I have read through at least three to four pages of people yacking about the price. Is the US customer price for the kit high? Yes it is. But, like a few stated, if you want it now, buy it. If not, then wait a few more months when the US supply meets the US demand, which will push the price down to a reasonable level (kit price will probably drop to around $380-$390, but no lower due to the time value of money, exchange rates, etc.). The supply, especially to the US, has been kept scarce to artificially keep the street price high because Mugen Japan knows that if you really want the kit, you will pay to asking price. I will wait until after the first of the year since on-road nitro is winding down in my area and see what the price of the kit is looking like in January. If the kit price is still high, I will just get a MRX-4 and move up to race with the real big boys. Also, with the price this high, it should help to increase sales of their 1/8th scale car (in my area, I can get a MRX-4 for around $530 as compared to $490 to $530 for a MTX-4!!). So, if you are going to buy it from overseas, buy it. If you are going to support you LHS and buy it from them at the going price, buy it from them. The prices that are bounding around are what they are, so, live with it or buy something else.