Japan Post not to ship to USA via air anymore

[Sandman]

Has anyone seen this yet?

http://yokosonews.com/news/japan-post-to-halt-all-air-parcels-to-the-us/

Hobby Link Japan has said this won't affect them but i wonder how this will affect others if at all.

Getting those Japan only exclusives is probably going to get a lot harder.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

It's only for packages sent to USA, not for the rest of the world.

It doesn't affect me

Don't worry there's plenty more options/companies to get toys shipped from Japan.

[eugimon]

It's only for packages sent to USA, not for the rest of the world.

It doesn't affect me

Don't worry there's plenty more options/companies to get toys shipped from Japan.

We Americans like to think we ARE the rest of the world.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

We Americans like to think we ARE the rest of the world.

Indeed hehehe!!

[ron5864]

I just ordered some items from HLJ using SAL shipping. I wonder how long it will take to get here(California).

[David Hingtgen]

I'm going to edit the thread's subtitle, as I just know there'll be a flurry of posts from people who don't read the 2nd sentence before replying...

[sketchley]

Doesn't effect me. Live here.

Witnessed the most amazingly fast service here yesterday: wife ordered a new vacuum cleaner from an online vender two days ago between 22:00 and 23:00. Arrived yesterday between 15:00-17:00. That's a 17 hour delivery time :!:

[Vifam7]

Has anyone seen this yet?

http://yokosonews.com/news/japan-post-to-halt-all-air-parcels-to-the-us/

Hobby Link Japan has said this won't affect them but i wonder how this will affect others if at all.

Getting those Japan only exclusives is probably going to get a lot harder.

Much of this does not apply to legit companies like HLJ (and likely Amiami, etc). It mainly affects individuals to who use stamps or go to the post office to ship.

[MacrossJunkie]

So that means no more EMS shipping through Japan Post either?

"Japan Post announced that they will not accept any air parcels over 16 ounces (453 grams) due to the higher security threat of terrorism in the United States indefinitely."

What higher security threat of terrorism? This is getting out of hand.

Politicians keep crying wolf with "high threats of terrorism" to keep the population in fear so they can institute more draconian police state measures like the recent hubbub with the airports of being given a choice between the invasiveness (and highly dubious safety of getting blasted with xray radiation) of full body scanners or submitting to sexual assault by TSA goons.

Now Japan Post can't send items of over 16 ounces to the US? Absofrigginlutely retarded. Just what is that supposed to accomplish?

[cool8or]

US goverment causes more fear than than terrorist!

[TheLoneWolf]

I don't think this restriction will affect many MW members, because:

1) This restriction only applies to shipments that are sent via air to the United States and its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc).

2) According to Celga, this restriction doesn't apply to "reliable" businesses that have special contracts with JP Post. I'm taking this to mean that if a business has a corporate account with JP Post and is in good standing, then they're exempt. I assume most Japanese retailers that MW members do business with (HLJ, Amiami, etc) already have corporate accounts with JP Post as that's the most efficient way to ship out packages.

3) This restriction doesn't apply to packages that weigh less than 16 ounces (roughly 1 pound).

The only people that will probably be affected are USA folks who have personal friends/contacts in Japan that send them their toys. If these guys still want their contacts to send them stuff, then they'll have to settle for sea mail, which takes about 6 - 8 weeks.

Edited November 17, 2010 by TheLoneWolf

[ae_productions]

My understanding is, as already noted here, that this law will not effect established stores.

So, if you order from your tried and true sources, you should be okay.

[thegunny]

My understanding is, as already noted here, that this law will not effect established stores.

So, if you order from your tried and true sources, you should be okay.

Gee thanks

Couldn't stay quite for long could you

You're not related to Ryno are you

Edited November 18, 2010 by thegunny

[Million Star]

Doesn't effect me. Live here.

Witnessed the most amazingly fast service here yesterday: wife ordered a new vacuum cleaner from an online vender two days ago between 22:00 and 23:00. Arrived yesterday between 15:00-17:00. That's a 17 hour delivery time :!:

How is this relevant or helpful to this thread? Are you trying to show off?

I know a lot of people that will be affected by this, there is a whole industry of proxy shoppers in Japan who buy everything from vintage toys to high end clothing and ship them to US and worldwide for a 10% premium. I know a lot of people that do it (arent legit businesses) and a lot of people that rely on small time guys to hunt down that one special piece on that one obscure website or tiny hole in the wall store in Japan.

[Renato]

What higher security threat of terrorism?

While I agree in general that society in recent times has been raising gradually security precautions to the extent of imposing on the freedoms of the innocent, making us feel like sheep being reared into some overly tight pen, it doesn't hurt to be aware of WHY this is happening. Then we can pass judgement.

