Shipping to the US

[oyajikun]

After 8 years of living here I have decided to lreturn to the US. I have some questions regarding shipping things back to the US. Things like say... a leather sofa bed. Who could tell me how much I would be spending on shipping such an item?

Thanks for any help!

[Taro Toporific]

... shipping things back to the US. Things like say... a leather sofa bed. Who could tell me how much I would be spending on shipping such an item?

Shipping is more than the price of the leather sofa.

Ok, ok, ok, you COULD get a small container and do all the JAPANESE paperwork yourself (because most Japanese wives will be unable/unwilling to help on such a vile and onerous task). Price? Anywhere from $1000 to $6000 and very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very few gaijin manage to actually accomplish the nasty/complex arrangements. Actually, gaijin "getting a cheap container rate" ranks in the catgory of a Japanese urban legand.

As you have found out, regular moving companies start at $5000 and can charge $20,000 for a full house of an fat-cat ex-pat's junk.

Generally, f'ed gaijin just throw everything away and start over. Ship your papers, books and media seamail at the printed matter rate. Ship clothes surface mail. Travel on an aircarrier with a generous "excess bagage" policy (rare nowadays).

[kotatsuneko]

are you really sure you want to go back ? i mean, congratulations and all, but.. grass is greener and all that.. mr T sure knows shipping btw!

[oyajikun]

I have a couple of friends on Yokota airbase that are going to ask about shipping things for me. I'll see if that will be less costly.

BTW, would anyone know what the best etiquette is for me to "give myself up"? I mean, should I just go to the airport with my bags and no ticket? lol

Seriously, I have no idea...

[Charles]

...Ship your papers, books and media seamail at the printed matter rate...

There's a special Book Bag with a rate even lower than that, but you have to ask yuubinkyokusan to send for a book bag in advance, most offices don't have them in stock. Somewhere I have the name of the class written down, but I've forgotten. It only allows you to send books and magazines (no media AFAIK), they can't be in sealed boxes but they can be strapped with twine or something. It's way cheap.

[Taro Toporific]

...Ship your papers, books and media seamail at the printed matter rate...

There's a special Book Bag with a rate even lower than that

good cheap shipping company?

am mainly shipping educational material - which gets you a discount from customs

One word: "M-BAG"

No tax on educational material via the 30kg "M-Bag". Go to the counter at the a MAJOR Japanese post office and ask for an "M-Bag". If they look at you like your from another planet, try going to the larger post office.

An M-Bag is a fairly big, heavy duty canvas bag with a drawstring. You can stuff it absolutely full of books, EDUCATION MATERIAL, and software counts as "printed matter". It's big enough to put a dead wife into, if need be.

I have friends in the States that ship me used books this way for next to nothing and I send them used Japanese study books which they sell for double the new retail price in Japan.

I recommend putting materials in a box, then putting the box inside the bag. The M-Bag will ship over in about 4-6 weeks, and the rate is significantly lower than mailing the books by any other means...less than 4,000yen.

M-Bag Shipment: When shipped in an M-Bag, the books are packed with an address label. The box is then placed in a separate mail bag addressed to the addressee on a tag attached to the bag. The postage is the same if the box weights anywhere between 4 and 11 pounds and then increases with weights beyond 11 pounds. M-Bags may be either standard (surface mail) or Air Mail M-Bags. Minimum weight M-Bag (less than 11 pounds) varies from $12. (Surface M-Bag to England) to $40.

[oyajikun]

...Ship your papers, books and media seamail at the printed matter rate...

There's a special Book Bag with a rate even lower than that

good cheap shipping company?

am mainly shipping educational material - which gets you a discount from customs

One word: "M-BAG"

No tax on educational material via the 30kg "M-Bag". Go to the counter at the a MAJOR Japanese post office and ask for an "M-Bag". If they look at you like your from another planet, try going to the larger post office.

An M-Bag is a fairly big, heavy duty canvas bag with a drawstring. You can stuff it absolutely full of books, EDUCATION MATERIAL, and software counts as "printed matter". It's big enough to put a dead wife into, if need be.

I have friends in the States that ship me used books this way for next to nothing and I send them used Japanese study books which they sell for double the new retail price in Japan.

