Yahoo! Auctions Japan bidding tips: win parts without overpaying

Yahoo! Auctions Japan is where rare JDM parts turn up: discontinued aero, period wheels, NOS factory parts and complete takeoffs from cars being parted out. Here's how bidding works and how to win the parts you want without overpaying.

How bidding works on Yahoo! Auctions Japan

Proxy bidding. You enter your maximum, and the system bids for you only as much as needed to stay in the lead, up to that maximum.
Bid increments. The minimum step depends on the current price: ¥10 under ¥1,000, ¥100 from ¥1,000, ¥250 from ¥5,000, ¥500 from ¥10,000 and ¥1,000 from ¥50,000.
Automatic extension. When the seller has turned on 自動延長, any new high bid in the last 5 minutes extends the auction by another 5 minutes. Last-second sniping doesn't work on these lots, so your real maximum is what counts.
Buy it now. Lots marked 即決 (or fixed price) can be bought outright at the seller's price.
Reserve prices. A lot with a 最低落札価格 won't sell until bidding passes the hidden reserve.
Early end. Sellers can end an auction early, so don't wait until the last day on something you really want.

Decide your price before you bid

Use Show sold prices on our Japan Auctions page to see what similar parts actually sold for.
Look at the full cost, not just the bid. Our cost panel adds Japanese tax, fees, tariff and domestic shipping, and ocean freight is quoted from the boxed size. Big items like bumpers, wings and full exhausts cost much more to ship than a gauge or a knob.
Enter your true maximum once. Raising it again and again is how bidders end up overpaying.

Read the listing like a local

These words appear in a lot of listings and change what you're buying:

新品 / 未使用: new / unused
中古: used
美品: in good condition
現状品: sold as-is
ジャンク: junk. Untested or faulty, sold for parts or repair.
動作未確認: function not checked
訳あり: has an issue, read the description
ノークレーム・ノーリターン: no claims, no returns
純正: genuine factory part
前期 / 後期: early / late model (important for aero and lights)
左右セット: left and right pair
送料無料: free shipping in Japan
着払い: shipping paid on delivery (the cost isn't in the price)
同梱: combined shipping with other lots from the same seller

Check the seller

Look at the seller's rating (評価) and recent feedback. A long record of good ratings is a good sign.
Business sellers (ストア) add 10% consumption tax. Private sellers don't, but they rarely accept returns.
Check where the item ships from and whether the seller offers delivery to a business address for bulky items.

Check the part, not just the photos

Match the part number or chassis code to your car. Many JDM parts differ between early and late models, LHD and RHD, or manual and automatic.
Look for cracks, missing tabs and repairs on aero parts, curb rash and bends on wheels, and leaks on coilovers.
For electronics, look for the full harness and confirm the unit matches your engine and model.

Timing tips

Many auctions end in the evening Japan time (JST), which is morning or overnight in the US. Place your maximum bid early rather than relying on being awake at the finish.
Watch new listings. Lots with a buy it now price can be gone within hours of being listed.
Patience pays. Common parts come up again and again, so walk away when the price passes your limit.

Bid through Part Shop Midori

Search every listing on our Japan Auctions page, check sold prices and the full cost in dollars, then request a bid with one form. New to it? Start with How to find JDM parts on our Japan Auctions search, or paste a Yahoo link you've already found.