Why buy from 'Japanese Model Supplies' - someplace across the other side of the world? ?

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There are many suppliers of Japanese model railway equipment outside of Japan, and many of these claim to be Japanese model train specialists.

Some have shops that sell other types of railway and/or hobby items as well, and also may be the local importers for certain brands. We only specialise in railway items, and we are not tied to any particular brand.

Others do mail order only as the local agents for certain brands or import items and then try to sell them at the highest prices at auction sites like eBay (in some cases where these items are not even new). Also some of the descriptions we have seen have been ludicrous - one seller thinks that anything with a pointy nose is a Bullet train !!! We have seen many cases of items that were advertised as 'Brand New' arriving and obviously were very second hand. Also some sellers tell you they will post using one method and then use another (cheaper) method - that is just STEALING your money!!!  We really don't want to go on and on about online auction sites - except to say 'stay away from them', and if you can't - buyer be very aware. Also the most frightening thing is that some of the train shops that advertise heavily both on the internet and in the model press are downright liars !!! We see one company advertising the 'List Price' for a certain item at US$125 and another company says it is US$145, and for another item US$220 versus US$249. Now we don't know which one is right here (if any), but someone has to be wrong. Now they can discount and sell for whatever price they like, but there is only ONE list price. Most times you will find that despite their huge advertising efforts, they never seem to have stock of anything. So why would you deal with a company that is deliberately misleading its potential customers ???

Even though some of these companies are on the internet, they cannot handle inquiries via email, and some will not even ship to certain countries. Some of these don't even have web pages, and those that do are often incomplete, inaccurate, out of date or downright misleading - and if you try to point out their mistakes, they will tell you that 'they' are the experts (because they are the local importers of that brand, even though they just copy their advertising text from the manufacturer's home page, complete with bad English), 'you' don't know what you are talking about, and to 'go away' unless you are going to buy something (in much stronger language than I wish to use here, Ken !!! ). Then there is the company that is still advertising items 'released in 2000', regarding an item that has not even been made yet by any manufacturer!!!

Also recently there have been several Japanese companies attempting to use English web pages and email to sell outside Japan, but usually they can only supply a fraction of the items regularly available inside Japan, and there is also confusion and delays when sending emails with ordering details, organising shipping & pricing. From our experience, if you ask a question that the company does not understand or does not have an answer for, they will just ignore your question !!! Also we have had 'reserved' items forgotten about and sold to someone else, shipping sent at the wrong (always higher) rate than requested and wrong items sent in the package. Some companies will even charge you the Japanese consumption tax (5%), even though the goods are going outside the country.

We believe that we are the only dealer outside Japan selling only Japanese hobby items, with model trains our area of expertise. Other dealers have added Japanese lines to their inventory when they saw it becoming 'trendy', to try and cash in on the growing trend. Other dealers that used to sell Japanese only, have now branched into other areas, probably because their service levels did not maintain an adequate customer base.

Japanese Model Supplies claims to be able to 'do it better' than these other companies, and here is why ...

• Our web pages are more extensive and accurate, and try to cover the full list from ALL manufacturers that have been recently produced. They are regularly updated, and also try to show you what the items look like. Rather than use large photos that are time consuming to download, we use graphics that are quick to load and still show you the colour and appearance of the train.
• We do all our business by email, and will reply to your questions within 1-2 days at the most. Unlike retail stores that are open from 7-8 hours, 5-6 days a week (and some are a LOT less than this), we are basically open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - you could get an answer any time of day or night (depending on what time zone you are in), weekday or weekend.
• We do not have a retail store, and also not keep any stocks of goods that may remain unsold for years. This keeps our overheads at a minimum and we also do not pay for expensive advertising in magazines etc.
• Our products do not come direct from the manufacturers, because they will always be out of stock very quickly after release; and we do not align ourself to any particular brand, thereby limiting what is available. So we believe that we have more items available than any other supplier can provide ....
• All our items are brand new and come direct from Japan. We use 3 or 4 different suppliers regularly, whom together have over 20,000 hobby items available at any one time, so we have a better chance of getting what you want.
• We also have access to many hobby shops throughout Japan, in a lot of cases some who are not even on the internet. These shops may carry stocks of items that have not been available for many years. How many times have you visited an out of the way hobby shop, and been surprised to see some of the items they have at the backs of their shelves ? Again, this gives us a better chance of getting what you want.
• We have access to a number of suppliers of second-hand items, and these are all in 'very good' or 'as new' condition, as greatly reduced prices compared to retail.
• We can suggest a number of payment options, so there is always a method available even if the best one is not available in your area.
• Our prices are lower than other suppliers, even though THEY are supposed to the the importer of these goods, and are getting them at wholesale price. This is not our main occupation, so we do not need to put huge margins on the goods to create our 'bread & butter' - so please ask us to give you a quote to beat any genuine offer from a competitor .... see below for our price guarantee.
• Postage from Australia is not very expensive - recent business has showed it to be half the cost of that in the USA - and we will ship to any country !!! Airmail to the USA or UK usually only takes 7-10 days, and if you are in a hurry, EMS is even quicker.

We have customers all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, Canada and the USA. Many of them have used Japanese Model Supplies because ...

• They cannot browse or read Japanese websites.
• They have used other dealers in the past and found the service to be lacking, the price to be too high, or the dealer cannot get the items they want.
• They have been recommended by another satisfied customer.
• They have found Web pages with the items they want but the Sellers they wish to deal with cannot speak English, will not ship to countries outside Japan or do not accept credit card payments.
• They want particular items from Japan but they can't find them on the web.

