PARTS FAQ

PARTS CONTAINERS

How can I get containers of used auto parts from Japan?

You have 2 main options, sourcing only from a single scrap dismantler or sourcing by an open sourcing system:

1. SOURCING FROM A SINGLE SCRAP DISMANTLER
The vehicles a scrap dismantler receives are both damaged vehicles and non-damaged vehicles that no longer have a market in Japan as a used car. Scrap dismantlers receive vehicles from dealers and private sellers and dismantle them mostly for scrap, but also make the parts available to foreign based importers.

2. SOURCING BY AN OPEN SOURCING SYSTEM
This gives you access to stock from multiple scrap dismantlers - both as whole vehicles and parts - as well as auctions, dealers and private sellers throughout Japan. Stock is avaialable on both a whole vehicle basis for dismantling and on a parts basis. If the stock is available in Japan you can usually source the stock.

TS EXPORT^® has been a pioneer in offering importers of used auto parts containers from Japan an Open Sourcing System.

How can I import containers of used auto parts from Japan with TS EXPORT^®?

To import containers of used auto parts from Japan with TS EXPORT^® just follow this simple 8 step process:

1. Get Info. Contact Us to get more info, logins and our cost calculator so you can "run the numbers" on the parts that you are wanting to import. Our special report - PARTS CONTAINERS FROM JAPAN - TIPS FOR HIGHER PROFITS - can help you optimise your shipment.

Get Your FREE Report - PARTS CONTAINERS FROM JAPAN - TIPS FOR HIGHER PROFITS

2. Set Up Account. When you're ready to get started just give us your Shipping Instructions and complete the Service Agreement. To start placing buy orders, fund your account with a minimum balance of Y100,000 and your account is activated. You can then place buy orders up to the value of the funds held in your account and can top up your account any time.

3. Book Slot. So we can make your job our top priority we allocate a special calendar slot for stock collection, dismantling, loading and shipping of your parts container.

4. Place Buy Orders. Scan the listings and place buy orders on the vehicles and parts that you want. We can assist you with translations. For the orders that you're successful on we organise payment and trucking to our Export Centre and record this in your account.

5. Dismantling Instructions. As the vehicles you've ordered come into our Export Centre we will upload photos of them for you to view. Log into your dashboard and give us your dismantling instructions. When there are sufficient vehicles for a shipment we will prepare a Container Loading Plan and have your vehicles dismantled by one of our experienced dismantlers.

6. Book Shipment. Once the vehicles are dismantled we prepare draft shipping documentation and update your Trading Account with projections to complete the shipment. Once the draft shipping documents have been approved and funds have been received we book the shipment and upload the shipping details into the Shipping Status page. This means you know what ship and voyage has been booked and when your shipment will arrive. The container then arrives at our Export Centre, is loaded and then goes to the port for a Japanese Customs inspection prior to be loaded onto the ship and sailing.

7. Finalise Accounts. About 3 days after sailing we receive the Bill of Lading and the freight forwarders account for the shipment and upload these to your Client Portal. This gives you confirmation and cost verification of the shipment. We then enter the actual costs of the shipment into your Trading Account. Once you clear any overdraft in your account we send you the original versions of the shipping documents by EMS which lets you take delivery of the shipment once it arrives in your country. We post the tracking details of your documents into the Shipping Status page so you can follow their progress.

8. Take Delivery. When shipment tracking is available we post this into the Shipping Status page so you can monitor the progress of the shipment. Before the shipment arrives you need to present your documents to the customs authorities and make arrangements for the collection of your shipment. Your Customs Broker can assist you with this.

Any questions? Just Contact Us for further information.

What are the different ways I can get parts with TS EXPORT^®?

There are 3 ways to get parts:

1. DISMANTLED SALVAGE VEHICLES
You order in salvage vehicles and these are then dismantled to your requirements. If you buy value laden vehicles with a good yield of wanted parts per vehicle this will usually be the cheapest way to source parts. Because you're sourcing at the beginning of the supply chain this is usually much cheaper than sourcing all the parts individually at the end of the supply chain.

2. BULK PARTS
These are sourced from scrap dismantlers and can be a good addition to parts from dismantled salvage vehicles. Examples are nose cuts, bonnets, fenders and lights. However, supply is limited and is generally only suitable for older, common end of life vehicles.

3. SPECIAL ORDER PARTS
These are parts that are sourced on a part by part basis, such as parts from the Yahoo! Japan Auction.

What's the minimum parts shipment?

Our parts service is a Business to Business service in commercial quantities. The miminum parts shipment is one container. You can combine your parts shipments with shipments of other stock in the same container.

