Thursday, February 14, 2008

Rescheduling Deliveries in Japan

Japan Post "Undeliverable Item Notice"

[Edit: See this post for information on how to reschedule Japan Post deliveries using the automated phone service.

Edit 2: Updated Sep 30, 2014]



Japan Post is probably the easiest service to schedule redelivery with since you can do it online and they do have English on the site. For those who like step-by-step instructions (like me), douzo:


1. On the Japan Post website, click the link for 再配達のお申し込み "Sai haitatsu o moshikomi" under the インターネットサービス "internet service" section. (Or go directly to the redelivery page at https://trackings.post.japanpost.jp/delivery/delivery_request.do.


2. Scroll down past the various warnings to the input section 「郵便物等ご不在連絡票」情報の入力.

 Enter your postal code without hyphens in the first section. Next enter the notice number. The number should theoretically be written in the box in the bottom section of the "undeliverable item notice" slip, but in my case it is printed out on a sticker that is then attached to the notice.

There are two entry sections for the notice number; the one you should use depends on the type of notice you have. Postcards (as pictured at the top of the post) should have a 11-13 digit number which should be entered on the left side box (追跡番号(お問い合わせ番号) Notice Number), while notices with a barcode and a  6-8 digit number should be entered on the right (お知らせ番号 Notice Number).

Select your desired redelivery date in the third section.

 For the fourth section match the kanji for the mail type from the bottom of the notice postcard ("Mail, etc. Type"). 

Be careful to select the package type in the section corresponding to the type of undeliverable item notice you received (select from the top section for "追跡番号(お問い合わせ番号) Notice Number" or from the bottom section for "お知らせ番号 Notice Number").


Choose where you'd like your package redelivered in the fifth section:
ご自宅 - Home Address (original delivery address)
ご近所様に配達 - Deliver to Neighbour
勤務先に配達 - Deliver to Workplace
配達を担当している郵便局の窓口でお受け取り - Pick-up from the Delivery Center Post Office (do not re-deliver)
他の郵便局の窓口でお受け取り - Pick up from Different Post Office

Click the left hand red button (次へ進む) to continue. (If you have a Yuubin ID, you can click on the right hand red button (ゆうびんIDを利用して登録する)

3. (Note: The following if for re-delivery to the original delivery address. You would probably see a slightly different page for delivery to a neighbour/workplace since you would need to enter the re-delivery address.)



Choose the date and time range for redelivery. (Make sure you're actually home at that time!) Note that this option is not available if you choose to have your package re-directed to your workplace.

Enter your daytime contact phone number (using half-width numbers) starting from the local area code (include an extension number (内線) if necessary); name (maximum 16 characters for full-width characters, or 32 characters using half-width characters), and email address twice for confirmation (half-width characters).

You can skip the "Notice for Office" unless you have some information/request you need to convey to the post office.

Click on the red 次に進む button to continue to the confirmation/submission page.


4.  Check all the information for accuracy and hit the red 登録する button to confirm. (If you're redirecting to your office, I think the next screen will ask you to re-confirm the original shipping address.)



Pelican (Amazon.co.jp Package)

Calling to have an Amazon package redelivered is easier than I thought it would be.

A sample phone conversation (in very basic/broken Japanese) rescheduling an Amazon package delivery:

Me - Konnichiwa/Konbanwa, Melissa desu. Amazon kozutsumi arimasu. Ashita no roku ji kara kyuu ji made takuhai onegaishimasu.*

(Hello, this is Melissa. I have an Amazon package. Please deliver it tomorrow from six o'clock to nine o'clock.)

Pelican - Gojuusho wa nandesuka.

(Your address please.)

Me - [Address in Japanese]

Pelican - Denwabango wa nandesuka.

(Your phone number, please.)

Me - [Phone number in Japanese]

Pelican - Hai, otodokemasu.

(We'll deliver it.)

* If I'm asking for same day delivery before a certain time I might say something like "kyou no roku ji han made takuhai shite dekimasenka" to ask if they can do it, rather than just saying "please deliver it."

[Edit: I wrote this post fairly early on in my time in Japan. I've since learned a more proper way to inquire about non-delivery notices, so here's my improved sample phone conversation. Please note this is for calling a delivery center and not the driver! Also, what the Pelican/Sagawa/Japan Post people say is just a rough guideline at best since 1) I'm writing it from my memories of what I heard, and 2) phrasing is usually different from person to person anyway.

For Pelican/Transport Communication Sagawa:

Me - Fuzairenrakuhyou ga todoitanodesuga...
(I received a "Message of Non-delivery..." ご不在連絡票)

Pelican - Okurijou bango wa nandesuka?
(What's the notification number? 送り状番号 - Not a literal translation, but close enough.)

