Hometown Dolpa Sendai

I'm a weirdo and Haruka's head is the only thing I really, really like.

 

~Sister Kyoya

I'm not 100% surprised the Idolm@ster girls aren't coming to Volks USA. I thought there might be a chance, even though the games haven't come out here, because there's plenty of other dolls that have come out here that nothing related to them has. I guess it's just another one of those weird licensing issues like the Touhou and K-On and the few other DDs that haven't come out.

 

Would like to get Sakura, mainly for her wig and outfit. Not sure if I want to keep the full doll or not. Problem is, she's coming out at a bad time for me.

 

Really want that school-type outfit for the Idolm@ster girls. Never got around to buying it as DLC for Idolm@ster 2 though I kinda always wanted to. I might have to track that down.

hoorah for Volks USA! ... yawp, def signing up for Sakura-chan

Who wants to tag-team with me on her? You can have the wig and body!

 

Wonder why IdolMaster girls aren't there.. anyone know if they'll be on Intl site instead?

 

I'd love an extra body and her wig ( and bow if possible ^^' ) ! count me in

 

Guess I'll go for Rise's glasses then...

 

It's going to be annoying if I don't manage to get a pair of those...

There are more bad news from Volks USA store: they are using very bad exchange rate for this Dolpa items.

For example,

Sakuya (Dolpa 27) was 65000 yen (before Japanese tax) and sold for $715 USD.

But, Sakura Shinguji is only 59000 yen (before Japanese tax) and sold for $811 USD

 

What the hell is going on?

There are more bad news from Volks USA store: they are using very bad exchange rate for this Dolpa items.

For example,

Sakuya (Dolpa 27) was 65000 yen (before Japanese tax) and sold for $715 USD.

But, Sakura Shinguji is only 59000 yen (before Japanese tax) and sold for $811 USD

 

What the hell is going on?

 

Didn't even notice this till you said something since I wasn't interested in any of the stuff avaiable on Volks USA but...

 

If we use the "with tax/fees" price for sakura, 61,950 yen and divide by the $811, we get an exchange rate of just over 76 yen to the dollar. If you ignored shipping costs it would be cheaper to buy through the international site. This rate holds true for the other items too.

 

Unless the exchange rate improves looks like we won't see any more limited DD's for less then the $800 range. Just as important however is what this will mean for outfits and such if this will be the pricing going foreword. Outfits that use to be $70 will be more like $90.

 

Well we did have it pretty good for while I guess.

just saw the promo on volks usa site,

I'm totally drooling over Sakura... i'd love to have her

convo with my partner in crime went as so:

me: *drool*

partner: she's pretty, she must be limited.

Me: yup, lottery.

Partner: well, we could sell her on...

Me: *sad eyes*

partner: you wouldn't sell her would you?

 

So thats a no to getting her lol

If we use the "with tax/fees" price for sakura, 61,950 yen and divide by the $811, we get an exchange rate of just over 76 yen to the dollar. If you ignored shipping costs it would be cheaper to buy through the international site. This rate holds true for the other items too.

 

The current exchange rate is about 78.5 yen to the US dollar. Given what my bank charges for international transactions, it's still cheaper for me to go through VolksUSA than Volks Japan, even before you consider the shipping costs. So it really depends on what rate you can get through your bank.

 

I'm really sad to see the Idolmaster girls aren't available through VolksUSA. I initially loved Miki, then felt somewhat lukewarm about her, and this kind of seals the deal that she's not for me.

There are more bad news from Volks USA store: they are using very bad exchange rate for this Dolpa items.

For example,

Sakuya (Dolpa 27) was 65000 yen (before Japanese tax) and sold for $715 USD.

But, Sakura Shinguji is only 59000 yen (before Japanese tax) and sold for $811 USD

 

What the hell is going on?

 

Didn't even notice this till you said something since I wasn't interested in any of the stuff avaiable on Volks USA but...

 

If we use the "with tax/fees" price for sakura, 61,950 yen and divide by the $811, we get an exchange rate of just over 76 yen to the dollar. If you ignored shipping costs it would be cheaper to buy through the international site. This rate holds true for the other items too.

 

Unless the exchange rate improves looks like we won't see any more limited DD's for less then the $800 range. Just as important however is what this will mean for outfits and such if this will be the pricing going foreword. Outfits that use to be $70 will be more like $90.

 

Well we did have it pretty good for while I guess.

 

The exchange rate was always about 1USD=91~93yen before this event by Volks USA store. Of course, it was too good for North American buyers; especially, to US buyers since they do not have to pay the import tax like Canadians do and less shipping cost than international packages. Everyone was enjoying the cheapest price for Volks DD and outfits. However, the good days were over

 

It seems they are using current/real exchange rate now, which is pre-decieded on the basis of recent rate. The advantage that we (the North American) can take is very little now. It was not fair to the rest of the world, but they make fair to everyone now...I am not sure I should be happy or sad

We were talking about this just now in my house. It's going to hurt the people in California the most. Because of California sales tax, they'll have to pay ~$90 on top of the doll costs to buy the doll from VolksUSA. But if they bought from the international site, they'd only pay ~$60 in EMS shipping.

 

I hate to say it, but I think Volks figured out that international customers were artificially making VolksUSA stock lower by using proxies to buy for them. Because even with a proxy, it was cheaper to buy from VolksUSA than Volks International. So now they just raised the price enough to not make it worth it.

 

Curious to see how this affects the cost of things like hands and bodies. We really WILL see ~$400 DDy bodies at this rate.

