Why is everything so pricy. I was lookin at some of their newstuff some pretty cool things like a panther with steel wheels and tigers witih steel track, but does it have to cost $50. like the stuff that used to cost 30 now costs 40. its really ticks me off.
Also how do you do Zimmeret the instructions are really hard. like it says to put masking tape on the tank first then put the zimmeret over that,
whoa, take it easy. The prices are high, but that depends on where you get them from. With the zimmerit, they arejust telling you to mask of the edges, so you don’t make a mess. And about the pricing, they have to make a living some how. and if you are that worried about the pricing and are that enraged by it, you should stop modeling because you will run into a mess of frustration when you start buying p.e.
I find Tamiya prices pretty fair and am suprised many other companies don’t raise their price. I have no idea why people who see the world economy and inflation growing actually expect models to stay the same prices for decades. Cigarettes have gone up, food has gone up, beer has gone up, gas, housing, electricity…
You could always buy a $20 kit and spend another $40 for AM parts if it makes ya feel better…lol Or just don’t buy Tamiya. I doubt their prices will go down, cause there will always be people buying them, and I will be one of them.
the Japaneese have been hit by free trade just like we have. The cost of labor in Japan and the cost of doing business is simular to the US. The jobs they use to do are now being exported to china. The cost of labor and doing business in China is much cheaper. Thus the lower cost for Dragon. When Somalia and Ethopia start industralizing, the work will go there because they will be cheaper than the Chinese.
Over all, I don’t believe that the prices have gone up, but the amout $1 is worth has gone down. That’s just my opinion. You can believe whatever you like. I like Tamiya quite a deal, and I find their prices fairly decent, but I see EXACTLY what you mean. I assume that you don’t have a nice flow of income, (just like me- 14 years old) that it can become stressful when you finally see the kit you’ve been looking for and you discover that it’s $10 more than you have. [}:)]
This is still cheaper then my other two hobbies which I have pretty much retired from! I have thousands in ocean fishing gear, and thousands in reloading equipment. I think the guys here have all made some good points at what drives cost up, and also the importance of shopping around> There are some very good deals to be found on E-Bay which I do not use, but if budgetary limits mandated it, it"s a good source for some reasonable priced kits. Also just shopping the websites that carry modelling kits, and supplies is an excellent source. You can get on their mailing lists, and they’ll send you information on their sells through E-mail. I can see that you have participated in several group builds, so these are most likely things you already know, but, let me just say, there are no cheap hobbies, I just mentioned a couple of mine. Enjoy building your kits, and start saving for the next one before it goes out of production, then you’ll really be seeing some steep prices on kits. Semper Fi, Mike
Many moons ago, when I first started modelling, the top Tamiya kits were the M2 Brad and Challenger. A whopping thirty pound when all the others cost in the realm of 16-20.
Everything gets more expensive with time…
NTM
Try ebay or Dragon. Each will get you something comperable at less the price. Tamiya is still good though, just not the bargain it used to be.
Hows that, comments from everyone on the increasing price of Tamiya and also other models. JFPuishys, another reason of the increase in price could be due to the steel parts you see in the Tamiya panther. There are tons of reasons though. Like me, I’m always searching for the best deal. But when it comes to a point where you can’t find a good one. Lets just accept the price [:(] or maybe look for other panthers [:)].
the Tamiya kits like the challenger 2 and T55 are £35 over here thats $63,95
the Dragon kits are around £24 thats $43.85 in your money
your all lucky to get the prices your getting
plus there are no internet shops in this country that knock loads of the price. (maybe its because if they do Tamiya’s UK importers stop there suply) but everywhere the price of kits is on there RRP
If you think the prices are bad there, I’m with Captain caveman, the Euro-Dollar rate is not the best right now, and some kits are just expensive. For insatce the LHS has the 1-16th scale Tamiya Panther, for 360 Euro. Thats about $415, that’s including the 16% VAT.
That doesnt really bother me though, I usually build one project at a time, and purchase the AM parts I need, but it all goes as the project, not just the base kit. If I want it, I’ll get it.
Tamiya makes a good product, so they are a little more, but it is a case of you get what you pay for. And luckily, GMW ships to APOs
I started modeling when I was a kid. In the 1960’s, most model kits were sticks and paper. Then came the plastic revolution which took off in the seventies. When it came time for me to raise my family, I had to cut off the modeling budget, (them kids had to eat!)