Sagawa - Onimotsu bango wa nandesuka?
(What's the package number? お荷物番号)

Me - 0123456789
(The number in Japanese - zero/maru, ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyuu)

Pelican/Sagawa - Ima kara uchi ni imasuka?
(Will you be home from now on?)

Me - Hai, imasu. / Iie, imasen. Ashita no gozenchuu ni saihaitsu shitekuremasenka?
(Yes, I will./ No, I won't be. Can you redeliver it tomorrow morning (usually meaning between 8am and 12pm)?)

Pelican/Sagawa - Hai, (ashita no gozenchuu ni) otodokemasu.
(We'll deliver it (tomorrow morning).)

Me - Arigatou gozaimasu. Shitsureishimasu.
(Thank you. Good-bye. - Literally "Pardon my rudeness.")

Note: If you're asking for same day re-delivery within a certain time frame, they may ask for your phone number so they can call the driver and then call you back.

For Japan Post:

Me - Yuubinbutsu oazukari no oshirase wo todoitanodesuga...
(I received an "undeliverable item notice"... 郵便物お預かりのお知らせ)

Japan Post - Haitatsu tantousha wakarimasuka?
(Do you know the driver's (配達担当者) name?)

Me - [Driver's name]
(Here's where it's tricky since it's written in Japanese... I was lucky the one time I phoned instead of using the internet since I actually knew the kanji for "Suzuki" (鈴木).)

Japan Post - Wakarimashita. Gojuusho wa nandesuka?
(Your address please.)

Me - [Address in Japanese]

Japan Post - Oname wa nandesuka?
(What's your name?)

Me- [Name]

Japan Post - Sashidashinin wo wakarimashitaka?
(Do you know the sender? 差出人)

Me - Hai, [Sender name].

Japan Post - Denwabango wa nandesuka.
(Your phone number, please.)

Me - [Phone number in Japanese]

Japan Post - Shichi ji kara ku ji made otodoite yoroshi desuka?
(Is it OK for us to deliver it between 7 and 9 (pm)?)

Me - Hai. Onegaishimasu.
(Yes, please do.)

Japan Post - ~ Arigatou gozaimasu.
(Various polite phrases along the lines of "thank you for calling" and "have a pleasant evening.")

Me - Arigatou gozaimasu. Shitsureishimasu.
(Thank you. Good-bye. - Literally "Pardon my rudeness.")

Note: Since you can reschedule deliveries online, I only call Japan Post if I come home too late to be able to reschedule a same day redelivery and I don't want to wait for my package until the following day.

Of course, you can also go to pick up your parcel--just bring the notification form, your hanko, and a piece of ID (driver's license or gaijin card). ]

28 comments:

ceci said...

Speaking of deliveries... do you know how much it would cost to ship a box (of a 500/1000-piece puzzle) from Japan back to Toronto? Um, I dunno how much it would weigh... :S

Crystal wants me to buy one for her, and I don't think I can pack it in my suitcase!

Thanks!!!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hi!

Just wanted to say your post has been very useful to me; you saved me a few trips to the post office :)

Thanks!

Pint-sized Cat said...

THANK YOU! I was at a total loss when I got the non-delivery notice today :) Your description really helped a lot!

Pratik said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Riisa said...

Thank you! I was wondering around on the Internet, trying to find out, what to do with my delivery notice. And suddenly, google brought me here. What a lucky shot!

The next saturday morning, I got my parcel right to my door step. What a service, I have to say! :)

Oscar-sensei said...

thanks you so much for this post!

i can barely read kanji, so your user-friendly guide totally paid off!

= )

arigato gozaimasu!

wisemanleo said...

How about how to schedule re-deliveries via Sagawa's automated phone service? I can't get past step 4 where they ask for the date of redelivery...I tried following the kanji and instructions as best as I could, but something isn't working out.

Have you done that before?

wisemanleo said...

Wait, nevermind! I just got it!

For those that are interested, if you get a message of non-delivery from Sagawa, the automated phone process goes as this:

1) Dial 0568-77-5300 from your cellphone or PHS, 0120-702-700 from a landline

2) You'll be asked to first enter you phone number.

3) You'll then be asked to enter a 4 digit code, that'll be written on your message of non-delivery notice.

4) Then, you'll have to punch in the 12 digit tracking number written on the notice.

5) Then, be careful with this part: just press 0, nothing else. This number represents the current month

6) Then it'll ask you for the day. Dial in the 2 digits (in the case of the 1st to the 9th, for example 5th: dial 05

7) finally, dial in the time of delivery.
You'll see the corresponding numbers on the notice.

Good luck and thanks again Mel for posting the wonderful article.

Presea said...

AWESOME! Thanks so much for the Sagawa phone info! I've got Hikari Denwa (IP Phone) so apparently the automated phone thing doesn't work for that... (Or I was using the wrong phone number...)

