Buying a PSP-2000 listed as untested junk on Japanese Mercari via Buyee yielded a working, already-modded unit for $62.14 AUD total including battery, cover, and case.
Key Takeaways
Buyee (proxy forwarder) routes purchases from Mercari, Rakuten, and Rakuma; charges 300 yen service fee plus international shipping, and consolidates multiple items into one parcel.
Japanese “junk” listings are graded conservatively: this PSP-2000 arrived dirty but fully functional, running 5.50 GEN-D2 custom firmware from the late 2000s.
Avoid battery-included listings: Japan restricts international battery shipping, and Buyee enforces a 2-battery-per-package maximum.
Third-party OSTENT 1400mAh battery ($10 AUD) works as a drop-in replacement; OEM battery door has a sparkle paint finish that cheap replacements do not replicate.
Sort Mercari by “newly listed” to find underpriced junk units before they get picked up.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters confirm Buyee’s reliability across diverse categories (electronics, clothes, food, anime), with the battery-per-package rule flagged as the main logistics gotcha for multi-device buyers.
ZenMarket is offered as an alternative proxy buyer/forwarder; high-end fishing gear and golf clubs are cited as other Japan-import sweet spots given shippability and market depth.
Notable Comments
@TurdF3rguson: flags ZenMarket as a competing proxy and notes fishing reels and lures are “perfect because they’re so shippable”.
