If you dropped by the english site of Amiami yesterday you probably noticed that they changed their site design. Not sure if its entirely new or they copied it from their Japanese site? They also wrote a post on the changes to expect in the newly revised site.
Not sure if this is new, is the implementation of a points system within their site that customers can redeem for 1 JPY as compared to the previous 1PT for every 100JPY spent. This point system can not be redeemed to pay for shipping costs. This offer looks like a game changer in the online Japanese retailer market. It will be interesting to see how the other Japanese online hobby sellers will react to this salvo from amiami. Considering that the online international hobby retailing in Japan is turning out to be a cut throat industry.
There was also the combined shipping by month feature which a user has to activate in their account settings in order to make use of. This feature will automatically combine your orders into one shipment during checkout. I'm assuming this is for those guys who like to add a lot on their basket then ship it out during a certain period of the month.
Another thing was their announced selling of pre-owned items. It will be noted in the product page of the item that the product is pre-owned and not new. By doing this I think Amiami might cut into the market of small international hobby retailers in Japan who provide a service of sourcing second hand goods to international customers. When it comes to second hand items, its always best to practice Caveat Emptor: Buyer Beware.
