Sword Art Online Dollfie?

Has there ever been a $200 price difference, though? Covering for possible exchange rates I can understand, and is totally reasonable, but $200? It may come off whiny, but it certainly makes the brand seem less accessible, at least with the US lottery. All I want is to understand why the price hike, know my feels?

Has there ever been a $200 price difference, though? Covering for possible exchange rates I can understand, and is totally reasonable, but $200? It may come off whiny, but it certainly makes the brand seem less accessible, at least with the US lottery. All I want is to understand why the price hike, know my feels?

 

Hey, it could be worse. That guy Super Dollfie who is also going to be at the Tokyo Dolpa is what, about $500 more expensive than the yen rate? Insanity.

Has there ever been a $200 price difference, though? Covering for possible exchange rates I can understand, and is totally reasonable, but $200? It may come off whiny, but it certainly makes the brand seem less accessible, at least with the US lottery. All I want is to understand why the price hike, know my feels?

As I said in the VN53 thread, it's very simple. Volks HQ in Japan sets the exchange rate at a fixed value, then they leave it there for a long time. For a while, this resulted in US prices being $100 or more cheaper than International prices. Then Volks HQ changed the rate to a new value last year to make it even again. Well, since then, the yen got way weaker, and now US is $200 more expensive.

 

All VolksUSA can do is say "yessir" and charge what HQ tells them to. Eventually the exchange rate will probably change again.

Has there ever been a $200 price difference, though? Covering for possible exchange rates I can understand, and is totally reasonable, but $200? It may come off whiny, but it certainly makes the brand seem less accessible, at least with the US lottery. All I want is to understand why the price hike, know my feels?

As I said in the VN53 thread, it's very simple. Volks HQ in Japan sets the exchange rate at a fixed value, then they leave it there for a long time. For a while, this resulted in US prices being $100 or more cheaper than International prices. Then Volks HQ changed the rate to a new value last year to make it even again. Well, since then, the yen got way weaker, and now US is $200 more expensive.

 

All VolksUSA can do is say "yessir" and charge what HQ tells them to. Eventually the exchange rate will probably change again.

 

Ahh, that makes a lot of sense. I know I read that topic, so I'm not sure why my brain went "buh?" The experience of an elder in the hobby.

The price hasn't really hiked that much, the yen has collapsed though so when you convert the japanese prices they seem way lower.

^ I don't know about that. When VolksUSA first raised their prices, it was approximately 76 yen to the dollar or so. And it was still more expensive to buy that way. It has just gotten exponentially worse since the yen has weakened so much.

^ I don't know about that. When VolksUSA first raised their prices, it was approximately 76 yen to the dollar or so. And it was still more expensive to buy that way. It has just gotten exponentially worse since the yen has weakened so much.

 

Is it really the Yen weakening, or the dollar getting stronger? The exchange rate used to be 120 JPY to 1 USD. Then it leveled off to ~100 JPY to USD. Then the dollar tanked and we got our sub-70 exchange rate.

 

This looks more like the rates returning back to "normal," and I'd like to see the current rates hold.

^ I don't know about that. When VolksUSA first raised their prices, it was approximately 76 yen to the dollar or so. And it was still more expensive to buy that way. It has just gotten exponentially worse since the yen has weakened so much.

 

Is it really the Yen weakening, or the dollar getting stronger? The exchange rate used to be 120 JPY to 1 USD. Then it leveled off to ~100 JPY to USD. Then the dollar tanked and we got our sub-70 exchange rate.

 

This looks more like the rates returning back to "normal," and I'd like to see the current rates hold.

 

Well, it's actually the Yen getting weaker. Just had to do a bunch of research for a Securities Investment project, so I found out some stuff about Japan's current economic situation. Basically the Bank of Japan put policies into effect to make the Yen weaker. So it's not the US Dollar getting stronger, it's the Yen getting weaker. Which is good because it means everyone in all countries ordering stuff from Japan will have a more favourable exchange rate (though I imagine that changes in the USD affect other currencies a lot too).

 

Hopefully Japan will stick with its current policies and keep the Yen low (or at least until I can pay for my DD Kos-Mos, ahahahaha).

Additionally Raven mentioned that the weaker yen also encourages the economy simply because the slightly lower selling price of products means more export, etc.

 

~Sister Kyoya

^ I don't know about that. When VolksUSA first raised their prices, it was approximately 76 yen to the dollar or so. And it was still more expensive to buy that way. It has just gotten exponentially worse since the yen has weakened so much.

