Falcon

Wish I could get the clear files... don't think there'd be any chance anyone outside Japan can order one can they??

oh, it was just a cursory glance at the first page on ebay. so the 171 can be had on ebay for even less than i had stated. the point is, that Bandai valks are available at less than Yamato MSRP, even on scalper-bay. of course, one has to exercise due prudence and ignore the uber greedy ones wanting $500.

if one were to consider just the 171EX vs. the 17D, both of which are now available, the paradox still holds : people seem to be fine paying Yamato MSRP but not the equivalent amount of dollars (or less) for Bandai valks because it is above MSRP.

OT, didn't realize the AUD has kept gaining against the USD. last time i was there to watch U2 it was just about par, and just a few years earlier it was more in line with SGD. probably great for shopping online, but tourism must be taking a hit.

Yeah tourism isn't doing as well as it used to. I remember a time when the AUD was just 60 cents to the USD. But with the lower priced ebay ones I find they tend to make up for it with inflated shipping fees. Bandi prices aren't too bad on retail but the scalping ones do go up considerably. Amazon is just as bad as ebay if not worse. Seen V1. VF's at over $500! The quality of Yammie VF's paint wise is arguably better as there's less scraping with the way they're constructed. That said you wouldn't say the better paint/design is worth more than the difference between the 2.

I wish they had tornado parts... really the only parts I'm interested in for the VF-25 series.

this insight eluded me at first, but you're right.

VF-17 non-FP MSRP = $280-290

VF-171 at ebay scalper prices = $250-300

VF-171 at NY "price gouging" = $195

bizarre indeed.

personally, i've set a threshold of sorts at $250 for any valk. which is why i took longer to decide on getting a VF-4G (i caved, eventually) and still haven't ordered any VF-17, but spent far less time clicking on NY preorders for Bandai valks. i guess for some people, it's not that they mind paying $250 but more because they feel "entitled" to the same great price others got. i must admit i felt that way when i was sitting on a YF-29 (first release) preorder at Hobbysearch while mulling if Amiami would reopen theirs at an extra 7% off.

now, how many Bandai Macross stuff have gone on deep discount at HLJ? only the Quarter and the v1 Tornado springs to mind.

how many Yamato Macross went on deep discount? Nearly everything, and some even years after release.

if i was a shareholder at Bandai and Yamato, i'd be more concerned whether Yamato has got their pricing and supply equation right.

if i was HLJ, i'd be less worried about Bandai's limited allocation and more concerned with Yamato's MSRP.

maybe, just maybe, Bandai has a better reading of the primary and secondary market than we give them credit for.

Don't know where you got your data from for e-bay scalper prices, but the price for a VF-171 EX can range from as low as $208.55 AUD (so more for US) to as high as $554.55 AUD on ebay. That's a big difference from what you've stated. Comparing it to a VF-171 CF is not a fair way of doing it as the product hasn't been released yet and scalpers aren't out in full force till the products arrive on the shelves as it were.

IXTL does come off a bit high handed to be fair. I'm pretty easy going so I'm not too fussed with how things are written on the board for the most part but I can see why Lupin's not happy with this style of approach. MW is one of my favourite boards to visit and enjoy the news and banter- the help and knowledge is great seeing as there's so little of it available in Australia. I'm sure we can all get along.

At the end of the day, even though I'm not happy with the difficulty of acquiring what I want from Bandai due to their approach; it's still a hobby. If the biggest problem I have is difficulty finding a toy that I want, surely life can't be too bad, could it?

http://www.amazon.co...57892415&sr=8-2

Thanks Tochiro but I still don't quite understand the link you provided- I've pre-ordered it on Amazon but not sure it will go through as I've been told by others that Amazon.co.jp doesn't ship internationally. This was the case when I tried to pre-order the Macross 30 special edition. =(

Yeah, I'd love to get this too if possible. Is there a way to purchase this? Can't find it online.

Wait, you ordered 5??

lol...ok

Think he ordered 5 from several different sources. Can't say I blame him. If I had the money I wouldn't mind doing something like that to ensure I get a good one.

Though Lupin's posts are "a bit" more animated than most of us, he does mean well and shows a lot of passion about something we all feel in regards to Bandai's marketing. Though his sentiments have been repeated on several posts/topics it doesn't really bother me too much but I understand some of you may be tired of the repetition. That said I don't think attacking him over it like some of you here is fair.

Big fan of HLJ myself and will still be buying from them- especially things like Shigeo Koike and Macross merchandise if the price is right and/or I can afford it. Their customer service is excellent and they sometimes provide personal touches. I asked about a Shigeo Koike painting that he's never put in book form and lo behold I was given a detailed digital image of it for free- compliments from HLJ. Something like that shows they do care about good customer service though they don't get everything perfect and they don't pretend to know all their products in and out so a mistake here or there isn't an impossibility. An example of they didn't have a clear idea that the the new Macross Chronicles is coming up soon but they'll see if they can look into it soon. That's good enough for me.

My understanding is that you can order this from Amazon Japan. Is that correct?

No way to order them outside of Japan? Looked around and finding only the old ones...

Where did you get that pic from Jenius? Looks awesome!

Lol, wasn't trying to troll you- just asking what I think is a legitimate question. I thought I recalled someone on the board saying that they asked the owner or management of NY the dates for the RVF-25 pre-order. Maybe they replied...

With the VF-171 out on preorder already does anyone have word about when the RVF-25 will be on preorder? Seeing as both were showcased at the same time one would think they'll be coming out at roughly the same time give or take a month or two?

Do you guys normally pay upfront or later? Has anyone had theirs cancelled because they couldn't meet demand if they paid later?

Pre-orders open again at Nippin Yasan, quick!!!

Thanks!

Done =)

My first stop is usually CDJAPAN. http://www.cdjapan.c...?KEY=BLJS-10182 <- I have already pre-ordered

Ahh ok, thanks! Shame that we can't get the amazon special offer... though what intrigues me is the box art- which one is the right- the amazon one or the one on cdjapan? I kinda like both... hope whatever it is we get the art seen on the other one as well! Same too for the YF-19 pic on the cdjapan one and the unknown one for amazon.

Wow, I had been anticipating this day after Japan got back from their collective New Years' break. Too bad I was at work at the time and missed it. I completely missed the preorder for the Alto, and opted to go with an eBay scalper, who then fell through. And yet, I was still able to get one even though I had to order after the release date. I'm confident I'll be able to get one of these, too.

At a reasonable price or at scalper rates??

Where do you guys plan to get it? Was hoping amazon.co.jp but they don't ship international for this one =(

Shame as I have an account with them and a preorder for their Macross Pls Blu Ray special...

Screw it. I just picked up the 260 one at NY threw in an alto 171 while I was at it

260 NY VF-171CF?? Or do you mean a YF-29 at $260??

Wonder will this one be readily available in Japan like the Alto VF-171EX was...

Lol these are harder to get than tickets to some of the most popular band concerts if you think about it.

In 3 minutes!?

NY wouldn't let me pre-order

Still one available

http://www.cdjapan.c...EY=NEOGDS-79185

Must be bogged down...still shows one as of 15 seconds ago...

Nah, I tried that one and when you're at the last stages it says you're one over the limit available even though you've only chosen one.