Auction/App Service Terms and Conditions

Fees and Payment Information

Please use the calculator on the service page for fee estimates.

Fees Which Apply to All Auctions/Apps:

• 5% of closing/list price or 500 yen, whichever is greater (Service Commission)
  • Commission is charged per auction/listing in the case of auction/app services.
  • This commission rate structure also all “private seller markets,” like Rakuma-FRIL, Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, MBOK, etc.
• Domestic Shipping (from seller to me)
  • Determined by the seller, generally between 200~1,500 Yen depending on size/weight.  Sometimes free/covered by the seller.
• ATM Fee (Items must be paid for in cash withdrawn from my US account)
  • $5 for every $500(USD) that you spend, across all types of shopping. $5 will cover up to $500 of “cash” shopping, such as auctions, Mercari/Fril/app markets, and online Cash On Delivery or Bank Transfer Payment orders.
  • This fee is “per shopping service.” If you have been invoiced for your shopping service(s) that means I have already taken out the cash required for your items and paid the ATM fee, and you will need to pay the fee again if you wish to start a new shopping service. I do my best to minimize this fee for you.
• Payment Processing Fee (covers fees between currencies/accounts/banks)
  • between 4%-6%  depending on your country of residence
• International Shipping fees (shipping to you)
  • Please see shipping information.

Fees Which Only Apply to Some Auctions/Apps:

• MBOK “Mobapei System” Payment Fee
  • Applies only to MBOK auctions
  • Usually under 300 yen, based on auction ending price
• Bank Transfer Fee
  • Applies only to very few Yahoo Auctions where the seller only accepts Bank Transfer,  the fee is 200-400 yen.
  • In nearly all cases, this fee will be waived (0 yen).
• Mercari and Rakuma-Fril Payment System Fee
  • Applies only to Mercari and Raukma-Fril listings
  • 100 yen per listing

**Different fees apply to in-store / online purchases. Please view the separate sections for details.**

Currency Conversion:

• Items purchased are denominated in Japanese Yen, but you will be invoiced in US Dollars.
• A US based bank/bank card is used for all shopping service purchases. The exchange rate given is dictated by my bank, which does not use the “market” rate (the one found on Google, xe.com, etc).
  • In general the given rate is about 4 yen lower than the market rate.
  • For example, if the market rate is 105 yen to the dollar, I will pay around 101 yen to the dollar.
  • The rate used for your service corresponds to the rate on the day your item(s) were purchased.

Payment:

Payment is required within 3 days of invoicing unless we have discussed another time frame. I take payment by Paypal or Japanese Domestic Bank Transfer.

• I cannot offer ‘layaway,’ ‘payment plans,’ or any other loans.
  • Please have your funds ready when contacting me.
  • If there is a special circumstance, or if it is an issue with a transfer, feel free to explain in a message and I will consider your request.

• I may require a partial deposit before purchase, but not always.
  • I will decide this on a case by case basis considering your feedback, previous history with me, and the cost of your order.
  • Deposits are refundable only if your item(s) become unavailable.
  • Deposits are reflected on your final invoice as a ‘discount.’

• I accept payment via Paypal. I will also take Japanese domestic bank transfers.
  • I will invoice you in the case of Paypal.
  • I do not take eChecks via Paypal.
  • I cannot accept gift payments via Paypal.
  • I will gladly use Paypal’s ‘partial payment’ feature on your invoice if you need to pay with multiple funding sources. Please note on your form if you need this feature.
  • If you have a Japanese bank account and wish to do a domestic transfer I can use the yen you send to pay instead, in this case the exchange rate will not apply.

Shipping Information

If you have specific marking instructions, please be clear and reasonable in your requests on your shopping form. I will not enter a service if I am not comfortable with your requests.  Shipping has been greatly affected by the pandemic, please read here.

• I offer three kinds of shipping: EMS, Airmail e-packet, and Yamato/UPS.
  • I will not ship via methods which are not traceable.
  • The cost of packing materials is factored into the cost charged on your invoice.
  • I can also ship domestically (within Japan) via YUPACK, please make a note in your shipping instructions.
  • I can offer surface/sea mail with special arrangement in advance. Due to size and weight limits, some large items can still only be shipped by EMS.
  • If paying by Paypal, I will ship to the registered address you choose as it appears on your paid Paypal invoice. Due to Paypal’s policies, I must ship to the address you choose at payment. If you need something shipped to an address which you cannot register on Paypal, I may have to turn down your service. Please discuss the matter in detail with me via our shopping emails before any shopping starts.
  • I don’t mind holding items for combined shipping, but please remember that the space in my (Japanese sized) apartment is limited. I might have to ask you to ship and start a new box if I do not have room to store it.

EMS Details:

• EMS takes about 4 days to most locations.
• Maximum weight is 30kg. There is also a size limit that varies by country.  Extremely large items may not possible to ship.
• Shipping cost is based on weight.
• EMS is automatically insured up to 20,000 yen.
  • If you want coverage over this amount, tell me and I can look up the extra cost.
  • Please note that a package will only be insured up to the amount at which it is valued if under 20,000 yen.
• EMS packages can be tracked here.

