Comments on: Special rules for Gaijin buying an iPhone

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:32:09 +0000

Nicolas!

I tried the same trick today, but to no avail. I am beginning to think using a Japanese credit card may help.

As for all those having trouble with visas, simply buy the cheap government health insurance (1000 yen per month) and take a government document with your address on it. Easy. I’m stuck on the central lending center part. It’s very very annoying, I spent nearly 2 damm hours on the process. I am applying for a credit card tomorrow and give or take a month, I’ll report back here how I got on. If anyone has any hints please post them! I’ll be dammed if I pay that 80,000 yen but I really don’t want a Japanese phone for my stay here.

By: nicolas rolland

nicolas rolland — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:43:45 +0000

I could score an iphone at yodobashi on a morning 3 weeks ago. they seemed to receive some on the morning. did not have my gaijin card, but the paper they give you before they hand you the gaijin card, + a credit card from citi japan, my french passport with a visa ending 2011.

They input and submit the details to a center that grants or refuse the contract.
Was refused first time, after redoing the whole process (i think i did not sign with my middle name first), got accepted.

It took sthg like 1h30… take some biscuits with you !

By: Tee

Tee — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:51:09 +0000

Military members cant get the Iphone here (in Japan) either– we have our visa stamped till 2012 and they told us no.. I dont unerstand it. We tried twice.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:37:48 +0000

OK, I guess just to add to the ‘tales of despair’, here’s my experience.

Managed to find a electronics store near my house that had some stock.
Went through the process twice and got told no both times (of course still able to pay the 80,000 for the phone…)

1. Passport and Alien Card with expiry on Feb 2010.
2. Health Insurance card/papers and Utility bills.

Both times bad, but I was asking for transfer from my bank account (don’t have a credit card)

I wonder what I could use to get one… Not many other options left but to either get a credit card. I don’t have a drivers license and not about to either… Sigh, maybe when my bonus comes through I can fork out the cash for the full price…

By: w00kie

w00kie — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:53:57 +0000

there is a specific rule written on the PDF I linked
I advise anyone trying to buy an iPhone to print it out before going to the shop, then showing a driver’s license or insurance card + credit card for identification
if they want to make you pay the ￥80.000 upfront, whip out the printed rules

By: dynysus

dynysus — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:58:56 +0000

Same problems trying to buy an iphone…applied using a Japanese Driving license, having a new 3 year Visa AND living here for 5 years….

I was not allowed to buy on contract
, and asked to pay upfront 80,000 yen

The decision seemed to come from a processing department rather than the store it self….It sucks
-Dynysus

By: kurisu

kurisu — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:33:16 +0000

I got my iPhone on Saturday. Paid full price (8万円) but could use my 20,000 Softbank points. Now, with the 新スーパーボーナス and starting the 3rd month of my new contract (from August 1st), Softbank will credit me 1,920円 each month for 24 months; which means that after the 27th month, my iPhone 16GB will have cost me 34,560円, which is basically what you pay for the phone upfront when you take the alternative solution of them charging you a monthly fee to repay the phone subsidies over 24 months.

By: JBAR

JBAR — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:31:58 +0000

Apple has no also removed pages…

Initially, I arrived at this blog “special-rules-for-gaijin-buying-an-iphone” through a link in a thread at the Apple Discussion forum. Then, I wrote a reply to the thread saying “Softbank apparently follows a policy of discrimination towards foreigners when purchasing the iPhone… see the following link http://w00kie.com/2008/07/11/special-rules-for-gaijin-buying-an-iphone/ … And guess, what, they deleted the entire thread, in which people were discussing their difficulty in getting an iPhone here in Japan.

Along with other things I’ve experienced recently, I no longer think my old grouchy uncle is as nuts and cynical as I used to. I had more faith in Apple, especially. But now they’re censoring. What can be done?

By: w00kie

w00kie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:53:59 +0000

actually, they removed the page I was linking to, but the same text is still available in the following PDF:
http://broadband.mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone/pdf/i_attention.pdf

By: JBAR

JBAR — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:12:49 +0000

I bought the phone on the 11th, providing my for. reg. card and insurance card, and was able to create a 2 year contract. However, they charged me the full 80,640 up front for the phone, regardless of having just renewed my visa (I have 34 months remaining on my visa).

I would like to take the wording from their website that you have posted into them to get a refund of the difference, but I have combed through their site and cannot find the 4 points you noted coming from http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone/purchase/check_list_ja.html

Can you point me to exactly where on their site that wording appears? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance