Cheapest Sniping Service for Yahoo JP Auctions 1000 yen only

[pooch]

http://www.japaweed.com/

They only charge 1000 yen per auction and actual shipping to your country. It is by far the cheapest middle man for yahoo japan auction. It is too cheap that makes me suspect the if this service is any good.

Does anyone know about this service or have used it before?

[GaijinPunch]

Their English is awful. Could get spicey. Anxious to hear how it'll turn out.

It's not 100% clear, but it sounds like the COMISSION is only 1,000 yen. You still need to pay shipping both ways. It's not a lot for small items, but if you're buying an item in the 1kg range, it could easily be another 1,000 yen for domestic shipping, then international shipping, which will suck.

[layzee]

So anyone tried this Japaweed dude yet?

For my first Y!J auction ever, I'm considering using this guy's services or Otaku-Ya, who has similarly competitive rates.

EDIT: Actually, I think I'll use Japaweed's, since there might be a good deal on Amazon JP I cannot miss.

To anyone who has purchased from Amazon JP before (with or without a deputy service), is there any unexpected/hidden fees I should be aware of?

Being unfamiliar with Amazon as well as the Japanese language, it's a bit hard to find these things. Heck, working out the deputy service fees is challenging enough... but I digress.

EDIT 2: Well whatever, I'm going ahead with Japaweed's services buying from Amazon JP. Wish me luck. x_x

[pooch]

Please let us know how your experience was. Thanks

So anyone tried this Japaweed dude yet?

For my first Y!J auction ever, I'm considering using this guy's services or Otaku-Ya, who has similarly competitive rates.

EDIT: Actually, I think I'll use Japaweed's, since there might be a good deal on Amazon JP I cannot miss.

To anyone who has purchased from Amazon JP before (with or without a deputy service), is there any unexpected/hidden fees I should be aware of?

Being unfamiliar with Amazon as well as the Japanese language, it's a bit hard to find these things. Heck, working out the deputy service fees is challenging enough... but I digress.

EDIT 2: Well whatever, I'm going ahead with Japaweed's services buying from Amazon JP. Wish me luck. x_x

[c2000]

I've been using Celga.com for around two years now. It's an expensive hobby but, well, it's worth the money imo.
If you got the money to throw around they're nice people to deal with.

[jsiucho]

I didnt even know these services existed,, Let us know how it turns out,,



JS

[pooch]

I need to edit my comment.

It's not the cheapest service but definitely the cheapest if the auction goes over 1000 yen. From my thorough research and experience, all other companies has a structured fee and charge a percentage pass 1000 yen.

I am using shoppingmalljapan.com for the moment.

It is CHEAPER than Celga and Rinkya.

Great service, very fast responses to question/need, allows you to choose any kind of shipping method and individually bubble wrap each item.

[GaijinPunch]

So what's the breakdown in cost for say a:
-500 yen item
-2000 yen item
-5000 yen item
-10000 yen item?

Do they charge per item or transaction (from the same YJ seller).

[layzee]

Okay, my transaction with Japaweed went well. Perhaps one could say his service was very good/excellent. Note that this is the first time I used a deputy to purchase something from Japan, so I was rather nervous Japaweed (or anybody for that matter) might rip me off.

I didn't buy from Yahoo Auctions Japan though, just got something off Amazon Japan.

Firstly yes, like all other Japanese bidding/store intermediaries, you must pay both ways (seller to deputy, deputy to you). Japaweed however, from what I can see, does not take any profit from shipping. You pay exactly how much it costs. From the looks of it, Japaweed's only commission is the base 1000yen.

His site also seems fairly organised and there is a member's facilities to keep track of your activities as well as your balance. His English isn't perfect, but I'd say it's more than good enough. He seemed to understand my English well, so communication both ways was satisfactory.

If I have one complaint, it's that I think I paid more for shipping than necessary. I chose EMS shipping. My item was about 400 grams and with proper packaging, should probably still stay under the 500gram threshold. Japaweed instead put the item in a rather big box so taking the weight to around 900-1000grams threshold. Regardless, I don't think he made any profit from that. Perhaps he was just making sure it arrives quickly and safely that way.

Overall, he's one of the cheapest in the market. Otaku-Ya! (like other deputy services), although cheap, profits from shipping, so that alone might make it more expensive than Japaweed (but still cheaper than the "professional" deputy services).

As far as Japanese deputy services go, I'm after the cheapest. Japaweed fills that spot well, and I would probably continue to use his services again in the future.

