Import from Japan FAQ

1. Other Languages?
2. I have a question about the Yahoo! Auction
3. How do I translate a Japanese web page into English?
4. Can I deal directly with a native English speaker?
5. How can I get prices of the models I am interested in?
6. How much is it in my currency?
7. What are the import requirements for my country?
8. Can you get me a new car?
9. Can you get me a car from Goo-net?
10. Can you get me Left Hand Drive cars?
11. I can't Login to GAO!
12. When is the best time to buy a car from the Japanese car auctions?
13. What is the best browser to use?
14. The slideshows are not displaying properly in Internet Explorer 8
15. How do I know when a car was built?
16. Can you store cars?
17. What does this technical term mean?
18. Whats the difference between shipping a car by Container and Roll-On Roll Off?
19. Can I have a Pre-Export Inspection?
20. What do all these Export, Trade and Shipping Terms mean?
21. How much is shipping?
22. Which ports do you ship from?
23. Do you have a Vehicle Database?
24. Can you ship to my port?
25. How do I know that the vehicle I select hasn't been stolen?
26. Are vehicles in Japan subject to compulsory inspection and maintenance?
27. How can I check the accuracy of a vehicles odometer reading?
28. How can I check the maintenance history of a vehicle?
29. What is the Government Recycle Fee?
30. How can I track my container shipment?
31. Could you explain the Japanese Vehicle Year System?
32. What is the difference between FOB and CIF?
33. How can I track my shipping documentation?
34. What is a Customs Broker and why do I need one?
35. How big is a shipping container?
36. How many cars will fit in one shipping container?
37. How many motorcycles will fit in one shipping container?
38. How many tractors will fit in one shipping container?
39. How many forklifts will fit in one shipping container?
40. What are the weight limits for shipping containers?
41. How should I insure my shipment?
42. What is a Trading Account?
43. How do I set up a Trading Account?
44. How can I deposit funds into my Trading Account?
45. How do I close my account?
46. What are your Terms of Trade?
47. On what basis is the stock sourced and supplied?
48. How do I know the engine condition of salvage vehicles?
49. What are your hours of operation?
50. Can you give me a Letter of Invitation to support my Japanese Visa application?
51. How do I get to the TS EXPORT CENTRE?
52. How do I select a Japanese Exporter?
53. Are there limits to importing new products from Japan?
54. How do I read the email attachments you sent me?
55. What is your privacy policy?
56. I can't find the answer to my question here.

Other Languages?

I have a question about the Yahoo! Auction

How do I translate a Japanese web page into English?

Can I deal directly with a native English speaker?

How can I get prices of the models I am interested in?

The Yahoo! Auction is a great place to start to get a complete overview of the market from dealers to private sellers. Go to the Main Cars Menu select a manufacturer and follow the model links. For scanning the listings quickly we recommend using Photo View. For New Cars Click Here. If you are a registered client with a funded account we can email you further auction sale information which means you can go ahead and buy with confidence!

How much is it in my currency?

To convert prices from Japanese Yen to other currencies you can use online tools like Yahoo! Finance Currency Converter and the XE Universal Currency Converter which uses current market rates to convert to other currencies. You can also convert online here: If you have Google Desktop installed you can use gadgets like FXCM Currency Rates to monitor the rates in real time on your desktop. This means that you can time your remittances for the best available exchange rates. Currency rates are the prevailing market rates. Telegraphic Transfer rates could vary slightly from these rates. For telegraphic transfer rates go to the website of the major banks in your country.

What are the import requirements for my country?

Can you get me a new car?

Can you get me a car from Goo-net?

Sure. Click here and scroll down to access the Goo-net listings. Goo-net listings are all posted by Japanese dealers for the Japanese domestic market, so are usually not directy available for export from the seller. However, because we are Japanese based exporters we can source them and export them on your behalf. The prices posted in Goo-net are base prices and dealers will sometimes have additional "on road costs" which can vary from vehicle to vehicle. These fees apply whether or not the vehicle is going on the road in Japan. Sometimes the listings will have these additional fees and charges and sometimes they won't. We won't know which additional costs apply to a particular vehicle - if any - until we enquire to the dealer.

