Cheaper to buy in Japan or Dealer???

[keokoi]

I always face this question.

Cheaper to buy in Japan or from a dealer in states..

I will post my answer later.. Want to see what other think..

Joe

[soelistyo]

i think you'd have to qualify that question by stating how many pieces of koi are we talking about here. i assume you mean a normal hobbyists' quantity a few pieces max).

don't know about the States, but i think here in Indonesia it's cheaper to just buy from the dealer if you're buying just a few pieces. they get a volume discount from the breeder, shipment cost is divided over more fish, not to mention the risk of casualty during shipment is on their shoulders and you don't have to deal with the hassle of clearing your fish from greedy custom officials. and i won't even start on the travelling expenses.

of course, you can't really put down to dollars and cents the thrill of directly choosing your next koi from the breeder's pond in Japan. but if you were speaking strictly in economic terms, my guess is buying from the dealer is more kind to the wallet.

not to mention if we go to Japan most of us will probably end up buying many more koi than we told ourselves (and our significant others) we would prior to entering the breeder's shops.

[Mike T]

Joe:

If you know your way around it's cheaper in Japan... However if you add all the costs associated with going to Japan to pick up the Koi and shipping it back to the US, it's cheaper to give your money to Genki, Eastern, Mystic or other reputable dealer in the good old US of A...

Besides, Genki Qs all of the Koi that are shipped here, then Kenneth Qs them some more, I pick um up and drop um in my pond...No pilikia!

Sure you miss out on visiting the Breeders, but what the Hay...that's all you guys do, visit the breeders, in out, in out , in out...Plus how many koi can you buy... Do I miss out by not visiting the breeders, NO! Kenneth visits them, asks all the questions, comes home, and teaches us...

Now if you visited the other parts of Japan as part of the trip then it would be worth the cost...

Aloha! Mike

[dinh]

Quote: Originally Posted by keokoi I always face this question. Cheaper to buy in Japan or from a dealer in states.. I will post my answer later.. Want to see what other think.. Joe

Haven't take any Japan buying trip yet. But some of my koi buddies went to Japan with local dealers and bought some kois for me and seems like cheaper to buy from a dealer in states instead. Perhaps, we have to pay the commision to local dealer plus shipping, tax and other overhead too....

--Dinh

[gregbickal]

When I went to Japan, most of the koi in my pricerange were not individually priced. You looked at a tank full of koi which are all $100 each. And you picked out one you liked. I liked this alot. The flat rate commision that the dealer receives seemed very appropriate to me.

In comparison the price that I see the same koi marked up for on a dealers website, looks like highway robbery to me.

[dick benbow]

dealer's provide a service. I have seen some do a lot of work emailing photos and prices back and forth to get you the best koi/ prices if you can't make the trip yourself. if you go with a top notch dealer he can get you into places to see selections not readily available. because they buy from a breeder they establish a pecking order on better prices then someone who walks in unknown off the street. I quess I'm thinking if it does cost more seemingly there may be value your getting but not aware of, making a straight out apples to apples comparison for price not all that straigh forward...

[Tom C]

Come on Joe we know over all you will get better pricing from a dealer. Why would someone say this? Just do the math. The cost of the trip, the cost of the koi, the cost to ship it, the cost to QT it. If you only buying a few koi, those few koi will be a lot more if you count all of other cost into it. If you don't count this other cost Japan would be the way to go from what I hear. I know someone that went to Japn to pick out a koi, $25,000 later the koi was home. Three days later the koi was dead. He was out all of this money. Buying from a dealer is just more than a little extra money. The risk is a lot less getting a koi and driving half and hour home to put it in your QT tank or pond. I think any koi bought from a dealer should be QT even if the dealer QT them when they came in.

My question is, if someone goes over to Japan will the top breeder open the doors to someone they don't know? I heard you have to be with someone that know the top breeder to see the top koi, is this true? I also heard you get better pricing if your will someone they know, is this true? If so add the commision cost to the numbers above.

Tom

[aquitori]

I hate to discuss what is cheaper, then we start diving what the dealer markup is...Most people got to Japan in hopes to buy something that their dealer won't other wise bring in. Some people feel far more confident buy from their dealer because he or she has the eye to get what you are looking for...

[John Sprinkle TBT]

I think when you make a pilgrimage to Japan as a hobbyist that is what you are doing “Making a pilgrimage”. I hope to be doing it very soon. I am thinking next year will be the year. As far as buying I hope to buy a few Koi while I am there. The new pond will be a full year old and hopefully ready for some high quality koi. Now whether you are saving money or not is not important because it really is about seeing the birth place of Koi.



My wife and I sell orchids. We sell a lot of orchids. I happen to live close to one of the largest orchid producing areas in the US. When I have a customer who is suggesting or wanting to go with me to see the Orchid farms and maybe buy that once in a life time orchid I am always happy to take them. Besides it generally makes for good company along the way. There is nothing like seeing the look on their faces when they walk into a green house that is five acres in size and completely filled with blooming phalaenopsis. It is truly a fun experience for them. However the first thing they do is ask for help in picking out orchids. After buying orchids every week for eighteen years I have developed an eye for spotting the best plants with the highest quality flowers. Now that is not something special on my part. I have had lots of practice looking at a whole lot of orchids. I can only imagine the same of an experienced koi buyer. They look at thousands of koi on a regular basis. If they are good at what they are dong they are going to develop an eye for picking out the best quality Koi in the price range they are shopping in. With that being said I believe if you are a hobbyist and looking for a great experience and a great education you need to go to Japan. You will be able to relate and remember the names of your breeders and there places of business much better after seeing them. But if you are looking for a deal then you are much better off to buy from the dealer who has already assumed all the risk and done all the work.



John

[koi4all]

deepens who you go with I went last year with richdon the price we paid was the same as he would have no commission only for the agent but the best part is you chose your self and see them first hand.


rick