Established in 2014, ZenMarket has emerged as a trusted ally for shopping enthusiasts around the globe, facilitating purchases from Japan's top stores and auction sites, including Yahoo Auctions, Amazon, Rakuten, Rakuma, and Mercari.With over 2 million loyal users, we have dispatched more than 1 million parcels worldwide.Our comprehensive services offer not just shopping ease, but also a loyalty program that rewards our cherished customers. Ensuring smooth transactions, we provide a plethora of safe payment options: credit cards, PayPal, Swift, Skrill, Stripe, and Coingate.At ZenMarket, our multilingual customer support extends across the globe, diligently addressing your queries 24/7. With partnerships with leading shipping giants like FedEx, DHL, and UPS, we ensure your items are delivered safely and affordably.Experience our exclusive photo service to view your items in Japan before they're shipped. Opt for our free consolidation service to bundle your purchases, saving on space, time, and costs. Let us make your Japanese shopping journey seamless and rewarding. Register Now on ZenMarket Join ZenMarket and receive 500 ZenPoints welcome gift! Sign me up
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Is ZenMarket legit?
ZenMarket (zenmarket.jp) has a 4.0 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 203 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Business Services and its reputation is good. 21% of reviews are 1 star, a relatively high share; The business has replied to 94% of negative reviews; Reviews mostly discuss Product, Price. Last updated 2026-08-12.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the exceptionally secure packaging and protective bubble wrap materials, noting that fragile items arrive safely in pristine condition regardless of long international transit distances. People truly appreciate the transparent, smooth ordering process and the exceptionally helpful support team when purchasing exclusive products directly from overseas online stores.
However, some people mentioned that unexpected handling fees, extra storage charges, and high international shipping rates can sometimes catch buyers completely off guard. Consumers also noted occasional frustrating delays during warehouse package assembly, inventory management, and complex customs clearance procedures.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
My first issue was poor communication on my preorders from a big online shop in Japan.
My preorder was delayed multiple times and I had to contact support myself just to get updates. Out of all the proxies I’ve used Zen Market has the most clunky website experience. It randomly logouts every five minutes like when I’m typing in my info and I have to start all over, the confusing interface makes it difficult to navigate the page I need, I personally found it hard to track where items/orders stand. I absolutely hate the forced wallet/balance system.
You can’t simply pay directly with a credit card at checkout like a normal site. These extra card fees + bad exchange rates made the shipping at least $6 over what it should have been. They charge fees to add balance, then the credited amount can be less than expected due to rates/processing and you have to do math calculations just to end up with the right amount because they don’t tell you beforehand. No clear shipping estimates upfront. You can’t properly compare options before consolidation. The lowest shipping cost for my 200 gram package with a plush keychain (valued at 10k yen) and it was 7800 yen. I’m in the US. But for me even with prepaid duties it seemed like overkill. There is no small packet option for low price items that didn’t make any sense to me.
I also couldn’t believe they didn’t allow domestic shipping within Japan. Most proxies allow it for sites that aren’t Mercari but Zen Market does not. I wish I went with a different proxy as it was by far the most expensive and frustrating experience I’ve had and I can’t see myself using them again.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-08
Hi JS, thank you for sharing your experience, we’re sorry to hear that your experience was frustrating and did not meet your expectations.
Preorder items from Japanese retailers can sometimes experience delays due to manufacturer or store-side schedule changes, and updates are dependent on the information provided by the retailer. However, we understand that needing to contact support directly for updates can still be frustrating.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the website experience, wallet system, fees, and shipping process. Our balance system is designed to support purchases across many Japanese stores and payment methods, which is why funds are added to an account balance before purchases are completed. Depending on the payment method used, exchange rates and processing fees may also affect the final charged amount.
International shipping costs and available methods are determined by factors such as package weight, dimensions, destination country, package contents, declared value, and carrier restrictions. Because of this, some lower-cost shipping methods may not always be available, and final shipping costs can only be confirmed after items arrive at the warehouse and packaging details are finalized.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
Bought a used car part on zenmarket. The estimated quote was ¥7000, I added an extra 1.5kg and 2-3 cm on each side.
