…some of their kits already cost a small fortune. I believe its a 10% increase “across the board” and may put some kits out of reach for some, like myself, mostly because I feel like Im paying too much now. I know, they make some awesome kits but I just cant bring myself to pay over $50 for a 1/48 scale , single engine A/C kit. I guess Ill be building more Revellogram kits unless I can find Tamiya kits cheap on Ebay or elsewhere. What do you guys and gals think about it?
Len
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Most of their stuff is already priced too rich for me. All of my last Tamiya purchases have been secondhand from guys thining out their stashes at AMPS or IPMS. I am not happy about it, but then again, I can go the rest of my life expectancy (roughly 40 years) without buying another kit, building one kit per month and probably not run out of kits in my stash. Including several Tamiyas.
I find Tamiya pricing to be quite inconsistent. New releases prices are very high, I saw the 1/48 Arado for close to $80 while the Italeri of the same mould cost $50. However last month I went into the city and the major hobby store and saw the Tamiya Korean War Mustang for $35. I went and found the Revell Monogram Mustang and it was $32. Guess which one I picked up?
Buy DML
You can compare the local retail price with the (Japanese) domestic RRP, it’s printed right there on the box. eg. on the 75mm M4A3 Sherman, on the box-end, below the Tamiya logo you will see “1/35 Item 35250 * 3300” (this may have changed since I bought mine several years ago) 3300 is the domestic price in Yen.
Almost every kit from a Japanese manufacturer has this.
Hey Stik! I have the same kind of stash and, if I built 2 a month, it`ll still outlast me…
Phil…I think if a kit is priced 3300 yen, its about $33.00 U.S. ....noticed that comparison in the SWS ad on the inside front cover of the new issue...naturally, I could be wrong but if their new Stormovik kit is 8400 yen, well know for sure…lol.
According to HobbyLink Japan, the RRP of the Tamiya Sturmovik is ¥4300 (their actual sell price is ¥3440, or $44.00) At current exhange rates, $1(USD) = approx ¥78(JPY), so by direct conversion, it translates to $55.00. If you were to walk into a hobby shop in Japan and buy one off the shelf, it would likely be less than that.
Yes, I know that by the time it gets to your LHS, there are import costs and retailer’s margin etc blah blah blah.
This only a US/overseas issue I’m guessing? Can’t change the prices printed on the side of the box here. Unless they are upping the price on anything newly issued?
One of my local shops was having a sale on the new Sturmovik. Only 3200yen. I still passed though cause it’s the wrong scale for me. I’ll wait for the 72nd scale version.
I think I really don’t care since Tamiya hasn’t put out a whole lot that I really want in the last two decades…China is beating their tails…
I first heard mention of a price increase on Internet Hobbys site, then from a few other sites where I subscribe to their weekly e-mail ads. The announcement I saw said "Beat the Tamiya price increase" (a 10% increase "across the board")...?...does that mean everything they produce, kits ,paints , etc ? Im assuming its anything new coming from their warehouse…I think it would be a bit “over the top” to jack up the prices of kits already sitting on store shelves but wouldn`t be surprised if it happened.
I use Tamiya acrylics almost exclusively and they`re almost 3 bucks for a 1/2oz bottle…this whole thing really stinks IMO.
I like to be able to actually use the instruction sheets that come with kits so…no…[:P]
I think I only have two Tamiya kits in my stash of 24 kits, and both of those I got at HL with a 40% coupon back when they actually stocked models.
Which is to say… I’ve never really been able to afford their kits.
Since I rarely build more that 5 kits in a year, the pricing is usually not a problem for me. However, it’s a shame that Tamiya is joining the ranks of the cost-you-an-arm-and-a-leg kit manufacturers.
I seldom buy more than 2 kits a year, so I’ve already reached my quota - both Tamiya entries, their 1/48 Razorback and IL-2. At that rate, cost doesn’t become an issue.
I totally agree with you models are becoming way too expensive. Here’s a story for you I went to my local hobby shop I found a nice-looking Japanese model Ki 21 Sally I thought the model was $23 to my surprise guest what it was $121 I just about hit the floor where do they get off trying to sell a model that expensive this is not even a brand-new kit it was an old one I like most Modeler and I will stay within my budget range there’s plenty of kits out there to build.
About the Sturmovik,
I’ve seen the new kit about 2 days ago, €65 (82$), as if tamiya wasn’t expensive enough allready.
In that same store I’ve bought the allready outstanding Italeri Sturmovik (rebox from AM)
for €32 ($40) a few months ago,that’s half the price! Which is more then enough allready.
But I have to say that Hasegawa is also raising their prices like crazy compared to a few years ago.
I bought a Ki-45 with a discount at €30 (37$), but the darn kit was €43 (54$) at normal price and today you’ll easilly pay over €60 (75$)…
Now I really don’t mind paying something more for a model but come on…
With regards, Ninetalis.
Lombard Hobbies ( Illinois ) still had a few 23ml bottles of Tamiya acrylics on sale at 12 for $10.00 so I added to my paint stock…
The colors I bought aren’t currently my most used colors, but will be mixed with other Tamiya paints.
Though the sale price was the main reason I purchased the paint, I have been purchasing more paint than usual due to the Tamiya paint shortage caused- if posts in this forum were correct- by US regulations.
I cannot help wondering how much of the price increase has been due to natural disasters, transport costs and regulations.
Unless someone issues acrylic paint of similar quality for less, I will most likely continue purchasing Tamiya brand paint.
Kits, however, are another matter.
As Manny stated, the Chinese have been beating Tamiya’s tail.
Just checked a parts order I placed on July 31 compared to today.
Prices on some items went up 8 percent.
Prices on sale items did not increase.
I buy them overseas via HLJ or Luckymodel. If you buy wait to buy a bunch of kits, even with shipping, it will save you at least 10% if not more compared to US online prices. If you wait for sale, even better - my last order was about 35% cheaper…