Can you get me Left Hand Drive cars?

Sure. Go to the Main Cars Menu and select any of the non-Japanese manufacturers for a large range of Left Hand Drive vehicles available now. A limited number of Japanese manufactured LHD vehicles - usually luxury or 4WD - are also available as reverse imports from the USA. Also check the listings on USS Auto Auction with Login ID: R70044 and GAO! with User ID V24858

I can't Login to GAO!

If you are using the Firefox browser you may encounter a Login problem. We recommend using Internet Explorer for GAO! access.

When is the best time to buy a car from the Japanese car auctions?

The short answer is anytime that you see a good deal.

However, seasonal factors also come into play. The Japanese Financial Year starts on 1 April. That means that fleet owners will dispose of their fleet cars, private owners will relocate and sell their car rather than pay to have it trucked to their new location and a new tax instalment becomes payable if the car is owned into the new financial year. This in turn usually means a flood of cars entering the market in the second half of March and the first half of April, which in turn usually means a dip down in prices.

Also, the period starting around Christmas Day and up to the New Year break can be a great time to get cheap cars at the Japanese auctions. Foreign buyers are distracted at home with their beer and Christmas pudding and Japanese domestic market buyers are in the "Bonenkai" end of year party season just before the end of year shutdown. Auction prices will often temporarily fall and then pick up again after the New Year break in January.

For salvage vehicles, heavy rains may bring a rush of water damaged vehicles onto the market. Sometimes the water level is only up to vehicle floor level. And the "Eco-Car Genzei" Cash For Clunkers Program has reduced the price of vehicles that are 13 years and older.

What is the best browser to use?

The site is designed to operate with all popular browsers. We recommend using the latest browser versions.
The fastest browsing experience is with Google Chrome which we recommend for checking Yahoo! and other stock links directly from our site. The GAO and Hanamaru sites require Internet Explorer.

The slideshows are not displaying properly in Internet Explorer 8

This can be caused by having Compatibility View enabled. To fix this problem go to Tools on the browser menu at the top left side of browser window. Then go to Compatibility View Settings and remove www.ts-export.com from Compatibility View. Then refresh or reload your browser and the slideshows should display properly.

How do I know when a car was built?

Japanese vehicle documentation gives the date of first registration of a vehicle, not the build date. To estimate the build date of a Japanese car enter the chassis number, select the manufacturer and click Define. This will give the release date of the vehicle. The build date will usually be between this date and the date of first registration on the vehicles registration papers.

Can you store cars?

Yes. Cars can be stored for a period of time free of charge. After this a storage fee applies.

What does this technical term mean?

Whats the difference between shipping a car by Container and Roll-On Roll Off?

With container shipping your car is driven into a Shipping Container, secured by tie-downs and the whole container is shipped to your destination port. With Roll-On Roll-Off, the car is driven into a special car carrying ship which transports your car to the destination port where it is driven off.

Since the cost of shipping RO-RO is determined by the vehicle size it is usually cheaper to ship smaller, lower vehicles by RO-RO. However, this advantage diminishes as the vehicle gets bigger and containers offer better security. Shipping multiple vehicles in a 40 foot high cube container is generally cheaper per unit than shipping a single vehicle in a 20 foot container. Vehicles containerised in combination with parts usually offer you the highest container load factor, which means the lowest landed cost per item. There are sometimes capacity problems on some routes with both containerised and RO-RO shipments, so this can also determine which option you choose. For an indicative FOB Cost Comparison Click Here.

Can I have a Pre-Export Inspection?

What do all these Export, Trade and Shipping Terms mean?

How much is shipping?

Which ports do you ship from?

The nearest international ports to our operating base are Kobe and Osaka. For cars sourced in other parts of Japan that are being exported whole it is normally cheaper to ship them direct from the nearest port to minimise internal freight charges.

Do you have a Vehicle Database?

The Yahoo! Japan Auction is a great source of model information, photos, variants and current market prices.

