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+--- Thread: Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan? (/thread-2636.html)
Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan? - MuddyPoppins - 09-08-2017
Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan, or perhaps Japan has banned FisherPrice?
Looking through the Japanese auctions I am seeing rediculous prices for old and new FP releases that are fairly attainable in the States and eBay, but for some reason they are drawing huge premiums in Japan!?!?
Below is just a sample:
RE: Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan? - StarSwitcher07 - 09-08-2017
I believe Fisher Price stuff never had the license to sell in Japan (thank god....Plarail ending the Thomas range would be the last thing that would officially kill the Thomas brand..). The people on the Japan auctions are most likely importing them from the States (or Europe), and reselling them to their home market- similar to how some of us at BPT do when we buy large bulk lots.
RE: Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan? - Off The Rails - 09-10-2017
Yeah, as far as I know, Takara-Tomy has the exclusive license to produce Thomas engines for the Japanese market. Alternately, there doesn't seem to be a big retail market for US/ Western market goods to go to Japan (like the way we have places like Hobby Link Japan, Hobby Search, et al.). There isn't a dedicated Japanese version of eBay either and it isn't real easy for sellers in North America and Europe to sell through Yahoo Japan auctions.
I saw a similar thing happen some years ago when I was an avid GI Joe collector. In the late '90s- early 2000s, figures that were easy to find at retail for say $25 here in the US would go for ¥6000-8000 or more on the Japanese secondary market. Even with the advent of online retail, it never really evened out. Many of the Asian collectors I knew really entered the hobby when Hong Kong based companies got in to the market and their products were more accessible throughout Eastern Asia.
RE: Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan? - ThomasBlue - 09-10-2017
(09-08-2017, 07:59 PM)StarSwitcher07 Wrote: I believe Fisher Price stuff never had the license to sell in Japan (thank god....Plarail ending the Thomas range would be the last thing that would officially kill the Thomas brand..). The people on the Japan auctions are most likely importing them from the States (or Europe), and reselling them to their home market- similar to how some of us at BPT do when we buy large bulk lots.
I believe FP had the license to sell the Wooden Railway over in Japan.
EX:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FISHER-PRICE-THOMAS-FRIENDS-Wooden-Victor-Japanese-Packing-/172408901167?epid=691424853&hash=item28245f0e2f:g:BtUAAOSwA3dYKfTI
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FISHER-PRICE-THOMAS-FRIENDS-Wooden-Marion-Japanese-Packing-/182353945726?epid=710122489&hash=item2a7524647e:g:6-UAAOSwA3dYKebU
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fisher-Price-Thomas-the-Train-Wooden-Railway-Happy-Birthday-Japanese-Packing-/182354015267?epid=691194708&hash=item2a75257423:g:AOMAAOSw5cNYKfeU
I could be wrong, but they have that (And I believe Adventures is there too, but I knew WR was there).
RE: Has FisherPrice abandoned Japan? - StarSwitcher07 - 09-10-2017
Possibly just the Wooden Railway. Remember, Trackmaster (2006-2013) is basically rebranding Plarail, with their own exclusive designs and engines of course.