Anyone shop at NCS?

[neogamer]

Just curious if anyone here shops at NCS (National Console Support)?

I used to deal with them years ago and I started to deal with them once again!

I just wanted some other collectors and gamers thoughts on their service.

[Bojay1997]

Best import shop period. Always fast and everything is packed well. Never had a problem in almost a decade of dealing with them.

[Tron 2.0]

There good for current imports but they have become too popular.

If ya don't preorder,you can miss out on the game you want.

[The 1 2 P]

I've only shopped there once a few years ago and had no problems at all.

[kazuo]

Best import shop period. Always fast and everything is packed well. Never had a problem in almost a decade of dealing with them.

+1. Best import shop, PERIOD.

Also been dealing with them for nearly a decade (will be 10 years in a few months). Peter & Susan (and everyone else) = good folks!

I can't attest to missing out on stuff if you don't preorder, but the popular stuff is restocked often enough that it shouldn't be an issue.

Highly recommended.

[retrogamer]

I've known about them since around 1999, but started buying from them heavily during the past few years. They are very reputable and professional. Shipping is very inexpensive and their website is easy to navigate, IMHO.

If you miss something, you can always try Play-Asia.

[Family Computer]

used them once, definitely great experience

[Kyle15]

I've used them over three times.
No problems, they are the most professional game service on the net.
Everything about them is perfect.

I use them everytime a new import arrives. :)

[Chuplayer]

I've used them a bunch of times for import Dreamcast games and Sin and Punishment for the N64 back in 2000-2003. I then used them for Wangan Midnight for the PS3 last month, and they were still good.

[Aussie2B]

I used to, but I've sworn off of them ever since they burned me really bad. After that, I learned of a history they have of issues with very limited, expensive items. The problem is that their suppliers are completely unreliable and unprofessional, and since NCS chooses to deal with such people, it in turn makes them unprofessional too, no matter how much they may play the victim. My bad experience was when I was looking to get the Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Artifact Box. I placed a pre-order with Play-Asia, but then I canceled it to switch to NCS, even though it would've cost me slightly more, because I thought I would get better service and shipping. What a big mistake that was. The day that it came out NCS stated that they couldn't fill any of the pre-orders at the price given. Their scummy suppliers saw the demand and took it as an opportunity to price-gouge, so NCS could only offer it at twice the price. Play-Asia, on the other hand, filled their pre-orders with no problems, despite that they're foreigners too. Turns out this scenario is very common with NCS. I don't really want to do any business with them anymore (although I will say all my "normal" orders before that went fine), but if I was to use them, I'd only buy stuff that they already have listed as in stock.

[neogamer]

I used to, but I've sworn off of them ever since they burned me really bad. After that, I learned of a history they have of issues with very limited, expensive items. The problem is that their suppliers are completely unreliable and unprofessional, and since NCS chooses to deal with such people, it in turn makes them unprofessional too, no matter how much they may play the victim. My bad experience was when I was looking to get the Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Artifact Box. I placed a pre-order with Play-Asia, but then I canceled it to switch to NCS, even though it would've cost me slightly more, because I thought I would get better service and shipping. What a big mistake that was. The day that it came out NCS stated that they couldn't fill any of the pre-orders at the price given. Their scummy suppliers saw the demand and took it as an opportunity to price-gouge, so NCS could only offer it at twice the price. Play-Asia, on the other hand, filled their pre-orders with no problems, despite that they're foreigners too. Turns out this scenario is very common with NCS. I don't really want to do any business with them anymore (although I will say all my "normal" orders before that went fine), but if I was to use them, I'd only buy stuff that they already have listed as in stock.

This is definately out of the "ordinary" as to what other people posted. I will keep this in mind thougj. Normally, I only buy in stock items from them. I don't buy "toys" or any Japanese RPG's either, so I am safe in the regard. The last time I used them was to buy Neo Geo AES cartridges! I own the English versions of Samurai Showdown 5, SVC Chaos, Sengoku 3, and Metal Slug 3, 4,5, and 6. I had no problems when I bought those items!

I just wish they would offer more import systems to play all those import games on!

[kazuo]

<snip>Play-Asia, on the other hand, filled their pre-orders with no problems, despite that they're foreigners too.

wut

NCS is based in New York, Play-Asia is based in Hong Kong.

