1. What is personal import / a forwarding service?

Personal import means ordering goods bought on Chinese EC sites directly to your home as an individual. A forwarding service is the option within that that handles "receiving the goods and shipping them to Japan" on your behalf. Let's sort out the difference from a sourcing / purchasing proxy.

1

Forwarding service

You buy yourself

You order the goods yourself and have the items delivered to a China warehouse, then forwarded to Japan. A simple structure where only the shipping fee applies.

Best for: Those who can shop on Chinese EC themselves, or know some Chinese
2

Purchasing proxy

Fully hands-off

Ordering, payment, receipt, inspection and shipping are all handled for you. No Chinese needed — you can proceed while consulting in Japanese.

Best for: Those unsure of Chinese, first-time importers, or those who want to buy multiple items together
3

Sourcing proxy (for companies)

Business

For retailers and EC operators — from finding suppliers to inspection and delivery. Proper invoices and delivery documents are also prepared.

Best for: Operators who want to stock Chinese goods in their own EC shop or retail store
POINT: If you "just want to try buying one item first," a purchasing proxy is the safe choice. Pick a service that handles even a single item and you won't go wrong.

2. How a forwarding service works (the process)

So it doesn't feel overwhelming the first time, here is the basic process in 5 steps.

STEP
1
Choose your item／Find what you want on Taobao, 1688, etc., and prepare the order details
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STEP
2
Order & payment／We place the order for you in Japanese; you pay the item price + commission
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STEP
3
Receive the goods／We consolidate and store multiple orders at our China warehouse
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STEP
4
Inspection & repacking／We check for damage or defects and repack for safe transport
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STEP
5
Ship to Japan／International delivery to your home; track arrival with the tracking number

3. Typical shipping costs

The thing people worry about most with personal import is shipping. It varies by delivery method and size. Typical estimates are below.

MethodTypical shipping (per ~1kg)Delivery timeFeatures
International EMS (express)¥3,000–4,5002–4 daysFast, tracked. For urgent orders
Air freight (express)¥2,000–3,5003–6 daysBalances cost and speed
ECMS (economy)¥1,500–2,5005–10 daysCheap. For non-urgent orders
Sea freight (SAL)¥800–1,5002–4 weeksCheapest but slow
Note: These are estimates. Actual cost varies with the item's size, weight and destination area. Always get a quote before shipping.

4. Taxes on personal imports

Actually, below a certain value, no tax applies. Keep the personal-import duty-free rule in mind.

Total (product price + shipping)Customs dutyConsumption tax
¥16,666 or lessDuty-freeDuty-free
¥16,667 and aboveRoughly 0–30% by item10% (national + local consumption tax)
POINT: Remember "if your purchase is ¥16,666 or less, tax is zero" — the psychological barrier to personal import drops dramatically.

5. Pitfalls of personal import & countermeasures

Here are the most common troubles and how to handle them.

1

Item arrived different from the image

Color or size mismatches versus the photos are a classic personal-import trouble.

Tip: confirm actual dimensions and material before buying; choose a proxy with an inspection option.
2

Defective goods / dead on arrival

Shipping damage and initial defects cannot be eliminated to zero.

Tip: check operation immediately upon arrival; contact the proxy early if there's a problem.
3

Received fakes / counterfeits

Beware of suspiciously cheap brand-name listings.

Tip: check seller ratings and sales track record; confirm the store is trustworthy.
4

Can't tell where the package is

Without a tracking number, "where is it now?" anxiety sets in.

Tip: choose tracked shipping and a service that sends notifications.

6. allallbuy forwarding support

allallbuy provides one-stop service: receipt in China, inspection, repacking, Japanese support and shipping to Japan. We handle even a single item.

7. FAQ

Personal import refers broadly to having goods bought on Chinese EC sites delivered to your home. A forwarding service specifically handles receiving the goods and shipping them to Japan. If you want even the purchasing done for you, a purchasing proxy is the safe choice.
Roughly ¥1,500–4,500 per parcel around 1kg. It varies by method (EMS, air freight, ECMS, sea freight) and size. Consolidating multiple items lowers the per-item shipping cost.
No. If the product price plus shipping totals ¥16,666 or less, both customs duty and consumption tax are duty-free. Above that, customs duty (roughly 0–30% by item) and a 10% consumption tax apply.
With a purchasing proxy, everything from choosing items to ordering and payment is completed in Japanese. allallbuy can be contacted on LINE and by email in Japanese.
Yes. allallbuy handles even a single item. Those who want to try just one item first can use the service with confidence.

8. Summary

Why not start with a consultation about forwarding & personal import from China?

Purchasing proxy and forwarding support from a single item. Quotes are free.

Free consultation See pricing