^ Ya - don't blame any overseas company for anything to do with tariffs - that's all originating here.

14 hours ago, 2earlye said:

Bringing this thread back from the dead.

 

I a mistake buying from Japan Lure Shop last month after they got rid of the De Minimis in August. 

 

My package has been stuck at the UPS hub in KY for over a month and I have contacted JLS over and over again asking if they've received information from UPS to add more detail to the package. JLS have been given me hopeful reassurance it will arrive without answering my questions. It's feels like I'm talking to a bot. If it comes to it and I don't receive the item mid November I'm going to dispute the charge and never order from them again.

 

If anyone sees this do yourself a favor and order from Digitaka or other sites. Email first and ask them your questions because I don't think I'll get my items or anytime soon.

 

Why would UPS reach out to JLS?

 

JLS did their job.

 

Now UPS needs to do theirs.

 

I think you are barking up the wrong tree.

It's lawless with the carriers right meow. Customs is worse.

 

It's a bad time to order from overseas.

 

 

On 4/11/2023 at 10:43 PM, casts_by_fly said:

we can compare notes. 

Did you and @MontclairDave ever compare notes?

4 hours ago, Banned User said:

Did you and @MontclairDave ever compare notes?

was also wondering this

 

On 4/11/2023 at 8:03 AM, MontclairDave said:

Bought a JDM Daiwa Zillion from Japan Lure Shop with a bum drag. Emailed them 3 times, no response. I actually thought I had bought it from Digitaka because I was on that site so much when tracking this reel and the yen conversion rate. So I emailed Digitaka first. They responded within 6 hours and let me know they had no record of purchase. Then I remembered I had bought it from Japan Lure Shop. 
 

So, lesson learned for me so far: if I ever decide to buy JDM again, Digitaka will get my money. Japan Lure Shop won’t.

 

Next adventure: finding someone willing to service a JDM Daiwa reel. This should be fun. ? 

Jun Sonada at Japantackle.com will help you warranty the reel in Japan for a fee. If you ordered from his site, he would do it for free. 
 

I would send him an email. He’s very helpful.

 

Edit: dang it, didn’t realize how old this thread was. What I said still stands for anyone who has issues with a JDM reel.

It’s not just old, there wasn’t even an issue with the drag! All based on inexperience!

How dare anybody even believes that my bb Zillion could have issues from factory. 

13 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Why would UPS reach out to JLS?

 

JLS did their job.

 

Now UPS needs to do theirs.

 

I think you are barking up the wrong tree.

UPS's / US customs broker told me this morning that the shipper was missing information on the packaging so that's why it was being held up for over a month. Plus I never got an update on UPS saying "Your package has cleared customs and is on the way," (like I did with my other packages from Japan) once it reached the KY hub.

 

So either JLS is missing information, UPS is backed up, or UPS contacted JLS, but JLS didn't see UPS info on sending the missing information within those weeks. So far my experience with JLS is pretty terrible. 3-5 days no email responses, and just letting me know to not worry. 

On 10/7/2025 at 5:52 PM, MN Fisher said:

^ Ya - don't blame any overseas company for anything to do with tariffs - that's all originating here.

 

It's not their fault we're implementing tariffs. And, FTR, I ordered from JLS just a day after the new policy went into effect (Labor Day weekend). I received two shipments (bought some baits too a day after ordering the reel) in the same box. Then after I received the orders, I was contacted by FedEx to pay the tariffs, fees, and taxes. So, JLS chose a path to take regarding what is admittedly a challenging situation that in practice isn't working out so well. Hopefully, they can adjust their program so it works well enough for all.

 

Digitaka has chosen a different approach that seems to be working better from their USA customer's POV.  In hindsight, it makes more sense because costs to the customer are known upfront, and the buck stops with them. Bravo to them. 

 

I hope JLS can adjust their practices to work better and smoother. I have used them a few times and consider them excellent to deal with, and they have responded reasonably soon when I had any questions, including questions about the tariffs.

 

To @2earlye, I'm sorry that happened to you, and I hope they get it fixed soon. I'd be upset that my goods were being held up too, and I think that you're justified to purchase elsewhere at least until you can be assured that this won't be happening going forward.

On 10/7/2025 at 5:52 PM, MN Fisher said:

^ Ya - don't blame any overseas company for anything to do with tariffs - that's all originating here.

The tariffs, duty and taxes I'm fine with paying, but it if my package is being held up because UPS directly told me additional information is missing I'm going to hold the JLS responsible. I've been very transparent and communicative to JLS about the situation which I don't think they understand on what to do. I've ordered another international package and it just left the notorious Louisville UPS hub and is being delivered this weekend. 

7 hours ago, Big Hands said:

 

It's not their fault we're implementing tariffs. And, FTR, I ordered from JLS just a day after the new policy went into effect (Labor Day weekend). I received two shipments (bought some baits too a day after ordering the reel) in the same box. Then after I received the orders, I was contacted by FedEx to pay the tariffs, fees, and taxes. So, JLS chose a path to take regarding what is admittedly a challenging situation that in practice isn't working out so well. Hopefully, they can adjust their program so it works well enough for all.

 

Digitaka has chosen a different approach that seems to be working better from their USA customer's POV.  In hindsight, it makes more sense because costs to the customer are known upfront, and the buck stops with them. Bravo to them. 

