Worldwide Shipping
1. Worldwide Shipping
Minamo Guitars offers international shipping for customers outside Japan.
To deliver each instrument as safely as possible, we handle international shipments as an International Delivery Package, which includes final inspection before shipment, a dedicated hard case, protective cushioning, a high-strength heavy-duty cardboard box suitable for international shipping, compensation coverage, and export-related procedures.
International shipping is not simply a matter of placing an instrument in a box.
We carefully check the instrument, hard case, cushioning, outer box, customs documents, shipping method, and compensation coverage to prepare the shipment in the safest possible condition.
2. International Orders & Communication
We accept inquiries for custom orders, available instruments, and international shipping from customers outside Japan.
Communication with international customers is generally conducted in English. We will confirm the necessary details throughout the process, including specifications, quotation, payment, shipping, and after-delivery support.
Formal quotations are valid for a limited period.
Each quotation is valid for 14 days from the date of issue.
If the deposit is received within the quotation validity period, the order will be confirmed under the conditions stated in that quotation.
If the validity period has expired, a revised quotation may be required due to changes in exchange rates, materials, parts, shipping costs, or other conditions.
Prices and invoices for international orders are generally issued in USD.
Payment is accepted via PayPal or Wise.
No additional payment processing fees will be charged, whether you choose PayPal or Wise.
If payment is made by a third party, or if shipment to an address other than the customer’s own address is requested, we will review the details individually.
In such cases, we may ask for additional information regarding the customer, payer, recipient, end user, shipping address, and intended use of the instrument.
We will only proceed when we determine that the transaction does not conflict with applicable sanctions, export/import regulations, payment restrictions, customs rules, or other relevant laws and regulations.
We do not accept proxy payment, proxy receipt, indirect shipment, name lending, false declarations, or any other arrangement intended to improperly avoid sanctions, export/import regulations, payment restrictions, or customs procedures.
3. Shipping by EMS
International shipments are generally sent by EMS, operated by Japan Post.
EMS provides tracking and allows compensation coverage to be added to the shipment.
Once the instrument has been shipped, we will provide the tracking number.
Delivery time varies depending on the destination country or region, customs clearance, and local delivery conditions.
As a general guide, delivery often takes around 1 to 2 weeks after shipment, but this is not a guaranteed delivery time.
Delays may occur due to customs clearance, weather, flight availability, local postal conditions, holidays, social conditions, or other circumstances beyond our control.
If EMS is not available for the destination country or region, or if the package does not meet EMS size, weight, or compensation requirements, we will review the shipping method individually.
However, private international courier services may result in significantly higher shipping costs. Therefore, shipping methods other than EMS are not guaranteed as a regular alternative.
4. Shipping Experience
Minamo Guitars has previously shipped instruments internationally to destinations including Ireland and Paris, France.
Before shipment, we check the instrument, accessories, hard case, and packaging condition, and prepare the necessary shipping documents.
On customs documents, we make every effort to accurately describe the item name, declared value, country of origin, intended use, and HS code, in order to reduce the risk of delays caused by insufficient or unclear information.
However, customs procedures vary depending on the destination country or region, local customs decisions, and local regulations. Minamo Guitars cannot guarantee customs processing time, or whether duties and taxes will be charged.
5. Careful and Secure Packaging
For international shipments, each instrument is placed in a dedicated hard case.
The entire hard case is then protected with cushioning materials.
We use cushioning materials matched to the shape of the instrument and hard case, a high-strength heavy-duty cardboard box suitable for international shipping, and materials for water resistance and outer protection.
Before shipment, we check the instrument, hard case, packaging condition, and accessories.
When necessary, we also record the condition with photos or videos.
Our standard packaging process includes the following:
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Final inspection of the instrument
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Placement in a dedicated hard case
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Reduction of unnecessary movement inside the case
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Protective cushioning around the outside of the hard case
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Outer packaging using a high-strength heavy-duty cardboard box suitable for international shipping
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Water-resistant and outer protective wrapping
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Fragile handling and orientation labels
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Final condition check before shipment
The actual packaging method may be adjusted depending on the instrument model, hard case, destination, weight, and shipping conditions.
6. International Delivery Package
International shipping costs are provided as an International Delivery Package, rather than as a simple shipping fee.
This package includes costs related to packing, shipping, compensation coverage, and export-related procedures necessary for international shipment.
The instrument will be placed in a dedicated hard case, packed appropriately for international shipping, and generally shipped via EMS.
7. Compensation Coverage
For international shipments, we generally add EMS compensation coverage in case of loss or damage during transit.
The declared compensation amount is based on the actual sales price of the instrument.
We do not declare a lower value than the actual sales price, nor do we intentionally reduce the compensation amount for shipment.
The cost of compensation coverage is included in the International Delivery Package.
EMS compensation coverage has a maximum limit.
If the price or specifications of the instrument exceed the compensation limit, or if EMS compensation conditions are not suitable, we will review the shipping method and coverage conditions individually.
If loss or damage occurs during transit, the case will be handled based on the carrier’s investigation and compensation procedure.