Airmail e-Packet Details:

• Delivery takes about 1 week to most locations.
• Maximum weight is 2kg.  There is also a size limit, so this method is not possible for large/bulky items.
• Shipping cost is based on weight.
• Packages over a certain size cannot be shipped via Airmail, I will tell you if this is the case.
• Airmail e-Packet can only be insured up to 6,000 yen. If you want insurance over this amount, you must use EMS.
  • Please note that a package will only be insured up to the amount that it is valued if under 6,000 yen.
• Airmail e-Packet packages can be tracked here.

Yamato/UPS Details :

• Delivery takes 6-10 business days to most locations.
• Maximum weight is 25kg. There is also a size limit that varies by country.  Extremely large items may not possible to ship.
• Shipping cost is based on package dimensions (size).
• Packages are automatically insured up to 200,000 yen.  Packages valued over this amount cannot be sent via this method.
  • Please note that a package will only be insured up to the amount that it is valued if under 200,000 yen.
• Yamato/UPS is not available for Canada, Russia, or Brazil.
• Yamato/UPS does not permit ANY food products or ANY batteries in their packages.
• Yamato/UPS packages can be tracked here.

Estimated Shipping Times and Delayed/Lost Packages:

Items are shipped within one week of receiving your payment (excluding weekends and Japanese national holidays). Picks ups are done 1-2 times per week.

Delivery times listed for shipping types are estimates only. There are cases where packages are held up in customs or are otherwise temporarily delayed.

If your tracked package seems to be lost, at least a month must pass from the shipping date before an investigation can be opened.  Investigations can take 2+ months to complete.

If an item is broken or damaged in transit due to mishandling of your package, please save all the packing materials, send a photo of the damage to Tenshishop, and bring the item to make a Damage Report to your local post office (for EMS and Airmail) or UPS (for Yamato/UPS) immediately.

General Information

Communication:

I take communication very seriously.

• I try my best to answer all messages within 24-48 hours
• I expect responses to my messages within 24-48 hours if a response is required. If you will be unable to respond within 24-48 hours, please let me know before you become unavailable.

If at any time you have a question, or are waiting to hear from me but haven’t, please send me a message.

• The best way to reach me is via our active email thread (if you currently have a service open), a new request form, or email at service@tenshishop.com for less time sensitive requests.

Combining Items from Tenshi Shop Online Shop:

If you are interested in something on the online shop part of the site, I am happy to combine them with shopping service items. Please just let me know which item you are interested!

Reselling for Profit/Scalping:

I do not support reselling for profit, also known as “scalping” items. If it is discovered that you are buying item solely for the purpose of reselling them at significantly higher prices, then you may be refused service in the future. Please see more in the news post here.

Caution Points and Limitations:

Please be sure that you are:

• Of age to accept the items that you order.
• The items that you order are allowed in your country.

Please use translating tools online to check the basic info of the listing you are interested in (including the seller’s feedback and item description) before contacting me.

• If you have a question about something written in Japanese after that, please ask me.
• I can also ask the seller a question if you are unsure of something. Sometimes I may not be willing to/cannot ask the seller certain questions due to the seller’s rules.

Please be aware of the shipping the auction/app seller is using:

• In the case of MBOK and Yahoo auctions, shipping is almost always paid for by the buyer, with some exceptions.
• In the case of Rakuma-Fril and Mercari listings, sellers will often pay the shipping, but maybe only via the cheapest (non-traced method). Please see below for how this relates to buyer protection.
• Look for the symbol 送料込み for free shipping.
• Look for the symbols 着払い or 送料別 for shipping paid by the buyer.

Please never contact sellers or shops directly yourself if you intend on Tenshishop assisting you with the purchase.

• This includes placing items on hold, asking for sizing information, or volunteering Tenshishop to buy any item without first contacting Tenshishop.   Please read full details here.

Auction Specific Risks and Limitations:

The following caution points apply to MBOK and Yahoo Auction Bidding:

• I cannot give you an exact cost for auctions before it is won as there are too many variables.
• I may not be able to bid on an auction due to the seller’s personal rules.
• You are purchasing AT YOUR OWN RISK.
  • Please bid only if you understand the risk of buying from private sellers.
  • If the seller does not send the item, and I have already paid for it with no way of recovering my funds, you will still be responsible for payment.
  • The same applies to items that are not as described. I do not inspect the condition of items upon arrival. I only partially open the package from the seller to check it is the item from their listing. I will not take action against a seller for an item not being as described beyond contacting them on your behalf. Should an item need to be shipped back to Japan and then returned to you, you will be responsible for all associated postage fees.
• MBOK offers buyer protection. To be covered, the buyer must use Mobapei Payment System. Money is withheld from the seller until the buyer confirms they have the item. If an item never arrives or is significantly different than described, MBOK will refund the buyer. For this reason, nearly all MBOK sellers require the buyer to pay for traced shipping. There is little risk for the buyer on MBOK.
• Yahoo Auctions offers limited to NO buyer protection. If a seller doesn’t send the item, or if the item arrives significantly different than described, there is very little protection/method of dispute for the buyer. Please keep this risk in mind.
• It is important that you give me your true maximum bid when contacting me. You can raise your max bid, but I cannot guarantee I will see messages to raise bids at the last minute.
• Snipe bidding is generally frowned upon and sometimes not allowed by sellers, so, as a general rule, I do not snipe bid. I will bid from the time I receive your request. In the case of Yahoo Auctions, there is auto time extension system in place that prevents sniping.
• I will not negotiate prices on auction listings, the platforms are not designed for it.

