FAQ
What type of payment do you accept?
I only accept payment via paypal, where I am a verified member. I only accept payment in US dollars or yen. Prices on my site are in dollars, so just ask if you are interested in paying in yen and I'll let you know the total cost in yen. I may consider accepting concealed cash, but it is at your own risk. I cannot accept Western Union as the closest location to where I live is almost a 3 hour, 3000yen, one way trip to get to. If you live in Japan, I accept payment in yen via furikomi (bank transfer). For non-preorder items meet-ups are also possible at my convenience. Payment is due in full before any goods will be shipped. I do not accept partial payments for goods, but am willing to accept payment for goods and then a later payment for shipping per request. I also do not accept returns or offer refunds once an order has be paid for.
What type of shipping do you offer?
All goods will ship directly from Japan to you. I offer 4 types of shipping:
1. EMS is the most expensive but quickest and safest option. It offers 2-4 days worldwide estimated delivery, insurance, and a tracking number.
2. Registered Airmail is a mid-range option. Less expensive, but slower than EMS. More expensive, but faster than SAL. It offers 1-2 weeks worldwide estimated delivery, insurance, and a tracking number.Please note that packages over 2kg cannot be sent via airmail. If your order weighs more than 2kg, you may opt to ship your items via EMS or have your order split into 2 packages to be sent via Airmail.
3. Registered SAL is a safe and economical option. It offers 2-4 weeks worldwide estimated delivery, insurance, and a tracking number. Please note that packages over 2kg cannot be sent via SAL. If your order weighs more than 2kg, you may opt to ship your items via EMS or have your order split into 2 packages to be sent via SAL.
4. Unregistered Airmail is the cheapest shipping option and is only available for packages of $50 USD or less. It offers 1-2 weeks delivery but does not have a tracking number or insurance. It is the most unsafe of all the options I offer as there is nothing I can do should the package become lost or damaged. Please note that packages over 2kg cannot be sent via airmail. If your order weighs more than 2kg, you may opt to ship your items via EMS or have your order split into 2 packages.
I do not like to send anything unregistered or un-tracked for the protection of both buyer and seller. I have just recently opened up unregistered airmail as an option for orders of $50 USD or less. Proof of shipment and a tracking number will be provided for all registered and EMS packages but not for unregistered airmail. Packages with a tracking number require signature upon delivery. If you fail to sign for the package and it gets returned to me, you will be responsible for covering any re-shipment costs. I am not responsible for packages that are lost or damaged in the mail. Registered mail and EMS offer some form of insurance, but I cannot guarantee that the post office will provide a refund and can only provide you with a refund if one is provided to me. Unregistered airmail is no insured. I am also willing to do a meet up in the Tokyo area, at my convenience, for those living in or visiting Japan.
Occasionally a package may be delayed due to customs or security checks. There is nothing I can do in this situation. You are welcome to track the status of your package using the tracking number and may also call your local post office to inquire about the status of the package.
What is your packaging like?
I do my best to package all items as safely and securely as possible. Pamphlets, uchiwa, photos, fliers and other delicate items ship with cardboard backing. All items are typical wrapped with bubble wrap and mailed in either a box or cushion envelope. I typically choose sending items in a cushion envelope whenever possible as envelopes are treated with more care than boxes by the post office and because they are not as heavy as boxes, which helps you save on shipping costs. Orders with 3 or more uchiwa, or uchiwa along with multiple other items ,must typically be shipped in a box simply due to their size. All posters ship separately in triangle poster tubes purchased at the Japan Post.
If you have any specific packaging requests, I am usually happy to fulfill them. Most goods are sent marked as a gift with the full cost of the goods noted on the customs form.
Even with the effort and care I take in packaging the items I send, sometimes items do get damaged in the post. Uchiwa and posters tend to be the items most prone to damage. Should any of your items become damaged in the mail, you are welcome to seek compensation from the post office as all packages I ship are insured, however, I cannot guarantee that the post office will provide a refund of any sort. Should you wish to file a claim, please start the process in your home country. Should you need any information from me, just ask! Also, occasionally it is necessary for buyers to cover various customs fees for larger/more expensive orders. I am not familiar with all the customs procedures for the many countries I ship to, so you will need to check with your local post to ask about any customs fees you may incur. Buyers are responsible for covering any and all customs fees.
What sets you apart from other LJ sellers?
There are quite a few decent sales journals out there to choose from. I like to think what sets me apart from the others is the speed at which I work. I am able to respond to most order inquires and questions within 24 hours. Because I do not work via a supplier, and handle all orders directly, I am able to ship orders quickly. For pre-orders, goods typically ship directly to you no later than 4 days after the concert/purchase date and on-hand goods usually ship no more than 2 days after receiving payment. I am also able to accept requests for 'only available in Japan' goods and can occasionally visit stores physically if you have something in particular that you are looking to buy (past examples have been trips to Janji, a limited time only FTIsland shop, Comiket and Bodyline)
Do you offer an auction bidding service?
I do not offer an auction bidding service at this time. It is somewhat of a hassle to monitor auctions, most of which finish midnight or later, and go to the bank in order to pay for winning bids. I do not have time for it given my work schedule. I do occasionally accept requests to bid on certain items if I feel the max bid price is adequate to win the auction. I also almost always accept requests to purchase items that have a 'buy it now price'. There are fees involved, so please ask for a quote if you are interested.
How can I contact you?
You can contact me by leaving a comment or via PM. I can also be reached at aminjapan(at)gmail(dot)com. I am able to respond to email the fastest. For emergency situations, you can email my cellphone at aminyamajapan114(at)ezweb(dot)ne(dot)jp.
If you contact me via my cellphone, please, please, please, keep in mind the time difference between where you live and Japan. If you wake me up at 3am I will not be happy about it.
Where do you live?
I live in a tiny little prefecture called Yamanashi in Japan. It's takes about 2.5 hours for me to reach downtown Tokyo by local train. If you ever come to Japan, give me a shout. I love to meet up with fellow JE fans. I have already managed meet ups with several other JE fans and have always had a great time!
Tell me about yourself?
I currently teach English in Japan. I like to travel and am an avid photographer. My favorite JE bands are KAT-TUN and Arashi. My favorite band members are Akanishi Jin and Ohno Satoshi (though Aiba sometimes takes his place). I have recently also started getting into NEWS and Kanjani8.
Can I friend you?
Yes! You are more than welcome to friend me, but I do not friend back as I do not check the friends page of my sales journal. Friending my journal is the fastest way to see what goods I am selling which is helpful because many times goods will sell only a few days, or even a few hours after I post them. However, I often update goods in batches so your friends list may end up flooded from time to time. You have been warned!
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