Transaction, payment and returns terms
These are the current rules shown to both buyers and sellers.
Buyer and seller business identities and contact details are not shared with each other. KOWA relays only anonymized product-related communications. The shipper receives only the final recipient details needed for delivery.
Current version: effective from the date published on this website
1. KOWA’s role
KOWA introduces buyers and sellers and coordinates orders, communications and condition checks. KOWA does not hold the goods and does not guarantee quality, quantity or delivery.
2. Orders and shipping
KOWA sends order information and dispatch authorization. The seller must wait for KOWA to authorize dispatch of that particular order. KOWA authorizes dispatch only after confirming the buyer payment or approving credit for that order. A planned payment or the seller’s own decision is not authorization.
3. Price and handling fee
The seller may change the asking unit price until an order is confirmed. The pre-tax price at order confirmation is fixed for that order. KOWA adds 8% per unit, rounded to the nearest yen, to show the pre-tax buyer price. Applicable tax and shipping are additional; later price changes do not alter confirmed orders.
For example, if the pre-tax asking price is JPY 10,000, the buyer product price is JPY 10,800, the seller product proceeds are JPY 10,000, and the JPY 800 difference is KOWA’s single handling fee. It is not deducted again from the asking price. Tax, shipping and separately agreed costs are calculated separately.
4. Receipt, hold and settlement of funds
The delivery date is day zero. After the following seven calendar days without unresolved objections, proceeds become confirmed seller credit after agreed deductions. Credit is retained by default and may be applied to purchases. Sellers select only the trades they want paid out and confirm fees, net amounts, cutoff and deadline before issuing electronic settlement invoices. The cutoff is Tuesday 23:59 Japan time, even on a holiday. Payment is due within the following three bank business days, excluding weekends, Japanese public holidays and bank year-end closures. Requests can be withdrawn before cutoff to retain the credit. Requested proceeds cannot be applied to purchases. Invoices are retained per trade ID; transfers are combined per company. Previously issued requests retain their agreed payment dates.
5. Bank charges
The buyer pays charges for sending funds to KOWA. The seller pays charges for KOWA’s remittance to the seller, including correspondent-bank and receiving-bank charges. Each party bears its own foreign-exchange fees.
6. Tax, shipping and customs
Listing prices are generally shown excluding tax, VAT or GST. Tax, shipping, customs duty and import costs are confirmed in the final quotation after the destination and transaction conditions are checked.
For Japanese domestic transactions, the applicable product tax rate (normally 10%, or 8% if reduced-rate eligible) and separately charged shipping tax are assessed independently. KOWA’s 8% handling fee is not a tax rate. Cross-border and non-taxable cases require individual review.
7. Returns, replacement and re-ordering
Replacement is generally not offered. If a defect or material discrepancy is confirmed, the order is cancelled and refunded according to the agreed conditions. A buyer who still wants the product must place a new order after stock, price, shipping and delivery terms are reconfirmed.
8. Changes to these terms
KOWA will give advance notice of material changes, including their content and effective date, and seek renewed electronic consent when required. New transactions are governed by the latest terms presented at that time; existing orders remain governed by the terms confirmed when the order was placed.
Automatic application and 7% / 8% handling fee
For eligible JPY trades by the same company, confirmed proceeds after the seven-day objection window are automatically applied to the next issued purchase invoice. The fee is 7% on the covered goods portion and 8% on the remainder. The supplier asking price stays the same. Shipping and taxes carry no handling fee. Amounts already requested for bank payout cannot be applied again.