[Comparison] Target! The Best Way to Purchase from America’s Discount Store from Japan

Source: target.com

• This article is for reference only as it is merely a translated version of the Japanese article below.
  【比較】Target！アメリカのディスカウントストア・日本から一番お得に購入できる方法は？ (Japanese version)

Target is a popular discount store in the United States, offering a wide variety of products. Many people in Japan are likely interested in purchasing these products.

This article provides a thorough comparison of the best ways to purchase Target products from Japan at the most affordable rates. It also introduces cost-effective payment methods and recommends the best debit cards for making payments.

Use this guide to find the most economical way to get your hands on Target products!

What is Target?

Source: bullseyeshop.com

Target is a discount store chain in the United States. As of February 2019, it operates 1,844 stores across the country.

Target is known for its iconic red bullseye logo. Some may also recognize its mascot, Bullseye the dog.

Target: The Fifth Largest Discount Store in the U.S.

Founded in 1962, Target has grown to become the fifth-largest discount store chain in the United States.

Target offers a wide range of products, from groceries to electronics, clothing, household goods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The sales floor area of a typical Target store is roughly the size of two Tokyo Domes!

Target’s stores come in different formats. In addition to the standard Target stores, there are “Target Greatland,” which are larger stores that do not sell grocery items, and “SuperTarget,” which offers an extensive selection of fresh foods, including meat and vegetables.

Popular Products at Target America

Source: target.com

Target offers a wide range of popular products that cater to various needs and preferences. Let’s introduce some of the most popular items.

Clothing

Target’s clothing line is popular among a wide age range, from children to adults.

Especially in women’s fashion, limited edition collaborations with famous brands such as Jovovich-Hawk, Anya Hindmarch, and Botkier have gained popularity. Many users from Japan wish to purchase these items, and special sections are often set up on overseas fashion shopping sites like BUYMA.

Toys

Target offers a large selection of toys, especially during the holiday season. From Thanksgiving at the end of November to the New Year, there are major discount sales through Christmas coupons and the store’s app, attracting many shoppers.

In Japan, American toys are also popular for their vibrant colors and stylish designs, and many people purchase them as souvenirs from trips to the U.S.

Eco Bags

Eco bags, a shopping essential, are also a popular item. The design featuring the signature red color and double circle target logo is highly popular in Japan. Many are listed for sale on platforms like Amazon, Yahoo Shopping, and flea market apps like Rakuma and Mercari.

Can Target America Ship to Japan?

Source: target.com

Target offers a wide variety of stylish and functional products. It would be great if purchases could be made from Japan as well. This article explores whether Target’s online shop supports international shipping.

Target’s Online Shop Is Limited to U.S. Domestic Orders

Target provides online shopping services, offering a wide range of products similar to their physical stores, including groceries, clothing, electronics, toys, and more.

Through the membership program “Target Circle,” customers can enjoy discounts and benefits, as well as services like “Order Pickup,” where items ordered online can be picked up in-store, and “Same Day Delivery,” which ensures delivery on the same day of purchase.

Unfortunately, these services are only available within the U.S., and Target does not ship products internationally.

Target’s App for U.S. Customers

Although the app cannot be used in Japan, Target has developed a convenient app to enhance the shopping experience for U.S. customers.

Those planning to study or work in the U.S. should definitely take note of this app.

The Target app offers the following features:

• 1% cashback on purchases and discount coupons.
• The ability to check product availability.
• Scanning product barcodes to view prices and reviews.
• Mobile payment options (with potential discounts based on conditions).
• Drive Up: Orders can be brought out to the customer’s car and placed in the trunk.
• Same Day Delivery: Orders can be delivered to the customer’s home on the same day.

The Target app is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

android：Google Play – ”Target Corporation”

iphone：App Store – “Target”

Target America Does Not Ship to Japan

According to Target’s official website, they only deliver to addresses within the U.S. As such, it is not possible to directly purchase items from Target’s online shop for delivery to Japan.

How Can Target Products Be Purchased from Japan?

Source: buyma.com　alicehouse.com

There are several ways to purchase Target products while in Japan. Each method comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, which are outlined below.

Purchasing through BUYMA

BUYMA is a Japanese online shopping platform that offers a wide range of high-end brands and famous manufacturers from around the world.

