Sailor's Full Ink Lines Including Shop Exclusives Compiled In A Post?

[Pensei]

I was excited when I saw that the Amazon option was available, as Amazon to me represents a certain ease and reliability, but for that price + shipping total, it would have to be the Ink of the Apocalypse. So far, what they have exhibited has not reached that level for me, but for those with unlimited budgets, I guess it's a good path.

[vanishsophie]

Many of the shops in Japan (in regards to ink and pens) will not ship or sell over seas. Quite frustrating, I imagine, but it's their business, their right.

 

The mark-up for "shoppers' in Japan is (to me) a fair mark-up. They go to the stores to make the purchase on your behalf (some shops will not mail out items, period), but sometimes they get stuck with the merchandise and the transportation fees. I think the fee to be a fair exchange, especially with the ones that include shipping into it. It's still loads cheaper than what some Japanese inks are going for on eBay--$70 some +shipping. Ridiculous. If these people would wait a bit longer, they could have the inks they want for half the cost. However, I understand that some cannot wait, their choice.

 

 

You're right, Hakura.

Btw, I really like your profile pic and the cat looks so cute!!!

It reminds me of recent episodes called オトナ女子.

Now back to the topic, I saw that auction on eBay with $70+$9 shipping fee? It was tipsy purple.

I understood quite bit with the situation since Bungbox old bottle style discontinued for several colors already, so if someone would like to collect the old version, they might feel fair to pay at that price. ;(

 

Regarding to the Japanese local stationery business rule, it is understandable because actually when we except the international customers and "hostile" shoppers, the ink quantities are enough for Japanese.

[vanishsophie]

I was excited when I saw that the Amazon option was available, as Amazon to me represents a certain ease and reliability, but for that price + shipping total, it would have to be the Ink of the Apocalypse. So far, what they have exhibited has not reached that level for me, but for those with unlimited budgets, I guess it's a good path.

The disappointing thing is the shipping fee is almost the same as the product price.

I do not really know how much it could cost but normally mu purchases from Japan won't charge that many. (Something cosmetics with a certain weight)

[Barkingpig]

To be fair it is NOT only the Japanese shipping that is very expensive but overseas shipping in general. I purchased two bottles of ink from Switzerland & paid the price of a THIRD bottle for shipping the two bottles to the US. Recently I investigated purchase of a German ink & was quoted a "discounted" rate of $30.00 for two bottles of ink that cost less than $10.00. Different foreign companies utilise different shipping services & many have different costs. Some companies may absorb some of the costs when their rates are so reasonable in comparison to other companies in the same country.

 

The prices I have paid Atsu Tanaka (Cool Japan) seemed most reasonable for the service he provided. I believe we are somewhat spoiled with shipping prices within the US & our cost of gasoline is indicative of disparity compared to transportation cost in Europe.

[vanishsophie]

To be fair it is NOT only the Japanese shipping that is very expensive but overseas shipping in general. I purchased two bottles of ink from Switzerland & paid the price of a THIRD bottle for shipping the two bottles to the US. Recently I investigated purchase of a German ink & was quoted a "discounted" rate of $30.00 for two bottles of ink that cost less than $10.00. Different foreign companies utilise different shipping services & many have different costs. Some companies may absorb some of the costs when their rates are so reasonable in comparison to other companies in the same country.

 

The prices I have paid Atsu Tanaka (Cool Japan) seemed most reasonable for the service he provided. I believe we are somewhat spoiled with shipping prices within the US & our cost of gasoline is indicative of disparity compared to transportation cost in Europe.

I agree.

I bought something from some European countries and would be expensive. Also some parts of Asian countries as well.

Atsu's price is fair and decent enough and his Kobe ink always be free shipping no matter how many bottles I bought. ;p

[vanishsophie]

I just saw the bungbox Fresh Oranges of Lake Hamana Orange finally winning bid was $102. Cannot believe this is the real world now. Hahahaha

[haruka337]

Wait until they try to open the bottle.

[FinalEleven]

I just saw the bungbox Fresh Oranges of Lake Hamana Orange finally winning bid was $102. Cannot believe this is the real world now. Hahahaha

 

Wait seriously? I really have to ration my bottle until Bung Box makes more.

[Barkingpig]

Wait until they try to open the bottle.

"Ain't it the truth?" After moving my inks this week into ONE cupboard I opened this & several other BB's & remember the feeling well. You could imagine there was real orange juice holding that bottle cap in place!

[amberleadavis]

Yummy

[AndyYNWA]

Atsu has most of the Kobe inks in stock again. USD 24.99 per bottle.

