Item price is only the first line
A useful comparison keeps product price, domestic handling, international shipping, payment conversion, import tax, and carrier fees separate. Merchants calculate some of these at checkout; customs or the carrier may determine others later. Japan Curate therefore does not present a product price as a promise of landed cost.
- Verified item price and currency
- Shipping method and dimensional weight
- Card or payment-provider conversion
- Destination tax, duty, and carrier handling
- Return cost and practical warranty access
Compare like with like
Two offers are comparable only when edition, condition, included items, and destination are the same. A lower sticker price can be erased by shipping, while a bundled edition may not be the same product record at all. Record the checkout total in the merchant's billing currency before converting it yourself.
A conservative decision
Set a maximum landed cost before checkout and leave room for charges the merchant cannot control. If a required tax or shipping field is unknown, keep it unknown rather than replacing it with a reassuring estimate. The aim is not to predict every border decision; it is to know which part of the cost is evidenced and which part remains variable.