Yahoo Japan Auction Assistant

[GaijinPunch]

I thought I made a post here about this ages ago, but nothing was turned up in the search engine. Anyways, I've made an update, so you can now search for Super Famicom games, and there's also a link from the front page. Follow the link in my sig, check under bonus material on the left.

Enjoy!

[Iron Draggon]

OK, I'm completely lost in all that Japanese, and I'd be scared to death to try bidding on something there in a situation like that, but I'd like to find a new sealed copy of Super Pinball 2 The Amazing Odyssey for the Super Famicom.

[Ed Oscuro]

I would go with an import service, then. You'd still want to use this to help you find stuff.

I navigate the menus decently, but it's always possible to lose track of something.

One last thing - make sure you've got the page translated (OCN's service is alright), especially with hardware. There's no telling if stuff will work otherwise!

[GaijinPunch]

Ed has a good point. This tool is only to help those with zero Japanese ability (or speed things up for people with minimal Japanese ability). You still have the "Seller won't ship internationally" problem that you're on your own to solve, easily (but expensively) through an import service.

This can also be a good way to price games, and realize just how much money those direct from Japan sellers on Ebay are making... 98% chance they got it on YJ.

Not sure what system is next... probably Famicom. If they'd ever quit making Dreamcast games, I'd do that list. :)

[Iron Draggon]

OK, so where do I find some good import services, and the OCN translator? I'm not really worried about how much the game will cost me, I'm alot more concerned as to whether or not it's still possible to find it new/sealed or at the very least mint/complete if I can't find a sealed copy of it somewhere. I've seen Mail Order Japan before, but it kinda looks like it's not in business anymore, so I wasn't sure if I should give them a try or what I should do.

[rbudrick]

He yguys,

Rinkya.com will bid on yahoo japan stuff for you. THey cost a good amount, but you totally avoid that whole internationl shipping thing.

Also, many Japanese sellers will indeed ship internationally. THis is usually in the text of the auction though....not obvious if you can't read it.

But yeah, use Rinkya...sometimes it is he only way to get certain things.

-Rob

[GaijinPunch]

Yeah, learning how to ask if they'll ship internationally isn't a bad idea either.

[anagrama]

Not sure what system is next...

*cough* SG1000/Mark III *cough* ;)

[GaijinPunch]

A nice suggestion.... would be easy, but there's almost no Japanese-only games when compared to something like the Famicom. Will have a look for a list though. :)

[link1110]

OK, I'm completely lost in all that Japanese, and I'd be scared to death to try bidding on something there in a situation like that, but I'd like to find a new sealed copy of Super Pinball 2 The Amazing Odyssey for the Super Famicom.

Super Famicom (And regular Famicom) games didn't come sealed. Just came in boxes without any plastic wrap on them.

[rbudrick]

Super Famicom (And regular Famicom) games didn't come sealed. Just came in boxes without any plastic wrap on them

I think there were afew exceptions to this, but that is basically correct for almost all games...


-Rob

[Ed Oscuro]

At most, some games had a sticker-seal (some x68K, Mega Drive). CD-ROM games (includes the big box for Saturn Cyberbots) had cellophane style stuff.

[Iron Draggon]

OK, I'm completely lost in all that Japanese, and I'd be scared to death to try bidding on something there in a situation like that, but I'd like to find a new sealed copy of Super Pinball 2 The Amazing Odyssey for the Super Famicom.

Super Famicom (And regular Famicom) games didn't come sealed. Just came in boxes without any plastic wrap on them.

WOW, thanks for letting me know that! I'd hate to pass up a really good mint/complete one in a futile search for a new/sealed one. But I'm curious now, how can you tell if an SFC game is new or just mint/complete then?

[anagrama]

A nice suggestion.... would be easy, but there's almost no Japanese-only games when compared to something like the Famicom. Will have a look for a list though. :)

Great stuff :)
I think there's around a dozen JP-only MkIII games, and a few more that are slightly different to the Western release. The only overseas versions of SG1000 games are the Aus/NZ John Sands/Grandstand releases, and a few were available in Europe alongside the Sega/Yeno SC3000.
Mark III games are pretty well documented by SMSpower.org, and the SG-1000 is covered in the DP database.

[JLukas]

WOW, thanks for letting me know that! I'd hate to pass up a really good mint/complete one in a futile search for a new/sealed one. But I'm curious now, how can you tell if an SFC game is new or just mint/complete then?

You'll only know if the seller says it's new in the auction description. On YHJ, assume every SFC game is used unless it said otherwise.

If you're patient enough, a number of popular SFC games can still be found new on there. However, I definately wouldn't pass on a used game that looks like it is in good shape from the picture. Every game I've purchased has been in amazing shape, even when the seller has said it isn't perfect and cautioned serious collectors away from the auction.

The main problem I've run into on YHJ is finding SFC games that are fully complete. Boxed with instructions isn't hard to find, but I'd prefer to buy one that has all the misc. flyers and everything it had when new, which is much less common.

Also, watch ebay's listings, too. There's a decent selection on there, and often you can get a game cheaper from the resellers there than buying from YHJ and having to pay Rinkya or whoever a bunch of fees.

[AB Positive]

If you're patient enough, a number of popular SFC games can still be found new on there. However, I definately wouldn't pass on a used game that looks like it is in good shape from the picture. Every game I've purchased has been in amazing shape, even when the seller has said it isn't perfect and cautioned serious collectors away from the auction.

I'll second this, I got three complete Ranma GB games from Yahoo Japan and damn if they aren't mint. The auction said there was "Some brusing possible" on one of the boxes but I don't see it.

-AG

[Ed Oscuro]

Boxed with instructions isn't hard to find, but I'd prefer to buy one that has all the misc. flyers and everything it had when new, which is much less common.
In my experience, dedicated collectors - i.e. NeoGeoMan and 16-bit - are very good about this, and the really expensive single games I've gotten from HK are complete too.


Also, watch ebay's listings, too. There's a decent selection on there, and often you can get a game cheaper from the resellers there than buying from YHJ and having to pay Rinkya or whoever a bunch of fees.
Seconded...your first purchase off YAJ should be a single expensive game, single so you get an idea of the minimum fees you'll be up against, and expensive enough that you don't feel you shoulda gotten it elsewhere.

[davidleeroth]

Japanese are pretty anal about the condition. Items described as being "junk" are usually in a condition that would easily pass the average rating in the West.

[Ed Oscuro]

Japanese are pretty anal about the condition. Items described as being "junk" are usually in a condition that would easily pass the average rating in the West.
Some are...when you get an old computer from Japan it may well have scuffs and broken bits. I've also seen some items listed as "broken," too.

[GaijinPunch]

Sorry for the late reply... been away from my computer.

I've gotten burned on condition a few times, but for the most part, I've been pleased w/ the condition of most things. Some stores are like that as well. Items marked as class "B" might have one very unnoticeable scuff.