Wikipedia can be good for information on international models and the international variants of Japanese Domestic Models. Put the manufacturer and model name in Search.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association database of Japanese cars from 1947 to 1995 provides listings to Japanese Domestic Models spanning 50 years. The Japanese Motor Vehicles Guidebook is an annual guidebook to the current model lineup for all Japanese manufacturers and sometimes the foreign manufactured vehicles available in the Japanese market. It contains data provided by the manufacturers for most if not all models in their current lineup, but often not every model variant.

The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan has selected 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology including cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles and is a useful reference for landmark and collectible vehicles.

Gazoo Great Car Pavilion by Toyota provides photos, videos and specs for over 3,000 landmark and classic vehicles.

Can you ship to my port?

We can ship to any port that a service is available. Shipping schedules by Ocean Schedules are available here. Not all services shown will have available capacity. While Ocean Schedules shows services from over 20 shipping companies, not all are shown. For services not covered by Ocean Schedules go directly to the shipping company website.

How do I know that the vehicle I select hasn't been stolen?

If the vehicle is being exported whole we will get an Export Certificate for the vehicle. This means that the vehicle has been checked against the Japanese Ministry of Transport vehicle database to ensure it has not been reported as stolen.

Are vehicles in Japan subject to compulsory inspection and maintenance?

How can I check the accuracy of a vehicles odometer reading?

Tampering with vehicle odometers is illegal in Japan. Odometer readings are done as part of the compulsory checks done in compliance of the Japanese Road Vehicles Act and entered into the Japanese Ministry of Transport vehicle database. Vehicles that go through auction with the major auction houses have their odometer readings entered into the Japanese National Auction Association (NAK) database which can detect inconsistencies. These safeguards don't necessarily prevent tampering with the odometer since it only ensures that the readings are consistent with previous readings.

There can also be legitimate cases of the odometer reading not being accurate such as when standard odometers are replaced with aftermarket units (common on Nissan sports cars with the standard units being replaced by aftermarket NISMO units) or when faulty electronic meters are replaced rather than repaired (common with JZZ and UZZ series Toyota Soarers).
We can arrange for an independent odometer inspection which gives you an inspection certificate and an odometer accuracy guarantee.

How can I check the maintenance history of a vehicle?

The first place to look is for the maintenance record book in the glovebox. If you get your car at auction the auction house will send us the maintenance record book if it is available and we will send it through to you separately. If maintenance was done by the manufacturers dealer network then the record will be here.

Many maintenance services are done by local garages and national chains like Autobacs. In this case the maintenance records for the most recent service is recorded by a sticker, usually on the lower side of the dash on the drivers side. There will sometimes also be maintenance record stickers in the engine bay. The timing chain service record is located on the timing chain cover. Dates are written as Year - Month - Day. This will appear on vehicle papers, service records and service stickers. So a date written as H21.4.21 is 21 April 2009.

Contact us and we'll send you a FREE PDF Guide which explains the system and lets you convert between the Japanese year system and the International system. If you have your vehicle shipped direct to you direct from the nearest port - and we haven't physically seen the vehicle - send us photos of the service stickers and we can translate them for you.

What is the Government Recycle Fee?

The Japanese Government introduced the Law for Recycling of End of Life Vehicles in July 2002. This required that a fee be paid to cover the cost of recycling once the vehicle is an end of life vehicle. This fee will often be charged by one seller to another during the life of the vehicle. The amount of the fee is determined by a formula based on the estimated cost of recycling the vehicle and varies from vehicle to vehicle. For example, a vehicle with multiple airbags may be more expensive to recycle than a vehicle with no airbags. The fee is often quoted at the time of sale and we can also access the fee from logging into the system database and inputting the vehicle chassis number.
Click Here for more information

How can I track my container shipment?

You can input either the Bill of Lading number, Container number or Vessel name. The Bill of Lading number is available from the electronic version of the BoL which we send you. The Container number is visible from the container door on the photos which we send you if the container was loaded at our Export Centre. The vessel name appears in the booking details we sent when the job was booked. We will email you tracking details for your container as soon as they become available.

