-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Amazon.co.jp is now offering international shipping for games and consoles
- Thread starter Nibel
- Start date
Toadthemushroom
Member
There's now a home page for Amazon Global International Shipping on Amazon JP which has links to all eligible items: http://www.amazon.co.jp/b/ref=agbhqpEN?node=3534638051
Yeah I just noticed it.
But it's still not shipping global lol, maybe they'll bring it back eventually.
Toadthemushroom
Member
Mm, had a look yesterday evening and despite it listing the items it's still pretty ambiguous as to what ships globally and what doesn't, even when something is fulfilled by Amazon.
Nice to have the hub page, I guess.
Nice to have the hub page, I guess.
Sangetsu-II
Member
64GB Vita memory card here I come!
Cloggerdude
Member
Apparently there are no Vita systems available for order now. I was going to pick up a Orange Vita... =(
Shit, I decided not to bother and that was a mistake.
I havent paid any so far.
Have you ordered any from amazon.jp before? I haven't that's why I am asking how it works.
Fatal Futanari
Member
US dont pay import taxes or customs. Source: I've ordered from Amazon.jp many times.
you don't need to worry about that so go for it.
Banjo-Kazooie
Member
Sorry for bump, but I'm pleased with my experience trying to order something
So ordered Stranger of Sword City for Xbox One. $27 for the game, $9 for shipping. So $36 for the whole shebang to ship to the US. This price is cheaper than the $40.49 the game currently costs digital.
Claims it is arriving between May 24-25 (I live in eastern US). I'm skeptical since thats only 5 days but we will see. I'm in no rush to have it, just wanted to test the waters and I think the physical version looks cool.
I am a happy man.
So ordered Stranger of Sword City for Xbox One. $27 for the game, $9 for shipping. So $36 for the whole shebang to ship to the US. This price is cheaper than the $40.49 the game currently costs digital.
Claims it is arriving between May 24-25 (I live in eastern US). I'm skeptical since thats only 5 days but we will see. I'm in no rush to have it, just wanted to test the waters and I think the physical version looks cool.
I am a happy man.
The dream is not dead!
I notice amazon.jp has changed quite alot of games back to allowing global shipping.
FF15, Persona 5, Tales of Berseria, Dragon Quest and lots of many of games allow it again. The only game I found that didn't do global shipping was Battlefield 1 and COD Infinity Wars.
I guess they took it down earlier because they had to revise the shipping fees (EMS announced they will increase shipping fees from June 1)
Time to lighten up the wallet again.
I notice amazon.jp has changed quite alot of games back to allowing global shipping.
FF15, Persona 5, Tales of Berseria, Dragon Quest and lots of many of games allow it again. The only game I found that didn't do global shipping was Battlefield 1 and COD Infinity Wars.
I guess they took it down earlier because they had to revise the shipping fees (EMS announced they will increase shipping fees from June 1)
Time to lighten up the wallet again.
Yeah the selection seems good again, but it looks like they increased the shipping and handling cost on game preorders?
Preordering any game right now charges 1,976 yen ($18) for shipping and handling, whereas any released and in-stock game only costs 971 ($8) yen to ship.
Preordering any game right now charges 1,976 yen ($18) for shipping and handling, whereas any released and in-stock game only costs 971 ($8) yen to ship.
ladyluthien
Member
I noticed this too. Luckily I got my preorder in for PADX in before it switched to $18, might just have to wait for games to release now before purchasing.
sixteen-bit
Member
Tempted to import that Panda / Stormtrooper Vita 2000...
*This was the most appropriate topic I could find for this question, considering I can't make threads.*
What's the best way to order from Amazon Japan?
I've made an Amazon Japan account and registered all my details (contact info, international address, card details etc.) in order to purchase a game art book.
However, I was wondering if ordering direct from Amazon Japan was the cheapest and most efficient method. So far the Order Summary looks like this:
Items: GBP 29.51
Shipping & Handling: GBP 9.57
Import Fees Deposit GBP 7.82
Order Total: GBP 46.90
It's not too much money, but a bit more than what I was initially looking to spend. I've since read about services like Tenso that order items to a Japanese address before shipping them out abroad, but I understand that these services are more for items unavailable to international customers, and a few reviews I have read have said that they charge much more than if you were to order direct.
