While the head and hands will be vinyl - you have a choice of two different types of body - one is referred to as Cortex and the other as Vinyl. Both body types are pre-built.Shipping Rate Adjustments 2025/04
TLDR:
You’ll soon be able to choose your preferred shipping courier (DHL or FedEx) at checkout.
Shipping rates will increase — typically by 500 JPY if you choose the most economical option for your region, or by 1500 JPY if you select the more expensive one. We will update the Shipping Fee article with the changes soon.
Shipping rates will increase — typically by 500 JPY if you choose the most economical option for your region, or by 1500 JPY if you select the more expensive one. We will update the Shipping Fee article with the changes soon.
Shipping Rate Adjustments and Why
Starting sometime next week, we’ll be updating our shipping rates for both DHL and FedEx. These adjustments reflect rising costs from the carriers themselves — including fuel surcharges, residential and remote area delivery fees, and the different ways each company calculates costs based on package size and weight.
Until now, we’ve charged a flat shipping fee per tier and decided whether to use FedEx or DHL based on various factors like availability, route efficiency, and cost. Over the years, however, many of you have asked to use a specific courier. While we’ve done our best to accommodate those requests, it’s often resulted in higher costs on our side — for example, when dolls are shipped to the US via DHL instead of FedEx.
Tracking individual courier preferences became increasingly tricky, especially for repeat orders. This new system — where you choose your courier at checkout — is better for everyone: you get the service you prefer, and we can maintain consistency and clarity behind the scenes.
Here’s how the rates are changing:
To the United States and Canada:
Tier 1 (small packages):
Tier 1 (small packages):
Additional 1500 JPY if you choose FedEx
Additional 500 JPY if you choose DHL (this is what we usually selected)
Additional 500 JPY if you choose DHL (this is what we usually selected)
Tier 2 and above (for each doll):
Additional 500 JPY if you choose FedEx (this is what we usually selected)
Additional 1500 JPY if you choose DHL
Additional 1500 JPY if you choose DHL
To the rest of the world:
Tier 1 (small packages):
Tier 1 (small packages):
Additional 1500 JPY if you choose FedEx
Additional 500 JPY if you choose DHL (this is what we usually selected)
Additional 500 JPY if you choose DHL (this is what we usually selected)
Tier 2 and above (for each doll):
Additional 1500 JPY if you choose FedEx
Additional 500 JPY if you choose DHL (this is what we usually selected)
Additional 500 JPY if you choose DHL (this is what we usually selected)
Note: These additional charges apply per shipping tier, which is typically based on the total weight or volume of your order. If your order spans multiple tiers (e.g. two dolls or one doll plus several accessories), the extra charges will scale accordingly. For example, an order containing two dolls will incur an additional 3000 JPY.
Why These Costs Vary — FedEx vs. DHL
We’ve done our best to absorb fluctuations in international shipping, but as pricing structures evolve, we’ve had to reassess how each carrier handles different types of shipments — and how we can help you make the most cost-effective choice at checkout.
As shown in the photo of our bill, both DHL (and FedEx) apply fuel surcharges that scale with package size and destination. While the updated shipping charges won’t fully cover these additional costs, they help us manage the growing burden of international delivery without compromising service.
Both couriers use volumetric (dimensional) weight pricing, meaning the cost is based not just on weight but also on size. DHL tends to apply this more aggressively on certain routes — which is why Smart Doll boxes, though relatively light, may be treated as heavier when shipped to the US or Canada. That said, DHL remains highly optimized for small parcels and is a solid choice for lightweight items.
DHL also applies a fixed “Remote Area Delivery” fee of 3500 JPY (!) to addresses it designates as remote — which, despite the name, includes a surprisingly large number of residential locations, particularly in parts of North America, the UK, and Australia. While this fee only applies to certain destinations, it comes up frequently enough that we’ve had to account for it operationally. Even with the upcoming price adjustments, we’ll continue to absorb this cost rather than pass it directly onto affected customers — as it remains a significant factor in our overall shipping expenses.
FedEx, on the other hand, was built around time-sensitive express delivery — originally for urgent business shipments. While they do handle small packages, their pricing is driven more by speed and service level than by size alone. This results in higher base rates, which can make lightweight Tier 1 shipments more expensive, especially to the US and Canada.
However, FedEx becomes much more cost-effective for larger items. As package size increases, their pricing stabilizes, and they generally apply fewer residential surcharges. For most Smart Doll orders to the US and Canada, FedEx tends to offer the better overall value.
About Merging Orders
For customers in the United States, we also won’t merge orders if the combined value (including shipping) exceeds 800 USD — this is to help ensure your shipment stays within the duty-free threshold and isn’t flagged for additional customs processing.
If you’re in another region with a similar threshold and would like us to apply the same rule, just let us know — we’re happy to look into it.
About Splitting Orders
Similarly, we’re unable to split a single order into multiple shipments if the total amount paid exceeds USD 800. Doing so could be seen as not only tax avoidance, but it would also require us to cover the additional shipping costs — which isn’t something we can accommodate.
When placing your order, please keep in mind any customs thresholds or import limits that apply in your country. If needed, feel free to split your orders yourself when checking out to stay within your region’s limits.
Things to Keep in Mind
Going forward, we’ll no longer rely on flags or notes in your account regarding courier preferences — instead, you’ll be able to choose the shipping method you want directly at checkout.
Please avoid placing an order using the most economical option and then leaving a note asking us to upgrade it to the more expensive one at our cost. We love going the extra mile, but this is one of those areas where clarity and fairness need to come first.
Also, keep in mind that the more expensive shipping method doesn’t always mean faster delivery. Pricing differences are often due to how each courier handles package dimensions, regional surcharges, and routing — not necessarily speed.
Thank You for Your Support
We understand that these changes may feel disappointing — and we respect that some folks may choose to pause or adjust their orders as a result. That’s entirely fair.
We’ve kept our shipping rates steady for as long as possible, but these adjustments help ensure we can continue delivering Smart Doll to fans around the world without compromising the quality, service, or experience you’ve come to expect from us.
Thanks again for your understanding. And as always, if anything’s unclear, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly clarify and update this post so others with the same questions can benefit too.
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