Gakken85 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Reading through comments here and on other sites... it seems like they made quite a few poor design decisions, and though the form of the valk is improved, the overall toy experience isn't, or is at least the same. Not using magnets for the fast packs seems really silly. That's like the best design improvement in valk history. haha. I expected as much being their first effort. Even with guys from Yamato, it's still a different company. Hopefully they will improve significantly. I don't trust AmiAmi as far as I could throw them. Their inability to be flexible when I'm giving them money for plastic is insane. Feel bad for you guys with issues though. That's an expensive piece. At least if I buy a $300 Hot Toys figure from sideshow, and there is a defect, I can expect a no hassle return or discount. Like I always say, Vote with your wallet. Edited April 4, 2014 by Gakken85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXTL Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I'm curious why Kicker and Mommar got so vastly different answers from amiami... Different customer service reps I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest davidwhangchoi Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) skull, Mr. K said you need to pull up your pants. lol Edited April 4, 2014 by davidwhangchoi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaslid Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 The same applies to me with having to go the NY route to avoid custom taxes since amiami and hlj declare the full value Sorry to hear abt the issues mommar and kicker, as much as im looking forward to getting mine, i do at the same time feel abit queasy about the isolated issues and am praying and hoping that mine will be free from any issues Recon, Do you mean the Import duty? In Singapore? I thought it was free import duty in Singapore. So I have planned to order and ship this YF-19 to my friend in Singapore to avoid the taxes. May be I should hold this idea a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXTL Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) skull, Mr. K said you need to pull up your pants. lol You forgot to rotate the upper intake/back of the hip backards.EDIT: Shield is the wrong way around too. Edited April 4, 2014 by IXTL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joppewo Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Recon, Do you mean the Import duty? In Singapore? I thought it was free import duty in Singapore. So I have planned to order and ship this YF-19 to my friend in Singapore to avoid the taxes. May be I should hold this idea a bit. Import duty will be levied if the value exceeds $400 SGD. I got mine from AmiAmi, and the declared valued after conversion came mighty close to the limit Edited April 4, 2014 by joppewo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froy Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 skull, Mr. K said you need to pull up your pants. lol Stop the swag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadeye_281 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Having had mine for a day now, I find the Arcadia 19 lightyears ahead of the old Yamato in terms of visual esthetic and overall design. It's a much more solid valk and I have no fear pulling it off its flightpose stand to swoosh it around and not worry about parts exploding off of it. The secondary armaments that come with this valk were executed very well and the Isamu pilot is perhaps the best of any valk to date - with the exception perhaps next to the Yamato 1:48 Low-Vis VF-1 pilots (those figures rocked). I think Arcadia pulled this thing off very well, but there are design elements that piss me off TBH. Like most, I wish that they had not implemented the high speed mode as I have concerns that the wing design/mount may fail over time. It looks cool, but I'll never display it in this mode so...yeah. I wish that they had just left the rear stabilizers as 1 piece units like most valks as the moveable flaps are an epic fail IMO as I can't get them to stay straight 'n flush no matter how much I tinker with them. The grey gunpod looks unfinished to me and the color choice in general just seems off. Maybe I'm just used to the old Yamato gunpod but this version looks way too big IMO. I always pictured the 19 gunpod along the lines of a submachinegun (right or wrong) so I find the size of the Arcadia to be kinda visually jarring. Maybe that's just me. The fastpacks should have been magnetized for sure, the way that they connect is unncessarily complicated and only adds to wear 'n tear of parts (something that should be mitigated at every opportunity on a $300+ model/toy). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skullmilitia Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 skull, Mr. K said you need to pull up your pants. lol Haha! I'm afraid to move anything else! Next time I'll wear plaid pants and put it in my lap lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M'Kyuun Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 For the Japanese speakers among us, I'd assume that folks throughout Japan are blogging about the new YF-19. Are the same complaints cropping up there as well, and do Mr. K and his team look at them to gauge the reception of their new products? If I ran a business, I can think of no better way to get a brutally honest assessment of how well I've done than perusing the unrestrained comments, praise, and criticisms of my consumer base. I'm curious if any of these observations are getting back to Arcadia, and if they take any of it seriously enough to affect future products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1/1 LowViz Lurker Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Gunpod too big? Nah. It's just gone back to normal size again. I think the old yf-19 made it way too small. Longer barrel = more accuracy, and bigger size suggests good power at long distance. It's the yf-21 that uses sub-machine guns. (yf-21 kind of looks like it is dual wielding two very big machine pistols) hehe. I do agree