For all figures that may exceed rm500 i will stop ordering from amiami. Expensive stuff i will order from NipponYasan -  they do underdeclare for you if requested. If item still stuck in kastam, ask them to produce a fake invoice for you, they will.

I don't know whether Kastam changed policy or anything but despite the general rule to keep things under RM 500, I had a shipment worth almost 25,000 JPY shipped by AmiAmi on Sept 2014 and had no issues.

For all figures that may exceed rm500 i will stop ordering from amiami. Expensive stuff i will order from NipponYasan -  they do underdeclare for you if requested. If item still stuck in kastam, ask them to produce a fake invoice for you, they will.

1. What if the value of the parcel was *just barely* above RM500? Like between RM500-RM510? Would it still be flagged?
2. I know one can undervalue parcel to bypass taxing. But are there any real consequences to doing this? I just wanna see from Amiami's POV as to why this can be a crime.

Which brings me to two questions:

1. What if the value of the parcel was *just barely* above RM500? Like between RM500-RM510? Would it still be flagged?
2. I know one can undervalue parcel to bypass taxing. But are there any real consequences to doing this? I just wanna see from Amiami's POV as to why this can be a crime.

1) It's not any parcel above RM500 will be stopped 100%. It's like parcels with values <RM500 usually will just pass through customs 90% without the officer even bother to check. While parcels >RM500 will get some attention, officers would screen through the details on the documents, then decide whether or not it's worth their time to open and check. It's about 50/50 chance to get taxed.

2) It's illegal by Japan's law to report false value. Not sure with NipponYasan, maybe their company is not registered under Japan, hence that law doesn't affect them?

I went over to this thread (https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2129499) to see if anyone already asked questions that I have, but most went unanswered. It also seems most people don't have answers for their problems, which after reading through most of the posts there, are way a lot more handful than what we worry about (stuff worth RM1500 and more).

This thread is supposed to be dedicated to topics about figures but I think a lot of users are more concerned about customs than actually have concerns about figures they're excited about. In my mind, I expected more people to post their collections, share their pre-orders, and their own reviews about figures they own; not "will my figure pass through customs?" for the umpteenth time.

Of course, I'm not opposed to having these kind of questions. If anything, I have lots of questions I too want answer to (see below). I just think perhaps there should be a more dedicated thread or AMA for it.

I'll leave what kind of discussion is okay to the OP.
This so much. I asked Amiami if they can reduce the value of the parcel on the invoice, but they declined stating that "it's a crime to do so". For alternatives, one can try Solaris Japan or a deputy.

Which brings me to two questions:

1. What if the value of the parcel was *just barely* above RM500? Like between RM500-RM510? Would it still be flagged?
2. I know one can undervalue parcel to bypass taxing. But are there any real consequences to doing this? I just wanna see from Amiami's POV as to why this can be a crime.

1) It's not any parcel above RM500 will be stopped 100%. It's like parcels with values <RM500 usually will just pass through customs 90% without the officer even bother to check. While parcels >RM500 will get some attention, officers would screen through the details on the documents, then decide whether or not it's worth their time to open and check. It's about 50/50 chance to get taxed.

2) It's illegal by Japan's law to report false value. Not sure with NipponYasan, maybe their company is not registered under Japan, hence that law doesn't affect them?

It's not that NipponYasan is not affected by the law; it's just a (secret) service they offer to do for you if you ask, just to get customers. Their prices and shipping costs aren't as cheap as Amiami, but they have this service (not mentioned in their FAQ of course, as it's illegal) worth considering if you are buying something guaranteed to cross the RM500 mark.  My friend imported a RM800 figure they declare $30 USD, kastam still tahan (because of size of box) and NY produced this $30 invoice for him after being asked. Amiami does not do it because they are one of the big fours of anime merchandise online stores in Japan, they have to follow the rules. The risk of underdeclaring, is that if anything happens to the parcel - damage or missing, you will only be compensated the amount that has been declared. One more site i know that helps u to bypass customs, is SolarisJapan. They even promised "you will never have to pay tax". Of course, don't go and ship 10 scale figures in 1 single shipment. lol

If you cross RM500 it's a 50/50 chance; i guess if you cross by 10 or 20 bucks they'll let things pass. I used my university address and added student ID number to my name in my shipping info for  this reason - to psycho them to let things pass as it is for a student. It worked so well than even 18SX figures also passed easily so far. But i can only do so for one more year until a graduate. I can still use my dad's tuition center address and indicate it's for a student in my info anyway. My dad runs a college-like tuition center.

Just remembered, I had an 18000 JPY item came in end of July.

No kastam issue. Item was from CDJapan.

DX Chogokin YF-29B Perceval

Which is why the whole "editing the value of the parcel", while I understand its purposes and benefits, still puzzles me.

1. If I can undervalue my parcel, then what's stopping other importers from doing the same thing? Wouldn't customs be overwhelmed by lots and lots of parcels valued at RM500 and below then?
2. I assume if I can undervalue, then I also can "overvalue" my parcel. I could easily just report my parcel missing, and pocket the extra change from the insurance.

1. Under-valueing of item to lessen custom tax is actually present not only in your country but most of the countries in the world. Majority of the people really want to avoid paying more taxes and if they can get savings, they will do it as well.

2. Overvalue = that is a nice thought. Though valuation and insurance cost go hand in hand so if your overvalue your item and a shop accepts it, then they might charge you more to pay for more insurance. Second, reporting of missing parcels requires investigation from both Post office involved in the shipment and usually, refund is made after that investigation.

I do know one thing for certain, any parcels declared containing books, no matter what value, 100% will be opened by Customs

I have no f*cking idea wtf is poslaju doing. It's 17th today at 3pm and i have no news. That parcel is under RM500 for sure, totalling 14600yen incl shipping.

I have no f*cking idea wtf is poslaju doing. It's 17th today at 3pm and i have no news. That parcel is under RM500 for sure, totalling 14600yen incl shipping.

Dude I know what you're ordering. Skytube's Tougetsu Matsuri, yes? Although that last update doesn't look good, what are the chances that the parcel was sent to customs for a second inspection?

My friend already received his Matsuri already

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