Why do we favour bulk containerised shipments?

• Cost. The cost of shipping parts in bulk by container is just a small fraction of the cost of shipping the same parts individually. Because of this you can always out-compete other importers who try and import parts individually.


• Practicality. Some parts - because of their size or weight - cannot be shipped individually.


• Protection. So long as they're properly protected and packed, parts have less chance of damage in strong, steel shipping containers than being shipped individually where they're subject to multiple handling.


• Security. The security of parts when shipped in locked and tagged shipping containers is vastly superior to shipping parts individually. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of parts by container since the 1990's and not a single part has ever gone missing in transit. Unfortunately shipping parts individually means that sometimes the parts will go missing in transit. While you can claim insurance, this is time consuming and still doesn't get you the part you want.

How much money do I need to do parts containers?

Your budget will depend on the profit targets that you set. Are you wanting profits in the thousands of dollars per container, tens of thousands of dollars per container or hundreds of thousands of dollars per container?

Once you know the returns that you want you can plan the budget that will get you those returns. Generally speaking high value, high profit stock will give you the highest returns. The costs of trucking in, dismantling, containerising and shipping low value, low profit stock aren't much different to the costs of trucking in, dismantling, containerising and shipping high value, high profit stock.

Can I import scrap with your service?

No. Our service is a parts service, not a scrap service. The only dismantled vehicles that we export are containers of used parts.

I'm a personal importer. Can I import containers of parts with your service?

Sorry. Our containerised parts service is a continuity service only for genuine commercial importers from Japan. It's not suitable for personal importers, hobbiests or startup businesses.

How can I find vehicle scrap yards in Japan?

If you're wanting to import old, common or low value parts that can easily be imported from scrap dismantlers in Japan then you don't need the TS EXPORT^® service.

Click Here for more information on vehicle scrapyards in Japan

We don't know anything about the companies that may appear in the search results other than what's available on their websites so we can't recommend them. However what you find might be a starting point.

Can I ship parts I've sourced from another company in Japan with the TS EXPORT^® service?

Sorry. We can only ship parts that we've sourced for you so we can verify their origin to Japan Customs. Japan Customs must approve our shipments before they can be exported and we need to be able to verify the origin of every part in a container. They require us to show the location of every part in the container and provide documents which show who it was sourced from, when it was sourced and the price.

Because we maintain good records your shipments are normally approved by Japanese Customs without delays and additional costs.

DISMANTLING

How can I tell TS EXPORT^® exactly how I'd like my cars dismantled?

Telling us exactly how you'd like your cars dismantled is a simple 3 step process:

1. Login To Your Dashboard. As a TS EXPORT^® client you have your own personal online Dashboard. When one of your cars is ready for dismantling we upload a draft of your dismantling instructions for that car to your Dashboard and send you the link on Skype.


2. Select The Parts You Want. We go through the dismantling instructions with you on Skype voice and chat. With our Pick n Click system you simply select the parts you want on the online form. If we need to create a new parts category we do it then. We leave the form open until the day before dismantling just in case you think of something else you'd like off the car, then close off, print it out and put it in the car ready for our dismantling team to do the work.


3. Check the Photos. After dismantling we take photos and send them through to you. If further work is needed we do it prior to the scrap going out.

How long will it take before I get my parts container?

How long it will take from the time you start the process until the time your container arrives is a combination of the decisions you make and fixed factors such as shipping schedules, etc. These will be some of the factors:

• Choice of Shipping Container. You can choose to ship in a 20 foot, 40 foot or 40 foot high cube container. Basically the larger the container the more stock that will fit in and the longer the process of stock collection and dismantling will take.
  More information on how many dismantled cars will fit in a shipping container is here.


• Stock Availability. If you're sourcing stock that's very rare then the collecting process is likely to take longer than stock that's easily available.


• Target Prices. The higher the price you're prepared to pay for vehicles the easier they are to get. If you're getting nearly every vehicle you bid or tender for then you're probably at the top of the market. This means you can collect quickly, but you're probably not getting maximum value and may be able to reduce your target prices a bit. Conversely, if you're getting fewer than one in ten of the vehicles that you're bidding and tendering for then the collecting process could take a lot of time and you may need to increase your target prices.


• Dismantling Instructions. Simple dismantling such as half cut and parts for simple cars will typically take between 5 and 6 hours per car. Fuller dismantling and more complex cars can double (or more) the dismantling time required.


