Shipping Rules for Catalog Show in Japan for US Buyers

[Candice]

Have a friend who just moved to Japan and she wants to have a catalog show, most of the people who would buy would be here in the states. What exactly are the rules on this? Tried looking in Policies and Procedures but didn't find exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks

 

[Sheila]

She can take orders from anyone in the states and any SOFA Status Personnel in Japan or other military bases around the world.She can not do ship to host. The military regulations prohibit us from accepting mail for others unless we are their official sponsor with orders in hand. She can not accept orders from the Japanese locals. We do not pay import taxes and it's considered the black market. Along with the shipping restrictions by the military, she would be facing charges with Japanese Customs. As long as she sticks to SOFA status for the military customers and direct shipping charges for the military customers, she's good to go!

 

[Candice]

So TPC can ship to her? Everybody else (in Japan) has to do direct shipping. Obviously people here in the States would have to do direct shipping. She said something about everything has to come Priority Mail, do you know what that's about?Thanks for your help Sheila

 

[BethCooks4U]

Have a friend who just moved to Japan and she wants to have a catalog show, most of the people who would buy would be here in the states. What exactly are the rules on this? Tried looking in Policies and Procedures but didn't find exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks

Is she (or her spouse) military? If not then she can't host. If so then follow Sheila's advice.

 

[Sheila]

As long as she has an APO/FPO address, TPC can & will mail to her. If she's in Japan on a work visa & does not fall under the Status of Forces Agreement (also known as SOFA Status) with a military mailing address, then no ... they will not send her products to a Japanese address via international mail.

Since she's mentioning Priority Mail, it sounds like she has military mail abilities. Priority Mail takes 7-10 days and is the preferred shipping method for all of us over here. Unfortunately, Pampered Chef cut back a couple of years ago & now ships Smart Post. She can expect it to take at least 2.5 weeks, possibly up to 4 weeks to arrive. If she hosts between mid Nov-Mid Jan, she's looking at 8-9 weeks on shipping due to the military's back log of boxes during that time frame. Anything done in the non-busy season that hasn't arrived in 6 weeks can be reported as lost in the mail & PC will re-ship the order. But if they see someone abusing the "lost" claims, they will assume that the person is being deceptive.

 

[Candice]

Thank you so much for your help, Sheila!! She is military (but I don't know what division) and wants to do a Spring show sometime, since she just moved.