What Is the Kaitori Section on Suruga-ya? Why You Can’t Buy These Items
Why is this such a common question?
If you’ve ever found an item on Suruga-ya, tried to order it through Buy Doujinshi, and got a message saying the product is not available for sale—even though it shows a price—you were probably looking at the infamous Kaitori page.
You’re not alone! This is one of the most frequent questions we get from customers. So let us explain clearly and quickly what the Kaitori section is, how to recognize it, and why those items can’t be purchased.
What is Suruga-ya’s Kaitori section?
The Kaitori section is part of Suruga-ya’s website dedicated exclusively to people selling their used items to the store. “Kaitori” (買取) literally means buying, so this is a buyback platform—not a shop.
The items listed in this section are not for sale. The displayed price shows how much Suruga-ya would pay you if you wanted to sell them your copy.
Important: Even though there are images, prices, and titles, these products are not available for purchase. That’s why we can’t order them for you via Buy Doujinshi.
Example of a Kaitori page
Here’s a real example:
https://www.suruga-ya.jp/kaitori/kaitori_detail/ZNAWO31715
- The URL contains
/kaitori/ - The title includes the term “買取価格” (buyback price)
- There’s no purchase or “add to cart” button
- It features forms for submitting your item, not buying one
How to tell if you’re on a Kaitori page
Here are a few quick signs that you’re browsing the Kaitori section:
- The page URL includes /kaitori/
- The title says “買取価格” (buyback price)
- There’s no purchase button or shopping cart
- There are submission forms for selling, not for buying
Difference between Kaitori and Suruga-ya’s Marketplace
Besides Kaitori, Suruga-ya also has a Marketplace—and this often creates additional confusion:
- Kaitori: A section for selling your used items to Suruga-ya. Not available for purchase.
- Marketplace: A system where third-party stores list used or rare products for sale via Suruga-ya. The products are shipped directly by those sellers.
Quick Summary
| Page Type | Available for Purchase? | Who Ships It? | Orderable via Buy Doujinshi? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Product Page | ✅ Yes | Suruga-ya | ✅ Yes |
| Marketplace Item | ✅ Yes | Third-party seller | ⚠️ Yes, with review |
| Kaitori Page | ❌ No | — | ❌ Not available |
What to do if the item you want is on Kaitori
If you find an interesting item that turns out to be in the Kaitori section, don’t worry:
- You can send us the link for confirmation
- Our team will check if the same item is available for sale elsewhere
- We’ll let you know your best options
Conclusion: Kaitori explained once and for all
Now you know that the Kaitori section on Suruga-ya is not a store, but a catalog used for people selling their items to the company.
If you’re ever in doubt, just reach out to the Buy Doujinshi team! We’re always happy to help you navigate the wonderful (and sometimes confusing) world of Japanese marketplaces and doujin shopping.