Anyone Interested In Ordering?

I heard back from the Ito Shoji Co. in Japan. It took them around 2 weeks to get back to me, because of the language thing. Because we speak English and they speak Japanese, this makes ordering very difficult, so please be patient in all of this. Also, this company does not normally export or ship to the US, so this is all new to them too, they are figuring this out as they go, just as we are.

Right now I am trying to find out who is interested in ordering planters and how many are wanted. I need a total # of planters we are going to order before I can get a price for shipping. That's how it works, so don't ask me how much they will cost before ordering...I don't know! Obviously the company knows that if the amount is outrageous we are not going to order them.

We can also order just the foam inserts, or order them as extras for our baskets for the next few years. I don't intend on make another order like this, so please don't rely on me to do so. If you think you want may want extra inserts next year plan on getting them now or taking care of it yourself.

Also, PLEASE don't tell me you want one planter now to see what the price is and then end up ordering 6. THAT WILL CHANGE THE PRICE of shipping!!!!! It will mess things up and no one will appreciate it, especially me or the company I am dealing with. I'm sorry this is how it is, I don't like it either. I don't know why it's this way, I don't know how it works. If I knew the price I would tell you. If you don't trust that I'm telling you the truth then do the homework I did and contact them yourself...I have posted ALL the info you need in this forum.

I'm not trying to be mean or snotty, this is just how it has to be. I need everyone who wants these to get in NOW. I can't add on to the order later, and there won't be another order done by me. If someone else wants to do it another way, be my guest. You'll feel the same way 2 seconds into it.

With that said, I'm going to link the other threads to this one. Please list all interest in ordering planters here.

Here is the pic of the planter. I have been told by the company that the price per planter is 1,700 yen. According to yahoo currency converter http://finance.yahoo.com/currency that is about $15.00 US.

Heather

I still will take 6 and 6 extra inserts...I hope more people order these...

Loretta...

The more that order the higher shipping will be.

I wonder how long shipping takes,from date of order...

Loretta...

Does the pot come with a foam insert and does that insert have to be changed every year? I'm interested in just one pot, but I think I would want enough inserts for 3 years hoping they may find their way into the American market by then. So depending on whether they come with an insert or not, 1 pot and 2 inserts or 1 pot and 3 inserts. Clear as mud?

BTW, Heather, you're doing a great job here. I want you to know how much I appreciate all your efforts. Dozo, Heathersan!

I don't know how long shipping will take. When I get an idea of the # I will ask the company if they can get an estimate of time for me along w/ price and let everyone know.

Beaker, the pics at their website are shown with inserts, so they should come w/ them. I really don't know for sure how long they will last. I'm going to assume one year, that way if they last longer it will just be a nice surprise. If we would happen to run out I would imagine we could come up w/ something to replace them w/ on our own. I'll put you down for 2 inserts and 1 planter.

count me in,I like to get one.
Gale

This message was edited Apr 29, 2006 10:10 AM

Ok. I'm in. 2 planters and 2 inserts. What form of payment?

Just a suggestion, have them all shipped to you at one "clearinghouse" location, and we'll negotiate with you for payment and shipping from your house.

Dozo, Heathrjoysan!
Thank you, Heathrjoy!
Namaste, Heathrjoy!
Gracias, Heathrjoy!
Danke, Heathrjoy!

Linda

I will have them all shipped here and then I'll ship them on to each of you right away.

I wish there was a way everyone could pay the company directly, because I don't think I'll have the money to cover this many up front...so I'll need payment before I order them. I can take Paypal for them as long as the extra Paypal charges are covered. I'll also take checks and money orders. I think money orders would be best all around for everyone, they would be the cheapest and no wait time for them to clear...but I understand that they aren't the most convienent to get sometimes.

I made a comment earlier about the more folks that order the higher shipping will be. I take that back. I said that out of frustration and I'm sorry. Loretta, I'm sorry I said that to you, especially so curt like that. :( I don't know that for a FACT. I really don't know how their shipping system works over there...it still confuses me! I hope more folks get interested in this order too, it would make it more work, but more fun too. We'll see where it goes. I don't consider this a co-op so I won't list it on that forum. If you all want to tell some friends about it, go ahead and see if you get any interest.

I'm going to send the company an e-mail now and see what the response time is...I'm just going to ask them what type of payments they take.

Heather

No problem Heather just change mine to 2 with 2 extra foams...

Loretta....

Money order works for me now that I know how to get one. At least here, all the major grocery stores has this service, but require cash. You can't use your bank card. But seeing as there is usually an ATM right next to the service center, it should be no big deal.

Heather, are you going to know the shipping costs to us up front or will that be a second transaction?