Could you explain the Japanese Vehicle Year System?

Sure. Contact us and we'll send you a FREE PDF Guide which explains the system and lets you convert between the Japanese year system and the International system.

What is the difference between FOB and CIF?

FOB is an abbreviation for Free on Board. This means that the seller pays for transportation of the goods to the port of shipment, plus loading costs. The buyer pays freight, insurance, unloading costs and transportation from the arrival port to the final destination. CIF stands for Cost, Insurance and Freight which means that the selling price includes the cost of the goods, the freight or transport costs and also the cost of marine insurance.

How can I track my shipping documentation?

We will send you the electronic versions of your shipping documentation by email. This means your customs broker can quickly start work on your customs clearance in the destination country. You can track progress of your original documentation sent by EMS by tracking from Japan or by tracking in your Destination Country.

What is a Customs Broker and why do I need one?

A customs broker processes the documentation for your import on your behalf. They are also your best source of information for your country's import requirements, shipping options and landing costs. We are required to nominate a customs broker on the shipping documentation. We also rely on your customs brokers to advise specific documentation and stock preparation requirements. Without this information you could incur delays or penalties or the shipment may not be allowed into your country. More You can locate a Customs Broker through your local telephone directory or put Customs Broker into your favourite search engine. Add your country or city for more specific results.

How big is a shipping container?

How many cars will fit in one shipping container?

FOR WHOLE CARS
Varies with the size of the vehicles, but typically:

20 Foot Container

How many motorcycles will fit in one shipping container?

How many motorcycles that will fit depends on the size and grade of the units being shipped. For high grade units that are physically separated 20 to 25 is typical for a 20 foot container packed in 2 tiers with racking. About double this for a 40 foot container. This is for a range of bikes from off-road to road bikes. Having more smaller units will increase the number and more larger units will decrease it. For low grade bikes that don't require physical separation, and bikes that are partially dismantled more units will fit.

How many tractors will fit in one shipping container?

How many tractors that will fit depends on the size of the units being shipped. Between 6 and 8 is typical for a 20 foot container. Between 12 and 20 is typical for a high cube 40 foot container. Tractors are usually partially dismantled and shipped with a rotary cultivator.

How many forklifts will fit in one shipping container?

How many forklifts will fit depends on the size of the units being shipped. Up to 5 or 6 small forklifts of up to 1 tonne lifting capacity can be loaded sideways in a 20 foot container. Larger units which exceed 2300mm in length from container mast to the rear of the unit need to be loaded lengthwise or diagonally to maximise space. Between 2 and 4 units can usually be loaded this way. The best load factors are obtained when there are several forklifts to select from and each shipment is based on matching the size of the units for the best fit and maximum number of units in the container. The payload weight limit of 26,580 kgs. will usually preclude a 40 foot container of forklifts only, though forklifts can be shipped with other types of stock and meet the payload weight limit. There is usually space for shipping other stock such as wheels, tyres and parts in forklift containers. Forklifts with a mast height over 2280mm (standard container) or 2340mm (high cube container) will need to have the mast removed prior to containerisation. The mast/s can usually be shipped in the same container.

What are the weight limits for shipping containers?

There are 3 weight measurements that are important. Rating, Tare Mass and Payload. These are marked on the container wall, usually on the door in the case of an end-loading dry cargo container.

Rating is the maximum permissible weight of a container plus its contents. The Rating of a 20' dry cargo container is 24,000 kgs. (52,900 lbs.) and a 40' - standard or high cube - is 30,480 kgs. (67,200 lbs.).

Tare Mass is the weight of the empty container. This can vary with the different construction techniques and materials used in the individual container. A 20' x 8.5' dry cargo container generally weighs between 1,800 kgs. to 2,400 kgs., a 40' x 8.5' generally weighs between 2,800 kgs. and 4,000 kgs, and a 40' x 9.5' generally weighs between 3,900 kgs. and 4,200 kgs. The reefer (refrigerated container) generally weighs more than a dry cargo container of the same size.