they need to bring back magnets. Simple but it works.. Edited April 4, 2014 by 1/1 LowViz Lurker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommar Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I told Amiami to shove it, they're liars and if I don't get my refund I'm taking to to Paypal. They offered a refund but I have to ship the item back to them at my cost. I don't trust them to refund me without an entity like paypal looming over them... oh, and look at that. They contacted me through my dispute and magically they can't process any of my orders anymore. Boo hoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Per USPS: What if I’m the recipient of a damaged international shipment? If you receive an article that was sent from abroad that is damaged or has some contents missing, take it to any Post Office™ right away. Be sure to bring the item, the mailing container, wrapping, packaging, and any other contents. The Post Office will verify the damage and have you complete a claim form. Please do not reship the package. I know what USPS is going to say. There is no damage to the outside shipping box. It's a hassle but you might want to file it anyway as a matter of course. Whether they accept the damage claim or not, you will at least have another party that can verify the condition so when it comes time to get the credit card companies involved it won't be just your word against Amiami's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaslid Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Import duty will be levied if the value exceeds $400 SGD. I got mine from AmiAmi, and the declared valued after conversion came mighty close to the limit Thanks for the infomation, joppewo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommar Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Does anybody think it's a good idea to request the refund first? I don't trust these guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRYO Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 With renew VF25 super booster, wings actually cannot fit in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 You can try but I doubt they'll refund first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommar Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 The problem is if I have to pay to ship back first (and they aren't refunding the shipping cost either way) I don't want to pay much so I'm going to ship it as slow as possible. That'll take forever to get a refund. Consequently, what does a refund look like via paypal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimis Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Does anybody think it's a good idea to request the refund first? I don't trust these guys. The thing is that you need to use a tracked delivery for Paypal to cover you in case they say whatever afterwards. As long as they agree for you to return it for a refund and send it with a tracked delivery you will eventually get the agreed sum either by them or Paypal. Also you don't want to go into an argument about whether they received it or not !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) You said your Paypal is tied to your bank account? I only have my credit cards associated but the advantage for me is that I have two avenues for a chargeback, Paypal and the credit card company. If Paypal sides with the seller (not as often as them siding with the buyer), I can still do a chargeback with the cc company. Banks can be a little tougher to deal with for something like this. Edited April 4, 2014 by xrentonx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yman1437 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I suspected as much . I bought from them many times in the past , the quality of their mechandise is inferior compared with the same products from those in Japanese buyers' blogs; paint job, colouring , parts (I got items with broken parts from them also). 8 out of 10 of my purchases had problems and I got this letter (same writings as shown in above posts) from Ami Ami. At times, they tried to compensate by offering several hundred yens (not even enough to get a bowl of ramen). It is NOT the post office or the shipping, it is Ami Ami; they pick up crap and sell them to foreign buyers , probably reserve the good ones (if they do have any) to local Japanese customers. I will never buy from them again. Is Ami Ami really cheaper than others shops after combining with the shipping cost?? They always use oversized boxes , even with more than enough rooms for impact , etc. I won't even buy rubber bands from them! 8 out of 10 or so is definitely more than coincidence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommar Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) You said your Paypal is tied to your bank account? I only have my credit cards associated but the advantage for me is that I have two avenues for a chargeback, Paypal and the credit card company. If Paypal sides with the seller (not as often as them siding with the buyer), I can still do a chargeback with the cc company. Banks can be a little tougher to deal with for something like this. Via a Credit Union, not a Bank. They're not quite the same level of a-hole a regular bank would be. They called me when the money was first transferred to verify it was legit. Also, my original dispute was for the entire thing, shipping and all. That was rejected and they said they would pay for everything but the shipping. Do I have to open a new claim for that to be valid? Edited April 4, 2014 by Mommar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M'Kyuun Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Scyla, the hip mechanics are virtually the same as the VF-19, i.e. the fore and aft swivel attaches to the body, and the thighs attach perpendicularly to those swivels, allowing for the legs to swing laterally in and out. It's a great design, IMO, as it's much more solid than ball joints which inevitably always become sloppy. The differences are that on the YF-19, the small leading edges with small intakes that rest above the main engine intakes are on a swing bar and move to rest behind the thigh in battroid. They attach to the fore/aft swivel. The other difference is in the size of the leg position lock. It was large enough to use a finger on the VF-19, but very small on the YF-19 virtually necessitating a small tool of some sort to press it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvmacross Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Is Ami Ami really cheaper than others shops after combining with the shipping cost?? Does it matter? All it takes is one shafting from a big ticket item to lose all your savings from past purchases..... Cheap stuff is expensive in the long run..