/mainlogo.webp)
Auction Service
Lunarcat bids on Japanese auctions and arranges worldwide shipping.
Supported websites
- Yahoo Auctions
- Mercari auctions
- Any other valid auctions
How to bid
Add the auction to the Cart under Auctions with your maximum bid.
Make your life easier with the Lunarcat Item Mover.
Pay at checkout.
Customers above Luna Basic IV have the option to bid first and pay later.
Increase the maximum bid from Mypage if necessary.
What can be purchased and shipped
Most ordinary items can be won and shipped.
Many items that other services reject can also be won and shipped through Lunarcat.
Needs paperwork
Some items need paperwork to be exported or to clear customs.
These items can be shipped once the documents are prepared, and the service charge for the paperwork applies.
Examples
- Animal products: CITES
- Antiques and swords: Certificate for Export of Antiques
- Food (US only): FDA Prior Notice
- Glasses and sunglasses (US only): Drop Ball Certificate
- Lighters: Sanitary Certificate
- Plants: Phytosanitary Certificate
- Watches (US only): Watch Worksheet
- Any other item that can ship with a permit or proper documentation
For details, see Special Categories.
Domestic shipping only
Flammable items can be shipped domestically only.
Lunarcat bids on these items only for domestic shipping or pickup from the Lunarcat office.
Examples
- Perfumes and fragrances
- Flammable cosmetics
- Alcohol based stationery
- Lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries on their own
Batteries can ship overseas when contained inside a device.
Fees
Supported payment methods are PayPal (including Credit/Debit cards) and Wise.
Every charge is in JPY.
Fee logic
An auction fee is charged on top of the bid and domestic shipping cost (if applicable).
The auction fee is calculated as the greater of the two values.
Per listing
¥600
Tier rate
7~15%
- Per listing: a minimum fee for each auction listing.
- Tier rate: a percentage of the bid total.
New users start at 15% and the rate drops with the user tier.
The maximum bid and the fee are paid at checkout.
After the auction ends, the fee is recalculated on the winning bids.
Lost listings are fully refunded, and the unused part of the maximum bid is refunded too.
Examples
These examples use the 15% rate for new users and leave out domestic shipping.
One auction won
Winning bid ¥2,500.
- Per listing: ¥600 ★
- Tier rate: ¥2,500 × 15% = ¥375
All auctions lost
All payments will be refunded.
High value auctions
Winning bid(s): ¥150,000 total
Tier rate fee: ¥50,000 × 15% + ¥100,000 × 10% = ¥17,500
Auction fee: ¥17,500 or ¥600 × the number of auctions won, whichever is greater
For discount information, see the Fees and Costs page.
To estimate the full cost from purchase to import, use the simulator.
Bidding logic
Yahoo Auctions
The maximum bid is placed right away and Yahoo automatic bidding does the rest.
Yahoo raises the bid by the smallest amount needed to lead, up to the maximum bid.
Example
Starting bid ¥1,000; maximum bid ¥10,000.
We place your maximum bid of ¥10,000. The system sets our bid to ¥1,000.
A competitor bids ¥5,000. The system raises our bid to ¥5,500.
Mercari auctions
Bids are placed manually near the end of the auction.
Bidding starts at 50% of the maximum bid and rises in steps until the auction ends or the maximum bid is reached.
Unique Aspects
Mercari auctions, with gradual bidding
Few services handle Mercari auctions.
Those that do simply place your maximum bid instantly.
Instead, we increase the bid gradually to save some money.
Bid first, pay later (Beta)
Bid without paying upfront.
Paying for an expensive item you may or may not win makes no sense.
This option is currently available to Luna Basic IV and above.
Bid increase without a deposit
You can raise your maximum bid without a deposit.
Courtesy system
It’s sad when an auction is lost by a small amount.
We may bid a little more than your maximum bid.
Of course, the extra cost will be absorbed on our side.
FAQ
What happens if the auction is lost?
The bid and the auction fee for that listing are fully refunded.
Can I give bidding instructions?
Instructions that conflict with the bidding logic are not followed.
Can I cancel my bid?
Please place your bid carefully.
We cannot cancel bids that are already placed.
Can items be consolidated into one parcel?
Yes.
Can you ship to my country?
As long as the shipping method is valid, shipping is available to your country.
See Shipping availability for supported countries.