is there a thread discussing the reliable JDM sources?

[Darth-Baiter]

i know Digitaka is legit.  legit and fast!!  

 

what about the others?  is there a "no-fly" list for JDM vendors?  or at least a review section?

[Tennessee Boy]

I’ve been very pleased with Japan Lure Shop and Japan Tackle.

[FryDog62]

I agree with the above too - just beware that you really need to know that what you're ordering is what you want. They do accept returns, but the cost of shipping is up to you and can be well over $100. 

[msgf91]

Most of my orders have been through digitaka. Takes like 3 days at the most. I ordered the new SS Air through Plat after it was sold out. Thought there was going to be a shipment in July of new stock from Daiwa but it was delayed. So the owner of the shop worked with a daiwa sales rep to locate a reel in a different prefecture. 

Edit: the SS Air also arrived in 3 days after it shipped. 

[MiceNReets]

I only order reels from Japan Lure Shop. Fantastic to deal with.  Very fast.  And the free gift is a nice touch to make up for paying shipping.  
 

I just recently ordered a rod from a Japan angler and it was packaged up great.  PVC tube and arrived safely.   

[FishTank]

I have made orders from Digitaka, Japan Lure Shop, Plat and Asian Portal Fishing. All have been great.  

[mrpao]

20 hours ago, FishTank said:

I have made orders from Digitaka, Japan Lure Shop, Plat and Asian Portal Fishing. All have been great.  

Same here.

All are good to deal with.

[Fishingmickey]

22 hours ago, FishTank said:

I have made orders from Digitaka, Japan Lure Shop, Plat and Asian Portal Fishing. All have been great.  

X3, I wish I would have bought more when the yen to dollar exchange rate was low.

FM

[bulldog1935]

Dollar made it up to Y146/$ earlier this week, but current is the highest I've seen it in the 20 years I've been shopping Japan.  All of Japan is 30% off.  

um, I took advantage of it this month, too - it's ok, it's for my birthday

editing a ps here - there's a great list of vendors who market direct to US posted on this thread - you're going to find them All to be reliable - unreliable would go against their culture.  Selling direct to US is something relatively new - in the "old days" the only way to buy from Japan was using a broker (Rinkya, ZenMarket, Noppin.com).  ZenPlus, btw, will order a rod right from Asian Portal inventory and ship it to you for less than AP - they simply have a better UPS contract.  

 

The greatest problems are the language barrier and receiving payment because of Japan banking laws - Most Japanese vendors don't want to deal with either, and this is where a broker comes in - brokerage fees are 5% on an expensive rod or reel, and maybe twice that on a small order of parts.  If there's something you want from Japan that you can't get through digitaka, et.al., you use a broker.  Masamichi at noppin and I go back so far, I consider him a friend.  In the past, he has ordered a rolled-from-scratch on order S-glass inshore fly rod, found items in stock that I could only find OOS listings, contacted Smith Ltd about replacing a cracked plastic collet in a rod handle - things you could never get done using only google, facebook, etc.  

 

The rod and reel, btw, were Yahoo auction wins using noppin.  The NIB reel was otherwise OOS, but I saved enough on both to cover brokerage fees and separate UPS express across the big pond.  (most Yahoo deals aren't this good - takes some bird-dogging).  My friend Nick recently used noppin to purchase the last Taper&Shape stream casting rod in Japan, and was delighted with their service and delivery.  

[roadwarrior]

18 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Dollar made it up to Y146/$ earlier this week, but current is the highest I've seen it in the 20 years I've been shopping Japan.  All of Japan is 30% off.  

um, I took advantage of it this month, too - it's ok, it's for my birthday

 No doubt, Japan is on sale!

[Phelptwan]

Don't rule out Amazon.jp either.

 

Good ones I've bought from though;

Asian Fishing Portal

Japan Lure Shop

Digitaka

Plat.co

JDM Tackle Heaven

Japan Tackle

jpangler

Ichiban (used and second hand stuff as well)

Samurai Tackle

7 Palms

[NorcalBassin]

Digitaka, Japan Lure Shop and Asian Fishing Portal have all been flawless for me. Honestly have more confidence in them getting an order to me quickly compared to TW who once upon a time used to get them to me within 24 hours. 

