On-line shopping analysis – shock

[ChicoBR]

Thanks!!!


Francisco

Originally Posted by klutz_100

http://www.escalemodels.com/shop/

[sportracer02]

Originally Posted by 360spider

I find it about 30% cheaper than MediaMix - depending on the products of course.
their service is excellent as well

Hi,

talking about service and the 2 expensive companies mentioned by Steven:

- How often can we read here, that Hiroboy doesn´t answer mails ??

- Experience from modelling friends show, that ordering from HLJ several article and not all are available makes it possible, that they send you what is available and the rest later: twice the postage for you.

(Btw: did anybody realise, that the first price of Geronimos Gemballa GT1 transkit was 59 Euro at Hiroboy, the last price is 74 Euro???)

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by 360spider

You should check www.hobbyeasy.com - you might be pleasantly surprised.
I find it about 30% cheaper than MediaMix - depending on the products of course.
their service is excellent as well, I've been shopping there exclusively for the past 4-5 years.

Thanks! I didn't know that store.

They certainly seem to have competitive pricing.

I checked the mp4 cockpit set from my "basket" and they were the cheapest of all at $18 although their shipping charge was a further $18 compared to the $10 I paid with escale.

[hirofkd]

At StradaSports, the cockpit set is $21.99, Antenna is $4.99, Rivet set is $5.99, making the subtotal $32.47, which is 10% higher than escale.
But(!), USPS domestic shipping is only $2 by first class or $4.60 by Priority, making the grand total $34.47, or $37.07.
And in-stock items arrive within a week, so that's also a plus for a US resident like me.

[gtziaf]

My shop analysis to a resin kit
Lancia Beta Modelcarlo 1/24 MFH :

Hiroboy : 201,1 US$
http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/produ...oducts_id=2591

Stradasports : 150 US$
http://www.stradasportsstore.com/sho...current_page=1

Bestbalsakits : 286 US$ (209 Euro on site)
http://www.iaiamedia.be/tamiya/tamiy...?kitnumber=948

Domino : 236 US$ (173 Euro on site)
http://www.domino.be/main.php?action...0Cars&pagina=1

Islandcollectibles : 160 US$
http://www.islandcollectibles.net/prod02101.htm

Ebay (min :149 Euro- max : 239 Euro):
http://global.ebay.com/search?Query=...ber=1&SortBy=8

That's for now...
With this, I don't want to make a promo to one or another company but just to ask why this big gap between them... I understand a logical difference (maybe cause of taxes, costs, etc) but this are over 100US$ in same cases

What your opinion?
With regards

[juhapekkahe]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

A dollar is a dollar. And these are the prices that the stores are charging in dollars. I have not made any currency conversions.

If the reason for a high price is because a given store has applied a high rate of exchange, it was their choice. This is still what they are expecting a customer to pay.

Below is the direct quote from Hiroboy site
"2.3 The website quotes the price of the goods in various currencies (US Dollars, Euros etc.) this is a guide only, All Credit/Debit Card and Paypal Payments are charged in Pounds Sterling at an exchange rate set out by the acquiring banks."
So you are not charged in dollars, but pounds. And I think other stores do likewise.

Pekka

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by juhapekkahe

Below is the direct quote from Hiroboy site
"2.3 The website quotes the price of the goods in various currencies (US Dollars, Euros etc.) this is a guide only, All Credit/Debit Card and Paypal Payments are charged in Pounds Sterling at an exchange rate set out by the acquiring banks."
So you are not charged in dollars, but pounds. And I think other stores do likewise.

Pekka

A good point although I am not sure it actually changes anything (for the better).

Take the cockpit detail set in my basket. HB price is 18,49GBP or - as you rightly point out - an estimated 28USD That gives a rate of exchange of $1,51 to the pound sterling.

I just went to the Financial Times website and checked their listings. Last week the pound was fluctuating between $1,60 and $1,61 Today's ROE is $1,61. More practically, I also checked on my PayPal account and got a similar exchange rate of $1,59

Therefore, it seems that the HB estimator is underestimating the US$ - today at least.

Assuming that banks and PayPal are using the FT or similar rate, then in fact the set would ultimately cost between $29,40 and $29,76 - i.e. around $1,50 more than quoted on the HB site!

