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FAQ

Important Information About VAT & Import Taxes

Since July 1, 2021, the European Union introduced new VAT regulations for e-commerce purchases from outside the EU.

For orders shipped to EU countries:

  • Orders up to 150 EUR – VAT is generally calculated and paid during checkout, which means the shipment should not be subject to additional VAT charges upon delivery.
  • Orders above 150 EUR – VAT, customs duties, and any applicable fees are collected during customs clearance or upon delivery by the local postal operator or customs authority.

Please note that additional postal or administrative fees may still apply depending on local regulations.

If there are any future changes in our system regarding VAT payments, we will inform our customers immediately.

For more details, please check this page: Information for customers from EU

WABI-SABI STORE FAQ – Buying Japanese Products Online

Taxes & VAT
Payment
Shipping
Orders & Returns
Japanese Cosmetics
United States
France
Norway & Sweden

Depending on the order value and local regulations, customers in Poland and other European Union countries may be asked to pay VAT, customs duties, and postal or handling fees related to customs clearance and delivery.

Yes. Orders shipped from Japan may be subject to VAT, customs duties, or other import charges depending on the destination country. For orders shipped to European Union countries with a product value of up to 150 EUR, VAT is generally collected at checkout. For orders above 150 EUR, VAT and other charges are usually collected during customs clearance or upon delivery.

For customers from the United States, please check the "United States" section.

For orders shipped to European Union countries with a product value of up to 150 EUR, VAT is generally calculated and paid during checkout. The VAT amount is shown in the order summary before payment is completed.

For European Union orders up to 150 EUR, VAT is generally collected at checkout. For orders above 150 EUR, and for orders shipped outside the European Union, VAT is not charged at checkout and may instead be collected during customs clearance or upon delivery.

For orders above 150 EUR, VAT is not collected at checkout. VAT, customs duties, and any additional charges are calculated by the customs authorities of the destination country and must be paid during customs clearance or upon delivery.

No. For orders shipped outside the European Union, VAT is not charged at checkout. Any taxes, customs duties, or other import charges are determined by the destination country and must be paid by the customer.

The customer is responsible for paying VAT, customs duties, import taxes, and any other charges imposed by the destination country.

Yes, in some cases the local postal operator or customs office may still charge handling fees, administrative fees, or other charges required by local regulations. These charges must be paid by the customer in order to receive the shipment.

Depending on the destination country, an order may also be subject to customs duties and postal or administrative fees related to customs handling and delivery.

If VAT is charged again upon delivery, please pay the charge and keep the proof of payment. Based on the provided proof, the Store will refund only the VAT amount paid again. Postal, handling, or administrative fees are not refundable.

Yes. If VAT was already paid at checkout and is charged again upon delivery due to an error by the postal operator or customs authorities, the Store will refund only the duplicated VAT amount after receiving proof of payment.

If customs duties, VAT, or other import charges are not paid, the parcel may be returned to Japan or destroyed depending on local customs regulations. In such cases, the customer may bear the cost of return or the loss of the order.

Customs duties are usually calculated based on the value of the goods, the product category, and the local customs regulations of the destination country. For some shipments, additional postal or administrative fees may also apply.

You can often estimate customs duties and taxes using online calculators provided by customs authorities. Additionally, consulting your local customs office or the seller can provide more specific information.

If customs duties, VAT, or other charges apply, the local postal operator, customs office, or delivery carrier will usually inform the customer of the amount to be paid before delivery or collection of the parcel.

WABI-SABI STORE accepts credit cards including VISA, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as PayPal, GPay, and Blik. All orders must be paid online in advance.

No. WABI-SABI STORE does not offer cash on delivery. Orders must be prepaid using one of the available online payment methods.

Unfortunately, we do not accept regular bank transfers as a payment method at this time. Thank you for your understanding!

This is a common issue with cards that have additional protection against suspicious purchases. The order is confirmed once the payment is accepted. If you did not receive an order confirmation but were charged, it means the situation is temporary. If the order is declined, the bank will automatically cancel the charge and refund your account after a few days. Payment to our account is confirmed by an order confirmation (an email with a confirmation and order number) from the Shopify system.

We offer free shipping for orders where the total value of the products alone is 8,000 JPY or more. For order under 8,000 JPY shipping cost is 880 JPY (For USA: 1,800 JPY).

AIR MAIL delivery usually takes around 2 weeks, although delays may happen. EMS delivery usually takes about 3 to 7 business days to major destinations, depending on the country, season, and customs clearance.

WABI-SABI STORE ships from Japan using Japan Post (AIR MAIL and EMS) and DHL.