Payload is the maximum permitted weight of the payload, including the dunnage etc placed in the container. Therefore,

Payload = Rating - Tare Mass

If the Tare Mass of a 20' dry cargo container is 2,400 kgs. and a 40' is 3,900 kgs., the Payload of a 20' is 21,600 kgs. (24,000 kgs. minus 2,400 kgs.) and a 40' is 26,580 kgs. (30,480 kgs. minus 3,900 kgs.).

There are 3 important points regarding containers that are near their weight limit:

How should I insure my shipment?

Of the 100 million containers shipped each year about 10,000 are lost at sea. And then theres fire, like the MV Hyundai Fortune. Disasters happen to Roll-On Roll-Off Car Carriers too like the MV Hyundai no 105, the MV Tricolor, the MV Cougar Ace and the MV Hual Europe which ran aground on the Japanese coast and was totally destroyed with its cargo of cars. If you're still not sure about insurance then click here for the videos.

Because of this we will automatically insure all vehicles that we ship unless you instruct us otherwise. All vehicles shipped with Kiwi Car Carriers are automatically covered with their KIPS cover.

Vehicles on other carriers without automatic cover are insured with Mitsubishi Sumitomo Insurance Group. This cover is for theft or loss of the vehicle during shipping but does not include contents or parts. In the event of a claim the policy pays 110% of the invoiced price. The premium is the invoiced price of the vehicle + 10% x0.15% with a minimum premium of Y3,000. This means that vehicles with an invoiced price up to Y180,00 are covered by a Y3,000 premium.

For B2B clients we strongly suggest that you consult with your local Customs Broker for the best policy for your individual circumstances. Usually a policy that covers multiple shipments will provide better cover than insuring on a vehicle by vehicle basis. Also, in the event of a claim you will be dealing with the same local office that provided the policy.

What is a Trading Account?

Your Trading Account is simply a ledger that records all remittances, purchases, fees and charges in one document. It also shows pending costs with your purchases and shipments to assist you in planning. We send through updates to your account with each remittance, purchase and shipment. Special Order Parts and Bulk Parts purchases are itemised in separate spreadsheets and entered into your Trading Account as a single entry.

How do I set up a Trading Account?

Contact us and we can send you the materials that you need. Complete and return the materials and fund your account and you can start buying!

How can I deposit funds into my Trading Account?

You can make TT Remittances to your Trading Account by remitting funds to

TSUCHIYAMA SANGYO 4-8-31 TSUCHIYAMA HIMEJI, HYOGO 670-0996 JAPAN

through your choice of either the SMBC, RESONA BANK, TOKYO MITSUBISHI BANK or MIZUHO BANK.

SMBC Account
Bank Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Branch Himeji
Branch No 451
Account No 8776710
Account Name Tsuchiyama Sangyo
Bank Address 54 Gofukumachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0923 JAPAN
Bank Phone 81 792 23 1349
Bank Fax 81 792 88 2331
Swift Code SMBCJPJT
SMBC fees from Y4,000 for remittances under Y500,000

RESONA BANK Account
Bank Resona Bank
Branch Himeji
Branch Number 614
Account Number 0074292
Account Name Tsuchiyama Sangyo
Bank Address 1 Shiroganemachi, Himeji Hyogo 670-0902 JAPAN
Bank Phone 81 792 22 7191
Swift Code DIWAJPJT
RESONA BANK fees from Y1,500 for remittances under Y500,000

TOKYO MITSUBISHI BANK Account
Bank The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
Branch Himeji - Chuo
Branch Number 584
Account Number 4324524
Account Name Tsuchiyama Sangyo
Bank Address 45 Konyamachi, Himeji Hyogo 670-0924 JAPAN
Bank Phone 81 792 23 3644
Swift Code BOTKJPJT
TOKYO MITSUBISHI BANK fees from Y4,000 per remittance under Y500,000

MIZUHO BANK Account
Bank Mizuho Bank
Branch Himeji
Branch Number 615
Account Number 1987794
Account Name Tsuchiyama Sangyo
Bank Address 55 Konyamachi, Himeji Hyogo 670-0924 JAPAN
Bank Phone 81 792 85 4455
Swift Code MHBKJPJT
MIZUHO BANK fees from Y2,500 per remittance under Y500,000

The total funds received after bank fees will be deposited into your account. Our Trading Account system allows you to save bank fees by making fewer remittances. Many banks now offer TT remittances by internet banking which can save you time and money.

