What is Personal Import of PC Parts? Price Comparison of About 20 Parts to See If It’s Cheaper

Personal import of PC parts refers to the method of purchasing PC parts directly from overseas online shops.

Personal import is attractive because of its low prices, but this article will examine how much cheaper it actually is by checking about 20 different parts.

In addition, disadvantages and risks will also be explained, so it is recommended to consider these factors before deciding whether to import PC parts personally.

In conclusion, while the advantages such as price and product variety are attractive, the disadvantages seem to outweigh them, so personal import is not actively recommended.

Also, with the current weak yen, it is not cheaper at all, and at the very least, if the exchange rate returns to 120 yen per dollar, it might be worth considering for some parts.

Basic knowledge, roles, performance, and compatibility for other PC parts are also explained, so please refer to those as well.

≫ Related article: PC Parts List and Explanation of Each PC Part [A Must-Read for DIY PC Beginners]

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What is Personal Import of PC Parts?

Personal import of PC parts means purchasing PC parts directly from overseas online shops.

By doing this, it is possible to obtain products that are hard to find in Japan or high-performance parts at lower prices.

The biggest attraction of personal import is the low price, and many people consider personal import for this reason.

Also, there are many PC cases that are not available in Japan, so it is a good way to buy such products.

Whether the price is really cheaper will be verified later, but it is not a good idea to do personal import just because of these advantages.

For example, there are issues such as damage or loss during shipping, payment of customs duties and shipping fees, and language or time zone barriers when receiving warranty or support.

It is necessary to understand these disadvantages and risks and judge whether there is still an advantage to personal import after considering them.

About the Price of Personal Import of PC Parts

The biggest advantage and the most concerning point is the price of personal import, which will be explained here.

Personal import can sometimes be cheaper than buying domestically, but it is necessary to consider exchange rates, customs duties, and shipping fees.

About Customs Duties, Fees, and Shipping for Personal Import

When importing PC parts personally, unlike buying in Japan, customs duties, fees, and shipping costs are incurred.

About Customs Duties

Customs duties (import tax / Import Charges) are taxes imposed when goods cross borders.

The purposes of customs duties include being a source of national revenue, protecting domestic industries by taxing competitive foreign products, and adjusting the balance of trade.

The types and amounts of customs duties are determined in various ways, but for PC parts, customs duties of about 11–13% of the product price are generally applied.

Also, for some reason, depending on the part or shipping date, some items are subject to customs duties and some are not.

Later, in the price comparison, some parts have zero customs duty.

For example, on US Amazon, multiple shipping dates could be selected, but changing the date sometimes added or removed customs duties.

Therefore, depending on the timing, it may be possible to purchase other parts without customs duties.

About Shipping and Handling Fees

On Amazon Japan, shipping is free for purchases over 3,500 yen (and always free with Amazon Prime).

Considering the price range of PC parts, shipping is almost always free even when purchased individually.

In contrast, personal import incurs shipping and handling fees.

Especially, shipping from overseas is often expensive, so it is important to check the total cost including shipping.

On US Amazon, as with Amazon Japan, the total cost is displayed just before confirming the order.

On US Amazon, shipping and handling fees are shown together, and they are usually about 10–15% of the product price.

Also, for some products, the shipping fee can be as high as 50% or 80%, which is unusually expensive.

PC cases tend to have higher fees, probably due to their large package size and weight.

Price Comparison of Parts for Personal Import

Many people are considering personal import of PC parts because they have heard that it can be cheaper than buying in Japan.

Here, prices for about 20 parts will be compared.

Prices are compared between Amazon Japan and Amazon US.

In summary, at 150 yen per dollar, it is not cheaper at all.

Roughly, for parts under 50,000 yen, it is cheaper to buy in Japan, and for more expensive parts, personal import may be cheaper.

However, as mentioned later, considering the disadvantages and risks of personal import, a price difference of several tens of thousands of yen is desirable, but this is difficult at 150 yen per dollar.

Although the RTX 4090 is about 20,000 yen cheaper, making it look like a good deal, the part itself is very expensive and the risks make it hard to recommend.

On the other hand, at 120 yen per dollar, more than half of the parts are cheaper with personal import.

For CPUs and high-end motherboards, it is about 15,000 yen cheaper, and for the RTX 4090, it is 75,000 yen cheaper.

Considering the disadvantages and risks, 15,000 yen is a borderline case, but 75,000 yen may make personal import worthwhile.

Personal Import Fluctuates Greatly with Exchange Rates

When importing PC parts personally, exchange rate fluctuations have a major impact.

For example, when the yen is strong, overseas PC parts can often be purchased cheaply, but when the yen is weak, prices rise and it can end up being more expensive.

As of 2024/08/01, the yen is weak at about 150 yen per dollar, so it is not a good time for personal import.

Around 2020, the rate was about 110 yen per dollar, but since then, the yen has continued to weaken, at one point reaching 160 yen per dollar, a drop of about 50 yen.

Although it has fallen a little now, the yen is still weak, so it is a bad time to import.

About Shipping for Personal Import of PC Parts

When considering personal import of PC parts, it is important to know about shipping methods and delivery times.

Mainly, there are two types: air shipping and sea shipping, with the following general differences.

On Amazon US, the shipping method cannot be selected, but it is probably air shipping, and most products arrive in about two weeks.

On other online shops, you may be able to choose between air and sea shipping, so the features, advantages, and disadvantages of each are summarized below.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Shipping

The biggest advantage of air shipping is its fast delivery speed.

It is ideal for urgent deliveries, as packages can be delivered to their destination within a few days.

