Japan Post to USA shipping restrictions.
Ok, so I'm trying to still gather information on this but it seems like starting Nov. 17 Japan Post (EMS, SAL) will no longer be shipping packages over 16 oz to the USA until further notice.
There are exceptions.
It seems like companies who have business accounts are exempt but I do not know how or if this will affect stores like HobbySearch, AmiAmi, Mandarake, Hobby Link Japan, etc. This does seem like it would greatly affect Toy Hunter and other hunters/shippers from Japan. I would imagine Yahoo Auction Japan sales could be affected depending on how you plan to ship it to the USA. I don't have alot of experience with Japan shippers so I'm not sure if they would have a business account that qualifies for exemption or not.
This of course affects many members of figure.fm so I just want to get the news out.
I am waiting to hear from the stores themselves and hopefully it will be good news as I am expecting lots of figures and especially the BRS, DM and Mugi PVCs are all over the 16oz restriction once packaged in a shipping box.
Majirox news article quoting Asahi Shinbun
UPDATE: Have heard reports from HS, HLJ, Jlist, Tokyo Hunter that they are not affected by this. Guessing AmiAmi will be fine also.
That's BAD!!!!!!!
Lot of new stuffs release after Nov 17 ..........
This is very SAD news for people who uses yahoo japan auction :( ...no more 2nd hand DDs T_T
woah woah woah
does this affect europe as well????
As far as I can tell it's only to the USA.
i'd like to say thats a good thing but i can't because i would be too pissed if i lived in america .... sorry to hear of ur plight dudes and dudettes
That's the good ole gov't for ya. Keeping us americans safe from terrorists by blocking our mail and peeking at our bits.
I would rather live in the US and have my items shipped by ground parcel then have to pay Customs on every order I make lol
damn it my brs will not ship out until the 17 this sucks can i get my money back does anyone know
I din't order anything but great thing I live in canada,poor USA otakus
Ditto to Canada! :3 Yet I still feel bad for our US comrades. :/
Same here!!!
woooooooooot canada
Canada+1!
....eh?!
There should probably be a way around it. That business thing should work out with many companies, including Japanese figure stores. Otherwise, this will severely damage Japan's export economy.
My guess is that this will only prevent personal shipments to US...I hope.
this can mean only 1 thing, US government wants you to visit Japan.
It seems that stores that are pretty large and do a lot of business would have a monthly contract with Japan Post and will NOT be affected.
I've gotten replies from Tenso, and I know that Noppin (formally Crescent Shop) and Shopping Mall Japan are OK.
AmiAmi and Hobby Search, etc. are probably fine, although I have not heard back yet.
I'm just wondering how stores like Mitsuwa Marketplace would fare with this...
Because Mitsuwa is a large chain store company, I can't imagine this affecting them at all. It will really only make things difficult for very small companies/individuals - like sellers on eBay, for example.
They won't feel a thing. Mitsuwa and Nijiya and Marukai all are branches of huge multinationals, with ties to Nihon no Haha-san.
I'll look into it but I don't know how this would be possible ....the US an Japan do a lot it personal business with eachother an as radical as some Americans are putting an restriction on personal business and private mail tends to make Americans turn on people ... we tend to take things very personal ... but if that is the case then my figure collecting days are numbered ..oh well but it was a great run ... and maybe it will prompt local businesses to carry figures and we want have to pay outrageous shipping fees ... there is always bad in good .... but I know in the end only the figure companies and only stores will feel this lose
I really doubt this sort of thing will affect businesses that receive orders from overseas. :/ Just my thoughts.
This is not satisfactory at all. :l I have a package that's waiting for one last preorder to come out this month with 4 figures in it.....
That just sucks!!!
Good thing I live in Canada...
I feel sorry for you guys in the US!!!
If you have friends in other countries...that should help you get your Japanese goods!!!
Just to clear this up, please read this:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=3347794#post3347794
Apparently, it only affects if you do a transaction with an invidual. It won't affect big stores like AmiAmi and the others.
Does that affect Tokyo Hunter too? I have some preorders from him and I hope it doesn't affect him :(
Sorry, I don't really know since I never did an online purchase ^^; maybe send him an email?
from the looks of it, yes it will
Tokyo Hunter should be fine :D http://twitter.com/Tokyo_Hunter/status/4365500884721665
I've heard from HS, HLJ and even Jlist that they're ok. Guessing AmiAmi will be fine. I still wonder about Tokyo Hunter even though I dont have any orders with him currently.
