Kitz Concept Toy Thread 2.0

[judgedoug]

On 2/27/2025 at 3:47 PM, jvmacross said:

Looking forward to this release....but I wonder why Cyrus\KC is still not referring to it as a "Gnerl Fighter Pod"?  Emailed the question....

It's strange, the Quel-Gulnau is the Robotech canon name for the little salvage ship with arms that snags the Cat's Eye Recon in SDF Macross.

The Gnerl is still the Gnerl.

[shazam]

 

[26662]

On 1/13/2025 at 3:02 PM, sh9000 said:

Packaging for Max.

Ordered all of the KC figures today so I'm going through the older posts to get caught up.  Unfortunate camera angle here: Max looks like he's about to give us a pole dance.

[26662]

On 2/27/2025 at 2:03 PM, sh9000 said:

https://www.kitzconcept.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=158

Finally!  I have been waiting ages for this.  I tried to order this and a couple other figures from this line last night but had to ask KC for help completing my order.

"Thank you for your inquiry and interest in our products. May I kindly request that you separate this into two orders? Each order has a weight limit, and exceeding this may result in difficulties with order processing."

I appreciate the prompt and kind note.  Splitting the order allowed me to complete the purchase, but ouch, those shipping charges are painful.

[jvmacross]

KC Update for Recon Battlepod...

We are excited to announce that the Recon BattlePod will feature the following new designs, enhancing its technological appeal and interactivity: 
 

1. Magnetic Switch Control for Lighting Effects
- The lighting effects for the entire unit, will be controlled using magnetic switches. 
- Users can simply move a magnet to turn the lights on or off, ensuring simple, convenient, and intuitive operation.

2. Cockpit Nightlight Power Supply 
- We are experimenting with dual power supply options for the cockpit nightlight, offering users more flexibility: 
- Battery Power: Allows users to operate the nightlight in environments without external power, making it convenient for display. 
- USB Plug-in Power: Enables users to directly power the nightlight using a USB connection. 
* Limitations: 
- USB plug-in power is only designed as a direct power supply and does not support lithium battery charging or storage. 
- Due to internal space constraints, the feasibility of supporting both power supply options simultaneously is still under evaluation. 

[wm cheng]

That's amazing!  That's almost all my only criticisms of the original Pod!!! (how did they read my mind)

[26662]

2 hours ago, jvmacross said:

KC Update for Recon Battlepod...

We are excited to announce that the Recon BattlePod will feature the following new designs, enhancing its technological appeal and interactivity: 
 

1. Magnetic Switch Control for Lighting Effects
- The lighting effects for the entire unit, will be controlled using magnetic switches. 
- Users can simply move a magnet to turn the lights on or off, ensuring simple, convenient, and intuitive operation.

2. Cockpit Nightlight Power Supply 
- We are experimenting with dual power supply options for the cockpit nightlight, offering users more flexibility: 
- Battery Power: Allows users to operate the nightlight in environments without external power, making it convenient for display. 
- USB Plug-in Power: Enables users to directly power the nightlight using a USB connection. 
* Limitations: 
- USB plug-in power is only designed as a direct power supply and does not support lithium battery charging or storage. 
- Due to internal space constraints, the feasibility of supporting both power supply options simultaneously is still under evaluation. 

Love the update.  TY!  I received my battlepod and two artillery battlepods on Monday.  I love their size and heft.  My only complaint is that I would have bought 1 more if the S&H hadn't been so outrageously expensive. 

[jvmacross]

41 minutes ago, 26662 said:

Love the update.  TY!  I received my battlepod and two artillery battlepods on Monday.  I love their size and heft.  My only complaint is that I would have bought 1 more if the S&H hadn't been so outrageously expensive. 

Well....get ready to bend over even further....rejoice! For your day of liberation is at hand....

[26662]

18 minutes ago, jvmacross said:

Well....get ready to bend over even further....rejoice! For your day of liberation is at hand....

Don't I know it.  I've got the tactical pod, the officer's pod, and two fighter pods on preorder.

[Sanity is Optional]

I’ll say I am not looking forward to the shipping charges and possible tariffs on the kickstarter.

Got in my artillery pods though, and they look good. Makes me excited for the scout pod and the rest of the non-transforming figures.

[Radioguy]

I hope these upgrades happen, and carry over to the GLAUG as well.

[sh9000]

Recon Battlepod.