Now for my questions:

1. Who has utilised Otaku-Ya!'s services, and what do you think of it?

2. His fee structures (or shipping costs) changed as of September 2nd. Is it now cheaper or more expensive than before? (I'm thinking cheaper, not sure)

3. Hypothetical situation 1.

a) I want to buy 5 CD/DVDs (less than 300grams each).
b) Each CD/DVD costs less than 1000yen each.
c) Each CD/DVD is a separate YJ!A auction.
d) All are from the same YJ!A seller.

Who is cheaper in this regard, Japaweed or Otaku-Ya!?

4. Hypothetical situation 2.

a) I want to buy 5 CD/DVDs (less than 300grams each).
b) Each CD/DVD costs less than 1000yen each.
c) Each CD/DVD is a separate YJ!A auction.
d) All are from different YJ!A sellers.

Who is cheaper in this regard, Japaweed or Otaku-Ya!?

[GaijinPunch]

From the looks of it, Japaweed's only commission is the base 1000yen.

So this is 1000 yen, completely seperate from internal shipping, bank transfer fees, shipping to you, etc. So you if you bought a 50,000 yen item, he would still only ask for the 1000 yen comission? Sounds good.

[layzee]

So this is 1000 yen, completely seperate from internal shipping, bank transfer fees, shipping to you, etc.

Separate, yes.

So you if you bought a 50,000 yen item, he would still only ask for the 1000 yen comission? Sounds good.

I guess so.

[Japan-Games.com]

Looks like he gets you with the "options." I was reading it wondering how he could do it so cheap (heh) since he says he pays for the box, and even the Yahoo Fees. Granted the Yahoo fees are probably only $1-$2 but a decent large box is about 500 yen right there, not including any other packaging materials.

If you click on the "more option" link on his fees page it will bring up a new set of fees:

You want to have dealings early, or you want to send it early. - 1000yen
You want to pack it for the goods firmly, or want to use good material sturdy.+ material cost
You want to send a lot of goods together. - 1000yen
You put it for one month or more. - 1200 yen every week
You want to make good invoice. - 1000 yen
from second goods of 999 yen or less in same packing - 500 yen discount
This is specified shop.

Some of that's hard to understand, but it just might be an English issue. If I were bidding I'm not sure if my item would qualify for any of that.

[GaijinPunch]

I'd rather pay more money somewhere else and understand exactly where it's all going.

[Von-Zipper]

I've been using Otaku-Ya services for quite a while (maybe 10 times), for big lots or just single games.
Fees are faire, the only issue here is that if commision fees are actually low, domestic shipping costs are quite expensive :
http://otaku-ya.swee.to/fees_auction/
For example, even if shipping is free, you'll have to pay $5.

My favourite middleman is http://www.crescent-shop.com
Fast, fees are not that bad, and they have the most user-firendly interface: watch list, auto bid, etc.
Really really nice...
And as GP says, you understand exactly what happens: http://www.crescent-shop.com/auction/auction07.htm

My advice : use crescent-shop, automatized (it exists in english ?)

EDIT: japaweed seems quite good as well

[udisi]

Anyone know how bad the duties are if any when using these services? Just wondering since most of these services list actual value and don't mark as gift.

[StealthLurker]

Sounds interesting, I'll give him a shot too.

I've been using SMJ for YJ stuff (over 500+ diff auctions now due to convenience/ease of use) and Masato for non YJ. They get expensive REAL fast when you're rackin up about 30-40+ auctions a month, so this one sounds almost too good to be true.

.

[gamergary]

I'll have to see if I can get a couple of things off yahoo.co.jp using this service.

[iycey]

http://www.japaweed.com/

They only charge 1000 yen per auction and actual shipping to your country. It is by far the cheapest middle man for yahoo japan auction. It is too cheap that makes me suspect the if this service is any good.

Does anyone know about this service or have used it before?

The cheapest ever so far is SPEBID JAPAN ( US$30 per year only for members..Free registration) Check them out http://www.spebid.com ) you can read testimonials too.
I hope this helps.
iyce

[layzee]

Trust a spammer to be the one that bumps an old thread!

Jesus christ, it's been 6 years since the posts I made in this thread?

In the 6 years that have passed, the following has happened:

Japaweed is no longer active.
Otaku-ya in no longer active.
CrescentShop changed its name to Noppin.
My Japanese stuff collection has become too much (started collecting in early 2006).
Made the decision to learn the Japanese language (Was off and on but currently intensely cramming as much as I can into my head in as little time as possible). The knowledge certainly helps the Yahoo!Japan Auction website browsing experience, that's for sure.
Learned to love GaijinPunch.
6 years closer to reaching the average male lifespan age.