Comments on: Bidding in Yahoo! Japan Auctions from Outside of Japan http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/ Your standard mixture of news links, half-baked thoughts, and typos Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:36:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3296 Anonymous Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:36:13 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3296 "money is more often than not transferred via domestic bank transactions, which you obviously cannot do if you don’t have a Japanese bank account" Not entirely true. Payments are usually made by means of a bank transaction to a Japanese bank account, but these can be initiated by a non-Japanese bank. Your bank will want some money and the seller's bank will also want some money, and the total will usually end up around 3000-6000 yen, depending on your bank and the seller's bank. So possible but terribly expensive. Somewhat related: I am looking for a reliable parcel forwarding company, so that I can buy things from Japanese online shops refusing to ship internationally. Which one would be the best option for me? I have found several flaws with some of the agents, for example: - They may only offer unnecessarily expensive shipping methods (such as express mail), and not things such as surface mail. - They may require dual currency conversion (from my currency to USD and then from USD to JPY) so that money is lost on additional currency exchange fees instead of converting the money directly from my currency to JPY. - They may believe that a "small packet" (?????) has a maximum weight of 2 kg, although it may actually be as heavy as 5 kg if you mark it with "printed matter" (???) (select a country at http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-kokusai/index_en.php in Japanese only). - They may charge unnecessarily high commissions. I notice that several of the auction helpers also offer parcel forwarding services. “money is more often than not transferred via domestic bank transactions, which you obviously cannot do if you don’t have a Japanese bank account”

Not entirely true. Payments are usually made by means of a bank transaction to a Japanese bank account, but these can be initiated by a non-Japanese bank. Your bank will want some money and the seller’s bank will also want some money, and the total will usually end up around 3000-6000 yen, depending on your bank and the seller’s bank. So possible but terribly expensive.

Somewhat related: I am looking for a reliable parcel forwarding company, so that I can buy things from Japanese online shops refusing to ship internationally. Which one would be the best option for me? I have found several flaws with some of the agents, for example:
- They may only offer unnecessarily expensive shipping methods (such as express mail), and not things such as surface mail.
- They may require dual currency conversion (from my currency to USD and then from USD to JPY) so that money is lost on additional currency exchange fees instead of converting the money directly from my currency to JPY.
- They may believe that a “small packet” (?????) has a maximum weight of 2 kg, although it may actually be as heavy as 5 kg if you mark it with “printed matter” (???) (select a country at http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-kokusai/index_en.php in Japanese only).
- They may charge unnecessarily high commissions.
I notice that several of the auction helpers also offer parcel forwarding services.

]]> By: koshiru http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3293 koshiru Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:05:19 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3293 I would like to give another +1 for Tat (Japan Records)! He is still as amazing as ever! Patient and fast in response! Especially I had him bidding on items in Japan auction with less than few hrs time. Again, he will constantly update you on status of your packages! Highly recommended! I would like to give another +1 for Tat (Japan Records)! He is still as amazing as ever! Patient and fast in response! Especially I had him bidding on items in Japan auction with less than few hrs time. Again, he will constantly update you on status of your packages! Highly recommended!

]]> By: Asagura http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3292 Asagura Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:23:07 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3292 Tried contacting Tat, however I haven't gotten any reply.. Tried contacting Tat, however I haven’t gotten any reply..

]]> By: Kitty http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3291 Kitty Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:08:51 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3291 I found another great service. Japonica Records is the best agent I've dealt with. In my personal experience, if you contact them within their business hours, you will get a reply within a few hours acknowledging that they've received your request and get back same day with confirmation/request for a deposit. If you don't win, they will refund within 24 hours. If you do win, they contact you as soon as your items arrive and request the outstanding balance. 3 days after my auctions ended, JRs notified me of the arrivals. My order was shipped the day after I sent payment. Japonica Records is the best service, especially when you need to place a bid for an auction that ends within 24 hours. I just made a request for 2 auctions ending in 9 hours and received confirmation already. I highly recommend JRs. I found another great service. Japonica Records is the best agent I’ve dealt with.

In my personal experience, if you contact them within their business hours, you will get a reply within a few hours acknowledging that they’ve received your request and get back same day with confirmation/request for a deposit.