I'm sorry but I still do not see enough evidence to convince me that the differences in prices are the result of exchange rates. And most certainly not to the tune of 50%, 75% or even 100%!

Please bear in mind that my point in posting this thread was not to promote any one store over another. Also, I am most certainly not saying that "one solution fits all" - without doubt, potential import duty risks and postal costs also need to be factored in to one's individual case.

What I am saying though, is that there are clearly wide differences in pricing and therefore, rather than using one's regular store by default, an hour of comparative browsing can save you a considerable amount of money. In my case I saved at least 40$ (probably more) including postage.

[Macio4ever]

This is ALL your fault Steven! I havn't relised that MP4/4 cockipt set even exists till YOU started this thread...

So, I have had to try hobbyeasy and their low prices especially MP4/4 set...

Seriously - thanks for sharing! I've just saved few bucks.

[hirofkd]

The difference you are seeing is due to the gab between the time when the inventory was added, and the time when the conversion was performed at the time of checkout.
Besides, where is Top Studio located? The country of origin and when the inventory was added affects the retail prices at each shop. Also it's usually cheaper to buy goods directly from the country of origin.

[racer93]

Originally Posted by hirofkd

The difference you are seeing is due to the gab between the time when the inventory was added, and the time when the conversion was performed at the time of checkout.
Besides, where is Top Studio located? The country of origin and when the inventory was added affects the retail prices at each shop. Also it's usually cheaper to buy goods directly from the country of origin.

TS is in Hong Kong.

[John18d]

For those of us living in the USA - StradaSports is the place to shop. Kevin and the others there either have anything one could need or will get it if it is available. I have ordered many special items by talking to Kevin and he has always come thru for me. I only shop for the zero paints at Hiroboy anymore as they are color matched, but the shipping cost is a huge detractor. Kevin at StradaSports can fill any other request and for USA residents and his prices are great - John
http://www.stradasports.com/ - for anyone new to StradaSports please check out the link - John

[luchoteam]

Thanks for sharing this information, it would be great if someone do a post with all the online web site that we can buy model kits, accesories and all that...i just know HJL and Hobbysearch

Here in Argentina, we pay 50% of the product value as taxes (but here they dont add the price of the shipping, just the product)...so if you buy something at 50 dollars, we pay 25 dolars as taxes in customs

[nakadds]

Originally Posted by John18d

For those of us living in the USA - StradaSports is the place to shop. Kevin and the others there either have anything one could need or will get it if it is available. I have ordered many special items by talking to Kevin and he has always come thru for me. I only shop for the zero paints at Hiroboy anymore as they are color matched, but the shipping cost is a huge detractor. Kevin at StradaSports can fill any other request and for USA residents and his prices are great - John
http://www.stradasports.com/ - for anyone new to StradaSports please check out the link - John

Kevin at stradasport is also my first choice for ordering supplies. I just placed an order over the weekend for all the top studio mp4's stuff. The order was shipped on Monday and should be here in southern CA by the end of the week. Another great place in the States to order from is macsmodelling.com. You cannot beat the shipping price stradasport and macsmodelling charge, at least for continental US.

My choice for web stores:

1a. Stradasport
1b. macsmodelling
2. mediamix
3. luckymodel
4. hiroboy -for zero paint
5. HLJ/Rainbowten -when I cannot find it anywhere else

[John18d]

Originally Posted by nakadds

Kevin at stradasport is also my first choice for ordering supplies. I just placed an order over the weekend for all the top studio mp4's stuff. The order was shipped on Monday and should be here in southern CA by the end of the week. Another great place in the States to order from is macsmodelling.com. You cannot beat the shipping price stradasport and macsmodelling charge, at least for continental US.

My choice for web stores:

1a. Stradasport
1b. macsmodelling
2. mediamix
3. luckymodel
4. hiroboy -for zero paint
5. HLJ/Rainbowten -when I cannot find it anywhere else
4.

Nakadds - you are absolutely correct about Kevin at Stradasports and also Mac at Mac's Modeling. I just placed an order with him for the new Tamiya 2009 Yamaha M-1's "Rossi" and Tech3 - a 1/12 Tamiya McLaren M-23 and other tasty bits. For me Mac is just up the road in Scottsdale AZ - p.s. Mac is expanding his business according to the news-letter - John