Posted by Admin on 2/6/2025 to
(Update: 11:00 a.m. on July 6, 2025)
Please note that we have now shipped a few packages to the USA. As far as we know, no one has been charged, but shipments are now taking 10-15 days to clear US customs. This will add a significant delay to shipping times.
Please be sure to read the previous update below.
(Update: 4:00 p.m. on June 15, 2025)
U.S. Buyers - We are reopening shipping for orders up to $125 CAD, but please understand that you are BUYING AT YOUR OWN RISK! Most Japanese toys & collectibles are still made in China, so you may be subject to SUBSTANTIAL tariff charges when you receive your order! WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHARGES YOU MAY RECEIVE.
After several developments in the past few weeks, it seems there are no real changes in the tariff situation. There is still no mention of tariffs on the Canada Post or USPS websites regarding orders shipped from Canada to the USA. We have been monitoring reddit and have not seen any posts from U.S. buyers about being charged for shipments through the USPS. However this does not mean that you will not be charged some form of fee by someone (USPS or other U.S. government agency)! One thing we know for certain though; if we ship by courier such as UPS or FedEx, there will DEFINITELY be additional charges such as tariffs, brokerage & processing fees, taxes, etc. Therefore we are ONLY shipping by Canada Post's "Tracked Packet" service (ground shipping; "Delivery Duty Unpaid" or DDU), which will be delivered to you by the USPS.
We are limiting orders to $125 CAD for insurance purposes; however there are also size and weight limits for this shipping method of 2kg (4.4lbs) and a maximum shipping carton size of 90cm length + width + height.
(Update: 10:00 a.m. on May 14, 2025)
The U.S. government has announced a temporary reduction in tariffs of Chinese-made goods starting today. We are still pausing U.S. shipments as there are simply too many unknowns and conflicting information, as well as severe penalties for us if we make a mistake (up to $50,000 USD!!). Here's what we know (and don't know) so far:
- Tariffs apply to Chinese-made goods no matter what country they are shipping from (most Japanese-branded toys & collectibles are still made in China!). We are required to submit country of origin, manufacturer info, value, and detailed description with 10-digit HTS code for all items shipped.
- The tariff has been reduced to 30% for importers using couriers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. These methods typically also charge high brokerage and other processing fees, which can be VERY costly!
- The tariff for postal shipments (delivery by USPS) will be charged a 54% tariff on goods under $800 USD, most likely with additional processing/bond fees (usually another $10 in Canada, so probably something similar in the U.S.).
- Some news outlets are reporting that the USPS will charge the tariff and related fees; others are reporting the USPS will NOT be charging the tariffs and related fees, but rather a different government body. If they don't charge you when you receive your package, you might receive an invoice at a later date charging you the fees (which is what couriers like FedEx & UPS typically do).
- What concerns us most is a statement that postal shipments will charge the 54% tariff OR a flat $100 USD fee. There is no further explanation other than it is up to the USPS or possibly U.S. customs to decide which one. There is no information available that clarifies this (such as whichever amount is lesser or greater, etc.). So could you be charged a $100 USD fee for a $5 item? We don't know, and neither does anyone else apparently.
- Frustratingly, as far as we can tell, the USPS, Canada Post, FedEx, and UPS have said NOTHING about the tariffs and related fees you will be charged. We are monitoring websites such as Reddit, hoping someone in the U.S. will share their experience paying these tariffs, but as of this writing have not seen anything.
(Update: 8:00 p.m. on May 1, 2025)
Please note that we will temporarily be pausing US sales since tariffs affecting US buyers are expected to go into effect tonight at midnight. Due to potential extremely high costs with couriers such as UPS and FedEx, and complications with our USPS shipping service, we will be forced to use Canada Post. Buyers would be required to pay the tariffs to the USPS when they receive their orders. Since most Japanese toys and collectibles are still made in China, the tariffs could be substantial. Since no one really seems to know what is going to happen tomorrow or if the tariffs will actually go into effect, we will update with info as it becomes available.
