Price gouging on Import Tomy Bit Char-Gs!!!

DraKhen99 · #1 11-20-2002, 10:13 AM

Ok, I took my collection to my local HobbyWorks in Rockville, MD yesterday. Lo and behold they had a rack of MicroSizers [I picked up a 2.6 motor and gear set], and a rack of imported Tomy Bit Char-Gs.

The prices on the Bits were OUTRAGEOUS!!!

$70 for a bit. a SINGLE bit! I got them imported from ToyEast and they were roughly $32 each [including shipping]. I know they have to pay some duties on the stuff, but GEEZ that is craziness!

Oh, and also, they had some other "Bit Char-G"s there, but they were in a cube-like box, made of plastic but not cardboard, any ideas what type of clones they were?

TeamSuxor · #2 11-20-2002, 12:45 PM

Yeah, a local hobby shop here was trying to sell their Bit Char-G cars for $50. Their excuse was that it's expensive to make such a small R/C car. The lies and price gouging all at one time left me pretty bitter with them, so they're never getting business from me.

Thankfully, on-line shops offer reasonable prices.

DraKhen99 · #3 11-20-2002, 01:14 PM

The manager at my LHS [whom I am friends with] told me that it's because the company had to import large quantities of the Bits and that the taxes and duties they had to pay on them were high. He also told me that I imported them illegally, since I did not pay any taxes or duties, only shipping. Bwah! I will continue to import.

Blue Bit · #4 11-20-2002, 05:12 PM

Prices for bit's in seattle are about $40-$42 on regular bits and $54-59 for the special ones. I still think it's expensive but $40.00 is fair because it's like paying for the shipping too( if you're just getting one). Try checking Asian owned hobby stores ( ones that sell all those gundam models). they are mostly cheaper ( not that much cheaper) because they have connections in hongkong and/or japan. If there is a japantown or chinatown in your area. Some of the Import Car performance stores have them too.

SAM · #5 11-20-2002, 07:03 PM

Down here my LHS has them for $39.99 not as bad as what some places are charging, however I will stick to ordering online.......

DraKhen99 · #6 11-20-2002, 08:55 PM

I've got no clue what kind of clones they are, but it was hell trying to convince this little kid and his mother that they were in fact clones, and not the same thing.

I told them "LOOK: You see the 'Bit Hobby' and the 'Tomy' logos here and here [pointing at the ACTUAL bit boxes]? Now THESE are the real ones! [still pointing at Tomy box]. THESE are fake [pointing at clone cubes]. ONLY the real ones have the proper logos on them."

alpha1 · #7 11-22-2002, 03:25 AM

Whoever told you that they imported the Tomy's legally is BSing. There is no way, as the 35 and 53 Mhz cars are FCC approved to be used in the US. Most shops have to sell at a certain profit margin to cover overhead costs. Someone has to pay the employees and the rent. Whoever they bought them from probably charged them over retail for them, and they have to make up for it by charging the customers more. I'd give it some time, they won't be able to sell too many at the higher prices, and will be on clearance soon, albiet at around the same price as what most of us can get them for.

Blue Bit · #8 11-22-2002, 09:02 AM

they are not imported legally, but that is not the point why they are raising prices. It is cheaper (not that cheap

) to get them in a place where they have connections to it's origin. A lot of them have relatives that send them the bits.

DraKhen99 · #9 11-22-2002, 09:37 AM

This was no relative situation, it was a hobby shop importing them. Oh well, just because they are local doesn't mean I have to buy from them :c)

Oh, and the kid was around 12ish. His mom was pissed at the clones they had bought in the mall. Twas funny for me.

jerm781 · #10 11-22-2002, 10:06 AM

I bought one of those clones in the cube and its not bad. Its a white lancer with white rims. I was even able to lower the front just by pushing the body down past the tab hole. easy. I also bought the Initial D set for $50. (I should have got it off the net)What hobby shop do you go to in Maryland DraKhen99???

DraKhen99 · #11 11-22-2002, 10:18 AM

I go to HobbyWorks in Rockville, MD.

BTW: How is $50 for the Auto Modellista set?

Is that a decent price, or what?

I couldn't believe that they only wanted $50 for the Auto Modellista set, and $70 for the regular bits!

jerm781 · #12 11-22-2002, 11:02 AM

sounds good to me. I paid $45 for mine off ebay. At my hobby shop they want $50 for regular bits and $70 for the Modellista set. They also want $30 for a Microsizer speed set.

DraKhen99 · #13 11-22-2002, 12:21 PM

Yeah, I think they want something close to that for the car with no charger/controller, and a clear body, with a 2.6 motor, some gear, and some tires or something. I might have to go by there after work and see about the Auto Modellista set. It's in 27mhz though :c(

Is what I mentioned a MS Speed Set a car?

cowfish_29 · #14 11-22-2002, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Whoever told you that they imported the Tomy's legally is BSing. There is no way, as the 35 and 53 Mhz cars are FCC approved to be used in the US.

as far as i know..from previous rc experience...the only legal ground frequencies for the US are 27 and 49--and don't think bit char-g cars are even made in 53.

Ghost of Akina · #15 11-22-2002, 08:16 PM

my LHS sells them for 39.99 and they sell the motors(2.2-2.6) for 7.00 thats not that bad shoot our mall sells micros for that much