[jvmacross]

18 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Recon Battlepod.

After all these years, we finally may get a Regult Scout toy....but now it will may end up costing more than double the initial price due to the tarrifs...to think just a few months ago we were initially just concerned about the "exorbitant" KC shipping costs...those were the good ol' days! 

Edited 18 hours ago by jvmacross

[Sanity is Optional]

Well, on the bright side at least the tariffs are only on the base cost, and not the exorbitant shipping?

[Roy Focker]

2 the both of you. 

1st Don't act like the victim when you were the first to add fuel to the fire by publicly mocking them.

2nd If someone does insult you don't resort to calling them names because now we have two problems.

3rd I'm feeling generous and will be hiding some of these offensive posts. This a gentle reminder to end it.

4th I don't see how we can avoid discussion about pricing and price changes. Best thing I can say about that is try to leave your editorial opinions  on the reason why out of the discussion.  We all know the reason why.

 

[jvmacross]

12 hours ago, Sanity is Optional said:

Well, on the bright side at least the tariffs are only on the base cost, and not the exorbitant shipping?

The 145% tarrif would make the shipping cost seem reasonable....no bright sides to be had for a while....

[sh9000]

Maybe the release of KC's Recon Battlepod, Tomahawk, and Phalanx will finally get Bandai to get off their ass and release the HMR versions.

[jvmacross]

3 hours ago, sh9000 said:

Maybe the release of KC's Recon Battlepod, Tomahawk, and Phalanx will finally get Bandai to get off their ass and release the HMR versions.

Who really knows why Bandai has yet to release those long teased figures....but I can't imagine our current economic climate being very encouraging for Bandai to finally pull the trigger on any of them....I'll patiently keep waiting....and try and stay optimistic on the KC releases....

[Big s]

6 minutes ago, jvmacross said:

Who really knows why Bandai has yet to release those long teased figures....but I can't imagine our current economic climate being very encouraging for Bandai to finally pull the trigger on any of them....I'll patiently keep waiting....and try and stay optimistic on the KC releases....

The whole tariff thing has been kinda shifting back and forth for the most part, but I think currently it’s leaving Japan alone, while hitting China quite hard. So I’d guess that it wouldn’t be too bad to get an hmr, while unfortunately the KC stuff may end up more than double the cost. Not sure if there’s an odd loophole that allows them to ship somewhere else that would end up showing the country of origin as somewhere different, since I’m not an expert at all in this kinda thing.

[Radioguy]

24 minutes ago, Big s said:

So I’d guess that it wouldn’t be too bad to get an hmr...

Not sure if there’s an odd loophole that allows them to ship somewhere else that would end up showing the country of origin as somewhere different...

Last I checked, if the HMR says it's Made in China, it gets tariffed as coming from China even if shipped from Japan.

[jvmacross]

24 minutes ago, Big s said:

The whole tariff thing has been kinda shifting back and forth for the most part, but I think currently it’s leaving Japan alone, while hitting China quite hard. So I’d guess that it wouldn’t be too bad to get an hmr, while unfortunately the KC stuff may end up more than double the cost. Not sure if there’s an odd loophole that allows them to ship somewhere else that would end up showing the country of origin as somewhere different, since I’m not an expert at all in this kinda thing.

Some Chinese companies have been evading US tarrifs by outsourcing their manufacturing to places like Vietnam....thus why Vietnam is getting hit hard too....so it will be interesting to see how deep the US will dig to tack on tarrifs on any merch "made in China"....and/or "for China"....the weak Yen was nice while it lasted....now we'll be back to probably the same high prices or worse....

[jvmacross]

4 minutes ago, Radioguy said:

Last I checked, if the HMR says it's Made in China, it gets tariffed as coming from China even if shipped from Japan.

It all depends on how aggressive customs will get.....a brown shipping box from Japan in theory should get the Japanese tarrif.....some US custom guys looking to get employee of the month may open the same box for inspection and see a toy with packaging that says "Made in China".....what happens next may cost you more than double what you paid...

 

[Big s]

2 hours ago, Radioguy said:

Last I checked, if the HMR says it's Made in China, it gets tariffed as coming from China even if shipped from Japan.

 

1 hour ago, jvmacross said:

It all depends on how aggressive customs will get.....a brown shipping box from Japan in theory should get the Japanese tarrif.....some US custom guys looking to get employee of the month may open the same box for inspection and see a toy with packaging that says "Made in China".....what happens next may cost you more than double what you paid...

