How to buy clothes from anywhere in the world

Though KURB streamlines searching for second-hand designer clothing from anywhere, the challenge of transporting it from anywhere remains a challenge. Fortunately, there are services known as “Proxies” who can remedy this, and are a critical component in our grail hunting arsenal. In this entry, I detail the steps needed to efficiently use Proxies, while also providing you with the knowledge to best apply it to your circumstance. If you’re serious about finding the best clothes at the best prices, this guide will tell you how it’s done, opening the doors to the world of designer resale clothing.

What is a proxy?

Proxy providers (Proxies) are entities that operate as a shipping hub, allowing designer clothing to be accessed without borders by remotely shopping on your behalf. Generally, a proxy offers 3 services, with a fee at each step:

1. Buying the item

2. Storing the item

3. Shipping the item

For the purpose of this guide, we’ll look at Japanese proxies. This is because importing from Japan has (thus far) been most popular within the second-designer shopping sphere. Here are some key aspects on which they can differ:

• Payment methods (not all accept PayPal for example)

• Fee system (different ways they price their service)

• Number of free days of storage (after which they dispose or you pay)

• Buying technology (automated buying vs manual buying)

• Point system (can be used for discounts)

• Coupons offered (different businesses have different agreements)

• Services (how they package and detail the items)

• International shipping agreements (some may have access to more affordable and different kinds of shipping providers)

Comparing the different proxies

Here are the key aspects of some of the most renowned proxy companies, allowing you to compare them:

Buyee

30 day free storage

Low fees

Pros

• Many Japanese platforms and marketplaces have deals in place with Buyee as their preferred proxy service provider

• Store and seasonal promotions

• Automated bidding & buying

Cons

• Limited customer service

• Can not correct shipping invoice

FromJapan

45 days free storage

Moderate fees

Pros

• Point system “FJ Points”

• Can buy form major Japanese platforms

• Store and seasonal promotions

• Automated bidding & buying tools

Cons

• Limited customer service

• Can not adjust shipping invoice

ZenMarket

60 days free storage

Low fees

Pros

• Point system “ZenPoints”

• Can buy form major Japanese platforms

• Store and seasonal promotions

• Automated bidding & buying tools

Cons

• Okay customer service

• Can not adjust shipping invoice

JapanRabbit

45 days free storage

High fees

Pros

• Can correct invoice amount

• Good packaging services

Cons

• Manual bidding and buying tools

• Can’t use paypal

On paper, Buyee may seem the best, but it lacks the ability to correct the invoice amount, which can be a major part of the cost when considering import duties. As someone who has used all the above over the past 10+ years, it’s become clear that there are two factors in particular that eclipse the rest: automation and being able to correct the invoice.

In a scenario where I didn’t feel urgency to buy, I would use JapanRabbit. While if I felt there would be competition for the item I would take advantage of Buyee’s automated services.'

Correcting the invoice value at your own discretion - misrepresenting a packages value with the intent of evading customs tax may not be legal in your country

This information is accurate as of 22/12/2024

How to use a proxy

Here’s the step-by-step guide for purchasing items from Japan. Despite using Japanese vendors as an example, this knowledge can be applied to vendors in other countries. But first, I want to highlight a few important considerations when using Proxies.

• Returns are RARELY possible when proxying, so make sure to always double-check the items you’re interested in. I suggest erring on the side of caution.

• Communication with sellers is seldom an option, so make sure you look at photos carefully and translate the Japanese.

• NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE SHIPPED, respect shipping bans.

With that said, let’s take this KURB Favorites selection, packed full of Japanese delicacies at various states of use and size, as an example.

1. Once you have selected your Proxy, take your item URL and plug it into their search tool. It may take a second or two for them to verify the item.

2. After which they will need to process your payment. The specifics depend on the proxy provider, but it’s generally similar to buying an item on a store.

3. After the payment has been processed they will buy the item on your behalf and ship it to their warehouse.

5. Delivering the item (fee)

• Once the item arrives at the proxy provider’s warehouse you will be notified, and the free storage clock begins.

• The item will sit in the warehouse until you decide to package the item.

6. Packing the item (fee)

• This is where you can choose to have several items consolidated together and select what additional services you may want (inspection, removing packaging, removing tags etc)

• You’ll be notified once the item(s) have been packed.

7. Shipping the item (fee)

• After packing, you can determine which shipping service you prefer. The quality, time, and price of the shipping service is highly dependent on where the package is going so if you’d like to know specifics perhaps someone on our Discord can help you out!

• Always go with tracked shipping.

8. Keep an eye on the tracking information and wait for the package to arrive

And there you have it- a guide for how to use proxies. If you have any questions please feel free to join our Discord, we have a community of experts on this topic who are happy to share their knowledge!

Advice

• We offer an efficient tool on KURB, for searching through Japanese resale platforms.

• Use the free storage strategically to consolidate as many items as possible to reduce shipping costs.

• Research the custom-taxes in your country - the tax alone can sometimes be the same as the price of its contents.

• Consider collectively buying with friends & family.

• Currency conversion is more of an approximation.

• Proxy services slow down around commercial holidays due to load & staff shortages.

• Buy within your means! You can not pay rent with a Rick Owens jacket no matter how priceless or rare it is!

Handy tools

• Translation: While shopping from Japan, you’ll find that many Japanese websites do not offer English translations (natively). I would advise a translation tool like Google Translate browser plugin (we’ve linked the plugin for Google Chrome but typically every browser will have a variant) or DeepL.

• Currency: not all websites offer currency conversion, it’s helpful to prepare a currency converter to get the approximate price of something

Frequently asked questions

What is a clothing proxy service?

A clothing proxy service buys an item from a seller on your behalf, receives it at a local warehouse, and forwards it to your address. This is useful when the seller does not accept international orders or ship to your country.

Is using a proxy shopping service legal?

Proxy shopping is generally legal, but you are responsible for following the import rules in your destination country. Do not buy prohibited items or ask a provider to declare an inaccurate value, and account for any duties or taxes you owe.

What fees should I expect when using a proxy?

Budget for the item price, delivery from the seller to the proxy warehouse, the proxy service fee, optional inspection or consolidation, international shipping, payment or currency-conversion fees, and any import duties or taxes.

Will I have to pay customs duties or import taxes?

That depends on your destination, the type and declared value of the goods, and local thresholds. Check the official customs guidance for your country before buying; using a proxy does not remove your tax or declaration obligations.

Can I return an item bought through a proxy?

Returns are often limited or unavailable because the proxy is purchasing from the original seller on your behalf. Check the seller and proxy policies before paying, and review measurements, condition notes, and photos carefully.

Can a proxy combine several purchases into one shipment?

Many providers offer package consolidation while your purchases are in storage. It can reduce international shipping costs, but consolidation or repacking may carry a fee and can change the parcel size, weight, or customs treatment.

How long does international proxy shipping take?

Total delivery time includes seller handling, domestic delivery to the warehouse, proxy processing, packing, international transport, and customs clearance. It can range from a few days to several weeks, so check the provider's current estimates and use tracked shipping.

Does KURB sell or ship the products shown in search results?

No. KURB helps you discover products from independent stores and marketplaces. When you choose a result, you leave KURB to view or buy it from the seller, and any proxy, payment, shipping, return, or customs arrangement is between you and those providers.