Like the title states. Has anyone ordered from Japan Lure Shop or any JDM rods from Japan within the past 2-3 weeks and had successful delivery of your packages with UPS? I ordered a rod a few weeks back and so far the package is currently at the Louisville, KY UPS hub and has been nothing but warehouse scans, and from what I've been told US custom now deals with international packages so there's a backlog of packages.

 

I'm counting on JLS to make sure the paper work is done thoroughly since the US has gotten rid of the de minimis and tariffs enacted. So has anyone gotten their rods or other items?

I ordered on labor day weekend and they did not hold my package hostage at FedEx or Customs and have:

• received two SMS texts (that correctly referenced the tracking number) requesting payment
• several phone calls
• creating a FedEx account
• received an invoice in the mail
• attempted to pay via the SMS texts, but being told the links have expired
• trying to find a way to enter the invoice number on the FedEx website
  • they have a way to do that, but it wouldn't recognize my invoice number
• called again today to ask them to invoice my account so I can pay it through my account
  • sent an email to the correct department requesting to be invoiced via my account

We shall see. . . .

 

They did have paperwork from Customs in the mailed invoice they sent. I'm not mad about any of it, especially since they did not hold up delivery of the package. I was initially suspicious of being invoiced via SMS text, but since finding out that they have been texting for payment I feel I have been trying in good faith to pay them. I felt it would be good to pay it through an account to have proper records available for myself and them. 

 

So, as soon as they invoice me through my account, I will be happy to send them their payment. I will also say that JLS have been very responsive to my emails to them regarding some information I was trying to get from them. Any time I order internationally, I am assuming that a package could be held up for any number of reasons.

I own a couple shipping and receiving centers.  We have about 600 private mailboxes so I've gotten a birds eye view of about 5-10 inbound internationals since the change.  We haven't seen any internationals with the postal service as the carrier.  That makes sense because many foreign postal services are refusing all international package shipments.  

 

With FE, DHL and UPS things are consistently inconsistent.  Almost all customers are receiving phone calls from the carrier.  Those that weren't contacted didn't have a phone number provided by the shipper.  They had to call into the carrier to get the package released.  At least twice customers were told they had to pay to get the package released but then the package showed up anyway.  From talking to the drivers, UPS theoretically will accept a paper check handed to the driver but YMMV.  

 

 

I ordered something from the UK.  I got it seamlessly from UPS.  

 

good luck with your's.

Happened to me in July.  Package was held up for two weeks.  It's not the Vendor or parcel service; it's customs taking their time.

I ordered an Orochi X10 a few weeks ago and I received it in 3 days!  The tariff sucked as I had to pay an additional $80.  Could have just bought it from a US for the same when it was all said and done but ironically enough, the US shipped rod probably would have taken longer lol

6 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Happened to me in July.  Package was held up for two weeks.  It's not the Vendor or parcel service; it's customs taking their time.

I made a purchase in August a week or two before the de minimus deadline and had zero issues.

5 hours ago, Robinhood21 said:

I ordered an Orochi X10 a few weeks ago and I received it in 3 days!  The tariff sucked as I had to pay an additional $80.  Could have just bought it from a US for the same when it was all said and done but ironically enough, the US shipped rod probably would have taken longer lol

Do they make you pay taxes when buying from Japan? As in state taxes.

I don't know about other sites - but Digitaka has never charged me tax.

1 hour ago, Micro Module Police said:

Do they make you pay taxes when buying from Japan? As in state taxes.

I don’t believe so

11 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

Do they make you pay taxes when buying from Japan? As in state taxes.

I have always paid state sales tax when I ordered off Aliexpress. Also wonder if they actually sent the taxes collected to my state?

15 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I don't know about other sites - but Digitaka has never charged me tax.

 

I just bought a reel from them and DHL sent me a bill for $150 for tariff. 🥲

 

First time in dozens of purchases from them, backlash, asian portal. 
 

 

2 hours ago, sierra11b said:

 

I just bought a reel from them and DHL sent me a bill for $150 for tariff. 🥲

 

First time in dozens of purchases from them, backlash, asian portal. 
 

 

d**n that's crazy. I'm assuming that's 50% aluminum tariff?

2 hours ago, sierra11b said:

 

I just bought a reel from them and DHL sent me a bill for $150 for tariff. 🥲

 

First time in dozens of purchases from them, backlash, asian portal. 
 

 

 

How much was the reel?

 

Did they break down the charges?

$400. They did not. I ate it and won't be doing that again in the foreseeable future. 

