Paying for japan proxy shipping is a necessary part of getting your collectibles, but nobody wants to pay more than they have to. Are you leaving money on the table? With a few smart strategies, you can significantly cut down your shipping costs.
Here are five professional tips that will help you save on shipping from japan and make your international haul more affordable.
1. Consolidate, Consolidate, Consolidate!
This is the number one, most important money-saving trick. International shipping has a high “first kilogram” cost. Shipping five small packages separately is incredibly expensive.
The Strategy: Instead of shipping each item as it arrives at your proxy’s warehouse, wait. Let all your orders from different stores (Mercari, Yahoo! Auctions, Suruga-ya, etc.) accumulate. Then, instruct your proxy to combine them all into a single, larger shipment. You’ll pay that high “first kilogram” cost only once.
2. Ditch the Unnecessary Packaging
Remember volumetric weight? You pay for space. Many items come with excess packaging that adds bulk without adding protection.
The Strategy: Ask your proxy for “packaging removal” options.
- Shoe Boxes: Buying sneakers? The brand box is bulky and adds weight. You can ask for it to be removed.
- Extra Store Bags/Boxes: Sometimes items arrive at the warehouse inside another store’s bag or box. This is redundant.
- Magazines in a Book Order: Sometimes a magazine’s flimsy packaging is enough.
Caution: Do NOT remove the primary packaging for fragile items like anime figures. The manufacturer’s box is part of its protection!
3. Choose the Right Shipping Method for the Job
Don’t default to the fastest shipping (EMS) if you don’t need it. As we’ve discussed, choosing a slower method like Airmail or Sea Mail for non-urgent or heavy items can cut your shipping bill in half, or even more.
The Strategy: Before shipping, ask yourself: “How soon do I really need this?” If you can wait a few weeks, your wallet will thank you.
4. Understand an Item’s “Shipping Profile”
Think about an item’s size-to-weight ratio before you buy it.
- Good Profile: Manga, books, CDs, video games. They are dense and pack well.
- Bad Profile: Large plushies, prize figures with huge boxes, pillows. They are light but take up a ton of space.
The Strategy: If you’re buying items with a “bad” shipping profile, it’s even more critical that you consolidate them with denser items to make the shipping cost worthwhile.
5. Be Mindful of Your Country’s Customs Threshold
This isn’t a shipping cost, but it’s a final expense. Every country has a de minimis value—a threshold below which packages are not subject to import taxes/duties. In the US, this is $800 USD. In Europe and the UK, it’s much lower.
The Strategy: Know your country’s threshold. While you must always declare the value of your items accurately, being aware of the limit can help you decide whether to ship two smaller packages instead of one giant one if it’s close to the threshold.
Implementing these strategies requires a proxy service with flexibility. You need a partner who can hold your packages, consolidate them effectively, and offer a range of packaging and shipping options. At OneMall, we provide free package consolidation and multiple shipping choices specifically to help you save.