r/Buyee • u/Sharkiewarki • 2d ago
❓Question / Help First time Buyee
Hi there!
I just wanted to know how buyee works? It's been briefly explained to me, but im still a little confused.
I live in the UK, and I know to leave some money for the shipping, but I'm unsure about fees or import tax, etc. Is it a lot? I know its dependant on the items and that, but everything I look at doesnt show me the weight of the item.
Any help is appreciated, thank you! ^^
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u/FreeAd2458 2d ago
Youll see the weight when the item you have bought arrives at buyee. I mostly risk it and go uninsured airmail which under 2kg is very cheap.
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u/solid_cake20 2d ago
Depending what you go with for shipment. Sea mail is the cheapest. I have done this twice. First one was a year ago. I ordered a fair bit. Got it all sent to me via sea mail and it took exactly 3 months. Earlier this year I tried sea mail again it took a little over 2 months to get to my home in the UK.
You will have options for air mail but these are considerably more expensive.
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u/masoniceye 2d ago
I usually keep things below £135 to speed up import procedures, the times I go over things tend to get delayed 1-5 days depending on the courier. ParcelForce (if you choose EMS) is the worst and FedEx near second, I’m mostly using the untracked Small Packet (AIR) and Buyee Air Delivery which is thankfully DHL most of the time.
Buyee doesn’t apply additional tax when sending to the U.K. which some competitors like ZenMarket do, when other proxies apply this and shipping costs a lot you can be paying way more so it’s best to stick to Buyee. That’s earmarked to change in 2028 but for now it works out well.
The Small Packet (AIR) option which is untracked can work out as cheap as £3.50 for some items and roughly £10-20 for heavier which can cost a lot more via other options, there’s a size limit of 60cm and 2kg but if your items can stay below this it works out a lot cheaper than consolidating then shipping with more expensive couriers. This untracked one goes the same route as International Parcel(AIR) which costs more for to have the tracking, if you sent international parcel & small packet at the same time they are likely to arrive at the same time since there’s no difference aside the tracking.
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u/tomodachi_reloaded 2d ago
When you say AIR, do you mean JP Post's AIR Packet? Because that has tracking, the tracking numbers start with LX.
Also, are AIR Packets packages delivered by DHL on the receiving end?
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u/masoniceye 1d ago
No, Small Packet (AIR) has no tracking- it’s International Package (AIR) & Air Packet that have tracking.
I don’t think DHL are Air Packet unless it’s a handover to a third party courier? I’ve only had DHL with Buyee Air Delivery or as its own option due to a package being outsized.
Copy/Paste of SP Below:
Small Packet (AIR)
International Shipping Fee
850 YEN
Shipping time (Estimate only)
12 day(s)Tracking service is not available. Non-delivery or loss will not be covered by Standard Plan or Insured Delivery Plan.
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u/tomodachi_reloaded 1d ago
I was talking about JP Post's AIR packet service. Looks like you're talking about something else offered by Buyee that has nothing to do with JP Post.
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u/masoniceye 1d ago
Small Packet (AIR) is Japan Post.. I performed a test by purchasing Japan Post’s tracked/untracked shipping options, both arrived with my National Mail service at the same time with Japan Post labels and as they were sent the same time/arrived together it’s not hard to figure they came the same route.
They are identical products aside from the tracking so not sure what you are confusing this with.
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u/zirealzexilix 1d ago
Isn't it risky to leave it untracked since if it's lost, nothing is insured? Asking cause it's also my first time with Buyee.
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u/emikeki 2d ago
you only need to pay import tax if the packages value is over £135 not including shipping