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Has anyone else experienced anything about a drastic price increase in deliveries from Japan? I have received a lot of packages from Hobbylink /Private warehouse from Japan with FedEx for a reasonable amount over the years. But this weekend I was ready to order shipment and suddenly the prices were REALLY expensive. The only economic solution was SAL - but still more expensive than previously? I faked a buy of a magazine costing 1300 Yen, The most expensive way for delivery was FED Ex "economy" at a whopping 11500 yen!
I am hoping this is a mistake and have contacted HLJ - who hasn't answered yet.
I don't hope it is a general increase (Hoping it is a mistake) as this will have repercussions for my use of HLJ. It won't be economically viable anymore.
I have noticed quite an increase myself in the cost. I have only ever used SAL or registered SAL as delivery options. I used to pay around £4 for SAL on one 1/24th scale kit, but now that's increased to around £7. With the SAL registered it's crept up to around £10 where previously it was only around £6. I also factor in that absolutely every package I order now from Japan is hit with UK vat at 20% of the total order value, including the postage costs and a further charge of £8 which is the Royal Mail handling charge. The last two kits I ordered worked out more expensive than if I'd bought them in the UK (Lancia Delta S4 and Nissan 240RS) so when I bought the Audi Quattro S1 I used Hiroboy instead. It worked out no more expensive and the delivery was next day instead of the 3-4 weeks from Japan with SAL. I'm afraid that with shipping cost increases and the fact that every parcel gets hit with duty and Royal Mail charges I probably won't be ordering much from Japan anymore. It's a real shame because I've always bought my kits from HLJ since I discovered their site when I first got online many years ago...
Ive had the same. I had 4 kits waiting in my private warehouse with them. To ship all 4 at once it would have been £75. Individually it was £8ish so i did 2 kits per box with came to 13 for 1 and 14 for the second. But rather annoying both got caught but customs charge.
HLJ shouldn't be able to undercut the likes of Hiroboy simply by avoiding the customs charge. Steve will, I'm sure, have to pay customs charges on everything he ships in. If tax is due, it's due and it should be paid.
I think there were some changes in the new year. I bought a model and decal sheet through Buyee and the shipping costs were ridiculous, $20 for a kit and $22 for a decal sheet!
daveyman wrote:HLJ shouldn't be able to undercut the likes of Hiroboy simply by avoiding the customs charge. Steve will, I'm sure, have to pay customs charges on everything he ships in. If tax is due, it's due and it should be paid.
Ive no issues with the customs charge. I will buy from japan alot as i can get them quicker than if i wait for steve to get them to here and get them online. Alot of times ive had a kit well over a month before steve has them here. Again this is no bad words to anyone in the supply chain, steve esspecially, just something we have noticed with shipping cost rising globally.
daveyman wrote:HLJ shouldn't be able to undercut the likes of Hiroboy simply by avoiding the customs charge. Steve will, I'm sure, have to pay customs charges on everything he ships in. If tax is due, it's due and it should be paid.
Ive no issues with the customs charge. I will buy from japan alot as i can get them quicker than if i wait for steve to get them to here and get them online. Alot of times ive had a kit well over a month before steve has them here. Again this is no bad words to anyone in the supply chain, steve esspecially, just something we have noticed with shipping cost rising globally.
Shaun
I guess you are the only one on F1M that starts building his kits right after you received it
