Shipping & Customs
We ship Japanese trading cards directly from Tokyo to collectors worldwide. Below you'll find everything you need to know about shipping costs, customs handling, and delivery times.
At a Glance
- Order Processing: 1–2 business days from Tokyo
- Carrier Choice: Select UPS, FedEx, or DHL at checkout based on your preferred speed and price
- United States: DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — all duties prepaid at checkout, no extra fees on delivery, regardless of which carrier you choose
- All Other Countries: DAP (Delivered At Place) — local import duties/VAT may apply at destination
- Tracking: Included on every order
- Insurance: Available on request — recommended for orders over JPY 30,000
Shipping Time Estimates (Business Days)
You can choose your preferred carrier at checkout. Delivery times after your order ships from Tokyo are as follows:
| Region | UPS Worldwide Express Saver | FedEx International Priority | DHL Express | FedEx International Connect Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States (DDP) | 2–3 bd (Duties Included) | 2–3 bd (Duties Included) | 3–4 bd (Duties Included) | 4–6 bd (Duties Included) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada (DAP) | 2–3 bd | 2–3 bd | 3–4 bd | 4–6 bd |
| 🇪🇺 Europe & UK (DAP) | 3–4 bd | 3–4 bd | 3–5 bd | 4–6 bd |
| 🌏 Asia (DAP) | 1–2 bd | 1–2 bd | 1–2 bd | 3–5 bd |
| 🇦🇺 Australia & NZ (DAP) | 3–5 bd | 3–5 bd | 3–5 bd | 5–7 bd |
🇺🇸 U.S. Special: 100% Duties & Taxes Included. No surprise fees on delivery, regardless of which carrier you choose.
Note: "bd" = business days. Transit time excludes our 1–2 business day order processing window. U.S. orders ship under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms — all customs duties, taxes, and brokerage fees are prepaid at checkout. All other regions ship under DAP (Delivered At Place) terms — see "How Customs Work" below. Delivery times are estimates and may vary due to customs clearance, weather, holidays, or carrier delays. Business days are Monday–Friday.
🇺🇸 United States — DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
Summary: No Surprise Fees at Your Door
We ship all U.S. orders under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), regardless of which carrier you select at checkout (UPS, FedEx, or DHL). To simplify your checkout experience, the shipping rate displayed at checkout is an "All-in" price that includes:
- International Shipping & Handling
- U.S. Import Duties (currently 10%)
- Merchandise Processing Fees (MPF)
- Courier Brokerage & Handling Fees
The price you see at checkout is the final cost. You will not be asked to pay any extra charges to the courier upon delivery.
Why Is the Shipping Rate Higher?
U.S. Customs currently applies a 10% duty rate on Japanese trading cards (HS Code: 9504400000). While other shops might show a low shipping fee and leave you to pay the tax later, we include everything upfront to ensure:
- Faster Customs Clearance: Pre-paid duties mean your package clears customs immediately.
- No Hidden Bills: You don't have to worry about surprise invoices from the courier weeks after delivery.
- Convenience: You simply wait for your cards to arrive at your doorstep.
DAP (DDU) vs. Our DDP System (U.S. only)
| Feature | DAP/DDU (Standard) | Our DDP System |
|---|---|---|
| Payment at Checkout | Low shipping fee | All-inclusive rate |
| Payment at Delivery | Required (Duties + Fees) | None ($0) |
| Customs Speed | Can be delayed | Priority Clearance |
| Surprise Invoices | Likely | Never |
Final Notes for U.S. Buyers
- Carrier Choice: You can select your preferred carrier at checkout (UPS, FedEx, or DHL). DDP applies to all carrier options.
- Consolidated Pricing: For your convenience, we display a single consolidated shipping rate. This ensures you don't have to deal with complex currency conversions or fluctuating tax estimates during checkout.
- Safe Delivery: All legal requirements for U.S. imports are fully met by our customs management system, protecting your shipment from being held or returned by customs.
🌍 All Other Countries — DAP (Delivered At Place)
For orders shipped outside the United States, we use DAP (Delivered At Place) shipping.
What This Means for You
The shipping rate at checkout covers international shipping and handling only. Any import duties, VAT (Value Added Tax), GST, or local customs/handling fees charged by your country are paid separately by you, either:
- At the time of delivery (the courier collects payment), or
- Online via a link sent by the courier shortly before delivery
Typical Customs Charges by Region
| Destination | Typical Customs Charge |
|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | GST/HST (5–15% depending on province) + possible duty |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 20% VAT + possible duty |
| 🇪🇺 European Union | 20–25% VAT (varies by country) + possible duty |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 10% GST on orders over AUD 1,000 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 9% GST on orders over SGD 400 |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia / 🇹🇭 Thailand | Sales tax + possible duty |
| Other countries | Varies — check with your local customs office |
These rates are subject to change. Please consult your country's customs office for the most current rules.
Why DAP for Non-US Orders?
DDP can be reliably offered to the U.S. because of a stable, predictable tariff rate (currently 10%) and consolidated brokerage available through our customs management system. For other countries, import rules vary widely, and pre-collecting these accurately at our checkout would either result in incorrect charges or significantly increase your shipping cost. By keeping shipping fees transparent and letting your local customs handle local taxes, we ensure you pay only what is actually owed.
Estimating Your Local Charges
Before placing your order, we strongly recommend checking your country's import rules:
- EU: VAT and customs information
- UK: Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad
- Canada: Importing into Canada
- Australia: Importing into Australia
If you are unsure, please contact us at info@tcgmartexpress.com before placing your order and we'll do our best to help you estimate.
Tracking & Insurance
Tracking
Every shipment includes a tracking number, which we email to you as soon as your package leaves our Tokyo fulfillment center. You can track your package on the carrier's website (UPS, FedEx, or DHL).
Shipping Insurance
We strongly recommend insurance for orders valued at JPY 30,000 or more. To add insurance to your order, please contact us at info@tcgmartexpress.com before checkout. Insurance covers loss or damage during transit; the cost is calculated based on order value.
If your shipment arrives damaged or fails to arrive within the expected delivery window, please contact us within 7 days so we can assist with a carrier claim. See our Refund Policy for full details.
Service Area
We currently ship to:
- North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
- Europe: United Kingdom, European Union member states, Switzerland, Norway
- Asia-Pacific: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand
- Most other countries with reliable courier service from Japan
Regions We Currently Cannot Ship To
We are unable to ship to the following regions at this time:
- Central and South America (including the Caribbean)
- The Middle East
- Africa
- Russia, Belarus, and other countries subject to international sanctions
If your country is not available at checkout, please contact us at info@tcgmartexpress.com — we may be able to investigate special arrangements for high-value orders, but availability is not guaranteed.
Customs Compliance
We comply with Japanese export regulations and the import regulations of all destination countries. By placing an order, you confirm that the products you are purchasing are legal to import into your country. If you are unsure about your country's import rules for trading cards, please contact us before ordering.
Questions?
For any shipping or customs questions, please contact us at info@tcgmartexpress.com. We aim to respond within 1 business day (Tokyo time, Monday–Friday).
