Have anyone use Japan Post Registered Small Packet AIR service to USA recently? How reliable it is? I always use Fedex/UPS/DHL since pandemic but small packet could save some money.

I used Japan Post AIR SP from Mandarake recently. It shipped out on Dec 7 and arrived on December 19th, but nothing to note beyond that it was in great condition.

I used it for Hobby Genki and had no issues. IIRC it is handled by the USPS after it arrives from overseas. Takes about 2 weeks but it is at least traceable

Thank you for the information.

Finally I decided to use Fedex as I am lumping quite a few SHF from Hobby Genki and AIR SP only covers up to 6000 yen if anything bad happens. I know 99.9% it will be fine but with a $10 difference, I don't want to take the risk.

I will use AIR SP for smaller items I bought from mandarake/amimi

AIR SP from amiami is not that much less than DHL, maybe a couple bucks, if youre shipping a couple SHF/Mafex figs

Hello,
was wondering if anyone know about the shoulder strap problem on SHF geats, i found this tweet saying that the issue is fixed on re-releases and the part is replaced with soft plastic.(https://twitter.com/blizzard_crn2nd/...OwQ9GAF1g&s=19)

Im planning to get one, but I don't really know how to check if the figure is the 1st release or the reissue. It would really help if anyone that got the reissue could confirm this as well. Thanks in advance!

The shoulder strap issue was basically that the first run of Geats Magnum Boost used a slightly more rigid plastic for the strap detailing that runs under the shoulders. Swiveling the biceps would cause the straps to flex a bit as a result, so there were reports of the strap, usually on the left arm, splitting in the middle from the constant stress.

Granted, it's extremely easy to miss if it does happen, there's no stress marks, no broken chunks, usually just a clean snap down the center that you normally wouldn't notice unless you're really looking for it. The same can happen to the right strap as well, but it's nowhere near as prevalent as the left strap from what I've seen. Every release from Buffa onward has fixed the issue.

When it comes to the original and reissue, usually it'll come down to price. The original run was sold for about 10 or so dollars less as an introductory price. The reissue defaults back to standard SHF pricing. So if you see Geats for cheaper than usual, chances are it's the first run. Though at this point you'll more than likely just find the reissue now anyway.

If you do end up with the first run, I'd recommend heating up the straps a bit, rotating the biceps out to where it stretches the plastic and then leaving it there for a day or so. Did that when I first got him in and my straps have been fine ever since along with just carefully rotating the biceps.

EDIT: And ironically as I say that I noticed my Geats' left strap has indeed cracked clean down the middle. So yeah, it'll last if you're careful, but it'll be inevitable.

Noted!, Ill ask if they have the reissue first before getting it, Thank you!

That's good to know. For a single SHF, AIR SP is roughly half the price compared to DHL on Mandarake, and it is way more reasonable when I need to buy only one.

I used this thread to decide whether or not to get the Geats reissue, since I got two MagnumBoost Geats from the first release, and didn't want a third one if it would have the same shoulder strap issue. Thanks for the info all.

I've had the reissue for a few days now, and for those who need to know, the differences (that I've noticed) are:
- The shoulder straps are the fixed ones we've seen from Buffa onwards, well worth getting a new one for me.
- The orange paint on the crotch piece matches the rest of the orange on the figure much better, since it was always a bit too dark (probably because there wasn't enough paint on the black) on the first release ones I got and saw online.
- The exhausts on the legs are much tighter, probably bordering on too tight, but that might just be mine.
- The ID core is aligned properly, but it might still be luck of the draw since my second first release one's was fine.