 

I hope JLS can adjust their practices to work better and smoother. I have used them a few times and consider them excellent to deal with, and they have responded reasonably soon when I had any questions, including questions about the tariffs.

 

To @2earlye, I'm sorry that happened to you, and I hope they get it fixed soon. I'd be upset that my goods were being held up too, and I think that you're justified to purchase elsewhere at least until you can be assured that this won't be happening going forward.

Ordering after labor day didn't affect the new policies until a couple weeks later (that's when I ordered). So you were very lucky lol. 

 

I just wanted to bring awareness to JLS's so anyone that decides to order from them might experience delays with UPS if proper paper work isn't fill out. 

 

I do hope it's not JLS and its UPS's incompetence on the international package backlog issues going on. I did just have another international package pass US customs with no delays being delivered this weekend.

11 hours ago, 2earlye said:

UPS's / US customs broker told me this morning that the shipper was missing information on the packaging so that's why it was being held up for over a month. Plus I never got an update on UPS saying "Your package has cleared customs and is on the way," (like I did with my other packages from Japan) once it reached the KY hub.

 

So either JLS is missing information, UPS is backed up, or UPS contacted JLS, but JLS didn't see UPS info on sending the missing information within those weeks. So far my experience with JLS is pretty terrible. 3-5 days no email responses, and just letting me know to not worry. 

 

Thanks for the additional details.

 

Do you know what info they need from JLS? That's weird.

 

I've ordered from them maybe 5 times and it's always been a very good experience.

 

Good luck.

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Thanks for the additional details.

 

Do you know what info they need from JLS? That's weird.

 

I've ordered from them maybe 5 times and it's always been a very good experience.

 

Good luck.

UPS requested harmonization codes. I emailed JLS about it a few times, and said they contacted UPS but no detail of what was said so it left me in the dark. 

 

I would just stay clear of JDM shops that don't disclose an understanding of tariffs, taxes, or other related information regarding the US customs issue. 

49 minutes ago, 2earlye said:

I would just stay clear of JDM shops

 

I won't speak for all, but I "think" I can speak for the majority and YES, this is what most are doing.

Yep. Definitely what I’ve been doing. 
 

 

UPS probably decided they wanted to check the origin of aluminum of the goods and JLS most likely didn't declare on the shipping info. May be it was a good thing this happened and it got sent back as you would've gotten hit with another 50% duty. 

15 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Digitaka has chosen a different approach that seems to be working better from their USA customer's POV.  In hindsight, it makes more sense because costs to the customer are known upfront, and the buck stops with them. Bravo to them. 

 

I could be wrong, but isn't Digitaka just splitting the 15% tariff?

 

I doubt (once again could be wrong) that they are also splitting or paying for the additional carrier fee.

 

That's the biggest unknown right now.

 

15% is 15%. Easy to plan for.

 

Not knowing what DHL, UPS, or FedEx is ALSO going to charge is the main problem.

Yes - they're splitting the tariff until the end of the month...then we pay the whole thing unless they extend it

 

Over a certain dollar (yen) amount, they have free shipping...so should be no additional carrier fee.

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Over a certain dollar (yen) amount, they have free shipping...so should be no additional carrier fee.

 

Carriers are charging additional fees due to the tariffs.

 

Ends up being a lot more than "normal" shipping and the 15%.

 

It's a whole different charge.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Yes - they're splitting the tariff until the end of the month...then we pay the whole thing unless they extend it

 

Over a certain dollar (yen) amount, they have free shipping...so should be no additional carrier fee.

Ordered a reel from Digitaka on Tuesday and arrived today with tracking numbers. No issues with price everything up front.👍

Tom

2 hours ago, 4g63power said:

UPS probably decided they wanted to check the origin of aluminum of the goods and JLS most likely didn't declare on the shipping info. May be it was a good thing this happened and it got sent back as you would've gotten hit with another 50% duty. 

It never got sent back, and it's limbo at UPS Louisville, KY. But if I were hit with a 50% duty I'd reject the delivery completely. Either way I'm considering this rod a lost, and hopefully JLS pulls through with UPS, but for now the lack of transparency lost faith in JLS and left I'm completely in the dark.

 

I know UPS is checking the origins of aluminum and tons of customers are getting penalized for it, but does still still apply to my fishing rod since it's major of the rod is graphite/carbon fiber? I assume the guide rails are aluminum but it's such a minimal part of the rod I wouldn't think it could cause massive delays and paper work.

It is extremely unlikely that your reel is held up because UPS did some kind of deep dive into the aluminum content of your commercial product and then the provenance of said aluminum. I’d love to see some info on that.

6 hours ago, 2earlye said:

It never got sent back, and it's limbo at UPS Louisville, KY. But if I were hit with a 50% duty I'd reject the delivery completely. Either way I'm considering this rod a lost, and hopefully JLS pulls through with UPS, but for now the lack of transparency lost faith in JLS and left I'm completely in the dark.

 

I know UPS is checking the origins of aluminum and tons of customers are getting penalized for it, but does still still apply to my fishing rod since it's major of the rod is graphite/carbon fiber? I assume the guide rails are aluminum but it's such a minimal part of the rod I wouldn't think it could cause massive delays and paper work.

Ok i wasn't aware it's a rod, thought it was a reel and for some reason i thought it was sent back to japan lure shop. Sorry

Well it's a UPS problem.

 

Thousands of packages shipped from overseas are stuck in hubs across the US.

 

@2earlye