Ryoma

 Please stop this  

4 hours ago, Angesdad said:

I got a Roy via proxy shopping with From Japan. First time user, are they reliable? I paid for it and I suppose the next step is for them to purchase it from the seller, etc etc.

How long does it usually take until your item arrives at their "warehouse"? Thanks!

They are very reliable. I used them several items for Macross items(P-Bandai, limited, regular release etc.) and they always delivered fast and safe. Usually it takes  two days for the item you purchased to get to their warehouse. And 1 or 2 to be shipped again to your address.

22 minutes ago, 505thAirborne said:

You'll feel a shock wave through the world when that PO is announced. 

I agree, and the day of the PO there is going to be a global blackout and thousands of servers will explode.

3 minutes ago, no3Ljm said:

Point taken. I'm also in the US so I'm also not paying custom. I'm just trying to explain that your experience is also probably been experienced by other people.

 

Yeah, you are right. I know getting macross items outside japan is harder than most of the other lines. but...the look on my friends' eyes when i show them my collection is priceless.

Anyway, when i said i got lucky i meant that, on this particular occasion, i was able, for the first time, to buy a Macross DX toy for a decent price. That's why i said i got lucky  

Just now, Ignacio Ocamica said:

Here in Argentina (South America) it's 50% custom taxes. You also have to include shipping to calculate customs.

 Jesus, you guys definitely have it way more difficult than we do. Sorry about that.

33 minutes ago, no3Ljm said:

Actually, this is not just in Italy. It's everyone's dilemma who lives outside Japan.

Getting it from local shops means you will wait a month or two before it becomes available. You have to pay custom or state tax, etc. Which to the point that it's almost the same as getting it directly from a Japanese store shipped to our countries. But it's more the same once these items went above the MSRP then it's going to match what you're going to pay locally.

However, do remember that Macross is not as widely backed-up by local distributors due to certain company that's preventing that. That's why when it comes to direct Macross, Mospeada, and Southern Cross products, you rather order it directly from a Japanese store than take a chance from a local distributor. Because by ordering it directly from a Japanese store, you know that you'll have a big chance of securing one. Unless it's under Robotech brand then just order it locally.  

 

I will have to disagree. Partially.  First, i never had to pay any custom tax when i was living in the U.S. or in Canada(well, maybe in Canada i had to pay it once or twice but it wasn't definitely as heavy as here in Italy). Second, i never had problems to pre-order items from italian resellers and i never had to pay extra for custom. Sometimes there is a slight mark up, around 10% sometimes even less, but nothing too big. The only problem is when it comes to Macross or Saint Seiya items. Those two lines are a real nightmare to buy from local stores.  The mark up is very high and you are never sure you will actually get the item. I personally don't mind waiting one or two months after the initial release but in this particular case i feel more safe to have it shipped from an international store(too many variables, covid situation, christmast vacation etc.).

Let me give you another example: I was offered the pre-order for the new Gordian Bandai Soul of chogokin for € 290,00 plus € 10 for shipping from an italian reseller. Expected arrival june 2021. I did prefer to go with an internatioal store pre-order instead, where i paid € 270 for the item plus, i would say around € 40 euros for shipping. Expected arrival end of march, beginning of april 2021. The difference in price is really nothing, though.

Again, if i was able to secure a pre-order from, let's say HLJ(for Ry VF-1S i mean) which price was around € 170 plus let's say € 45 of shipping via ems, grand total € 215. Calculate a 25% out of those € 215 and you will still find i got a good deal in securing that pre-order, € 230 plus € 30-35 for the shipping and no custom tax(at least i hope so). 

Now i would be really curious to know how much you guys have to pay for custom or if you have to pay it all...

Just few words to explain my situation which i think is similar to all the people who live in Italy...

A couple of days ago i was offered a pre-order from an italian seller(one that has always the best prices for DX  and other SOC kind of items) for € 379,00(euro not dollars). No way you could find a best price from any other italian reseller(otherwise he would have matched it). In any case if i was going to buy it from someone here in Italy i would have received the toy after two probably three months. Anyway If i had to buy it from another international store i would have had to pay almost 25% more because of custom taxes. AE and NY are the ONLY stores from whom i never had to pay custom(well, almost never). Plus, usually the shipping cost from AE are the most reasonable i could find.

So let's put it like this, even if i were lucky enough to secure a pre-order from any store that weren't AE or NY I would have paid the item more than what i m paying now because of the shipping cost and custom tax. With this pre-order i was able to purchase one of my favourite Valk to the best price i could ever find(or very similar). So why i shouldn't feel lucky again?

23 minutes ago, Anasazi37 said:

For what it's worth, Anime Export has a Roy available for ¥28,000:

http://www.anime-export.com/product/49996

Thanks! Got one! And it shows as still available...I can't believe it i got so lucky this time! 

13 hours ago, Grey728 said:

I got my Ingram recently and I absolutely LOVE this ThreeA figure. Aside from the limited ankle movement everything else feels perfect from joint tightness to heft. I love the light gimmick on the shoulders and the cloth between the joints. If this is a good representation of the kind of quality ThreeA brings to the table, I'll be buying more of their figures.

