POSTAGE & PACKAGING
I'd like to buy from you but I'm afraid the postage from Japan might be very expensive.
Yes, I admit it's not cheap, especially for heavy items. However, I'm trying to make it as cheap as possible.
For example, most of large online shops ship by international courier service but I can send it as a small packet by postal service.
I also try to choose lighter material for packaging and make the parcel as small as possible to save your cost.
Moreover, large shops often charge large amount of handling & packaging fee for shipping abroad. I charge none! Although I use recycled material for packaging to save cost and be 'eco-friendly', it's you who pay for a nice new LP carton with a shop name on it. Don't just compare the price. Consider the total cost!
For example, if you live in North America / Europe / Australasia and order a $28 new Japanese CD from Strangelove Records, the total cost will be
CD price $28.00However, if you'll order the same CD from HMV Japan, your total will be
postage (no packaging fee!) $5.00
Total $33.00
(To have it registered, you need to add $5.00 fee.)CD price $23.58
postage & packaging $29.86
Total $53.44 (!!!)
The airmail postage from Japan to North America / Europe / Australasia will be as follows. (This is just a rough estimate and it varies with the type of booklets, packaging material, etc.)
Cassette & CD in card sleeve $3.00
CD in digipak / slim case $4.00
CD in jewel case $5.00
12" / LP in single sleeve $12.00
2x12" / 2LP in gatefold sleeve
But how about safety?
You can add $5.00 and have it registered. In my experience, no registered package has gotten lost so far. This fee doesn't cover the insurance but I'll give you a full refund at my own expense, if anything should happen to a registered package!
But what if it gets damaged?
All the items will be dispatched in cardboard packaging. I don't trust jiffy bags or bubble wraps because many items I bought from overseas sellers arrived in terrible state. I also seal every item in plastic so that it won't get wet.
I've never had a complaint on damaged / broken item so far. But in that case, I'll refund your money or send a substitute. (See Order page for returning and refund policy.)
I see. But I still want to save the postage as much as I can.
If bare jewel cases are available in your neighbourhood, I can send CDs without cases. (I leave special cases or stickered cases.) It will save your postage a lot, especially when you buy them in bulk. Since a jewel case is the heaviest part of a CD, you are actually importing jewel cases from Japan!
These cases are available at record shops and computer shops in Japan. If not, please try search it on the web in your country. (I'm selling them too as Misc Items)
CDs and booklets are sent in anti-static plastic sleeves in cardboard packaging, which is even safer than sending them in cases, because a jewel case is the most fragile part of a CD.
ORDERING & PAYMENT
Why can't you accept credit card payment?
I'm sorry but it's very hard to get a credit card license in Japan and their fee is too expensive. If you are a PayPal user, you can pay by PayPal.
Why can't I use an order form?
This site is on a free server and they won't allow the use of CGI, hence no order form nor shopping carts. Sorry again but I can't afford a pay server with my small profit. :-)
DELIVERY
I ordered CDs from you by airmail and you said it'll take a week to arrive. But it hasn't arrived to me after 2 weeks!!
It's just estimated days. As a matter of fact, the international airmails might be delayed for various reasons. If I dispatch several packages to the USA on the same day, one may arrive in 5 days and the other may take a month!
Japan Post is very reliable and an airmail package posted in Tokyo will usually go on the next day's flight. After that, it depends on your country's customs and postal service. For example, if it were opened at the customs, it'll take a month or more. (They do it at random but larger and heavier packages are more likely to be opened.)
Anyway, please don't panic and email me if you didn't receive it in a month.
OTHERS
Import duties
Sometimes they charge import duties on international packages at the customs. I won't put the shop name on a package (it will be sent under a name of Junko Suzuki) and describe it as a 'gift', lest you should get charged.
Also I enter the price of an item on the customs form a lot less than actual cost, just in case you've got to pay the tax. (and so as not to attract an attention of thieves!)
Also, large and heavy packages are more likely to be taxed. If you order in bulk, it's wiser to split the package in two or more.
I'd like this Japanese new release on sale now, can you get it for me?
Yes I can. I can buy a new and sealed Japanese CD and send it to you at the lowest cost.
Please just remember this will be a special order and you can't cancel your order.
I'm desperately after this Japanese record for years. Can you search for it for me?
Yes, please email me and I'll add it to my search list. However please understand that out-of-print Japanese CDs and vinyls are quite hard to get. Availability of singles and 90s CD albums is very limited and 80s CD, promos and samples are almost impossible to get.
I'd like this item at a Japanese auction but I can't read Japanese and the seller won't ship abroad. Can you bid it for me?
I'm afraid not. Mainly because I can't take any responsibility for other people's items. Sorry.