I recommend putting materials in a box, then putting the box inside the bag. The M-Bag will ship over in about 4-6 weeks, and the rate is significantly lower than mailing the books by any other means...less than 4,000yen.

M-Bag Shipment: When shipped in an M-Bag, the books are packed with an address label. The box is then placed in a separate mail bag addressed to the addressee on a tag attached to the bag. The postage is the same if the box weights anywhere between 4 and 11 pounds and then increases with weights beyond 11 pounds. M-Bags may be either standard (surface mail) or Air Mail M-Bags. Minimum weight M-Bag (less than 11 pounds) varies from $12. (Surface M-Bag to England) to $40.

Exellent! I'll get all of my books and DVD/games sent this way! After that I should only have about 3 more medium size boxes..apart from the sofa that I don't want to part with.

Thanks a million!

[fatslug]

just use one of them crate things where they charge for the actual crate size not the weight !

[canman]

A friend of mine asked me to buy this leather upholstrey cleaning junk from the states. I find a site that sells it, for $12.95, for 30 oz. Then I check out the shipping charge $28.00, for a grand total of $40.00 That is friggin insane. Is there any way to get something shipped here for a relatively decent price.

[oyajikun]

A friend of mine asked me to buy this leather upholstrey cleaning junk from the states. I find a site that sells it, for $12.95, for 30 oz. Then I check out the shipping charge $28.00, for a grand total of $40.00 That is friggin insane. Is there any way to get something shipped here for a relatively decent price.

You must be able to find someone that can hook you up that works at Misawa. If they can't buy it on base you can at least have them ship it to their APO addy.

[canman]

But I don't want to be bothering my friends all the time for stupid little things. I just want to know if there is anyway to beat these sky high shipping costs. Because there is no need for it. They are taking advantage of international sales. I've also noticed on some Ebay auctions they are practically giving away the merchandise but charging an arm and a leg for the shipping what is up with that.

[oyajikun]

But I don't want to be bothering my friends all the time for stupid little things. I just want to know if there is anyway to beat these sky high shipping costs. Because there is no need for it. They are taking advantage of international sales. I've also noticed on some Ebay auctions they are practically giving away the merchandise but charging an arm and a leg for the shipping what is up with that.

What is the product? Tried Yahoo auctions?

[canman]

My friend restores cars, and he said that this stuff does wonders for old car seats, and other things. I checked out both Ebay and Yahoo auctions, both of them have it but will not ship to Japan.

[canman]

Holy crap Batman! My friend said he tried to buy it in Japan and couldn't find it. I've been checking out sites in North america, with no luck. So I just typed in Quick'n brite Japan, they have an office in Nagoya. No of course the price is double what it costs in the states, but at least they have it. Must be that damn shipping.

[oyajikun]

Slim chance but you could try http://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/

[oyajikun]

Holy crap Batman! My friend said he tried to buy it in Japan and couldn't find it. I've been checking out sites in North america, with no luck. So I just typed in Quick'n brite Japan, they have an office in Nagoya. No of course the price is double what it costs in the states, but at least they have it. Must be that damn shipping.

haha, thats cool I guess..

[Socratesabroad]

A lot's being said here about the M-Bag and book rate, but I'd be careful. When I moved to China, I took a box of two of English and Japanese uni textbooks to the PO for shipping and no dice. The weight limits sound great, but hardbacks and textbooks weigh a lot more than you think, so be prepared.

As for other stuff, I'd agree - it would probably be cheaper to buy new stuff back in the States than ship it. If you really can't part with the sofa, you might check out Econoship.

Stuff I would keep would be any high-end electronics you have, as they're probably more 'loaded' with extra features than stuff back in the States. Also make sure to buy any Japanese PC/software supplies before you leave because they cost a fortune elsewhere and many PC/soft companies won't ship outside Japan.

[Kuang_Grade]

[Mels]

I have a couple of friends on Yokota airbase that are going to ask about shipping things for me. I'll see if that will be less costly.

BTW, would anyone know what the best etiquette is for me to "give myself up"? I mean, should I just go to the airport with my bags and no ticket? lol

Seriously, I have no idea...

