How Does the Buyee – Buy Japanese Goods! App Work?
Buyee is a popular proxy shopping service that allows international customers to purchase products from Japanese online stores, including Yahoo! Japan Auctions, Mercari, Rakuten, and other Japanese e-commerce platforms. The service acts as a middleman, handling transactions, shipping, and customs procedures on behalf of buyers who cannot directly purchase from these websites.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how Buyee works, covering account setup, purchasing process, shipping options, fees, and tips for a smooth shopping experience.
1. Introduction to Buyee
Buyee is operated by Tenso, a well-known Japanese forwarding service. It specializes in helping overseas buyers access exclusive Japanese products, including anime merchandise, fashion, electronics, vintage items, and more. Many Japanese sellers do not ship internationally, so Buyee bridges this gap by providing a proxy buying and consolidation service.
Build with us
If you want to build a similar app
Share your ideas with us!
In the last five years, our focus on app development has driven over HK$3,000,000 in revenue for merchants.
Enter Your Maximum Bid (Buyee will automatically bid up to this amount).
Set Proxy Bidding (optional: Buyee can bid for you in the last minutes).
Wait for Auction to End – You’ll receive an email if you win.
C. Additional Fees to Consider
Buyee charges several fees:
Service Fee: ¥300–¥500 per item.
Payment Fee: 2.5%–5% of the item price.
Domestic Shipping: Some sellers charge shipping within Japan.
International Shipping: Calculated later based on weight and destination.
Always check the total estimated cost before confirming your purchase.
5. Payment Process
After placing an order, Buyee will:
Purchase the Item on Your Behalf (if it’s an auction, they’ll bid for you).
Send a Payment Request via email (if you didn’t pay upfront).
Confirm Payment (credit card, PayPal, or other methods).
Once payment is complete, the seller ships the item to Buyee’s warehouse.
6. Warehouse Processing & Consolidation
When your item arrives at Buyee’s warehouse:
Inspection & Storage: Buyee checks the item and stores it for up to 30 days (free).
Optional Services:
Photo Confirmation (¥500): Extra photos of the item.
Repackaging (¥1,000): Reduce package size to lower shipping costs.
Consolidation (free for first 30 days): Combine multiple orders into one shipment.
Shipping Notification: You’ll receive an email when the item is ready to ship internationally.
7. Choosing International Shipping
After your item is ready, you must select a shipping method:
Available Shipping Options:
EMS (Express Mail Service): Fast (3–7 days), tracked, but expensive.
DHL/FedEx: Premium courier service (3–5 days).
Surface Mail (Sea Mail): Cheapest but slow (1–3 months).
Air Mail: Mid-range speed (1–2 weeks).
Factors Affecting Shipping Costs:
Package Weight & Size (heavier/larger = more expensive).
Destination Country (shipping rates vary by region).
Customs & Duties (some countries impose import taxes).
Buyee provides a shipping calculator to estimate costs before finalizing.
8. Tracking & Receiving Your Package
Once shipped, you’ll receive a tracking number. You can monitor delivery via:
Buyee’s Dashboard
Courier’s Website (EMS, DHL, etc.)
If there are customs fees, you’ll need to pay them upon delivery (varies by country).
9. Handling Issues (Returns, Refunds, Disputes)
A. Item Not as Described
Contact Buyee support within 7 days of warehouse arrival.
Provide evidence (photos, seller’s misleading description).
Buyee may negotiate a refund (depends on seller policies).
B. Failed Auctions or Cancelled Orders
If you lose an auction, no payment is taken.
If a seller cancels, Buyee refunds your money.
C. Lost or Damaged Shipments
Contact Buyee with proof (photos, tracking info).
They may assist with insurance claims (if applicable).
10. Tips for Using Buyee Effectively
Compare Prices – Some items are cheaper on Mercari vs. Yahoo Auctions.
Use Consolidation – Save money by shipping multiple items together.
Check Seller Ratings – Avoid scams by buying from trusted sellers.
Estimate Total Costs – Include service fees, domestic shipping, and international shipping.
Be Aware of Prohibited Items – Some goods (weapons, certain electronics) can’t be shipped internationally.
11. Conclusion
Buyee is an excellent solution for international shoppers who want access to exclusive Japanese products. While the service comes with additional fees, its convenience, consolidation options, and customer support make it a reliable choice. By following this guide, you can navigate Buyee’s platform smoothly and enjoy hassle-free shopping from Japan.
Pricing · 5 tiers
App Development Costs & Features
We have prepared an approximate time and cost budget for you,<br/>enabling you to quickly launch the app to market and generate revenue within your budget.
Tier 01
20K - 40K
Simple Starter App (MVP)
~ 1 - 3 weeks
Displays information only (e.g., company information)
Simple, ready-to-use design
Only for Android
In one language (English or Chinese)
Tier 02
40K - 80K
Basic App with Key Features
~ 1 - 2 months
Payment Integration (e.g., Stripe)
Secure authentication (e.g., register, login)
Sends email updates (e.g., order confirmation)
Simple control panel for you to manage content (e.g., add products)
Tier 03Popular
80K - 140K
Enhanced App with More Features
~ 2 - 3 months
Customised design
Sends in-app notifications (e.g., order updates or promotions)
Supports up to 3 languages (e.g., English, Cantonese, Mandarin)
Advanced control panel to manage content and track activity
Tier 04
140K - 240K
Powerful Custom App
~ 3 - 4 months
Custom features for your needs
Tracks how users use the app and creates reports
Analyzes data to help you make smart decisions
Connects with other tools (e.g., marketing or delivery services)
Tier 05
240K or Above
Enterprise Custom App
~ 4 - 6 months
Smart AI features (e.g., personalized suggestions or chatbots)
Real-time updates (e.g., live inventory, instant user actions)
Handles thousands of users with lightning-fast performance
Seamlessly connects with tools like social media, analytics, or CRM
Works on both iOS and Android
Staff accounts with different access levels (e.g., manager vs. staff)
Permission settings to control which pages customers can view or use (e.g., restrict certain features to specific users)
Detailed control panel for managing everything
Advanced control panel with powerful reports to boost your business