Chill out, Girl. The world is not going to fall apart if these don't get here until August.

I kinda looked through TomTom's original post about these, but I never did see a size. How big are they? I'm definitely interested.

I found sizes under one of the pictures, but I'm not good with metrics. I think the one they are looking at is w300xd180xh240.

I just got in. I will double check on the sizes and get back to answer that and other questions asap.

I think the size is approximately 12"w (11.81) x 7"d (7.08) x 9.5"h (9.45). That's if the measurements beaker_ch gave are in millimeters. Also, do we have any idea how much the extra inserts are? I'm afraid the website just confuses me horribly, and I think you're amazing for even attemping this Heather.

And because I keep going back here to see if I missed something, I'm hyperlinking: http://www.itoshoji.co.jp/display/list.php?fMid=19

Sorry I didn't get back last night. Grocery shopping...got the better of me!

Loretta, you want me to change your order from 6 baskets and inserts to 2 baskets and inserts? That's not a problem, I just want to be certain we are clear.

I think that Stella's conversion of the measurements are right on. Very good job!! I can't do that stuff, but my dh is a whiz at it...can do it in his head.

Thank you for posting the link to the ItoShoji site. Here's the link to babel fish to translate it. http://babelfish.altavista.com/

I have not been quoted a price on the inserts. I did ask, and they must have forgotten to tell me. I'll ask again. From what I can find on the website, the only sponge inserts that have our planter's item number on it are listed for 480 Yen. That converts to about $4.25 US. I'm not certain these are the inserts we want, they say something about "sponge for shrubbery assistance"...they may be for using with shrubbery only. I will find out for certain.

Also, just so everyone knows, it does appear that we are getting some kind of special pricing. The Elegance Baskets that we will be ordering are priced on the website at 2,000 Yen. We were quoted 1,700 Yen. That's a savings of $2.64 US. Please take that into consideration when we get the shipping rates. This company is trying to work with us!! :-) They didn't tell me they gave us a discount, but you can see the price on the website even if you don't translate it.

I sent an e-mail to our contact, Setsuko Ikuta, at the Ito Shoji Co yesterday and heard back from him today!! How great is that? He basically wrote me to tell me he had gotten my mail...and forwarded it on to the owner of the company, w/ Japanese translation!!! I don't know if any of you remember, but the owner of this company has been honored at a university that is about an hour away from me...he's on an advisory board there...and that university has a sister u in Japan. Also, the owner of ItoShoji Co. is the largest Japanese distributor of Zippo lighters...the manufacturing facilities are in the same town as the university where he was honored. I mentioned how close I lived to this town in my e-mail and was very surprised when Setsuko said he forwarded it on. How cool is that?!

Just bumping this up

Ok, I'm going to wrap this up soon...next week. If anyone has been thinking about getting in but hesitating now is the time to speak up! =^)

Here's who I have listed for orders and how many they want.

Loretta - 2 baskets, 2 liners
Gale - 1 basket
Beaker - 1 basket, 2 liners
Linda - 2 baskets, 2 liners

I'm thinking about ordering 4 baskets and 4 liners for myself. 2 for me, 2 for my DSIL as a gift.

If anyone jumps in at the last minute I'll add them to the total, otherwise we have a total of 10 baskets and 10 liners. Gale, are you sure you don't want an extra liner?

Okee dokee, guess that's all for now.

Feeling poor at the moment, so I'm gonna pass. I'm trying hard to be a good girl and not buy everything in sight for the garden and it's such a test of my strength.

Oh, I understand!! But, just so you know it will probably still be a few weeks before all this comes together...it may go faster, but I really doubt it. The company seems to need a little while to answer e-mails because of the language translation. So, if that helps any, go ahead and let me know how many you would like.

Before we actually place the order I'm going to find out from the company the total cost, including shipping and have everyone agree to it. If someone doesn't agree to it that will be their chance to pull out. If we find out that the shipping charges are way too high and no one wants to pay them, then the order will be off completely. If I feel the shipping is too high for me but someone else still wants to order I'll either put you in touch w/ the company or I'll complete the order for you...having the company ship directly to you.

I have very slightly entertained the idea of opening this up on the co-op forum if we find out the shipping can be done for a reasonable amount...or that the more we order the cheaper it would be. Any ideas on that one? I just don't want to get in over my head. Has anyone here done a co-op before? Any advice? D-mail me if you want...I'd appreciate it.

Heather ,
Yes I will take 1 extra liner.
Gale

ok, gotcha =^)

Heather, I'm fine with everything you are suggesting; however, if you pull out, more than likely I will too. It's just not that important to me. Regarding a coop, why don't you wait and see how this goes? Might be a good winter project when everyone is dreaming of summer baskets and not so busy getting their gardens in and such.

