Shipping policy

Shipping, Duties & Taxes Policy

Last updated: 14 August 2026

This Shipping, Duties & Taxes Policy explains how JAPAN-ITEMS™ handles order processing, international shipping, delivery, customs duties, import taxes and related charges.

This Policy applies to orders placed through the JAPAN-ITEMS™ online store and should be read together with our Terms & Conditions and Returns & Refund Policy.

The Store is operated by:

Japan Items Group sp. z o.o.
ul. Wodzisławska 358
44-274 Rybnik
Poland

KRS: 0001228018
NIP: 6423268977
REGON: 544207180
Registry court: District Court in Gliwice, 10th Commercial Division of the National Court Register
Email: support@japan-items.com

1. Shipping from Japan

Products offered through JAPAN-ITEMS™ are sourced from Japan and shipped internationally.

Many of the objects presented through the Store are pre-owned, vintage, collectible, discontinued or otherwise limited in availability.

For this reason, fulfilment may involve several stages before international dispatch, including confirmation of availability, sourcing or reservation in Japan, domestic transportation within Japan, handling by a logistics or fulfilment partner, preparation, packing, documentation and export processing.

2. Available Destinations

JAPAN-ITEMS™ ships to selected international destinations available at checkout.

Shipping availability may depend on the destination, product category, carrier coverage, customs requirements, import restrictions, transportation regulations and other operational or legal considerations.

If a destination cannot be selected at checkout, shipping to that destination may not currently be available.

In exceptional circumstances, an order may be cancelled after purchase if the item cannot legally, safely or reasonably be shipped to the selected destination.

Where JAPAN-ITEMS™ cancels an order because fulfilment cannot be completed, the customer will receive a refund in accordance with applicable law.

3. Order Processing

Because many items are sourced individually from Japan, order processing may include:

confirmation of product availability;
sourcing or reservation of the selected item;
domestic transportation within Japan;
handling and preparation by a logistics or fulfilment partner;
packing and preparation of shipping documentation;
export processing; and
handover to the international carrier.

Processing times may vary depending on product availability, seller response, domestic transportation within Japan, holidays, product category, fulfilment workload, documentation requirements and carrier schedules.

Where an item is no longer available, JAPAN-ITEMS™ will cancel the affected order and provide a refund, or may offer an alternative item for the customer's consideration.

No materially different substitute will be supplied without the customer's express approval.

4. Estimated Delivery Timeframe

The estimated timeframe for delivery of international orders is generally 7–21 business days.

This timeframe reflects the nature of the JAPAN-ITEMS™ sourcing and international fulfilment process. Many objects offered through the Store are individually sourced from Japan and may pass through several stages before reaching their final destination, including availability confirmation, domestic transportation within Japan, preparation and packing, export processing, international transportation and customs clearance.

The estimated 7–21 business day timeframe may therefore include both order processing and international transit.

Business days do not include Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays applicable to the relevant stage of fulfilment or delivery.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ makes reasonable efforts to complete orders within the estimated timeframe. However, international orders may occasionally take longer due to circumstances including:

delays in domestic transportation within Japan;
seller or sourcing delays;
peak-period or holiday volumes;
export processing or documentation requirements;
customs clearance or inspections;
requests for additional information from customs authorities or carriers;
international carrier disruptions or capacity limitations;
severe weather or natural events;
strikes or other transportation disruptions;
security or regulatory checks;
destination-country import procedures;
government measures or regulatory changes; or
other circumstances outside our reasonable control.

The 7–21 business day timeframe is an estimate rather than a guaranteed delivery date, unless a specific delivery date has been expressly agreed.

Where JAPAN-ITEMS™ becomes aware of a material delay, we will take reasonable steps to provide available information and assist the customer.

Where applicable law requires additional action in connection with a shipment or delivery delay, including notification, consent to a revised shipment timeframe, cancellation or refund rights, JAPAN-ITEMS™ will comply with those requirements.

Nothing in this section limits any mandatory rights available to the customer under applicable law.

5. Free International Shipping

Unless expressly stated otherwise before purchase, JAPAN-ITEMS™ provides standard international shipping at no additional charge to the customer for destinations supported by the Store.

