How to find records in Japan (via the Internet)

[moonbeams]

One of the great advantages of record shopping in Japan is the available selection that results from a lack of knowledge/interests in foreign music + lack of demand for records (great used market). The obvious disadvantage is the price, imports are expensive because of shipping and exporting is also costly to the buyer.

I don't have much free time, but in this thread I will occasionally list record shops that sell internationally. Later, I will update this thread with copy & paste Japanese you can use to communicate with record shops via email.

Here are a few sites that you can order from. I'll update this later, I'm busy now.

http://www.donsrecords.com/

http://natrecords.shop-pro.jp/

http://www.soundfinder.jp/

If you live in Japan, auctions.yahoo.jo.jp is a treasure trove alternative to eBay. I don't think it would be possible to pay for items without a Japanese bank account. PayPal hasn't caught on here yet.

I will update this later this weekend.

[endlessslog]

there are services that will allow anyone to bid on yahoo japan auctions. i've been doing it for years. after paying the fees plus extra postage involved though, it's only worth it to buy items that are virtually impossible to find elsewhere.

[moonbeams]

It must be an expensive service.

On yahoo auctions, we have to pay things that eBay doesn't do:

buyer must pay $5 per month to buy an item with more than $60.

buyer must pay a percentage fee to electronically send money (opposite of PayPal fee!)

No listing fee, no relishing fee for sellers. (I think)

[moonbeams]

Gain access to yahoo auctions:

http://www.private-import-japan.com/