App Specific Risks and Limitations:

The following caution points apply to App Shopping (Rakuma-Fril, Mercari, and Paypay Flea Market:

• I may not be able to buy a item on an app due to the seller’s personal rules.
• You are purchasing AT YOUR OWN RISK.
  • Please buy only if you understand the risk of buying from private sellers.
  • If the seller does not send the item, and I have already paid for it with no way of recovering my funds, you will still be responsible for payment.
  • The same applies to items that are not as described. I do not inspect the condition of items upon arrival. I only partially open the package from the seller to check it is the item from their listing. I will not take action against a seller for an item not being as described beyond contacting them on your behalf. Should an item need to be shipped back to Japan and then returned to you, you will be responsible for all associated postage fees.
• Rakuma/FRIL, Mercari, and Paypay Flea Market all offer limited buyer protection. Each of these apps holds the money from the seller until the buyer confirms they have the item.
  • If an item becomes lost in the post, and the seller used an non-traced shipping method, the buyer may not be refunded if the item cannot be recovered even after the seller provides proof they requested an investigation by their postal carrier into the matter. Because many sellers offer free shipping, they often use the cheapest type of shipping, which is not traceable, and therefore has some risk to the buyer.  Sellers DO NOT hold the burden of proof/liability!!  To be completely, 100% covered by the app buyer protection, the seller must use the app’s “official shipping method.” In this case the app will completely cover the buyer against loss and damage.  Other traced methods may be covered by the courier, but the app will not facilitate the claim, and not all traced methods all are also insured against damage or loss. Sellers will often change to the method you prefer, but only if you (the buyer) agree to pay the extra cost.
  • If a seller does not send any shipping notice at all within their specified shipping window, buyer protection always favors the buyer. This may happen if the seller already sold the item elsewhere and ignores the transaction or is inactive.
• On apps, it is possible to negotiate the price in some cases, and I will do so on your behalf. However, some sellers are not open to offers and forbid price negotiation in their rules. If I feel your offer will offend the seller or put my account in jeopardy with them, I may also refuse.
• In the case of combining listings from the same seller: as long as the seller is willing to combine all your desired items into one listing, all those items will be one listing for the purpose of calculating commission (so, if you buy three listings from one seller’s shop, and the seller combines them into one new listing, commission will be calculated on price of the one combined listing, not the three individual listings). If you are buying items from the same seller please group them and label them in your request form as being from the same seller, and state in your form you want me to ask for them to be combined. Because items on apps are often first come first serve, I will not ask to combine them unless you specifically request that I do so- asking for combination comes with the risk of one of the items selling before the seller is able to answer/combine them. If you do not ask me to combine, I will assume you do not want to take this risk and buy the listings individually.

Returns and Cancellations:

There are ABSOLUTELY no returns or cancellations with my service.
Once an item is requested (bid on), you are obligated to buy it.

Items That I Will Not Buy:

• Concert Tickets/Event Tickets (there are too many issues with digital only tickets, names not matching on tickets, etc)
• Graphic/uncensored adult items (it is illegal to export pornography from Japan, your items may be seized)
• Fan club or magazine subscriptions
• Nail polish, perfume, room/body sprays, sun lotion, and anything with alcohol/a flammable liquid (these are not permitted international post)
• Glues/liquids used for hobby models (these not permitted international post)
• Lithium batteries that are not inside their accompanying product, for example, portable phone recharging batteries, or products that contain more than two lithium batteries, even if encased in the product (these are not permitted international post)
• Extremely large/bulky items (size limits prevent what I can send in international post)
• “Net Print” services (photo printing services at convenience stores in Japan)

I reserve the right to refuse to buy any item.

Defects/Problems with Your Items:

You are responsible for all risk associated with auction/app purchases. Auctions/app are run by private sellers, and I have no control over the result of auctions or the condition of the items that arrive to me.  I do not inspect items closely upon arrival. If you find a problem with your item when it arrives to you, I may agree to contact the seller, but cannot guarantee they will respond or accommodate any request. If for some reason, the item must be sent back to Japan, you will be responsible for return postage costs and, if required, shipment back to you.

This Service is Provided by a Single Person:

Shopping Services and all related work are managed by a single person.

During especially busy releases, and when there are peak numbers of open services, I may not be able to accommodate some special requests.

Services may be suspended during holidays and vacations. I will place notifications in advance of any closures. Please check the News Section.