On 9/23/2025 at 9:59 PM, Big Hands said:

I ordered on labor day weekend and they did not hold my package hostage at FedEx or Customs and have:

• received two SMS texts (that correctly referenced the tracking number) requesting payment
• several phone calls
• creating a FedEx account
• received an invoice in the mail
• attempted to pay via the SMS texts, but being told the links have expired
• trying to find a way to enter the invoice number on the FedEx website
  • they have a way to do that, but it wouldn't recognize my invoice number
• called again today to ask them to invoice my account so I can pay it through my account
  • sent an email to the correct department requesting to be invoiced via my account

We shall see. . . .

 

They did have paperwork from Customs in the mailed invoice they sent. I'm not mad about any of it, especially since they did not hold up delivery of the package. I was initially suspicious of being invoiced via SMS text, but since finding out that they have been texting for payment I feel I have been trying in good faith to pay them. I felt it would be good to pay it through an account to have proper records available for myself and them. 

 

So, as soon as they invoice me through my account, I will be happy to send them their payment. I will also say that JLS have been very responsive to my emails to them regarding some information I was trying to get from them. Any time I order internationally, I am assuming that a package could be held up for any number of reasons.

I wished they shipped my packaged through Fedex. I would have gladly paid the fees and taxes, but at what cost... because I probably could have just ordered an Orochi and called it a day.

On 9/24/2025 at 12:08 PM, Robinhood21 said:

I ordered an Orochi X10 a few weeks ago and I received it in 3 days!  The tariff sucked as I had to pay an additional $80.  Could have just bought it from a US for the same when it was all said and done but ironically enough, the US shipped rod probably would have taken longer lol

You bought from JLS and got it in 3 days? What delivery service did that go through? I'm coming up on 2 weeks and already paid $40 on import fees. I've heard others who've ordered (non-related fishing gear) that their packages have been stuck since June.

23 hours ago, 4g63power said:

d**n that's crazy. I'm assuming that's 50% aluminum tariff?

 

On 9/25/2025 at 10:06 AM, sierra11b said:

 

I just bought a reel from them and DHL sent me a bill for $150 for tariff. 🥲

 

First time in dozens of purchases from them, backlash, asian portal. 
 

 

A $150 tariffs charge for little aluminum screws on the reel probably. I hope my rod doesn't have that charge. 

On 9/25/2025 at 5:32 AM, ike8120 said:

I have always paid state sales tax when I ordered off Aliexpress. Also wonder if they actually sent the taxes collected to my state?

From what I've read, UPS acknowledges Aliexpress as an international shipper. So any packages that come in from Aliexpress are bypassed since the taxes and tariffs are already accounted when you made the purchase online. 

2 hours ago, 2earlye said:

I wished they shipped my packaged through Fedex. I would have gladly paid the fees and taxes, but at what cost... because I probably could have just ordered an Orochi and called it a day.

You bought from JLS and got it in 3 days? What delivery service did that go through? I'm coming up on 2 weeks and already paid $40 on import fees. I've heard others who've ordered (non-related fishing gear) that their packages have been stuck since June.

Seriously, I got it in 3 days.  It shipped UPS

On 9/25/2025 at 1:06 PM, sierra11b said:

 

I just bought a reel from them and DHL sent me a bill for $150 for tariff. 🥲

 

First time in dozens of purchases from them, backlash, asian portal. 
 

 

This is from digitaka? Did you ask digitaka about it?

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

This is from digitaka? Did you ask digitaka about it?

 

IIRC, Digitaka is closed for inventory until 10/2/25. Last time I looked, they were not going to accept orders until that time.

So glad we aren't dealing with this in Canada. A bit over a month ago i've ordered for around 140.000jpy of stock (rod, lures, a reel, etc) from Japan, and had to pay like $75cad in customs.

To @sierra11b you need to ask DHL for a detailed “Bill of Materials” (BoM). This will have a detailed breakdown of any and ALL charges. That will show what the $150 is for.

 

Lots of mistakes are being made right now, especially by DHL. I urge you to ask for the BoM so you can see what the charge is. This is something that a lot of us would like to know.

 

Thank you!

On 9/26/2025 at 11:04 AM, sierra11b said:

$400. They did not. I ate it and won't be doing that again in the foreseeable future. 

Jeepers, that’s $90 more than the 15% tariff.

 

Pretty stiff add on from DHL.

 

Granted, it does take more administration/work from them.

 

I still haven't been invoiced on my tariff charges by Fedex, but they did say it might take a couple of weeks since they are inundated right now. 

 

In light of the current ambiguity around how this process will work and what seems like fees that are in some cases exorbitant, I have decided to wait on placing any future orders until the process and fees can be clarified so I know what to expect before ordering.

8 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

In light of the current ambiguity around how this process will work and what seems like fees that are in some cases exorbitant, I have decided to wait on placing any future orders until the process and fees can be clarified so I know what to expect before ordering.

 

Unless you have an unlimited pocket, I think 9/10 are thinking/doing the same.

 

My wife won't complain, I can guarantee that.