Recently, I wrote a case study on why collectors in India never get their hands on Hot Wheels. The reasons include scalpers, distributors using proxies to sell at MRP or above MRP, or retailer shops like Hamleys selling to bulk buyers before the stock ever gets on the pegs. The Indian government also plays its part by adding unnecessary BIS licensing, making it hard for toy manufacturers like Mattel to release new castings on a regular basis.
As a collector, you have multiple options:
- Buy from resellers at a slightly higher price
- Buy from scalpers at a significantly higher price
- Buy it yourself
Yes, you can buy Hot Wheels yourself without worrying about stocks running out or missing your favorite casting. This gives you complete freedom in making the buying decision, which is better than using FOMO to buy the desired castings.
Buying Imported Hot Wheels from Amazon Japan
Hot Wheels recently released Car Culture Ronin Run II, and the best part is that it is up for pre-order from Amazon Japan. In my post on how to buy Hot Wheels Car Culture Ronin Run II, I went through a short tutorial on how to buy the set.
The process is simple, and you need to follow the steps below.
Go to Amazon Japan and register for an account (if you don’t have one already). If you already have an account, simply sign in.
Now, open the casting page that you want to buy.
Next, click on “Add to Cart”. If it is a pre-order, you will get the option of “Pre-Order Now”.
As shown in the image above, you can add Mad Mike Mazda RX-3 to your cart as a pre-order. You can also change the quantity that you want to buy.
You can add as many casting as you want.
Once done, Amazon will calculate the shipping and import charges, revealing the final price of the added items.
Things to know before ordering from Amazon Japan
- Amazon JP adds all the import and shipping charges, so the final price that you see is what you pay.
- Indian or your local customs cannot ask for additional payment.
- In some cases, Indian customs ask for a BIS license. You can contest that by claiming the items are “collectibles” and “toys.” This happens rarely, but you must claim them as collectibles.
- In case of non-delivery, you’ll get a refund easily.
Pros
- Impressive collection of Hot Wheels (new and old)
- Let’s you pre-order new releases.
- Import fees and shipping are pre-calculated
Cons
- New castings can go out of stock based on hype.
- Local customs can cause problems, which Amazon JP won’t help you with.
Buying Imported Hot Wheels from Amazon US
Amazon US is a great place to buy rare and old castings, be it Mini GT, Hot Wheels, or other brands.
The pricing follows similar trends to local markets, and most of the stuff you get is reasonably priced. However, like importing from Amazon Japan, you’ll need to import multiple castings to keep the cost per car lower. If not, then the shipping and customs will make the purchase higher.
I recommend Amazon US for importing only if you don’t find anything locally. Like Amazon JP, everything, including shipping and customs, is managed by them. So, you get what you see – without the need to pay anything extra.
Things to know before ordering from Amazon US
- You get what you order, without the need to pay extra.
- You get access to old or rare castings that are not available locally.
- Similar to Amazon JP, make sure that customs don’t label it as toys, and you fight them by mentioning to them that your items are collectibles.
- All Amazon sites have a good refund policy, making ordering from them an easy decision.
Pros
- Unique and old casting
- New castings also show up frequently.
Cons
- Hyped castings get sold faster.
- Shipping and customs are higher than Amazon JP.
Buying Imported Hot Wheels from Amazon UK
Like Amazon JP and US, you can also order from Amazon UK. If you’re in India, then I would not recommend the UK site as the prices are on the higher side. However, you do get the option to order the latest Hot Wheels. For other locations, it depends on the shipping and customs. If you’re not sure, check with the local collectors community on their experience before importing from overseas Amazon sites.
Buying Imported Hot Wheels From Amazon India
If you’re from India and don’t want to go through the pain of importing or paying import duties and shipping charges, then you can directly buy imported Hot Wheels from Amazon India.
Before you do, you need to know a few things:
- The prices can vary from reasonable to very expensive, depending on the casting.
- The range of collection is limited, with most in-demand castings getting sold very fast.
Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Imported Hot Wheels Premium Under 1000
- Hot Wheels Premium Fast & Furious 1996 Nissan 180SX – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Terra Trek Hummer H1 – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Terra Trek Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Fast And Furious Auto DE Tomaso Panther Die – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture JH Nissan Fairlady Z, Japanese Historic Series – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Nissan Z GT 4 – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Mazda RX-3 – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium ’73 Honda Civic Custom – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Terra Trek Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Fast & Furious 1987 Chevy Caprice – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Terra Trek Datsun King Cab Baja Custom – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Car Culture Circuit Legend Corvette C8 – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Silhouettes Mazda RX7 – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium ’72 Toyota Corolla Levin – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Porsche 911 Carrera RS – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Pop Culture Hiway Hauler The Beatles HVJ41 – Check it out!
- Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Nissan 300GTX IMSA GTS – Check it out!
Keep a tab on this page as I’ll update new imported premium castings here for you to explore!
