Ordering from Japan: will I be able to stop now?

My experience with Buyee.jp - a proxy shopping service based in Japan that helps w/ international purchases from Japanese online stores, auction sites, and marketplaces.

So, here’s how I ended up with a Yohji Yamamoto turtleneck from Japan — and yes, I’d do it again.

Let’s break it down into a few key steps for anyone curious about the experience and process on Buyee.jp.

Getting Started:

• I went onto Buyee and registered for an account.

The Search Begins:

• I headed straight to the eBay Shopping section (no auctions for me — I’m not that patient these days).

• Typed in “Yohji Yamamoto” under “fashion, women, tops, all tops.”

The Find:

• Found a great clean simple navy blue wool turtleneck for about EUR 35.

• Checked/translated the description, didn’t really know what size 2 meant but I figured “ah, it’s gonna be fine probably maybe hopefully” — and, phew, it is, fits perfectly.

Making It Mine:

• A quick PayPal transaction later, and the turtleneck was officially mine.

Buyee Takes Over:

• I got an email from Buyee saying they purchased the item from the seller and it was on its way to their warehouse in Osaka.

Shipping Costs:

• Once it arrived at Buyee’s warehouse, I was notified to pay for shipping.

• Shipping from Osaka to Berlin cost me around EUR 25.

Fast Delivery:

• I paid via PayPal again, and my turtleneck was shipped out the next day.

• It arrived at my doorstep exactly seven days later — talk about efficient! (And some cream I ordered from Germany to Germany 10 days ago has still not arrived.)

Surprise (or not so surprise) Taxes:

• DHL then requested an additional EUR 15 in taxes when delivering the package. I couldn’t pay with the card so the DHL guy and I took an awkward walk to the nearest ATM.

Total Cost Breakdown:

• So, the grand total for my almost-new Yohji Yamamoto turtleneck is EUR 75.

• So yeah, shipping was about as much as the turtleneck itself.

Was It Worth It?:

• Absolutely! The quality is fantastic, and it’s a piece I’ll wear a lot.

• For comparison, a merino wool turtleneck from COS runs about EUR 60, so paying a little extra for a vintage item in “comme neuf” condition from a designer I love is always justified in my book.

Future:

• I’m definitely planning to use Buyee again — next time, I’ll try to buy multiple items to make the shipping costs more worthwhile.

It’s much better IRL, a very deep rich navy color. The wooden floors are also better IRL. Come over!

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That’s that for today! I will just only add two thoughts:

• I have recently noticed that most ‘things’ I like in this life (clothes, films, perfumes, rap, food, and even my Pilates and dance teacher) come from either Japan or France. I wonder what that’s about!

• Over the past week, four people (four! That’s a lot; these four people seem to really like what I do!) have told me that they’re sure one day I’ll be able to turn this “let me find it for you on resale” thing into a proper little business! I liked hearing it and I cannot stop thinking about it. In the meantime, more affordable links to come soon, and, as always, let me know if I can help w/ something specific.

Have a good weekend,