Shipping without EMS from Japan-is it a disaster?...

[Fudoh]

My understanding of this is that not all SAL packages are "registered" and thus not all are trackable. Registered SAL is my shipment method of choice, as it offers a nice balance of track-ability, speed, and value (I'm in the US). The only downfall is that it has a 2kg weight limit.

this is something I never understood. There are so many eBay sellers out there which just don't offer SAL for anything over 2kg. I've certainly received (and sent myself) several dozen SAL shipments from Japan, with contents ranging from 5 to 20kg. The parcels have always been trackable and there's hardly a difference to using the much more expensive Airmail service instead. SAL parcels usually take around 8-10 days door to door (Japan to Germany).

[gabe]

My understanding of this is that not all SAL packages are "registered" and thus not all are trackable. Registered SAL is my shipment method of choice, as it offers a nice balance of track-ability, speed, and value (I'm in the US). The only downfall is that it has a 2kg weight limit.

this is something I never understood. There are so many eBay sellers out there which just don't offer SAL for anything over 2kg. I've certainly received (and sent myself) several dozen SAL shipments from Japan, with contents ranging from 5 to 20kg. The parcels have always been trackable and there's hardly a difference to using the much more expensive Airmail service instead. SAL parcels usually take around 8-10 days door to door (Japan to Germany).

Interesting. I stand corrected. After reading your post I decided to consult JapanPost myself. Apparently the 2kg misconception comes from the limit for an SAL parcel to qualify as a "small packet."

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/servic ... ng_en.html

[GaijinPunch]

My understanding of this is that not all SAL packages are "registered" and thus not all are trackable. Registered SAL is my shipment method of choice, as it offers a nice balance of track-ability, speed, and value (I'm in the US). The only downfall is that it has a 2kg weight limit.

this is something I never understood. There are so many eBay sellers out there which just don't offer SAL for anything over 2kg. I've certainly received (and sent myself) several dozen SAL shipments from Japan, with contents ranging from 5 to 20kg. The parcels have always been trackable and there's hardly a difference to using the much more expensive Airmail service instead. SAL parcels usually take around 8-10 days door to door (Japan to Germany).

There are two types of SAL and two types of Surface.

SAL Small Packet (up to 2kg, plus a size limit) and SAL.
Surface Snall Packet (same restrictions) and Surface Mail

Anything over 2kg requires a customs form. You can track based on this customs form, but not through the normal methods. I don't think all countries offer tracking online. It's also not insured without extra insurance. If you want anything under 2kg tracked, you need to pay an extra 410 for "kakitome". This yeilds the "RR" number, and again, is trackable but through a system different from EMS.

[nZero]

I once shipped a box of magazines with SAL back to my home in the states that took months to arrive, and when it finally did come it went to the university I was attending (not my home address as I had written on the package) in a different box, and was filled with a few of the magazines I had sent plus a bunch of Hamburger Helper and photos from someone's trip to Japan.

You got free Hamburger Helper? Lucky! Time to start using SAL more often.

[DrTrouserPlank]

Using SAL to the UK from Japan/china I get packages within 5 days. This is usually quicker than airmail which tends to take 7-10 days.

If your country charges import duty or other taxes, using more "premium" trackable delivery methods tends to increase the chances of your package being caught for taxes because the parcels have to be scanned for tracking, and are probably assumed to be of higher value and are lower quantity so more likely to be inspected.

[Fudoh]

Anything over 2kg requires a customs form. You can track based on this customs form, but not through the normal methods.

SAL parcels are trackable in the our (german) DHL system once they leave Japan. That's probably different from country to country.

[GaijinPunch]

Anything over 2kg requires a customs form. You can track based on this customs form, but not through the normal methods.

SAL parcels are trackable in the our (german) DHL system once they leave Japan. That's probably different from country to country.

Yep, pretty sure it is.