FYI, I'm not trying to justify the fact that NCS often has to raise their prices due to greedy suppliers, it's out of their hands, but the fact is everyone is in this to get paid.

Further, Japanese companies typically don't supply foriegn resellers (like NCS). If they did, or wanted their games re-sold in foreign markets, they wouldn't implement region lockouts.

It's easier for P-A to get supplied since the Asian market more-or-less is the Japanese market by extension.

Again, not trying to justify the markups, but that's how it is. No one "burned" you, you just got shafted by greedy resellers trying to make more money. NCS didn't force you to purchase the game at the marked-up price, nor do they ever -- they always give their customers the option of backing out.

For what it's worth.

[neogamer]

wut

NCS is based in New York, Play-Asia is based in Hong Kong.

FYI, I'm not trying to justify the fact that NCS often has to raise their prices due to greedy suppliers, it's out of their hands, but the fact is everyone is in this to get paid.

Further, Japanese companies typically don't supply foriegn resellers (like NCS). If they did, or wanted their games re-sold in foreign markets, they wouldn't implement region lockouts.

It's easier for P-A to get supplied since the Asian market more-or-less is the Japanese market by extension.

Again, not trying to justify the markups, but that's how it is. No one "burned" you, you just got shafted by greedy resellers trying to make more money. NCS didn't force you to purchase the game at the marked-up price, nor do they ever -- they always give their customers the option of backing out.

For what it's worth.

They do. I think I had that happen on one of the Neo Geo games I mentioned earlier. I keep detailed records of everything I buy, so I would have to check, but I was just wondering if anyone else shops at NCS like I do.

Thanks for all the feedback. That's why I started this thread.

[Aussie2B]

Meh, I still say I got burned regardless of whether they give the option to back out or not (I did, and instead of getting the item at a reasonable price as soon as it came out, which I would've had I kept my Play-Asia pre-order, I was forced to get it about a month later off of eBay for an extra 50 bucks).

Again, I don't buy the whole "we're victims too" excuse. NCS chooses their suppliers, and they knowingly choose to deal with shifty suppliers and I think that's an insult to their customers. If you can't offer reliable services, you may as well not offer the service at all. At the very least, they should include notes on pre-orders for similar special items that prices are subject to increases, or, smarter yet, they could just not offer pre-orders at all until they have a locked in price. I don't buy that it's so different for people in Hong Kong than in the US either. Sure, Play-Asia has access to Asian versions of games, but Japanese releases aren't normally supposed to leave Japan, period. Doesn't matter if they're staying in Asia or if they're crossing the Pacific. Chinese or American, they're dealing with foreign people who speak a foreign language and have a foreign market and government.

Oh, and I didn't mean this scenario was ordinary for all orders. I'm specifically ONLY talking about special, limited edition items like expensive box sets that cost the equivalent of a hundred dollars or more in Japan. I talked to a lot of other importers as I was going through my problem, and I heard time and time again of experiences people had with pre-orders on similar items getting price-gouged.

[Japan-Games.com]

Yeah, Japan, Hong Kong, and the US are three different markets. But I'm guessing Play-Asian has an easier time getting contacts in Japan, and a much easier time finding suppliers who will give them the items under the table. NCS actually does a pretty amazing job getting stuff from Japan.

But yeah, it's a pre-order, and once you've bought it you don't buy it elsewhere. I'm sure a lot of people do this to avoid being at the mercy of resellers, but that's what ends up happening in the end. They should post a note or something saying they can't guarantee anything. In all reality they'll probably still get the orders anyway.

[tritium]

NCS does have the problem with price gauging on very limited items from suppliers. I read their news every day though I dont order from them too often, and some of their ultra popular pre-orders to get hiked at shipping.

Play-asia does not, and they're quite reputable as well, though I would assume contact with aproblem would be harder.

[neogamer]

NCS does have the problem with price gauging on very limited items from suppliers. I read their news every day though I dont order from them too often, and some of their ultra popular pre-orders to get hiked at shipping.

Play-asia does not, and they're quite reputable as well, though I would assume contact with aproblem would be harder.

My problem with Play-Asia is that I only buy NEW games, thus making it hard to spend time sifting through the items on their website, only to see what it new and what is used.

I will be using them in the next coming weeks though!

I hope it works out, as I am planning on buying another import Japanese PS 2 system-NEW of course!