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Proxy buyer in Japan needed

TartuWolf

One Too Many
Messages
1,146
Location
Tartu, Estonia
The proxy services are nice, but I would really like to just find a member who could proxy for me for a small fee. Then I could cancel out most import taxes, which are usually nuts in my country (33%+).
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,645
remembo.jpg


Maybe I am reading something in between the lines about Remanbo...

FWIW, when I first started using FromJapan they allowed me to "declare" value at the shipping checkout section. Probably when they were hungry for customers but they're not doing that anymore. There are always new younger guys wanting a piece of the pie and may be willing to play in the grey areas. Just don't expect them to lend you a hand when things go wrong.

I am just glad all my import cost is fixed at 12% now from preferred countries of origin. There was a time when it wasn't so, and was over 35%...
 

Nacho

Practically Family
Messages
597
View attachment 580546

Maybe I am reading something in between the lines about Remanbo...

FWIW, when I first started using FromJapan they allowed me to "declare" value at the shipping checkout section. Probably when they were hungry for customers but they're not doing that anymore. There are always new younger guys wanting a piece of the pie and may be willing to play in the grey areas. Just don't expect them to lend you a hand when things go wrong.

I am just glad all my import cost is fixed at 12% now from preferred countries of origin. There was a time when it wasn't so, and was over 35%...

Depends on the total value. Not always fixed at 12%. Sometimes they go as low as 5% for PST.
 
Last edited:

Nacho

Practically Family
Messages
597
I had that a few times from Tricker's/UPS, just 5% I thought I got lucky. haha.

Same here haha. Also 5% from UPS a few times now. I find that sub $300 total value seems to be a sweet spot for that.

I’ve come to terms that I can’t escape the taxman no matter what. But if I can declare a lower value to pay less tax, I’m all for it.
 

TartuWolf

One Too Many
Messages
1,146
Location
Tartu, Estonia
I wouldn't be that bothered by 5% or 12%.
And it's not always enough to declare something a certain value - you have to prove that it's what you paid as well.
Depends on the courier sure. I think last time I just provided the fedex pdf where the value was mentioned as proof to the customs.
But in other cases... In theory.. Buy item for 1000eu, provide proxy address, pay 100eu to proxy, proxy declared item at 100eu, you prove that you paid 100eu to the sender, you get item and proxy sends the 100eu back to you (-tip).
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,645
I think you EU residents also have to pay taxes on the shipping cost. The total taxable amount includes the shipping as well. Makes no sense to me, but it's what it is.

Just the taxes alone is a major factor in the buying decision, more than one third of the total price.

And a lot of EU countries have VAT rates near or over 20%. That's hard.

All proxies are not technically legal because there is the issue of price fixing and the grey area of product ownership / who is gonna be responsible when things don't go well. The risk we take for leather jackets... Almost like weed before it became legal...
 

Robbie79

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,163
Hey guys,

Does anyone know if it's still possible to reduce goods values on shipping documents when buying through Remambo.jp? The last time I asked them was 2 years ago and they response was as follows (it worked well) but it seems that they have changed their regulations in the meantime (this time their answer was not 100% clear):

Due to the Japanese customs laws you can edit values only if the total cost of all orders in the parel is less than 200,000 yen, so there will be no possibility to lower the value for this item.

Thanks in advance!
Robbie
 

Robbie79

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,163
I use Juno@bidservice, very reasonable shipping and costs
Thank you John. For the future. This time it's too late as the goods have just arrived Remambo warehouse and I already count with at least 25% extra fee unless there is a hint how to avoid this but I guess I have to learn this lesson (I saved money in the past anyway).
 

Robbie79

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,163
In the meantime I found an information on another website that Remambo.jp changed their policy in early 2023. Therefore they no longer offer this "service" to lower the values. @John Lever Thanks again for the hint/recommendation which I will use for future purchases.
 

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