The Real McCoy's G1 - Size 42 - Brand new with tags, straight from Japan

[Bender]

I picked this up a few weeks ago from the Real McCoy's shop in Tokyo. It was originally bought for a buddy, but when his wife found out he was about to spend this kind of money on a jacket, she put on a hockey-mask and attacked him with a machete. I've decided to step in because I'm a good friend. Also, trying to sell an expensive jacket? Minor annoyance. Not getting decapitated with that self-same machete? Priceless. I know this woman. My life is in as much danger as his.

Jacket is a size 42. Brand new with tags, never worn.

There is no getting around the price on this one, it's $2,000.

A few bucks less than what I paid, before I knew my friend was going to back out because his wife is so handsy with the gigantic razor-sharp blades and what-not.

But consider this... I paid a bit more than $2000 in Tokyo. That's the price if you go to Japan. But this jacket in the US? Well, it's impossible to get in this size, but if you could... A truly insane $3,100. Plus duties, 15% tariff, and state sales taxes (yes, which The Real McCoys now charges). The final figure? A staggering $4,112.46. Roughly. I arrived at this number during the mock-up checkout by using South Carolina as the destination, since their sales tax is the national average. You'd pay less if you lived in New Hampshire, or more if you lived in California, like me, but that $4,112 figure is right in the middle.

So... if you've been looking for one of these, if this is a grail... this is the best price you'll find for a brand new one.

 

[Dortreo]

Damn.

 

[mcnuonuo]

Is it a new thing that even foreign sellers will start charging sales tax?

 

[Tom71]

Is it a new thing that even foreign sellers will start charging sales tax?

No, they don’t. RMC offers to handle all Import admin on the buyers behalf. That includes paying tariffs and applicable taxes that they add to the sales price.

You can opt to buy without tax/duty, but then you have to appoint the courier to get the work done and end up paying their handling fee as well. Also, takes longer…

Iron Heart offers the same service if you order from the EU via their UK portal.

 

[Bender]

No, they don’t. RMC offers to handle all Import admin on the buyers behalf. That includes paying tariffs and applicable taxes that they add to the sales price.

You can opt to buy without tax/duty, but then you have to appoint the courier to get the work done and end up paying their handling fee as well. Also, takes longer…

Iron Heart offers the same service if you order from the EU via their UK portal.

Thanks for this, I was unaware of the courier option to potentially defeat state sales tax!

So I just deep-dove this, not only to correct anything I may have gotten wrong, but also because I had been considering a watch of Swiss-origin, and had put that purchase on hold due to the insane 39% tariff on goods from Switzerland. After seeing Tom71's post, I was hoping a courier might be able to... massage the situation, lol.

So apparently how a courier works is they just literally buy the jacket from RMC. Meaning it's paid for directly at the store, as a Japan domestic purchase. They then ship the jacket and deal with all duties, tariffs, and state taxes. Here's some fast facts about this whole thing:

1. Some states do indeed charge a "use tax" (sales tax) on online foreign purchases, even if duties are also being paid on the goods. Seems kind of suspect from a constitutional standpoint, but who knows. A partial list: California, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Washington.

2. When it comes to US duties and tariffs, a reputable courier company isn't going to try and skirt things. Those are a big deal, they can lose their license, etc etc. That said, I don't know about state use taxes. These courier companies are licensed with the feds, but I don't think many are registered/licensed with the states, or otherwise compelled to comply with individual state laws. My guess is there would be some leeway there. But don't quote me on that. Apparently states like CA are beefing up ways to catch this (of course they are, sigh).

3. A courier company buying the jacket directly from RMC in Japan will incur Japanese domestic sales tax (10%). Larger courier companies likely have a business-to-business exemption, meaning they will pay it up front, have it refunded later, and won't charge you. Smaller couriers may not do enough business for that exemption, meaning they would have to try and do the refund process, which is time consuming... so they would most likely skip it, pay the tax, and you'd have to absorb that 10%.

4. As Tom71 says, courier companies do take a fee, and the process takes longer. I guess it would be a sliding scale as to whether that fee and wait time squares up as worth it to get the cheaper Japanese domestic price and avoid state use taxes, if you are based in a state that collects them... CA and NY have higher rates than FL and MI, for instance. Also, if the particular courier company has a business-to-business export exemption, or is paying and charging you the 10% Japanese domestic sales tax.

I hope this answers some questions, and makes the whole thing even more transparent- my intention here is to pass on exactly what I got... the Japan in-person purchase price, which is certainly the best deal to be found on this jacket (whether using RMC's site directly or a courier), by a wide margin. Even though it is still pretty pricy for a jacket. No avoiding that fact, lol.

 

[mcnuonuo]

Thanks for this, I was unaware of the courier option to potentially defeat state sales tax!

So I just deep-dove this, not only to correct anything I may have gotten wrong, but also because I had been considering a watch of Swiss-origin, and had put that purchase on hold due to the insane 39% tariff on goods from Switzerland. After seeing Tom71's post, I was hoping a courier might be able to... massage the situation, lol.

So apparently how a courier works is they just literally buy the jacket from RMC. Meaning it's paid for directly at the store, as a Japan domestic purchase. They then ship the jacket and deal with all duties, tariffs, and state taxes. Here's some fast facts about this whole thing:

1. Some states do indeed charge a "use tax" (sales tax) on online foreign purchases, even if duties are also being paid on the goods. Seems kind of suspect from a constitutional standpoint, but who knows. A partial list: California, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Washington.

2. When it comes to US duties and tariffs, a reputable courier company isn't going to try and skirt things. Those are a big deal, they can lose their license, etc etc. That said, I don't know about state use taxes. These courier companies are licensed with the feds, but I don't think many are registered/licensed with the states, or otherwise compelled to comply with individual state laws. My guess is there would be some leeway there. But don't quote me on that. Apparently states like CA are beefing up ways to catch this (of course they are, sigh).

3. A courier company buying the jacket directly from RMC in Japan will incur Japanese domestic sales tax (10%). Larger courier companies likely have a business-to-business exemption, meaning they will pay it up front, have it refunded later, and won't charge you. Smaller couriers may not do enough business for that exemption, meaning they would have to try and do the refund process, which is time consuming... so they would most likely skip it, pay the tax, and you'd have to absorb that 10%.

4. As Tom71 says, courier companies do take a fee, and the process takes longer. I guess it would be a sliding scale as to whether that fee and wait time squares up as worth it to get the cheaper Japanese domestic price and avoid state use taxes, if you are based in a state that collects them... CA and NY have higher rates than FL and MI, for instance. Also, if the particular courier company has a business-to-business export exemption, or is paying and charging you the 10% Japanese domestic sales tax.

I hope this answers some questions, and makes the whole thing even more transparent- my intention here is to pass on exactly what I got... the Japan in-person purchase price, which is certainly the best deal to be found on this jacket (whether using RMC's site directly or a courier), by a wide margin. Even though it is still pretty pricy for a jacket. No avoiding that fact, lol.

Very nice of you to write it up. Thank you!

Just wish it was my size. Great price it is.

 

[Bender]

Guys, here are pics of the actual jacket and actual measurements.

 

[Bender]

This one is TRADED and gone! Thanks FL and BassandB3!

 

[BassandB3]

Thanks Bender!! Appreciate the easy transaction

 

[Bender]

Thank you! Great trade experience! This is what FL is all about...

 

[Tom71]

Congratulations! Very beautiful jacket!