The Mirumi robot charm, by Yukai Engineering, is sold primarily in Japan. In France, no physical retailer distributes it officially: most buyers therefore go through an online reseller. This raises three very concrete questions—where the package is shipped from, who pays the VAT, and what the warranty is worth. Here are the answers, straight from the shoulder.
Why Mirumi is so hard to find in France
Yukai Engineering is a small Japanese studio, known for Qoobo, the tail cushion. Its series are produced in limited quantities and sold primarily on the domestic Japanese market and through a few Asian distributors.
A direct consequence: European stock is fragmented among independent resellers. To date, there is no official Yukai Engineering boutique in France—which explains the frequent stockouts and significant price differences from one site to another.
The corollary is that you need to know how to judge a reseller. A price well below the market rate for a rare product is almost never a good deal: it is a sign of a copy, a parallel import without a warranty, or a shop that will never ship.
Delivery to France: what changes when the package is sent from Switzerland
Switzerland is not in the European Union. A package shipped from Switzerland to France therefore crosses a customs border, even if the journey is short.
Since July 2021, the VAT exemption on small shipments has been abolished throughout the EU: French VAT now applies from the first euro, regardless of the value of the package. Customs duties, however, only apply to goods with a market value exceeding €150.
The point to check before ordering, whether with us or elsewhere: are these fees included at the time of payment, or claimed upon delivery? A price displayed excluding import taxes results in a higher final bill than expected. Ask explicitly if the information is not provided.
How to recognize a reliable reseller
Four checks are enough to rule out most unpleasant surprises. First, legal identity: a serious shop publishes its company name and registered address clearly, not just a contact form.
Next, the return policy: a clearly displayed right of withdrawal, with a duration and a procedure. Then the payment method: prioritize bank cards or a recognized payment service that gives you recourse in case of non-delivery—never a direct bank transfer.
Finally, clarity on the origin of the product. A reseller who acknowledges being a reseller, and not an official distributor, is more credible than one who leaves room for doubt.
Price: what to expect
The price of a Mirumi in Europe reflects three things: the Japanese release price, transport, and current scarcity. It therefore evolves over time, and a gap between two shops does not necessarily signal a scam.
However, a price that is half the market average should alert you. On a limited-series electronic product, this margin simply does not exist—unless you are selling something other than the original.
Our commitment: to display the price including all taxes, in your currency, with no surprise fees at the time of delivery.
Warranty and after-sales service: the real question
Mirumi is an electronic object: it has a battery, sensors, and a motor. The legal guarantee of conformity applies to purchases made from a professional seller, even when shipping from abroad to a French consumer.
The point that matters in practice is the return address. Returning a defective product to Japan often costs more than the product itself. Always check that the reseller accepts returns within Europe.
This is also the reason why we advise against marketplaces where the seller is only identified by a pseudonym: in the event of a breakdown, there is no one on the other end of the line.