Japanese Model Supplies Price Guarantee

We believe our prices are better than any outlet outside of Japan, and we are willing to put our money behind that claim. If you buy an item from us, and then within 30 days find the same item cheaper at another retailer outside Japan, we will refund 110% of the price difference !!!! The price must be the dealer's price without any shipping, and be able to be verified anonymously. 

See below for a recent price comparison done on a number of popular items. Prices are in A$ and have been converted using the exchange rate of the day, and do not include postage.

MicroAce steam loco - OZ shop $175 - UK shop $180 - JMS $136
MicroAce 7100 loco - US dealer $199 - Euro dealer1 $186 - Euro dealer2 $224 - JMS $166
MicroAce #1 loco original - UK shop $199 - JMS $154
MicroAce #1 loco museum - UK shop $183 (why? they are the same price in Japan!!!!) - JMS $154
MicroAce E653 4 car set - UK shop $247 - JMS $201
MicroAce 200 bullet set - Euro dealer $327 - JMS $288
Modemo Tokyu 300 tram - OZ shop $174 - JMS $154
Modemo tram range - US dealer $136 - JMS $118
Tomix Henry - OZ shop $199 - UK shop $157 - JMS $124
Tomix James - OZ shop $192 - UK shop $157 - JMS $126
Tomix Thomas - UK shop $147 - JMS $105
Tomix Thomas wagons - OZ shop $33 - JMS $24
Tomix Kiha120 - OZ shop $210 - JMS $157
Tomix Railcleaner - OZ shop $99 - UK shop $105 - JMS $70
Tomix EH500 loco - US dealer $190 - Euro dealer $207 - JMS $177
Tomix E2 bullet set - US dealer $303 - JMS $273
Tomix 923 bullet set - Euro dealer $396 - JMS $338
Tomix 700-7000 Railstar set - UK shop $372 - JMS $314
Tomix EF81 - UK shop $117 - JMS $96
Kato Eurostar - Euro dealer1 $382 - Euro dealer2 $370 - JMS $318
Kato E257 main set - OZ shop $349 - UK shop $355 - JMS $270
Kato 0-2000 bullet main set - OZ shop $345 - UK shop $342 - JMS $261
Kato 281 Haruka set - OZ shop $314 - JMS $252
Kato E26 Cassiopiea main set - OZ shop $289 - JMS $236
Kato Banetsu Story passenger set - OZ shop $247 - JMS $195
Kato 313 4 car set - OZ shop $252 - JMS $184
Kato EF200 loco - OZ shop $150 - UK shop $145 - JMS $93
Kato Kirara 2 car set - OZ shop $175 - JMS $126
Kato 500 bullet set - UK shop $342 - JMS $261
Kato 700 bullet set - UK shop $342 - JMS $285
Kato 883 Sonic - UK shop $421 - JMS $311
Kato ED75 - UK shop $125 - JMS $94
Greenmax powered chassis - UK shop $92 - JMS $55
Greenmax Japanese shops - OZ shop $45 - UK shop $43 - JMS $31
Railfan magazine - Euro dealer $39 - JMS $32

Unsolicited Customer Feedback

• Thanks for sending my order so quickly - I did not expect to receive it so soon! As my first Japanese model train, I am impressed with the detail and running qualities, and I am sure I will be ordering many more items from you in the future.
• Thank you for your prompt reply.
• My order arrived in excellent condition. Thanks for your hard work and patience.
• You've always been extremely reliable in the past. And I appreciate the excellent products you provide at good prices.
• This is an excellent site, thanks.
• Thanks for great inspirational pages.
• Thanks for the quick response and assistance. Even though I may not buy something from you, you were still willing to make the effort to answer my questions.
• I have enjoyed browsing your wonderful & comprehensive web site.
• Thank you again for your prompt service.
• Hello, I am a Japanese railway modeller living in the U.K and getting fed up with rip off price's and a lack of service from the supposed Japanese expert dealers here!
• Thanks for all your time and effort.
• Thank you for your prompt responses Doug! I will be contacting you to order that item in the next couple of weeks. It's very difficult to find these things in the USA and I appreciate your website and services.
• I will send you the check as soon as I hear from you, and thanks for your prompt replies. It's gratifying to know that people still can and do give good service.
• Thank you again for your prompt service !!!
• Thank you very much for your quick response! It's nice to know that there is a dealer who believes in such nice service!
• Thanks very much for your patience and kind service - will contact you again later for further orders.
• You're the cheapest dealer I've come across so far.
• Thank you for being very prompt on your return e-mail.
• So, thanks for this great site that tells it all up front! And the illustrations, information etc, are terrific.
• First of all, you have a terrific website. I have seen the pages of other companies advertising Japanese trains, and their information is often inaccurate, and they never seem to be able to deliver the goods they heavily advertise in magazines like 'Continental Modeller' etc.
• Hello, found your website this afternoon. Incredible, (after looking thru gazillions for ages) .... one of the best sites I've visited (best as in complete).
• Thanks for all the work you've done on your website !!
• Always find your web site impressive.
• I have been visiting your web site on Internet about Japanese trains, which is really good and interesting.
• Your web site is very interesting, a lot of work I'm sure.
• Thank you for responding so promptly.
• Outstanding modelling! I love urban layouts, and the stuff I saw on your web page was fantastic!
• Thank you for your immediate and prompt reply.
• I have visited your website (Japanese-Trains.com) many times and I think its fantastic!
• Many thanks, the goods have arrived perfectly. They're in astonishing condition. Fully boxed up with all the original documentation/stickers.
• Thanks for your hard work and patience.
• I have enjoyed browsing your wonderful web site tonight, I'm sure I'll be back.

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