You can remit funds from any bank in your country that provides international remittance services. Check for banks that have direct banking arrangements with either the SMBC, RESONA and MIZUHO Banks for the lowest banking fees and fastest transfer times.

You can also remit through third party services such as:
Axia Fx Currencies Direct FX Global Transfer Money Bookers Moneycorp OZ Forex Smart Currency Exchange Thomas Cook TOR FX Venstar Exchange World First XE

You can compare some of these services at Send Money Home.

Be sure to email or fax the remittance advice from your bank to us so we can track your remittance. Our fax is international 81 792 97 6221.

It can take anything between one or two hours to one or two weeks before the funds arrive at the receiving bank in Japan. Two or three days is typical. For the fastest remittances select a combination of banks that have direct banking arrangements. This means the funds don't have to go through an intermediary bank. Once the remittance confirmation slip arrives from our bank you can see the amount payable in Japanese bank fees.

GO TO BANKING FOR MORE DETAILS AND TIPS

How do I close my account?

Most clients retain their accounts with us on an ongoing basis. However, to close an account simply email us that you wish to close your account. We will then remit any outstanding funds held in your account back to you. You will receive all of the funds held in your account, less bank fees and plus or minus the effects of currency movements. For clients who have a trading history with us no further fees are payable. For clients who have no trading history with us a Y10,000 Administration Fee is payable. To prevent money laundering we can only remit funds back to the account from which it was originally remitted.

What are your Terms of Trade?

On what basis is the stock sourced and supplied?

All stock is sourced and supplied on an as is basis. For clients sourcing vehicles from an auction house that has supplied a condition report and who have a Pre-Export Inspection Report that is significantly at variance with the auction house report we will negotiate with the auction house for a refund or price reduction. Sorry, this does not apply to low or salvage grade vehicles. Contact us and we'll send you our terms of trade.

How do I know the engine condition of salvage vehicles?

For the large auction houses such as USS, engine defects are noted in the condition report that goes with the listing. These are in Japanese but we can translate the appraisers comments for you.

For online Auction, Tender and Buy Now listings for salvage vehicle suppliers such as Hanamaru, there is a vehicle report that includes a comment on engine condition in English.

For Yahoo! Japan Auction salvage vehicle listings there is usually a comment by the seller on the engine condition. If not we can post a question on this to the seller. The sellers comments should be read in conjunction with the evaluation of the seller by previous buyers. Again, we can provide an English translation.

For local salvage vehicles that we inspect ourselves we comment on engine condition in English in the email that we send together with the vehicle photos.

What are your hours of operation?

We operate 7 days per week with flexible hours according to work requirements. The TS EXPORT CENTRE is staffed 7 days per week, day and night. It is operational 24 hours when necessary to meet shipping schedules. We monitor emails every day, though public holiday periods can affect vehicle trucking, auction and shipping schedules.
Click here for Japanese Public Holidays.

Can you give me a Letter of Invitation to support my Japanese Visa application?

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you face to face and discuss your requirements further. We are happy to provide a Letter of Invitation to registered and ongoing clients. Japanese authorities request that you provide a day to day schedule to support the Letter of Invitation. We are happy to assist you with this. Click here for Visa Information.

How do I get to the TS EXPORT CENTRE?

How do I select a Japanese Exporter?

With hundreds of exporters from Japan it can sometimes be confusing to find the right exporter. Here's a simple 13 point checklist you can use to select the best exporters from Japan.

1. When Was The Company Established?
It's a sad fact, but some Japanese exporters will no longer be exporting a few years from now. If you have been importing for a while you would already have seen exporting companies come and go.

