[Music Alchemist]

That sounds like several weeks possibly a couple months of down time and close to a couple hundred in shipping. Is it that much savings over buying from a local dealer with a factory authorized local warranty service? I'm not raging on anyone I'm just curious whether it's really worth the savings or not. ....... Just a yoke clip repair on 009's is expensive. In fact almost nothing repaired on 009 is cheap.

 
Yes, there are many stories posted online from PJ customers who had to wait weeks or months. Then again, there are similar stories involving authorized distributors as well. As far as direct prices for the headphones go, it is currently $3,825 from STAXUSA.com and a little over $3,300 from PriceJapan.com. Personally I'd rather go with an authorized distributor.
 
Here's one of the more concerning reports: http://www.soundbsessive.com/horror-report-stax-sr-009/

 

[nepherte]

That sounds like several weeks possibly a couple months of down time and close to a couple hundred in shipping. Is it that much savings over buying from a local dealer with a factory authorized local warranty service? I'm not raging on anyone I'm just curious whether it's really worth the savings or not. ....... Just a yoke clip repair on 009's is expensive. In fact almost nothing repaired on 009 is cheap.

I know that in Belgium, Stax headphones from a local official dealer are at least twice as expensive as buying from PriceJapan (shipping included). For the SR009, we're talking about saving more than 2500$. I'd say that's worth it

 

[juantendo8]

Just wanted to say that PriceJapan came to a halt because the manager was hospitalized, which is posted on the website. I've already gotten my headphones through another proxy service, but I could probably recommend PriceJapan now that he is about to get the business up and running again.

 

[TSAVJason]

Just wanted to say that PriceJapan came to a halt because the manager was hospitalized, which is posted on the website. I've already gotten my headphones through another proxy service, but I could probably recommend PriceJapan now that he is about to get the business up and running again.

Thanks everyone! This is all great feedback. I see that you are a group that has incredible patients. I would have a huge issue would months of waiting to own them or 3-5 weeks for repair down time. As dealers we're asked to hold the $4400 price but we don't because even they discount it on their StaxUSA site. I knew that some countries have duties and taxes that significantly raise the price but not as extreme as you've provided here. Currently even Canada & the US have currency differences that Canadians have stopped shopping in the US because a tax that's called CAD. $3,999 USD becomes $5300 Canadian. In Taiwan it's pretty steep too. 30% higher than US prices. But double is just crazy.

 

[paradoxper]

The only thing I'd add is Yamas isn't that efficient with repairs either. Back in time, the price discrepancy between US dealer and 'grey' market PJ were a hell lot more. I think any way you can, buy the 009. 

 

[TSAVJason]

Yes this is a story I have heard several times about PriceJapan. It's unfortunate but this is a problem caused by STAX Japan. They don't feel the need to service buyers with the respect they deserve and so the companies like PriceJapan will continue until STAX decides the customer is the most important aspect of what we do. STAX could easily solve some of the major price and service discrepancies but so far it appears they would rather ignore it than deal with it.

 

[mulveling]

Price Japan is a very small (apparently 1-man) operation, so that's part of the risk calculation you take when you decide whether the savings is worthwhile. They've been extremely reliable and efficient for me in 4 or 5 separate transactions spanning 13 years. I definitely felt that the substantial savings on the SR-009 was well worth the risk, and it paid off for me. I was also swayed by reports of how bad/slow warranty service was from the american dealer/distributor -- and also that the channel imbalance issue affected PJ and non-PJ purchases alike. That's definitely not enough to convince me to fund a distributor's high margins.
 
It's sad that PJ is now facing issues and causing problems for customers. I'm inclined to believe the report of Kaneda's hospitalization, but it's sad either way. I hope they come back because it's a great resource to have them.
 
I agree with paradoxper that you just get the 009 any damn way you can.

 

[TSAVJason]

I did hear he was ill and I saw the post he'd be back soon. I kinda get his lack of or slow service generally. You really can't do much when you don't make any real profit. At his cost and at those prices, he's probably living a very shy life. I hope he's better soon.

 

[gearofwar]

Does anyone here know what's happening to PJ again? I got a message back from Kaneda on Aug 13 after months of waiting promised to reply back to me in 2-3 days (he just got out of his rehospitalization) about the status of my item then another 3 weeks already passed. I did send couple of emails again and no reply still. What really happened to him? 

 

[plektret]

Does anyone here know what's happening to PJ again? I got a message back from Kaneda on Aug 13 after months of waiting promised to reply back to me in 2-3 days (he just got out of his rehospitalization) about the status of my item then another 3 weeks already passed. I did send couple of emails again and no reply still. What really happened to him? 

 

I don't think anybody knows what's happening to PJ. I've had a pending paid order for 3 months and haven't had a single reply. I've sent an email to their 3 addresses every fortnight without response. Their fax seems to be disconnect. You'd think a paid order should be at highest priority. The only activity I've seen from them lately is that the prices on their site have started to be regularly updated again like they used to be (last update was this monday). The only thing I can do is wait...
On what date did you send the message that they replied to? Was it about an already paid order?

 

[gearofwar]

 

  Does anyone here know what's happening to PJ again? I got a message back from Kaneda on Aug 13 after months of waiting promised to reply back to me in 2-3 days (he just got out of his rehospitalization) about the status of my item then another 3 weeks already passed. I did send couple of emails again and no reply still. What really happened to him? 

 

I don't think anybody knows what's happening to PJ. I've had a pending paid order for 3 months and haven't had a single reply. I've sent an email to their 3 addresses every fortnight without response. Their fax seems to be disconnect. You'd think a paid order should be at highest priority. The only activity I've seen from them lately is that the prices on their site have started to be regularly updated again like they used to be (last update was this monday). The only thing I can do is wait...
On what date did you send the message that they replied to? Was it about an already paid order?

I sent him like over 20 emails in the last 3 months without response and on that aug 13 , he finally responded to me and now he stops completely. It's about a unit I sent back for repair. 

 

[MariusValentin]

 I'm just about to buy Stax Sr-009 from PriceJapan ,is it worth buying from them? I live in the UK and it will cost me roughly 2700 GBP shipped with FeDex.  After reading here few thoughts I'm just a bit concerned whether buying or not . 
 
I notice there is a message on their site "We will resume our work from Aig 08"

 

[mulveling]

   I'm just about to buy Stax Sr-009 from PriceJapan ,is it worth buying from them? I live in the UK and it will cost me roughly 2700 GBP shipped with FeDex.  After reading here few thoughts I'm just a bit concerned whether buying or not . 
 
I notice there is a message on their site "We will resume our work from Aig 08"

By all accounts, PriceJapan has gone completely dark since this summer. There has been no resumption of service or even communication since early August. Many have been forced to attempt chargebacks or Paypal disputes. Do NOT make a purchase from them. Prior to this, they had been extremely reliable for many years (I made my first purchase on 2002/2003). It it possible or likely that the man behind this one-man show (Kaneda) is either in dire health or deceased.

 

[TSAVJason]

That might be a bad experience being they are not responding to anyone

 

[MariusValentin]

Thank you for the Info guys . Well in this case I'll have to look elsewhere