Personal shoppers located across the globe buy the products locally and ship them, allowing access to items not yet released in Japan or rare products that can only be found overseas.

One of the benefits of BUYMA is that it operates as a Japanese shopping site, providing a sense of security for users. In case of any issues, customer support is available in Japanese. Additionally, it offers a variety of payment methods, making it easy to use.

However, a downside is that the prices are often higher than at physical stores. This is because the personal shopper’s transportation costs, expenses, and fees, as well as BUYMA’s commission, are added to the price, making it naturally more expensive than the market rate.

Using a Purchasing Agent

When buying from overseas e-commerce sites that do not ship to Japan, most people rely on either a “forwarding service” or a “purchasing agent.”

With a forwarding service, the buyer purchases the product online themselves, and the product is shipped to an address in the U.S. (usually a warehouse) specified by the forwarding service. The forwarding service then sends the product to the buyer’s address in Japan.

However, Target’s online shop does not ship to forwarding service warehouses.

Therefore, it’s necessary to use a purchasing agent that handles everything from purchasing the product to shipping it to Japan.

By using a purchasing agent, not only can all complicated import procedures be entrusted to them, but shipping costs can be saved by consolidating multiple products into one shipment.

Additionally, the purchasing agent can check the products before shipping, helping to avoid issues with defective items.

The disadvantage is the cost, as purchasing agents typically charge a commission of 10-20% of the product price.

Asking Family or Friends Living in the U.S.

The cheapest method is to ask family or friends living in the U.S. to purchase the product. In this case, the only costs are the price of the product and the shipping fee. Since communication is quick and easy, it provides peace of mind.

Comparing Popular Target America Product “Eco-Bag”: Which Method Is the Most Affordable?

Source: target.com

A comparison was made between three different purchasing methods to see the price differences. The eco-bag from Target was chosen as the item for this comparison.

The product’s dimensions were set at 30.5 cm (width) × 40.6 cm (height) × 19 cm (depth), and when folded, it measures about 21 cm (height) × 31 cm (width) × 2 cm (thickness). Its weight was considered to be 50 grams.

Here are the results!

The most affordable option was asking family or friends, followed by purchasing via BUYMA, and lastly, using a purchasing agent.

While these price differences were evident, it is worth choosing the method that best fits the desired product. For instance, if the item is not available on BUYMA, using a purchasing agent might be the best option.

Note: U.S. domestic sales tax is assumed to be 10%, and all prices are shown inclusive of tax. The exchange rate used for calculations is 1 USD = 150 JPY.

Since the taxable value is below 10,000 JPY, no import duties or consumption taxes are incurred when importing into Japan.

1. Requesting Family or Friends Living in the U.S.

Product Cost: 1 USD (150 JPY)

Shipping Cost: 5 USD (750 JPY)

Total: 6 USD (900 JPY)

One option is to ask family or friends in the U.S. to purchase the item at a Target store and send it. The shipping method here is based on using a large envelope (First-Class Mail) from USPS (the

United States Postal Service). First-Class Mail is the cheapest postal option, equivalent to standard mail in Japan, and it takes about two weeks for the package to arrive. However, tracking is only available within the U.S.

2. Using a Purchasing Agent

The basic cost paid to a purchasing agent includes the product price, shipping cost, and service fee.

If you choose optional services like insurance for the package, additional fees will apply.

In this case, let’s calculate based on Yamato Shipping’s SIZE4 (with a total dimension of 40cm and weight up to 5kg), which is often used by purchasing agents for its low shipping costs and included insurance.

The service fee is typically set according to the product price, or it ranges between 10-20% of the sale price. For this example, an average fee of 8 USD for items up to 50 USD will be used.

Product Cost: 1 USD (150 JPY)

Shipping Cost: 25 USD (including 9.25% fuel surcharge) (3,750 JPY)

Service Fee: 8 USD (1,200 JPY)

Total: 34 USD (5,100 JPY)

3. Using BUYMA

BUYMA allows for a shopping experience similar to Japanese online stores. Once you select the desired item, all you need to do is wait for it to arrive. The displayed total includes the product cost, shipping, and service fee.

In this case, the shopper will ship using USPS First-Class Mail, and it will take approximately 10-20 days to arrive.