It can be a crowded market to compete - especially for exporters who don't offer anything different to other exporters. You may have seen many lookalike exporters. Some even use the same website templates from the same website designers and offer the same services. Only a minority of exporting companies have been exporting for a decade or more. Now all exporters had to start sometime, so that is not to say that all new companies are bad, but their chances of long-term survival are less than companies that have established their position in the marketplace, with ongoing clients and high quality niched services. It is good to ask the exporter what year they started trading and how many shipments they have made in that time.

For the record, Tsuchiyama Sangyo, the parent company of TS EXPORT was established in 1983 and has shipped hundreds of thousands of stock items worldwide.

Click Here then scroll down to TS EXPORT^SM STORY

2. Company Registration
The exporter should be properly registered in Japan and be able to quote you their Registered Number, date of approval and copy of their approval. It should give the company status, "Yugen Gaisha", "Kabushiki Gaisha" etc. If the company cannot give you this basic information its possible that the company may not exist. For your own protection you should only deal with companies that are properly registered in Japan.

Click Here then scroll down LICENCES to view TS EXPORT Company Registration

3. Company Licences
What licences does the exporter hold? The type of licences that a company holds may vary with the services offered, but basic licences are a Motor Vehicle Dealers Licence and a Second Hand Dealers Licence.

Companies that offer dismantling services should also hold a Metal Dealers Licence, a Recycled Vehicle Handling Licence, a Fluorocarbon Handling Licence, and an Airbag Handling Licence. Their dismantling facility must also meet government requirements and have been inspected and approved. For your own protection you should only deal with companies that are fully licenced. These licences should be listed on their website.

Click Here then scroll down LICENCES to view TS EXPORT Licences

4. Company Contact Details
Exporters should have the registered address of their company in Japan and company telephone and fax numbers on their website. The telephone and fax numbers should have the international prefix for Japan "81".

Click Here to view TS EXPORT Contact Details

5. Where Is The Focus Of The Exporter?
Take a look at the exporter's website. Where is their focus? Is it about them ? How big they are, how great they are etc? Or is it about you, your needs and how the services and facilities can help you get what you want? Does the company give you the tools, services and facilities you need to successfully import?

Click Here then scroll down to WHY BECOME A TS CLIENT? and TS EXPORT^SM FACILITIES

6. Contact The Exporter
Speak with the company representative by phone or Skype. Ask to speak with the person who you would be dealing with if you were to start working with this exporter. Can you understand what this person is saying? Can they understand you? How knowledgeable and helpful are they about what you are looking for? Are they available at times that suit you and your time zone? Can the exporter give you a one on one personalised walkthrough of stock listings on your computer if you need help?

When you interact with the exporter do you get unbiased support and help or are you pestered by commission-hungry sales people trying to force you to buy something from their stock, whether or not it really meets your requirements.

Click Here to Contact TS EXPORT

7. Internet Search
What does an internet search reveal about the company? The internet gives very good transparency to a company's reputation. If you do an internet search for the company name of the exporter you are checking out with words such as "ripoff", "fraud", "scam" or "complaint" after the company name any bad behaviour will usually be exposed.

If its not clear who was at fault - the importer or the exporter - you can contact both for an explanation. Sometimes an importer can threaten to smear an exporter's name on the internet if they don't pay them off, so its important to get both sides and make up your own mind.

8. JUMVEA Membership
JUMVEA is the Japan Motor Vehicle Exporters Association. It's the leading organisation for automotive exporters from Japan. While there may be reputable exporters who are not JUMVEA members, reputable exporters will usually be JUMVEA members. JUMVEA strikes off members who behave unethically.

TS EXPORT is a member of JUMVEA

9. Third Party Trust Services
Third party trust services authenticate and verify the Japanese exporter and give you an independent forum to lodge a complaint for free. Only exporters who are confident of their integrity and services will expose their company to this kind of scrutiny. Check to see whether the exporter offers you this kind of protection, and if not why not.

