shipping a ps2

[heather_sensei]

I bought a ps2 here in Japan and now that my time is coming to a close, I want to take it with me.  What is the best way to get it back to America?  Technically, a Japanese ps2 is for use in Japan only, so it might not be easy to send.  How strictly do they check customs?

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Comments

[averagesmartguy]

Wait about two weeks and I'll tell ya, ha ha. I just sent mine home in a box full of clothes (made sure to write that there was a "used PS2" in the box as well for customs) on Tuesday, and I'll be back Stateside by the 29th (California time). If it arrives and isn't confiscated then whoot.

There's also a thing that says that while it's "for use in Japan only" how "any warranty is only good in Japan" so I think it's okay to export it, but how doing so voids the warranty. Let's hope it works out!

[3valve]

When I came over here, I had my American PS2 in my suitcase, protected by clothes. They're very small! Maybe you can just ship the peripherals that take up all the space? It's not like customs ever checks suitcases, lol.

[styletax]

Yeah, it won't get bothered if you list it on the customs slip. Just write "Playstation2" on the slip, and if they bother to open it, they will indeed see the PS2 and it's on the way. I shipped a bunch of electronics by air mail including some stuff I bought in Japan, and they all arrived just fine.

[drkparadise]

Yep, you should have no problem just packing it in your checked bags. That's all I did with mine, though I wrapped it a bit in clothes so it wouldn't get hurt. I think the "Japan-use only" is more like "to be sold in Japan only" & not really a limitation on playing it here. Please let me know if you have any problems (though I really don't think you will), as I will be bringing mine back home again next summer.

[lydilia]

I doubt anyone will give a damn. Sony cares more that it's for sale only in Japan than that it's used only in Japan, and even then it's an outdated console that they no longer care enough about to monitor its distribution. And since there's no writing on it that says "THIS IS A JAPANESE PS2" and they're not going to turn it on and play it in the customs office, no one will know one way or another. Customs officers are generally too busy and have too many bigger concerns to give a second thought to something that is obviously someone's personal electronics and not something imported for profit.