Shipping Information

FOR THOSE PLACING ORDERS NOW - SEE THIS ON EMS

TAXES AND DUTIES

• If you're ordering from the USA, you are never charged sales tax - no matter which state you live in. Although there may be duties applicable to US orders over $400, we have never heard of a customer being charged duties for an order, even those over $400 in value, as our goods fall in a duty-free category, we understand.
  Hong Kong is duty free.
  Australia and New Zealand have duty-free limits of about US$200 , but depending on contents may be duty free even at higher dollar amounts, we understand.
  
  For other countries, it will vary according to customs and tax regulations. Payment of any such duties and/or taxes will be the responsibility of the customer. The maximum allowable duty-free value will vary from country to country, from as low as $20 up to $400 or more. We do not know what the rules are in your country, so ask your customs office, please.
  
  From FEB 1st 2004, the status of AIR CRAFT under Japanese law has changed from "private" to "company". Therefore to comply with regulations, all orders henceforth must include the invoice. Please do not ask us to "forget" the invoice or to reduce the declared value. We cannot and will not do these things, nor will we respond to such requests in mail.

SHIPPING METHODS

EMS Express
EMS shipments can be tracked, insurance claimed, and goods re-shipped more quickly in case of trouble. EMS starts at about $10.00, depending on location. Because Parcel Post insurance is limited or unavailable depending on country, we may require EMS shipment depending on the value and/or destination of the order*. EMS shipment always includes full insurance.

All shipments must pass through customs, and local service may vary, so it's impossible to say exactly when an EMS shipment will arrive. Most take between three and eight days, with four to five days being common. You can track the package through online services in most countries, but not all, to see where it is at any time.

Parcel Post
The "Small Packet" Parcel Post service (from $2.50) is extremely reliable to USA and Australia, and is insured up to $250.00.
More than 90% of Parcel Post shipments arrive in seven days or less, with many of those taking four to five days. About 9% take seven to fifteen days to arrive, and less than one percent take twelve to twenty-five days in total. Worst case delivery is 4 weeks.
(statistics for USA and Australia only - all other countries could take 1-8 weeks).

Except for USA and Australia, there is no insurance available for Parcel Post, and you may have to wait 8 weeks or more. It really depends on the country. Belgium, for example, often takes 5-8 weeks. France may take 4-6 weeks sometime. Virtually all packages eventually arrive, but yours may take a long time to arrive in the worst case.

THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO IF YOUR PARCEL POST PACKAGE IS LATE!
THERE IS NO TRACKING SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR PARCEL POST.
YOU MUST CHOOSE EMS FOR ALL SHIPMENTS IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO WAIT.
(Exceptions are the USA and Australia, where Parcel Post is typically very quick and reliable.)

*ORDER AMOUNTS FOR WHICH EMS EXPRESS IS REQUIRED

• ORDERS OVER $250.00 TO USA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA
• ORDERS OVER $150 TO U.K. and EEC
  
  Special Cases Requiring EMS
  AFRICA - Orders over $50
  BELGIUM - Orders over $50
  INDIA - ALL ORDERS
  NEW ZEALAND - Orders over $100
  SOUTH KOREA - Orders over $50
  SOUTH AMERICA - Orders over $50
  RUSSIA - Orders over $50
  AREAS NOT LISTED - $50
  
  SOME COUNTRIES MAY BE REQUIRED TO SHIP EMS FOR ANY AMOUNT
  WILL ADVISE VIA EMAIL IN THAT CASE
  
  Only USA and Australia have insurance on Parcel Post. For all other countries there is no insurance possible.
  In case of loss, the liability will be yours. Please choose EMS!
  If your order falls in one of the above mentioned cases and you don't mind having all liability in case of loss, we can send via Parcel Post. include in the comment field of your order: "I understand that Parcel Post is UNINSURED - SHIP VIA PARCEL POST OK - I ACCEPT ALL LIABILITY IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE"

If you use a credit card to order and select "Parcel Post" as shipment method when value exceeds the above, we will need your card details faxed or phoned in to upgrade the shipment. Paypal is better, as it allows easy adjustments to shipping costs.