New Voltes V SOC GX-31 Photos Discussion - Part 2

[/i] damaged from bad weather or[/i] damaged when customs wants to check the contents or[/b] damaged from improper packing.


Plus there's still the matter of Quality Control problems from Bandai on this toy.. making it very difficult to come out on top when ordering abroad. You can try to return the item to the source if there're problems with the toy itself but then it'll cost another 40-60$ to shell out the round trip shipping cost.


Bottom line, I think it's safer to just buy it locally instead of going through all the trouble and hassle of saving 500-1000 bucks and possibly winding up with a lemon (or worse, nothing at all)


hehe, apologies for my negativity, what can I say? I tend to think the worst scenarios sometimes... ;D


Peace



Gold


[/quote]

Gold, I think this makes a lot of sense.

In the past, whenever I've made online purchases or ordered items from friends or relatives, I always have to be prepared to face the possibility that the box or card and bubble can get damaged in transit.

As such, most collectors would physically want to check everything, the box, and the contents to ensure that certain factors are up to one's personal standards.

You are also right in pointing out that the actual savings one can make on certain online purchases can easily go up in smoke once the shipping plus duties/taxes are factored in. I've been burned on this quite a number of times. That doesn't even count the fact that most of these offshore purchases are most likely done via credit card and if the collector in question is the type who revolves, then one also has to factor in credit card interest fees to the "final" price of the item. In the end, this may only just wind up becoming perceived savings but actually turns out more expensive.

Bearing these risks in mind, there really is no substitute to just purchasing an item here, even if it means biting the proverbial (medyo mahal) bullet. One can inspect it, and assuming the price differential is negligible (which it probably is more often than not), one can look forward to immediate gratification!

Anyway, going back to Voltes V, if I had the choice of saving anywhere between 500-1000 bucks on the online/offshore purchase as compared to the advantages of getting it locally but paying more, I'd still opt to get it here. I'd chalk it up to paying for convenience and ensuring that the merchandise is up to par when it reaches my hands!

Of course, this is just me. Its a matter of preference. [/quote]

I can relate to what Garvy and Gold said. Basing it on experience, the "magic taxes" was really ridiculous when I purchased MP-01,
Tracks and Red Alert (re-issues) from BBTS. My mistake then was I should have shipped it to my Dad, who lives in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, after arguing with the B.O.C, I wasn't able to get my toys. Sometimes, it's better to just purchase it here, kahit medyo mahal. Malapit na, and at least you just pay for the fare going to the toy store, rather than paying a ton for a toy.;D

well ryuhao did say "if you know someone going to singapore"...

anyways.. i saw on bidshot, voltes v "modified" daw selling at 120,000php... what could the seller have modified that makes his voltes v cost 120,000.... platinum/gold metal parts instead of diecast? hehehe.

Is this an Evo VII or IX? Hell Yeah! Nice car pare!

[/i] damaged from bad weather or[/i] damaged when customs wants to check the contents or[/b] damaged from improper packing.


Plus there's still the matter of Quality Control problems from Bandai on this toy.. making it very difficult to come out on top when ordering abroad. You can try to return the item to the source if there're problems with the toy itself but then it'll cost another 40-60$ to shell out the round trip shipping cost.


Bottom line, I think it's safer to just buy it locally instead of going through all the trouble and hassle of saving 500-1000 bucks and possibly winding up with a lemon (or worse, nothing at all)


hehe, apologies for my negativity, what can I say? I tend to think the worst scenarios sometimes... ;D


Peace



Gold


[/quote]

This is true if you're planning to order abroad. But like I said, if you know [glow=red,2,300]someone going to Singapore,[/glow] which by the way is having the "Great Singapore Sale" from now till 15th of July, you'll be a lot better.

This is due that Voltes V is not popular here unlike in the Phil. and I believe the "bulging" of the price is based on the demand there, and some people are taking this oppurtunity to earn more, which is basically unfair to us who love this Anime and just want to have a piece of it's history.


I don't know, but it (price bulging) still feels unethical for me...

[/quote]





Hi Ryuhao, no offense meant from my earlier post, but I wasn't exactly quoting your post(I only quoted the price you posted as a reference point, I apologize if that was inappropriate), I was making a generalized statement regarding international prices and the difficulties of ordering abroad.


But yes, you are right, items there in Singapore are definitely much cheaper compared to local prices(as it usually always is with most SOC and Transformers items, actually).







But I have to say something with regards to "highway robbery prices" here in the Philippines.

Taking a look online, while it may be true that one(or more) shop(s) in Singapore may be selling at 125$(6600PhP), most online stores are selling it :

-140US$(checking Hlj.com, converted that's 7,419Pesos) not inclusive of shipping and taxes.

-www.toy-wave.com is selling it at 175$ without shipping.

-Bigbadtoystore is selling it at 160$ without shipping.


Now factoring in the shipping (and/or taxes) of 20-30$ that's already near(or over the) the 10,000 price mark.




Some folks reading this might be thinking now "Don't local retailers order from Singapore?", while they might sell it cheaper, that doesn't necessarily mean they have plenty of stocks to go around. For example, if Greattoys needed an order of 30+ units, I think the shops might have a little trouble filling that order, and unless one can order/ship in by bulk, then shipping cost might eventually outweight the profits in the long run.





I guess my point here is that the "price reaching the mark of 10,000PhP" isn't something that's entirely the fault of the local market alone(taking note of the 140-175$ prices of the various online shops).

Since most of the local retailers order from more or less these international shops, one has to expect the local market to have a higher price than the sources, plus one has to expect them to make at least 10% profit, otherwise why bother?





Please bear in mind I'm not looking for an argument, I'm just clarifying a few points that could be dangerously misinterpreted by anyone reading this thread so as to prevent further headaches for our favorite local retailers




Peace



BTW Shimla, nice wheels

Gold

hi Ryuhao where did you buy your soc voltes v in singapore, coz i bought mine last suanday also in here in singapore dollzinc is the name of the store, the actual price here in singapore is S$239, i bought 2 pieces then i ask discount then they lower the price to S$210 luckily another filipino buyer bought the last piece of soc voltes v then we said to the shop to make it S$200 coz we are buying all the last 3 pieces there so the shop owner agreed and we are very happy to get it on such a lower price. happily am going back there to the phil. this sunday and cant wait to add it to my collections, coz im really planning to buy it in GT but i found it very chip here,luckily im having my vacation here so i bought it here!!!

WTF!!! I was about to say EVO GSR? Hehe..nice one...

Too bad that the Evo Lancers doesn't pass the crash test of Canada...would love to have my car in the Philippines here (Pizza Pie Lancer) Although the car is still there, I still miss it