What to check before you request an item from abroad

A request is how you ask for something no one has listed. You describe what you want, where it is sold and your budget; jastipers going to that city reply with a quote; you accept one or none.

Most requests that go wrong do so because of a missing detail, not a bad jastiper. Six things settled up front prevent nearly all of it.

1. Pin down the exact product

"The blue one" is not enough. Give the jastiper everything they need to pick the right item off a crowded shelf:

• A link to the product on the shop's or brand's own website, if there is one.
• The full product name, including any edition or series name.
• The variant: colour, size, scent, shade, capacity — whatever the product comes in.
• A reference photo, ideally of the packaging, so they can match it by sight.

If you would accept a close alternative, say so — and say which kind. "Any colour except pink" is useful; "something similar" usually is not.

2. Set a budget that includes the fees

Your budget on a request should be the most you are willing to pay for the item itself. On top of it come the jastiper's fee and SEENTIP's platform fee, which you will see in their quote before you accept anything.

If you are unsure what to budget, look the item up on the shop's own site and convert the price to rupiah, then allow a little room for price differences between stores. Our guide to what jastip costs shows how the full total is calculated.

3. Check the timing

A jastiper can only buy your item while they are abroad, and only deliver it after they return. If you need it by a specific date, put that date in your request. Jastipers will only be able to help if their trip comes back in time.

If you have a particular trip in mind, you can also link your request to it, so that jastiper sees it directly.

4. Think about how it travels

Everything a jastiper brings back has to fit in their luggage and travel on a plane. Before requesting, consider:

• Size and weight. Large boxes, glass bottles and anything heavy take a lot of space. Expect a higher fee, or a polite no.
• Fragility. Ask how the jastiper packs fragile items, and whether you want the original box kept.
• Liquids and aerosols. Many airlines restrict these, especially in cabin baggage. Your jastiper will know what their airline allows and how they are packing.

5. Know what happens if it is sold out

Popular and seasonal items sell out. Decide in advance what you would like the jastiper to do:

• Skip it and come home without it;
• Ask you first before buying an alternative;
• or choose for you within limits you set.

Writing this into your request saves a hurried message while they are standing in the shop.

6. Check what you are allowed to bring in

Whether an item can be brought into Indonesia, and whether duties or taxes apply, depends on what it is, how many there are and their value. The rules are set by Indonesia's customs authority (Bea Cukai) and change over time, so check the current guidance on its official website, beacukai.go.id (opens in a new tab), especially for food, cosmetics, electronics or larger quantities.

After you send it

Jastipers heading to that city see your request and can reply with a quote tied to one of their trips: the item price, their fee and a short message. You can compare quotes side by side, accept the one that suits you, or close the request if none do. Once you accept, it becomes an order with its own price breakdown and timeline.

When you are ready, request an item.