Japan Trip - Looking For Shopping MC Cartridge Recommendations

For ZYX you’d better contact Mehran at SoraSound in Chicago, you can get the best deal ever, warranty, trade-in options for the future. He’s is a nice guy to deal with, highly recommended. He’s a friend of Nakatsuka-San who design ZYX, as far as i know Mehran used to live in Japan for some time. My ZYX Premium 4D SB2 from Mehran was perfect, no issues.

P.S. Previous Airy 3 from grey market dealer juki was very strange during burn-in process, i’ve hear distortion for some time, but no problem with suspension.

Anyway there are many great cartridges in Japan now: Miyajima, Shelter, My Sonic Labs, Dynavector, Audio-Technica ... you know all of them, i’m sure.

This is something new and it was J.Carr who informed us about this design:
http://topwing.jp/BlueDragon-en.html

Karl, even if they are a bit cheaper they will charge you consumption tax in the shops. And then you will have to carry this turntable into the plane with you ? Or you will put it in the luggage that can be lost/damaged in transit (it happens) ? Or you will ship it ? It's quite heavy 

Yes, but you can buy second hand, i've seen it for about $5000 in mint condition, amazing price for SP-10R, this is only possible in Japan :)) 

The thing described by @lewm is probably what in every country called Tax Free Global Refund read more about it HERE, but as far as i know you will have to show the goods on the Global Refund office in the airport before departure to get TAX back in cash or on card. You can do the same in every big store all over Europe if EU is not your country of origin.

@lewm did you ever bought anything in Yodibashi yourself ? Just curious how it really works. Maybe they can ship it outside of Japan, but they can’t lower the actual cost in custom declaration, for the item with over $7-9000 custom value there must be an import TAX in every country, so your local custom will charge you anyway. Right ?

According to US Custom: "Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate."

What about an item with value over $7000 then, probably higher import tax ? 

Consumption tax in Japan, known in other countries as VAT, GST or sales tax, is a flat 10% on all items except food, drinks and newspaper subscriptions for which it is 8% (not including alcoholic drinks and dining out).

The only way to avoid import tax is physically imported good in your personal luggage on the plane.

ANOTHER problem:
The weight of SP1000R is approx. 40.2 kg (88.7 lbs)
and the weight of SP-10R is approx. 18.2 kg (40.2 lbs)

Normally free luggage limit on the plane is $20-25kg (44 - 55 lbs), most likely you will have to pay extra if your own luggage contain more than just one SP-10R. And you will definitely must use a taxi to the airport in Japan which is extremely expensive.

When you will put together all the expenses then you will realize it is not that easy.

*********** Official prices in USA: *************************

Ask Neil at Sunny Audio Video:

SL1000R is $18K

SP10R is $10K

I will ask my friend in Tokyo to check it out soon 

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.

good news, this is different system then, japan is so different.

So anyone with not japanese passport can buy without VAT at their store, even if a person living in japan and then can ship it to his foreign friends with declared value of $500 and marked as used or gift). Sounds like a good plan @lewm But are you sure the price is in fact 40% cheaper than in USA ?

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%

SP-10R is $10 000 in USA
So it must be $6 000 for a foreigner if your calculation was correct ?

This is their website, but Technics SP10R is not available (out of stock)

https://www.yodobashi.com/product/100000001003856495/