Beginner’s Guide: Start Your Japan Proxy Shopping and Auction Journey with Ease
Welcome to TokyoDoor! We are your trusted expert in Japanese proxy shopping and auction services. No matter where you are, TokyoDoor is dedicated to overcoming language, payment, and cross-border logistics barriers, allowing you to shop from Japan’s major e-commerce platforms (such as Mercari, Rakuten, Yahoo! Auctions, etc.) as if you were in Japan. From anime merchandise and trendy fashion to beauty products and rare auction treasures, TokyoDoor makes your Japanese shopping dreams come true!
This guide is designed to help first-time TokyoDoor users get started quickly, understand our service process, and enjoy a smooth and pleasant Japan shopping experience.
● About Fees ●
Using TokyoDoor’s services typically involves the following main fees:
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First Payment (paid at the time of order):
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Item cost (original price of the item on the Japanese website)
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Proxy service fee (charged by TokyoDoor)
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Domestic Japan shipping fee (if charged by the Japanese seller, if applicable)
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Possible payment processing fees (depending on your chosen payment method)
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Second Payment (paid before shipping from the warehouse):
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International shipping fee (cost of shipping from our Japan warehouse to you)
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Value-added service fees (if you opt for services like consolidation or reinforced packaging)
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Other possible fees (we will inform you in advance if applicable)
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Note: For detailed fee standards, calculation methods, and explanations, please refer to the [Services and Fees] page on our website.
● How to Shop ●
▼ Newly registered user? Start shopping now!
We sincerely recommend that you start shopping for your favorite Japanese items as soon as you complete your membership registration. Here’s why:
New user perks: We offer attractive coupons or discounts for newly registered users, making your first shopping experience more cost-effective.
Limited-time promotions: For marketing purposes, we may launch major promotions, and new users’ first orders might come with unexpected surprises. Seize the opportunity and don’t miss out!
Register as a member
Visit the TokyoDoor official website (tokyodoor.com).
Click the “Register” button in the top right corner of the page.
Follow the prompts to enter your email address, set a login password, and agree to our terms of service.
Click the “Register” button to successfully create your TokyoDoor account!
Start using our website services.
Find your desired items:
Site search: Use the search bar at the top of the TokyoDoor website and enter keywords for the item (in Japanese, English, or Chinese).
Browse partner platforms: Click to access our partnered Japanese e-commerce platforms (e.g., Mercari, Rakuten, Rakuma). Browse as you would on the original websites, and when you find something you like, purchase directly or add it to your cart via the page buttons.
Purchase from other websites (URL submission):
If you find an item on any other Japanese shopping website (including Amazon.co.jp, brand official websites, etc.):
Copy the complete URL of the item’s page.
Log in to your TokyoDoor account and find the “Submit Proxy Purchase Link” or similar function.
Paste the URL in the designated field and fill in the item specifications (e.g., color, size, quantity).
Submit, and our customer service team will handle the rest of the proxy purchase process.
We recommend using the prepayment method to purchase Japanese items through TokyoDoor. Of course, paying for each order individually is also supported.
The main differences are:
Prepayment method:
Process: After selecting your desired items, adding them to your cart, and confirming the purchase, you can essentially sit back. The system will automatically deduct the item cost, proxy fees, and international shipping from your prepayment balance. You won’t need to intervene multiple times until the package arrives.
Advantages: Time-saving, hassle-free, and automated for efficient order processing. All fee details are clearly available in your account dashboard.
Single payment method:
Process: After submitting an order, you’ll need to wait for our customer service to confirm item details (e.g., stock, price). Once confirmed, you pay the item cost and proxy service fee. After the item arrives at our Japan warehouse and is processed, we’ll notify you to pay the international shipping fee before arranging shipment.
Characteristics: More steps are involved, requiring multiple confirmations and payments, which may result in longer waiting times.
Consideration: Some users may feel this method is more “reassuring.” That’s fine—we believe that after experiencing our service, you’ll come to appreciate the significant convenience of prepayment.
● About Delivery Time ●
Japanese local users: Can directly register, order, pay, and enjoy domestic delivery on Japanese websites without needing our services.
International users (you):
Pain points: Most Japanese websites do not support international shipping or have payment and language barriers. This is where TokyoDoor’s proxy services come in.
Differences from local users:
Extra time: Mainly due to the international shipping process. Depending on the destination country/region, delivery typically takes a few days to a week longer than domestic Japan delivery.
Extra fees: Generally involve two core fees:
TokyoDoor service fee: For example, 500 JPY per order (please refer to our fee details for specifics).
International shipping fee: Charged based on actual costs.
Compared to asking friends: Instead of troubling friends or owing favors, we strongly recommend choosing TokyoDoor’s professional commercial services. For a reasonable fee, you’ll enjoy a standardized, reliable, and efficient proxy shopping experience.
● Other Information ●
Using TokyoDoor for auctions is very simple:
Find the Yahoo! Auctions item link you want to bid on and submit a proxy bidding request through TokyoDoor.
Set your “maximum bid”: This is the highest price you’re willing to pay for the item (excluding service fees, shipping, etc.). Set this carefully, as it represents your psychological limit.
