Sending packages to friends and family overseas has been not easy during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. I used to use The Express Mail Service (EMS) offered by Japan Post whenever I needed to ship goods from Japan to abroad since it seemed the best service in terms of the delivery fee and time. The pandemic has limited shipping options available, however, and increased the delivery fee and time. Many people now seek a solution for business and personal shipping from Japan.
I would like to share my personal experience of using the shipping service by BE FORWARD and how I saved time and money.
EMS shipping rate rising after the COVID-19 pandemic
During the pandemic, sending goods by EMS was limited to many countries such as the UK, Australia, China, and the United State. As of October 5th, 2022, the service is still not available for the following countries:
Canada, India, Brazil, UAE, Iceland, Guam, Austria, Cambodia, Saipan, Kuwait, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Czech, Chile, Denmark, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Hungary, Fiji, Finland, Poland, Portugal, Myanmar, Laos, Rwanda, Senegal, Russia, Romania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Botswana, Peru, Venezuela, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brunei, Puerto Rico, Bhutan, Bahrain, Trinidad and Tobago, Solomon Island, Slovenia, Slovakia, Syria, Croatia, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Uruguay, Ecuador, El Salvador.
Find the updated info on the Japan Post page.
In July 2020, Japan Post finally resumed shipping by EMS to some countries such as the UK, Australia, and China. The shipping rate, however, has virtually increased. For example, the shipping rate of a 3kg package to the United States has increased from JPY5,900 to JPY10,300 since June 2022. In the case of the 30kg package, the rate has increased from JPY42,600 to JPY 75,100. The rate is almost doubled. Here is the latest delivery fee by EMS if you would like to check.
What about Private Shipping Services?
The alternative shipping methods to EMS are private services such as Yamato Transport, Sagawa Express, Nippon Express, DHL, and FedEx. The good things about the private shipping services are fast shipping and its tracking system. On the other hand, the shipping rate is relatively high, so it may not be the best option to save costs.
Best way to ship goods from Japan- What I chose.
If you are looking for a reliable shipping service at a low cost, I recommend the service by BE FORWARD. BE FORWARD offers the service both by air and shipment. Different sizes of goods are accepted, both small parcels like a mobile phone and big ones like a car. Also, BE FORWARD offers shipping services to more than 200 countries and areas.
Why I Chose BE FORWARD
Here are some points I looked at when I compared the different shipping services:
Cost
Here is the comparison of the estimated shipping rates
| Destination | BE FORWARD‘s shipping rate | Other common private shipping services’ rate | EMS (New Rate from June 2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Kansas) | JPY 5,000 | JPY 17,000 (You save JPY 12,000 with BE FORWARD) | JPY 6,600 (You save JPY 1,600 with BE FORWARD) |
| Australia (Melbourne) | JPY 5,000 | JPY 16,000 (You save JPY 11,000 with BE FORWARD) | JPY 5,550 (You save JPY 550 with BE FORWARD) |
After comparing the several services and looking at how much I can save, I chose BE FORWARD.
The payment was easy as well. Bank transfers, Credit cards, and PayPal are accepted.
Speed
In my case, I used the shipment by air and it took 3 days for my friend in Kansas to receive the parcel and 4 days in Melbourne after I sent them using BE FORWARD’s shipping service.
Traceability
I received notifications by email for each step, from “Shipment Picked Up”, “Customs Clearance Processing Complete in Japan”, “Customs Clearance Processing Complete in Destination Country “, “With Delivery Courier” to “Shipment Delivered”. You will rest assured with all the tracking information when you use BE FORWARD’s shipping service. (The notifications may depend on the shipment by air or container)
Why BE FORWARD can ship goods at a low cost?
BE FORWARD is a leading exporter of used cars to more than 200 countries and areas. Since a large number of cargos are exported by BE FORWARD, the shipping rate is much lower than when you ship goods personally. BE FORWARD has a business contract with several shipping services, so it can offer the best solution for your goods to be shipped at an affordable cost. If you need to know more details, visit BE FORWARD’s shipping service or ask for a quote.
How to Get a Quotation from BE FORWARD
Simply go to BE FORWARD’s inquiry form, and fill in the details of the item(s) you would like to send, the destination, and your details to get a free quote. The quote will be sent to you within a few business days (I received a quote within a few hours, but it depends on the type of the item). Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an English page, but you can receive the quote and the other info in English if you need it.
The followings are the details you will need to fill in:
- Item (s)
- Size (L x W x H) in cm
- Weight
- Number of Package(s) or Item(s)
- Remark or Question (If you have any)
- Destination Country
- Delivery Address
- Type of Sender (Business or Personal)
- Corporate Name (In case of Business)
- Sender’s Name
- Sender’s Address (Prefecture, City, House Number, etc.)
- Sender’s Phone Number
- Sender’s Email Address