I agree. So far my favourite interpretation of the AV-98. Hoping to see some more models, a type 0 would be a great addition!

2 hours ago, spacemanoeuvres said:

A PF VF-11 would also be nice. I would definitely get multiples. 

Yeah, i forgot about that. The VF-11 is a great design too.

Well, there are still many things that i would like to see from arcadia....

M0 VF-0D CF

M0 VF-0S/A bundled with a new ghost drone

M0 VF-0A CF

SDF-1 TV version

Some variations from M+ (double nuts and bird of prey).

My secret dream is for them to resurect the 1/48 VF-1 line...but i know that will never happen

Now i don't know which licences they own but i think they still have a lot of work to do. And if the next releases are as good as the VF-0D PF then i will gladly spend my money on their toys rather than Bandai's.

Any other websites carrying the  PF version? I checked the usual suspects and i can't find it anywhere else. Not that i don't like HLJ but i always have to pay custom with them and 25% out of € 400 it's kinda expensive.

35 minutes ago, jenius said:

I don't know what the Sentinel release has done to secondary market prices but it was going for  between $100 and $150 depending on condition beforehand.

As to the dark Legioss, they could easily ditch many unique attributes of it as part of the "modern interpretation" theme. The head,  intakes, and lack of a sensor array are the most defining features and early retained. That said, sentinel has been pretty good about the details so far.

Thank you!

Hey guys, I need to ask for some help. I apologize in advance if this is not the right place. Anyway, i was considering selling my blue Legioss from Aoshima but i can't find a rational price anywhere around the web. The toy is used but in very good conditions, box is perfect, stickers are not applied and all the accessories are there. What do you guys think this piece is worth nowadays? Thank you in advance.

Well, Roy with atmosperic helmet a no cover intakes...this is so screwed up, it's just unacceptable(yeah, i know, i have issues).

Little update from Italy....i received today my first order from Japan since EMS has been reactivated for my country. It took a little longer than usual(around 10-11 days) but nothing too tragic. The order was  from NY so i guess i have to consider myself even more lucky...

Great markings! Now that i think about it though...even if we replace the pilot of the upcoming VF-1S(that is Roy) with the pilot that was given inside the VF-1J, that is Hikaru Hichijo, it would be awkward for me. Hikaru has an atmospheric helmet which with the super parts it wouldn't really make sense...and that's why i m pretty sure that, at a certain point, we will see a Hikaru TV VF-1S with a space helmet pilot. I guess for Bandai it's more than a good excuse to release the same valk just with a different pilot and a different marking for the name on the canopy. And a that point we would also be free to switch pilots from one valk to another according to our taste or, in case, to the diorama we are building.

19 minutes ago, Lolicon said:

If it's a sign of age, then I must be getting old too, because after not getting a Roy at the initial PO start, I refuse to pay any scalper prices and will just wait for release day or any shop that still has stock at or close to MSRP. If I don't find one in that price range, then oh well, I'll just have to live with all my 1/60s and abandon Bandai's 1/48 crap.

As long as there are people willing to pay scalper prices, scalpers will scalp. It's mostly Bandai's fault for not producing enough to satisfy demand because of their fear of any item spending *gasp* a day on the shelf!  Scalpers just see the opportunities that Bandai's business practices have created and are taking advantage of it.

I totally agree with you. The only way to end this trend is to stop buy at inflated prices. I mean, i can accept a slight mark up but not twice the original price. Even if i probably could afford to buy one or two pieces from time to time i decided not to play this game anymore. I have, more or less, all the valks that came out in one scale or the other so i think i can live without the VF-1S Fokker or most of the other VFs that Bandai will release in the future.

So I got these two boys yesterday...and today it's my birthday. Great timing for once on my life. I have to say i am really happy, especially because of the VF-0D. One of the best toys i have ever seen and one of the reasons i got back into collecting.

I was not expecting you guys being so romantic...i like that! Although i am pretty sure we will get a bundle with a Skull 001 Hikaru TV version and Super packs. That's a valk i m definitely going to buy! 

16 minutes ago, vlenhoff said:

In my mind as i read it, i heard their voices! Oh man, I really want that TV 1S. You just switch pilots with the 1J and you got a TV 1S Hikkie!

Unfortunately that's not completely right. The name and the rank on the canopy make it impossible  

So the Roy figure comes with an atmospheric type helmet and not with a space one, right? Same kind Hikaru VF-1J and Max VF-1A if i remember correctly.

So, basically you guys think that arcadia will use the release of max, miria and the GBP-1 in order to generate the necessary amount of cash flow to start the production of the VF-0D?? Damn, it's gonna be a long wait

So wait, now arcadia is re-releasing both Max and Miria VF-1J???

https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail/?gcode=FIGURE-033313

And we have no date for the release of the VF-0D yet? Is it me or Arcadia is just trying to cash in as much as possible? I really hope this is not a bad omen...

Probably one of my favourite shoot em up of all time. Great design and perfectly balanced gameplay.