HLJ US customers; what's your worst experience with EMS shipping?

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

When you pay for express priority shipping (EMS) from Hobbylink Japan, do you expect your package to sit for a week, or perhaps longer, in a container in Tokyo? Well, it can and does happen, and HLJ won't do anything until 28 days. For something that you paid big $$ for express shipping. They say the average shipping is 2-4 business days for EMS and FedEx. I've only used FedEx up until this order, and usually it's only 2 days, longest it took was 3.

Lesson learned. Don't bother with EMS aka the post office, use FedEx. If I had used FedEx instead, I'd have my package now. And since HLJ makes a big handling fee on mandatory express shipping on items they ship from your "Private Warehouse", they don't care. I've had packages arrive in 10 days after shipping, and never longer than 14 using the slow/cheap SAL method, but HLJ doesn't give you that choice when you ship via your private warehouse. Gee, I wonder why? Nice racket they have going to recoup their 20% discount. It's bad enough that it can take them nearly a week internally to get a package out the door.

[mike@af]

Hey, did you get your LaFerrari yet?

[hirofkd]

This must be an isolated incident for some reason, like a random security check, suspicious content, nuclear radiation risk, terrorist threat etc. My last EMS was held at Chicago custom service for three business days, which was unusual because it normally takes only half a day.

Trouble with EMS is very rare, and shipment problem can happen with any carrier, including FedEX.

HLJ's response sounds excessively slow, but maybe they didn't know how to deal with such an unusual circumstance (although it shouldn't be too difficult for them to call Japan Post customer service.)

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by mike@af

Hey, did you get your LaFerrari yet?

I knew I should have spiked your portion of the corn casserole last evening with Ex Lax

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by hirofkd

HLJ's response sounds excessively slow, but maybe they didn't know how to deal with such an unusual circumstance (although it shouldn't be too difficult for them to call Japan Post customer service.)

HLJ asks in their boilerplate not to contact them about shipping issues until twice the maximum amount of time, which is 28 days for EMS.

But I emailed them anyway to complain, partly because I was not given an option for SAL shipment (which I would have used, due to personal travel timeframe), and my order was well under their 15,000 yen policy of mandatory tracking via EMS or FedEx. I asked why I have not been given the option for SAL even when my totals have never been close to 15,000 yen. Others have the SAL option, but when I go to request shipment from my PW, I've so far only had the expensive shipping options. A few times it has taken them 4-5 days to process my order internally before shipping, which itself is a slap in the face when you are choosing express shipping or forced to use it. Yet a couple times I've had shipments processed internally and delivered in 2 days.

Right after I complained this AM, I finally did see a change on the USPS tracking site that the parcel is (finally) being processed for shipping from the origin site (Tokyo). 7 days after they received it, meaning it will arrive on Friday, 9 days after I ordered. I will never use EMS again because of this, FedEx only for express shipping, and I'll be trying orders from HLJ competitors to compare for myself the difference in shipping costs/time.

[freakray]

I've had in stock items shipping via SAL sit at HLJ itself in 'Processing to Ship' for a week before now which is agonizingly frustrating when you deliberately ordered something that is in stock.
Almost like you take the cheaper option for shipping so you get a lower priority. I've had the best luck with shipping by FedEx from them.

[Mr Plumb]

I have yet to order from HLJ. However i received a hobbysearch parcel via SAL 2 days ago which only took around 12 days to post not including the 2 or 3 days handling time. Was extremely impressed I must say. For smaller orders its silly that you can't select SAL really.

Have you had any other issues from HLJ before?

[stevenoble]

I don't understand why you can't select SAL method of shipping from your private warehouse. I always use SAL for any parcel I get from HLJ, private warehouse or not, the option is always there. I've also had a long wait of a week or more where the items are in the 'preparing for shipping' stage. Don't really see why it takes so long, but I imagine they have a lot of parcels to pack and send and it's just in the queue waiting it's turn..

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Some people have noted that when the LaFerrari came out last week, that at first HLJ didn't offer SAL shipping, and that FedEx charges for shipping one kit were showing $60. The next day or so, when they showed the kit in-stock, you could ship it SAL, and FedEx shipping was back to normal.

I still think they have a sneaky way of using their shipping system to negate the 20% discount, since there is no real rhyme or reason. There literally were only two options for a box w/the LaFerrari, an RX3 kit, LaFerrari etch and decals. Far less than the amount they require for tracking.

For any express shipment to sit a week at the originating post office is a joke. Why would people pay for express shipping when HLJ is backed up with orders to the point that people are waiting a bloody week for their shipment to go out the door? All my orders this year have been express shipped, and a couple of them sat for nearly a week before they were shipped. There's something inherently wrong with the system if they can't get packages out in 24 hours...ever. Worse when the postal service screws up as well. This time my shipment was processed and out the door in under 24 hours...but then to sit in Tokyo for 7 days so far going nowhere.

[jano11]

I got to the point when I only buy HLJ when I can't get it anywhere else.
And never again pay for EMS, it is not worth it. It takes 3-4 days by EMS to Europe or 5 days by SAL, certainly not worth the money. Also EMS always goes directly to customs check and comes with a hefty tag from there while SAL most of the time is not checked that seriously.

[RonCla]

I've had issues with the length of time my orders have sat at the preparing for shipping stage too.

HLJ must be very busy and understaffed as others can ship out the next day

Packages sent SAL take at least a couple of weeks to arrive here where EMS always takes 3 or 4 days. Never had any issues with either.

[gngan]

I can't speak for US, but I'm in HK buying from HLJ all the time using EMS and it always delivered within 3 business days (except for weekend orders). So I suspect that it's just an isolated instant - perhaps there are knifes/drills/Files or anything that look suspicious/strange so the package stayed in customs longer than usual.

Just MHO

Best

[willimo]

I've gotten to just ordering stuff off of eBay anymore. The prices are a little higher with the seller, but the shipping is cheaper, and everything I order from Japan or Hong Kong comes in just a few days, often beating orders made within the US at the same time. I like HLJ as an institution but have found eBay to be the best bet for Japanese kits.

That said, I am waiting for my LHS to get the Fujimi McLaren for me... so what do I know?

[SilverMk2]

I've always had the option of SAL shipping from private warehouse? The thing I've noticed is if you have more than 3 kits it doesn't give you the option anymore. I think they only have so many box options and the one that fits 4 kits can't be shipped SAL. At least that's been my theory... I noticed with the LA Ferrari it would only let me shipped 2 kits this time. Maybe the box is bigger than the usual tamiya box?

[nascar49]

Originally Posted by SilverMk2

I've always had the option of SAL shipping from private warehouse? The thing I've noticed is if you have more than 3 kits it doesn't give you the option anymore. I think they only have so many box options and the one that fits 4 kits can't be shipped SAL. At least that's been my theory... I noticed with the LA Ferrari it would only let me shipped 2 kits this time. Maybe the box is bigger than the usual tamiya box?

SAL is by weight, I believe the limit is 4lbs, which is about three model kits