Shipping Terms & Conditions

Michi Shipping is a consolidated-forwarding agency service: we help sellers forward goods from Japan to the UK and hand them to InPost for UK last-mile delivery.

Our responsibility ends once goods are delivered to InPost's UK warehouse. Delivery, loss, or delay after that point is handled under InPost's own terms.

If UK customs charges import tax, duty, or VAT after goods arrive (especially where the declared value is £135 or more), Michi will not pay any part of it.

The seller must pay any such tax themselves before we forward the goods to InPost for final delivery.

If the seller does not pay within a reasonable period after we notify them (typically 14 days), the goods will be destroyed. Michi does not return the goods and does not refund any part of the shipping fee already paid.

Where the final-mile carrier (e.g. InPost) collects tax on our behalf, it typically charges its own separate handling fee for doing so. That fee is set and collected by the carrier, is unrelated to Michi's own fees, and Michi receives no part of it.

The duty threshold, VAT rate and other figures on this page are for general guidance only and may change with UK government policy. Where they differ from information published by HMRC or another UK authority, HMRC's determination governs. The actual tax charged can also vary by shipping route and individual customs assessment.

This clause exists so Michi never fronts import tax on undeclared or under-declared goods, and does not bear storage costs for goods stuck at customs.

Sellers must declare each item's name, quantity and unit price honestly. This information is used for the customs declaration and the £135 import-tax threshold check.

Deliberately omitting, under- or over-declaring goods can cause customs delays, penalties, or affect how clause 2 is applied; the seller bears the consequences.

Some items cannot be shipped to the UK through this service, including but not limited to: alcohol, live animals/plants, compressed gas, chargeable lithium batteries, food containing meat, and other goods prohibited or restricted by UK customs or InPost.

If we receive such an item at the Japan warehouse, we may refuse it, and the shipping fee already paid is not refunded.

Every application has its own seller code and shipping number. When posting to us, sellers must bundle different orders' items separately and clearly label each bundle with the matching codes.

Unlabelled or mixed-together goods may not be sortable correctly, causing delays Michi is not responsible for.

The shipping fee has two parts: the InPost delivery + Michi handling fee (fixed, by box size) and the Japan → UK forwarding fee (billed on the seller's declared actual weight). See the pricing page for details.

If goods are far bulkier than their weight, the real forwarding cost may be billed on volumetric weight instead; Michi reserves the right to charge the difference in that case, with prior notice.

Each batch runs on a two-week cycle: after applications close we pack and post to the Japan forwarding warehouse, then forward to InPost's UK warehouse (we hold a 12-day buffer against shipping delays; it's usually faster in practice). This leg is the longest part of the journey and the least within our control.

We arrange this leg's delivery on a reasonable-efforts basis and do not guarantee a fixed transit time. Where delay results from (a) the customer/seller not confirming and paying tax or duty promptly, (b) an inspection triggered by the declared contents not matching the actual goods or a doubtful declared value, (c) natural disasters (earthquake, storm, flood, fire, etc.), or (d) war, industrial action, or other events outside our control, Michi is not liable and offers no adjustment, refund, or compensation — these are risks we cannot control or pre-empt ourselves.

Once goods reach InPost's UK warehouse, the final leg follows InPost's own published estimate: about 3-4 working days to a Parcel Locker, about 4-5 working days for Home Delivery.

All timelines above are estimates, not guarantees. Customs checks, shipping delays, peak seasons (e.g. around Christmas), weather, and InPost network issues can all make actual delivery slower than estimated.

Sellers and customers may not demand a refund, return, or any compensation from Michi for inconvenience caused by delay alone (as opposed to goods actually lost or damaged in transit, which is handled under clause 1).