KNDY's Purchases

[Super]

You are so lucky to live in a place where you can just go to a store and buy these trains. Because you don't have to pay for shipping, compared to me its like buying 3 and get 1 or 2 free. I estimate that I have spent over a couple thousand dollars on shipping alone.

Hi Super,

Actually, I don't live in Japan, I live in the US (I just go to Japan often).  To me, things are on discount because of the USD/Yen ratio.  Amazon Japan shipping is not much for Plarail unless it's track related.  So you are paying a lot less these past several months and currently than ever before.  So, if you want to get Plarail from Japan (or trains in general), now is the time! 

I would go with Amazon Japan because you get their discount and then the USD/Yen discount.  Otherwise if you go through eBay, you will not get the USD/Yen discount.  Rule of thumb, if the Japanese yen is going up past 140 especially at 145, that is a must buy from Japan. I always keep an eye on Marketwatch.

At this very moment I post this, it's currently at Y145.55 (which means AWESOME for those outside of Japan,but of course, the higher it goes up, the cheaper things are for those living outside of Japan but the worst it is for those living in Japan).   There was a time when the dollar and yen were even...Y100 to $1 USD but it hasn't been like that for many months.

A Y991 ES Plarail train is now $6.82.

A Y1757 Plarail train is $12

A limited edition Plarail for Y3500 is $24

Plarail Real Class is Y5200 which usually retails for Y7700 is $35.79

The best discounts right now is the Alfa-X Shinkansen which is Y2973  ($20.46) for a set that is usually Y5000.

Unfortunately, this does not apply to Plarail sets/tracks because Amazon Japan has jacked up the shipping to over Y6000 ($41 USD). This is only good if you are buying a lot and you will be paying Y6000 anyway....

And while starting shipping is Y2620, because of the USD/Yen discount, instead of actually paying $26, you are only paying $18.   Of course, the more you buy, the more shipping you pay but not too much.   In addition, the more you buy from Amazon Japan, they decrease the price by Y50, also after each purchase, you get points in Yen which can be applied to your next purchase.

For those who never purchased from Amazon Japan before, you can set the language to translate English to Japanese.  And ordering always goes through DHL.  So make to create an account on DHL and put a note of how you want them to deliver because sometimes they require signature.  If you put on DHL, that a signature is not required and they can leave it on the front door step or front desk of an apt. or hotel, they'll do just that.  They also have to take a picture of the box as proof that it was delivered.

[Super]

Well, you are very fortunate to visit the island often. Do you ship your packages back or pack them in your luggage?

Yeah, I usually have to have a second luggage and a backpack and laptop bag and a digital weight scale with me to make sure that I get the weight within 50 pounds for the main two luggage.

[Super]

Thats great. I sure would like to make just one visit to Japan with empty luggage bags. I would then visit all the second hand Plarail shops and load up on all the things I see offered in them on YouTube videos. Have you visited any of those shops in your travels KNDY?

I see a lot of shops, especially in Akihabara.  A good number of consignment shops are now selling trains of all sizes.  But as much as I would like to say that I could fill my cases, my coworkers and family are spoiled of me bringing things back from Japan for them...lol.








A large number of things taking up my luggage are Kit Kats, Meiji chocolates or something different.  Granted, I don't have to spend money on them but considering not many of them travel that far, I don't mind.  I like to share the love of Japan with others

[Super]

新幹線YEAR2022 400系つばさ＆E4系Max連結セット / Shinkansen YEAR2022 Series 400 Tsubasa & Series E4 Max Connection Set




プラレール 熊本電鉄 01形 ラッピング電車 くまモンバージョン / Plarail Kumamoto Electric Railway Type 01 Wrapping Train Kumamon Version




「京王9000系」プラレール Limited Edition / Keio 9000 series Limited Edition




「京王7000系」プラレール Limited Edition / Keio 7000 series Limited Edition




【限定】プラレール SL大樹 C11形325号機.  / Limited] Plarail SL Taiju C11 Type 325




【限定】「プラレール 都営新宿線10-300形（4次車）/ [Limited] ``Plarail Toei Shinjuku Line 10-300 (4th edition)




【限定】「プラレール 東武鉄道70090型 THライナー」/ [Limited] "Plarail Tobu Railway 70090 TH Liner




【限定】「東急電鉄3020系 目黒線」 /  [Limited] Tokyu Corporation 3020 Series Meguro Line




プラレール ロレンツォ&ベッペ / Thomas & Friends - Plarail Lorenzo & Beppe




プラレール TS-12 ロージー（きかんしゃトーマス）/ Plarail TS-12 Rosie




プラレール TS-14 ライアン＆ スキフ（きかんしゃトーマス）/ Plarail TS-14 Ryan & Ski




「プラレール TS-24 ケイトリン」/ Thomas & Friends - Plarail TS-24 Caitlin

[Super]

You are really buying at a frenzy KNDY. Soon you will have them all 👍 Are you in Japan now or are these what you have brought back from your recent visit?

Nope, buying them from Amazon JP and sent to the US.  Now that the dollar/yen is at 146, the discount was to good for me to pass and get the things I have wanted on my Amazon wishlist. But I made my last big Plarail purchase today, so I'm good.  Most of the focus was getting the Thomas plarail (unfortunately a few that have been sitting in the wishlist for so long that prices went up as they are no longer available), limited edition from private railways and Plarail Expo event Plarail that were in my wishlist. 

My biggest regret of not pulling the trigger are the Keikyuu DoReMi limited edition plarail.  I get upset that I didn't get it when I saw it under Y4000 and now they are Y15000.

Also, Thomas trains such as Ashima, Connor, Yong Bao when they were much cheaper. 

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Latest that I received:

プラレール きかんしゃ トーマス-ドクター-トーマスと世界のなかまたちセット / Plarail Thomas & Friends of the World Set



プラレール パッチワークヒロ / Thomas Town Plarail Patchwork Hiro



プラレール チョコレートパーシー / Thomas Town Plarail Chocolate Percy