WABI-SABI STORE ships to many countries worldwide, but some destinations may be temporarily unavailable due to shipping restrictions, sanctions, conflicts, or local transport limitations.

Some countries may be unavailable because of international sanctions, armed conflicts, postal restrictions, or changing logistical conditions. The list of restricted countries may change over time.

Depending on the shipping carrier and local delivery conditions, a parcel may sometimes be held at a local post office or delivery facility for collection. In such cases, the customer will be informed by the carrier. However, customers cannot choose parcel lockers, PO boxes, or pickup points as the delivery destination.

Orders exceeding 2 kg are split into two AIR MAIL parcels. This helps match postal shipping rules and may affect how parcels arrive.

Please note that delays may occur during holiday periods, Black Friday, national holidays, or times of high postal traffic. For more details on your package’s status, simply enter your tracking code on the local post website. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

No. Orders can be placed using an account or guest checkout.

We’re sorry, but we’re unable to fulfill this request, as our company strictly adheres to all legal regulations. Providing documents that are not accurate or consistent with the actual sale may lead to accountability with customs authorities. Thank you for your understanding, and please refrain from sending further requests of this nature.

Orders are usually prepared within 3–5 business days after payment confirmation.

Once your order has been shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number to monitor its progress.

If you need to change or cancel your order, please contact us before it has been shipped. Please note: Some of our products are ordered specifically at the customer’s request. Once an order for such products is placed, it cannot be canceled. This is because these products are ordered immediately after the placing order by customer.
wabisabi.store.jp.cs@gmail.com

If a parcel is returned to Japan because it was not collected on time, this will be considered a customer-related return. In this case, we may offer reshipment after the customer pays the actual reshipping cost, usually equivalent to the original shipping fee. Alternatively, the order may be cancelled, and a 20% cancellation fee will be deducted from the refund. The remaining balance will be refunded to the customer.

Yes. If the return was caused by the customer, the reshipment cost must be paid by the customer. If the return was not caused by the customer, we will reship the order free of charge.

Examples include providing an incorrect or incomplete address, not collecting the parcel, refusing delivery, or not responding to customs or postal requests in time.

Yes. If the return was caused by the customer, a 20% cancellation fee will be deducted from the refund to cover shipping fee. If the return was not caused by the customer, a full refund will be issued.

Yes, please contact us as soon as possible.
wabisabi.store.jp.cs@gmail.com

Yes, in some cases it may be possible to change the shipping address after the order has been sent. An address change fee of 660 JPY will apply. Please contact us as soon as possible at wabisabi.store.jp.cs@gmail.com
Availability of the address change depends on the shipping carrier and the stage of delivery.

Yes, please send us a e-mail at wabisabi.store.jp.cs@gmail.com

Complaints should be sent by email to wabisabi.store.jp.cs@gmail.com and must include the order number, a description of the issue, and evidence such as photos or video. The store will respond without undue delay and no later than within 14 days.

Consumers in the European Union may withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days after receiving the goods.

Japanese cosmetic regulations guarantee product stability for at least 3 years.

Cosmetics should generally be used within approximately 6 months after opening.

If you’re interested in a product that’s currently out of stock, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with the product name using the form or directly via email. We’d be happy to look into restocking it for you! Thank you!

Most Japanese companies discontinued this practice many years ago, but it still depends on the company. Japanese companies do not label their cosmetics as not tested on animals, even if they are not tested. Companies that do not test on animals:

ROHTO
CLUB COSMETICS
ISEHAN
DR.CI:LABO
CHIFURE
KAO
ISHIZAWA LABORATORIES
KRACIE
MEISHOKU
BIORE
SHISEIDO
DHC
POLA
KOKURYUDOU
KOH GEN DO
KANEBO
COW BRAND SOAP

Orders to the United States are shipped via Japan Post.

We offer free shipping for orders where the total value of the products alone is 8,000 JPY or more. For order under 8,000 JPY shipping cost is 1,800 JPY.

No. For orders to the United States, the tax is already included in the product prices shown in the store, regardless of total price of the order.

No. Currently, WABI-SABI STORE cannot ship food products to the United States.


France: import fees notice For shipments to France, please note that, starting from March 1, 2026, orders valued at under €150 may be subject to a €2 fee per declared article/item under French import rules. For orders valued above €150, import VAT, customs duties, and carrier handling/clearance fees may apply depending on the shipment. These charges are determined by French customs authorities and the delivery carrier, and are the responsibility of the customer.



Please note that we cannot ship products containing alcohol (ethanol) to Norway or Sweden due to shipping restrictions.