Best JDM shops

[F14A-B]

Hey guys what are the BEST Stores for JDM tackle? Shops other than Digitaka and Asian Portal.

 

Any suggestions?

[Big Swimbait]

The Hook Up Tackle

[bulldog1935]

The best place I've found for discounted rods and lures, Meiho lure boxes, is FishingShop.kiwi.  

They've recently improved their courier contract to US, and lowered their UPS Express charge to $20.  

Excluding rods, free shipping on a $200 order.  

Also doesn't include large Meiho tackle boxes because of the large-box shipping charge.  

Kirill is in Miami and handles US customer contact on our clock.  

They're not quick out the door, because they have to confirm your order with their distributors, and takes them about a week to get it together.  But their prices are the best you'll find.  

 

adding a ps - if you have a logged-in account, your cart stays indefinitely, and you can mull over it that long putting a $200 free-shipping cart together.  

 

[new2BC4bass]

Don't know about 'best', but I've dealt with Japan Tackle several times and have always been totally satisfied with the transactions.

[F14A-B]

21 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Don't know about 'best', but I've dealt with Japan Tackle several times and have always been totally satisfied with the transactions.

Yes. Jun seems pretty knowledgeable thru out the years. 

[Columbia Craw]

I like Digitaka.  I make it a point to stock up on hooks and line when I buy a reel. Fast delivery.

[Eric 26]

I’ve purchased 3 reels from Japan Lure Shop and due to their prices, selection and service I don’t feel the need to stop buying from them and I do check several other sites prior to purchasing.

[ABU is overpriced]

yahoo lol not even close.

[F14A-B]

14 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

The Hook Up Tackle

These dudes have an awesome web site. 

Edited May 4, 2024 by alonerankin2
Spelling

[NorthernBasser]

I've yet to dip my toes into the JDM sites for reels. Mainly because, from what I hear, JDM versions of reels you can buy here sometimes have aluminum gears instead of brass. Also, some come with shorter handles than their US counterpart (85mm vs 90mm). 

[F14A-B]

I ordered a reel from Asian Portal about 8 weeks ago. Initially they charged my account properly, but then they followed up that with an additional 8.95 charge a couple days later… I sent out a message on why a second charge but received nothing back. I let it slide but since they couldn’t explain to me what it was for I wouldn’t consider them further. Never had any company add a follow up charge to my bank account. Anyone had anything like that happen to them dealing with Japanese companies?

[bulldog1935]

Asian Portal always bills in JPY.  Your credit card may add a separate fee for currency conversion.  

 

My past purchases with Asian Portal included Vanquish that came in 10% lower than their list price, and my Zillion came in 3% higher, both due to currency exchange fluctuations after the website listing was posted.  Never enough difference to matter.  

 

Asian Portal does not have a good courier contract, which affects their shipping rates.  Before '20 when Japan Post and USPS ISC Customs both worked, Asian Portal was free post on $100, 4-day delivery, and even a below-$100 cart only received a $12 post charge.  (Throw in a $12 lure to get to $100). 

 

Reliable is a cultural thing for the Japanese - you're not going to find bad customer service, though there are some scam sites operating from China with .jp web addresses. What you will find is an extreme language barrier, requiring e-mails forwarding back and forth to a contract interpreter before they can get you an answer.  

 

I've used Masamichi at noppin.com for a broker, buying from Yahoo (Yahoo is not for the lame, but for the patient and persistent), Rakuten, and especially shops that don't market direct to US - the remaining 99% of Japan.  When I began buying in Japan 18 years ago, a broker was the only way you could buy.  The list of Masamichi's extra effort to earn his 6% brokerage fee can only be abridged - he baby-sat a custom inshore S-glass fly rod rolled from scratch on order, finds stock, hunted down a Yahoo seller when a reel I was following through 2 reduced-price auctions didn't come back for a 3rd, gets questions answered we never could from this side of the big pond, and always knows the scam websites when I ask.  

 

The broker stores small orders from around Japan for up to 60 days gratis, and combines them into one FedEx shipment.  Brokerage also gets me into other Japan discount stores, such as Naturum, which is kinda their version of Academy.  

[NorthernBasser]

11 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The best place I've found for discounted rods and lures, Meiho lure boxes, is FishingShop.kiwi.  

They've recently improved their courier contract to US, and lowered their UPS Express charge to $20.  

Excluding rods, free shipping on a $200 order.  

 

 

 

Bulldog, I tried buying a rod from FishingShop.kiwi last night. It said once I confirm my order, they'd email me with a link with shipping cost and there I could complete my purchase. Well, I got an email from them with order number and a pin number. I click a link where it takes me to a page to enter my pin number. Once I do that I get redirected to the same page that says they'll send me a link once they confirm my order.

 

Am I doing something wrong? Have they just not confirmed my order yet...should I be expecting another email from them?

 

Thanks!

[F14A-B]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Asian Portal always bills in JPY.  Your credit card may add a separate fee for currency conversion.  

 

My past purchases with Asian Portal included Vanquish that came in 10% lower than their list price, and my Zillion came in 3% higher, both due to currency exchange fluctuations after the website listing was posted.  Never enough difference to matter.  