• Available Slots. We operate a slot system where we allocate a period where we can focus on your job. You can ask us any time when our next available slot is. You can book your slot based on your own stock requirements and seasonal factors that affect car prices in Japan. Click here to learn more about seasonal factors that affect car prices in Japan


• Shipping. Allow time for container loading, drayage (carrying the container to and from the port), Japanese and local customs clearances, shipping schedules and the duration of the voyage that your container arrives on. Click here to see typical shipping schedules and voyage durations for your destination port.

Can I come to Japan to dismantle the vehicles and pack the container myself?

You're welcome to come to Japan to meet with us before using our service.

Our parts service is a "Done For You" service so you don't need to come to Japan to use the service. Our workshop team dismantles your cars based on the instructions that you give and our container team loads your container.

Can you dismantle buses and trucks?

Our dismantling service is for vehicles up to Toyota LandCruiser size. Full size bus and truck parts are available on a parts basis. You can select from Truck Cabins, Engines, Transmissions, Differentials, Doors, Bumpers, Grilles, Headlights, Tail Lights, Wheels, Tyres and other parts.

How can I get front cuts from Japan?

There is no Japanese domestic market for front cuts. That is, you need to start at the begining of the supply chain by sourcing a vehicle and then having it dismantled and cut.

The advantages of this are:

• You can view the donor vehicle to get an idea of the areas and extent of damage.


• You can view the donor vehicle running to get an idea of the engine condition.


• You can get a report on the donor vehicle if you source from specialist salvage vehicle auctions.


• You can have the vehicle dismantled just the way you want.


• You are buying directly at source - normally the cheapest place in any supply chain - with verifiable pricing of the real cost.

FRONT CUTS

What are the different kinds of cuts available from a car?

You can have a car cut any way you want, but these are some of the most common cuts:

Front Cuts, Front Clips, Half Cuts
These are the same cuts, but have different names in different world markets. Typically cut on the A-Pillar just above the highest point of the dash (usually the meter area) and through the floor just behind the transmission lever. All mechanicals are left intact and the propeller shaft and exhaust system unbolted. Great for performance conversions, because you get all the bits, unlike say getting an engine-transmission only. By default:

• the fuel and brake lines are cut long and wound up high on the stub of the A-Pillar to stop leaking,


• the A-Pillars are cut horizontal - not at 90 degrees to the pillar - to facilitate stacking, and


• all panels are removed to prevent damage, reduce the space take in the container, and allow for the front cut and inside of panels to be properly cleaned (this is a major area of biological contamination).

How much does a half cut cost?

Costs of half cuts will depend on:

• Vehicles. The salvage vehicles that you select for dismantling. Costs will vary from vehicle to vehicle.


• Trucking. The cost of transporting the salvage vehicles you select to our Export Centre for dismantling.


• Dismantling. Dismantling costs will depend on the type of vehicles that you select for dismantling and your dismantling instructions.


• Shipping. How many units you ship in the container, the cost of container loading and drayage, Japanese customs clearance and ocean freight to your destination port.


• Landing. The costs for landing and transporting the container of front cuts once they arrive at your destination. This might include duties, clearance, handling and transport charges.

Why does TS EXPORT^® remove all panels and body parts from front cuts?

There are 5 main reasons:

1. More Front Cuts In The Container. Removing the front panels reduces the size of the front cuts. The space saving is usually about 5 cubic metres in a typical 40 foot high cube container. This space can be used for shipping more stock. Often it will allow an extra stack of front cuts in a typical container, which means more stock you can put to market, lower landed costs per unit of stock and more profit for you.


2. Damage Prevention By Optimal Stock Location. It's impossible to avoid parts damage if panels are left on front cuts. If the parts are removed they can be packed in the optimal way in the container to reduce the space take and be protected from damage.


3. Damage Prevention By Tightness Of Packing. When the container is at sea it is constantly moving up and down, back and forth, side to side - with the load constantly weighting and unweighting. If the stock is not packed tightly together you will get movement of the stock and with movement you get damage. With panels removed stacks of front cuts can be stacked tightly against each other which prevents movement and costly damage. And no more tears when you open up the container and find that perfectly good stock has been turned into scrap.


4. Ease Of Loading And Unloading. Our modular loading and unloading system is based on panels being removed. This means you can unload the front halves in the same modules that they were loaded, quickly, safely and without damage.