No separate standard international shipping fee is added to the customer's order at checkout.

The underlying cost of providing international delivery is borne by JAPAN-ITEMS™ and may be reflected in the overall pricing of products offered through the Store.

Accordingly, the term “Free Shipping” means that the customer is not charged a separate standard shipping fee in addition to the price presented for the order.

“Free Shipping” does not mean that international transportation has no underlying economic cost. It means that this cost is not charged to the customer as a separate standard shipping fee.

Additional or exceptional costs resulting from circumstances outside the normal delivery process are governed by Section 9 of this Policy.

6. Duties & Taxes Included

JAPAN-ITEMS™ operates an all-inclusive international pricing model designed to make the final cost of an international purchase clear and predictable.

Unless expressly stated otherwise before purchase, standard import duties, import taxes and standard customs charges applicable to the normal delivery of the order are included in the price paid by the customer and are handled by JAPAN-ITEMS™ or its logistics partners as part of the applicable delivery arrangement.

This may include, where applicable:

standard import duties;
import VAT or similar import-related taxes;
standard customs clearance charges; and
standard carrier import-processing charges associated with normal customs clearance.

Accordingly, for an order covered by this all-inclusive arrangement, the customer should not be required to make a separate payment of standard import duties, import taxes or standard customs charges upon normal delivery.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ does not represent its products as inherently tax-free, duty-free or exempt from customs requirements.

Where duties or taxes legally apply, they may still be assessed as part of the import process. Under the all-inclusive arrangement, their standard cost is included in the overall transaction price and handled by JAPAN-ITEMS™ or its logistics partners rather than being charged separately to the customer during normal delivery.

7. Final Price

Unless expressly stated otherwise before the customer places an order, the price presented for the order at checkout is the amount the customer is required to pay to JAPAN-ITEMS™ for the product and the standard delivery arrangement described in this Policy.

Under the standard all-inclusive arrangement, this means:

standard international shipping — no additional charge;
standard import duties — included where applicable;
standard import taxes — included where applicable;
standard customs clearance — included where applicable.

The underlying costs of shipping, customs handling, duties and taxes may be incorporated into JAPAN-ITEMS™ overall product pricing.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ is not required to separately itemise its internal cost structure, margins, logistics expenses or the portion of its overall pricing attributable to such costs, except where disclosure is required by applicable law.

Where an additional charge that is not included in the standard arrangement may apply and is known before purchase, it will be disclosed to the customer as required by applicable law.

8. Unexpected Duties, Taxes or Customs Payment Requests

Under the JAPAN-ITEMS™ all-inclusive pricing model, standard import duties, import taxes and standard customs charges applicable to the normal delivery of an order are included in the price paid by the customer.

Accordingly, the customer should not be required to pay these standard charges separately upon delivery.

If a carrier, customs broker, customs authority, postal operator or delivery provider requests payment of import duties, import taxes, VAT or standard customs-clearance charges, the customer should contact JAPAN-ITEMS™ as soon as possible and, wherever reasonably possible, before making the requested payment.

Please contact us at support@japan-items.com and provide:

the order number;
the carrier or delivery provider;
the tracking number;
a copy or screenshot of the payment request;
the amount requested;
a description of the charge; and
any relevant invoice, customs notice or carrier communication.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ will review the request and, where appropriate, work with the relevant carrier, customs broker or logistics partner to arrange or resolve payment of the covered charge.

The customer should not ignore a customs or carrier notice, as failure to respond may result in delivery delays, storage charges, return of the shipment or other additional costs.

If immediate payment is necessary to prevent a delivery failure, return of the shipment or another material disruption, the customer may make the requested payment and should contact JAPAN-ITEMS™ promptly afterwards with valid proof of payment.

If the customer has paid a standard import duty, import tax, VAT or standard customs charge that was covered by the JAPAN-ITEMS™ all-inclusive pricing arrangement, JAPAN-ITEMS™ will reimburse the covered amount after verification of reasonable and valid proof of payment.

This reimbursement does not apply to exceptional or customer-caused charges that fall outside the all-inclusive arrangement, as described in Section 9 of this Policy.

