Considerable bonus points for Japonica; they don’t cheap out packaging, even with small items. I got this wrapped in a fair-sized box via airmail. I won it on Mbok for a dime even with fees, but I’m still looking for the perfect match. Sleeping Alice, where are you?

I was really surprised to find the bear! Maybe this is an apology for missing my deposit the first time? I’m not sure but it’s a super sweet thought and an awesome method of wooing customers.

I spent most of the break playing Skyward Sword and working on a petticoat. Productivity.

japonica - a shopping service review

As the enabler of my deadly sins, Japonica Market is solely responsible for allowing me to commit heinous crimes against wallets across the nation. He also left me with a crippling Mbok and Y!Auctions addiction.

Timeline

Feb 22: My first order is sent to Japonica for a dream dress on Mbok with buy it now. I am billed the same hour.

Feb 25: I put an order for bambi fur on Rakuten and am billed the same day.

Feb 27 ~ 28: I spy two more items on Yahoo Auctions starting cheap, and I ask Japonica to bid for me. I continue to lose both auctions.

Feb 29: I head back to Mbok and proceed to bid/win on one more dress, with money from my last failures.

March 1: At the last moment, I spy an ultimate and rare dream dress on Mbok and immediately request Japonica to buy it now.

March 5: Everything has finally shipped to their Tokyo office, and I’m billed the shipping fees.

March 7: My order is shipped and I’m given my tracking number. I chose EMS due to the weight and quantity of my order.

March 12: My order passes customs and arrives at my home!

Ordering: 5/5
As far as I can tell, Japonica is run by one person, Yoshiyuki, and his job is to provide a shopping service to a number of Japanese shopping sites. He operates over emails with each individual customer about their orders and bids, so it’s easy to contact him when you have questions, and he responds nearly lightning speed during his working hours. His email method is a little cluttered, but he’s very meticulous about what you order. He will actually check on the quality and confirm with you if something is missing or stained and if you still want to bid on it. Fabulous customer service, and the ease of bidding and ordering is well worth his commission fees.
As a note, I would stick to buying items worth above 5,000 yen. His fees start getting disporportionally steeper the more inexpensive your item is.
On another tangent, this is my first time using Mbok, and I have to say, between Mbok and Y!Auctions, I’m in love. There’s just so much more to look through than the egl_comm_sales. I favor Mbok, though, mostly because I’m still a little buttmad over losing everything (including the original IW fawn collar) on Y!Auctions.

Shipping: 5/5
My order was held in customs a few days longer than normal, which I think is because Japonica marks your package full price, but also sends it marked as a gift. This will cover your wallet if the package is lost. I’m lucky to say that I wasn’t too worried over customs fees. America is probably the most lenient country when it comes to that.

Packaging: 5/5
While Japonica’s box wasn’t mummy-wrapped in tape, inside everything was cuddled within bubble wrap and every individual item was in a plastic bag. The box was roomy enough, which I really like, and it came pretty much worn but unmolested. No complaints with Japonica from me, only for those folks who outbidded me, but I suppose it was for the better…

Nope, still miffed.