Beaker you make a great point, and I'm taking your advice to heart. Also, if I wait till winter to do the co-op then there'll be no rush to get the baskets. That's a much, much better idea. DH was NOT thrilled w/ the idea right now anyway. I remember being soooo bored between Christmas and about a month ago...a co-op would certainly fill up some time! LOL

Just as long as a coop doesn't turn into a coup we'll be ok! :)

I also can't see any reason I'd not be ordering unless the shipping turned out to be something horribly outrageous....and I don't think that'll be the case.

Heathrjoy,
I'd be willing to wait on the order too. I'm in no rush to get them. So, if it's not till later, count me in, either way.

P.S. It would give you more time to negotiate with the company, and they'd be soooooooo impressed with our enthusiasm for their product that they'd set you up as their US distributor, and then you'd have to make visits to Japan for product design and consultation, and they'd have to give you a place to stay when you did, and there'd be a Japanese garden, and you'd meet TomTom, and then you'd send for all your friends who would have their bags packed and tickets in their hands, waiting for that call....whew!

LOL Linda!! Very funny, but I'll let you take over that part for me. I have no desire to become their US rep...and no desire to visit Japan right now. I'm too tired. Maybe in a few years...it would be cool to go there.

Ok, here's what I have for orders then:
Loretta - 2 baskets, 2 liners
Gale - 1 basket, 1 liner
Beaker - 1 basket, 2 liners
Linda - 2 baskets, 2 liners

I will e-mail the company in the morning, just because I'm too tired tonight. We'll find out the cost for shipping and go from there.

Waiting to order was only if I opened this up for a co-op...to ALL of DG. I considered that for a short time. I may consider doing it over the winter, I may not. We'll see about that too.

I'll post again as soon as I hear from the company.

Thanks everyone!
Heather

hey heather you have d mail....i want some of these

what happened about these? Did you order?

i didn't order....but i would like to....did you??

I'm on her list..!!

does that mean you ordered?? and have you heard back from her??

I ordered from Heather...I e-mailed the Company and could'nt understand it...It was in Chinese...Tomtom gave us the name of the Co...but she can't buy them or send them to us...

okay...i dmailed heather....i know she is busy right now with family stuff....so i will wait :)

I'm hoping that those who were interested in ordering these baskets are still watching this thread, but I'm going to send off some d-mails in case you're not.

I apologize from the bottom of my heart that this whole thing never went through. I had company visit last summer which kept me busier than I thought, then I became ill which led to two surgeries. Trying to communicate with folks from Japan just didn't work out as well as I'd hoped it would have. I'm sorry that you weren't able to get the baskets you wanted and that I led you to believe you would get them.

Someone else posted on this forum about another type of basket, called Plantopia. It's a hanging basket and available in the US through mail order and can also be purchased on eBay. I've looked them over and they have the best design of any I've seen, I think you'll agree! I'm including a link to the seller on eBay, who I don't know, have never purchased from and have no ties to. I can't vouch for them, but they seem to have great prices, if you're interested. I'm also including a link to regular store internet seller for anyone who would rather go that way, but I can't vouch for them either. If you do a Google search for Plantopia Baskets you'll be able to find places that sell these, possibly even cheaper.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlambentknlQQhtZ-1

http://lawnandgardenspecialties.com/product_info.php?products_id=61&osCsid=73cc578a298af4df0b2ce0c0b49ebd4f

Again, I'm truly sorry and I hope this helps those of you who were interested in getting the baskets from Japan.
Heather

Sorry, forgot to include the pic of the Plantopia baskets.

The mesh area pops out to add the flowers, then pops back into place. 14" baskets hold 12 flowers, 12" baskets hold 6 flowers in the basket area. They are available in black, terra cotta or hunter green colors, made of plastic. They also come with either a chain or plastic hook for hanging. The 14" basket has a water reservoir at the bottom.

I plan on getting 4 of the 12" terra cotta baskets from the eBay seller later this year for myself, I've already blown my gardening budget for this year.

This message was edited May 22, 2007 8:54 AM

LOL, I didn't notice the year on the first post when I started reading through the thread... was thinking, hmmm, I have a friend who could use a pair of "wall pocket" planters, maybe the order hasn't been placed yet... Heather, I'm just happy you're back on DG, and I hope you're having a great spring!

Those plantopia baskets do look pretty cool... they would be wonderful with alpine strawberries... Thanks for hunting them up for us!

I have four of the plantopia baskets and I have to say that I have never seen a better, stronger, well designed basket in my life. I planted mine with wave petunias, and will post pictures when they bloom.

those are cool. thanks for the link. I hadn't seen them yet.