5. Biological Cleanliness. Many countries now require that the stock is biologically clean before it can be imported. This means no dirt, bugs, leaves, grass-seeds, etc. The main areas where these contaminants are found on front cuts are inside fenders and bumpers, the plenum chamber, under the engine-transmission and on the underside of the strut towers. The only way that these areas can be properly cleaned is by removing all panels and underbody plastics and cleaning with a jet-spray. The parts removed also need to be cleaned and this can only be done if they are removed. Doing this work in Japan saves you time and money on cleaning, storage and penalties when the shipment arrives. And since cleaning has to be done anyway, why not do it at the earliest point in the supply chain?

Can I import a single half cut from Japan?

Our parts service is a a Business to Business service in commercial quantities. The minimum shipment is one container.

Yes, it is physically possible to ship a single half cut in a container, but a single half cut will take up only 10% to 20% of the space in a 20 foot container.

Many of the costs (shipping, drayage etc.) are the same for a full container as an empty container. It's always more profitable to use all of the space in the container. Less than container load shipping (LCL) is per unit of volume usually more expensive than container shipping and usually represents very poor value.

Unless the half cut being shipped is highly valuable and unique it is best to either source from your own country or region or to import in full containers from Japan.

Could you cut vehicles in half so they can be rebuilt in my country?

No. Once a vehicle has been cut in half it has lost its structural integrity. Rebuilding cut vehicles is dangerous, unethical and potentially fatal.

PERFORMANCE PARTS

How can I get performance parts from Japan?

There are 2 main options for getting performance parts from Japan:

1. Whole Car Basis. With this option you source salvage grade performance vehicles and have them dismantled to yourrequirements. Because you're buying at the beginning of the supply chain you'll normally get the bast value by buying cars full of performance parts than by buying the parts indivdually.


2. Parts Basis. This is where you buy parts on part by part basis. This might be dearer than getting parts from cars that you dismantle, since your now further along the supply chain. However, it might be suitable if you're wanting greater quantities of particular parts than you want to source on a whole car basis. The Yahoo! Japan Auction is Japan's largest online database for used parts and is a great place to begin your search.

BODY PARTS

Can I import containers of body parts only with your service?

No. However, you can ship body parts in combination with whole vehicle and half cut shipments. Our service is a source to order service suited to rare and high value body parts, which need to be collected from various suppliers in order to get sufficient quantities for a containerised shipment. Suitable body parts for the service are performance aftermarket body parts and lights for late model, luxury and European vehicles.

If you're sourcing common, readily available body parts you're probably better sourcing from scrap dismantlers rather than a service like ours.

INTERIOR PARTS

For the cars you dismantle are you able to ship the airbags with the steering wheels?

No. All of the airbags in a vehicle need to be documented and sent to the recycling authority for destruction.

ENGINES & TRANSMISSIONS

Could I see the engines and transmissions that you've got?

With our open sourcing system you're not restricted to one yard or supplier. You can view listings throughout all of Japan.

Can I get containers of engines or transmissions only with your service?

No. Our service is not suitable for shipments of engines or transmissions only. However engines or transmissions can be combined with shipments of other parts, such as half cuts and in combination with other stock such as vehicles and machinery.

Our service is a source to order service suited to rare and high value engines and transmissions, which need to be collected from various suppliers in order to get sufficient quantities for a containerised shipment. Suitable engines for the service include performance engines, diesel engines and European vehicle engines.

Remember, if you're sourcing on a parts basis you're sourcing at the end of the supply chain and will normally pay a premium over sourcing at the beginning of the supply chain by sourcing whole vehicles and having them dismantled. Whole salvage grade vehicles can often be bought for around the price of engine-transmission alone. Importers who source engines by dismantling whole vehicles and selling lots of parts from the vehicle will usually be able to out-compete importers sourcing on a parts basis.

However, sourcing engines on a parts basis can make sense if you're already sourcing engines or transmissions on a whole car basis but need more engines than any other parts of the car. The higher cost of the engines or transmissions sourced on a parts basis is then offset by the lower cost of the engines and transmissions sourced on a whole car basis to give a lower average cost than sourcing all engines on a parts basis.

If you're sourcing common, readily available engines you're probably better sourcing from scrap dismantlers rather than a service like ours.

How do I know the engine and transmission condition of vehicles?

For the large auction houses such as USS, engine and transmission defects are noted in the condition report that goes with the listing. These are in Japanese but we can translate the appraisers comments for you. This only applies to graded listings, not to ungraded listings which are offered by the auction house on a "what you see is what you get" basis. The inspections are undertaken "in situ", not in a workshop, so issues that can only be picked up with a full workshop inspection and a road test may not be picked up.

For online Auction, Tender and Buy Now listings for salvage vehicle suppliers such as Hanamaru and TAU, there is a vehicle report that includes a comment on engine and transmission condition in English.

