Is Hlj A Drug???

What i'd like to know is why all you people are so hooked on HLJ when you can get the exact same products from an american online hobby shop?! Do you all think you'll be cool by buying from the same place as everyone else? Even if it might costs you more?
It's weird, a lot of you people are like lemmings, just doing something or buying something from somewhere just because someone else is doing it or buying from there.

For example:

Gundam markers

These are the exact same (or almost) as the permanent fine-tipped markers or pens you can buy for $1.50 at any local art supply store, but you go and pay $2 plus $X shipping just because Modeler Y used those on his super-fantastic Skyline.


I understand that there are a lot of you who are not in the USA, and this may or may not apply to you. I also know that a lot of you don't have a local hobby shop or art store, but why shop overseas if you can support your national economy by buying from within? The fact is, everyone here (obviously) has internet access, and with a couple minutes of searching, you can find anything.

Don't go thinking I work for the government and I'm just trying to get your pennies, actually I'm Canadian and I don't give a damn what you do with your money, but I just don't understand this trend.

Anyone care to explain?

oh, lol, when i first saw this i thought it was a question about drugs, 'is hlj a drug' lol, well incase anyone was wondering as a result of this thread, yes actually there is a experiemental drug named hlj-things it does i cannot begin to understand let alone explain.

anyway, more relivent to the topic, i feel the same way, kinda dumb to buy online and pay shipping when you can go to your local hobbyshop and get same or similar products. i avoid online shopping b/c it's more expensive, but whatever-it's your money, you may do as you wish.

That is so true and its wierd its very hard to understand how people think plus if somone would show a marker that does the same thing as the gundam markers well people would realize how stupid they have been by buying over priced markers from JAPAN when they could get them hell of cheaper here in the states. LOL....... Thats a good point Fastphil..... Oh yeah by the way what marker could you get in the states that is cheaper than the gundam markers? i dont have an idea what name they have here?

I'm just used to dealing with them and simply because I like their selection. Usually when I buy something from them, i buy several items at once so it helps me keep track of my hobby expenses a bit easier. That's why I shop at HLJ although I'll shop anywhere I can get what I want for the price I choose to pay. It's not the only place I shop for model supplies, just one of my favorites. Also, I live within travelling distance of about 6 hobby shops and I have gotten sick of being told that something wouldn't be ordered unless it would "turn a profit" so I take my business wherever I can get what I want however, I do still patronize them as they carry almost all of the supplies I need. :smile:

not to play devils advocate or anything but when you buy fujimi or aoshima models from your local hobby shop where are they getting it from? my guess is japan. but its true in a sense that you're still helping your local economy...on the topic of gundam markers i used them because they wouldn't smear after you detailed the model, sharpies and the like always smeared and NEVER dried. but not that much hobby shops (in hawaii anyway) sell them, ... i think people buy from hlj because they have built a good reputation of service..plus they have models that you'd have a hard time finding in the states (studio 57 sakatsu etc) so people don't mind paying a little extra :2cents:

I have yet to buy anything from hlj.com
Of the 4 online stores I deal with only 1 is outside the USA and the only reason I deal with that one(aside from the excellent service) is to get certain items none of the American stores stock (right now).

I only buy things that my LHS can't get. That or what I want is too expensive at my LHS. I'll usually search other sites just to make sure I can't get it stateside.

But look at the wheels they're re-releasing. You can't beat the price if you buy in quantity.

Scott Hards, who owns HLJ is an American, and I respect what he's done to build his business- which is next to impossible to do in Japan as a foreigner.

It's easy to say "just buy X product that does the same thing as Y product" but I tend to do it the right way using what I know works instead of being cheap for cheap's sake.

Lastly, www.scaleracecars.com has many of the same items as HLJ, especially in terms of Studio 27 photo etch and decals.

Simply put, plastic models are not a moneymaker for LHS, and more and more online shopping will be a necessity.

Usually cheap products don't do the same job as the expensive counterparts. $8.00 technical pen does much better job than the Gundam Marker, and the Gundam Marker does better job than $1.50 fine point pens.
You're right that it's pointless to just buy one Gundam Marker and pay the international shipping, but it only weights a few grams, which doesn't affect the shipping when bought with one or two kits, (same is true for the P.E. parts), so the shipping can be assumed free.
Also, a certain product, proven to work, save you time and money of searching around and taking a trip to a local hobby/art supply store.
Wouldn't it be also true that you should support both US distributor and retailer and pay even more for the import Gundam Marker? That'll help your local economy even more.

first thing, and only point i need to make.... i'm in australia.... initial d kits are non existent here, and if they were, they'd be 50+...

gundam markers at my lhs were 7.50 for one....

paint is 10 dollars, whereas on hlj its 2 dollars.....

that is why i go to hlj, not coz every1 else does, not coz i enjoy waiting for the shipping, coz its cheaper.