Any thoughts or advice on this? Anyone have any past experience in ordering from Amazon Japan?
What's the best way to order from Amazon Japan?
I've made an Amazon Japan account and registered all my details (contact info, international address, card details etc.) in order to purchase a game art book.
However, I was wondering if ordering direct from Amazon Japan was the cheapest and most efficient method. So far the Order Summary looks like this:
Items: GBP 29.51
Shipping & Handling: GBP 9.57
Import Fees Deposit GBP 7.82
Order Total: GBP 46.90
It's not too much money, but a bit more than what I was initially looking to spend. I've since read about services like Tenso that order items to a Japanese address before shipping them out abroad, but I understand that these services are more for items unavailable to international customers, and a few reviews I have read have said that they charge much more than if you were to order direct.
Any thoughts or advice on this? Anyone have any past experience in ordering from Amazon Japan?
In my experience, the best way to order from Amazon Japan is picking several items for a single package. If I'm not mistaken, Amazon calculates a base shipping fee + an additional fee per item.
Certain items in Amazon JP (such as manga) are bundled as "sets", these "sets" count as 1 "item". So you can place an order for a videogame + 20 volumes of a manga and it'll be calculated as base shipping fee + 2 additional items (regardless of weight, even). Thus, saving money on shipping.
What you want is to optimize the "base shipping" fee as much as possible.
Edit: I should also mention that every single order I've made in Amazon JP arrives the day after. If it doesn't, it doesn't take more than 3 days for it to arrive.
Certain items in Amazon JP (such as manga) are bundled as "sets", these "sets" count as 1 "item". So you can place an order for a videogame + 20 volumes of a manga and it'll be calculated as base shipping fee + 2 additional items (regardless of weight, even). Thus, saving money on shipping.
What you want is to optimize the "base shipping" fee as much as possible.
Edit: I should also mention that every single order I've made in Amazon JP arrives the day after. If it doesn't, it doesn't take more than 3 days for it to arrive.
Bah. I only want one item! Fuck it, I've ordered it...
And holy shit, 1-3 days from Japan to the UK!? I didn't get an estimated delivery, so I'll wait and see! Thanks for your help!
Eolz
Member
I usually use amazon japan only when it's hard to get some items some other way (usually magazines and some books, or for a while videogames).
Other websites such as CDJapan, Nin-Nin, nippon-yassan, amiami, etc are usually better for single items or stuff like artbooks, figured, etc. You just need to take the time to compare really.
The good thing with amazon japan though, is that you mighy avoid customs more often and since you pre-pay customs, they often reimburse later those fees if you don't go through them (hence the higher price than on other websites).
Other websites such as CDJapan, Nin-Nin, nippon-yassan, amiami, etc are usually better for single items or stuff like artbooks, figured, etc. You just need to take the time to compare really.
The good thing with amazon japan though, is that you mighy avoid customs more often and since you pre-pay customs, they often reimburse later those fees if you don't go through them (hence the higher price than on other websites).
Thanks for these suggestions! Just checked them out - CDJapan doesn't appear to have it, Nin-Nin appears to be more expensive all told, Nippon-Yasan doesn't have it either and Amiami is out of stock!
On the subject of the Import Fees Deposit that Amazon charges (around £8 in this case) - is there a chance I'll get that back then? I'm assuming it won't have any issue through customs being a book and all...
*EDIT* I might add that there was only 1 left on Amazon, so I felt pressured to get it!
ShadowFox08
Member
Region free NX games or bust
Yeah, this was worth 120 points apparently... that good?
RadioHeadAche
Member
Speedwagon
Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. Yabuki turned off voice chat in Mario Kart races. True artists of their time.
