u/shezaei_neko

Just recently I decided to get some plushies of some horses (yeah, thanks to Uma Musume) that I liked.

But, it came to my attention that some of them are just released in certain size while others have more variants, and have re-release constantly. Like Orfevre can be found from tiny to big size. However, Mr. C.B. has only two plushies, and one was released last month and in big size. There's no small version of him.

And there are others that don't even have a plushie version despite having G1 victories. Like Super Creek, as far as I know, there's no plushie of him in any size at all. Despite being part of the three great in Oguri's era.

So, my question is: is there a reason as to why some horses don't have any plushie at all? And, why others have more releases than others?

Tbh, I really want one of Super Creek, and a small version of Mr. C.B.

Hola!

Quiero saber si alguien sabe de algún buen lugar donde hagan este tipo de trabajo en la Ciudad de México.

La verdad quiero algo pequeño para mi carro, sobre todo en la parte trasera, pero no sé mucho al respecto fuera de lugares donde hacen publicidad para pegar en los carros. No sé si es similar o procesos diferentes.

Agradezco información y orientación al respecto.

Greetings.

I want to buy two items from Mercari JP, the total amount of both items would be less than 6000 yen. It's a plushie and a tin badge set.

But I'd like them to be shipped to my forwarding address I already have, so I can consolidate those items with others I already have there.

The only payment methods I can use are credit card, or PayPal (no using family and friends option).

If someone is interested and can give me a quote for this, please DM me.

Thanks.

I apologize for the long text, but I think it's required to put as much detail as I can for reference.

In here I compare the forwarding service of Black Ship and Tenso Japan.

It's been months since I made a post asking for other Japanese forwarding services, this was because the one I've been using decided to change their currency policies and no longer offered multi-currency payments, charging only in USD dollars.

Due to this change that was not beneficial for me, I searched for other forwarding services in Japan.

After a long search and reading reviews and experiences, I found Tenso Japan. Not gonna lie, I was a bit unsure since I had read that Tenso's proxy services were not that good. And since they are related, my confidence dropped a bit. But in the end I decided to take the bullet and give it a try.

This is a review based on my experience using only their forwarding service (they also offer Proxy service), and I'm not based in the USA, I'm based in Mexico. So, obviously the import laws and taxes will differ.

First of all, as any other forwarding service, they'll ask for documentation to validate your identity and address. If I remember correctly, I used my passport and a telephone bill to validate my account. I didn't have any trouble with this process it was quite quick. In less than 72 hours it was validate. You need to validate in order to forward your parcels, you could start ordering before validation but it's better to do it as soon as possible to avoid any future issues.

Forwarding Services provided you with a Japanese address to send your parcels there. They are very specific on their guidelines to write correctly your provided address, or this could result on delays or other trouble with your shipped parcels. They also request that if you use Amazon JP, not to request the parcels to be left there, that it requires some kind of signature, otherwise they won't be responsible for any loss

Once your profile is created and you are given your assigned address, you have to add the address you'll forward your parcels to, basically your home address. I haven't tried sending somewhere else as I don't have the need to do so. And I'm not sure if that would be allowed. You'll need to check their guidelines and terms of service for that.

With all these set up, I started ordering from my usual stores.

I was a bit worried for the first parcel because I received a notification that it had been delivered, however, a couple of days had passed and I hadn't received any email that my parcel was now in their warehouse, so I contacted customer support. They asked me for my tracking number, and a bit later, it was confirmed that they had received it, and it should show on my page.

From that point on, there was no trouble whatsoever. The notification that I have received a parcel arrived in about 24 hrs, and about a day later or so, a forwarding fee total was sent.

Now, I'll mention point by point how this service differs from the one I was using before (Black Ship).

* Storage: Black Ship offers 45 days free of charge. After this time, depending on the size of your parcels, the fee changes, and it's charged per day until you send them.

Tenso Japan offers around 5 months free of charge. This for me is a super big plus, because I don't have a tight time restriction, specially since most of my parcels have different release dates, sometimes months apart. Once the time is up, they also charge you by day depending on the size of the parcel.

* Website: Tenso Japan website's interface is a bit more chaotic, but once you get used to it, you can check all your parcels, and other info without trouble. Like combining requests. As for Black Ship, is pretty simple and quite intuitive. Easier to navigate.

* Parcel information: When receiving a parcel, they indicate where it is from (store), the weight, contents, country of origin. Unfortunately, they do not send a picture of the box and the weight of it, compared to Black Ship. But, they do mention the store, which really helps. While on Black Ship they do not tell you this detail, which makes you check the pic and the information of the sender. Not troublesome, with maybe a little time consuming if you have many parcels arriving at the same time.

* Product description: As mentioned above, Tenso Japan automatically fills the type of item it is and the country of origin. I could only change the country of origin but not the type of product. In my case, it wasn't a problem. For instance, they classified manga and doujinshi under the book category. Another thing is that it doesn't allow you to specify if the object is new or used. While on Black Ship you fill everything manually: the type of product, country of origin, new or used, etc. What both sites allow you to do is input the value of each item.