If you don’t win, they will refund within 24 hours. If you do win, they contact you as soon as your items arrive and request the outstanding balance. 3 days after my auctions ended, JRs notified me of the arrivals. My order was shipped the day after I sent payment.

Japonica Records is the best service, especially when you need to place a bid for an auction that ends within 24 hours. I just made a request for 2 auctions ending in 9 hours and received confirmation already. I highly recommend JRs.

]]> By: Freeter http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3289 Freeter Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:37:19 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3289 Another + rep for Tatsuya over here. I had only 2 days to participate in an auction, and sent out the request to him. Got a response immediately describing payment options, and he even includes spreadsheets outlining the actual costs! Now that's dedication. He's very courteous and responds to your inquiries as soon as possible. He tells you everything you need to know, from the exact amount to deposit to where to send the payment. And his rates are very reasonable, compared to other sites which are flat out extortion. Highly recommended, and I will definitely use his services again in the future. Another + rep for Tatsuya over here.

I had only 2 days to participate in an auction, and sent out the request to him. Got a response immediately describing payment options, and he even includes spreadsheets outlining the actual costs! Now that’s dedication.

He’s very courteous and responds to your inquiries as soon as possible. He tells you everything you need to know, from the exact amount to deposit to where to send the payment. And his rates are very reasonable, compared to other sites which are flat out extortion.

Highly recommended, and I will definitely use his services again in the future.

]]> By: Anno Domini http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3288 Anno Domini Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:34:52 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3288 Just FYI, the links in the previous comments regarding "Akibado Problem" from the Peach Princess forums are outdated. Here is the new link: http://www.jastusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4515 Just FYI, the links in the previous comments regarding “Akibado Problem” from the Peach Princess forums are outdated. Here is the new link:

http://www.jastusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4515

]]> By: crucif-X http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3285 crucif-X Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:28:07 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3285 Tat is still in business. I was able to purchase an item off Amazon.co.jp recently through him, and was very pleased with the service. He was very professional and quick to answer my questions. I highly recommend Tatsuya, and will definitely contact him again the next time I am in need of his service. Tat is still in business. I was able to purchase an item off Amazon.co.jp recently through him, and was very pleased with the service. He was very professional and quick to answer my questions. I highly recommend Tatsuya, and will definitely contact him again the next time I am in need of his service.

]]> By: Neiks http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3283 Neiks Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:57:19 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3283 I am trying to contact Tat at Japan Records Net but no response, everybody here has good things to say about their service.. wondering if its still in business. Does anybody know? Perhaps the Email address listed at their page has changed? Neiks www.japan-records.net/service_fees_01.htm I am trying to contact Tat at Japan Records Net but no response, everybody here has good things to say about their service.. wondering if its still in business. Does anybody know? Perhaps the Email address listed at their page has changed? Neiks

http://www.japan-records.net/service_fees_01.htm

]]> By: Barry http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3280 Barry Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:13:46 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3280 Another +1 for Tat's service. He's a diamond. Another +1 for Tat’s service. He’s a diamond.

]]> By: Cherri http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-3271 Cherri Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:27:22 +0000 http://blog.vertebratesilence.com/2006/10/05/bidding-in-yahoo-auctions-from-outside-of-japan/#comment-3271 Hi! I am a user of SMJ. I would say that their service is good. I have purchased over 30 items with their service. No problems at all. The only drawback is that they don't charge me in Japan Yen, they do a conversion to USD when they send you a invoice, I am from Asia, and I have to pay extra for the payment for currency conversion. Their shipping is fast but costs a lot. They charge you for the packaging and overcharge for shipping too. But other than that, they are reliable and replies fast. Hi!

I am a user of SMJ. I would say that their service is good.

I have purchased over 30 items with their service. No problems at all.

The only drawback is that they don’t charge me in Japan Yen, they do a conversion to USD when they send you a invoice, I am from Asia, and I have to pay extra for the payment for currency conversion.

Their shipping is fast but costs a lot. They charge you for the packaging and overcharge for shipping too.

But other than that, they are reliable and replies fast.

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