<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_blue.svg" width="40px" /> (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ:･ﾟ✧*

</aside>

What is a group order? What is a group order manager (GOM)?

Group orders are a way for people to order items together from the same shop/seller in another country as to reduce international shipping costs and fees. Although, while group orders are a way to help save on these cost, they may take a bit more time to get rather than ordering yourself. Please be aware of this.

A group order manager, or GOM for short, (aka me ori!) is responsible for managing the entire order. This requires a variety of things like ordering and paying for the items with the seller/shop, calculating all payments, shipping, packaging, updating on orders and delays, plus so much more!

This is my first time joining a group order, how does it usually go?

The process may go as follows (can vary depending on situation):

1. I (the group order manager) will make an order form for people who want to buy from an overseas shop/seller to fill out with the items they want. You will also make the 1st payment to me here for your item(s). The form will be open for a limited amount of time with a deadline so try to get yours in before it closes! All properly filled out orders will be added to my ♡ masterlist which is where you can check for the status as well as your own order.

2. After collecting all orders and payments, I then will place the order with the seller directly or have my proxy order on my behalf if I am not able to so myself.

3. After I have submitted the order with the seller, it’s more of a waiting game. Sometimes items have to go through production which can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

• In the case of a shop/seller shipping to my proxy:
  • Once production has finished, the seller will go through the items and began packing. After they have finished packing, they will send the items to my proxy which will receive and hold the items for me. Typically I have other group orders that need to arrive to that same proxy before I can ship all group orders to me. I allow group orders to pile up at my proxy as to have as many items within one batch. This can take around 1-5 months (sometimes longer, sometimes shorter). Afterwards, once all group order have arrived to my proxy, I will request for them to be consolidated. Consolidating means packing all of the group order items into one big box to have shipped to me. Once they finish consolidating and provide me with the total shipping cost, I will then divide it amongst all joiners by the amount of items each purchased or by item(s) weight (will be disclosed within the specific group order). This is where you will make the 2nd payment to me, which is EMS or international shipping.
• In the case of a shop/seller shipping to my personal address:
  • Once production has finished, the seller will go through the items and began packing. After they have finished packing, they will then message me and send me the total cost of the international shipping. Once I have the total, I will divide it amongst all joiners by the amount of items each purchased or weight (will be disclosed within the specific group order). This is where you will make the 2nd payment which is EMS or international shipping.

4. Afterwards the items will all be shipped to my own address. I will then go through all items to confirm they have arrived and are in good condition. If they all are, I will start packing all joiners individual items and then calculate domestic shipping to you from me. This may take me time as I am one person doing this, so please be patient! Domestic shipping will be your 3rd and last payment and after you have made that payment to me, I will then ship out your items to you!

Do you charge any fees?

I do charge a small fee for first payments. This can range anywhere from $0.25 - $1.00 depending on where I am ordering from. This fee is to help pay for:

• PayPal fees: PayPal is used I would say about 75% of the time for most orders as this is what most sellers take if not the proxies I use.
• Currency conversion fees: Since I pay foreign sites with USD, a fee is charged to have the currency converted from USD to whatever currency the seller/shop is receiving
• Foreign currency fluctuations: Price differences that can happen when orders are submitted to sellers
• International domestic shipping fees: Shipping fees that the seller may charge to ship orders to my proxy’s address
• Proxy service fees: Depending on the order, sometimes I cannot place it myself and will need my proxy to on my behalf. Every order (sometimes item) that my proxy orders is charged a fee
• Packing supplies fee: This will be added onto the third payment (domestic shipping) to help cover the cost of mailers, tape, sleeves, bubble wrap, etc.

While I am a non-profit GOM, I don't want to lose my own money covering these. Any extra or left over amount will always go towards EMS or DOMS!