After buying the item and it going to the warehouse they want ¥26,000.
Seems they excessively pack items to bring up the price to scam you. It's the first and LAST time I use ZM.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-14
Dear Chupapi munyanyo,
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations.
Shipping estimates shown before purchase are approximate and based on the information available at the time, including estimated package size and weight. Final shipping costs can change once the item arrives at the warehouse and the actual dimensions, weight, and packaging requirements are confirmed.
For large or fragile items such as car parts, additional protective packaging or reinforcement may be necessary to reduce the risk of damage during international shipping. As explained in our reinforcement policy (https://zenmarket.jp/en/blog/post/15775/reinforcement-policy-fragile-items
), reinforcement can increase parcel size and weight depending on the item and shipping requirements.
We understand that the final shipping cost was much higher than expected and appreciate your feedback regarding packaging and estimate transparency. Comments like yours help us continue improving our communication and service.
Sincerely,
The ZenMarket Team
First order done and dusted, easy to use service with great feedback the whole way through. Prices on shipping to AUS and taxes fair, once packed and sent, delivery happened very quickly.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-14
Dear Andrew,
Thank you very much for your kind review.
We’re delighted to hear that your first order was a positive experience and that you found the service easy to use throughout the process. It’s also great to know that the shipping costs, taxes, and delivery speed met your expectations.
We truly appreciate your support and look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Sincerely,
The ZenMarket Team
The shipping charges were much too high and I wasn't given the option to reduce them to a reasonable shipping cost.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Hi Snehan Born, thank you for sharing your experience, we're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the shipping cost.
International shipping rates are determined by the shipping carriers and are based on factors such as package weight, dimensions, destination country, and the shipping method selected. We understand that these costs can sometimes feel unexpectedly high, particularly for larger or heavier packages.
We do offer multiple shipping methods where available, along with package optimization options depending on the order contents, and we generally recommend reviewing the available shipping options carefully before shipment creation. However, we understand your frustration if the available rates still did not feel reasonable for your order.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
Ordered an item through Zen Market. They collected payment, sourced the item locally from Japanese Amazon, then claimed they couldn’t ship it to the US due to cosmetics restrictions. They then demanded I pay a disposal fee to throw away a product that they could have simply returned to Amazon Japan for a full refund. Filed a PayPal dispute and was refunded immediately — PayPal sided with me same day. When I filed the dispute they banned my account for using buyer protection. Avoid.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-08
Hi David, thank you for sharing your experience and we're sorry to hear it was frustrating.
Certain cosmetics and beauty products can be restricted for international shipping depending on the destination country, carrier regulations, and product ingredients. Because of this, we strongly recommend checking our prohibited and restricted items information before making purchases, as some items that are available for sale within Japan may not be eligible for export internationally.
Our team is making efforts to provide blog articles and warning banners on customer accounts regarding such restrictions. However, since the rules vary depending on the destination country, we kindly ask customers to carefully check and exercise caution when purchasing products.
Regarding disposal and account restrictions, these processes are handled according to our operational and payment security policies, including during active payment disputes. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback, as experiences like this help highlight where clearer communication is needed.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
ZenMarket has excellent service and prices. I absolutely love shopping with them and even though it sometimes takes a while for them to package your product it is always worth it.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Thank you so much for your continued support! We’re happy to hear your overall experience with us has been pleasant and your recommendation is highly appreciated. It means a lot to us that we could help you get the items you wanted. Thank you for choosing us!
Sincerely, The ZenMarket Team
Second time service user here, delivery was delayed a bit due to golden week approaching when the parcel was shipped but everything came in perfect condition and very well protected. I will definitely continue using the service.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Thank you for your kind review! We're happy to hear that everything was smooth for you. It’s great to know you were satisfied with the shipping and our service. We look forward to helping you again!
Sincerely, The ZenMarket Team
First time using a proxy service like this and the process has been easy, straightforward and hassle free. All the import charges have been explained and covered prior to shipping and overall it’s been a relatively inexpensive experience to get what I was after from Japan. Will definitely use ZenMarket again.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Thank you for your review ! We're glad to hear the system was easy to use and the process was smooth all round - We hope to support your future purchases as well!