I graduated from YHS..as an ex brat from Yokota, yes, it is cheaper to ship items through APO and FPO (military). As long as they claim it as their own. If they are moving, their household goods will be shipped and you can throw in your things..we never paid for anything through the military for shipping household goods.

Thus, I wouldnt have your buddy's ask if they can ship stuff for you, just let them ship it. If it is furniture, etc...I highly doubt they can unless they are moving. But, it doesnt hurt to check...things have changed a lot since the 80's.

[GomiGirl]

...Ship your papers, books and media seamail at the printed matter rate...

There's a special Book Bag with a rate even lower than that

good cheap shipping company?

am mainly shipping educational material - which gets you a discount from customs

One word: "M-BAG"

Is this called something else?

I have been to 5 different post offices and they look at me blankly.

My parents are leaving soon and I told them about this and am really trying to sort it out.

Help

[mercutio]

One word: [b]"M-BAG"

Is this called something else?

I have been to 5 different post offices and they look at me blankly.

My parents are leaving soon and I told them about this and am really trying to sort it out.

Help

Gomi, I had the exact same problem. I never found anyone at a post office that had ever heard of an M-bag or any kind of "book bag". I wound up mailing everything in boxes via regular mail.... and they lost one the boxes!

[Kuang_Grade]

Hey GG...A few posts back on this thread I posted some links to J post office. On the link for SAL rates, there is a mention of a M Bag in relation to printed matter weight limitations and that also only certain post offices handle M Bags.

here's the link for who to contact for help (presumably in English)
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/contactus.html

[FG Lurker]

And this is the direct link to the M-Bag info on the page that Kuang_Grade provided:

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fee/intel/sal.html#mbags

[Edit:]
Here is the Japanese page:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokusai/index.html

(Or here for a direct link: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokusai/koku_kodu.html)

[Taro Toporific]

One word: "M-BAG"

Is this called something else?
I have been to 5 different post offices and they look at me blankly.

You are speaking Japanese too well to get proper service. I just point and smile like serial killer.
I don't have the Japanese word for M-Bag on the tip of my so I just go to the J-Post site and print out the Japanese page and point-n-grunt.

--

And this is the direct link to the M-Bag info on the page that Kuang_Grade provided:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fee/intel/sal.html#mbags
Here is the Japanese page:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokusai/index.html

(Or here for a direct link: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokusai/koku_kodu.html)

OR Call the engrish hotline at
Change of Tokyo contact number for information concerning mail service
Japan Post has been offering postal service information in English by telephone since 1992.


Telephone number

Tokyo

03-3560-1139
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/intel_service/sal.html

[alicia454]

"M-Bag" Is this called something else?
I have been to 5 different post offices and they look at me blankly. My parents are leaving soon and I told them about this and am really trying to sort it out. Help

Can one ship other light durable items besides printed material inside an m-bag? (Clothing, linen, fabric, toys, etc.)

[alicia454]

Originally Posted by FG Lurker
And this is the direct link to the M-Bag info on the page that Kuang_Grade provided:
Here is the Japanese page:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/sim...sai/index.html
(Or here for a direct link: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/sim...koku_kodu.html)

None of these above URL's are valid now. Does anyone have current valid links for the large (30kg) M-Bags with Japan Post to North America?
Thanks in advance.

[omae mona]

None of these above URL's are valid now. Does anyone have current valid links for the large (30kg) M-Bags with Japan Post to North America?
Thanks in advance.

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/service/s_printed_matter.html

I think this "tokubetsu yuutai insatsubutsu" is what you're looking for. According to the page, Tokyo post offices handling it are akasaka, azabu, kanda, kyobashi, koishikawa, kojimachi, shiba, shibuya, shinjuku, shinjuku-kita, takanawa, tachikawa, nihonbashi, hachioji, hongo, musashino, ginza, tokyo international, tokyo tama, tokyo central post office.

EDIT: I'm an idiot. I thought I was being sooooooooo helpful by typing out the branch names. Then I found the English version of the page here

[FG Lurker]

Can one ship other light durable items besides printed material inside an m-bag? (Clothing, linen, fabric, toys, etc.)

No.

[alicia454]

[FG Lurker]