Retailer exclusive DLC content which usually isn't worth the money unless you're a hardcore fan
Berserk Warriors [GAMECITY online shopping & Amazon.co.jp limited privilege] Shiruke (pirate graffiti Ver.) Costume download serial mail delivery (first inclusion benefits (Kyasuka (bathing Ver.) Costume download serial) included)
SolVanderlyn
Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
Too bad 3DS still has region lock
RadioHeadAche
Member
I am a big enough fan to own several behelits, figures, and two framed laserdiscs, but not hardcore enough to pay so much for character skins. Plus, I would not be using the codes as my vita is set to na, and I am not going through the hassle of changing regions for dumb skins.
Thanks for the info!
If all you ordered was a book then you'll get the deposit portion back eventually. Eventually really is the key word though, as in my case it's taken anywhere between 1-3 months for the fee-correction email to arrive and for the money to come back.Übermatik;209657113 said:
If you order books at the same time as other items that do have import fees due then you'll get approximately the right amount back to cover the estimated fees for the books, but it will be reported oddly in the refund email. I suspect that Amazon is given the refund and then they attempt to spread it out amongst the purchased items, which results in the refund email telling you you've paid fees on the books (which shouldn't have fees) but lesser fees than expected on the non-books (that should have higher fees). It always ends up being roughly what I expected though so I've never actually taken the calculator out to check (and it's not like you could reclaim it if it was wrong anyway).
ThePeoplesBureau
Member
Short boring answer: There was already a company in Japan called Logitec (sans 'h', but still close enough).
Ok, this is good to know. Thanks for clearing that up.
One last thing I've seen someone comment on is that it's best to go through the checkout using Yen, as "your card's currency conversion will be fairer than Amazon's". Any truth to this? I didn't seem to notice much difference, all told, and for the price I was paying I suppose I shouldn't be too bothered anyway?
It depends on your bank.Übermatik;209682271 said:
If your bank is reasonable then it might work out cheaper but it probably won't make much difference. If your bank is garbage (like mine) then you're probably better off paying in pounds.
I'm with Natwest so there is no way in a million years I would let them process the transaction in yen, because they have lousy rates, additional fees for handling charges in foreign currencies, and then they'd make me pay them some additional percentage of the cost for the privilege as well. Letting Amazon skew the exchange rate ever so slightly in their favour is preferable by far.
On the other hand, if I'm placing preorders for items that come out more than 14 days from now they have to be paid in yen, but luckily my mum lets me put them on her card - she's with Nationwide, and their rates are better and they don't do any of the bullshit Natwest does. Then I pay her back when she's charged. Her bank's exchange rate is marginally better than Amazon's but there's not much in it, honestly.
i've been looking to get okami for ps3 sice i'd like to get it physical, and it comes with english subtitles and a soundtrack CD. averages like $45 on ebay.
just picked it up for $34.xx shipped off amazon after remembering this thread. hell yeah.
searching this thread yield 0 results for okami so it's my duty to post it.
just picked it up for $34.xx shipped off amazon after remembering this thread. hell yeah.
searching this thread yield 0 results for okami so it's my duty to post it.
i've been looking to get okami for ps3 sice i'd like to get it physical, and it comes with english subtitles and a soundtrack CD. averages like $45 on ebay.
just picked it up for $34.xx shipped off amazon after remembering this thread. hell yeah.
searching this thread yield 0 results for okami so it's my duty to post it.
Wait it does have English!?
yup! lots of confirmations if you search for it! happy to be able to own it and at around $30ish + a soundtrack CD, plus only a few days shipping from japan, well worth it imo
Just ordered Uppers for my first Amazon Japan order. Ended up being about $15 Canadian less than it would have been on HMV Japan who I had been using so that is nice. Delivery estimate is faster too and HMV Japan were already fast for me. Thinking about the money I could have been saving on other stuff is depressing though. Had never bothered to actually try the checkout process so kept having it tell me it couldn't ship to my address. Even with Uppers it says it can't ship outside of Japan on the description and when I added it to my cart and did the estimate shipping cost it said it couldn't be shipped to me. But sure enough when I went through the actually checkout process for the first time there was no problem letting me ship it here so other stuff I didn't think could ship here probably could have.
Tony Iron Man Stark
Banned
How much is shipping from Japan to US by Amazon? How does shipping cost compare to competition?