Samurai Shokai

[Tavroch]

Hello all,

 

Does anybody have any experience with the "Samurai Shokai" Japanese Sword Online Webshop?

Looks like they stock some nice items.

[Brian]

Never dealt with them, but got a request a while ago from them to add them to the links list, so they must be reading the forum occasionally. Could be one of the dealers I met at the DTI, not sure.

 

Brian

[Tavroch]

I mailed them, here's how it went:

 

RvH: Can you please send me your ordering information in English?

Including your international shipping and return policies.

I live in The Netherlands.

 

Samurai Shokai: Everything is written in Order Form.

 

RvH: I still have a question about point (6) of your order form:

“(6)When the tip of delivering is the foreign country, the returns and repayment is not possible,Please approve it.”

(Sounds exactly the same as the order-form of e-sword.jp. RvH)

Does this mean that your guarantees in point (1) do not apply to foreign customers?

In other words:

Can I get a full refund if the garantees from point (1) apply?

In other words:

Can I return a sword and get a full refund if something is wrong with the sword?

I want to be absolutely certain of this before I would consider ordering from your shop.

 

Samurai Shokai: >Can I return a sword and get a full refund if something is wrong with the sword?

It is not possible to do.

 

RvH: Thank you for your answer.

In that case I will not order from your shop.

Too bad; you have some nice items.

But I will not consider ordering when it is not possible to return goods under guarantee.

Thank you for your time.

 

 

And that's all as far as I'm concerned.

Just so you know.

[Brian]

Rob,

I can honestly understand their point. Most of these dealers do most of their business within Japan, and are just starting to explore the overseas market. However with the laws and fees as they are, it is a huge hassle to take a sword back. Aoi does it, but that is a rare exception. Who would cover the fees to re-import the sword and submit it for torokusho etc?

It's not a perfect situation for someone overseas, but at least they are honest about it.

Of course this does entitle you to refuse to do business with them, and that is perfectly understandable too. Many dealers simply refuse to ship overseas, others try and find a middle ground. Of course the best thing to do is to examine the sword in hand before buying, but we all know that isn't always possible. In your case, you are perhaps best served by someone with a money back guarantee.

 

Brian