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Purchasing on eBay from overseas?


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I've been doing a fair amount of business both buying and selling on eBay, I'm just about even up on selling kits I'll never build and buying ones that pique my interests now.

How do you figure out what a kit from say Japan or Korea will cost once customs, duties, taxes, title, insurance, etc are added in? I've searched eBay's help section but I can't figure out what the costs will be ahead of time before I bid on something. There's a few F1 kits I'm interested in but I don't want to end up paying hundreds for a $20 kit.

I've shipped a few to overseas buyers using eBay's Global program, where I send them to Kentucky and they take it from there. I've had buyers pay upwards of $100 for a kit I got $30, the rest was fees, taxes, etc. I don't want to get caught flat-footed.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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You should ask a the custom of your country.

I ship different packages overseas, from US to Europe, Japan etc... And usually if the value declared on the invoice is $20, the receiver will not pay any expense. Some Country have a $30 limit.

Here in the US, I receive package from all around the world and never hat to pay anything. Also when the declared value of the content of the box was over 100$.

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How do you figure out what a kit from say Japan or Korea will cost once customs, duties, taxes, title, insurance, etc are added in? I've searched eBay's help section but I can't figure out what the costs will be ahead of time before I bid on something. There's a few F1 kits I'm interested in but I don't want to end up paying hundreds for a $20 kit.

The exact shipping cost will be stated in each listing. If it's not, contact the seller and ask for an exact cost. We pay no fees nor import duties for packages coming into the U.S., so what's stated is what you'll pay.

You might consider buying direct from HobbyLink Japan or similar if it's a recent/current kit you are thinking of buying, and HLJ has an eBay store if you want to buy from them through eBay, too.

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Plaza Japan (plazajapan.com) sells on eBay under the name 'tokyo-hobby'...I've bought from them on eBay multiple times w/ no issues.

Oh yes, Tokyo Hobby, another great seller, although, I did have a issue the one time I bought from their website(Plaza Japan) the kits never showed up, but they did refund my money.

Their prices are very reasonable as well.

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I order all my Japanese kits from thepolarbearstable2012. Prices and shipping are reasonable, they are fast and only list what they actually have. A couple days and I have my order. Highly recommended.

The prices are ok, but you can get the stuff cheaper elsewhere , they have a listing for a Subaru Wagon, listed at 2900Yen, I paid 1900Yen for mine from HLJ.

I am assuming they dont use SAL if you are getting the orders fast, so I guess the shipping isnt to bad.

Edited by martinfan5
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It`s hard to beat the prices on items and shipping from Tokyo Hobby on Ebay.

Its not that hard at all really, HLJ beats Tokyo Hobby prices , and for shipping, yes, beat there too, HLJ gives you four shipping options, Tokyo Hobby gives one , maybe two.

Now, with all that said, Tokyo Hobby is a great place to buy from, and I do from time to time.

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