Insanely overpriced Japan

[matsuki]

So we all know about the 16,000yen watermelons and such but I am still constantly surprised at the ass rape pricing that I see here for all kinds of things. What are the worst/most surprising inflated prices you've seen?

My boss is having his home painted at the moment and I was surprised to hear he's paying 3,500,000 for the job

Even with a 5 man crew, they are quoted at 2 weeks to pressure wash the rabbit hutch, fill any cracks, then paint. Supposedly the excuse for the price is the need to tent the entire home to prevent over spray on the neighbors and how long it takes to setup/tear down. I am soo in the wrong bid'nes

[Coligny]

Dood, that sounds like outside paint reform. With restoration on the walls. Not like having a mexican paint the kitchen overnight...
Need waterproof, uv proof paint that stick on concrete or worse, the crap steel panelling. Check the price of polyurethane paint... It's never cheap...

(Price for audi were 4 mans per panel, so 16 mans per side 48 mans for the whole car)

Plus those watermelon are gift grade watermelons. In my hicktown you got normal own at regular price. Didn't pay attention last week end shopping, but even by my penny pinching standards there was nothing hair raising on the sticker price.

[matsuki]

Dood, that sounds like outside paint reform. With restoration on the walls. Not like having a mexican paint the kitchen overnight...
Need waterproof, uv proof paint that stick on concrete or worse, the crap steel panelling. Check the price of polyurethane paint... It's never cheap...

It's stucco they're painting (this place is the bastard compromise result of wanting a US style home while the grandparents were horrified and wanted Japanese) and since I work in the office on one side of the home, I can tell you there isn't much restoration to be done. Maybe a few cracks but nothing of note that would demand extra attention. At that price, it almost seems cheaper to put some kind of tile/veneer/etc. over the painted areas.

[Coligny]

Or outside isolation pannelling...

[Russell]

So we all know about the 16,000yen watermelons and such but I am still constantly surprised at the ass rape pricing that I see here for all kinds of things. What are the worst/most surprising inflated prices you've seen?

My boss is having his home painted at the moment and I was surprised to hear he's paying 3,500,000 for the job

Even with a 5 man crew, they are quoted at 2 weeks to pressure wash the rabbit hutch, fill any cracks, then paint. Supposedly the excuse for the price is the need to tent the entire home to prevent over spray on the neighbors and how long it takes to setup/tear down. I am soo in the wrong bid'nes

If it is just for painting his home, it seems overpriced to me, but I do not know the size of his home, and what else is included in the price.

But on a general level I agree that those reform companies tend to overcharge. Well, guess what, I do almost everything myself in my home (except installing air conditioners etc). Saves loads of money, even with me having to buy the right tools for the job.

[Kanchou]

Uh, your boss realizes that's a typical year's salary, right?

He could pay to have people come from outside Japan and do the job ten times for that much.

[Kanchou]

Dood, that sounds like outside paint reform. With restoration on the walls. Not like having a mexican paint the kitchen overnight...
Need waterproof, uv proof paint that stick on concrete or worse, the crap steel panelling. Check the price of polyurethane paint... It's never cheap...

(Price for audi were 4 mans per panel, so 16 mans per side 48 mans for the whole car)

Plus those watermelon are gift grade watermelons. In my hicktown you got normal own at regular price. Didn't pay attention last week end shopping, but even by my penny pinching standards there was nothing hair raising on the sticker price.

480,000 is a shitton even for a Japan for a typical "all-pen." You should be able to get a factory-quality job done (including removing the bumpers and lights) for less than 300,000. You got raped.

Also, the fact that people think watermelons make good gifts or that $120 is an acceptable price for them is idiotic.

[Coligny]

Actually, no, we asked the price when i got tired of having to do the touch up every other week (still got some VAG group LY3H laser red if someone need btw...). So we dumped that one, the residual value back then was a key holder and 2 bags of kitty litter. i sort of miss this color... Especially with most Jdm cars available only in white, grey, less grey or black only...

image.jpg

(A random laser red kraut)

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Japan used to be entirely about all sorts of rip-offs like these, but I think it's generally cheap now....