 

Asian Portal does not have a good courier contract, which affects their shipping rates.  Before '20 when Japan Post and USPS ISC customs both worked, Asian Portal was free post on $100, 4-day delivery, and even a below-$100 cart only received a $12 post charge.  (Throw in a $12 lure to get to $100). 

 

Reliable is a cultural thing for the Japanese - you're not going to find bad customer service, though there are some scam sites operating from China with .jp web addresses.  I've used Masamichi at noppin.com for a broker, buying from Yahoo (Yahoo is not for the lame, but for the patient and persistent), Rakuten, and especially shops that don't market direct to US.  When I began buying in Japan 18 years ago, a broker was the only way you could buy.  The list of Masamichi's extra effort to earn his 6% brokerage fee can only be abridged - he baby-sat a custom inshore S-glass fly rod rolled from scratch on order, finds stock, hunted down a Yahoo seller when a reel I was following through 2 reduced-price auctions didn't come back for a 3rd, gets questions answered we never could from this side of the big pond, and always knows the scam websites when I ask.  

 

Thanks. This explains a lot to me and should prove to be useful to anyone that reads this. Nice to have friends in Japan huh? I ordered a reel last night from Japan but used EBay as a go between 😂 Appreciate your information…

[bulldog1935]

@NorthernBasser It will take a week to confirm your order.  You'll then get a payment e-mail from Kirill, which you can pay, or reply no thanks if you don't like the total.  

I have never used the PIN, but go go straight to my logged-in account page and click on payment link there.  

[NorthernBasser]

5 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

@NorthernBasser It will take a week to confirm your order.  You'll then get a payment e-mail from Kirill, which you can pay, or reply no thanks if you don't like the total.  

I have never used the PIN, but go go straight to my logged-in account page and click on payment link there.  

Appreciate it. You have any idea around how much shipping cost is on a rod?

[bulldog1935]

I have paid $40 in the past - the discount is that good, but every kiwi order I've placed since last April including a rod has not been above $20.  

 

@NorthernBasser - adding this ps - if you reply to an e-mail from kiwi with a question, Kirill will field your question, and you can get in a Very Friendly e-mail swap with him.  I've replied with an "oops - left this out of my order", and he canceled my order so I could start over.  

Also a reminder with kiwi, only Buy in stock items - "preorder" will tie up your order waiting for an OOS item.  

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I haven't purchased anything yet from these guys, but have communicated with them, and I've never seen a more informative and educational e-store than them, let alone a Japanese one. https://jpnfishingtackle.com/

 

Subscribe to their email list, and you'll receive some great info like below

🔶How to fish mid-spawn bass-What is the best baits- – JAPAN FISHING TACKLE (jpnfishingtackle.com)

 

 

[NorthernBasser]

8 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I have paid $40 in the past - the discount is that good, but every kiwi order I've placed since last April including a rod has not been above $20.  

I have a Legit Design Stand Out rod that I absolutely love and wanna get another. It's around $230 here, but they have it for $120. So even if the shipping was $40, that's still a deal. Thanks again. 

[F14A-B]

11 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I haven't purchased anything yet from these guys, but have communicated with them, and I've never seen a more informative and educational e-store than them, let alone a Japanese one. https://jpnfishingtackle.com/

 

Subscribe to their email list, and you'll receive some great info like below

🔶How to fish mid-spawn bass-What is the best baits- – JAPAN FISHING TACKLE (jpnfishingtackle.com)

 

 

I went to that site just now. Very modern and easy to navigate. Seems like only plastic or hardbaits but wow.. I’m gonna bookmark that place. 

[F14A-B]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

I have a Legit Design Stand Out rod that I absolutely love and wanna get another. It's around $230 here, but they have it for $120. So even if the shipping was $40, that's still a deal. Thanks again. 

 Hmm, if you email comes back at $20 on shipping, you scored a helluva deal and it would definitely be worth the time and effort to do this, especially over a period of time. The savings over a year could be possibly 100’s of dollars.. definitely worth considering..

[bulldog1935]

4 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I have a Legit Design Stand Out rod that I absolutely love and wanna get another. It's around $230 here, but they have it for $120. So even if the shipping was $40, that's still a deal. Thanks again. 

I have Legit Designs Wild Side 5-pc MM (kiwi purchase) that fits in this bike half-frame bag - only way to get to this famous fishy tidal boundary is by bike or a half-day kayak paddle.  (yeah, there's a 15-l Ice Mule and West Coast IPA in the front bag).  

I also just added a great Yahoo snag, Daiwa Black Label ML, $190 for the patient and persistent Yahoo hunter.  This 5-pc fits in the same bag, gives me a choice, or a loaner for a friend who makes the pedal and doesn't have a pack rod.  

[ATA]

After Asian portal, https://japantackle.com is the best Ive seen with free shipping and very fast delivery.

[bulldog1935]

@ATA no offense, I've placed 25 orders with JapanTackle, and always paid shipping.  

A few great things, Jun's knowledge base, his English, and he has the lead on all Avail production (along with Hedgehog Studio).  

His prices are not discounted, except when the manufacturer is closing out.  

 

He also has a killer archive. original listings of long out of production JDM reels.  

[Big Swimbait]

10 hours ago, alonerankin2 said:

These dudes have an awesome web site. 

Check out their YouTube videos every Sunday at 10AM CDT. They show all the new releases.