The five options explained
Your proxy will offer some combination of: EMS (Japan Post express), DHL, FedEx, Small Packet Air (SAL/surface), and Japan Post ePacket. Each has a different cost-speed-tracking profile.
The two variables that matter to you: delivery time (because capital is tied up during transit) and insurance/tracking coverage (because lost packages happen).
EMS — the default for most Western flippers
EMS (Express Mail Service) is Japan Post’s premium international option. Full tracking, insurance included up to $2,000, typical delivery 4–7 business days to the US, 5–9 to the UK and EU, 4–7 to Australia.
Cost on a 500g package: around $35–45 to the US, $40–55 to the UK/EU, $40–50 to Australia. More expensive per kg than DHL on larger packages.
Sweet spot: medium packages (300g–1kg) to the US. Reliable and fast enough for flipping.
DHL — fastest but priciest
DHL Express is 2–4 business days to most destinations with best-in-class tracking. The fastest option available through proxies.
Cost on a 500g package: $50–70 to the US, $55–80 to the UK/EU. Per-kg rates are actually competitive with EMS on packages over 2kg.
When to pick DHL: your card is high-value and tying up capital even a week matters, or your shipment is heavy (multiple boxes, sealed product, or bulk). On a 3kg consolidation shipment, DHL is often cheaper than EMS.
FedEx International Priority
Similar to DHL — 2–4 business days, full tracking. Slightly cheaper on US-bound packages, slightly more expensive on European routes. Handling fees in destination country are often higher than DHL.
If your proxy offers both, usually take DHL. The difference is marginal and DHL customer service is easier if something goes wrong.
ePacket / Japan Post Small Packet
The cheap option. Tracking exists but is less granular. Insurance is minimal ($50 or so). Delivery 1–3 weeks depending on destination.
Cost on a 500g package: $15–25. Good for low-value shipments (under $100 of cards) where the speed of EMS does not justify the premium.
Do not use ePacket for anything over $200 in value — the insurance coverage is inadequate.
SAL / Surface mail — avoid
The cheapest option, 4–8 weeks delivery, no real insurance, increasingly unreliable. Japan Post has deprioritised surface mail and many proxy services have stopped offering it.
Unless you are moving very low-value bulk cards where the shipping cost genuinely matters more than transit time, skip.
Real-world comparison: US destination, 500g package
EMS: 5 business days, $38, full tracking, $2,000 insurance. The default.
DHL: 3 business days, $55, excellent tracking, $2,000+ insurance. Best for time-sensitive or high-value.
ePacket: 14–21 days, $18, tracking, limited insurance. Fine for low-value bulk.
For most flippers on most shipments, EMS is the right answer. Move to DHL once individual cards exceed $500 or total shipment exceeds $1,500.
Waiting 3 weeks to consolidate 30 cards into one EMS shipment vs shipping each one individually: saves roughly $400 per month if you buy actively. The opportunity cost of capital sitting for 3 extra weeks is much smaller than that.
This article is part of the Japanese Arbitrage section of PokemonCardProfit. Use our free Grading ROI and Flip Profit calculators to run the numbers on any card before you buy.