[Samurai_Jerk]

Japan used to be entirely about all sorts of rip-offs like these, but I think it's generally cheap now....

Choko's always ignorantly comparing prices to whatever shitty part of the US he's from and taking that as the world standard. I compare the prices in Tokyo to my hometown (NYC) and don't get sticker shock.

[gaijinpunch]

As someone that got paid in dollars, I was shocked (not really) to see the price of imports go absolutely nowhere as the yen soared to record highs. All these economic "experts" that are saying, "but a weak yen will drive up the price of food" can go fuck themselves. Even at 円還元 sales, the amount you'd save was a joke.

I wish I knew about iherb back when the FX was killing me. Could have saved a lot on certain groceries. Still do now, but not as much.

I do think the prices are more in check now, but there are definitely some that make me want to boycot certain cumpanies on both sides of the pond. Canon and Pioneer specifically did not adjust to the yen (at all), which meant I was buying all my gear in the America. Burton absolutely flays it's Japanese patrons. I've always wanted a Canondale, but they're barely affordable in the US... definitely not in Japan, and ironically I'm sure shipping from the sweat shop is cheaper to Japan.

[Samurai_Jerk]

You're probably wrong about shipping. Maybe to Japan is cheaper but from the port to the store is another story.

I have a friend who imported a boat to Japan from Florida. It cost him more to get it from the Port of Tokyo to his home in Kanagawa than it did to get it from FL to Tokyo.

[legion]

My boss is having his home painted at the moment and I was surprised to hear he's paying 3,500,000 for the job

Even with a 5 man crew, they are quoted at 2 weeks to pressure wash the rabbit hutch, fill any cracks, then paint. Supposedly the excuse for the price is the need to tent the entire home to prevent over spray on the neighbors and how long it takes to setup/tear down. I am soo in the wrong bid'nes

are they doing the roof too?

[matsuki]

are they doing the roof too?

If it is just for painting his home, it seems overpriced to me, but I do not know the size of his home, and what else is included in the price.

Size is about twice the size of a regular Jappy home (it's basically two plots combined and connected), two stories, and no, they are not painting to roof. I still don't understand why it will take them 2 weeks as they had the tent up the first day and I assume that means they're spraying rather than rolling it on...with that many people it shouldn't take them more than a week. (though every time I go out there they are huddled in the shade smoking so I should probably have factored in Japanese efficiency)

But on a general level I agree that those reform companies tend to overcharge. Well, guess what, I do almost everything myself in my home (except installing air conditioners etc). Saves loads of money, even with me having to buy the right tools for the job.

My solution as well, just can't believe this guy is willing to pay this...

Uh, your boss realizes that's a typical year's salary, right?

He could pay to have people come from outside Japan and do the job ten times for that much.

...or a bunch or local baito?

the fact that people think watermelons make good gifts or that $120 is an acceptable price for them is idiotic.

THIS x999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Japan used to be entirely about all sorts of rip-offs like these, but I think it's generally cheap now....

Choko's always ignorantly comparing prices to whatever shitty part of the US he's from and taking that as the world standard. I compare the prices in Tokyo to my hometown (NYC) and don't get sticker shock.

LA shitty? It's not cheap either....but then I'm talking "Insanely overpriced" here, not fruit and veggies a few hundred yen more than what I'm used to.

You're probably wrong about shipping. Maybe to Japan is cheaper but from the port to the store is another story.

I have a friend who imported a boat to Japan from Florida. It cost him more to get it from the Port of Tokyo to his home in Kanagawa than it did to get it from FL to Tokyo.

Yep, shipping within Japan for stuff like that can get crazy. Cyka probably knows better than any of us with the size of what she's bringing in.

Air to Japan is pretty crazy too though I can't say that's unique to Japan. I just brought in 4 30kg crankshafts in my checked luggage for $168...regular shipping of those from the US would have been a bit over $1000

[Samurai_Jerk]

LA shitty?

Yes.

Yep, shipping within Japan for stuff like that can get crazy. Cyka probably knows better than any of us with the size of what she's bringing in.

Air to Japan is pretty crazy too though I can't say that's unique to Japan. I just brought in 4 30kg crankshafts in my checked luggage for $168...regular shipping of those from the US would have been a bit over $1000

I'm not even including all the other additional unnecessary costs that were added later like charging sales tax for the shipping material wrapped around the boat to keep protects it en route. Just the cost of transporting his boat within Japan. Another cost was for "safety reasons". He was also forced to replace the boat's US-made engine fire extinguishers with shitty little Japanese ones that wouldn't help if his engine did catch fire and the American-sized life jackets with tiny little Japanese-approved ones that were too small for him or any other gaijin over 175 cm tall and/or 75 kg to put on.

[matsuki]

LA shitty?

Yes.

asshole

Yep, shipping within Japan for stuff like that can get crazy. Cyka probably knows better than any of us with the size of what she's bringing in.

Air to Japan is pretty crazy too though I can't say that's unique to Japan. I just brought in 4 30kg crankshafts in my checked luggage for $168...regular shipping of those from the US would have been a bit over $1000

I'm not even including all the other additional unnecessary costs that were added later like charging sales tax for the shipping material wrapped around the boat to keep protects it en route. Just the cost of transporting his boat within Japan. Another cost was for "safety reasons". He was also forced to replace the boat's US-made engine fire extinguishers with shitty little Japanese ones that wouldn't help if his engine did catch fire and the American-sized life jackets with tiny little Japanese-approved ones that were too small for him or any other gaijin over 175 cm tall and/or 75 kg to put on.

That sounds like a nightmare...did he anticipate this shit? (makes me wonder if he could have just left it registered in the US to avoid the regulations) Also, couldn't he have launched that shit locally and drove it to Kanagawa to avoid shipping it inland?

[canman]

Choko, I had my house painted, 70 tsubo house, with roof, for about Y1000 000. I thought it was insane, but that was the average price quoted to us. One of the biggest expenses was the damn scaffolding. It was Y250 000 for the week they needed to do the job. Hell at home, we would just borrow it from somebody. But TIJ.
In my 20 years here, prices have come way down, but I still find international shipping toe be grossly overpriced. Thank goodness I have a friend on base, and can use his post box for international orders.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

One of the biggest expenses was the damn scaffolding. It was Y250 000 for the week they needed to do the job.

That has traditionally been a yakuza industry, which is probably why it costs so much, even though organized crime may not be directly involved nowadays.

[Coligny]

You're probably wrong about shipping. Maybe to Japan is cheaper but from the port to the store is another story.

I have a friend who imported a boat to Japan from Florida. It cost him more to get it from the Port of Tokyo to his home in Kanagawa than it did to get it from FL to Tokyo.

Sometimes, the trick is just to use waterways... Nut not all GPS support that setting...

transport-bateau-route.jpg

[matsuki]

Choko, I had my house painted, 70 tsubo house, with roof, for about Y1000 000. I thought it was insane, but that was the average price quoted to us. One of the biggest expenses was the damn scaffolding. It was Y250 000 for the week they needed to do the job. Hell at home, we would just borrow it from somebody. But TIJ.
In my 20 years here, prices have come way down, but I still find international shipping toe be grossly overpriced. Thank goodness I have a friend on base, and can use his post box for international orders.

I still can't don't get why complete scaffolding is seen as being needed. These are rather small homes and with only two stories here, a proper ladder can reach the roof in most places. There are also a ton of alternatives but TIJ so I guess the most time consuming, difficult and profitable way is the most popular. Just reinforces my ideas of building with logs/vennered icf walls.

One of the biggest expenses was the damn scaffolding. It was Y250 000 for the week they needed to do the job.

That has traditionally been a yakuza industry, which is probably why it costs so much, even though organized crime may not be directly involved nowadays.

LOL, what don't the yaks have their fingers in? I still crack up everytime I'm reminded the d00ds at the matsuri selling choco-banana are yaks...



...then again, I can see the appeal

[Samurai_Jerk]

couldn't he have launched that shit locally and drove it to Kanagawa to avoid shipping it inland?

No. They made him pay to have it moved by trailer two kilometers from the port to the customs inspections site and back. That alone was 3 million yen. Then another 800,000 to have someone pilot it out to the middle of Tokyo Bay at which point that person would get on another boat and he could pilot it the rest of the way to the marina in Kanagawa. It was a 30 foot cruiser by the way. Big but it's not like it was a cargo ship. It cots him about $30,000 to ship it from Florida via the Panama Canal.

[matsuki]

couldn't he have launched that shit locally and drove it to Kanagawa to avoid shipping it inland?

No. They made him pay to have it moved by trailer two kilometers from the port to the customs inspections site and back. That alone was 3 million yen. Then another 800,000 to have someone pilot it out to the middle of Tokyo Bay at which point that person would get on another boat and he could pilot it the rest of the way to the marina in Kanagawa. It was a 30 foot cruiser by the way. Big but it's not like it was a cargo ship. It cots him about $30,000 to ship it from Florida via the Panama Canal.

Amazing Japanese efficiency at work...no, really, how else are they going to squeeze every last yen out of him?

[gaijinpunch]

but I still find international shipping toe be grossly overpriced. Thank goodness I have a friend on base, and can use his post box for international orders.

Heaven forbid don't mis-send something to a European nation and need it sent back. It will cost double the price you think is already way too high.

[Kanchou]

I don't know much about yachts, but doesn't a 30-foot boat have the range to island hop from the West Coast to Japan? Assuming conditions are good and you have an expert crew. That would probably cost 20-30K in fuel... but I guess registration is the problem?


Also, the reason people charge out the ass for things is because everyone else charges out the ass for things. You have to overcharge if you want to make a decent living. Think about paying people to do shaken or register cars... some of them charge several hundred dollars for a day's work and a little bit of paperwork. Dealers are even worse because they all add 2-3K on top of the sticker price for bullshit charges, and that's just for cheap cars.

[Russell]

You're probably wrong about shipping. Maybe to Japan is cheaper but from the port to the store is another story.

I have a friend who imported a boat to Japan from Florida. It cost him more to get it from the Port of Tokyo to his home in Kanagawa than it did to get it from FL to Tokyo.

He could have sailed it to his home.

And if his home is not at the side of the water, what is the point of having a boat at home?

Questions, questions...

Edit: OK, I should have read the thread to the end. So, he spent like US$ 70,000 just to get his boat in his front garden all the way from Florida? He may have better sold it there and buy another one here.

[Russell]

I still can't don't get why complete scaffolding is seen as being needed. These are rather small homes and with only two stories here, a proper ladder can reach the roof in most places. There are also a ton of alternatives but TIJ so I guess the most time consuming, difficult and profitable way is the most popular.

The problem is that homes are built too close to each other, so you cannot put up a ladder in between without the risk of it falling backwards when you are on it.

[yanpa]

Japan. Home of ultra-compact scaffolding.

housing-gap.jpg

[Mike Oxlong]

Are there any other sources besides overpriced DIY centre stuff to find scaffolding for purchase?

[Russell]

Are there any other sources besides overpriced DIY centre stuff to find scaffolding for purchase?

Where will you store that stuff after using it?

This also suggests that people may sell it off afterwards, so I guess it will be worthwhile to check out some auction sites.

[Mike Oxlong]

Are there any other sources besides overpriced DIY centre stuff to find scaffolding for purchase?

Where will you store that stuff after using it?

This also suggests that people may sell it off afterwards, so I guess it will be worthwhile to check out some auction sites.

My ginormous veranda, at least for a while.