How To Buy Japanese Pen From Rakuten

[markh]

I have always found the website very difficult to deal with, and shipping prices to the U.S. quite high.

 

Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle had a article on office space for technology companies in San Mateo County (in Northern California). One of the new leases was signed by Rakuten.

 

Rakuten, a fast-growing Japanese e-commerce company, just signed a lease for 57,000 square feet in the city of San Mateo

 

Maybe that will make U.S. purchasing easier.

 

 

.

[Tumbleweedtoo]

I probably should have added that I checked the boxes on my order for gift wrapping and a ribbon without knowing if there was an additional cost. Perhaps there was an extra charge for that through the Overseas corresponding fee; I do not know. All in all, it seems to me that the weakened yen compared to the dollar makes shopping a little more reasonable buying through Rakuten. Not the easiest thing to do, but interesting and worthwhile, so far, it seems. My pen should ship next week.

 

All the best,

T

[maverink]

@tumbleweedtoo hope you get your lovely silver pen soon

rakuten shops charge for giftwrapping and name/date or other message engraving on the pen

 

@ markh they have a us site up and running.

@miatagrrl happy sketching

[arcadeflow]

I am paying directly by credit card lately, because some sellers will only send by EMS if paid with Paypal. I need cheaper shipping for cheaper stuff.

 

What happened to me once, when I bought a cheap pen with cheap shipping rate, they did not confirm with me, they charged me directly and sent the item. I did not complain because the shipping rate was pretty fair, I would accept it anyway, but now I am worried that if I try it again for something more expensive they won't confirm with me again and I might have to pay disagreeable shipping costs.

 

Is there any way to avoid that without this method of paying later with PayPal?

[maverink]

how much was the shipping cost? im charged 900 yen for ems

Edited December 7, 2014 by maverink

[markh]

 

@ markh they have a us site up and running.

 

 

 

 

A link, please??

 

 

thnx,

 

 

.

[miatagrrl]

That's great!

 

Will you post a sketch you've made with it (please)?

 

I had opportunities to sketch quite a bit with my new Pilot Custom 912 with FA nib during the past couple days. Yesterday at a life-drawing session of costumed models, I did this one of Iron Man:

[rutherfordr]

 

Thanks for the sketch -- that's wonderful!

[dkim87]

How can I tell the difference between a Sailor 1911 Standard (M) and the 1911 Full-Size/Large on Rakuten?

[Tumbleweedtoo]

I do not know the exact answer to the above question (but see below).

 

I do want to report two things.

 

First, my silver pen did arrive nicely gift wrapped in a sturdy shipping box (gift wrapped pen waiting to be opened on Christmas Day). US Customs in Chicago was very slow, perhaps because of the time of year.

 

Second, Maverink mentioned above a lower price for EMS shipping. My report: I needed to replace my son's pen (which he misplaced), so I sent an e-mail to the company I ordered my silver pen from for a quote. They gave me a link to their offering on Rakuten. When I searched for the pen by model number, I found it offered several times at a variety of prices. I chose the least expensive price from a company with good feedback, and the EMS shipping was only 900 yen (as Maverink reported) and there was no other charge. So, with shipping included, I have ordered the pen and the total price is less than the discounted price of the first shop (not to mention the added fees of the first shop and higher shipping cost). I will report back after I receive the pen. My son had bought his pen when on vacation in Tokyo, and buying through Rakuten (including shipping) was less expensive than he paid for the pen (of course, the dollar is currently stronger than when he bought his pen). Bottom line: it does pay to shop around on the Rakuten website. If a person knows the model number of the pen, that seems the easiest way to comparison shop.

 

One answer to the above question would be to get the model number from the Sailor website of the pen they want, and then shop for that pen by the model number doing comparison shopping. I hope that works for you.

 

All the best,

T

[Recoil Rob]

Does anyone know what the "overseas corresponding fee" actually covers? Seems like a vague charge.

[tinkerteacher]

Does anyone know what the "overseas corresponding fee" actually covers? Seems like a vague charge.

 

 

That's the International Shipping, the extra charge for foreign out-side-of-japan shipping, as translated by Goggle Translate.

 

Delivery Fee is what you would only pay if you were living in Japan.

 

 

edit. should have mentioned that that applies for that retailer only, other retailers may vary. rakuten is not the shipper, nor the pricing structure creator.

Edited March 26, 2015 by tinkerteacher

[tinkerteacher]

Some good Rakuten vendors are listed here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/287140-trusted-japanese-vendors/

 

A very good reason to buy from Rakuten at the present time is talked about here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/287488-thoughts-on-usd-yen-currency-exchange-rate/

[TechWriter]

Hi! Has anyone shopped with "Stationary Shop Wancher"?

[Recoil Rob]

 

 

That's the International Shipping, the extra charge for foreign out-side-of-japan shipping, as translated by Goggle Translate.

 

Delivery Fee is what you would only pay if you were living in Japan.

Perhaps but that makes shipping for a Pelikan 1000 almost $50, that negates any discount I see. And FWIW I have had watches shipped from Japan for about $12.

[Recoil Rob]

Just an FYI, I questioned the "overseas corresponding fee" from the vendor I was dealing with, Penroom. They just emailed me that it was an 8% "handling fee" not postage. That makes sense as it would cost the same to mail a $100 pen as a $500 pen but the fee goes up with the price.

 

I would think that if Penroom really wanted international business they wouldn't charge extra for it.

[maverink]

well these Japanese vendors seem to be charging the 8% consumption tax as overseas fee or whatever. however penroom shouldnot be charging the same to an overseas buyer kindly report it to rakuten

[rohit1974]

Hi! Has anyone shopped with "Stationary Shop Wancher"?

 

Have purchased a sailor 1911 fountain pen . Arrived safely. No issues

[tinkerteacher]

Just an FYI, I questioned the "overseas corresponding fee" from the vendor I was dealing with, Penroom. They just emailed me that it was an 8% "handling fee" not postage. That makes sense as it would cost the same to mail a $100 pen as a $500 pen but the fee goes up with the price.

 

I would think that if Penroom really wanted international business they wouldn't charge extra for it.

 

 

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Penroom has a good selection (+ some very hard to find items), lots of in-stock stuff, but it does also have a reputation for higher prices.

 

You might want to try ATN-N, whom I've just completed another order with. Nice straight up bill, with one delivery fee. Not much physical stock though, so you might have to wait while they order it themselves. Also, if you don't see something you like try emailing the retailer. Often times they are open to special orders (helps to know the part number) and bargaining.

 

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/atn/

 

 

 

Delivery Address ***

Total Items ***

Total Items Price *** (JPY)

--------------------------------

Subtotal *** (JPY)

Tax 0 (JPY)

Delivery Fee *** (JPY)

----------------------------------------------------------------

Total *** (JPY)

Edited March 26, 2015 by tinkerteacher

[Recoil Rob]

Thanks, I'll give them a try as soon as I can figure out how to find a specific vendor.

 

Penroom replied...

 

"Not a consumption tax.
We must charge a convenience on an 8% of the operations."

 

What I see is they are charging the domestic Japanese Consumption Tax on international and calling it a correspondence fee. They are adding it to the posted price of the item which was 49000JPY

 

Overseas corresponding fee 3920(JPY) (Tax excl.)
***************************************************************
Delivery Address 1(#)
Total Items 1(#)
Total Items Price 52920(JPY)
--------------------------------
Subtotal 52920(JPY)
Tax 0(JPY)
Delivery Fee 1860(JPY)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total 54780(JPY)
----------------------------------------------------------------