What is the best value Yahoo! Auctions Japan redirection service?

Okay, so one of you guys said you managed to have a computer shipped from From Japan to you for around 50 bucks.

The F-Zero AX steering wheel assembly I ordered is most definitely smaller and weighs less than a computer, yet the only shipping method From Japan is letting me choose is EMS, which has an outrageous overseas shipping charge of $320 whoppers. I sent them an email because that seems an awful lot like them pocketing a majority of the cash, especially since they don't give me the option to choose which carrier I want to use.


EDIT: Okay, fail, it was MaxWar's post and I completely misremembered what was said.

 

Thought you were going to use Buyee?

 

They only allowed you to choose EMS? And you went with that? Although I find it a little hard to believe that they only offered you EMS, I find it even weirder that you didn't ask them about it (Especially if even Fedex isn't an option). :/

When I got my SCPH-10000 and DESR-5100 units, I was offered a host of options (EMS, SAL, surface and Fedex) while making my charge 2 payment. I went with Fedex for my DESR-5100 unit (~5.7kg) though, as it somehow ended up being cheaper than even surface shipping for me. But mind that I'm probably a lot closer to Japan than you are, and we don't have import tax here.

 

Where did I say that I accepted that form of shipment? I sent them an email about it because it seems strange. If you want to see what I see, here's a screencap-



Also, I had already bid on this unit before I found Buyee to (seemingly) be a better option. Learn about the order of events before jumping to conclusions.

 

NinSEGA2, you need to contact the proxy. Something is not right. I shipped 2 PS3's in their original box (approx. 40-50lbs) for 20,500 yen. Either you accidentally bought something enormous, or something within your item makes it a high risk item and it can only be shipped a certain way. Keep us posted.

 

I sent an email. I'm just waiting for the response.

 

I got a response-

"Thank you very much for your email.The reason for this is that the item is actually very large and heavy. As such,
because this item does not fit within the size limits of Surface mail, the only
method we can send this to you via is EMS."

 

I had some pretty large packages coming in with Fedex express. That thing you ordered must be quite big.

 

The part I ordered is only about 6 inches less than the width of the arcade cabinet and about 2/3 of that distance deep and is about 1.5 feet high and weighs no more than 50 pounds. Your average desktop bundle easily exceeds that. I sent them another email asking why SAL and FedEx aren't options for me to choose from.

 

There is restrictions on SAL shipping, I guess I forgot that too. I believe it all depends on weight...

 

I'm just curious to know before a conclusion is made. Could you please show us that auction page? It should probably still be accessible.

It sounds as if you just bought something really huge, heavy, or both.

 

It's not really huge, nor is it really heavy. It is, however, awkward. I've already taken my own steering wheel assembly off of my F-Zero AX and it doesn't feel like it exceeds 50 pounds (unless I am remembering wrong, which may be the case).

Here's the auction-

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n120537447

And here are the pics-

 

I wouldnt be surprised if it is close to 50 pounds after packaging, they tend to do a good job.

 

I'll wait until they respond in regards to offering FedEx or SAL. If they can't do it, it looks like I'll be wasting close to $400 just on shipping alone. Eff my life.

 

Whelp, a $200 item became a $700 item. Avoid From Japan like the plague and do not believe anything the assholes on this site try to advertise. You have been warned.

 

Okay, according to Japan Post, the US has to follow example B-

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/service/i_parcel_en.html

for the dimensions.

It turns out that the steering wheel assembly is 91cm long by 28cm high by 52 cm wide and it weighs 26 kilograms, making it barely outside the allowed dimensions for SAL to US residences. Also, the cheapest option through FedEx would be 57,190 yen. So, in comparison, I made out and I'm no longer pissed because I am no longer ignorant of the situation. I still got reamed with the exchange rate, though. I should have waited until the dollar:yen ratio was a little better.

 

Also, it costs ~$1500 USD round-trip for a person to visit Japan from New England. Outrageous, but understandable.

 

Next time, just wait until the package is even bigger hah. I sent many xboxes over and lots of stuff for around 500$, package was absolutely huge though.

 

The problem is, the size restrictions are per country . I don't send much stuff to Aus, so I've never had to breach that limit. Large SAL is hardly a savings though, so I wouldn't be too pissed off about that. For such a huge item, boat is the way to go, but the US's size restriction on surface shipping is shitty. I believe a total measurement of 2 meters, where as EMS (and boat for Europe and most of the rest of the world) is 3 meters.

I've had to try down many a package of the years.

 

I got another response from them, and now they are saying that they get a discount with FedEx and would be able to change me to FedEx shipping for 10,914 yen (a hell of a lot cheaper) and would refund me the difference of what I paid for EMS. The downside is that they said FedEx customs is strict, but after I contacted FedEx in regards to this situation, I was told that all I have to make sure of is that these guys are steel importer-licensed. So they supplied me a site to give to them (http://ia.ita.doc.gov/steel/license/) and to have them fill it out if they haven't already done so. So I'm crossing my fingers.