Whether compensation is approved, the amount of compensation, and the investigation period are subject to the carrier’s decision and regulations.
8. Customs Duties and Taxes
International shipments may be subject to customs duties, VAT, GST, import taxes, customs clearance fees, storage fees, or other charges in the destination country or region.
These costs are the responsibility of the customer.
Minamo Guitars will accurately declare the item name, declared value, quantity, country of origin, and other required information on customs documents.
We do not declare a lower value than the actual sales price, falsely declare an item as a gift, or make any other inaccurate declaration.
Depending on the country or region, additional information or procedures may be required.
We may ask the customer to provide information such as a tax identification number, personal identification number, phone number, email address, or other details required for customs clearance.
The amount of duties and taxes may vary depending on the destination country or region, customs decisions at the time of import, exchange rates, item classification, and other factors.
Minamo Guitars cannot guarantee the exact amount of duties or taxes in advance.
If return shipment, storage, reshipment, or additional procedures become necessary due to unpaid duties or taxes, refusal of delivery, incomplete customs procedures, incorrect address, or insufficient contact information provided by the customer, all related costs will be the responsibility of the customer.
9. Shipping Availability and Restrictions
Shipping availability depends on the destination country or region, EMS service status, transportation conditions, customs systems, export/import regulations, and package size, weight, and compensation requirements.
We will confirm the shipping status for the destination at the time of order and again before shipment.
If EMS is not available for the destination country or region, or if the package does not meet size, weight, or compensation requirements, we may not be able to accept the shipment.
We also cannot accept shipments if safe or lawful delivery is difficult due to war, conflict, sanctions, suspension of transportation, major flight restrictions, government measures, or other circumstances.
Depending on the materials and parts used in the instrument, such as wood, shell materials, metal parts, batteries, or other components, import restrictions or additional documents may be required in the destination country or region.
We will review such requirements individually when necessary.
10. Shipping Damage
When the package arrives, please check the condition of the outer box before opening it.
If the outer box has dents, tears, crushing, holes, water damage, deformation, signs of opening, or any other visible damage, please take photos or videos before opening the package.
When opening the package, please record the following as much as possible:
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Entire outer box
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Shipping label
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Damaged areas of the outer box
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Opening process
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Internal packaging condition
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Hard case condition
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Instrument condition
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Accessories condition
If shipping damage is suspected, please contact Minamo Guitars as soon as possible.
If possible, please contact us within 48 hours of delivery.
At the same time, please also report the issue as shipping damage to the local postal operator or delivery carrier.
Until the investigation is complete, please keep the outer box, cushioning materials, hard case, damaged parts, shipping label, and all other packaging materials.
If these items are discarded, the carrier may not be able to investigate the case or process compensation.
Please do not repair, disassemble, replace parts, or modify the instrument without prior approval from Minamo Guitars.
This does not apply to the minimum necessary action required to prevent injury or further damage.
If shipping damage is confirmed, Minamo Guitars will submit an investigation and compensation claim to the carrier as the sender.
For repairable damage, we will first consider repair as the primary response.
If the instrument is determined to be a total loss or impossible to repair, we will discuss possible responses such as rebuilding, replacement, refund, or other arrangements based on the carrier’s investigation result and compensation decision.
Shipping damage is handled as a transportation accident and is separate from the product warranty.
11. Support After Delivery
Each instrument is shipped after final setup and functional inspection.
However, due to international transportation and environmental changes after arrival, the neck condition, string action, intonation, pickup height, or other setup-related aspects may change.
This is not necessarily a product defect, but a natural change that can occur with wooden instruments.
If adjustment is needed after delivery, we will provide support as much as possible by reviewing photos, videos, and other information.
If the adjustment is difficult to perform by yourself, we may recommend consulting a trusted local repair shop or music store.
If repair or adjustment is performed locally, please contact Minamo Guitars in advance for any work that may relate to warranty coverage.
Repairs, disassembly, modifications, or parts replacement performed without prior approval may not be covered by the warranty.
If the instrument needs to be returned to Japan for warranty repair, please contact Minamo Guitars before shipment.
As a general rule, the hard case used for delivery must be used for return shipment, and the original outer box, cushioning materials, and internal supports should be reused whenever possible.
Please keep the hard case, outer box, cushioning materials, internal case supports, water-resistant materials, and other packaging materials at least during the warranty period.
For warranty repair returns from overseas, systems such as temporary export, re-import, or duty exemption for repaired goods may be available depending on the country or region.
Minamo Guitars will reasonably assist with the preparation and confirmation of necessary documents, but we cannot guarantee exemption from duties or taxes.
12. Contact
If you would like to request international shipping, please let us know the destination country or region before placing an order.
We will confirm shipping availability, shipping method, International Delivery Package, and any customs-related points before providing further information.
Depending on the destination, instrument specifications, packaging conditions, EMS service status, or export/import regulations, additional confirmation may be required.
For inquiries, please contact us at the following email addresses.
General Inquiries
info@minamoguitars.com
International Orders & English Support
ryosuke_masuda@minamoguitars.com
For inquiries in English, international orders, or shipping-related questions, please contact International Orders & English Support.