* Consolidation: in Tenso Japan after a parcel is received, not long after, you receive a forwarding fee. Which is how much it would cost you to ship this parcel to your registered address. However, this doesn't mean you are being charged for it or have to send it right away. It's just information provided.

To consolidate your parcels, you have to submit a consolidation request, indicating which parcels you want to combine, and other specifics. Like, if you want to have all the contents of those parcels removed from the box they arrived in, or to simply put that same box in a bigger box, fhe type of shipping available, fees, etc. If for some reason, any of the parcels can't be combined, they'll inform you on the email you'll receive from the submitted request.

Tenso Japan doesn't have many options for specific requests for consolidation. I didn't see any option for extra packaging, or wrapping. While in Black Ship, they offer special protection for certain objects that need more care, remove invoices, if you have big plushies they even offer an option to compact them on bags. Also, they offer a priority service, in which they'll process your request faster. Of course, all these have a fee, but if you want to have your parcels protected the way you want, this is for you.

* Payment and shipping: If you send just one parcel or you're informed of your consolidation, you have to pay for everything: fees and shipping.

Now here's another important point. In Black Ship, you have 7 days to pay and for your parcel to be shipped. I don't remember what happens once your time's up, but better not risk it and have it disposed.

Black Ship offers different shipping options to my country like: EMS, FedEx, DHL, Air registered mail, and another one which I don't remember.

In Tenso Japan, they don't offer any priority service, so you have to wait around a week for your consolidation to be processed and completed. Once it's done, you receive your total. But compared to Black Ship, they don't have a time limit frame for you to ship it. Which also helps a lot.

At this point, I think you can select once more the type of shipping available, and also there's a warranty service option that if I'm not mistaken offers your parcel protection in case it's lost. I applied for it just in case.

In Tenso Japan , I had two shipping options only: EMS and Air registered mail.

I usually go for the cheapest option. Which sometimes is EMS. That's right, EMS, which is a express option from time to time is cheaper than air parcel. But in the end, you need to compare the one that is better for you.

Personally, I avoid DHL and FedEx due to all the other fees and such.

For the payment they have different options available. But the most common are credit card and PayPal.

Once you do the payment, just wait for the notification that your parcel has been shipped and they provide you your tracking number.

In my case, I always use Japan Post and my country's Postal service website to track my parcels and see if there's any issue.

Now that I've used Tenso Japan, I can say I'm satisfied with it. They can still improve some things, but all in all, everything went smoothly.

I do think that Black Ship protects better your stuff. Because my Tenso Japan parcel that just arrived didn't have like an extra cardboard piece at the bottom of the box to fully protect everything. In fact, at the very bottom were a couple of clear files. So, if for some reason the box had gotten wet, those clear files might have gotten wet and perhaps a bit damaged. Also, a box of sealed tin badges was kinda loose, with no bubble wrap or more protection around it. Besides that, all the other items, which included at least 16 doujinshi, a manga, post cards, tin badges, and acrylic stands, were well protected with plastic bags and bubble wrap.

For the cost of the parcel itself with fees, I think was well within the range price.

Here's the specifics:

TENSO JAPAN

EMS to Mexico

Weight: 3380 grams

Shipping fee: 9708 yen

Forwarding handling fee: 350 yen

Other handling fee: 1400 yen (if I'm not mistaken, this was to consolidate each parcel and remove all items into one box. I consolidated 7 parcels)

System usage fee: 150 yen

Insurance: 0 yen (since I selected EMS, it's automatically covered, I think.)

Warranty service option: 408 yen.

Total: 12 016 yen.

Now here's a comparison with a parcel I sent around three months ago using Black Ship.

BLACK SHIP:

EMS to Mexico.

Weight: 1478 grams

Package receiving fee: 6 usd (1 usd per parcel, I consolidated 6 that time)

Priority processing: 5 usd

Consolidation Fee: 18 usd

Shipping charges: 41.67 usd

Service fee total: 70.67 usd

Remember that I said that Black Ship charges in USDs, while Tenso Japan charges in Yen.

The price and the quantity of parcels are similar, however here the weight is what defines everything.

CONCLUSION.

I will continue using Tenso Japan. They didn't give me any reason to doubt their services. The process was smooth. Their fees are within good range. They allow me to pay in Yen. There wasn't any problem with my parcel or items.

I might use Black Ship for items that require more protection or I need them to be shipped faster.

I hope this will be useful to other users.

I know there are some UFO Catcher online where you play remotely one and can get the Japanese prizes.

However, maybe some of them don't offer the prize I'm looking for as it may be a exclusive for certain establishments (like Taito, Round, etc.)

So, my question is:

Does someone here offer any UFO Catcher services?

If you do, how would it work?

Please provide any and all info necessary.

Thanks in advance.

Please feel free to remove my post if it doesn't belong here.