Which Online Store?
Hey guys I'm ready to order my first item from an online store overseas (since what I'm interested in doesn't exist in the US) and I'm wondering which of these trusted retailers should I buy from. The two I'm stuck between is Hobby Search and Ami Ami. I've known Hobby search for a long time and know many people buy and trust hobby search, but ami ami I've only recently heard of but also hear good news on their side. This is what I'm pre-ordering:
Hobby Search is selling it for 3,600 yen ($40.35 USD) while Ami Ami is selling it for 3,280 yen ($37.30 USD) Tiny difference but what is worrying me is the shipping. Hobby Search is having %50 off shipping if you order through paypal (which I can do) and Ami ami is well, nothing is going on. I want to order through EMS but my budget is $55 so I'm not sure if I would be able to do that. It qualifies for SAL but I'm not a patient person (plus it doesn't come out till July, don't want to wait till August or September to get it) So what I'm basically asking is who is better, ships faster and could you guys figure the shipping out for me or explain to me how to figure the shipping out. The weight of the model is about 1462g. Sorry to be so clueless but it's my first time and its pretty frightening ^^'
Never tried Hobby Search, but AmiAmi has excellent service. There are a ton of specials this summer, so by the time your pre-order is out, AmiAmi should have another promo. If $55 is your limit, then by all means use HS.
As for the weight, seems somewhat heavy, but the box size could be not all that much. But if you end up using SAL, you will be waiting a good three weeks at least. Everyone but HobbyLink's shipments go through JFK. Slowest customs ever.
Well, i trust HS for best speedy mails. And AmiAmi for best economy mails. AmiAmi wraps their SAL stuff real good ^^
Use Hobby Search for EMS if you want to take advantage of shipping discount. Since you don't want to wake several weeks with SAL (sometimes over a month, but this has nothing to do with these stores)
wake -> wait
According to http://www.1999.co.jp/ems.asp, EMS is about $36 for that, discounted to $18. Seeing as how the difference between Hobby Search and Ami Ami is only $3, go with Hobby Search because of the discounted shipping. You'll save about $15 roughly.
I think you have to add on to the weight of the packaging too, so your shipping will most likely cost more, but that also means you'd save more with the 50% off.
They're both reputable sellers, and when it comes down to that I go for the cheaper one.
For one AmiAmi is absolutely fantastic. That little discount helps a lot more when ordering several items, plus they have a discount on pretty much every item on the site.
With that said, if you're going to order only this one item then go ahead and go with Hobby Search. You're going to get dinged for EMS shipping either way, but hopefully the half off shipping deal will help.
Shipping will cost you close to ¥3500 or more so you're better of using HS with the current 50% off promo going on but even so you might need to top up your budget slightly.
I love amiami..excellent customer service. So good that I don't mind spending extra just to order from them.
i buy oin amiami once and nothing to complain, rather i buy at jlist
hobby link japan !!
hlj.com can't go wrong there <3
i'v got the lightning saix preordered on ami ami. i would have chosen hobby search because of their shipping discount but i have other things on pre ordered from ami ami coming out that same month.
I haven't ordered thru either yet, but Hobby Search would likely get my vote. Ami ami ONLY does paypal and I refuse to have anything to do with them (paypal, that is).. (lost out on a few of figure.fm sales due to that, too *sigh*)
I've used both and haven't had problems with either of them. As for the cheaper option, HS seems to be the best bet. But, as someone else has said, you may need a little bit more than $55. I can't imagine it being much more, though.
hmm. i'm going to order that myself.. :)
basically i'll look at all sites when it comes out. HS, AmiAmi, and HLJ , and depends on who has a shipping sale or not, however i'm a patient person (got an Ex S gundam on the last sale on hlj, so Plenty to do for Awhile!) so SAL is an option for me, and for the moment, Amiami is my place of choice at the moment, however, ive had good dealings with each one of them, so your not going to go wrong with any of those 3 choices.. just look at the price when it comes out, or right before so you can pre order it, and see prices and order away!
I have been using AmiAmi since their English website went live and have had no problems ordering through them. If all else were equal, I would recommend AmiAmi as their prices tend to be just a little bit lower, but right now Hobby Search's 50% off shipping is too good to pass up. I've placed several orders recently with Hobby Search because of that sale. Actually I've been bouncing back and forth between AmiAmi, Hobby Search, and HobbyLink Japan depending on the special promotions.
I've made up my mind, I'm gonna go with hobby Search, thanks everyone for giving me your opinions ^^ seems like ami ami is rather reliable so future orders may go through them =]
Whoa... 1462g.... jebus.... EMS shipping on that would be a bitch... what about Hobbylinkjapan? Considered them? They're the first one I used as they had the choice between SAL & EMS when HS didn't.
Oh... HS EMS shipping for a 1500g is less than I thought it'd be. Even with the 50% off I thought it would be more XD
yah their pretty big kits ^^ I have checked HLJ but HLJ is selling it for the retail price of 4,500 yen while ami ami and hobby search are selling it with a discount of 20%. However I'm afraid I'll have to pass him up for now, Hobby search just ended preorders of saix T-T ami ami still has it but by the time shipping gets to me it'll be the end of august. I guess I'll just wait and buy him later with other figures to save on shipping :/
Ive tried AmiAmi, Hobbysearch, and HLJ. From the three, amiami had the best discounts on the actual item. The other two were great and i seemed to get charged a little with shipping when compared to amiami. I still had excellent experiences with all three however. But I do like Hobbysearchs's point system. It really adds up as you buy things from there.