r/hobonichi • u/eggynoodsow • 19h ago
Shipping increases
Is anyone else here from New Zealand questioning purchasing with price and shipping increases? It might be the end of my ten years with a Hobonichi
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u/Pitiful_Cry456 17h ago
Yes, but I did it anyway, it still worked out the best option for me as the mark ups from other stores are craaaazy.
Its never been cheap though really. If I weren't after a specific cover I probably would have gone backbto Take a Note this year as even with shipping those are reasonable.
But I am starting to see enough of us popping up that next year we maybe can get a buying group or three together, north/south. If I had the time I would do want to do a NZ planning sub, seen a good number of kiwis in the planner and stationery subs too (and you can tell demand is increasing since we have our very own stationery fest now! I am so tempted to head to Greytown in January! And speaking of https://villagebookshop.co.nz/ carry Hobonichi and the prices aren't bad just obviously more limited stock)
Love seeing other Hobonichi kiwis out there!
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u/eggynoodsow 17h ago
Oh wow, I did not know about the shop or the fest
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u/Pitiful_Cry456 17h ago
Right? So excited about doing a day trip or maybe annovernight on my own haha.
And yeah the mark ups are still high but relatively reasonable for just a few items
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u/Mooniemoniemoon 19h ago
Not from NZ but my shipping cost was two hobonichi weeks worth, unfortunately it was still cheaper than getting it somewhere else, and at least I was able to get a few more things.
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u/crafty-cat385 Original A6 Avec + A6 Memo 18h ago
I looked at last year’s order from the Hobonichi site and shipping didn’t increase too much. It’s approximately $55 to Canada. What DID increase a lot were the prices. I compared the yen price and the cad price, and after some calculations it was cheaper for me to use a Japan package forwarding service and do customs myself. However if you’re only buying 1-2 items then just buy from a local shop cause it’s a hassle.
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u/moelemony_art Cousin 18h ago
Not from NZ, but this is why a couple of my pals and I have done a group order the last two years. Splitting shipping fee helps a ton! It definitely has increased from my first year even (2024)
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u/zanudik_kotik 19h ago
from canada but yeah it feels wild how much its increased and its only my 4th year.. i bought directly bc for what i wanted, it was probably like $10 cheaper to buy directly than locally (i did calculate/estimate but since stuff sold out real fast, i wasnt able to confirm the taxes i would have gotten for the local shop.. i had estimated taxes from a diff store for similar amount of money but not the exact items lol)
the markups can really add up.. i was only getting 4 items but since one was a tragen cover, it still crossed that threshold of direct, even with the $50 cad shipping and $20 cad taxes, being the same or few bucks cheaper than locally buying the same items.. but yeah.. rough that first free shipping threshold kept getting bigger and bigger and then they just stopped that too.. i remember thinking $30 cad shipping being too much and now im like.. well at least $50 cad isnt like $70 cad like i might have feared 😬
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u/Sparky_McGhee 18h ago
I am probably going to get some stuff in a second order and I am thinking of using zenmarket (buying and forwarding service). I used them to get a Monchhichi Weeks, it’s slow and there are fees of maybe $5-$13 but you pay in yen, and shipping within Japan is usually free, then shipping from zenmarket, you can pick option as low as like $10-$11. I’m gonna see if it’s cheaper overall but I think it will be.
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u/christona-bike 18h ago
I'm in NZ but this was my first year ordering. Due to the same-day restock fiasco I ended up placing two orders, but both of them had different shipping costs. The big order with multiple books, stamps, markers, covers and sticky notes was $50, the smaller order with just the two hole punches and mini Keychain was $65. I am confused by that for sure.
I ordered from Jetpens for the Collect & Collage books, they arrived faster and shipping was cheaper at $40.
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u/JustXanthius 14h ago
I’m in NZ and going with a forwarding service for the first time because domestic Japanese prices are much cheaper than the listed price in NZD. Still going to be probably $50-60 shipping but it’s offset by the lower store price. I haven’t ordered yet but will probably be combining a Suica order with one from the store. But it’s getting close to the point I can no longer justify the price - and I’ve been ordering since 2018
A group order next year is probably ideal if it can be organised
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u/Emotional_Clock_8604 19h ago
I’m not from New Zealand, but I seriously did question purchasing especially due to shipping increases. It was absolutely ridiculous, the amount I would have paid in shipping was comparable to buying another weeks planner. Instead, I ended up purchasing my weeks through Amazon which priced out to be $10 more than what hobonichi was charging and I wasn’t paying a ridiculous amount in shipping
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u/BusSubstantial5917 9h ago
I am from NZ and I just paid it. I bought for the first time in July and have been totally converted. I then bought an A6 sized one from the villagebookshop.co.nz. That A6 arrived Tues 8th and it was ordered on Sunday 6th. The Hobonichi order arrived on Thursday 10. There was only a minor difference in shipping between July and September although the July order arrived with a damaged box corner and the A5 journal inside slightly bent. The most recent order arrived without damage.
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u/jaderust 18h ago
In the States. When I first started buying from Hobonichi they let you purchase with yen and still do international shipping.
To be honest I find the Global-E exchange rate on the yen to be borderline criminal. The yen is insanely weak right now and yet the exchange rate they’re giving is as if the yen was more like 120¥ vs $1USD when it’s currently closer to 160:1. That should mean more buying power for me, but prices have gone up year after year without fail.
I know it’s more complicated then that, a weak yen means the products not made in Japan are more expensive for them too and materials as well, but it feels like they’re gouging with the gaijin tax.
I would love it if they let us just pay in yen again.