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+--- Thread: Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? (/thread-242.html)
Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? - colonel32 - 2006-11-02
First of all, please forgive me if this is a somewhat "miscellaneous" question - but I don't really have anywhere else to ask it, and I guess it's potentially relevant to obtaining books and learning tools.
I've found that most Amazon Marketplace sellers don't want to get involved with shipping internationally, even if you make it clear that your willing to completely cover their costs upfront (I've had some fun writing emails to ask this!). And in principle, I'm very happy to pay the going rate (or more) for EMS to the UK, as its such a fast and efficient service. In particular, there's an out-of-print manga that I'd really like to have, which might form the basis of an ongoing fun translation project.
I have friends in America and Europe who I have in the past occasionally asked to take receipt of a package, then ship it on to me and be reimbursed (usually by Paypal or cash sent in the post). But I don't have friends or family in Japan, and it seems very presumptious to ask strangers or casual acquaintances (or anyone on this site!) to do something like this.
I've looked at professional maildrop services, and the cheapest ones I've found are Southeast Asian Mail Drop and Baltikums, but Baltikums looks complicated (I don't quite understand their explanation of how it works), and how do you know if they are they reliable? Maybe the most promising thing I've found is eBay sellers who sometimes write at the bottom of their listings that they will search for things which are hard-to-obtain in the West.
Any good ideas?
Cheers, Robin
Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? - CharleyGarrett - 2006-11-02
This is a great question! I'll be watching this topic to see if there are any good answers out there.
Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? - Pangolin - 2006-11-02
That's odd, I've usually found Amazon US Marketplace sellers that ship overseas (i.e. to the UK). I got a hard to find SF novel from one a month back, and have a grammar book on order from one now. Maybe it's a random thing, and I've been lucky. Either that or I misunderstand the problem. Even though I do it regularly with great success, ordering from overseas makes me nervous enough as it is, without an extra complication.
Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? - Pangolin - 2006-11-03
colonel32 Wrote:America is used to being the source of cheap goods for the rest of the world, whereas Japan is more inward-looking. Maybe.In my experience this is certainly the case, however, those Japanese firms who do try to be more "outward-looking" provide an excellent service. CD-Japan.co.jp is one good example, but of course they specialize in music. Amazon.jp appears to be a nightmare. Books-wise, I've ended up going to Hong Kong based suppliers such as YesAsia for Japanese books because they make it so much easier. However, they are entertainment oriented, so I'm pretty sure you can't get text books there.
I have a friend who has had dealings with the manga publishers in Japan and getting deals out of them - however potentially favourable from their point of view - is like getting blood from a stone. They seem to be much less keen on selling us their cultural output in contrast to their industrial output, as, of course, Japan would not be where it is now if it hadn't been keen on selling us hardware of every kind over the last 50 years or so.
I suppose the flip side of their detachment has meant that fan-subbed TV anime and drama can be freely downloaded without incurring the wrath that typifies the western (particularly American) media industries' attitude. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.
Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? - colonel32 - 2006-11-03
A Reviewing the Kanji member has very kindly agreed to help out! I won't say who it is at this stage, in case he gets flooded with requests.
As Charley says, please do continue to post other information here.
Pangolin I think you're right, most Amazon US Marketplace seller do offer international delivery. A lot of them also actively sell on Amazon UK. But previously I have only ever found one Amazon Japan seller who did. The way Amazon works is that it checks your delivery address, and prevents you from even placing the order.
It's possible that I was just unlucky with this one particular thing I want, but I get the feeling it's more general. America is used to being the source of cheap goods for the rest of the world, whereas Japan is more inward-looking. Maybe.
One of the replies I got back was peppered with honorifics and humble language. At least I think - I had trouble translating it! So it's possible I transgressed some etiquette by even asking? I dunno.
Shipping From Japan - Maildrops? - CharleyGarrett - 2006-11-03
I'm trying to get Japanese language materials, and it is easier for me to shop at amazon.co.jp than it is to drive 4 hours roundtrip to Atlanta. But if the material that I want is not available from amazon, and I have to go to the marketplace sellers, I've _never_ been able to complete the order. I'm guessing, naturally, but it seems like none of them are willing to ship outside of Japan.