In addition, detailed tracking services are available, so the location of the package can be checked in real time, providing peace of mind.

Furthermore, air shipping is highly reliable because schedules are strictly managed and delays are rare.

Customs procedures can also be completed immediately after arrival, so packages can be received quickly.

In addition, there are multiple flights, making it easy to respond to emergencies, which is another major advantage of air shipping.

On the other hand, the disadvantage of air shipping is the high cost.

Compared to sea shipping, the cost is higher, so it may be difficult to use if the budget is tight.

There are restrictions on the weight and size of packages, so it may be difficult to send large or heavy items.

However, for PC parts, even the largest and heaviest PC cases are unlikely to exceed these restrictions, so this should not be a problem.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sea Shipping

The advantage of sea shipping is the low cost.

It is very economical for sending large packages or large quantities of goods, as it allows for low-cost transportation of large amounts of cargo.

There are also few restrictions on weight and size, so large or heavy items can be shipped without problems.

However, as mentioned earlier, this is not very relevant for shipping PC parts.

However, there are some disadvantages to sea shipping.

First, the slow delivery speed is the biggest disadvantage.

It often takes several weeks to months for delivery, so it is not suitable for urgent shipments.

Also, tracking information is often limited, making it difficult to know the location of the package.

Furthermore, it is easily affected by weather and port conditions, which can cause delays and lower reliability.

Customs procedures also take time, so it may take longer for the package to arrive.

Advantages of Personal Import of PC Parts

First, the advantages of personal import of PC parts will be explained.

Low Price

The biggest advantage of personal import of PC parts is the low price.

By using overseas online shops, the same products can be obtained at lower prices than buying domestically.

However, as mentioned earlier, personal import is greatly affected by exchange rates, so be sure to compare with Japanese prices and check the current exchange rate to determine if there is a price advantage.

Access to Overseas and Rare Products

Some PC parts are only available overseas, so being able to access such products is an advantage.

By purchasing parts that are hard to find or not available at all in Japan directly from overseas, it is possible to obtain the latest technology or products that meet specific needs.

Especially for PC cases, there are some that are only available overseas, so for DIY users who like rare items, personal import is an option for obtaining rare products.

Disadvantages (Risks) of Personal Import of PC Parts

Next, the disadvantages of personal import of PC parts will be explained.

The disadvantages are mainly risks such as warranty and shipping troubles, so it is recommended to weigh these against the price advantage and consider whether personal import suits you.

Difficulty with Warranty and Returns

One of the major disadvantages of personal import of PC parts is the difficulty with warranty and returns.

When purchased domestically, warranty can be received from the manufacturer or retailer in case of failure or defect.

However, when imported personally from overseas, it can take a lot of time and effort to receive warranty service.

First, it is necessary to contact the overseas manufacturer or retailer to confirm whether the warranty applies.

There are language and time zone barriers, so communication often does not go smoothly.

Furthermore, to receive warranty service, the product must be sent back overseas, so at the very least, the shipping time is required, and if it is a return after being sent, the round-trip time must be waited for.

Even normal shipping takes one or two weeks, so during that time, nothing can be done, which can greatly disrupt schedules.

Risk of Shipping Troubles

There is also a risk of shipping troubles with personal import.

First, international shipping involves longer distances and periods, increasing the risk of lost or damaged packages.

Depending on the shipping company, tracking services may be insufficient, making it difficult to know the current location of the package.

Especially since PC parts are precision equipment and vulnerable to shock and moisture, inadequate packaging can cause failures.

There are also many reports of packages arriving with damaged packaging, and customs inspections during shipping can cause delays.

Although not personal import, based on actual experience with overseas shipping, such as sending and receiving laptops or receiving warranty service from overseas headquarters, shipping periods were long (one or two weeks), but there was no damage to packaging or product failures.

Such risks are rare, but please consider them when deciding whether to do personal import.

Risk of Scams

When purchasing from overseas online shops, avoid suspicious sites.

Since it is an overseas site, it may be difficult to know which online shops are trustworthy.

If it is Amazon US, everyone knows it, so it is better to use such sites first.

Also, even if it is an unfamiliar online shop, if you can check the company information or reviews yourself, it may be okay to use it.

In the worst case, if it is a scam site, you may pay money and not receive the product, and your credit card information may be stolen.

However, this can also happen in Japan, so never use suspicious online shops, regardless of the country.

Summary: The Risks Outweigh the Low Price, So Personal Import Is Not Actively Recommended

This article examined whether personal import of PC parts is really cheaper by comparing specific prices, and explained the advantages and disadvantages of personal import.

As a result of the price comparison, personal import is more advantageous for many parts at the previous rate of 120 yen per dollar, but at the current rate of 150 yen per dollar, it is not advantageous at all.

Also, even if it is 10,000–20,000 yen cheaper at 120 yen per dollar, considering the disadvantages and risks of personal import, it is a borderline case, and only for expensive parts like the RTX 4090, which is 75,000 yen cheaper, does it seem to have a price advantage.

How the disadvantages and risks of personal import are felt varies from person to person, so if the price advantage is still appealing after considering these, personal import of PC parts may be worth considering.

Basic knowledge, roles, performance, and compatibility for other PC parts are also explained, so please refer to those as well.

≫ Related article: PC Parts List and Explanation of Each PC Part [A Must-Read for DIY PC Beginners]

あわせて読みたい

PC Parts Estimation & Compatibility Check Tool

Automatically checks each component you need when selecting parts for a custom-built PC—perfect for beginners.