Plaza Japan Order

[ncbqguy]

I forget what triggered the notion to look at the Plaza Japan website, but last Sunday I did and found the Tomytec ED14 Box Motor and liked it’s North American appearance. Ordered two, and matching TM-ED02 mechanisms and pantograph sets.
FEDEX delivered the package today!
Shipping was not cheap but it sure was fantastic service!
Charlie Vlk

[Chris333]

Shipping from Japan is lightning fast using DHL. Sometimes it gets dropped off by a guy in a pick up truck.

[narrowminded]

When you guys say shipping from Japan isn't bad, what's "not bad"?  I just received a request to ship some of those P5a support parts to Yokohama.  It shouldn't be much if any more than an ounce.  Any feel on what to expect?

[ncbqguy]

IIRC the order was $75 and shipping choices ranged $22 to $25.  I paid the extra $3 for FedEx.
Not free Amazon Prime but I’ve paid $15 for domestic S&H for less expensive
 merchandise.
Charlie Vlk

[Englewood]

Nice! I haven't ordered from them in too long, but am itching for an N700S shinkansen.
I got a shipping notification today for a package coming from Germany via DHL. I marked it on my calendar to see how long it takes.

[Chris333]

Not bad means a few days, not costs.

[MK]

When I did order from them in the past, it took 6 days from order placement (I think, if not it was from shipped date) to be in my mailbox on the East coast.

It was shipped EMS Priority, which I think is their postal service and not private like DHL or FedEx.

[Point353]

When you guys say shipping from Japan isn't bad, what's "not bad"?  I just received a request to ship some of those P5a support parts to Yokohama.  It shouldn't be much if any more than an ounce.  Any feel on what to expect?

https://www.usps.com/international/first-class-mail-international.htm

[thomasjmdavis]

Tomytec ED14 Box Motor and liked it’s North American appearance. Ordered two, and matching TM-ED02 mechanisms and pantograph sets.

IIRC the order was $75 and shipping choices ranged $22 to $25.  I paid the extra $3 for FedEx.

I always figure that the cost is the total of merchandise, tax and shipping. So, the "price" or "shipping" by themselves don't mean much.

Reading Charlie's 2 posts together, if I understand correctly, he got the parts for 2 locomotives for $100 total- $50 each.  Less than a used F7B goes for on eBay nowadays, not including tax and shipping.  So I'd say that Charlie got a pretty good deal, no matter what portion of the total cost is shipping.

[thomasjmdavis]

I looked up the ED14.  According to a description I found, they were imported into Japan in 1926 from the USA, which would explain their US look.
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10335957

[motofavorite]

The ED14 is a sturdy looking locomotive. It reminds me of the Bo-Bo engines used by the BA&P and the CN.

If you don't mind some artistic license, Tomytec also makes HOe trains marketed as the "Nekoya Line," a fictional local railroad. Last year they introduced a couple of small boxcabs. They are caricatures of much larger locomotives, but to my eye they managed to avoid a toy-like appearance. Here are some photos of them from Tomytec's Twitter feed:

[johnb]

Hmmmm....close enough model of Pacific Electric 1593....

[peteski]

I also just received my package from Plaza Japan (order made through their website, not eBay).  Very happy with the service and the prices.  Japanese Yen value against the $US is rather low, and that is reflected in the prices. Good time to order from Japan.

[randgust]

Since they dropped small parcel from Japan Post mail to the US, the individual unit orders took a beating.  They 'temporarily' closed the Ebay store.  But if you're ordering several things, and divide the shipping cost back, the express mail charge is very reasonable by comparison.

This is all related to the capacity on commercial air between Japan and the US for mail service, don't blame them.

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/overview_en.html