HLJ Rant

/begin rant

Okay, maybe I should have done my Christmas shopping a few months ago. But When I went to HLJ to order a bunch of kits, everything I want is backordered, grey box. How about an AW11 MR2? Nope. SW20 MR2? just the horrible-looking overpriced Veilside. AE86 Levin 2-door? nada. RX-7 FC? all out. Does HLJ know about this holiday we have over here called Christmas, when they ould potentially make the most profit since everyone is buying gifts right now? But for some reason, they're out of just about everything?!?! Of the fifteen car kits on my list, they have ONE in stock: The Interceptor from Mad Max 2, "The Road Warrior."

/end rant

Any other online stores carry MR2's and AE86's?

yep i have same problem too!! i want the blitz chaser! but thats backordered. I guess its because they just havent had any orders on the products for a while, so they dont bother ordering it in.

Imagine that, things selling out at Christmas time :screwy: Seeing as how its so close to Christmas it is I would think that people have already done there shopping so that it will be shipped in time,and to avoid your problem.Remember theres always ebay. :smile:


Lil'budman

Imagine that, things selling out at Christmas time :screwy: Seeing as how its so close to Christmas it is I would think that people have already done there shopping so that it will be shipped in time,and to avoid your problem.Remember theres always ebay. :smile:


Lil'budman

I checked 3 weeks ago, and they did have the FC. Two weeks ago, just the interceptor. One week ago, the same. This week, the same. How early do most people do their Christmas shopping?

How early do most people do their Christmas shopping?

I just buy 12 months a year to stop the delays
:grinyes:

id place the order anyways...

HLJ has a major problem of not updating their stock pages...chances are either its in stock or will be in stock the next few days..

I just buy 12 months a year to stop the delays
:grinyes:

Well yeah but this is the only time of the year I have an excuse to order in large quantities :D

"Why do you need NINE of the same car?!"

"Because I'm a sick, sick man." :D

For all the talk I hear people saying of HLJ their online stock seems quite limited at the moment in terms of car models.

Maybe you should try some of the other Japanese hobby stores. Or maybe even somewhere local, like your LHS.

1 word = e-bay (I gues its hyphinated, but still) all those kits are there.

I'm a bit miffed at the mo' with HLJ, I had a Hasegawa Ford Focus WRC and another kit ordered, it came in stock, was sent...but a month on and still it hasn't appeared even though other kits that were dispatched after it have arrived.

I have that horrible feeling that it was lost during transit :disappoin . I contacted touble@hlj.com and they told me to wait until Feb before they can help as it could've been held up by Customs, Christmas backlog, etc! I fear the worst, hopefully, I'm wrong!

I also wanted 2 order a LARGE order from HLJ but most of the stock is gone or back ordered. :(

Ahh well this type of thing happens and life goes on. I am sure ranting about HLJs here will solve the problem though
Like someone else suggested get off your butt and support your local hobby shop. You don't have to pay shipping or wiat and you support your local economy

Ahh well this type of thing happens and life goes on. I am sure ranting about HLJs here will solve the problem though
Like someone else suggested get off your butt and support your local hobby shop. You don't have to pay shipping or wiat and you support your local economy

Gee I'd love to, but I already bought all three of their good kits (they're primarily a train shop, with a few cars, and a lot of military stuff). I get all my supplies there, though. Luckily I get a 10% discount since I'm a member of the local model club.

I also found an alternate source for most of the kits I was looking for, with cheaper shipping AND shipping time.

http://www.best1hobby.com/

Most-to-all LHS's that order through a distributor like Bluefin (for Aoshima) can get you almost any kit. All you have to do is ask.

I know they stock mostly trains and what not but it's definitely worth a shot.

I get a lot of my Aoshima kits from my LHS in the form of special order. I've never had to special order any Tamiya or Fujimi kits as they always have a good amount on hand.

I get a lot of my Aoshima kits from my LHS in the form of special order. I've never had to special order any Tamiya or Fujimi kits as they always have a good amount on hand.

