Topics: Electronics, Point Systems
Consumer electronics/computer stores such as Yodobashi and Bic offer "point cards" that accumulate points on each purchase. Each point is redeemable for one yen of merchandise. The exact amount of points accumulated per purchase is typically displayed on the item's price tag as a percentage of the purchase price. E.g., a DVD player might cost 30,000 yen, but offer 13% back on your point card. You pay 30,000 yen at the register, but you walk away with the DVD player and 3,900 points on your point card, which you can then use to buy something else at that time or later.
Some point card strategies:
- When haggling over larger purchases such as LCD/plasma TVs, if they are reluctant to lower the sticker price of the item, another bargaining strategy is to ask them if they will raise the "points back" percentage amount instead. On a couple of occasions I've been able to get them to go up a point or two.
- If you are buying both a more expensive item and an accessory, such as a camera and a carrying case, you can ask them to split it into two purchases, and get the accessory for free or heavily discounted, using the points gained from the first purchase. If you are a tourist or short-term visitor, this may be preferable to carrying around points on a point card.
- Having said the above, I have found that it is sometimes difficult to return or exchange items purchased with points. So you may wish to only buy things using a point card that you are 100% sure you will not return, such as blank CDs, DVDs, disposable computer dusters, etc.
- For close-out items, sometimes the number of points that you get back will depend upon whether you are paying with cash or credit card (i.e. fewer percent back for a credit card purchase).
- The point card is not a "stored-value" card - if you lose it they will replace it and the points with no problem. But they do not ask for ID when you use it, so of course if someone dishonest finds it and uses it then you are probably out of luck.
General electronics store strategies:
- For readers with the ability to ship from overseas, certain expensive items such as computer peripherals that will not incur large shipping costs may be cheaper to purchase from another country and have them shipped here. If you do this then make sure that the items will work on 100V and 50 or 60Hz, depending on where in Japan you live. E.g. in the US, many AC adapters for things like external HD drives, internet routers, and laptops are now dual-voltage/dual-frequency, but please verify first.
See
Bob K
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