Volks Dolpa 29 - Tokyo Big Sight, Sunday April 28th, 2013

The rate from paypal when I paid for Lucy was not the same as the current rate - I only guess because companies only update their yen=dollar rate maybe once a week or two just because it fluctuates so much.

Nah, PayPal updates their yen rate minute-to-minute as long as the FOREX market is open. However, they do keep a 2.5% currency exchange "premium" over whatever rate they get in the market is. So PayPal will never reflect the spot rate you see on XE.

 

Credit card companies are much closer, and the best exchange rate you're likely to get anywhere. Maybe half a yen off spot only! (if spot is 99.5, you might get 99). These also change minute to minute.

 

Always pay using your CC, but make sure you have one that charges no Foreign Transaction Fee (which they must disclose in their card terms).

 

Still, I agree that VolksUSA's prices are way ridiculous at this point.

We should contact Volks USA for their exchange rate

The price differences will keep many potential buyers away

We should contact Volks USA for their exchange rate

The price differences will keep many potential buyers away

Won't matter if you do. The exchange rate is set by Volks headquarters in Japan. Nothing VolksUSA can do but say "yessir" and comply.

 

In an earlier thread I speculated that the Japan office would force VolksUSA to "punish" the US market for a while. In order to "make up" for the couple years that the USA store sold items below the wholesale exchange rate pricing. Looks like that's exactly what's happening.

because their marketing department is evil?

 

True enough

It's probably not their entire marketing team, I'm sure. Probably just market pricing. The demand is high for Asuna, simply for being Asuna. Therefore, there is still a good chance for them to sell out at this ridiculous pricing. Also, they still have not changed their website exchange rate, which really bugs me..

i dunno. lotsa people stepped back after they released the pics of her

With my observation people would split up Asuna just to get the wig and clothes, majority are disappointed with the face-up she have >.

With my observation people would split up Asuna just to get the wig and clothes, majority are disappointed with the face-up she have >.<

 

well I'm interrested in the headmold. But not because she's Asuna, I don't really think she looks like the character. If I could get her head she'll be something different

The VolksUSA prices are ridiculous @_@;;; Ryouma is close to +$400 from Int/Japan's price...is it even worth trying to get him for as much? There's no quarantee he'll sell over $2k in second hand market so even second hand he might be less than Volks' price...

Can't say the same about DDs though as everyone tries to price them up whatever their original price...

The VolksUSA prices are ridiculous @_@;;; Ryouma is close to +$400 from Int/Japan's price...is it even worth trying to get him for as much? There's no quarantee he'll sell over $2k in second hand market so even second hand he might be less than Volks' price...

 

Random bit of info, but a SD17 body can still easily sell for $1000~$1100 especially when brand new + offered layaway, and his head looks like it'll at least keep a steady $500 price tag (Norm for Volks resin head), or he'll go up. The fullset itself could go up to $300 per the usual fullset outfit prices for them. I'm using Date's (I think his went down actually), and Toshizo's for that pricing though, and they still vary, and I think Toshizo's actually went up again. So, at least with the VolksUSA price, unless you are in CA and have to pay the LA tax, you can get BACK what you paid. Just hope he isn't severally unpopular, but honestly I think it'd be the opposite. Boys with smiles are actually pretty loved. I know I adore him.

 

In the end though, if you bothered with him it'd be best to simply go to Volks International, or if you really need to split up the payments you could hope you win through WLD. It is too bad that KL is gone, but I'd rather Rochelle not straining herself.

Whats WLD?

Whats WLD?

 

We Love Dolls.

Speaking of WLD, how do you get on their mailing lists? I emailed them awhile back and got no response.

nekopon had some communication problems some time back with them. maybe they missed it. resend your request is the way to go

Yeah, you have to pester them a bit sometimes. It happens on occasion. When I changed my email it took me two emails to get it properly changed.

I'll send them another message.

Whats WLD?

 

We Love Dolls.

 

Thanks, I'll check them out.

Nah, PayPal updates their yen rate minute-to-minute as long as the FOREX market is open. However, they do keep a 2.5% currency exchange "premium" over whatever rate they get in the market is. So PayPal will never reflect the spot rate you see on XE.

 

Credit card companies are much closer, and the best exchange rate you're likely to get anywhere. Maybe half a yen off spot only! (if spot is 99.5, you might get 99). These also change minute to minute.

 

Always pay using your CC, but make sure you have one that charges no Foreign Transaction Fee (which they must disclose in their card terms).

 

Still, I agree that VolksUSA's prices are way ridiculous at this point.

 

Even if your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee, it's probably better than using Paypal for Volks. Volks charges a handling fee AND an EMS fee to offset the cost of Paypal fees, and it can get substantial with larger purchases. They don't charge these fees when you use a credit card.

 

Now that Paypal has dumped their Advantage program, there's really no reason to go through them (unless you're hosting a split or something).

Yeah, a no-fee CC has way better rates than paypal. It's a good idea too for splits, because using a paypal balance puts you at the mercy of their customer service if something goes awry.

Would be cool to go,

But alas there's no way i'm going to get time off work this close to it, and i'm still saving for a trip

Volks charges a handling fee AND an EMS fee to offset the cost of Paypal fees, and it can get substantial with larger purchases.

 

Whaaat, I never knew they were only for paypal.

any chance that volks will release the individual semi-white piece for this event or it will take longer? im going for alice but wanna change the bust size.

any chance that volks will release the individual semi-white piece for this event or it will take longer?

There is pretty much zero chance of the semi-white doll parts coming out at DP29 specifically, unless we get a surprise announcement between now and the Dolls Party. Volks hasn't advertised semi-white parts yet, and I'd be surprised if Volks brought along anything they hadn't advertised the heck out of in advance.

 

That's not to say you "can't" get new bust parts though. Volks had a twitter contest related to the Xenosaga dolls where the prize was a full set of bust parts in semi-white. Intended to go with KOS-MOS. However the winners of that campaign have already received their bust parts, so a handful do exist in the public arena right now.

any chance that volks will release the individual semi-white piece for this event or it will take longer?

There is pretty much zero chance of the semi-white doll parts coming out at DP29 specifically, unless we get a surprise announcement between now and the Dolls Party. Volks hasn't advertised semi-white parts yet, and I'd be surprised if Volks brought along anything they hadn't advertised the heck out of in advance.

 

That's not to say you "can't" get new bust parts though. Volks had a twitter contest related to the Xenosaga dolls where the prize was a full set of bust parts in semi-white. Intended to go with KOS-MOS. However the winners of that campaign have already received their bust parts, so a handful do exist in the public arena right now.

oh, wonder how long will it take until we see the parts on market.

oh, wonder how long will it take until we see the parts on market.

Actually, according to this DD Blog post introducing Alice Kuonji, we now have an answer. At the bottom of the post, Volks mentions that the Semi-White option parts are planned for release sometime this summer. Thus, anyone who may be worried about lack of correct-color parts for Lucy, Alice, or KOS-MOS can rest assured there will be some soon.

 

Also mentioned in this post was plans to make another (future) dress set for Alice. We knew about the upcoming diddle-diddle bell and blue robin accessory set for Alice, but I think this is a first-heard that we can look forward to another outfit (beyond her default and the casual set at DP29). I originally thought we might get Aoko Aozaki only, but it looks like Witch on the Holy Night is becoming another whole line of items!