My first YJA experiance and shipping costs

[monkeyboy]

I had been looking for ages for a reasonably priced original Star Wars machine/cell but was not having any luck, the cheapest being around $400 (including shipping). So I decided to search YJA for one instead. I soon found a full machine with a starting price of 5000 yen ($50). I contacted Kiai and after a quick introduction he said he would place a bid for me and deal with the transaction for a reasonable fee. I asked him to contact the seller to see if I won would he just send the cell. To ship a full machine would cost around $350 - $400 and I could buy one in the US for that.

I sent Kiai my max bid via paypal (1000 yen, $100) He placed the bid then I sat and waited... The auction was over and I won It did go for a little more than I was hoping at 8750 yen but hey it's mine.

Here's a breakdown of the fees involved.

Cell 8750
Shipping from seller to Kiai 2000
Kiai fee 1000
Kiai packing fee 3000
Shipping by sea 5650
Kiai also charges 10% of shipping cost 565

Total = 20965 ($1=92yen) so $227.88

OK so it didn't turn out to be the deal of the century but I got the cell I wanted for less than I could find it here.

I would recommend going the JYA route to anyone. Kiai is really easy to comunicate with, his English is excellent and always polite.

Being a thrifty Yorkshire man I chose the cheapest shipping option, by sea, but it will take around 7 weeks untill I see my cell. If you choose shipping by EMS (air) it will take less than 5 days but will cost just over double of that by sea. If you are shipping 2 cells this can only be done by EMS and would cost around $270.

A frame will cost around $300 by EMS only. And providing the weight of a full machine isn't over the limit it would be $350 - $400 by EMS only.

[hanabi]

A thrifty Yorkshireman indeed!!

Sounds like you got a good deal, I have yet to test the YJA route to Pachi heaven, but it is something I would be doing in the future I'm sure,

So I find these sorts of posts very informative, thank you for sharing!!

oh and congratulations on Star Wars, it's an excellent choice!!

[mudfud]

thanks for the detailed break down of costs. it helps me to decide (and probably try) to buy off YJA myself.

[Hope Chest]

I just had my first email exchange with Kiai and he's incredibly nice and extremely helpful. He even sent me search links. I will definitely be seeking him out for stuff.

[new in town]

Kiai is A # 1

Every transaction to date has gone off without a hitch.

Spoiler

The Shake II Goodies Shipped yesterday.

[dishpan]

Kiai is an exceedingly honorable gentleman who has gone above and beyond the call of duty for me on many occasions. He is very highly recommended by me.

[monkeyboy]

Looks like I got Marilyn out of the house just in time. My original Star Wars arrived today almost exactly 2 months to the day from Japan to here. Kiai did a great job in packing it arrived in really good shape with virtually no wear and clean as well.

The R2 unit is a little bit yellowed and won't clean up. I'm thinking it's the plastic that's discoloured with age, I know this happens with pinball plastics.

I've not had chance to test it out yet but I really like the look of it, lot's of shiny silver like the 007. I see there's a start pocket at the top not seen this before on a pachinko can't wait to see what it does.

I'm guessing Elvis will turn up before the week is out.

[monkeyboy]

Elvis arrived today, another great packing job.

This cell looks almost brand new apart from a lair of dust over it.
I can't wait to get this one powered up, the screen is huge. I don't know when that will happen? Still not had time to get Star Wars in it's frame.