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Question Questions about Taobao, Vsinger and Piko

Stardust

Vocal Synth Enthusiast
Aug 14, 2020
173
(If I posted this in the wrong subforum, please move it to an appropriate subforum)
Hello, I was originally going to make this three separate threads, but then I realized the other two questions I had weren't really worthy of a whole thread, so I put them in with this one.

I plan on purchasing Stardust sometime in the future, but I've heard that it's hard to buy from Taobao, along with various accounts of people having difficulty getting vocaloids and synthv VBs from it. I'm not familiar with the site at all, so I have some questions;

1. What makes buying from Taobao so hard?
2. Will Taobao ship to the US? and if they can, should I use a forwarding service, and if so, which one?
3. Will Chrome's auto translate be reliable enough to guide me through the site/purchasing?

As for my other questions, I was curious about which Vsinger VBs are being updated to V5. I know Yanhe is, and I recall hearing they would update the rest of their lineup, but I can't find any info about it now, so I wanna make sure they're getting updates before I plan on buying their V4s.

Finally, I read a post from the vocaloid wiki from 2019 about Piko import codes, and was wondering if it was still possible to get import codes in 2020? I remember hearing that they weren't responding to emails, but I just want to make sure before I try to send them an email.
 

ikaroll

I wanna scream
Jan 23, 2020
453
My computer
You have to use a forwarding service to get VBs shipped to the U.S (or any other country that's not China). I recommend Superbuy
And I think Ling and Yanhe are the only ones getting updated
 
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Stardust

Vocal Synth Enthusiast
Aug 14, 2020
173
You have to use a forwarding service to get VBs shipped to the U.S (or any other country that's not China). I recommend Superbuy
And I think Ling and Yanhe are the only ones getting updated
Thank you so much for your help! A shame only Ling and Yanhe are the only ones, though it does make sense since they were the only ones I could find info about regarding V5 updates.
 

peaches2217

Give me Gackpoid AI or give me DEATH
Sep 11, 2019
1,930
26
Arklahoma
Also, regarding Piko! Last I checked he’s unofficially off the market. It might be worth sending an email, but I wouldn’t expect anything to come from it.

And buying from Taobao is just difficult because it makes you confirm your identity, and the instructions for doing so are... rather shaky if you live outside of Mainland China/Hong Kong/Taiwan. Ordering through Superbuy or similar proxies is much easier!

Also, a word of advice: you’ll be given the option for additional protective packaging. Do it. Extra corners for the boxes, bags over the boxes, and shrink-wrap — do it all. China has really strange Customs clearances and, from what I’ve read, they’ll sometimes seize, search, and detain packages at random, at which point your item AND your money are gone. The extra packaging discourages Customs from bothering with your package and gets your items to you safely.
 
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xuu

long suffering synth fan
Apr 8, 2018
671
23
UK
As far as I know there's no way to get Piko's import code anymore, especially considering he's not available for purchase anywhere. I tried emailing them a while back about something and never got a response.

Taobao is just difficult as hell outside of mainland China if you don't already have an account. In the first place it hardly ships anywhere outside of China and even if it does it's probably better to just use a proxy like Superbuy. The only SHN vocals being updated to V5 are Ling and Yanhe since they didn't receive V4 updates, it's unlikely they'll elect to update the others to V5 unless it was to add further appends.
 
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uncreepy

👵Escaped from the retirement home
Apr 9, 2018
1,618
I bought Piko in September 2019 from CDJapan (unfortunately, you can't buy him there anymore). I emailed the address provided on Vocaloid Wiki November 2019 and got an import code. I just wrote like 2 sentences in Japanese saying my serial number and asking for an import code and I got a reply very quickly (a couple days). Not sure how the situation is in 2020, though.
 
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Stardust

Vocal Synth Enthusiast
Aug 14, 2020
173
Also, a word of advice: you’ll be given the option for additional protective packaging. Do it. Extra corners for the boxes, bags over the boxes, and shrink-wrap — do it all. China has really strange Customs clearances and, from what I’ve read, they’ll sometimes seize, search, and detain packages at random, at which point your item AND your money are gone. The extra packaging discourages Customs from bothering with your package and gets your items to you safely.
I did not know that could happen :arsloid_ani_lili: thanks for the advice! Is the protective packaging expensive to add on? I'll be doing it regardless, but I want to know so I can have a estimate of how much I'll be paying for Stardust.

The only SHN vocals being updated to V5 are Ling and Yanhe since they didn't receive V4 updates, it's unlikely they'll elect to update the others to V5 unless it was to add further appends.
Thanks for the info, I didn't know about Ling's update, only Yanhe's.

I bought Piko in September 2019 from CDJapan (unfortunately, you can't buy him there anymore). I emailed the address provided on Vocaloid Wiki November 2019 and got an import code. I just wrote like 2 sentences in Japanese saying my serial number and asking for an import code and I got a reply very quickly (a couple days). Not sure how the situation is in 2020, though.
After the recent news, I'm gonna assume it's not possible anymore. I do have a friend who knows enough japanese to make an email, so maybe I will give it a try, but I won't keep my hopes up.
 

peaches2217

Give me Gackpoid AI or give me DEATH
Sep 11, 2019
1,930
26
Arklahoma
I did not know that could happen :arsloid_ani_lili: thanks for the advice! Is the protective packaging expensive to add on? I'll be doing it regardless, but I want to know so I can have a estimate of how much I'll be paying for Stardust
Not at all! There’s some pricey options, but all the ones I mentioned will only put you out an extra $2 or so, if that (each option individually costs just pennies). Well worth the investment!
 
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Leon

AKA missy20201 (Elliot)
Apr 8, 2018
979
Wow I never knew that about the packaging stuff. As long as I put an accurate cost in the customs worth claim section, I never had an issue (although I've only ever bought Moke and Cangqiong, haven't gotten around to Longya or anyone else yet).

As for Piko, I got an import code last year I believe, but it's iffy if they'll give you one now. It certainly can't hurt to try. I can even dig up the old email address that I had to message if you want. But yeah afaik, even his updated CDJapan link is officially out of stock :<
 

Stardust

Vocal Synth Enthusiast
Aug 14, 2020
173
Not at all! There’s some pricey options, but all the ones I mentioned will only put you out an extra $2 or so, if that (each option individually costs just pennies). Well worth the investment!
Oh phew, that's good to hear. Usually protective packaging costs a lot, so I was concerned I would have to spend an additional 100 just for packaging.

I can even dig up the old email address that I had to message if you want.
Thank you so much for the offer, but I found the email address, and I'll try to email it soon-ish. If anyone wants, I can report back and see if it was successful in case anyone else wants to get a import code for Piko.

Edit: I want to say thank you again to everyone for all the help and advice you've given:yanhe_lili:
 

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