For Yahoo! Japan Auction salvage vehicle listings there is usually a comment by the seller on the engine and transmission condition. If not we can post a question on this to the seller. The sellers comments should be read in conjunction with the evaluation of the seller by previous buyers. Again, we can provide an English translation.

For local salvage vehicles that we inspect ourselves we comment on engine condition in English in the email that we send together with the vehicle photos.

For vehicles that are trucked to our Export Centre, we can give you a video confirming that the engine is running, do a compression test in our workshop and give you a written report.

Why can't I find the diesel engines I want?

In October 2005 Japan introduced new vehicle emission requirements which at the time were the world's strictest emission regulations. While the immediate effect of this legislation was to increase supply of older generation used diesel engines - since the vehicles could not be registered in urban areas and had to be dismantled - the longer term effect has been for the supply of older generation used diesel engines to dry up.

With the introduction of the new regulations Japanese vehicle manufacturers deleted the availability of diesel engines on vehicles under 2 tonne trucks. For 2 tonne trucks and above they introduced new generation common rail diesel engines.

As time has gone by diesel engine vehicles smaller than 2 tonne trucks have started to come back onto the Japanese market, though they are rare compared to gasoline and gasoline electric hybrid vehicles.

Are Subaru diesel engines available in Japan?

No. While the engines were manufactured in Japan they were never released in the Japanese domestic market. If you wish to import these engines you would need to do it from the countries where they were leased.

WHEELS & TYRES

Can I import containers of wheels and tyres only with your service?

No. However, you can import wheels and tyres in combination with whole vehicle, half cut and machinery shipments. Our service is a source to order service suited to specialised and high value wheels and tyres, which need to be collected from various suppliers in order to get sufficient quantities for a containerised shipment. If you're sourcing common, readily available wheels and tyres then you're probably better sourcing from scrap dismantlers rather than a service like ours.

BATTERIES

Can I import batteries with your service?

Batteries are available for replacement purposes prior to shipping your stock. Japan Customs and the shipping companies generally do not allow the shipment of batteries that are not connected to vehicles or machinery where they are required to make the units drivable.

End of life electric and hybrid vehicles need to have their batteries removed and surrendered as part of the end of life vehicle recycling regulations. They are disposed of in Japan and are not available for export. In the past Japan Customs were allowing the shipment of replacement EV and hybrid vehicles with matching salvage vehicles on the basis of one battery per unit. Approval for this was on a shipment by shipment basis.

Can I import new hybrid and EV batteries with your service?

Generally no. To get new batteries in an electric or hybrid vehicle in Japan the owner is required to take the vehicle to the manufacturer approved dealership and have the old battery removed and replaced by the new battery in the dealer's workshop. New batteries are generally not available without a changeover being done by the dealer.

NEW PARTS

Can I source and import new parts with your service?

Yes. You can source new parts as well as used and import them in the same containers. However, quantities of new parts are usually restricted because of the policies of Japanese manufacturers.

Can I import containers of new parts only?

Because of the limitations imposed by Japanese manufacturers this is normally not possible. Containers with both used product and new product are possible though.

UNLOADING PARTS CONTAINERS

How do I unload my parts container?

Unloading a parts container is usually just a matter of reversing the sequence that the parts container was loaded. If you unload a parts container in an order different to how it was loaded you risk stock falling, which is a safety risk and can damage stock.

If you're new to parts importing we can help you prepare for unloading with a special Skype call a few weeks before your container arrives. Together we go through every stage of the loading process, viewing photos with you of each stage and answering your questions.

This gives you the correct sequence for unloading and lets you plan your labour and equipment requirements for a safe and trouble free unload.

We recommend that you organise and supervise the unloading of the container yourself or have it done by an experienced member of your team. Thousands of dollars of value can be lost from the value of a parts shipment by careless handling in the process of unloading the container and getting the stock to your premises and onto the shelves.

When we've analysed the supply chain of getting the donor vehicles in Japan, dismantling them, loading them into the container, travelling in the container then unloading the parts and getting them onto your shelves, the last stage of the process has usually been the greatest source of damage.

Using a fewer number of properly skilled people works much better than more people with low levels of skill. Normally you only want one or two people in the container at any one time. Too many people in a small space can get in each other's way. However, you may want additional people to take the parts from the door of the container to the area where the parts are being stored.

We don't recommend the use of staff from labour hire companies or outsourcing this work to other companies. Typically these staff don't have the special skills and training specifically related to handling auto parts. We've never had a single report from clients of where this has worked well.