Special Offer: Ippodo Tokusen Gyokuro 2020

[pedant]

Dear friends,

We would like to once again offer Ippodo's Tokusen Gyokuro [特撰玉露]!

Normally only sold in-person at their main store in Kyoto, this is the same special gyokuro that was offered last year (see here and here).

Because availability was very limited last year, we decided to try to pre-order early this time to secure more tea. We are hoping Ippodo will make a special exception for us again.

We anticipate that the tea will arrive in September.

ippodo-tokusen-gyo-hokujo-shibo.jpg (208.64 KiB) Viewed 16608 times

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Pricing:

• Tokusen Gyokuro 30g Bag: 35 USD (3500 JPY) [1.17 USD/g] + 10 USD shipping = 45 USD
• Tokusen Gyokuro 50g Can: 60 USD (6000 JPY) [1.20 USD/g] + 10 USD shipping = 70 USD

It is my understanding that the 30g pack does not come in a decorative tin, and that's why it's slightly cheaper by weight.

For each pack of tea, we are requesting an estimated 10 USD for shipping.
USPS (at Commercial Pricing) will be used to economically ship from us to you.
Non-US-based participants are welcome, but note that there will be an additional shipping charge. Feel free to contact us for an estimate (please indicate what you're thinking of ordering and which city it would ship to). Also note that due to CoViD-19, shipping may be delayed. Please try to research the current state of USPS reliability for packages sent to your country.

This group buy is offered strictly at-cost with complete transparency and no markup.

When the transaction with Ippodo is complete, we will post the USD → JPY exchange rate used. It will likely be more favorable than the 100 JPY per USD estimated above.

Leftover money from the exchange rate and from the shipping from Ippodo will be applied towards re-shipping the tea from us to you.
If there is money left over after shipping, we will refund you. Likewise, we will request more money in the event that it is needed to cover shipping.

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Example:

For two packs of 30g and one pack of 50g (three total packs of tea), please pay:

2 × 30g + 50g =
2 × 45 USD + 70 USD = 160 USD

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How to participate:

Please fill out this order form:
https://forms.gle/zKqHYYYVNAsNZzoDA

Then submit payment via paypal friends & family ("sending to a friend"):
Please put your TeaForum Username in the payment memo so we know who it's from!
https://www.paypal.me/TeaForum/

For each 30g bag of tea, please send 45 USD.
For each 50g tin of tea, please send 70 USD.
Estimated shipping is included.

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FAQ:

What if I need to change my shipping information?
After filling out the order form above, a copy of your order info will be emailed to you along with a link that allows you to edit the info you provided. If you need to edit your info, please use that link in your email to do so.

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This special offer will close on Monday, June 29, 2020 11:59 PM CDT (UTC -5)
Time remaining:


Who's in?

[Victoria]

Excited to try this years Tokusen Gyokuro. Thank you for organizing it @pedant.

[pedant]

there was some confusion about pricing, so we edited the wording for clarity. sorry about that.

[Victoria]

Since Ippodo recommends 10 grams/80ml per serving, to get 3x30g, 4x30g, 2x50gram... hmmm

[Victoria]

Curious who else is participating in this special offer?

[faj]

I joined the forum too late last year to join the group buy. I am tempted.

[Victoria]

I joined the forum too late last year to join the group buy. I am tempted.

One thing about Ippodo is they are very consistent. I’ve had this special gyokuro over three different years, and each year the quality and character is consistent. If you like brothy seaside umami notes, this is one great gyokuro.

[debunix]

I joined the forum too late last year to join the group buy. I am tempted.

I did join the buy, but because my gyokuro cup floweth over this year, I will not join this time. Last year's was a remarkably fine tea worth your attention.

[pantry]

I’m tempted! Though I have to say, I tried their special Kyoto-store only matcha and was unimpressed. Going to find some time to read through the linked thread first!

[pedant]

heads up, the offer closes tomorrow

[faj]

I had weird experience with PayPal when joining the group buy, which I will share in case this happens to anyone else.

The amount to transfer showed with a comma as the decimal separator (e.g. 0,00$). This is normal given my locale, but I kind of got a weird feeling anyway because the amount was displayed in a non-standard input box. When I entered the amount to be transferred and moved to the following step, I saw a commission amount in the hundreds of dollars. Thinking I made a mistake in the number of zeros I typed in, I re-started the process: the same thing happened again. It turns out the amount in that fancy input was somehow multiplied by 100 when calculating the actual amount (and commission).

I do not know if this may affect other people, but be careful, it is a very serious bug.

[pizzapotamus]

Just in under the wire

[pedant]

It turns out the amount in that fancy input was somehow multiplied by 100 when calculating the actual amount (and commission).

interesting

Just in under the wire

[pedant]

ok, the tea's been ordered!
(exchange rate: 107.35 JPY/USD)

[pedant]

hi friends,

the tea arrived some time ago, but i've been out of town. of course it was promptly brought inside and has been waiting in a cool area, but i apologize for the delay.

i now have the tea packed up, and everyone should have received their tracking numbers by email. USPS will pick up the parcels tomorrow. they've been picked up!

shipping adjustments will follow shortly. everyone's getting some money back.

just FYI, shipping this time from JP→US worked out to:
$5.66 per 50g tin (128g total)
$1.63 per 30g bag (37g total)