Yeah buy plastic models in Australia sux, I dont see why I should pay AU$50 for a kit when I can get it off hlj for AU$20 even if the postage is AU$10 I can still get 2 kits for the price of one plus the range of japanese models where I am is poor anyway... The only thing I really buy over here is paint when I need it in a hurry otherwise I try and plan and get everything from hlj in one go.. I couldnt afford this hobby if it wasnt for hlj

I'm just used to dealing with them and simply because I like their selection. Usually when I buy something from them, i buy several items at once so it helps me keep track of my hobby expenses a bit easier. That's why I shop at HLJ although I'll shop anywhere I can get what I want for the price I choose to pay. It's not the only place I shop for model supplies, just one of my favorites. Also, I live within travelling distance of about 6 hobby shops and I have gotten sick of being told that something wouldn't be ordered unless it would "turn a profit" so I take my business wherever I can get what I want however, I do still patronize them as they carry almost all of the supplies I need. :smile:

I agree. I follow the same rules. Kits in Australia are very expensive (I've seen Fujimis in my local LHS for $75.00) and it is far cheaper to buy them online from HLJ. As Australia is closer to Japan than the US, out shipping costs are comparitively lower. I

My LHS only sells train stuff... the rest I have to travel 50 miles for, and then pay over inflated prices, as well as come home with only half the things I needed as they were out of stock.

HLJ, 1999.co.jp etc are much much cheaper and convenient for me.

As for gundam markers, well I think this says it all for availability in the UK:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22gundam+marker%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB

Im with the Aussies :grinno:

I'll go to my local hobby shop (Hobby Co) check out the price for a Fujimi product and it will be $45-$55 where as if I bought from HLJ it will prob cost me $30 shipped even cheaper if I bought more.Also aftermarket wheels for 1/24 are $20 :screwy:

ok here is a quick example why i wont be buying kits from england anymore.

1 x ferrari Enzo £35 Model zone (tamiya)
1 x ferrari Enzo £13 HLJ

its doesnt take much math to realise even with postage its so much cheaper. screw my local hobby shops, they are just happy to keep the train modelers happy! it took them 5 weeks to get me an R34 skyline in

i recently priced up my next order

2 x tamiya enzo
2 x 360 modena
2 x R34 v spec 2
3 x R32 skyline
2 x 350z track

hlj total £116 + £40 postage

uk total £300

it doesnt take too much mathmatics to work out its cheaper to import them.

the cost of the ferraris alone in this country comes to £120 so thats like getting everything else for free!

I buy from HLJ because it's CHEAPER than anything in town. I can go to Trains and Things in town here and buy a Fujimi car kit for $36 or order it from HLJ for 1000yen + maybe 1200yen shipping = 2200yen (or about $20). I can use the money I saved to buy a cheap model, or some paint for it.

lol !:cwm27:Great!:eek7:
HLJ is not a drug: modeling IS a drug! :iceslolan
And apparently HLJ is the only way to save money when practicing...:biggrin: (in France too, some kits are about 40 to 75$, and only 20-35$ at HLJ!...)

Tomorrow, I stop smoking and ask for a credit card!...:2cents::rofl::smokin::loser::lol:

...Or stop car modeling.:screwy:

Well, I have yet to try HLJ again, the first time they mucked up my order, so i went and found a Canadian supplier, which makes sense because I am canadian, and support someone making a bussiness out of this hobby, and help support a fellow canadian, but i mainly shop there because of the selection, the closest hobby shops around are located on/ around a military base, so about 90% of the kits are military, and the other 10% is all extremely over priced stuff, that i have no interest in, so its just makes sense to order from www.modelexpress.net.

Bottom line, it's much MUCH cheaper, even with shipping. I'd rather pay $30 for a good kit with paint and a wheel set for something i know I want, than something like an old re-boxed Fujimi AE86 kit for 36 dollars at a hobby shop, bottom line, it you will more likely find what you want, and it will be plenty cheap.

Example, the new Fujimi RX-8, NSX, and WRX kits are $45 a pop at Hobbyland, for less-than-quality kits.