(Update: 6:00 p.m. on April 4, 2025)
Good news! Once again the tariffs have been postponed (until May 2nd), so U.S. buyers will NOT be charged when they receive shipments from us. We will continue to ship by postal services ONLY due to issues with couriers such as UPS.
(Update: 7:00 a.m. on March 29, 2025)
We are expecting another round of tariff confusion beginning on Wednesday, April 2nd. US customers please get orders in by 2pm eastern time on Monday, March 31 to clear the border in time. As with early February, we are expecting extreme chaos, confusion, and delays on the US side if tariffs are implemented. We are no longer shipping US orders by UPS due to extreme delays and customers incorrectly being charged. We will use Canada Post/USPS, but unfortunately we have had to remove the free shipping option due to higher shipping costs with these methods. We have also implemented a $500 CAD limit per order for insurance purposes.
(Update: 10:00 a.m. on March 4, 2025)
For now orders shipped to the USA will be safe from tariffs, as the U.S. government has stated that the current Section 321 "de minimis" will remain in place. This means that orders under 800 USD will not be charged. It would appear there is still no system in place to collect the tariffs on these lower-value shipments on the U.S. side, so the crisis has been averted for now.
(Update: 7:00 a.m. on March 2, 2025)
The U.S. government will begin charging tariffs on Canadian imports as well as products made in China on Tuesday, March 4th. Orders placed by 10am eastern time on Monday, March 3rd, will be carried over the border same-day to beat the tariffs. Starting Tuesday, we expect the same chaos on the U.S. side that we saw earlier in the month. Expect delays in shipments, and we do not know how the tariffs will be collected. It is a common misconception that the sending/manufacturing country pays the tariff; this is incorrect. The buyer/importer/recipient pays the tariff and will most likely be charged by the carrier upon delivery (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.). At this time we do not know if all Canadian shipments will be charged, or just products made in Canada. We do not know if the tariffs will be layered (i.e. a 25% Canada tariff AND a 20% tariff for all goods made in China).
We will post information as it comes in, but for now get those orders in before 10am eastern on Monday!
(Update: 10:00 a.m. on February 10, 2025)
Good news, the US government has paused plans to add tariffs to imported products (for now...). Please note that due to the chaos of last week, US-bound orders are experiencing delays crossing the border.
(Update: 6:00 p.m. on February 7, 2025)
We are receiving word that the US may be delaying the implementation of tariffs on Chinese-made goods, due to the utter chaos it has caused and the fact that there's no system in place to process and collect the tariffs. For US orders that shipped this week, there will still most likely be a delay of several days at the border in customs.
Thanks for your patience and we will continue to provide updates!
Please note that this is an evolving situation; we will continue to update this page as we learn more.
Due to new rules imposed by the U.S. government, orders going to the USA may be charged tariffs on delivery. Here's what we know:
- For now, the proposed 30% tariff on Canadian imports has NOT come into effect (yay!)
- HOWEVER, the USA is possibly adding tariffs to all goods made in China, which, in the toy industry, is almost everything everywhere!
- We do not yet know the amount of the tariff, which will potentially be anywhere from 0%-30% (we are hoping toys will continue to be exempt!)
- Furthermore, it seems the "de minimis" exemption no longer applies to Chinese-made goods (i.e., previously only shipments valued over $800 USD were taxed)
The current situation this week:
- It seems that couriers, postal systems, government agencies, and the border, for both Canada and the USA, were unprepared for this
- There may be delays to shipments (especially from the postal system) while means are put in place to calculate and collect tariffs
- In theory this tariff will be applied to all incoming shipments of Chinese-made products no matter where you buy from, whether it's Canada, Japan, China, etc.
- Remember, even AUTHENTIC Japanese toys & collectibles (like everything we sell) are still mostly made in China!
There is a lot of confusion on what tariffs are; they are a TAX on products levied by a government that is paid for by the CONSUMER, and will most likely be charged when you receive a shipment (or will be added into the price of new Chinese-made goods sold inside the USA).
This situation is very regrettable and will undoubtedly hurt our U.S. business; we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. As always, thank you for your continued support!