Did you not hear about the parcel bombs intercepted in the UK and Dubai which were addressed to synagogues in the US?

[hutch]

Did you not hear about the parcel bombs intercepted in the UK and Dubai which were addressed to synagogues in the US?

From YEMEN. Not Japan. Big difference.

[Renato]

From YEMEN. Not Japan. Big difference.

Hey, it wasn't me who imposed the restriction. I was just pointing out that fact in response to "what threat of terrorism".

[MacrossJunkie]

While I agree in general that society in recent times has been raising gradually security precautions to the extent of imposing on the freedoms of the innocent, making us feel like sheep being reared into some overly tight pen, it doesn't hurt to be aware of WHY this is happening. Then we can pass judgement.

Did you not hear about the parcel bombs intercepted in the UK and Dubai which were addressed to synagogues in the US?

This will be the last time I post in this thread because it's really getting off topic. Yes, they found bombs, but I frequently read about stuff like this. And it's often either regular people or security measures already in place that foil them. It seems arbitrary when they decide to overreact, call for heightened security, and then enact a completely pointless measure that will not make people any safer. What if a bomb maker decides to make it weigh just under 16 ounces? Instead of blanket prohibiting packages over a pound, why not train bomb sniffing dogs to find the PETN that they use?

Using the "full body xray scanners or invasive pat down choice" example again, what happens if terrorists start using explosives packed up their anus as what happened to a saudi prince last year when he was meeting an al qaeda "defector". They skip the full body scan, get a pat down and go on their merry way, then blow up. The choice becomes a mandatory potentially cancer inducing body scan or an anal cavity search?

There are plenty of security experts that have criticized these worthless security measures enacted by the TSA and have offered proven alternatives that work better, but it seems the TSA is more interested in putting on a show than actual security.

[stormshadow0621]

I just got EMS shipping notices from two separate Japanese sites for recent Macross purchases (Hobbysearch, Mandarake). So I guess this really only affects those with direct contacts in Japan...

[azrael]

It looks like this only affects non-commercial parcels so no more having friends or family members sending purchases from Japan.

[ae_productions]

It looks like this only affects non-commercial parcels so no more having friends or family members sending purchases from Japan.

Yeah, that kinda sucks. Does anyone know what the point of this law is?

[Million Star]

Yeah, that kinda sucks. Does anyone know what the point of this law is?

I think you and many here are misunderstanding the situation, this isn`t a law, its a regulation imposed by Japan Post to stop them having to deal with the security standards the US is imposing in its ports. To comply then Japan Post would have to change a lot of its procedures. In Japanese culture if something is difficult to deal with then it is often not dealt with at all and the status quo is preferred, so a ban on these packages rather than extra security measures is the easy way out. Every other country`s postal service seems to able to deal with US restrictions when sending packages so don`t blame the United States, blame Japan Post.

[sketchley]

You, too.

Without going into detail, Japan Post was privatized in 2007, and Japan Post Service Co., Ltd. is the private company that inherited the assets of the former government company.

It's only one of several private companies that provide postal services in Japan.

As a private company, it's up to them if they want to conform to a foreign country's import restrictions or not. If they deem it a money losing process, why shouldn't they opt to discontinue packages sent by air. Again, stress on the air, as surface mail is unaffected.

It must be stressed that Japan Post Service Co., Ltd. is not the only option for postal services. See this article for alternatives and their responses: http://www.ranmagazine.com/2010/11/japan-post-to-halt-all-air-parcel-services-to-the-us/

Not sure why everyone's getting bent out of shape, as the majority of members don't appear to be affected; and of those that are, as the alternatives are common knowledge for their contacts in-country, it's not like they're up the creek without a paddle or anything like that.

PS: can a mod change the topic title + description. As it's a) implying that it's effecting the whole world, when it's only 1 country; and b) it's not indicating that there are alternatives for those most effected.

Edited November 20, 2010 by sketchley

[eugimon]

Yup, I asked my friend about it, he read the notice and said, "I'll ship fed-ex." problem solved

[Million Star]

Sketchley, I'm not misunderstanding. I know Japan Post was privatised in 2007, I was living there then. It is my opinion that Japan Posts refusal to process to US security standards isnt a profit issue, it's a teeth sucking "muzukashiiiiii" issue. Every other major country's postal service is private and still ships to the US. I know you're just trying to "out Japan" everyone else on the board but I'm sorry you are wrong about profitability imo. Remember also that Japanese private companies often operate in a socialist manner with no firings and charity hirings (see old men directing traffic in supermarket carparks or waving a paddle next to a fenced off construction site, completely inefficient but contribites to the "wa" or harmony. Upgrading US airmail procedures would be unharmonious.

[eugimon]

What? How are any of those things "socialist"?