Unknown said...

thanks for the information.
it really helps me to get my deliveries when i am not around.

wisemanleo, i just read your post about Sagawa automated service and tried myself but when i reach the end, what number am i suppose to dial to confirm the information that i have given earlier?

wisemanleo said...

Presea...try dialing the other number next time! I know I was using the wrong one at first a few times.

Alex...if memory serves, I don't think there is a confirmation? If there is...maybe it's just 1? I can't quite remember as it's been a month since I last had Sagawa deliver something! Next opportunity I get, I will add that information. But do let us know how it worked out for you!

Anonymous said...

hi mel-
Very detailed & useful!
I have linked to this post on my post about redelivery, updated an old post since the new web design makes it a bit harder to follow the initial link from the main page:

http://hiroshimagab.blogspot.com/2009/11/japan-post-redelivery-web-change.html

Anonymous said...

@ Alex and wisemanleo,

I just went through the Sagawa rescheduling automatic call. At the end of the recording, the ast question asked is to confirm (press 1) or to cancel (press 2).

wisemanleo said...

I'd like to re-sum up the process for Sagawa's automated rescheduling process, to include the edits brought in from other comments:

For those that are interested, if you get a message of non-delivery from Sagawa, the automated phone process goes like this:

1) Dial 0568-77-5300 from your cellphone or PHS, 0120-702-700 from a landline

2) You'll be asked to first enter you phone number.

3) You'll then be asked to enter a 4 digit code, that'll be written on your message of non-delivery notice.

4) Then, you'll have to punch in the 12 digit tracking number written on the notice.

5) It'll now ask you when you want to receive it. If you want it redelivered:
The Same Day: Hit 0.
Any Other Day: 2 digit number representing the date (i.e., 05 for the 5th, or 18 for the 18th, etc)

6) Finally, the preference for time of day for delivery
Hit:
1 for Morning Until 12 (Earliest is usually about 9am)
2 for 12 until 2pm
3 for 2 to 4pm
4 for 4 to 6pm
5 for 6 to 8pm
6 for 7pm to 9pm
7 for "now until ~9pm". This option is useful if you're basically home all day and you missed the first attempt because you went out in the morning, and you want it redelivered the same day.

7) Lastly, it'll repeat your preferences for you and ask for your confirmation. To confirm, hit 1. To cancel, hit 0.

Done and done!

Thanks for everyone's comments and of course the blog post!

Presea said...

Thank you very much, wisemanleo!

(I've added a direct link to your comment on the main page to hopefully make the information easier for people to find!)

Unknown said...

Thanks to Anonymous for clarifying the last part of the Sagawa automated rescheduling process.

Thanks also to wisemanleo for re-compiling the process into one list for easy reference.

It has been a great help.

Unknown said...

Help! Your blog has been super helpful for me, i've filled in all the info but it won't recognise my 'Item number' as its not 11-13 digits long. The redelivery slip I have is yellow, and i've tried several different of the codes on the slip that look likely candidates to be the 'item number' but with no success. Where exatly on the form is the Item number... and in fact is this the write notice??

Presea said...

@Jess: Sorry for the delayed reply. You shouldn't actually have to fill in the item number. If you just fill in your postal code and delivery date in the first section (and complete the other sections following) it should work... I think.

luindae said...

Thank you so much! I was able to use your blog to help me call the post-office, which I was rather worried about because there was no English line.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much! I shop online a lot and now I can reschedule deliveries from Sagawa without waiting for Japanese friend s to do it for me.

Anonymous said...

Oh this is perfect! Thank you so much :)

Noire said...

Thank you! I know this is an older post but It's helped me out so much!

Anonymous said...

seriously, thank you for this post- even though it was posted in 2008, it has helped me out SO MUCH in 2012.


THANK YOU FOREVER!!! :D

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much.

A Hmong Girl said...

For anyone who has issues with entering their cell phone number on the second page of the website, make sure you enter it in the same format as: 80-1111-2222 OR 90-1111-2222.

I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out why the page wasn't going through. I just had to remove the first '0' of the phone number. Hope this helps!

Unknown said...

Can I ask... If a parcel cannot be delivered to my hotel in Hanzomon, where in Tokyo will it be kept?

Presea said...

I have no experience with this, so these are just my thoughts/speculations. If it was sent to a hotel, presumably the front desk should have accepted it for you or at the very least accepted a missed parcel notification for you? Was it sent via Japan Post or some other delivery company (Kuroneko Yamato, Sagawa, FedEx, etc.)? If you have a tracking number, you should be able to look up its current whereabouts and/or call the company to find out where it is. If it was sent without a tracking number or some sort of registration, you're probably out of luck--guessing it would be returned to sender.