I didn't even knew they had an express service. But after today I wouldn't recommend it. :laugh

It's just 12€ I have to pay, so it's ok. But overall it makes zhe CDs even more expensive. CDJapan marks the package as a gift if you choose that option. But since they also have to write the value of the items included on the outside and it's more than 60€, I have to pay custom tax nonetheless. If the value would be under 30€ I think, I wouldn't have to pay anything.

Edit: oh I just saw I need to make a new thread. I will make one later after I'm home again.

If I order Japan press releases , I always use HMV cos of the discounts they give for online members , especially with limited versions as sometimes the discounts they give is huge & it offsets the EMS shipping cost

I seldom use CDJapan nowadays & if I do on rare occasions , I choose airmail but that's only if I buy 1 release

So does this mean be it if you choose airmail or EMS , you still have to pay custom taxes regardless ? :confused

Acid BLOOD Cherry 5th day sales - 3,015

The album went up to #2 yesterday

I'm a little surprised, because I often hear people say they order via HMV, but everytime I search via their store, I can't find the releases of Japanese artists. Are we talking about the same HMV? :laugh

Yeah it doesn't matter if I use EMS or airmale. Packages that were shipped from outside the EU always will be checked by the customs office and if the value of the package isn't declared on the outside, I have to pick it up at the customs office and bring an invoice with me.
Most things in Germany you buy are taxed with 19%, since I didn't pay taxes when I bought something from Japan, I have to pay the tax when it arrives or otherwise they won't hand it over.
You don't have to pay customs if the value of what you ordered doesn't exceed 30€. I made the experience that often they will let packages with a value of under 50€ also pass, but for everything that is around 60€ of value I definiteley have to pay custom taxes.
That's why I prefer YesAsia over CDJapan, because they seem to have an office in the Netherlands (if I remember correctly), since their packages are send from there. And since the Netherlands are in the EU, I don't have to pay taxes. But with YesAsia you never know if you will get first press or not, that's why I order via CDJapan in the end.

And I made a new thread btw: http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694