That is virtually impossible here in the UK. The importer only brings in a handfull of Aoshima/Hasegawa/Fujimi car kits and these are spread out through the whole country. The majority of the kits they do bring in from the manufacturers are military and aviation related models.

Also, what with the tax being so expensive, the prices of kits are extremely high. For example, when Tamiya's Enzo was first released the price of the kit in the LHS was £30GBP. I ordered it from HLJ for around £15GBP, which included shipping...and I managed to get the kit a couple of months before it even hit the shops in the UK! :naughty: I mean paying more for a kit is painful, but worth it if it's a Tamiya product. However, imagine paying around £22.00 for a bog standard Fujimi...now that hurts! That is even if you can get hold of one in the first place!!

Well then. It sucks to be you guys.... :lol2:

Well then. It sucks to be you guys....

At times like these, HLJ is a Heaven send! :lol2:

Gee I'd love to, but I already bought all three of their good kits (they're primarily a train shop, with a few cars, and a lot of military stuff). I get all my supplies there, though. Luckily I get a 10% discount since I'm a member of the local model club.

I also found an alternate source for most of the kits I was looking for, with cheaper shipping AND shipping time.

http://www.best1hobby.com/
I was a bit grumpy yesterday sorry. I hate to see all the nice little local shops closing though, seems to happen more often these days with all the mail order stuff going on.

I was a bit grumpy yesterday sorry. I hate to see all the nice little local shops closing though, seems to happen more often these days with all the mail order stuff going on.

Yeah, but when they have 1000 yen Fujimi kits marked up to $28.99, and don't have 1/100th of the selection...

I hate to say it but you all are lazy with the E-bay, HLJ, crap!!!! I admit that some countries cant get certain things and im a victim. But all i did is ask my LHS what there distributor was and found there web site (some times hard because there wholesale only sites). Ive gotten alot of models that are "OOS","OOP" or "BO'd" on HLJ from my local hobby shop. Fudge these mail orders and see what your shop can do for you. within 3-4 days shipping as well. shops that dont specialize in cars doesnt mean there distributor cant get them.... they just dont know what your talking about cus they dont deal with cars. get the product number code on-line then ask your LHS to see if they can get it. WAKE UP. sorry but my LHS doesnt give 2 shits about cars but have gotten me alot of stuffnot available on HLJ or e-bay.... for example i got the entire Aoshima "Skyline Series" in 12 days. And there distributor is not a secret but i wont tell who it is... do your work.... where ever you live in the world.... find out who distributes models in your area and then research.... EASY

I hate to say it but you all are lazy with the E-bay, HLJ, crap!!!!

Agreed, hell when I was a kid you had no choice but to go to the store yourself. All the modern conveniences are making people lazy.

eBay, LHS, HLJ, Hobby World, Hobby Search, Rainbow 10, Best1Hobby and AF friends. I go to all when purchasing.

I have yet to come up empty handed when looking for something. Even the most rarest of kits (or wheels). So to say that online shopping is crap is a statement I don't agree with. Why limit yourself? All these sources are a previelege not a burden.

I do agree about asking to get stuff through the distributor as I have mentioned above.

I hate to say it but you all are lazy with the E-bay, HLJ, crap!!!!

The local stores are generally more expensive than HLJ and eBay even after shipping. It may be lazy but I'm never going to pay more for something just because it happens to be local, it makes no sense.

The local stores are generally more expensive than HLJ and eBay even after shipping. It may be lazy but I'm never going to pay more for something just because it happens to be local, it makes no sense.
If a guy wants it bad enough then all options should be explored instead of ranting about someones online stcok

If a guy wants it bad enough then all options should be explored instead of ranting about someones online stcok

I'm not disputing that, I just thought I'd chime in towards the guy calling online shoppers lazy.

I'm not disputing that, I just thought I'd chime in towards the guy calling online shoppers lazy.
Yeah I see your point> And I guess we were trying to point out that there are other options to be explored, online shopping is not the only option

I'll try my LHS first (six of them so far! :smokin: ), then I hit the 'net. So far, I have found all of my "Holy Grail" kits!!:sunglasse