 

That’s something I wasn’t really sure about. I wasn’t sure if they’re looking for where something is shipped from or where it’s manufactured, I haven’t heard anything really talking about that

[Radioguy]

3 hours ago, Big s said:

That’s something I wasn’t really sure about. I wasn’t sure if they’re looking for where something is shipped from or where it’s manufactured, I haven’t heard anything really talking about that

From what I've read, it's pretty clear. If the product says Made In China on the box, it gets the China tariff wherever it's being shipped from.

What someone else essentially raised was what if a Japanese shipper lies or refuses to declare place of manufacture on the customs label, and whether someone might open a package to check that or not.

Well, that's like shipping cocaine through customs. You never know what would prompt someone to randomly pull your package, but last I heard dogs couldn't sniff out Guangdong. If the shipper is caught lying about place of manufacture, I believe they will be penalized, though, and more likely than not a lot of their packages would be pulled going forward.

[Big s]

Just now, Radioguy said:

From what I've read, it's pretty clear. If the product says Made In China on the box, it gets the China tariff wherever it's being shipped from.

What someone else essentially raised was what if a Japanese shipper lies or refuses to declare place of manufacture on the customs label, and whether someone might open a package to check that or not.

Well, that's like shipping cocaine through customs. You never know what would prompt someone to randomly pull your package, but last I heard dogs couldn't sniff out Guangdong. If the shipper is caught lying about place of manufacture, I believe they will be penalized, though, and more likely than not a lot of their packages would be pulled going forward.

I’ve been hearing that if the shipper is sending individual orders for less than $800, then it’s exempt. I don’t know how that works or if it does at all. They’re saying that if you order from a store or warehouse and it’s under that amount, then no tariff, but if someone like an American store that orders in bulk would have to pay. 
I don’t want to be spreading misinformation, but just that there seems to be some alternate versions of what’s allowed and what isn’t.

[jenius]

13 minutes ago, Big s said:

I’ve been hearing that if the shipper is sending individual orders for less than $800, then it’s exempt. I don’t know how that works or if it does at all. They’re saying that if you order from a store or warehouse and it’s under that amount, then no tariff, but if someone like an American store that orders in bulk would have to pay. 
I don’t want to be spreading misinformation, but just that there seems to be some alternate versions of what’s allowed and what isn’t.

That was usually the case but the latest announcement dropped the de minimis exemption because they're so paranoid of companies working around the tariffs creatively. Of course, none of us know what the final shape of any of this will look like so hopefully things like that exception are brought back swiftly and we can all go about our collecting with a sigh of relief.  

[Radioguy]

55 minutes ago, Big s said:

I’ve been hearing that if the shipper is sending individual orders for less than $800, then it’s exempt. I don’t know how that works or if it does at all. They’re saying that if you order from a store or warehouse and it’s under that amount, then no tariff, but if someone like an American store that orders in bulk would have to pay. 
I don’t want to be spreading misinformation, but just that there seems to be some alternate versions of what’s allowed and what isn’t.

39 minutes ago, jenius said:

That was usually the case but the latest announcement dropped the de minimis exemption because they're so paranoid of companies working around the tariffs creatively.

That's been my understanding as well.

39 minutes ago, jenius said:

Of course, none of us know what the final shape of any of this will look like so hopefully things like that exception are brought back swiftly and we can all go about our collecting with a sigh of relief.  

Well, it supposedly increased further as of a few hours ago. It's now 245%.

[Big s]

19 minutes ago, Radioguy said:

Well, it supposedly increased further as of a few hours ago. It's now 245%.

Yikes!!

 

[WhatBoutMyStar]

2 hours ago, Big s said:

I’ve been hearing that if the shipper is sending individual orders for less than $800, then it’s exempt. I don’t know how that works or if it does at all. They’re saying that if you order from a store or warehouse and it’s under that amount, then no tariff, but if someone like an American store that orders in bulk would have to pay. 
I don’t want to be spreading misinformation, but just that there seems to be some alternate versions of what’s allowed and what isn’t.

Unless things change, the $800 de minimis exemption is set to expire on May 2. I've luckily got in a couple orders that were delivered in the past couple days to beat the deadline. I've cancelled a number of preorders that clearly weren't going to beat that May 2 deadline as the items simply weren't worth the costs anymore.