Thanks for the info, I nearly had an heart attack when I heard the news. Also I emailed Amiami, they told me that it only applies to packages WITHOUT A RETURN ADDRESS. Basically What "Ryonea Raizo" said and the link he posted, Big stores such as HobbySearch, Amiami, HobbyLink Japan, etc wont get affected.
what about mandarake? =[
I think Mandarake would be ok since they have made a contract with the Japan Post a long time ago.
If they have a Return Address than most likely they're fine.
phew, that's good to kno! thanks!
Well that's a reliever, I'd be pissed if I couldn't get my Amagami LE package.
I'm ashamed to admit that I breathed a small sigh of relief when I heard this only affected the US. I feel sorry for you guys, it's tough when crap like this happens, hopefully it won't affect any of you regular websites though.
Sigh.. can I just move to Canada?
wow, that's sorta stupid... although if they are going to completely rehash the mailing system to be much more productive and safe, I guess that can't be a problem... I assume now that there is always FedEx and UPS (which cost tremendously expensive, unless you are buying more).
well, I guess that means I get to save up a little without doing impulse buys... Or buy locally which is still expensive... Better not buy stuff from Japan for awhile...
extension doing a bit more research:
So it's all under the name of terrorism.. Jesus christ, acting upon fear -just the idea what terrorist wants... I bet this is all the Republicans fault...
also, why would they announce this while the President was there... That seems sorta insulting... Rather, why would America do this to their ally?
Can't wait to hear the reason for this nonsense: Terrorists are sending Fugu to unsuspecting Americans or some such thing I would bet.
okay so the system only affects individual sells or personal not any actual business transactions and this maybe due in fact to the American side of shipping ......our postal service is struggling as well as our economy and lets face it it's probably cost the Japans postal service more money to offer this services as it is a government run business like our postal service ....I'm pretty sure it is a politics and the dollar or yen working here.... I would not worry to much about it and like I stated earlier we in the states have a few retailers to buy from and if anything it will help them in the long run or maybe allow some of us to get together and form our own figure business ^^ we all have dreams
Whoa.
i just order 14,900 yen figure from tokyo hunter not too long along rocket punch miku i guess not getting that now stupid post office -.-
wait, you are in Canada... it shouldn't matter, it's only to the US, since US dickatry HLS thought it was wise to shaft it's own ally due to some terrorist threat
yes but ship to american to well not paid the 9% tax on imports xD
Calm down guys, The restrictions only apply to packages without return addresses sent privately (i.e. non companies).
Your pre-orders are safe and those hating on the Governments for this: this whole terrorist situation is quite serious. The bombs found in various shipped items/carriers from Yemen all had almost undetectable bombs set to go off; either in transit or held.
If these pre-cautions can prevent innocent people dying and serious economic impact, then I'm sure a little delay wouldn't hurt.
well, on another side, it means that relatives from Japan won't be able to send anything to their relatives in the states (I had an eye for more younger people since it's that time of year).
country like japan going ship bombs. Lol that laughable. No too much respect and culture and loving people. American government just mad because japan getting 20% Of "there money" and they want buy things from here, we but we buy from there. Are Falling economy is the only reason this was past. Americans clearly this wasn't done any other reason than wanting more money not for safety
Hobby Link Japan officially tweeted they're not affected, so it's guaranteed that the other popular import sites aren't either. Also hi, new here. ¦D
My sympathies to the Americans.
Maybe the Taliban are into anime are rigging figures with explosives.
yes so cute but deathly xD
I believe the main reason for this is because of the recent finding of explosive materials in ink cartridges on a shipment from Yemen that nearly made it to our shores. I understand the scrutiny the government wants to apply onto packages, but this seems a bit excessive for what needs to be done. For those of us here, there's probably very little chance of a figure, no matter the size, to be rigged to explode (unless it's the famous derp Saber, which may have been molded from C4 o.O)
Hello Everyone I just joined the site since I see people are worried about this new rule regarding shipments from Japan to the US. It's true, this rule will start on the 17th.
I wanted to let people here know that if your regular supplier of Japanese goods is affected by this rule and unable to mail your items to you quickly, you are welcome to ask me to help. I am an American who has been in the business for a few years now and have a commercial account set up with Japan Post. I am able to send items to the US through any shipping method. Feel free to contact me through private message or email!
By the way, you can see that I am legit by visiting my blog at http://goodsquid.blogspot.com. I've also got a feedback score on Ebay of 1751.
One of the few times that i say i'm happy to live in Italy!! It's a joke, i'm proud of it, but this is TERRIBLE!!! What's wrong with that people?!?