Options to Insure Shipment to Japan

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gdi

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I decided to send my R-D1 to get serviced in Japan via Bellamy Hunt to get everything checked before they stop servicing them (and maybe they will adjust the underexposing meter!) I want to insure it with an insurer other than the shipper. Any suggestions on a reliable 3rd party insurance provider? One that pays claims without a hassle?

Thanks!
 
I use EMS gov't postal to/ from Korea and the rest of the world w/ never a hitch, except for one sticky-fingered postal carrier here. When we got the signed receipt (an EMS feature) from the PO (it wasn't my signature), he coughed up the cash ASAP to cover the vintage watch rather than lose his job. I threatened to go to the police. EMS is fast, has tracking and is insured. I swear by it.

P.S--it's about one half the cost of Fed Ex, etc.
 
If you are really worried about it, send it by Fedex or priority mail from the USPS. Insurance is included up to a certain amount, and additional insurance is available for a small extra fee. I have shipped many packages to Japan, some very valuable, and have never had a delay or lost package.
 
About Fedex or USPS.... have them pack it! Take it to depot, buy their box, have them verify the serial number and get them to pack it because if it gets busted due poor handling they cannot comeback and say your packing was inadequate!
 
gdi said:
I decided to send my R-D1 to get serviced in Japan via Bellamy Hunt to get everything checked before they stop servicing them (and maybe they will adjust the underexposing meter!) I want to insure it with an insurer other than the shipper. Any suggestions on a reliable 3rd party insurance provider? One that pays claims without a hassle?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've been thinking of sending mine in also before they stop servicing them. Could you enlighten me on the process, meaning do you just send it and get a quote?

TIA.
 
Thanks for the tips. I will probably send it USPS international Priority Mail. I prefer FedEx, but they are very expensive in comparison.

The reason I want to insure separately is that the broker requested a low valuation (and "for repair" designation) to prevent customs charging duty on it like an import. I am afraid it could cause problems if the customs form has a different value than the shipper's insured value.
 
If you send it USPS Express Mail International, it should get to them quicker, and if you make a notation on the Customs Form as being 'for repair', they should not charge any kind of importation fee. In box #5 of the Customs Form (CP72), you could check 'Other' when describing the contents, they perhaps write 'for repair and return' or something along those lines.
 
I would avoid FedEx since I have been twice charged US$30 for "import tax handling and fees" for the initial import of a US$ 430 lens and a second time for the replacement after sending the first back to KEH.

Everything being imported to Japan and of value > 10000JPY is due for import tax and VAT (5%). Optical lenses are excepted from import tax but VAT might have to be paid.

I have never paid for repaired cameras being sent back to Japan because I asked the repairman to include the shipping label from sending the camera out onto the package.

All in all I have paid fees in about 30% of the cameras or lenses bought outside of Japan, regardless of the value stated on the customs slip.
 
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