Well, I think they don't care about a few ex-pats in Japan. They are selling to their Japanese customers and that is that, end of story. They don't need to explain the prices I suppose, because nobody is asking, at lease not up in Tokyo. If they were, would they not have addressed this issue already? I can see this as being a likely situation. There are many goods here that I would deem as being expensive, but by being expensive the item becomes elitist and quality is then naturally assumed to be representative of the price.
Then again, down here in Nagoya, many people are much more frugal, at least that is what I have heard and if my lovely Mrs is anything to go by, does indeed seems to hold some truth. Perhaps it is a regional cultural difference? Again, I may be speaking from me arse but clearly I am not the only one. GW

I don't know...maybe...that is a daft notion.

As for the shipping costs, don't companies that are involved in overseas trade have some relationship with mail services that entitle them to discounts? I really have no idea? Also, if GW UK/US was able to absorb these costs in the past, what has happened to change that? They did not answer that. Also, as Mike said, why only Japan then?
And yes, that crap about calling him, which will cost me money by the way, so he can do the ordering for us, makes the website superfluous. Wow,

Nope, not satisfied with their response but I do feel sorry for the person writing to us, as he is clearly being forced to try and explain bu**sh**t with more of the same.