Who we are
Advanced Imports LLC (“we”) runs japanimports.net. We help customers import Japanese cars to Texas and sell cars from our own stock. We are based in Cypress, Texas, and see customers by appointment only.
Questions about this policy or your information: team@japanimports.net.
What we collect
When you send us a request
The “find a car”, “sell your car” and “ask about this car” forms collect what you type: your name, an email address or phone number, the car you’re interested in, and optionally your budget, timing and details of a car you want to sell.
To stop spam, we also keep a scrambled (hashed) form of your IP address with the request. We use it only to limit how many requests one visitor can send per hour, and it can’t be turned back into your IP address.
When you have a customer portal
If you become a customer, we create an account with your name, email address and, if you gave it, your phone number. Through the portal we keep:
- the cars we shortlist for you, and their auction details, photos and translated auction sheets;
- messages between you and us;
- any notes you save, inspection requests, and the maximum budget you authorize us to bid;
- files you upload, such as auction sheets or photos;
- the notes we keep about your search (for example, preferences you’ve told us), which only our staff can see;
- when you last signed in.
When you sign in
You can sign in with a one-time link sent to your email, or with Google. If you use Google, Google tells us your name and email address and that the address is verified. We use that only to recognize your account. We don’t get your Google password, contacts or anything else from your Google account.
What we don’t collect
We don’t take payments on this website, so we never see card or bank details here. Deposits and payments are arranged with us directly. We don’t use advertising or analytics trackers.
Cookies
We use only cookies the site needs to work:
- Sign-in cookie: keeps you signed in to your portal for up to 30 days, or until you sign out.
- Google sign-in cookie: lasts 10 minutes while you sign in with Google, to make sure the sign-in that comes back is the one you started.
We don’t use cookies for advertising or to track you across other websites.
How we use your information
- To answer your request and find, inspect, bid on, ship and deliver the car you ask for.
- To run your portal: show you cars, translated auction sheets and estimates, and record your instructions, such as the most you’ve authorized us to bid.
- To email you about your cars, messages and sign-in links.
- To keep the site secure and stop spam and misuse.
- To meet legal, tax and import paperwork requirements.
We don’t sell your personal information or share it with anyone for their own marketing. We don’t send marketing emails. If we start, we’ll only send them to people who agree, and every one will have an unsubscribe link.
Who helps us run the site
We use these service providers. They handle data for us and only as needed to provide their service:
- Vercel: hosts the website and stores uploaded files and photos (United States).
- Neon: hosts our database (United States).
- Resend: sends our emails, such as sign-in links and notifications.
- Hostinger: hosts our email inbox, so replies you send us are stored there.
- Google: only if you choose “Continue with Google” to sign in.
- Anthropic: we may send auction-sheet images to Anthropic’s AI to draft an English translation. Our staff check every draft before you see it. We don’t send your account details with the sheet.
To import your car we also share what’s needed with the people who handle it, such as auction houses and agents in Japan, inspectors, shipping companies and customs brokers. They receive only what they need for their part of the job.
We may also disclose information if the law requires it, or to protect our rights or someone’s safety.
How long we keep it
We keep your account and records of your imports for as long as you’re a customer, and afterwards for as long as we need them for legal, tax and import records. If you send a request and don’t go ahead, you can ask us to delete it at any time.
Sign-in links expire after 15 minutes and can only be used once.
Your choices
Email team@japanimports.net to see the information we hold about you, correct it, or ask us to delete it. We’ll confirm the request is yours before acting on it. We may need to keep some records that the law requires us to keep.
You can also update some details, such as notes, in your portal, and sign out at any time.
Security
Connections to the site are encrypted. Uploaded files are private: only our staff and the customer they belong to can open them. Passwords aren’t used; sign-in is by a one-time email link or Google. No system is perfectly secure, so please tell us right away if you think your account has been misused.
Children
This site is for adults buying or selling cars. We don’t knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.
Changes
If we change this policy we’ll update the date at the top. If a change is significant, we’ll tell customers by email or in their portal.