Nothing in this section limits any mandatory rights available to the customer under applicable law.

9. Exceptional and Customer-Caused Charges

Free Shipping and the all-inclusive pricing model apply to the standard costs associated with normal fulfilment and delivery of an order.

Unless otherwise required by applicable law, they do not cover additional or exceptional costs resulting from circumstances outside the standard delivery process, including:

incorrect, incomplete or outdated delivery information supplied by the customer;
refusal of delivery;
failure to collect a parcel;
repeated unsuccessful delivery attempts;
storage resulting from customer delay or inaction;
an address change requested after dispatch;
re-delivery;
return-to-sender costs resulting from customer action or inaction;
reshipment;
exceptional local administrative charges that do not constitute standard import duties, import taxes or normal customs-clearance charges;
failure to provide information reasonably required for customs clearance or delivery; or
other exceptional costs directly resulting from circumstances attributable to the customer.

Where permitted by applicable law, reasonable additional costs actually incurred as a direct result of such circumstances may be charged to the customer or deducted from an amount otherwise refundable.

10. Customs Clearance

JAPAN-ITEMS™ and its logistics partners may prepare or provide information required for standard export and import processing.

This may include product descriptions, transaction values, country-of-origin information, tariff or HS classifications where applicable, commercial invoice information and shipping details.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ does not intentionally undervalue shipments, misdescribe merchandise or provide incorrect customs information for the purpose of avoiding customs duties, taxes or other legal requirements.

Customs authorities may inspect shipments, request documentation, determine or review classifications or values, delay clearance and apply destination-specific requirements in accordance with applicable law.

The customer may be required to provide reasonable information necessary for customs clearance or delivery, including identity or address verification where lawfully required by the relevant authority, broker or carrier.

11. Importer of Record

The identity of the importer of record may depend on the destination country, applicable customs rules, carrier procedures and the fulfilment arrangement used for the shipment.

In certain destinations, the recipient may be treated as the importer of record for customs purposes even where JAPAN-ITEMS™ arranges or bears the cost of standard import duties and taxes.

Where supported by the applicable delivery arrangement, JAPAN-ITEMS™ will arrange for standard duties, taxes and customs charges included in the customer's price to be handled through its logistics partners, carriers, customs brokers or applicable tax arrangements.

Being identified as the importer of record does not, by itself, alter the allocation of standard import costs expressly stated in this Policy.

Nothing in this Policy overrides mandatory customs, identification, reporting or import requirements imposed by the destination country.

12. Delivery Address

The customer is responsible for providing complete and accurate delivery information.

The delivery address should contain all information reasonably required for successful delivery, including the recipient's name, street address, building and apartment number where applicable, postal code, city, region, country and a valid telephone number where required by the carrier.

Customers should review their delivery information carefully before placing an order.

If an error is discovered, please contact JAPAN-ITEMS™ as soon as possible.

Once an order has entered fulfilment or has been dispatched, it may not be possible to change the delivery address.

Subject to mandatory consumer rights, JAPAN-ITEMS™ is not responsible for delays or additional costs directly caused by inaccurate or incomplete delivery information supplied by the customer.

13. Failed, Refused or Uncollected Deliveries

Customers should reasonably cooperate with the carrier, customs authority or logistics provider where action is required to complete customs clearance or delivery.

If delivery cannot be completed because the customer refuses the parcel, fails to collect it, provides incorrect delivery information, does not respond to reasonable requests or otherwise prevents successful delivery, the parcel may be returned, held or otherwise handled in accordance with applicable carrier and customs procedures.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, JAPAN-ITEMS™ may:

arrange reshipment at the customer's expense;
issue any applicable refund after deducting reasonable costs lawfully recoverable and actually incurred;
recover reasonable return, storage or reshipment costs directly caused by the customer's action or inaction; or
apply another appropriate solution permitted by applicable law.

These provisions do not limit mandatory statutory rights.

14. Delays

International sourcing and transportation occasionally involve circumstances that may cause an order to exceed the estimated 7–21 business day delivery timeframe.

A delay does not automatically mean that an order has been lost or cancelled.

