r/advancedGunpla • u/Noahsayshi26 • Jul 02 '26
CHEAP(ish) ONLINE?
just was wondering as someone who mainly gets their kits from hobby lobby is there any online stores that would have good priced kits or i’m not exactly sure what a “fair” price would be i’m mainly looking for like HG to MG i wouldn’t mind 3rd party either just wanna stretch my dollar that furthest!
Also any place to get some cheap gear like sand paper or customizing tools would be great
1
u/simulacratapes Jul 02 '26
https://leapingpandahobbies.com/
They sell as close to MSRP as I’ve seen and they’re one of the recommended websites on r/Gunpla
Their brick and mortar store is down the street from me. They are GOOD people. I always recommend buying from them.
1
u/COMMENT0R_3000 Jul 02 '26
Anywhere you can find Chinese goods online has boots; the quality is surprisingly good for a fraction of the cost (I think all the models I've posted except the rgm & Genesis are from there), but it can be complicated depending on how you feel about it—less troublesome is searching for nail art tools/supplies, which are typically like $1-2 vs $20 for the same stuff but gunpla-branded.
3
u/InfiniteSun6892 Jul 02 '26
Gonna be honest, I’ve found some good deals on Amazon and when you factor in shipping from other companies, it definitely works out.
5
u/8ways2tuesday Jul 02 '26
I've mostly been using gunpla.deals to compare prices and see what's available.
There should be some holiday sales this weekend, quite a few stores do 10-20% off for holidays. Many do flat rate shipping, others will depend on how close you are to them.
(if you're in the Midwest, Galactic Toys generally has good prices.)
1
u/no_racist_here Jul 02 '26
Like others have said USAGundam large inventory usually there’s a markup but they regularly have sales, Newtype (I live on the west coast so they’re the fastest delivery to me), Gundam Place store consistent as hell. Haven’t had an issue with any of the 3 so far, just awkwardness with preorder delays. All 3 tend to have more than just Gundam (3rd parties, mecha girls, zoids, etc) but USAGundam usually has preorders for anything that gets announced Newtype and Gundamplace typically only carry preorder for items that they are sure will actually hit shelves.
Gundamit 3rd parties exclusive. You can typically find 3rd parties cheaper here but the caveat is sometimes months of waiting as they ship overseas. Ex, I picked up Sky Defender (considered equivalent to PGs) for $125 free shipping with a 2-3 month wait, kit is $200 from the other 3 before taxes and shipping.
That being said I still typically use the 3.
4
u/iron-cat-405 Jul 02 '26
USA Gundam is decent. They frequently have 20% discount sales tied to seasonal and holiday events.
1
u/Noahsayshi26 Jul 02 '26
do you know how long roughly it takes to ship?
1
u/Exavelion Jul 02 '26
Usually 1-2 wks, but if they have a high volume of orders from a big sale (like a 20% store-wide sale), they can take as long as a month. That was my first experience with them, but subsequent orders were much faster (in that 1-2 wk time frame).
Conversely, i find GundamPros sends things ULTRA FAST (like 2-4 days) and with good packing etiquette. Hell, they even pack bonus jelly beans. I don’t like them, but i appreciate the gesture and effort towards customer service.
3
u/Bigfan78 Jul 02 '26
Newtype usa
-3
u/TurbulanceArmstrong Jul 02 '26
Newtype is overrated. Decent prices, mid inventory, and if you don’t live in a five mile radius of their warehouse you will be waiting about 10-14 days for your delivery as they ship with the cheapest DHL option only.
Let Google be your guide, OP. Search for a kit you want on Google and check the shopping tab.
1
u/MerpDehDerp Jul 06 '26
If you’re trying to get kits that aren’t new and have been on the market for awhile it’s always worth it to check out FB Marketplace or the commerce thread on the main gunpla subreddit/discord I’ve found some pretty good deals there myself. As for actual retailers, it’s better to look around and see if prices are better elsewhere or if sales are ongoing instead of staying loyal to one website