When requesting a Buying Service through Ships From Korea, you might assume that any item listed on a Korean platform like Naver Smart Store is physically located in South Korea. However, many Korean sellers actually list items that are stocked in the US, Europe, or China.
Ordering these "Overseas Direct" items through a proxy service can lead to unexpected costs and long wait times. Here is what you need to know before you place your request.
The Hidden Risks of Ordering Overseas Stock
If the product you request is coming from abroad to Korea, it is no longer a simple domestic purchase. This creates several complications:
- Significant Shipping Delays: Unlike domestic shipping which takes 1–2 days, international transit and customs clearance can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.
- Import Duties & Taxes: When these items enter Korea, they are subject to customs inspection. If the value exceeds the tax-free limit (usually $150 USD), you will be charged Customs Duties and VAT separately.
- High Domestic Shipping Fees: Sellers often charge a high "Domestic Shipping Fee" (e.g., ₩29,900) to cover the international freight cost to Korea.
- No Service Guarantees for Bundling: Because we cannot control international transit times, we cannot guarantee a schedule for "Combined Shipping" (bundling) if one of your items is coming from overseas. Your entire package will be stuck until that one item arrives.
How to Identify Overseas Items on Naver
Before you send us a link, please check the product page for specific indicators. If you see phrases like those listed below, the item is NOT in Korea:
"본 상품은 해외에서 발송되는 상품입니다" (This product is shipped from overseas)
"해외 직구 상품" (Overseas direct purchase item)
"개인통관고유부호 필요" (Personal Customs Clearance Code required)
💡 Pro Tip: If the shipping fee listed is unusually high (e.g., ₩10,000 to ₩30,000) or if the seller asks for a customs code, the item is coming from outside Korea.
Our Recommendation
To save money and receive your items faster, we strongly recommend choosing products that are already in stock within Korea.
Ordering an overseas item to our Korean warehouse, only to have us ship it internationally to you again, results in double shipping fees and unnecessary taxes. If you are unsure whether a product is domestic or international, please feel free to ask us before completing your payment!
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