Shipping from japan to the US

[Kingmeow]

Long time N-Scaler but new member to JNS.  I have a bunch of Kato's but all US models.  Every since my first trip to Japan last month, I've been wanting to stock up on Japanese models.  I got two sets while in Japan but now I guess the bug has bitten!  😃

 

I know about Plaza Japan and Hobby Search.  I even ordered from Plaza once for a Tomix Thomas which I DCC'ed but that was 10+ years ago.

 

For those of you in the US do you typically pick EMS or do you select something like FedEx or DHL?  I've heard shipping has gone through the roof with the new regulations but I want to minimize the impact of shipping cost without having to get hit with additional US Customs.  I know UPS and FedEx even charge a "brokerage fee" if you are buying stuff from Canada, shipped to the US.

 

Is the best way to just select EMS and swallow the high cost or are other options more favorable?  I'm in no rush for these things as long as arrival is within 3 weeks or so.

 

(Man, if shipping was cheaper I would be ordering 2-3 times a month!  🤩)

[bill937ca]

You could try RG Rokko.    

 

[cteno4]

King meow,

 

I use all three to have stuff bought in japan shipped to the us. I usually just use the one with the lowest cost and that can vary due to seller’s deal with FedEx or DHL and also if there are promotions (like hs is currently doing on EMS).

 

FedEx and DHL have not applied any extra customs fees to packages I’ve had shipped over so if they have a fee it’s just buried in the price charged by the shipper. I know it’s crazy the customs hassles that can happen from Canada with FedEx and ups, but nothing like that happens with packages from japan. DHL seems the fastest these days with FedEx close and EMS a day or two behind, but that varies. EMS goes on passenger flights a lot so that can vary.

 

For smaller packages registered air is also an option with some sellers. It’s a couple of weeks (goes with space on the plane) and appears to be the successor to Sal, but smaller size limit.

 

the good news is I’ve had hundreds of packages shipped from japan sellers ro the us and non have gone missing! I shipped most of them SAL which was very inexpensive and about 2 weeks wirh no insurance or tracking and never an issue (expect one box got soaked but luckily items were wrapped in plastic so no damage to the Tomytec mechs). So I don’t worry about tracking or insurance.

 

jeff

[Kingmeow]

Thanks for the details!  A lot of information about the shipping scene that I didn't know about.  I have only used EMS once.

 

Bill, I'll take a look at Rokko later.  I'm not familiar with them at all.

[bc6]

It all depends lately Ive been having problems with USPS not so much so with UPS or FedEx. DHL I wouldnt think about using them they used to be good but things have changed. 

[cteno4]

DHL was really bad there here in dc area for a few years back. They use subcontractors for local delivery and I was having stuff shown in tracking as delivered only to show up the next day, packages left out at the very end of our driveway at the street 100’ from the house, a package left in the rain 5’ out from the front door eve, and packages left right behind the car where if I got into the car from the front from the garage I would have backed over it (this happened three times)! I sent in some complaints and finally a district manager called me, then service improved and the issues went away since then.

 

usps package service delivering here from japan no issues and now mostly all EMS so it’s treated as express mail and more attention.

 

jeff

[Kingmeow]

Sounds like if I'm going to order a train set or something high value and/or delicate should pay the extra and use EMS.  DHL rarely comes to my neighborhood only because I guess packages are rarely shipped DHL to my area.  But the few times they do come it has been uneventful.  The other 3, USPS, FedEx, UPS, have been great as well as Amazon private carrier.

 

Bill, I took a look at Rokko and it's a hit or miss.  Doesn't look like they stock a lot.  It does sound like a good place to visit in person.  One day (hopefully next year), when I get back to Japan and try to find the location where my father was born in Kobe, I'll look for the shop.  Thanks for pointing it out though.

[cteno4]

Well in hundreds of packages sent from japan to the us over the last 20+ years, I’ve had none lost, once come wet (but stuff ok), a couple of damp packages and a few beaten up boxes but nothing broken. Only issue with usps I’ve had was one EMS was returned by our local post office as we were on vacation (preorder got shipped) and had a vacation hold on our mail. Our local postmaster said it’s express mail so they try a couple of times and leave a notice and then return in 5 days as it’s “express” mail. Made no sense and I contacted usps and they said he is wrong all packages are to be held with a vacation hold. 
 

so overall very successful with all of the shipping methods. And I’ve never had to use tracking to find something or had a loss. I used SAL a lot and that was the diciest method with no tracking or insurance. But I’m very well insured due to all of the Sal boxes. But now that route is out and most are insured except DHL appears to have next to nothing for insurance unless the sender adds it. Last time I tried to suss that out whe  we were having the local DHL delivery issues I was worried about it was very opaque.

 

jeff

[Tony Galiani]

I have come across some retailers on eBay that ship "free" from Japan.  (Don't have an eBay account but shop as a guest).  Just ordered an item from japanselection2020 and while the price was slightly higher than I found elsewhere, it seemed a good value with the shipping included.

I noted lots of Japanese HO scale on his site - don't know enough to say if the prices are reasonable but the looked good to me.

Ciao,

Tony

[cteno4]

Pricing looks like they may be using register air.

 

jeff

[disturbman]

From what I have seen, Japanese eBay sellers are never good value.

[Tony Galiani]

Guess I have been lucky.

 

Though I have only done a few eBay purchases - probably less than one a year if I were to check.  Interestingly, on my last purchase, there were several sellers that were as much as 50% more expensive.  So it does pay to be thoughtful when shopping there.

 

Ciao,

Tony