JapanGoodsHub

What is Buyee and How Does It Work?

Buyee is a Japanese proxy shopping and bidding service that makes it easy for international shoppers to buy from Japan. Whether you’re eyeing rare anime goods on Yahoo! Auctions or limited-edition apparel on Japanese marketplaces, Buyee acts as your local intermediary. They handle purchasing on your behalf, receiving items at their warehouse, consolidating packages if needed, and then shipping everything to you overseas. This means you can access thousands of Japanese stores that wouldn’t normally ship internationally, all through one trusted platform. You can also learn more about using Buyee Wallet and Wise for high-value purchases to simplify payments.

Buyee’s Main Shopping & Auction Sites

Through Buyee, you can shop on a wide range of popular Japanese platforms. Major supported sites include:

• Yahoo! Auctions: Japan’s largest auction site with countless new and used items. Check out how to place standard or sniper bids on Buyee for tips.
• Mercari: A bustling peer-to-peer marketplace where individuals sell everything from fashion to collectibles.
• Rakuma: Another person-to-person marketplace similar to Mercari.
• Rakuten: Japan’s mega online mall offering a wide array of products, from electronics to snacks.
• ZOZOTOWN: A hub for trendy Japanese fashion.

Buyee also provides a browser extension ("Add to Buyee") that allows you to shop from over 150 other Japanese sites, automatically generating a proxy purchase request with just a click.

Step-by-Step: Placing Bids and Shopping Orders

Shopping or bidding with Buyee is straightforward:

• Find your item: Use Buyee’s site to browse listings across Yahoo! Auctions, Mercari, or Rakuten. You can also go directly to a supported site and use the Buyee extension.
• Place a bid or order: On auction items, enter your maximum bid (Buyee will handle automatic incremental bidding for you, similar to eBay). For shopping sites, simply add the product to your Buyee cart.
• Select plans and options: Decide if you want any inspection or insurance plan for extra peace of mind. Learn more about Buyee’s optional plans like Standard, Insured, or Lite.
• Pay for the item: After winning an auction or confirming a shopping order, pay the product price plus Buyee’s standard service fee.

Once your item arrives at Buyee’s warehouse, you’ll be notified to pay for international shipping. You can also request package consolidation or protective packaging at this stage. To understand this fully, see our guide on Buyee’s package storage and consolidation.

How Shipping & Package Consolidation Works

When your purchases reach Buyee’s warehouse, they’re logged in your account under "Package Information." From here, you can choose to:

• Ship items individually – immediately pay for shipping to your home country.
• Use package consolidation – combine multiple purchases into one box to save on shipping costs. Note that this is only available if all items are in the same warehouse.
• Request protective packaging – helpful for fragile goods.

Packages are stored free of charge for the first 30 days. After that, a daily storage fee applies based on weight. The maximum storage period is 90 days; if you don’t ship out by then, items will be disposed of by Buyee. To plan better, read about Buyee shipping methods, costs, and how long it takes.

Understanding Buyee’s Fees and Plans

Buyee’s cost structure is transparent but has several components:

• Purchase fee: A flat 300 yen per order, regardless of the number of items from the same purchase.
• Domestic shipping: Many sellers charge a fee to send items to Buyee’s warehouse, typically between 150 and 1,500 yen.
• International shipping: Calculated by weight, dimensions, and destination country. Buyee provides an estimator for planning.
• Optional plans:
  • Standard Plan: Includes insurance and an item inspection for about 500 yen.
  • Insured Delivery: Covers damage or loss in transit.
  • Inspection Only: Confirms correct color, size, and quantity before shipping.
  • Lite Plan: No additional services, zero fee.

For more on how to pay, see available payment methods on Buyee.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Here are a few issues new Buyee users often face:

• Forgotten packages: Letting items sit past the free 30-day period means you’ll incur daily storage fees. Always ship or consolidate before the 30 days expire.
• Misjudging shipping costs: Underestimating the impact of volumetric weight or failing to consolidate can lead to surprisingly high international shipping fees.
• Not selecting a plan when needed: For fragile or expensive items, skipping insurance or inspection can be risky. A small upfront cost might save major disappointment.

By planning ahead—tracking storage deadlines, using Buyee’s shipping estimator, and picking the right service plan—you can shop Japan’s amazing markets with total confidence. Also see our guide on how to avoid common mistakes when using Buyee.

Further guides for a smooth Buyee experience

• How to Place Bids on Buyee Auctions (Including Sniper Bids)
• Buyee Wallet: How to Pay for High-Value Items via Wise
• Buyee Shipping Explained: Methods, Costs, and How Long It Takes
• Buyee’s Optional Plans: Standard, Insured, and Lite Explained
• How Buyee’s Package Storage and Consolidation Works
• Payment Methods on Buyee: Credit Card, PayPal, Alipay & More
• Avoiding Common Mistakes When Using Buyee