anyone use yahoo auctions japan to buy a watch over 1k in price? if you how did itgo and did you pay any fees? right now in order for me to bid i must fund my account with "x" amount to bid. through yahoo's aleado group i didn't see anything about fees, and i'm unsure about shipping cost.
A few threads here on using a proxy service, might be helpful: https://omegaforums.net/threads/help-with-yahoo-japan-auction.69710/ https://omegaforums.net/threads/shipping-from-japan-to-the-usa.88119/ https://omegaforums.net/threads/display-caseback-on-1960s-seamaster.100509/
I haven't, and this isn't directly related to your question, but just a word of warning that depending on your location there may be restrictions regarding postage from Japan currently: - https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2020/0423_01_en.html - https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2020/0423_03_en.html
I would think postal conditions around the world will be getting back to normal relatively quickly. If the OP is talking about customs fees, that's often hit or miss. I recently received a DHL shipment from Australia in the USD 5k range and it sailed right through US Customs in 12 hours with no action taken. Next time could be another story.
I bought a watch for a little over $1K from Yahoo Auctions Japan using Buyee, I paid about $60 to Buyee as their fee, plus $20 in shipping to the US. It was worth it, I'd use them again.
while you use to be able to other services i don't know if you can choose a shipper. the bidding is done through aleado, and they handle the shipping. translating the yen to usd a $660 usd watch they want this is ems -$94 to ship -$38 to use paypal -10% consumption tax = $69 so for a 660 watch shipped to usa aprox <2lb it comes out to $866........lol i think the 5% aleado fee is baked in. if not add another $32
Can confirm—I live in Tokyo and was told on Friday I couldn't send a watch to the US for service. There are other courier services but they are extremely pricey compared to Japan Post's EMS service. FedEx Japan in particular is a sloppy organization that bears little resemblance to the US outfit.
¥10,000 is exorbitant for shipping a watch from Japan. Probably a lot of members here know this already, but anyway many of the most reliable sellers in Japan are selling on both Yahoo! Auctions and eBay, sometimes alternating items back and forth, sometimes simultaneously. There are some good pieces that come up from Japanese sellers on Yahoo! Auctions, but it's likely that you'll pay quite a bit to get your hands on one.
I have bought many things on Yahoo Auctions Japan using Buyee. They are the easiest, imho. They do a lot of discounts but you usually have to apply them before the sale. Try to ship Japan EMS, it's usually the cheapest and fastest.
I have used this proxy service for years, and have been very satisfied: https://www.fromjapan.co.jp Setting aside current postal issues, EMS shipping to the U.S. is remarkably fast and cheap.
like others, I'd also recommend Buyee. They take a small fee, and then there are shipping costs, but worth it. I spent a few thousand bucks on a watch and spend less than $200 in fees/shipping. Might be a customs duty coming my way, but still was worth it. You can find some cool stuff on yahoo auctions, rakuten and the other japanese marketplaces.
I’d be leery about receiving anything in the post right now. Bought a watch from Elady and it got held in customs for over a week. Then it got returned to sender. Still don’t know where it is, nor do I have my money back Edit ** (Here’s a picture showing the tracking progress)