[newapti5]

On 8/20/2023 at 9:37 PM, Phelptwan said:

Don't rule out Amazon.jp either.

 

Good ones I've bought from though;

Asian Fishing Portal

Japan Lure Shop

Digitaka

Plat.co

JDM Tackle Heaven

Japan Tackle

jpangler

Ichiban (used and second hand stuff as well)

Samurai Tackle

7 Palms

 

I have to add jp.mercari.com (paired with Buyee) to the list. It's the biggest Japan flea market site I've seen, and lately I've been a bit addicted to it. It's like the Japan equivalent of eBay, only more items and much better pricing. With the discount (~15% off) the proxy company Buyee has been giving out lately, it's pretty much tax free and shipping free.  Mint/great condition Metanium for ~$150, Conquest for ~$260, Zillion SV for ~$180...   I just purchased a mint condition Abu Revo LTX for $80 to-my-door.  BFS isn't actually my cup of tea, but a magnesium BFS reel for $80 is just too tempting. 

[Darth-Baiter]

i have used TWO.  Digitaka and now Japan Tackle.  the item from Japan Tackle just cleared customs and i should get it today.  

[dmiles]

I have ordered 2 reels and 1 rod from digitaka. They all arrived at my door in less than 1 week. That's faster than Cabela's for me

 

Yesterday I ordered a rod from Japan portal fishing and it says it has processed but hasn't shipped. It's only been 24 hours. 

 

The biggest issue I have is my credit card company always declines digitaka as fraud and I need to call them to say it's not fraud.  They can't seem to get it that I order from them. 

 

I love the prices at digitaka 

[torm]

Anyone ever tried buying from Kkjapanlure? They seem legit but I can't seem to find much info on them.

[Darth-Baiter]

Japan Tackle was fast and very good communicators, but they will dink you some shipping costs.  still way better than me walking into my local shop to buy it.  

[txchaser]

FYI Amazon US is starting to crosslist from Amazon Japan. You’ll end up with sales tax that you don’t have if you go to the JP site, but some people may be more comfy with the US site. 

[Dye99]

On 8/20/2023 at 6:37 PM, Phelptwan said:

Don't rule out Amazon.jp either.

 

THIS.

 

Ive used many of the names in this thread in the last few months. Kinda late to the JDM market but I have to say...Japans Amazon is awesome. I just received my new Abu ZENON spinning reel today. super fast shipping, great price.

[bae]

has anyone ordered from jdmreelhub before?

[newapti5]

20 hours ago, bae said:

has anyone ordered from jdmreelhub before?

No, never heard of it. And their pricing isn't that competitive either TBH.

[MiceNReets]

21 hours ago, bae said:

has anyone ordered from jdmreelhub before?

Nope… I’d just stick with the well known ones to play it safe.  There are enough legit ones that there is no need to branch out and potentially get scammed

[bae]

ive been trying to find a shimano slx xt dc 71xg and that model specifically seems sold out on most of the jdm sites

[MiceNReets]

26 minutes ago, bae said:

ive been trying to find a shimano slx xt dc 71xg and that model specifically seems sold out on most of the jdm sites

Keep looking.  It’s an incredible reel.  I hold it up in regards to my steez and zillions.   Always with me.   I bought it for the heck of it and I am always blown away by how good it is.   

Order from here.  You won’t regret it.    They just have the 6.2 which is what I have and it’s great.   Sometimes I wish I got the 7 speed but when I use the reel I just don’t care anymore.   
 

https://japanlureshop.com/shimano-22-slx-dc-xt.html

 

I’d go with Japan lure shops first but digitaka has some lefties as well..

 

https://www.digitaka.com/items/5/4/2/SLX+DC+XT

[HawkeyeSmallie]

Just had my first experience yesterday.

 

Purchased a reel from Japan Lure Shop.

 

Hopefully it's not delayed as they are going on vacation it looks:

 

 (JLS, summer vacation: August 10th to August 15th