Did a quick search and could find very few references to the buying service 'WorldShopping' on here. Does anyone have any feedback? In terms of pricing, they seem more reasonable than other buying services in Japan. TIA
No idea on pricing (I don't buy enough for it to be a determining factor anymore), but recall that they were the default intermediary service for a Secret Base collaboration that dropped a year or two back. There was a slight miscommunication (probably my error) but they seemed efficient and reliable, and obliged in marking the value down to avoid customs charges.
Cheers Andy; the mention of them on the Secret Base thread was the reference I could find but it is good to hear that you were happy with the service.
@Mr Fox — did you end up using the service? How did it go? I'm having a sort of lousy experience with them (to be fair, alongside with Zen Market) for taking days and days to make a purchase, and the pieces selling out. Coupled with nearly zero communication, and the barebones website — I'm a little nervous. I've requested my funds back, twice, and haven't heard anything. (It's also hard to accept seeing one semi-limited item linger in stock for around a week and neither of them could order it in time!)
I haven’t done anything about it because, after doing some digging, I know the item I wanted to get will end up in eBay if I am patient (not a soft vinyl toy). With that said, I couldn’t uncover a lot of info on WorldShopping, which left me feeling the way you do, uncertain of how professional they are. I hope you sort it out. As an aside, WSS are linked to, what appear to be, bricks and mortar shops, so I think that does give some credibility. Perhaps, like many fringe/hobby services, they are just offer poor communication and service I you sort it out
Thank you, and I hope you find what you originally wanted, too. You have a good point about it being linked to brick and mortars. I'd hope those same businesses are able to get some feedback as to how these services are with their customers, but that's probably a naive one.
If it helps, I was looking at the Steiff Booska - the Steiff JP web sites directs you to, what appears to be, a reputable shop to pre-purchase the Booska. The same site uses WorldShopping Service as their partner for overseas sales. As above, whilst not a rock solid recommendation, it does seem to suggest that they are reliable enough that 'proper' businesses use them to facilitate a service to clients. As an aside, if you get stuck, M-World are reliable but pricey. Or, if the item is on YJA, then Buyee are excellent and reliable.