Sincerely, The ZenMarket Team
Just made my twi purchase shipments with ZenMarket. I dud find item I was having trouble to find from other sources, with fair market prices. However, one big drawback I noticed is the ZenMarket fees they charge, 500-800 Yen per item can easily added up on top to your purchase price…. As well thry charge payment deposit fee which is another hidden cost to be considered..! They offer different shipping services to choose from, however, I don’t have the choice to get tge quote before deciding which shipping price works best for me, and too be honest, I found the charge are quite high although they are charged by the shipping company. In sum, unless the item are unique and only can be found in Japan from the secondary market, I probably won’t use or recommend using the Proxy service as the cost may be quite high after everything is added up
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Hi Timothy, thank you for sharing your first time experience with us. We’re glad you were able to find items that were difficult to source elsewhere and at fair market prices. At the same time, we completely understand your concerns regarding the overall cost.
Because proxy services involve both purchasing items in Japan and forwarding them internationally, the final total can sometimes end up higher than expected, especially for lower-value items. International shipping costs are also calculated after items arrive at the warehouse, since the final package size and weight determine the available shipping methods and rates, but we understand this can make budgeting difficult earlier in the process.
We appreciate the honest and balanced feedback. Our service is often best suited for rare, Japan-exclusive, or hard-to-find items, and your comments help highlight where we can continue improving transparency around fees and shipping costs.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
I received the package yesterday. It was very well protected. Inside, all the products were securely and tightly packed. Empty spaces were properly filled with bubble wrap. The package was additionally reinforced on the outside. I am very pleased with the service.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Thank you for your kind review. We’re pleased to hear your items arrived safely and that you had a smooth shipping and packaging experience. We hope to support your future purchases as well.
Sincerely,
The ZenMarket Team
How lie Zenmarket? I publisched photos of demaged goods (that I received in several parcels) in their Telegram channel under the "article" which tell about "super" packing from Zenmarket. What was their reaction? Just deleted my post and blocked me in the chanel ;))))
So, now you understand how they receive positive feedback...
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-30
Hi there,
We’re sorry to hear about your experience, especially regarding the condition of your parcels - that’s not something we take lightly.
We’d really like to properly review your case and the damage you received. Please contact our customer support team directly with your order details and photos so we can investigate and work toward a resolution.
We take situations like this seriously, and we’d appreciate the chance to look into it further.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
Order two covers for the 3ds xl, delivery with EMS to Italy. All items were delivered after 6 days, no extra fees and the package was secured.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-29
Thank you for your review! We’re pleased to hear your items arrived safely and that you had a smooth shipping experience. We hope to support your future purchases as well.
Sincerely,
The ZenMarket Team
If you want to take any action, you basically have to wait a week.
Consumers have little visibility into the additional fees charged beyond the standard shipping cost.
Ultimately, the combined shipping and fees end up costing more than the price of the item itself.
A truly terrible consumer experience.
It has been nearly a month, and I am still waiting for the shipment to even begin.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-05-07
Hi Danny, thank you for sharing your experience and we're sorry to hear it has been frustrating.
We understand how delays and unclear costs can make the process feel stressful, especially when waiting on an order for an extended period of time. International shipping and proxy purchasing can involve additional fees depending on the seller, shipping method, package consolidation, and customs-related handling, but we also recognize that this information needs to feel transparent and easy to follow throughout the process.
We appreciate you taking the time to share this feedback, as it highlights areas where we still need to improve the customer experience and communication speed. If you haven’t already, please reach out to our support team with your order details so we can review the status of your shipment directly.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
If you want to ship something that requires care and attention, choose another service
1. Proxy buying service is bad - absolutely minimal UI and bad UX. Misclassified my item and then had me in wait for the final parcel shipment to fix it. And even that I had to pull out of their half-dead, barely responsive customer service team.
2. The customer service itself. They spoke to me like someone who owes them money. Each time I wanted to get something out of them, I had to wait DAYS for an answer if I went through "I have a problem" form. Sending them messages not through "I have a problem" form was proven ineffective since they would just ignore you. The customer service reps would choose to respond based on how you speak to them, but the other way around they would treat you like a homeless person who wandered inside their house.