We bid on your behalf: Before the auction ends, our system will intelligently bid for you within your maximum bid limit, based if there is a competitor’s bid.
Outcome:
Successful bid: If your bid is the highest at the auction’s end and does not exceed your maximum bid, congratulations—you’ve won the item! The final price may be equal to or lower than your maximum bid.
Example: The item starts at 1,000 JPY, and you set a maximum bid of 5,000 JPY. If you’re the only bidder, you might win at 1,000 JPY. If there’s a competitor with a lower bid than 5,000 JPY, you might win at a slightly higher price than their bid (the exact increment depends on the system and total amount). You won’t necessarily pay your full 5,000 JPY.
Failed bid: If another bidder’s final bid exceeds your maximum bid, you won’t win the item.
Example: Your maximum bid is 5,000 JPY, but the final highest bid is 5,100 JPY—you lose the auction.
So, you don’t need to worry about always paying the maximum price you set. This is just the highest price you’re willing to pay to avoid missing out. The actual amount depends on competitors and their bids.
Official partner platforms: We currently have deep partnerships with major Japanese platforms like Mercari, Rakuten, and Rakuma, allowing you to search and purchase their items directly on our site.
Broad coverage: Through the URL submission method, you can purchase almost any item sold online in Japan, including Amazon.co.jp, brand official websites, and specialty stores. We are also continuously expanding our official partner channels.
No problem! Simply find the page link for the item on a Japanese website and submit it to us via the “Submit Proxy Purchase Link” function on our website. We’ll handle the proxy purchase based on the URL you provide.
Reputation guarantee: TokyoDoor’s parent company has over 15 years of experience in the Japanese proxy shopping industry, serving countless global users with a reliable reputation. We’ve never had a dispute of this nature.
Transaction safety: You can trust us 100%. We strictly adhere to commercial regulations, and it’s impossible for us to accept payment without delivering.
Background reference: Feel free to check our parent company’s official website for more information and trust-building.
How long does it take? The time from placing your order to receiving your package varies significantly due to multiple factors. A very rough estimate for air shipping is about 1 week, but this is not a guaranteed timeline.
Factors affecting delivery:
Domestic Japan shipping: Time for the seller to ship to our warehouse (typically 1–3 days).
Warehouse processing: Time for package intake, packing, etc. (typically 1–2 business days).
International shipping: The primary source of time variation, depending on your chosen shipping method (e.g., EMS is usually fastest, while sea freight may take weeks to months) and destination country/region.
Destination country customs clearance: The speed of customs processing in your country is a key factor.
Tax payment: If taxes are required, related procedures may add extra waiting time.
Summary: Specific delivery times depend on your chosen shipping method and actual transport conditions.
Prevention tips: Cross-border shipping involves long distances and complex processes. We advise against purchasing fragile, easily deformed, or hard-to-pack items. While we provide reasonable packaging, we cannot 100% guarantee items will remain undamaged in extreme cases. Consider opting for value-added services like reinforced packaging to reduce risks.
If damage occurs:
Act immediately: If you notice damage upon receiving the package, take photos immediately and contact us for assistance.
Document with photos: Take clear photos, including: ① The outer packaging box (multiple angles, especially damaged areas); ② The internal padding and item’s condition inside the box; ③ The damaged item itself (clearly showing damage from multiple angles); ④ The shipping label.
Contact us: Reach out to us immediately via TokyoDoor’s customer service channels, providing all photos and your order details.
Claim assistance: Based on your evidence, we’ll assist you in filing a claim with the relevant logistics company.
About compensation:
Decision-maker: Whether compensation is granted and the amount depend on the logistics carrier, based on their terms, item value, damage extent, and whether insurance was purchased.
Compensation standards: Standards and limits vary by logistics company and route. Compensation may not fully cover the item’s original value. We’ll do our best to advocate for you but cannot guarantee the outcome.
Responsibility: Per international shipping conventions and local laws, handling customs clearance and paying any applicable duties, import taxes, etc., is the recipient’s (your) responsibility once the package reaches the destination country.
What to do:
Keep contact information valid: Ensure the recipient contact details you provided are correct so customs or logistics companies can reach you if needed.
Cooperate with customs: If your package is held (“stuck”) at customs, customs or their designated carrier will typically notify you. Proactively contact the notifying party or local customs office to understand the reason (e.g., tax payment, recipient ID verification, or special permits required).
Handle it yourself: Follow customs’ requirements to prepare necessary documents, pay taxes, or complete procedures to release the package.
Our role: As the shipping agent, TokyoDoor has no authority or ability to intervene in your country’s customs processes. We ensure proper declaration documents are filed during shipping. If you need shopping receipts or other documents for clearance, contact our customer service.
Contact methods: If you have any questions, difficulties, or need help while using TokyoDoor, please reach out via the “Contact Us” or “Customer Service Center” links on our website.
Where to find them: These links or buttons are typically located in the website’s header, footer, or personal account center.
Submitting issues: Use the inquiry form to describe your problem or question in detail.
Response: Our customer service team will promptly contact you after receiving your message, confirm the situation, and provide appropriate support and solutions.
