AmiAmi confirms it will not cancel U.S. orders amid shipping suspension
The major Japanese hobby and figure retailer AmiAmi has issued a new, detailed statement regarding the ongoing suspension of shipments to the United States.
AmiAmi recently joined other major retailers like Good Smile Company and Tokyo Otaku Mode in pausing their U.S.-bound operations.
The announcement, made on Friday, the 29th of August, outlines the company’s policy for handling the disruption.
This industry-wide crisis is the result of a sudden change in United States customs regulations.
On the 30th of July, the U.S. government suspended the long-standing “de minimis” rule, which had previously allowed most imports valued at under $800 USD to be brought into the country duty-free.
Due to a lack of clarity on the new customs procedures required, Japan Post announced that it would temporarily suspend the acceptance of most commercial goods destined for the U.S., a suspension which went into effect on the 27th of August.
As a direct consequence of their primary shipping partner halting service, all three major hobby retailers have now been forced to suspend their own U.S.-bound shipments.
In its latest statement, AmiAmi has clarified its policy, assuring customers that it is preparing alternative, non-postal shipping options and that all ordered items will be securely held in its warehouse.
The company has advised customers with unpaid invoices to not pay at this time, and has confirmed that no orders will be canceled for non-payment.
Customers wishing to cancel their orders due to the shipping suspension can contact AmiAmi’s Customer Support, however, it’s unclear as to whether these cancellations would be viewed negatively and affect the standing of a customer account.
Excess cancellations would typically incur account closure under AmiAmi’s normal procedures, but it is possible that the retailer will be lenient with cancellations in this instance due to the fact that the length of the suspension is unknown and that customers may not have the funds to pay for more expensive alternative shipping methods.
The approach of holding orders is similar to that of Good Smile Company and Tokyo Otaku Mode, who have also pledged to retain customer orders and are actively exploring alternative shipping carriers.
Tokyo Otaku Mode has also confirmed that any products due to be sent from its U.S.-based warehouse will be unaffected by the shipping suspension.
The response from these major retailers shows their ongoing efforts to support their U.S. customer base during this period of uncertainty, as the entire Japanese hobby export industry grapples with the fallout from the U.S. policy change.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