We were talking about this just now in my house. It's going to hurt the people in California the most. Because of California sales tax, they'll have to pay ~$90 on top of the doll costs to buy the doll from VolksUSA. But if they bought from the international site, they'd only pay ~$60 in EMS shipping.

 

I hate to say it, but I think Volks figured out that international customers were artificially making VolksUSA stock lower by using proxies to buy for them. Because even with a proxy, it was cheaper to buy from VolksUSA than Volks International. So now they just raised the price enough to not make it worth it.

 

Curious to see how this affects the cost of things like hands and bodies. We really WILL see ~$400 DDy bodies at this rate.

 

For many Canadians, +15% Tax (yes, 15%!)+$8.5 CAD handle fee (I never understand WTF it is)

I hope this is just for lottery events at least. and not their regular stock.

For many Canadians, +15% Tax (yes, 15%!)+$8.5 CAD handle fee (I never understand WTF it is)

 

Yeah, I know your pain. Here in Hawaii they charge $30 minimum for shipping (even for something small like a pair of hands) from VolksUSA. It's for no reason too, similar to that handling fee Canadians get. That's why I no longer buy directly from them unless I'm buying a large enough order to make it worth it.

 

I might still buy VolksUSA stuff using Kerbey Lane and such, but I probably won't directly buy from VolksUSA anymore. No point when I can get it for about the same price (or slightly less) and sooner from Volks in Japan.

For many Canadians, +15% Tax (yes, 15%!)+$8.5 CAD handle fee (I never understand WTF it is)

 

Yeah, I know your pain. Here in Hawaii they charge $30 minimum for shipping (even for something small like a pair of hands) from VolksUSA. It's for no reason too, similar to that handling fee Canadians get. That's why I no longer buy directly from them unless I'm buying a large enough order to make it worth it.

 

I might still buy VolksUSA stuff using Kerbey Lane and such, but I probably won't directly buy from VolksUSA anymore. No point when I can get it for about the same price (or slightly less) and sooner from Volks in Japan.

 

The same to me: Volks USA charges a lot for shipping to Canada. It seems they have a base price: whatever you buy from them, the lowest shipping fee is >$30 USD by USPS EMI (UPS is cheaper for the shipping cost, but they charge something called broken fee?! And it is unreasonable expensive).

 

US buyers are luckiest, you have the more sources than any other country to buy an limited item

The lack of the IdolM@ster girls makes me sad, I was really looking forward to going for Miki... I was holding out hope, since there is some IdolM@ster content in the US, though not in the form of the games. They've shown up as DLC for various other NBGC games (like Ace Combat) and some random DLC was released for XBOX in the form of gamer pics and themes.

 

I guess that doesn't really carry over to full merchandise.

So the girls are still available on the volks international page someone said.

 

could anyone provide the link for that website, and maybe instructions on how to enter there lol?

So the girls are still available on the volks international page someone said.

 

could anyone provide the link for that website, and maybe instructions on how to enter there lol?

 

Nothing is up yet, it will be like a couple of weeks before lottery actually starts. I think it's only speculation at this point those girls will be available in the international lottery like Cirno was. Chance is good, but there's been completely japan only DD's before.

 

 

As for the price increase on the US site, I'm rather happy they did it. I personally haven't won anything from the US site in years and has been relying on the international site. If I can't get anything from volks(usa) when I'm living in the us, there is something wrong. It also gives off a bad impression of how much these dolls are really worth, there's no argument for when there's a $200-300 difference between jpn and us price for the same exact product, also factoring in the shipping they pay to ship the original dolls to us. It's pretty proven at this point they can sell all of these dolls at their full jpn price, leaving price low in the us only leads to rampant proxying. Which is not the intention of having a store in the us, that's what the international site is for.

I wish the Im@s girls would have come to VolksUSA also. Really wanted Miki's head. The playing field has been leveled with the exchange hike. Now hopeully its not so tempting for all that proxy stuff to go on. But I am sure it will still continue I exclusively buy from the USA site being that I live in the USA, so for me, I would like to be able to get things once in awhile without them always being out of stock, due to "artificial residents."

 

Volks really just needs to get their inventory to match demand though, so everyone can obtain items at least within a month or two.

 

Back on topic though, Miki is just gorgeous! I really liked her cute, yet lazy character on the show. THe combo of bedhead blonde hair and green eyes is amazing. Almost choked when I realized she was only 14!

I planning to get Sakura from VolksUSA, but the their new exchange rate is such a turn off, especially I only want the Kimono and wig

It's too bad the the Idolmaster dolls aren't at the US site. Miki was so cute, I'd jump at the chance to get her.

This new exchange rate is very disappointing. I hope it doesn't continue like this. I was really shocked to see that Sakura cost more than Saber extra. Its also sad that the Idol girls aren't being offered by Volks USA, I was considering getting Miki, but I guess thats good for my wallet. haha.

Considering the new higher prices at VolksUSA, you guys wouldn't be saving much money from buying from them now. Those of you who wanted the Idolm@ster girls may as well just try for the international lottery.

I might try and find a split partner for Sakura as I want her but am not willing to spend $800 + at the moment on her, she could live as a floating head with all her gear for a little while.

If anyone is trying for Sakura, I'd like to purchase her wig if possible.

Thank you.

Shipping is still cheaper in the us and there is no foreign exchange fee from credit card companies. You still save some, it's just no longer a ridiculous price difference. Ofcourse you can also look at it as an extra chance to win the lottery.