[haruka337]

Ah, the pending price increase happened.

[AndyYNWA]

Yupp...

[white_lotus]

Well I just order the last one each of #1 Rokko Green and #3 Old Foreigner Ward Sepia. Only about half of the Kobe lineup is listed.

 

Wonder how much of the ink is going to ink speculators to sell once it's all sold out again.

[vanishsophie]

Well I just order the last one each of #1 Rokko Green and #3 Old Foreigner Ward Sepia. Only about half of the Kobe lineup is listed.

 

Wonder how much of the ink is going to ink speculators to sell once it's all sold out again.

I don't think the kobe price will be way high like Bungbox or other diamond bottles. (my little opinion)

[haruka337]

I don't think the kobe price will be way high like Bungbox or other diamond bottles. (my little opinion)

Ditto.

 

The price increase is nominal and no different than the increase with Bungbox (new colors added today @ Vanness) which is around 4 to 5 dollars. However, the demand for Kobe is nothing like other store exclusives and is still relatively affordable. Kobe also isn't in the diamond bottles, but that's a plus for me.

[white_lotus]

Well there may never be diamond bottles ever again. I won't hold my breath.

 

The prices for the Kobe inks have already increased from basically $20 to $25. Sailor's Storia pigmented inks retail for $24. While Kiwa-guro and Sei-boku are highly regarded, I'm not sure the Storia inks are of the same caliber.

 

While the price at Vanness has gone up from $35 to $40, the prices from Japan are considerably higher, if you could get them. I simply consider these prices far too high to pay for ink.

Edited January 12, 2016 by white_lotus

[Barkingpig]

While Vanness is currently offering the Bung Box inks @ $40.00 I believe they lowered that price from $45.00 awhile back. I do not begrudge Atsu whatever profit he earns from the sale of ANY ink, after trying to obtain a specific bottle of Rubinato Sepia on Rakuten. "IT WAS THERE, I could SEE it," I had signed my life away registering for the ability to purchase on the site, BUT it would JUST NOT conclude as a "SALE." Yes, I am "NEW to this game," but I had purchased inks from Switzerland, France & the UK but NOT from Japanese shops that "do not ship to America."

 

After a nice member suggested "Cool Japan" my life changed! I had almost any ink I wanted, even the Hakase Dark Sepia & an "extra" bottle of the Rubinato ink in the "cool bottle." (Yes, I was eating the "left over cat food my pets rejected," BUT it was a pleasure to have something that seemed unobtainable.)

 

Yesterday I perused the Massdrop offer for the plethora of DeAtramentis inks, more colors than I had ever seen offered; I then went to the DeA site to seek translated descriptions of the names & discovered that old elusive "Bookworm" finally offered on the site! Sadly upon checking shipping price of $33.06 (NOT including ink) for US shipping, "I got over it." The Kobe inks @ $24.95 seem like a true bargain.

[white_lotus]

Rationalize it all you want. I used to get the jewel bottles of Bungbox, Kingdom Note, etc for $25 (or less!) per bottle, shipped from Japan.

 

I personally don't care about discontinued inks of any brand. It just is not interesting to me.

 

It's just ink. And there are numbers of different inks out there, a lot of them really good.

 

And there's a lot of excellent Noodler's inks for $12.50. I'll take their FPH exclusive Old Dutch Colony Sepia over any sepia, any day. And many other good brands, with excellent inks.

 

In the interest of full disclosure, about 1/3rd of my ink collection consists of Sailor inks from Japan. But I'm not chasing them anymore. Not at the prices being offered. Spend your money however you wish. You'll only be happy for a moment until the next "must have" ink appears.

 

See ya. I'm done and gone.

[akustyk]

Rationalize it all you want. I used to get the jewel bottles of Bungbox, Kingdom Note, etc for $25 (or less!) per bottle, shipped from Japan.

 

I personally don't care about discontinued inks of any brand. It just is not interesting to me.

 

It's just ink. And there are numbers of different inks out there, a lot of them really good.

 

And there's a lot of excellent Noodler's inks for $12.50. I'll take their FPH exclusive Old Dutch Colony Sepia over any sepia, any day. And many other good brands, with excellent inks.

 

In the interest of full disclosure, about 1/3rd of my ink collection consists of Sailor inks from Japan. But I'm not chasing them anymore. Not at the prices being offered. Spend your money however you wish. You'll only be happy for a moment until the next "must have" ink appears.

 

See ya. I'm done and gone.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself. My sentiments exactly. Thanks for that dose of common sense.