So many used cars are exported from Japan year after year.
The figure is increasing every year, but in reality the number of problems is also increasing.
I understand that you are visiting this website, to consider importing a used car from Japan.
However, I want you to wait a minute.
You may be wondering why there are so many exporting companies of Japanese used cars over the Internet, but how do you decide which agent you should choose.
Especially if you deal with someone you don't know well, you may be so careful that you can't decide on anyone after all. The longer you think about it, the more risky it feels. Then, you aren't able to import any car from Japan in the end.
I think this is natural.
That is because the troubles related to importing used cars are never ending.
Example-1
What if the used car you obtained does not drive well?
How much will the contract cover?
Because you purchase a used car, you cannot avoid this kind of risk.
Therefore, how much your exporter guarantees is important.
Example-2
What if you sent your money but you cannot make contact with the dealer any longer?
In other words, you have been conned. Almost all used car dealers in Japan ask you to pay the money in advance (100%). Otherwise, they won't send you your car. It may change after a long trustworthy relationship between you and your dealer.
It is said that Japan has a very low crime rate compared with other countries in the world. That doesn't mean there is no one who tries to con you. Many are trying to outwit others everyday in the used car market in Japan, too. As for me, I have been taken in many times. In order to be fooled by others, you must defend yourself.
Since a used car costs you a lot of money, it will be a large loss once you are conned or betrayed. If you are taken in even once, you will have your life in danger without doubt. Nevertheless, you may be unable to come to Japan to collect your money. Besides, you will have difficulties finding the person you want. This is the largest problem in the used car business.
You want to know how to avoid these troubles...
If there is a way to import a used car without being conned, it is to find a dealer who really can be trusted. That is the only way. Is that so simple? You may think. I answer, yes that's it. This is the common rule for any kind of business.
Do not decide on an exporting company just by looking at the number of cars in stock it has, the size of the company or past experiences provided on the website.
You may ask, "Then what information on the website should I depend on? How should I make this judgment?" My answer to you is, "Please start by purchasing one car." Otherwise you cannot decide how much you can trust the dealer, what conditions your purchased car will have and how much the dealer thinks of you.
This sounds so simple but they are most important.
About me (from the beginning)
I deal in used cars in Japan.
I do not deal with used cars in a conventional way but make use of auto auctions to sell cars to individual customers and earn commissions. These auto auctions may not be so common outside Japan but making use of them, I can sell my customers' cars at higher prices and purchase cars at even lower prices than expected. So, customers are very much satisfied with doing business with me.
It has been about ten years since I started dealing in used cars. At that time, I was a very small dealer like one you can find anywhere. I had almost no business funds; I could call it "start from zero".
It would be miserable if you had no money.
No one trusts you just because you have no money. No one wants to purchase a car from you. At the beginning, I could not afford a membership to auto auctions in order to buy what I wanted to sell. Therefore, I depended on my acquaintances and others to buy cars to make a living.
Used car market in Japan; reality of auto auctions
As you may know, it is required to get through very strict review (investigations into credit check and financial status, plus guarantor). So, it is not so easy to become a member. Therefore, I could not become a member in the beginning.
It took me nearly two years, from the start of my business, before making an application to the USS Auto Auctions, which is the largest in Japan. If you want to obtain cars for your business, you must have this membership no matter what the cost is.
After all, I achieved my ambition to become a member of USS Auto Auctions.
I still remember the day when I took part in auctions for the first time.
I was really stunned.
21,000 yen
32,000 yen
18,000 yen
These were the prices of used cars.
"It is some kind of joke, isn't it?"
Indeed the model year was old and it drove more than 100,000km. However, it was good enough to drive.
Such cars were priced so low because few wanted to buy them.
Hundreds of cars were scrapped in a day because no one wanted to buy them.
I wanted to find a way in some way to reuse these cars that you could drive without problems. However, almost no one in Japan wanted to drive a car that was 10 years old and had already driven more than 100,000km. Though you may not believe this, it was and still is the real nature of the Japanese used car business.
Why I started to export used cars
This way, I started to think if no one wanted to use them in Japan, someone overseas might want to use them. I thought it would be better that such cars should be used at low cost overseas instead of being scrapped in Japan.
I created a website for Japanese used cars. Mails of inquiry started to come in each month.
Inquiries came almost every day.
However, they only asked prices without placing orders.
It should be natural. I was not trusted at all at that time.
Then, it was about three months after opening the website that I got an official order from Australia. I still remember I really jumped up with pleasure.
The first customer in Australia must have been anxious because it was the first time.
So, I sent as many e-mails as possible to let him feel secure. At the same time, I was as quick as I could be on exporting the car.
The customer in Australia was pleased with the conditions of the car, saying it was old but the body and the engine were really good. Then, I have received orders from him regularly. Because the Internet has anonymity by nature, I make every effort in building up reliable relations with my customers. So, I still have good relations with my first customer.
Many people who come from Asian countries are living in my neighborhood.
Some of them were interested in exporting used cars to their native countries when I told them about the Japanese used car market. Now, I am exporting used cars to China, Sri Lanka, Australia and African countries.
All transactions are based on good relationship with customers.
What I can do for you
To my regret, we have not built up good relationship between us, yet.
Then, I cannot say "just trust me".
However, if you place an order of just one car, I will respond to your intention with the best of my intentions.
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I will ship your car at the shortest schedule possible.
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I will not send you a car which has anything wrong with the engine and the driving mechanism.
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If your car does not drive well, I will guarantee it 100%.
I do not have cars in stock but purchase them in auctions directly. Because I do not have cars in stock, I believe I can offer a car at 10 to 20% lower than usual. I also have every car inspected to keep it in good condition before exporting it; so I have never received complaints from the overseas customers.
Some countries require an Inspection Report for a used car. I will issue it right away.
The price should be FOB price and paid in advance.
This is in accordance with the business custom in Japan. However, if we deal with each other several times, I can review the terms depending on our relationship.
I wish I can be of service to you in terms of business or daily life by providing you used cars that can be good enough to be still used but are destined to be scrapped in Japan.
If you are interested in what I have been telling you, please let me know what car you want at first. For example, information about the model year, model name, color and others will be a good start. If you make an inquiry, it costs you nothing; no risk to you.
I am looking for a customer who is serous in business and whom I can really trust.
I am waiting for an inquiry from someone who is looking for a dealer you can really trust.
P.S.
Please do not decide to purchase a used car from me yet.
Let us start by checking conditions that we have for each other.