Leaping Panda Hobbies — Local services in Hudsonville

I think this has become my favorite online hobby store.

I stumbled upon Leaping Panda unexpectedly when searching for some Gundam models. I was impressed from the moment the site loaded.

First, they have pretty solid inventory. A combination of supply chain woes and pandemic-fueled interest in Gunpla means that a lot of shops are sold out of everything but the newest kits. Leaping Panda however has both the new stuff and some of the older stuff that Bandai reprints.

Second, the prices are on point. One unfortunate circumstance of the Gunpla shortage is that some vendors are jacking up the prices on kits. I’m not talking about eBay sellers - I’m talking full on shops.

But all of Leaping Pandas prices are what I expected them to be in my head , or some times even lower.

I ended up getting three kits, which came out to $10 shipping. This is a bit more than I’ve laid at other online shops, but you get what you pay for. Leaping Panda uses actual UPS to ship, rather than UPS Mail Innovations (which hands the package off the the Postal Service, and generally takes longer). I ordered on Wednesday afternoon and had my items by Saturday at noon.

Considering that most hobbyists by multiple kits at once to save on shipping costs, paying an extra buck or two for such fast shipping is a drop in the bucket.

Finally, Leaping Panda stated that their mission is to sell models with a personal touch, and I can confirm that that is indeed the case. The package was taped with custom tape showing their logo, and they gave me not only two stickers, but a Christmas card. This warmed my heart.

You owe it to yourself to check...

UPDATED (KEEPING FIVE STARS):

Original review: Our experience was online-only, but they shipped what we ordered at an incredibly-quick turnaround, at a good price. We will be using them for our online hobby orders -- essentially whatever our local gaming store doesn't have -- from here out.

New review (really, a supplement): We've been ordering from these folks for a couple of months now and I cannot recommend them enough. I have a soft spot for small/family-owned businesses, and it's a real joy to patronize one that also does its job well and with a smile. The selection is good -- especially for things hard to find elsewhere -- and the service exceptionally friendly. We upped our model/supply purchases as a bunch of my kids got into Warhammer miniatures for the first time and these folks have been everything we could have asked.

They are happy to do custom or rare orders/look for products not in stock, which is great. Even better, they're honest about what they can and cannot do -- they don't overpromise but they consistently do as well as anyone could. That may not sound like a compliment, but there is enormous value in honesty, and it's a serious mark in their favor that they're decent/confident enough to be straight about what they can do and what they can't.

The bottom line is that shopping with Leaping Panda has been a rare joy at every level. If you want Warhammer or Gundam products online, this should be your first stop, and probably your...

LPH is at the top of my list for Gunpla and accessories. When I'm looking for my next kit, I start with LPH. Get on their mailing list. A must, must, must. You'll feel like an insider with weekly restocks and there's always a killer promo going on. Rewards program? You bet. Prices? They are no joke. Sorry, The Gundam Place Store, I love ya, and you're my side piece, but LPH prices are just too good on my wishlist items. Service? 5 million stars!! I don't personally know the shop owners but between the "thank you" letter, free LPH sticker, great packaging, fast shipping, and an occasional surprise gift, I want to support them 100%. They're committed at the core. Have an issue with an order? They will make it right (personal experience). Looking for a specific kit or restock? Just ask using one of many platforms (Instagram, Discord, email) and they'll get you the info. Plus it doesn't stop once the closed sign is flipped. They also give back to the Gunpla, Warhammer, and TCG communities with in-store hosted events. I'm hoping one day I can visit the store in person and meet the owners. Thank you, Leaping Panda Hobbies, for...