Some might hesitate to buy used basses from across the Pacific sight unseen. I have had no trouble at all with Ishibashi or Ikebe. Both “used” basses have been in perfect condition and the HPJ still had plastic on the pickguard. A few tips for international transactions:
1. Be polite and patient. There is a big time zone difference between the US and Japan. And the Japanese expect and value good manners. Retail stores there are completely honest IME.
2. Buy directly from the retailer. Do not use the Fleabay. My Teppei bass was advertised by numerous sellers at inflated prices. One still had a listing up today! These guys take your money, go and buy the bass in person, ship it to you and pocket the difference. No no no.
3. Expect a PayPal surcharge, that’s the cost of doing business. But do not accept the default of letting PayPal do the conversion. I saved $100 by having PayPal charge in JPY and letting my credit card do the conversion to USD.
4. If payment by credit card is possible, alert your CC company to a pending international transaction, be sure there is no foreign transaction fee, and charge in JPY. You will save at least 2% and possibly as much as 5%.
5. Shipping is pretty fast and usually involves the US Postal Service for the final delivery. For better or worse. Good performance IME except for leaving my expensive bass with no signature.
6. Customs fees may occasionally be charged after the fact. Just pay it, you still got a great deal thanks to the strong USD.
Good hunting! With 3 great MIJ Sadowsky basses in the Man Cave, my own GAS is satisfied for awhile I think!!
1. Be polite and patient. There is a big time zone difference between the US and Japan. And the Japanese expect and value good manners. Retail stores there are completely honest IME.
2. Buy directly from the retailer. Do not use the Fleabay. My Teppei bass was advertised by numerous sellers at inflated prices. One still had a listing up today! These guys take your money, go and buy the bass in person, ship it to you and pocket the difference. No no no.
3. Expect a PayPal surcharge, that’s the cost of doing business. But do not accept the default of letting PayPal do the conversion. I saved $100 by having PayPal charge in JPY and letting my credit card do the conversion to USD.
4. If payment by credit card is possible, alert your CC company to a pending international transaction, be sure there is no foreign transaction fee, and charge in JPY. You will save at least 2% and possibly as much as 5%.
5. Shipping is pretty fast and usually involves the US Postal Service for the final delivery. For better or worse. Good performance IME except for leaving my expensive bass with no signature.
6. Customs fees may occasionally be charged after the fact. Just pay it, you still got a great deal thanks to the strong USD.
Good hunting! With 3 great MIJ Sadowsky basses in the Man Cave, my own GAS is satisfied for awhile I think!!
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