Recent JP vs USA pricing, is it worth it?

For those of you in the US who order from the Japanese site, do you still find the Japanese prices to be better even including the shipping and tariff and such? Is it worth buying from Japan instead? My sis is hoping to purchase her first DD but we're wondering what's better considering the JP prices are over $100 cheaper. But if after the shipping and such it's about the same, then she may as well order from the US store. I have no clue what the tariffs are right now. So if others could weigh in, it would be super helpful. Thanks!

It's a bit more with tariffs and fees, depending on how much and what you're ordering.  The US store will be simpler, and their doll will get there quicker, but if there's something that's only in the JP it's not THAT much more expensive.  My advice would be, if it's in the US store, start there, if it's only in the JP store, get it there.  

Just a quick example based off my last order.  I had a small order of three items, and the total came to 72.71 out the door with shipping.   But then it hit customs and that was another 26ish bucks.  So 98 all said and done.  The same items from Volks USA would've been 81.19 total, but weren't available.  So I paid 17ish bucks more at the end of it all, not the end of the world, but still unfortunate.  One of the things was sold out here, so I'm not too mad about it, after market would've been harder to deal with.  

Volks Japan uses DHL to the USA. DHL charges $17.50 in brokerage fees. There's a regulatory fee that varies, but is usually a few dollars. Then you have the actual tariff which is 12.5% currently to import from Japan into the USA.  You also pay for the actual shipping cost as well. 

I buy from Volks Japan to get dolls earlier or items they have that the USA site doesn't. 

 

DHL has been good to me, but your experience may vary. Download their mobile app and setup your account. 

Edited September 11 by ThatSubaru86

DHL charges you more per item if you have more than five items in your package (it's in their rules somewhere).

Hm ok, thanks for the tips! Looks like it may not be super worth it right now then. I'll let her know what you all said and then she can decide for herself.