“Won’t the handling fees and shipping fees be expensive?”
“How is shipping overseas from Japan handled?”
Q1: Are detailed previews possible with online auctions?


Q2: How are items shipped when accessing an online auction from outside Japan?
Dealers may be concerned about how valuable items are shipped across borders and about the shipping costs once a successful bid is made for an item during an online auction.
“We ask those living outside Japan to select the shipper they typically use, such as FEDEX, DHL, or EMS, when opening an account because the available shippers vary by country.” ( Kentaro Sakuta, Overseas Sales Division, Overseas Business Promotion Department, Star buyers auction )
Although shipping fees differ depending on the shipper, as a rough estimate, a 4 kg item often costs less than 20,000 JPY to ship. The weight of five average-sized bags is approximately 4 kg.
“We can address shipping related requests whenever a participant places a successful bid. The delivery charge mainly depends on the weight. We also handle detailed requests, such as giving priority to protecting goods with extra packing materials even if this will increase the weight slightly, or prioritizing weight to keep down shipping costs.”
Participants can also choose a more secure shipper, such as BRINKS or CENTURY, if they purchase a large number of items and want more security.
Q3: If I participate from outside Japan in an online auction, are the commission fees and other terms the same as in Japan?


Q4: How can I participate in an online auction as a seller?
STAR BUYERS AUCTION also receives inquiries about how to auction items and procedures from those who wish to participate in online auctions as sellers.
“Star Buyers Auction also accepts consignment items.
・Watches/Designer Jewelry/Jewelry/Bags: Items that can expect to receive bids exceeding ¥30,000
・Accessories: Items that can expect to receive bids exceeding ¥10,000
These are the standards for online auction listings.” ( Mayu Mizoguchi )
Star Buyers Auction provides support for sellers using a “simple listing” format.
“Many online auctions require sellers to create lists with item names and item information before auction. This is a major burden for those who auction many items. Star Buyers Auction will inspect the items, including checking serial numbers, and create a detailed item information list on behalf of the seller if the seller ships the items to us.”
When a consignment item auctioned at an online auction by a seller in Japan is successfully bid on by an international participant, the seller typically must handle paperwork for customs duties and such, whereas Star Buyers Auction also supports such requirements on behalf of the seller.
If you are concerned about using online auctions, please feel free to contact STAR BUYERS AUCTION at any time.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 many buyers stated that they had fewer opportunities to purchase offline and that they had made fewer purchases. Even those who had been concerned in the past about using the online auctions with which they were unfamiliar, are now increasingly using online auctions as a new opportunity for purchasing.” ( Ryota Kato )
Star Buyers Auction’s monthly transactions exceed ¥2 billion, thereby positioning the company as an online auction site that supports purchasing among buyers through stable auctioned item numbers and scale. Anyone who would like to participate should visit here to open an account. If you have any questions about opening an account, please contact Star Buyers Auction.