[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by castdream475

And nobody ever said Red Hawk was coming to TRU, he is just being imported by Bluefin like the majority of all Figuarts that are released.

Well excuse me, I assumed that since ShinkenRed and ShinkenGold were sold in the US at TRU, that Bluefin bringing Red Hawk to the US meant they were going to sell him in TRU too.

[Baltan II]

Shinken Red and Gold were the work of Bandai America, not Bluefin.

[kidicarus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Well excuse me, I assumed that since ShinkenRed and ShinkenGold were sold in the US at TRU, that Bluefin bringing Red Hawk to the US meant they were going to sell him in TRU too.

See bluefin is like the major importer. They bring stuff over from japan and send it out to sites and stores like bigbadtoystore. With the shinken figures at TRU that was Bandai of Americas doing. Dont expect to find anymore figuarts at retail like that. It's not directed at BoAs demographic (is that the right word?). Atleast I think thats how it works.

[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baltan II

Shinken Red and Gold were the work of Bandai America, not Bluefin.

So then are they going to sell them in TRU? If not, where can I buy them from them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidicarus

See bluefin is like the major importer. They bring stuff over from japan and send it out to sites and stores like bigbadtoystore. With the shinken figures at TRU that was Bandai of Americas doing. Dont expect to find anymore figuarts at retail like that. It's not directed at BoAs demographic (is that the right word?). Atleast I think thats how it works.

Oh, so pretty much I still have to buy it from the internet, so it is just going to be cheaper to import it directly from Japan than pay the exchange rate price plus their cost to have it shipped to them plus the cost to ship it to me? Because if I want to do that, I can just buy it off ebay.

[kidicarus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Oh, so pretty much I still have to buy it from the internet, so it is just going to be cheaper to import it directly from Japan than pay the exchange rate price plus their cost to have it shipped to them plus the cost to ship it to me? Because if I want to do that, I can just buy it off ebay.

Sounds about right. Importing from sites like amiami, hlj, etc. is the best way to go. They get released earlier and shipping isnt all that expensive.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

So then are they going to sell them in TRU? If not, where can I buy them from them?

Shinken Red and Gold have been out for a few months now. You should be able to still find them in your local TRU's Power Rangers section.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Oh, so pretty much I still have to buy it from the internet, so it is just going to be cheaper to import it directly from Japan than pay the exchange rate price plus their cost to have it shipped to them plus the cost to ship it to me? Because if I want to do that, I can just buy it off ebay.

I've heard that some comic shops may stock Figuarts, but most of Bluefin's stuff is available through online retailers like BBTS and Amazon. Honestly, amiami is probably always going to be the cheapest place to go, but it can be really damn hard to find any Figuarts in-stock there.

[yami4ct]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Shinken Red and Gold have been out for a few months now. You should be able to still find them in your local TRU's Power Rangers section.


I've heard that some comic shops may stock Figuarts, but most of Bluefin's stuff is available through online retailers like BBTS and Amazon. Honestly, amiami is probably always going to be the cheapest place to go, but it can be really damn hard to find any Figuarts in-stock there.

As a Prime member, Amazon has been really good for me. The prices on Figuarts are usually quite reasonable and the free two-day shipping is top notch. Also, I don't have to do the all night refresh hunt on AmiAmi. You get the benefit of Blue Fin's amazing customer support as well. If you have any problem with your figure, they'll make sure to take care of it. It's almost worth it to support them for the great CS alone.

[Baltan II]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

So then are they going to sell them in TRU? If not, where can I buy them from them?

ERROR. ERROR. TOO MANY PRONOUNS. INITIATE CONFUSION.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Oh, so pretty much I still have to buy it from the internet, so it is just going to be cheaper to import it directly from Japan than pay the exchange rate price plus their cost to have it shipped to them plus the cost to ship it to me? Because if I want to do that, I can just buy it off ebay.

What you just described was a middleman. What Bluefin does works on a much larger scale and involves a lot more than random guy who can buy things from Japan and ship them overseas. In fact, depending on the eBay seller you used, it might be a Bluefin import you're buying anyway.

The initial retail cost of an item direct from Japan is indeed less expensive than if you bought a Bluefin-sold Figuarts (spoilers, nobody in Japan paid the equivalent of $35.99 for Shinken Red or Gold). Before shipping, anyway. After you include shipping, the difference is more negligible and depends on the figure's size, weight, and your choice of shipping speed/features.

Earlier in this thread, castdream475 mentioned $39 shipped for Fourze was too much compared to AmiAmi. In reality though, the difference in cost after shipping (assuming unregistered SAL) would only amount to $5 more and could potentially add two weeks to a month to delivery. It's a trade-off, and importing yourself from AmiAmi is not always strictly better than picking up a figure from Amazon.

[Gokai Black]

I wonder if we will see Gokai Red, Blue, Green and Silver brought over to U.S. like Shinkengers did.

[Den-O]

Actually Switchblade is right about comic shops as well. The one I manage now carries figuarts. Anything that Blue Fin has been distributing from Sky Rider onward I can now order through my distributor Diamond Comics. For the more common stuff I've been using my job to purchase them slightly more cheaply. Next week my Fire States, Zolda, and Trunks will all be in.