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Buying from Yahoo Japan but only speak English..

RB_26

By RB_26,
in General Automotive Discussion

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lwells Grand Master

lwells

Posted
Posted
all the amazing parts at such cheap prices :)

Maybe its me, but I am not entirely bowled over by the "cheap prices". There is no doubt the range is impressive -- if repetitive (ie. same sellers all the time) -- but a lot of the items are maybe 10 or 20 percent cheaper than buying from Nengun/Greenline/et al, and by the time you add in Yahoo fees, agent fees, shipping fees, customs and duty (and waiting awhile) its not always worth the hassle.

Perhaps I am just looking for the wrong parts :P

Edit: Troy -- what are you planning on for that little racer?

LW.

MrZac Mentor

MrZac

Posted
Posted
Maybe its me, but I am not entirely bowled over by the "cheap prices".  There is no doubt the range is impressive -- if repetitive (ie. same sellers all the time) -- but a lot of the items are maybe 10 or 20 percent cheaper than buying from Nengun/Greenline/et al, and by the time you add in Yahoo fees, agent fees, shipping fees, customs and duty (and waiting awhile) its not always worth the hassle.

Perhaps I am just looking for the wrong parts :)

LW.

You are probably looking at the brand new parts...they are either at or slightly below Japanese retail in 99% of cases. But the used parts definately are cheap.

If you check out http://www.slidewizeimports.com/products/thisweek.html

you can see a few examples of auctions from last week and what the total cost for them is.

lwells Grand Master

lwells

Posted
Posted
You are probably looking at the brand new parts...they are either at or slightly below Japanese retail in 99% of cases. But the used parts definately are cheap.

If you check out http://www.slidewizeimports.com/products/thisweek.html  

you can see a few examples of auctions from last week and what the total cost for them is.

No, I tend to look for second hand items since that's what I can afford.

I don't disagree that there are some deals to be had, but given that there seems to be a lot more people (outside Japan) interested in buying from Yahoo JP the deals seem fewer and father between than 12 months ago.

But as I said, some of it is probably due to what I am looking at. For instance, I have no interest in Japanese suspension parts (IMHO, the are often far too hard for our local conditions).

LW.

DaiOni Experienced

DaiOni

Posted
Posted

* 99.99% of the time the seller will not ship internationally

* if you are doing it yourself, you will need a japanese bank account

* you will need somewhere to ship it in japan

* I've had to do bank transfers, cod, etc - it never seems to be as easy as simply providing a credit card number (and the only instances where that option was available - not secure)

* you will need at least a basic understanding of japanese - I've never seen an online translator that has ever been particularly accurate or useful. You may also have to deal with a japanese seller via email - and they won't understand the gibberish that an online translator will spew out

* you have to be very careful, with regards to freight costs - japanese post office/companies charge an arm and a leg - so that great deal on a set of wheels, may quickly spiral into (significant) lost bucks

the bottom line: not at all user friendly for international buyers

* some awesome deals are out there, but you have to monitor the items constantly

* last minute bidding, like anywhere, is a way of life - and a pain in the butt

* there are some good deals on new items - but once you factor in shipping, it seems as if the only real benefit is a few bucks saved, and the luxury of not having to leave your house - I can usually get a similar price from autobacs

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