Importing from Amazon Japan to the UK

[moscone_bail_bonds]

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum but I was curious about anyone in the UK using Amazon Japan.

They have a few exclusive things I wanted which total over £200 soothes would be a one time only order. I see they have an import fee deposit I can pay at checkout.

My question is for anyone who have used them this year, if I pay the import deposit are any other charges likely from the courier who delivers or do they use their own system like the USA Global shipping?

Thanks

[Socko]

I’m dutch and I never had to pay extra after the item was shipped. No custom costs or other costs.

[richwood]

I spent about £65 with them a month or two back, and there were no extra costs on delivery.

However there are different rules when the order is worth more than £135.

[AlexMcL]

I’ve never paid anything extra and have found them ludicrously quick to arrive as well. Outstanding from my handful of experience buying discs from there.

[moscone_bail_bonds]

Originally Posted by richwood

I spent about £65 with them a month or two back, and there were no extra costs on delivery.

However there are different rules when the order is worth more than £135.

Indeed, the £135 limit was my main concern as to whether Amazon cover these via the import fee deposit or they will be a separate charge when they attempt to deliver.

[CelestialAgent]

Isn’t the Japanese market more expensive than the UK as discs are seen as a luxury product?

They’ve had a few notable exclusives over the years e.g. The Last Emperor in the OAR, or Waves and A Hard Day’s Night on 4K UHD.

[drush9999]

Most things are cheaper on cdjapan.co.jp and you can mark them as a gift declaration.

[DefLeppard]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Isn’t the Japanese market more expensive than the UK as discs are seen as a luxury product ?

They’ve had a few notable exclusives over the years e.g. The Last Emperor in the OAR, or Waves and A Hard Day’s Night on 4K UHD.

That's exactly opposite with JP folks. They spend more on physical media than any of us- Why do you think record labels always get a special JP edition , be on Vinyl or CD.

Even when it comes to BD, it surprises me with the number of BD premier releases of so many films. For ex, Stalker was released two years before it was by CC although it was't the best quality but you'd get the idea how JP consumers are curious. There are so many of such examples like few films off the current Polish Cinema show happening on Second Run @ Vimeo.

[moscone_bail_bonds]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Most things are cheaper on cdjapan.co.jp and you can mark them as a gift declaration.

Yeah, checked them, for the items I wanted CDJapan was about 400 yen more expensive on each item

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by moscone_bail_bonds

Yeah, checked them, for the items I wanted CDJapan was about 400 yen more expensive on each item

Unless the price difference is huge (¥400 is around £2.50), I’d always choose CDJapan over Amazon.jp. Amazon.jp still has a lot of the same problems as other Amazon stores, i.e. crap packaging and frustrating customer service. I’ve been buying from CDJapan for many years, and I’ve never received anything that wasn’t absolutely perfect.

[moscone_bail_bonds]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

Unless the price difference is huge (¥400 is around £2.50), I’d always choose CDJapan over Amazon.jp. Amazon.jp still has a lot of the same problems as other Amazon stores, i.e. crap packaging and frustrating customer service. I’ve been buying from CDJapan for many years, and I’ve never received anything that wasn’t absolutely perfect.

I would consider them but 3 of the 6 things I wanted are on 2-4 week backorder with supplier & amazon has everything in stock. In this case I don't want staggered orders with the chance one or two may become unavailable whilst they are waiting a restock. As they are Fox titles who knows if they will stocked again anytime soon.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Most things are cheaper on cdjapan.co.jp and you can mark them as a gift declaration.

Most things are more expensive on CD Japan. Something being shipped as a gift doesn’t actually shield you from having to pay VAT in the destination country.

When ordering from Amazon Japan, you pre-pay VAT and thus avoid the “service charge” when the shipment arrives in the UK.

[oldmario]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

Unless the price difference is huge (¥400 is around £2.50), I’d always choose CDJapan over Amazon.jp. Amazon.jp still has a lot of the same problems as other Amazon stores, i.e. crap packaging and frustrating customer service. I’ve been buying from CDJapan for many years, and I’ve never received anything that wasn’t absolutely perfect.

i've always seen people adding in a copy of shonen jump or some other cheap weekly manga book and getting their items shrinkwrapped to cardboard in the box

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

Unless the price difference is huge (¥400 is around £2.50), I’d always choose CDJapan over Amazon.jp. Amazon.jp still has a lot of the same problems as other Amazon stores, i.e. crap packaging and frustrating customer service. I’ve been buying from CDJapan for many years, and I’ve never received anything that wasn’t absolutely perfect.

Have you got the URL for them please I want to treat myself to a Blu Ray set from Japan.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by oldmario

i've always seen people adding in a copy of shonen jump or some other cheap weekly manga book and getting their items shrinkwrapped to cardboard in the box

With Amazon.jp, you mean? In my experience, it’s difficult to say how anything from Amazon will be packaged; there’s no consistency with them. I’ve received smashed up BD cases from them in the past, packaged in flimsy cardboard envelopes.

With CDJapan, everything comes in a box — even if it’s a single CD — and is lovingly packed with coloured tissue paper. I’ve used their proxy shopping service, too, which is easy and efficient.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Have you got the URL for them please I want to treat myself to a Blu Ray set from Japan.

Sure:

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp

[DefLeppard]

^You may also consider Jauce, a shipping forwarder but also allows users to buy from Yahoo Japan Auctions; Charges are straightforward here and their packaging was good too.

[DefLeppard]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

With Amazon.jp, you mean? In my experience, it’s difficult to say how anything from Amazon will be packaged; there’s no consistency with them. I’ve received smashed up BD cases from them in the past, packaged in flimsy cardboard envelopes.

With CDJapan, everything comes in a box — even if it’s a single CD — and is lovingly packed with coloured tissue paper. I’ve used their proxy shopping service, too, which is easy and efficient.

Yeah, haven't seen one of those used by anyone except JP sellers; Have got plenty of them through CDs purchased on eBay.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

Yeah, haven't seen one of those used by anyone except JP sellers; Have got plenty of them through CDs purchased on eBay.

It’s a politeness thing. I’ve collected rare records for several decades, and I’ve been over there for gigs. Even a humble tourist gift is exquisitely packaged before it’s handed over to you.

[Ste7en]

I thought CDJapan knocked the gift declaration thing on the head? I used to love getting packages from them, wrapped with that green crepe paper

You could always have a look at YesAsia as well. But, they are expensive. Good, but expensive.

Amazon.jp and CDJapan have always been excellent.

Mind, the best was MrKwang and his Korean DVDs. "Hi, Steven. Your stuffs have been shipped..." always made me smile.