bought. Lately I've been trying to catch up with my collection (not many new releases have me hooked and the ones that I really liked priced me out, for example Pose+ Godam). Only 5 SOCs, 1 GFFMC and 2 MB to catch up with bandai lines. Then I'll stick to Gundams (GFFMC and MB) and Super sentai stuff. May be SOC Albegas if they ever release it.
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Post by locidm on Feb 20, 2021 0:46:33 GMT -5
I’m in California and amazon jp charges me local tax. So the savings at amazon jp isn’t nearly as great compared to a year ago.
Toys nowadays are all about articulation, which while nice really isn’t something I need. SOC to me still hits the balance between price, quality, sturdiness, and articulation. Personally, if I can save a couple hundred bucks by loosing the crazy articulation I would. Like pose+ Baikanfu, if it’s in the three hundred dollar range with the same sculpt but SOC level articulation, I’d bite. I’m buying for the sculpt and combining gimmick, not the ability to make dynamic poses. I know the general mass prefer the crazy articulation and right now we are getting it, but also paying the crazy prices for it. My toys tend to get only handled in the brief time between box and display cabinet. So personally, this leap in articulation and thus prices the past couple years is steering me away from the hobby.
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Post by mpchi on Feb 20, 2021 4:46:54 GMT -5
I’m in California and amazon jp charges me local tax. So the savings at amazon jp isn’t nearly as great compared to a year ago. Toys nowadays are all about articulation, which while nice really isn’t something I need. SOC to me still hits the balance between price, quality, sturdiness, and articulation. Personally, if I can save a couple hundred bucks by loosing the crazy articulation I would. Like pose+ Baikanfu, if it’s in the three hundred dollar range with the same sculpt but SOC level articulation, I’d bite. I’m buying for the sculpt and combining gimmick, not the ability to make dynamic poses. I know the general mass prefer the crazy articulation and right now we are getting it, but also paying the crazy prices for it. My toys tend to get only handled in the brief time between box and display cabinet. So personally, this leap in articulation and thus prices the past couple years is steering me away from the hobby. Really? I am in California too, but doesn't look like I got charge for local tax. I just looked at the few recent orders, and its just the item price, shipping handling, that's it.
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Post by locidm on Feb 20, 2021 16:56:00 GMT -5
I’m in California and amazon jp charges me local tax. So the savings at amazon jp isn’t nearly as great compared to a year ago. Toys nowadays are all about articulation, which while nice really isn’t something I need. SOC to me still hits the balance between price, quality, sturdiness, and articulation. Personally, if I can save a couple hundred bucks by loosing the crazy articulation I would. Like pose+ Baikanfu, if it’s in the three hundred dollar range with the same sculpt but SOC level articulation, I’d bite. I’m buying for the sculpt and combining gimmick, not the ability to make dynamic poses. I know the general mass prefer the crazy articulation and right now we are getting it, but also paying the crazy prices for it. My toys tend to get only handled in the brief time between box and display cabinet. So personally, this leap in articulation and thus prices the past couple years is steering me away from the hobby. Really? I am in California too, but doesn't look like I got charge for local tax. I just looked at the few recent orders, and its just the item price, shipping handling, that's it. Check the invoice. They generate two invoices. One when the order is placed and another when they charged it. The second one includes tax.
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Post by mpchi on Feb 20, 2021 18:57:18 GMT -5
Really? I am in California too, but doesn't look like I got charge for local tax. I just looked at the few recent orders, and its just the item price, shipping handling, that's it. Check the invoice. They generate two invoices. One when the order is placed and another when they charged it. The second one includes tax. Gotcha. The tax was included as part of the item cost. Though it turn out in a way I thought that was the currency conversion, as the item cost listed already tax included, and they deducted the Japan tax since it was a overseas purchase, like a tax switch/replacement over the other. But you are indeed correct. Thanks for pointing it out.
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Post by sonicking on Feb 28, 2021 16:59:58 GMT -5
yes, it becoming more and more expensive really fast. I guess production costs has increased, but also pricepoint and how much collectors are willing to pay. 500usd was a very big number a few years ago, and not many stuff reached that price, however we are now seeing 500 bucks releases everywhere. Bandai is having the best prices though, yet we are getting almost a 30%~50% pricepoint raise from them... I live in a country with 60% annual inflation, and 60% tax over price+shipping, so adding that into equation and I have to be very picky about what I bought. Lately I've been trying to catch up with my collection (not many new releases have me hooked and the ones that I really liked priced me out, for example Pose+ Godam). Only 5 SOCs, 1 GFFMC and 2 MB to catch up with bandai lines. Then I'll stick to Gundams (GFFMC and MB) and Super sentai stuff. May be SOC Albegas if they ever release it. 60% annual inflation! Holy mother...that's unimaginable. Anyway, I was able to preorder this at Amazon at $230+tax. I really hope to order it from HLJ and choose the surface shipping to save money though.
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Post by mpchi on Feb 28, 2021 17:45:42 GMT -5
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Post by zman on Feb 28, 2021 19:49:03 GMT -5
I’m in California and amazon jp charges me local tax. So the savings at amazon jp isn’t nearly as great compared to a year ago. SOB! I never paid attention to it but you are right!
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Post by locidm on Feb 28, 2021 22:06:21 GMT -5
Ya it was a sneaky move.... I wouldn’t have noticed it either if someone else hadn’t mentioned it.
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Post by mpchi on Mar 19, 2021 4:10:59 GMT -5
Just got email from Amazon US that my Ryujinmaru order got cancelled, due to supply availability. So for folks having a preorder there, beware.
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Post by Magmatron on Mar 19, 2021 5:15:56 GMT -5
Just got email from Amazon US that my Ryujinmaru order got cancelled, due to supply availability. So for folks having a preorder there, beware. Better to cancel it now than near release date like what happened with DX Voltes.
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Post by bocasas on Mar 19, 2021 11:16:16 GMT -5
I got the same mail... I wasn't sure about this PO so this made my decision easier.
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Post by sonicking on Mar 19, 2021 11:20:01 GMT -5
Same cancelation. My guess is that Bluefin decides not to bring this to US after all. But now where can I get it, reasonably??? I want this one more than the Dynames Repair III.
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Post by mpchi on Mar 19, 2021 12:26:09 GMT -5
The good thing is I always think of this Amazon preorder as a backup (even though I don't have another current preorder elsewhere). So not that upset about it. If I really want one, I'll try to find it during release time, Amazon Japan, Mandarake, Yahoo Auction, or even random US stores online. If not, I am ok with not getting it as it is not a high priority purchase. I notice Metal Builds do show up very often after release, sometimes even cheaper, sometimes with markup, depending on popularity.
As a side note, I also noticed Bluefin's inventory is getting smaller and having clearance very often. A lot of the Robot Damashii and S.H.Figuarts are gone or not carrying some of the latest stuff. Metal Builds also don't seem to show up there no more, aside the leftovers. I wonder if they are not doing too well on the US retail side, and slowly downsizing. They really came through for me on some of the tough buys the past couple years (Metal Structure Nu & Fin Funnels, GFFMC Snow White Prelude, some Robot Damashii figures...etc.) That would be sad if its true.
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