Tenso: Advantage of Using a Forwarding Service

I decided to use a forwarding service to purchase a photo book from Japan instead of buying straight to Amazon Japan. Two reasons behind it is (1) It's way more cheaper and (2) Tenso forwarding service provides Japanese address for users so you can buy Japanese items online with ease. For this post, I'll be sharing the advantages and disadvantages of using a forwarding service.

I decided to buy Daisuke Hirakawa's photo book at Amazon Japan. It's original price is ¥3700 (around Php 1,600) (tax included). Since I don't have a bigger budget, I decided to buy the used one which cost me at around ¥2556 (around Php 1,100) only. But I got a problem: the one who sells the cheaper book doesn't cater international shipping (to be shipped here in the Philippines). While the brand new ones cater shipping internationally, the total price with fee is like buying 2 books already.

I decided to register using Tenso Forwarding Service and used it to be able to buy the photo book. And after 8 days, the book is on my hands now! It saves me a lot of money but it do have some disadvantages of using it.

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Price comparison: Brand New book straight from Amazon Japan vs. Brand New book using Tenso forwarding service

If you buy the book (brand new) using Amazon Japan (AmazonGlobal International Shipping), the price will be around ¥7130. It will be yours at around 3-6 days. The process will be:

• The photo book will be from Amazon Japan warehouse itself.
• After the order and processing of payment, expect your item after 3-6 business days (via EMS).
• Total price:  ¥7130 (around Php 3,020)

If you buy the book (brand new) at Amazon Japan and decided to use Tenso Forwarding service as the shipper, the price will be around ¥5936. It will be yours at around 6-8 days. The process will be:

• The photo book will be from Amazon Japan warehouse itself.
• After the order and processing of payment, your item will be ship to your Tenso address at Tenso's warehouse. It will take 1-2 business days.
• After Tenso received the item and the buyer will pay the shipping payment, Tenso will process the item and prepare it to be shipped to your country. It will take 1-2 business day.
• Expect your item after 2-4 business days (via EMS).
• Total price:  (Amazon fee ¥3996 + Tenso Shipping fee ¥1940) = ¥5936
  (around Php 2,500)

◆ Advantage of using forwarding service: it saves you at around ¥1194 (around Php 500) in price.

◆ Disadvantage of using forwarding service: the shipping time is longer.

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Price comparison: Second-hand book from Amazon Japan vs. second-hand book using Tenso forwarding service

Buying a second-hand book is also another option. There are a lot of sellers at Amazon Japan who are selling the photo book in very good condition at half the price. Unfortunately, most of them don't cater international shipping so the only option left is to use a forwarding service.

I bought mine at ¥2556 (with free shipping anywhere from Japan).

If you buy the book (second-hand) from a seller at Amazon Japan and decided to use Tenso Forwarding service as the shipper, the price will be around ¥4496. It will be yours at around 6-8 days. The process will be:

• After you place the order and paid the item, Amazon Japan will get the item from the seller and will ship the item on your Tenso address. It will take around 2-3 business days.
• After Tenso received the item and the buyer will pay the shipping payment, Tenso will process the item and prepare it to be shipped to your country. It will take 1-2 business day.
• Expect your item after 2-4 business days (via EMS).
• Total price:  ¥4496 (around Php 1,900)

◆ Advantage of using forwarding service: You will be provided a Japanese address so if the item can't cater international shipping, it's easier to use a forwarding service.

◆ Disadvantage of using forwarding service: the shipping time is longer.

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If you wish to avoid paying more and be able to ship your item/s internationally, I would prefer using a forwarding service. As for my experience, using Tenso is very convenient and for my opinion is affordable. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to register and use Tenso forwarding service.

Do you have some experience using Tenso forwarding service? Share us your opinion at the comment section below! :)