New Proxy Service?

[chantheman]

i got this email from the daily emails that i get since ordering from 2nd. this one caught my eye (mainly cause it was in english) but did anyone else get this email about a new rakuten proxy service?

Proxy Shopping Services Launched！【楽天国際配送ニュース】（2008/10/09）

Welcome to Rakuten Ichiba,

the largest online shopping mall in Japan

Promotion on Proxy Shopping Services

Proxy Shopping Services have just launched for overseas customers to shop at Rakuten easily.

All the items at Rakuten except Prohibited and Restricted goods are basically covered under this service.

It is easy to order and we accept PayPal.

Celebrating the launch, we are going to offer special discounts on Proxy Shopping Services fee.

Don't miss this chance! Please visit here for details.

楽天国際配送事務局からキャンペーンのお知らせです！

国際配送商品以外の商品も海外から購入したい、

複数ショップからの商品をまとめて海外に発送したい、

との高まる要望に応えまして、海外まとめてポン！

（お買い物代行サービス）を開始致しました。

今般、海外まとめてポン！開始記念と致しまして、

以下の通り、ご利用手数料割引キャンペーンを

実施致します。

　(1)ご利用手数料、通常１商品980円のところを500円に割引！

　(2)一括発送サービスご利用手数料、通常500円を無料！

是非この機会に、楽天の新しいサービスをお試し下さい。

詳しくはこちらから

Notes for Proxy Shopping Services How to Shop Fees Notices Terms and Conditions Questions

Didn’t find items you want at Rakuten International Shipping website?

We can order them at other Rakuten Ichiba shops and arrange international shipments for you. You can consolidate multiple items from different shops and save on shipping charges.

Easy and convenient!

Enjoy shopping at Rakuten Ichiba, the largest online shopping mall in Japan!

・Following items are not handled under Rakuten Proxy Shopping Services:

　- Prohibited and Restricted Goods in destination countries.

　- Refrigerated foods (e.g. raw, frozen, or chilled items).

　- Items not accepted by delivery companies.

・Items will be shipped by air.

・We accept payments only by PayPal at this time.

Step 1

Please select your favorite items at Rakuten Ichiba shops.

Step 2

Please fill in the Order Form and send to us. We will send you an email with Product Amount (item price plus delivery charge from shops to Rakuten) and handling charge.

Step 3

Please pay 1st Payment by PayPal.　After our confirmation of your 1st payment, we will order items at Rakuten Ichiba shops according to your order form.

Step 4

Once ordered items arrive at Rakuten, we will measure and weigh items and send you an email with international shipping charge. If an option for 'Consolidated Shipping' is selected, international shipping charge will be emailed after all ordered items arrive at Rakuten.

Step 5

Please pay international shipping charge, payment fees by PayPal (2nd Payment). After our confirmation of 2nd payment, we will ship items and send you an email with package tracking numbers.

Step 1 ～ Step 3

Step 4 ～ Step 5

Fees

(1) Handling Charge JPY980 per item ordered (for multiple quantity, up to 10 units per item)

(2)　Consolidated Shipping Fee (Option) JPY 500 per shipment

(3) Payment Fee (1st Payment) 5% of total Product Amount, plus (1) Handling Charge and (2) Consolidated Shipping Fee (Option)

(4) International Shipping Charge See Shipping Rates

*Rakuten will select the best delivery method based on your order; e.g. number of products, types of products, country of destination, and applicable shipping charges. We will notify you about the shipping charges accordingly.

(5)　Payment Fee (2nd Payment) 5% of (4) International Shipping Charge

（Example 1） Order two items with an option for consolidated shipping

{ Product Amount (item price plus delivery charge from shops to Rakuten) + JPY980 x 2 + JPY 500 } x 1.05

2nd Payment = International Shipping Charge x 1.05

（Example 2） Order three items without an option for consolidated shipping

1st Payment = { Product Amount (incl. delivery charge to Rakuten) + JPY980 x 3 } x 1.05

2nd Payment = (International Shipping Charge for 1st item x 1.05) +

　　　　　　　　　 (International Shipping Charge for 2nd item x 1.05) +

　　　　　　　　　 (International Shipping Charge for 3rd item x 1.05)

Notices

※ We accept payments only by PayPal. For questions, please check at PayPal website.

※ We can ship items to countries not covered in the Shipping Rates Table. Please ask

　　shipping rates by email.

※ For Rakuten membership holders, ‘Rakuten Super Point' will not be granted for the

　　Proxy Shopping Services.

【Prohibited and Restricted Goods】

Prohibited and restricted goods cannot be handled by our service. Please check details here.

【Customs Duty and Other Taxes】

Customs duty and other taxes may be levied when a shipment reaches your country. If applicable, please pay those costs directly to the delivery agents or the customs office. Policies on those taxes vary in each country. Please contact the customs office at your country for more details.

【Returns, Cancellations and Purchases】

We don't accept item returns. If items are shipped back to Rakuten due to customer reasons, such as non-delivery and non-payment of customs duty and taxes, all costs will be charged to the customer.

We will cancel your order if we don't receive payment for international shipping (2nd Payment) , within one week from the date of our payment request.

A cancellation charge of JPY3,000 plus any fees incurred as a result from the order cancellation shall be deducted from the 1st Payment received and the remaining balance will be returned to the customer's PayPal account.

Before your place your order, please confirm the following: content, description, model number, specifications, size, color and quantity of items. We are not liable for any errors that result from an incorrect order received from you.

【Loss of Items and Damages to Items During Shipping】

Lost and damages will be compensated if covered by insurance. Customers are responsible for all insurance costs. Details will be available in an email with International Shipping Charge if requested. If the items are uninsured, losses and damages will be compensated according to the delivery company's applicable terms and conditions.

【Item Sold-Out or Item Price Change】

If the requested item is sold out or the price of the item has changed after we receive your order, we will accept a request to substitute the order or reimburse you the amount of the item.

Customers are responsible for any additional fees incurred as a result of the substitute order.

※The information herein is as of October 9, 2008. Please note that some of the items herein may be subject to price change and unavailability.

This free email newsletter has been sent to customers who have once used Rakuten services and registered users.

Click here to change the registered information or unsubscribe.

[Remarks] Please type your email address registered and push the light grey button on the page.

You will receive an email from us to change of the registered information and unsubscribe.

This email newsletter has been sent from an email account with no reception capability. Please send your inquiry to the following email address if any.

Please send your inquiry to the following email address if any.　[email protected]

Personal information will be handled according to our privacy policy. (Japanese only)

[adrian]

5% proxy fee sounds good, but then you only start to save money when your order is over $150 CAD/US (compared to Hide's service), because of the 980 yen charge. Plus Hide will mark down your package value if you request it.

Having another proxy option is nice though