TS EXPORT is a member of Site Trust Network, ICBM.org and HONESTe Online

10. Check Exporter Blacklists

Check the blacklists of exporters from Japan:

Exporters who have recently had their JUMVEA membership revoked can be viewed here

Exporters who have blacklisted by Tradecarview can be viewed here

Bear in mind that Exporters may operate with more then one company name, so it is worth checking the names of the individual business owners. And in case you're wondering, yes, exporters also have blacklists of importers:

Assetline Blacklist GUIA Blacklist

11. Testimonials
Look for exporters who display genuine testimonials from satisfied clients on their website. Testimonials should contain the name and location of the person giving the testimonial and pictures. Bear in mind that Business to Business importers are often reluctant to give an exporter a testimonial because it will reveal their supply source to their competitors. Also, an exporter that specializes in B2B will usually do much higher volume per client than those exporters who specialise in B2C. This means that B2B exporters may have fewer clients - and fewer testimonials - even if they are doing greater overall volume than B2C exporters.

Satisfied Business to Consumer clients willingly give testimonials to an exporter without asking. Some B2C importers will be so relieved to just receive what they ordered - and not be ripped off - that they will voluntarily give glowing testimonials when their shipment arrives.

If an exporter that specializes in Business to Consumer services, such as Japanese car dealers who export to private importers, don't have genuine testimonials displayed on their websites - or worse still display fake ones - this should ring warning bells. Either the exporter is not receiving good feedback from their customers - must be doing something wrong - or can't be bothered getting the consent of the satisfied importer to put their unsolicited testimonial on their website (the importers usually say "yes").

Click Here then scroll down WHAT TS EXPORT^SM CLIENTS SAY to view TS EXPORT Testimonials

12. Unit and Price Verification
Be sure to obtain the Chassis & Frame Numbers of the indivdual units that you are interested in. If it is an auction house listing the chassis or frame number will usually be in the listing description and/or the appraisal sheet for that listing. If it is Yahoo! then the last 3 digits will usually be in the listing description. Ideally, obtain a photo of the build plate or sticker which can sometimes give additional information about the vehicle.

If the unit is dealer stock and has been purchased from auction you can often locate it in the auction sold listings database if you have the chassis number. You can then verify the condition of the unit at the time it went to auction and find how much the dealer paid for it. You can then be aware of any defects of the unit and know whether the price the dealer is asking is fair relative to the price the dealer paid for it.

Contact us now if you'd like free access to the sold vehicles auction database

13. Billing
Industry best practice is for the exporter to clearly state what services are being billed at cost and what services the exporter is receiving cost plus margin. Ask the exporter for which services are being billed at actual cost and which are being billed at cost plus margin. Some exporters will quote low service fees but add margins to other services like freight forwarding. Ask your exporter for a copy of the freight forwarders account and compare the amount you are charged with the amount shown on the statement.

TS EXPORT supply the freight forwarders account to clients with all shipments, which means you can verify that only the actual cost has been billed.

There are good exporters from Japan. Use this checklist and you'll be able to find the very best Japanese Exporters.

Are there limits to importing new products from Japan?

Yes. If you are importing from China you can usually import any available product, in any specification to any country, so long as the import legislation allows it.

Japan is different. Japan has world famous brand names like Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Daihatsu, Honda, Komatsu, TCM, Yanmar, Kubota, Kobelco, Hitachi, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Tohatsu, etc. etc. etc.....

Its a long list. These brands are synonomous with quality and these companies have invested heavily in the development of their products, their brands and their distribution networks. They usually have world wide distribution networks to promote and distribute their products in all regions of the world. The manufacturers want you to source through their local distributors, not directly from Japan.

The authorised distributors for these products in Japan are supposed to only supply the Japanese domestic market, not exporters. However, platforms like Yahoo! Japan Auction, Rakuten and other auctions offering access to new product have opened this up a bit.

You can source new product in Japan and export it.

However, quantities of new product available at any time for export from Japan may be limited and the specification is Japanese domestic market specification, not export market specification.

If you are interested in new product, one practical option is to import a mix of new and used product. That way you will never be caught short in being able to source enough stock for a shipment. And you enjoy the benefits of the high rate of depreciation that typically applies to products in the Japanese market.

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