Note: If you want to upgrade to Priority Mail with tracking and insurance, it will cost an additional 7,000 JPY.

One thing to be cautious of is that on BUYMA, some sellers include shipping in the price, while others list it separately (cash on delivery). Be sure to check the product details carefully so that the price isn’t unexpectedly higher due to shipping costs.

Total: 4,050 JPY

Choosing the Right Payment Method is Key to Saving More

When importing products from overseas to Japan, there is another cost that should not be overlooked: the fees incurred when transferring money abroad or when paying with a credit or debit card.

These fees are easy to miss since they don’t typically appear on the payment screen like the product price or shipping fees.

Let’s compare the differences between international money transfers and debit cards to see how they stack up.

Check Transfer Fees and Exchange Rates with the “Overseas Transfer Simulator”

When sending money abroad, many concerns arise: Which transfer service should be used? How long will it take for the money to arrive? What are the fees? What is the exchange rate?

Given the recent weakening of the yen, more people are likely looking for ways to send money at better rates.

However, investigating the fees and exchange rates of over 220 international transfer services can be overwhelming.

This is where the Overseas Transfer Simulator comes in. With this tool, users can compare about 20 major transfer services in just 30 seconds. After comparison, users can immediately visit each company’s website to complete registration or initiate a transfer.

For example, simulating the transfer of 10,000 JPY to a U.S. bank account might reveal just how much has been unknowingly lost to fees in the past!

Here are the results! The rankings from 1st to 3rd are as follows.

Here are the results for 16th to 19th. It was found that there is a difference of $42.25 between the 1st place Revolut and the 16th place MUFG.

Before making any international money transfers, be sure to use the International Money Transfer Simulator to find the most cost-effective method!

For more details about the International Money Transfer Simulator, click here!

Recommended Debit Cards for Payment: “WISE” and “Revolut”

Exchange fees for credit and debit cards can be significant as well. When the card company issues a bill, it includes not only the cost of the product and shipping but also an exchange fee for converting JPY to USD.

Here are some recommended debit cards with low exchange fees.

First, let’s compare the fees of regular credit cards and debit cards.

While regular credit cards charge a fee of 1.83% to 2.6%, Wise charges only 0.62%. With Revolut, weekday transactions incur fees of 0% to 0.5%. The fees are almost negligible.

By using Revolut on weekdays and Wise on weekends, exchange fees can be minimized!

The appeal of Revolut and Wise isn’t just about the low fees. Let’s explore what makes each unique!

【Revolut】

Revolute: REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN

The key feature of Revolut is the ability to issue “disposable virtual cards” for one-time transactions.

Many people may feel uneasy about using their cards for online shopping on foreign websites. However, with Revolut’s virtual cards, the card information disappears after each transaction. This means that even if the information is leaked, the risk of fraudulent use is minimized.

Additionally, Revolut supports refund processing, ensuring a secure shopping experience.

Revolut offers three plan options: Standard, Premium, and Metal.

The top-tier Metal plan includes a 1% cashback (up to 5,000 JPY), meaning with 200,000 JPY worth of transactions, the monthly fee of 1,980 JPY is effectively covered.

Exclusive Offer: 3 Months of Premium for Free

By signing up for Revolut Premium through this page, the usual monthly fee of 980 JPY is waived for the first three months.

This plan is recommended for those who frequently shop on international websites or want an easy way to manage foreign currencies.

By clicking the button below, you can access Revolut Premium for three months free.

＼ Get 3 Months of Premium for Free – Normally 980 JPY/month!／

【Wise】

Source: Wise Payments Japan K.K.

Wise supports both “Apple Pay” on iPhone and “Google Pay” on Android devices.

As a result, payments can be made with just a smartphone, making it a convenient feature for those who prefer not to carry a wallet or physical cards. It is also known for its high level of security. Registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau as a funds transfer provider, Wise is recognized for security measures on par with those of banks, providing peace of mind when opening an account.

Summary

This article compared the best ways to make affordable purchases from Target, a popular U.S. discount store. By selecting not only the right purchasing method but also an appropriate payment option, it is possible to save even more on your shopping!

Before sending payments, be sure to check the “Overseas Transfer Simulator.”