TF-fan kev777 wrote:Rated X wrote:But just do yourself a favor and kill the talk about conspiracy theories, my friend. Uless you can provide a copy of Takara shipping contracts that offer definitive proof where they can and cant ship the property they paid for, dont say you know. The only thing we can do is refer to smart business practices. Hasbro/Takara is known for finding ways to cut costs and increase profits, so one can only assume that they are smart enough not to waste millions by paying for shipping twice.
Dude, you are sooooo missing the point here it is ridiculous.
Nobody ever said anything was shipped twice, and nobody was debating you on them both being made in the same factory. That factory, however is in Viet Nam, not China, so be careful on calling people out on knowing their facts.
Will, I believe, was trying to indicate that the additional cost for non-Japanese customers to purchase Takara, to Japanese customers to purchase Hasbro lies within needing to use 3rd party importers/exporters and not some magical trick Has/Tak pulls to gouge their customers. Has/Tak is not making extra money on the exports/imports, the 3rd parties involved are. In the US, the regular shipments of Hasbro products for Hasbro's US distribution cover the shipping for products to cross the ocean to US soil. That is why we have pretty standardized pricing. Takara does not have distribution within the US, so our only options for purchasing Takara products are to go to Japan, or import them through a 3rd party. This is where the additional cost is added, not on the bill from Has/Tak to the 3rd party importer/exporter, but on their bills to us.
Hello ???
Is anybody actually reading my posts?
I made it very clear in my first reply to william james that takara ships out their pallets from their factory they are produced in, not Japan. (The same factory the hasbro versions are produced) Which means they should be the same price as the hasbro including shipping costs to online retailers in the US. People have always said the factory is in China on this website so I was taking their word for it. Especially since so many factory leaks are sold on Tao Bao and dealers like Chimungmung seem to get their hands on takara factory items and sell them for dirt cheap prices. Even if the factory is in Vietnam that changes nothing about the point I am trying to make....
Hasbro and Takara toys:
Made from the same mold in the same factory
Packaged in the same factory
Pallets shipped internationally to online retailers from the same factory
But 2 different prices???
For what? A different shade of blue plastic and 50 cents worth of extra paint apps? Cmon now....
William James keeps insisting Takara can only sell toys from Japan yet they own a factory in China (or Vietnam) and waste millions shipping the figures back to Japan instead of sending them on the same shipping route that takes the Hasbro figures straight to the US. Thats like me buying you a gift online from BBTS and having it shipped to me instead of you. Then I gotta pay for shipping a 2nd time to get it to you. It defies all logic. Especially in a case where I own a factory and I can ship whats made in my factory anywhere in the world I want. The factory is not privately owned by a seperate entity, it belongs to Takara (actually Hasbro who licenses Takara to use the molds) So the BBTS and TFSource bulk orders go to their headquarters in Japan who in turn faxes the requisition form to the factory with the clients shipping information. Then the factory (in China or Vietnam) fulfills the order and ships it out to the US, Euorpe, etc. Its that simple.
So why do I bring this all up???
Because if it costs the same as a Hasbro figure to mass produce and ship to the US it should be the same price as a toy sold in the US. (Or a few dollars more to be fair)
But double the price???
Nah man....somebody in the chain is price gouging.
I dont think the online retailers are responsible for the gouging because they seem to keep prices consistent with each other rather than low balling each others prices to steal business. (You can easily do that when you buy stuff in bulk for dirt cheap prices)
I dont thing its the shipping companies doing the gouging because they have no idea whats wrapped up in those pallets sent to the US out of the factory. It could be hasbro or it could be takara. They dont know or care whats in the boxes. They charge their fixed rate to ship the crates to the US, where they continue their journey through American shipping companies. (Sorry William, no evil mail men but you did give me a good laugh)
So whos left in the chain who could possibly be doing the gouging?
Ummmm....the only ones left is Takara themselves. (Or more likely Hasbro since they own the factory and the molds and license them out to Takara)
So theres your culprits. I broke it down for everybody all the way and kept it simple so evan the most ignorant of fans can understand.
Enough with the damn import fees excuses. Its all BS.
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