Now, I’m out to pasture, the kids are up and gone, I’ve got a profitable business that I run from my home, so I don’t care what it costs and I’m back in it with a vengence. I think that Tamiya -San and the other manufacturers know who thier customer is. It’s not that kid on a Schwinn riding down Main Street, it’s me, and others like me. Adults with some measure of disposable income sustain the industry. (Sorry Kiddies). Prices will never go down, ever. As long as we continue to buy, prices will be set to sustain profit margins-supply side economics 101.
steve
Ah yes, yet another thread in the longstanding tradition of complaining about Tamiya’s prices! [;)]
And it’s usually right about at this place in these threads when I drop in with my usual story, just to say that Tamiya is not expensive everywhere in the world, especially here in Japan, where you might imagine.
It seems that the importers in various countries around the world are doing very well for themselves with the mark-ups they charge (particularly in the UK, from what the Captain said above).
I reckon its the same in all countries, as Revell/Monogram, Revell of Germany, AMT/Ertl, Airfix, Emhar, and most other import kits (to Japan) are WAY overpriced here. A 50-dollar Tamiya 1/35 Panther with metal tracks and metal barrel got you down? Well, how would you like a Revell 1/35 M-60, with no nifty extras, for about $65 USD? On top of that, isn’t it a rebox of the old (but good) Esci kit? (I could be wrong about that).
Here’s another one for you: Academy’s 1/35 UH-60 Blackhawk in an Italeri box, for about $120 USD. Sitting right next to the original Academy release for about $40 USD! Hmmm…tough choice…
The importers will get you no matter where you live! [V]
Hey all!! Interesting stuff. I have to lean twords those who don’t think Tamiya is overly expensive. Like already stated, compared to the things I used to spend my money on, any kit is a bargain and much better money spent!! I do my best by shopping around and usually find the Tamiya kit I want at a reasonable price. I waited around for the Marder IIIM and got it with shipping and all for $26.00. It took time and effort searching but I found it. I have also paid top dollar for kits if I can’t find it cheaper or don’t want to wait.
When I did have a LHS about 40 miles away all their kits were high. The Dragons cost about the same as the Tamiyas. Probably why they’re gone. I guess I remember as a kid in the sixties that models weren’t cheap then either, at least not to me. I’d mow lawns for 50 cents, pick up bottles for 2 cents and so on. It took awhile to come up with the $1.99 for a Monogram kit plus the glue paint and so on.
I guess all in all I’m saying what’s already been stated, EVERYTHING costs more. The time and enjoyment building let’s say a $45 kit with $55 of AM compared to alot of other things that would eat that much up,well to me there’s no comparison. Shoot, try to go out to eat and a movie or other entertainment with just a couple, not to mention kids,and that same $100 doesn’t go too far.
Tamiya expensive?Not compared to other stuff,even Dragon and Trumperter are going up in price.There is one word to describe it,"Oil"when oil goes up so does everthing else gos up in price except for wages.So JSPusihy,your are in the same boat as all of us,but you can beat the high price blues by wanting for sales from Squadron and others.Just spend the $5.00 for the cataloges that they put out and you will recieve monthly sales papers.This is the time to buy,buy,buy those kits you really want.Digger
The Importers are the ones who set the price
in this country Dragon kits were £35 ($63.90)a kit., but Dragon have found a new importer and the kits have gone down to £24 ($43.85)
Tamiyas importers opened a new HQ last year, they had Mr Tamiya himself open it, well from storys that ive heard Mr Tamiya stated looking at the prices of Tamiya kits over here and was’nt pleased about how high they were, The Importers contracts up this year so hopefully the prices will do the same as Dragon kits[:D]
Wow, that is terrible for all you UK guys. At least the price has come down a bit for you all.
Or, you could spend a couple thousand dollars for an airfare round trip to go to Japan, buy those kits for cheap and come back[:D]…
or, I could buy some for you when I’m in ROK over the summer and mail 'em, but the payment thingy gets a little outta hand
i was a tamiya fan for years but now dragon put s heaps of pe in there kits and all the extras u cant go wrong with them…tamiya make a good kit but like everyone agrees it pricey and they have not done anything new or added pe parts or what ever for a long time now…they are now boring compared to dragon…and dragon are reall cheap here in oz…regards jazz
On another note, I’d like to remind the poster that punctuation is not a toy. [:p]