Eastern Japan, which includes all the major population centers like Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, etc, operates on 100V/60Hz, not 50Hz. This is fortunate for all of us in the USA, because all we need is an inexpensive 120V to 100V stepdown transformer in order to enjoy Japanese-made motors. We'd have problems with 50Hz.
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I remembered why my son could not fabricate and say his address is same as ours in the US: They check the date of your entry visa into Japan. His is 10-12 years old.
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See my earlier post. I think I estimated last year, based on the list price at Yodibashi, that I could walk out with a 10R for $6700. But this is based on my memory; it might have been a little less. And it assumes paying with a Credit Card, which gets you another discount.
You might have trouble using a long term resident of Tokyo who still holds a passport other than a Japanese one, as your purchase agent. My son is such an example; he still has a US Passport, but he doubted he could get the deal as his home address is in Tokyo. (Although he certainly could use our address in the US as his home.) But he is employed in Tokyo as well. I am not sure it will work, but I am not sure it won't, either.
In all of this, I have forgotten to mention the exchange rate. The actual cost will vary up and down with the exchange rate for your particular currency, of course.
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chakster, the VAT is deducted at the sales desk when you check out at Yodibashi. You do not have to pay the tax and then rely upon getting a refund at customs. You never pay the tax in the first place. That is perfectly legal and lawful if you have a foreign passport. They do look carefully at your passport and check its validity. And in answer to your other question, yes, I buy something at Yodibashi or other audio store every time I go there, which is just about every year for the past several years. My biggest single purchase so far was a Koetsu Urushi cartridge, about 10 years ago, and I don’t think I was asked to pay duty on it. I also buy LPs at disc union near the Ochanomizu train station. Disc Union also honors the passport. My son has lived in Tokyo for going on 12 years now. The savings associated with avoiding the VAT is 8% or 10%, I cannot remember which. At Yodie, you get another similar discount just for using your credit card to make a purchase. If I bought something as heavy as an SP 10 R, I would check all my suitcases at the airport and carry on the SP 10R in its box. I have done that with large containers of LPs I bought at Disc Union . US customs at Dulles airport in DC are actually surprisingly lenient with innocuous tourists like myself, as regards actually collecting the customs duty. They typically look the other way, but probably you would have to pay a modest amount of duty for something as large and obvious as the SP 10R. If I didn’t already own a fully upgraded SP10 Mk3, I’d have bought a 10R last spring.
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One further thought. Since the introduction of the new Technics turntables there has been some rollback of list prices. Or for sure some US based dealers are now willing to give modest discounts. For that reason the margin of savings that one can achieve by shopping in Tokyo may be narrower today than it was last year when I last visited Tokyo. For example, I think I calculated that I could walk out of Yodibashi with an SP10R for the total cost of about $6700. I hope that helps.
Stringreen, Of course you ARE getting the “real thing” at stores in Tokyo. And it certainly would be silly to buy Japanese products in China, especially since the stores in Tokyo are mobbed with Chinese customers who travel there to shop. Funnily to me, the clothing stores are also full with Chinese, buying clothes that are mostly made in China. |
First, at yodibashi you pay no Japan tax if you present your foreign passport. Second, I saw the SP10R and the SP1000R for sale at yodibashi. After the discounts for passport and using a credit card the net cost would represent a 30 to 40% savings vs US prices. Closer to 40%. Third, my guess is that yodibashi could arrange direct shipping to your door. If they wouldn’t then there are shippers in their area in Akihabara. Piece of cake.
Not all audio stores will go to the trouble of helping customers to avoid the Japanese VAT, which is one reason I like Yodibashi. The immense size of their business in comparison to the average audio salon permits them to do that, I guess. |
I agree that Mehran is a very reputable and enthusiastic ZYX dealer. I have not seen internet claims that ZYX cartridges are any more often defective than any other of the expensive brands. The story about the guy receiving an empty box is certainly not evidence to support defectiveness. The follow-up that his replacement sample did not track well could as well be due to incompetent set-up as to the cartridge itself. In Tokyo, you cannot buy any of the UNIverse line of ZYX cartridges. These are made only for Mehran and sold only by him, so far as I can tell. I am the happy owner of a ZYX UNIverse (the original) that has given me no problems and much pleasure for 2-3 years. I bought it with very low hours from a fellow Audiogon Forum-er.
snackyp also asked about why Lyra cartridges are not available in Tokyo. Probably it has something to do with making money. It's not a secret that they are made by Scantech using designs and material specifications provided by Jonathan Carr. I wouldn't be surprised or upset to learn that ZYX cartridges are similar in provenance. You CAN buy just about any ZYX cartridge at a good price at Yodibashi, except no UNIverses.
As to other brands, nearly all that Chakster names can be found at Yodibashi. (Not sure if I recall seeing Dynavector, but other dealers DO sell Dynavector.) To his list I would add Ikeda, Denon, Grado (I think). You won't get a great discount on Audio Technica, compared to US prices. Probably you can save 20% to 40% on the others.
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First, you will not find Lyra cartridges for sale in Tokyo. Second, the price differential between Tokyo and USA is very variable depending upon brand. This is because different US distributors have very different mark-ups on the particular brands that particular company imports. Therefore you should take with you some sort of US price guide for the brands you like, to verify that you're getting a "deal". Finally, there are many great audio salons in Tokyo; it's almost like you went back in time to NYC of the 1970s, but for one stop shopping, I recommend Yodibashi Camera in Akihabara. It's a gigantic department store that has every sort of appliance, camera, and audio toy you can imagine all in one place. Yodibashi give a discount of the Japanese VAT (about 8%), if you present your passport, and an additional similar discount if you use your credit card. Audio is on the 5th floor, I think. Salesmen as a rule do NOT speak English. Be prepared to use a lot of sign language. The check-out guys and girls do speak enough English to help with the actual transaction. At Yodi, you will see some unusual Japan-only cartridges and many familiar brands, but not Lyra.
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