Buyer Concern-Pilot Custom 74 On Amazon

[Mendy]

My marvelous Secretary gave me a Amazon gift card for my B day. Cruising Amazon I found 74s prices between $75-$80. Most were vendors directly from Japan. There was a Japanese vendor who sells pens through Amazon prime. I ordered a blue with medium nib for approx $80. It is not a demonstrator. I assume it does not have a USA warranty but since it is prime it should not be a problem to return. What amazes and concerns me is that it is half the price of USA retail. Anyone buy one of these in Amazon? Any problems?

[Chrissy]

If it's through Amazon Prime you should be safe enough. Amazon's buyer protection policy is written in stone, so if you have any problem at all when you receive the pen, you can easily return it and receive your money back. Don't worry.

 

Don't be tempted by prices of $10 for similar pens being sold by brand new sellers with no feedback though.

[Bluey]

$75-80 is normal price for a Pilot Custom 74 from a Japanese seller. Don't worry, there is a very good reason why the American sellers are selling it at double the price and that's because they have to pay all the fluff(import charges and other additional baggage) which is then passed onto you, the consumer.

If you go direct then you bypass all that, but the American retailers will tell you that if you buy home grown then you're getting quick delivery, warranty etc. If I were you I would buy direct from Japan, as I always do.

 

And as Chrissy says, ignore the ones that are offered at silly prices under $10. They're just scams as there has been a lot about recently, perhaps from the same scammer.

Edited July 21, 2017 by Bluey

[katerchen]

$80 sounds about right. That's around how much you'd pay to the established, highly reliable ebay sellers (Pisuke2005, for instance).

 

US retail prices are ridiculously jacked up for Japanese pens.

[Mendy]

About a month ago I stumbled on to a Pelikan 805 for $15 through Amazon prime. They were selling 6 of them. Because it was Amazon prime, I figured why not? I also convinced a friend to do the same thing. I was surprised that Amazon confirmed the purchase and shippment. I did receive a Pelikan. It was a $2 marker pen. Amazon refunded the money and let me keep the pen they had sent me.

[mke]

In your case, it is a fulfilment product. So you deal directly with Amazon.

If it has been shipped by a seller from Japan, usually, you have to contact the seller and discuss with him the procedure.

 

Sold by "N-seller" and Fulfilled by Amazon.
Ships from and sold by "S-seller (Japan)"

 

Example of the Q&A from a Japanese seller:

 

[For defective goods, for delivery commodity mistake]
In the case of exhibitor shipment of the product: please contact us by e-mail, we will consult.
In the case of fulfilment products: Please consult with Amazon.com.

[mke]

Pilot Custom 74

cheapest price in Japan for a new pen is at the moment of writing 7323 Yen (65.89 USD)

So, 80 USD is a cheap price for a fulfilment product, especially as there is no risk that it gets stuck somewhere, that it is damaged during the transport abroad*, that you have to pay import taxes.

 

*Sometimes, I buy books from US which come by USPS priority mail. 2 of the 3 last orders were severely damaged. Both came via LA. Even the "best" service (the service with the heighest cost), doesn't guarantee a hazzle-free experience.

My orders from abebooks and coming by economy mail were never damaged so severely.

My orders from Amazon were always without any damage.