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Via a Credit Union, not a Bank. They're not quite the same level of a-hole a regular bank would be. They called me when the money was first transferred to verify it was legit. Also, my original dispute was for the entire thing, shipping and all. That was rejected and they said they would pay for everything but the shipping. Do I have to open a new claim for that to be valid? Amiami rejected or Paypal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkiyo Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 The problem is if I have to pay to ship back first (and they aren't refunding the shipping cost either way) I don't want to pay much so I'm going to ship it as slow as possible. That'll take forever to get a refund. Consequently, what does a refund look like via paypal? Paypal will clearly state 'refund' when you receive it. If you are having this much trouble with Amiami, I would steer clear of Nippon Yasan. They are way worse than this if you run into a similar situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaajin Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Man you guys are poisoning my mind with those images! *click*click*. There. Ordered one. It better be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Paypal will clearly state 'refund' when you receive it. If you are having this much trouble with Amiami, I would steer clear of Nippon Yasan. They are way worse than this if you run into a similar situation. To add to this, Paypal will refund whatever institution you inject the funds with...so credit card, bank, credit union, etc. They aren't gonna give you Paypal funbucks or something if you're worried. Edited April 4, 2014 by xrentonx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvmacross Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Via a Credit Union, not a Bank. They're not quite the same level of a-hole a regular bank would be. They called me when the money was first transferred to verify it was legit. Also, my original dispute was for the entire thing, shipping and all. That was rejected and they said they would pay for everything but the shipping. Do I have to open a new claim for that to be valid? I would not recommend working with them directly.....what has paypal said?...Did you initiate a dispute?...Are they making you the offer of a refund before having the paypal dispute initiated or did they offer refund minus shipping after you initiated a dispute with paypal? paypal is your "big (only) stick" in this case.....use it wisely Edited April 4, 2014 by jvmacross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) ^^ Very true! If you are working with Amiami directly then they are able to refund you the price of the item minus shipping and Paypal will see this as a valid resolution of the dispute. If you want to try to get full refund, then work only through Paypal's dispute resolution if you can. You'll still have to ship the item back on your dime though Edited April 4, 2014 by xrentonx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvmacross Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, paying for return shipping is to be expected. Only huge retailers can afford to offer free return shipping due to negotiated shipping deals with the UPSs and FedEx's of the world..... I'd still like to know when AmiAmi changed their tune from 15 dollar refund to Full refund minus shipping......I'm guessing AmiAmi does this BS enough times to know they can get away with it ALOT, but knows that screwing with their business relationship with Paypal is not worth it when confronted with the "biggest sabre rattlers" .......Paypal can BLACKLIST just as well as they can I guess.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosey Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 So sorry for you guys experiencing difficulty with Amiami and your busted Valks. It seems so far removed from everything you experience as a visitor to Japan when they are courteous and polite to a fault and can't do enough for you (assuming they can understand you ). Amiami have undoubtedly "lost face" through this issue and more importantly, they've lost my confidence and my custom as well as that of others around here. In other news I just laid out another £53 in import tax so I can have mine (ordered from HLJ - fingers crossed) on Monday. (If I get home from work in time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzmaLee74 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 To add to this, Paypal will refund whatever institution you inject the funds with...so credit card, bank, credit union, etc. They aren't gonna give you Paypal funbucks or something if you're worried. With a CC or debit card, yes. But if you used a bank transfer then your refund becomes a paypal balance first and you would have to manually transfer it later. So I guess it in a sense it does become PayPal funbucks. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvmacross Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Nah! Folks will be glued all night to the AmiAmi site during the next Bandai DX 2 minute pre-order party! The lure of a 15% discount is just too powerful..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrentonx Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I stand corrected I don't want Paypal messing with my bank account so I only use my credit cards with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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