Forum - View topicIs there a trick to buying goods off Japanese websites?
|
|
| Author | Message | ||
|---|---|---|---|
daxomni
 Posts: 2650 Location: Somewhere else. |
|
||
|
I've been trying to buy goods from Japanese websites for a while, and it's been hit-or-miss. Okay, it's been mostly miss. Even after you get past the sticker shock of Japanese prices most sites won't ship to a US address, and even those that will or who are merely selling downloads or other access tend to fail at the credit card stage. I can translate the payment page using google or babelfish but apparently there's still something I'm typically doing wrong.
Is there a website anyone has setup to walk the average amerikajin through the nuances of Japan's rudimentary credit card system? When you see options for COD and convenience store deposits you know you're dealing with one backward system, but I'm still curious why sometimes I can get it to work and sometimes I can't. I know this is a problem for folks abroad trying to buy from US websites as well, so hopefully there's a website that covers these issues which I simply haven't found yet. To get the ball rolling, here are some specific questions... 1. If it's not specified, would your name order be First Last or Last First? 2. Is there any way to finagle a US address & phone number into a Japanese format? 3. Does using a yahoo.com email address kill the process? Thanks in-advance for any replies! |
|||
|
|||
DuelLadyS
 Posts: 1705 Location: WA state |
|
||
|
What you need to do is track down a Deputy service. Basically, that's someone over in Japan who handles your purchase and has it shipped to them, then sends it along to you, for a small fee. That way you don't have to try and figure out how to work the site yourself. (Most deputy services focus on Yahoo Japan auctions, but there are some out there who'll order from websites for you.)
Off the top of my head, I know of 2: rinkya.com and celga.com. I know there's more out there, but the names elude me at the moment. I'll add 'em in if I remember, but search around yourself to see who's got the lowest fees for what you want. |
|||
|
|||
Webki
 Posts: 299 Location: Albany, NY |
|
||
|
I should recommend Amazon.co.jp. They ship to the US and when you get to the payment and address stage, there is a link to translate the page to English. You will still need to use Japanese to search, however.
|
|||
|
|||
Lasco
 Posts: 40 |
|
||
|
Akibado is another site along the lines of Rinkya, although I've never used any of them, generally just go Ebay, I've heard Rinkya is the best.
|
|||
|
|||
Abarenbo Shogun
 Posts: 1573 |
|
||
|
I have a penpal in Tokyo and family in Okinawa help me buy stuff and send it over. I've managed to get rare car parts this way.
|
|||
|
|||
 |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group