Delays may result from circumstances including sourcing, domestic transportation within Japan, export procedures, customs clearance or inspection, carrier disruptions, severe weather, natural events, strikes, security procedures, destination-country import requirements, government measures, regulatory changes or other circumstances outside JAPAN-ITEMS™ reasonable control.

Where JAPAN-ITEMS™ becomes aware of a material delay, we will take reasonable steps to investigate the status of the order, provide available information and assist the customer.

Where applicable law requires JAPAN-ITEMS™ to notify the customer of a delayed shipment, provide a revised timeframe, obtain consent to further delay, permit cancellation or issue a refund, JAPAN-ITEMS™ will comply with those requirements.

Nothing in this Policy permits JAPAN-ITEMS™ to retain payment indefinitely for merchandise that cannot be supplied or shipped where applicable law requires cancellation or refund.

15. Lost Shipments

If tracking information indicates that a shipment may be lost, the customer should contact:

support@japan-items.com

JAPAN-ITEMS™ may initiate an investigation with the carrier or logistics provider.

The customer may be asked to provide reasonable assistance or information required for the investigation.

If a shipment is confirmed lost, JAPAN-ITEMS™ will provide an appropriate remedy in accordance with applicable law.

Because many products offered through JAPAN-ITEMS™ are vintage, discontinued, collectible or individually sourced, an identical replacement may not be available.

16. Damaged Shipments

If a parcel arrives visibly damaged, customers are encouraged, where reasonably possible, to:

photograph the parcel before opening it;
photograph the shipping label;
photograph the internal packaging;
photograph any damage to the product;
temporarily retain the packaging; and
contact JAPAN-ITEMS™ promptly.

This information can assist JAPAN-ITEMS™ in investigating the matter with the carrier or logistics provider.

Failure to provide photographs or retain packaging does not remove any mandatory consumer right that cannot lawfully be made conditional upon such evidence.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ will review the circumstances and provide an appropriate remedy in accordance with applicable law.

17. Shipping Restrictions

Certain products may be subject to transportation, customs, safety or import restrictions.

Restrictions may depend on the destination, carrier, product composition or applicable law and may affect products including electronics, batteries, audio equipment, cameras, watches, leather goods, certain cultural objects or products containing regulated materials.

JAPAN-ITEMS™ may refuse or cancel an order where fulfilment would violate applicable law, carrier restrictions or reasonable safety requirements.

Where JAPAN-ITEMS™ cancels an order because it cannot be lawfully or reasonably fulfilled, the customer will receive the appropriate refund in accordance with applicable law.

18. Local Compatibility

Products sourced from Japan may have been originally designed for the Japanese market.

For electronics, audio equipment, cameras, musical equipment and similar products, local compatibility may depend on voltage, frequency, plug type, region coding, radio standards, software, media formats, batteries, replacement parts, consumables and local regulations.

Customers should review the product description and available specifications before purchase.

Where reasonably available, JAPAN-ITEMS™ may provide relevant product information, but local compatibility is not guaranteed unless expressly stated for the particular product.

Nothing in this section excludes liability or consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded.

19. Returns and Return Shipping

Returns are governed separately by the Returns & Refund Policy applicable to the customer's order.

Customers should not return an item without first contacting JAPAN-ITEMS™ and receiving appropriate return instructions.

Because orders are fulfilled internationally, the correct return destination may vary depending on the product, destination and circumstances of the return.

The allocation of return-shipping costs depends on the reason for the return, the applicable Returns & Refund Policy and mandatory rights available under applicable law.

20. Mandatory Consumer Rights

Nothing in this Shipping, Duties & Taxes Policy is intended to exclude, restrict or waive any consumer right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or waived.

Where any provision of this Policy conflicts with mandatory consumer protection law applicable to a particular transaction, that mandatory law will prevail to the extent of the conflict.

21. Changes to This Policy

JAPAN-ITEMS™ may update this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in logistics arrangements, supported destinations, customs procedures, taxation, carrier services, operational practices or legal requirements.

Unless otherwise required by applicable law, changes will apply prospectively.

The version applicable to an order will generally be the version made available when the order was placed.

22. Contact

For questions concerning shipping, delivery, customs duties, taxes or unexpected import-payment requests, please contact: