Mandarake - Mahn-dah-rah-kay, you're far from the first to make that mistake though.

I've been using SAL (the cheapest offer available) for some 10 years through various stores and have never lost a package. Usually takes around 2 weeks to arrive which I think is reasonable for the price.

Emerje

Oops! Sorry Mandarake owners!

So you would trust that with something close to $500? That's not track-able, right?

They use registered SAL which is trackable, but the compensation on loss is only like 6000 yen or around $75. On an item that valuable you're probably better off with DSL or EMS, not sure what the DSL compensation is, but I'm pretty sure there's no cap on EMS. I do know there's a lot of people that don't like DSL, but it's usually for the same reasons they don't like UPS or FedEx so that's no saying much. EMS ships through the mail and is very fast, only 3 to 5 days.

BTW I just noticed you tried to contact me, but it went to my junk mail. Would have gotten back to you if I'd seen it.

Emerje

Dude, DHL not DSL. It's a international courier service, much more reliable than EMS. EMS takes 3 days to get to me, but there was once I used DHL, paid Mandy at 5pm, and the box was on my work table the next morning before 11am. Crazy.

The Nakano branch has a special contract with DHL that makes it much cheaper than EMS. Feel free to ask them in the comments to give you multiple shipping quotes. I always do.

One thing to note: EMS or DHL are, from what I read, far more susceptible to import taxes. SAL packages may just pass customs unnoticed.

Oops, meant DHL. I guess I had internet provider commercials on the brain.

Emerje