3. The shipping. First it was a long time waiting, then a week more to pack the parcel. Even after choosing FedEx International Priority, and specifically asking for reinforcement, the final shipment arrived cut(yes, deep cuts on the cover of the book), scratched, and with visible signs of wear and tear. This was my LIMITED EDITION/LIMITED STOCK JAPANESE ARTIST'S ORIGINAL BOOK, mind you!!!
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-30
Hi there,
We’re really sorry to hear how this experience turned out, especially given how important and limited your item is. Receiving it in damaged condition is understandably upsetting.
We also recognize the waiting times and back-and-forth with support added to your frustration. While our team aims to respond as quickly and clearly as possible, delays can happen during busy periods.
Most importantly, we’d like to properly look into the condition your item arrived in. Please contact our support team with photos of the damage so we can investigate this with the carrier and review what happened during packing and shipping.
We appreciate you taking the time to share this, and we’re sorry again that this didn’t meet expectations.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
ZenMarket was acceptable until shipping problems happened, and then the weaknesses in their system became very obvious.
I used ZenMarket for a high-value collectible figure, and the experience made me lose trust in the service during shipping disruptions. The biggest problem was that storage time kept counting down even while shipping to my country was unstable and changing constantly. Support told me storage extensions are only given when shipping is completely impossible, which meant I was effectively pressured to either overpay for a much more expensive carrier or risk shipping through a lane that still seemed unstable for a fragile item.
What made this worse was the inconsistency in shipping information. Different pages suggested different things about which methods were available, which made it hard to plan safely. For a valuable collector item, that kind of uncertainty is a real problem. I do not think customers should be pushed by a running warehouse timer when regional disruption is outside their control.
ZenMarket could improve this by freezing storage timers during major shipping disruptions, offering clearer and more consistent carrier status updates, and allowing reasonable case-by-case extensions for expensive or fragile items when safer shipping options are temporarily unstable.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-30
Hi there,
Thank you for your detailed feedback, and we’re sorry for the frustration this situation caused.
To clarify, though the storage countdown continue, we suspended the application of storage fees and automatic disposal for affected items until a specific date.
We understand that partial disruptions can still create uncertainty, and we recognize this can feel limiting when you’re trying to choose a safe and reliable option. This isn’t intended to pressure your decision, but we understand how it may come across that way.
About inconsistent shipping information - during rapidly changing conditions, discrepancies can occur, and we acknowledge that this made planning more difficult than it should have been.
We appreciate your suggestions around storage flexibility and clearer updates - this is valuable feedback for us. If you’d like us to review your order further, please reach out to customer support.
Thank you again for sharing your experience.
Sincerely, the ZenMarket team
Everything was good, but im not sure can i watch the package when it arrive in my country, still waiting for delivery but website and buying proces is nice 🙂
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-29
Thank you so much for your review! We're glad to hear you were satisfied with the website and buying process. We look forward to helping you again soon! Sincerely, The ZenMarket Team
Excellent Service and Reliable Packaging for Valuable Collectibles
It was truly wonderful that such a valuable collection piece arrived safely and smoothly in my hands. Thanks to the careful packaging and the professionalism throughout the purchasing process, I was able to shop with complete peace of mind.
Especially for delicate and highly valuable collectible items, trust is extremely important, and in this regard, you have become a place I can rely on without hesitation.
I sincerely appreciate your effort, care, and support. Thank you very much.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-29
Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear your package arrived safely and that you were satisfied with our service. We appreciate you choosing ZenMarket and hope to assist you again soon !
Sincerely,
The ZenMarket Team
Easy to make a choice, to buy and easy to see a choice of deliver. But I had a problem whit the decition of deliver or not a battery. Japan does not send it to my country. So I had to choose another delivery option, and it was expensier.
Reply from ZenMarket2026-04-29
Thank you for your review - we're glad we could help you deliver your items! We hope to help you again soon. Sincerely, The ZenMarket Team
Thank you for your kind review! We're happy to hear that everything was smooth for you. It’s great to know you were satisfied with the shipping and our service. We look forward to helping you again!
Sincerely, The ZenMarket Team
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