 

Is it really the Yen weakening, or the dollar getting stronger? The exchange rate used to be 120 JPY to 1 USD. Then it leveled off to ~100 JPY to USD. Then the dollar tanked and we got our sub-70 exchange rate.

 

This looks more like the rates returning back to "normal," and I'd like to see the current rates hold.

 

It's the yen weakening. KittyFields is right - the Bank of Japan is intentionally weakening the yen right now, essentially by printing more yen. The reason is that it has gotten incredibly expensive for Japanese companies to export their goods outside of Japan and it's hurting the Japanese economy.

 

If the US dollar was actually getting stronger, it'd be getting stronger against other currencies too, and it's not. The US Federal Reserve has been printing a lot of US dollars ever since 2008 to try to improve the economy but it's not working. They haven't changed their strategy either, though I don't think they're printing quite as much as they were even a few years ago. The US dollar has been more or less steady versus the Canadian dollar, the Euro, the UK pound, and the couple of other currencies I actually pay attention to.

go euro go. does a little dance

Here's my response from Volks when I asked why Asuna was $200 more in the USA.

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

Thank you for contacting us and for your concerns regarding the price of Asuna.

The price difference is due to the exchange rate between ourselves and VOLKS

Japan.

 

We are aware of the current exchange rate and we understand that it makes things difficult for our customers. However, please understand that things are currently complicated on our end as well.

 

For several years while the exchange rate between Japan and the USA was bad, we

tried to keep our rate of exchange between ourselves and VOLKS in Japan to benefit

our customers and only changed it when we could no longer afford to do so.

 

Last year when we finally changed the rate between ourselves and VOLKS Japan, we

had no way of knowing that the rate would change so drastically.

 

We would like to be able to change our exchange rate to more closely match the international rates. However, please understand that we are hesitant to do so

until we are certain that the rate is stable. The Japanese government has just

changed over in December and things are still somewhat volatile.

 

We hope that you will continue to support VOLKS USA by purchasing through us. However, we understand that it is your choice regarding whether or not to do so.

We thank you for your understanding regarding this matter in advance.

 

Sincerely,

 

VOLKS USA Web Service Team

There are some new pics of Asuna on DD blog, with other clothes. ^_^

makes her look even more plain

Curses! I really like her but I want more variety. Maybe I can switch her to a DDS body if I win the lotto.

Ahhh, the outfit they have her in looks so sweet on her! I love the straight on of her face, it makes it really easy to take in the details of her faceup. I was wavering on whether I wanted her due to money issues, but these photos have strengthened my resolve!

I am wavering on Asuna. Her face just doesn`t speakto me as Asuna. I would still love her outfit though. Oh well, guess this saves me some money for something else.

like that guy with the gun one?

like that guy with the gun one?

 

 

Yes! l

Looks like Asuna won't be available at Volks USA afterall. This will just increase competition at the Int. site....

^ That is ridiculous. License issues? Going to make a few pings and see if I can find out what happened.

 

"**Unfortunately, due to last minute copyright issues, we will not be able to carry the previously announced “DD Sword Art Online – Asuna.” Our apologies for any inconvenience. Please contact Volks Inc. at imos@volks.co.jp regarding if they will offer her through the international site. Thank you.**"

Looks like Asuna won't be available at Volks USA afterall. This will just increase competition at the Int. site....

mean ppl

Volks, always finds a new way to torture us

Looks like Asuna won't be available at Volks USA afterall. This will just increase competition at the Int. site....

mean ppl

Volks, always finds a new way to torture us

 

It's not all Volks fault. They were unable to get copyright permission in the US. According to Wiki, Aniplex is the person you should be miffed at.

I don't know for sure, but this is my guess: Most likely, Aniplex USA has the rights to all merchandising for Sword Art Online for the US. If this is true, Volks USA could then only release the dolls in the US if they received a license from Aniplex USA to specifically release the dolls. And if THAT is true, that would require Volks to pay Aniplex USA just to release the dolls in the US. Volks USA probably isn't interested in that, since they already were forced to have higher costs for her than the US/yen exchange rate.

 

Remember, this is speculation. I'm not saying it's true.

 

However, I really think that is the case.

Yeah thats totally the case. Same happent with all the other girls that didn't get released. It's only expected :/ copyright system sucks sometimes :E