When Apple’s spring and autumn product launches are over, and the itinerary for viewing cherry blossoms and maple viewing in Japan is arranged immediately, the purchase of new Apple products is included in the itinerary, and at the same time, it is a kind of trip to Japan to meet the double pleasure of going abroad for shopping and snapping up new products. The fun, following the last time inYodobashi snapped up iPad Mini RetinaLater, this time I will share the experience of grabbing the iMac 27 Retina 5K at Bic Camera (ビックカメラ) again, and continue to give you a look.
Why go to Japan to buy Apple products?
‧ More favorable exchange rate and price: The depreciation of the Japanese currency in the past two years has intensified, and the price of Apple products has been small. Whether it is credit card or cash payment for shopping in Japan, you will always save a fortune after deducting the handling fee. If you add discounts provided by Japanese merchants or credit cards, you can save money. The range is even more impressive.
‧Early time for new products to market: From the release to the launch of Apple’s new products, Europe, America and Japan are usually the first wave of listing areas. Taiwan usually only ranks after the second wave, and even the supply is often insufficient. After Apple’s spring and autumn products are released, they can often take advantage of Japan’s rewards. Sakura, maple viewing itinerary to buy by the way.
‧ Warranty and interface universal: Apple products are covered by the global warranty. No matter where the item is purchased, not only the product is guaranteed globally, but you can also seek repair services nearby.In addition, the product has a built-in multi-language interface. When the product is connected to the Internet, it will automatically be set to the local language interface.
In addition to the advantages mentioned above, it is recommended that you have to evaluate many additional costs and potential risks. Before going abroad for brain congestion shopping, you still have to calm down and evaluate it.
‧ Additional cost: When evaluating the price of overseas products, many additional costs have to be added, including: tangible costs such as shipping fees, handling fees, exchange differences and domestic shopping discounts, as well as intangible costs such as occupation of travel itinerary, manual transportation, and language communication.
‧ Potential risks: After buying something from abroad, you have to consider many potential risks, including: damage during the delivery of goods, inapplicable warranty, customs clearance issues, product specifications that do not meet the domestic use situation, inability to return or exchange, lack of maintenance services, and so on.
For example, when the iPhone 6 is out of stock across Taiwan, I wanted to go to Japan to purchase iPhones, but Japanese mobile phones have the so-called "money clause", the camera sound is quite loud, it is impossible to swipe the credit card to install zero interest rate, and there is no telecommunications company to bind the contract. The subsidy and the Japanese media just reported that the iPhone has increased in price, and the Japanese official website has also updated the price, so this option was finally abandoned.
Although the operating system of the iMac 27 I purchased this time has a multi-language interface, the keyboard is printed in Japanese instead of phonetic, and the entire product package weighs 15 kg. If you travel overseas, you have to bring your own customs clearance or walk around. Not an easy task.In addition, in addition to various exchange rates, handling fees, shipping costs, and more direct domestic anniversary purchases, whether it is cost-effective, it depends on everyone's own calculations!
Collect preferential information and purchase evaluation.
This time I choose to buy Apple products at Bic Camera. The first is the coupon message provided by my friends, providing 8% tax exemption and up to 7% discount.
Step XNUMX: Go to the Bic Camera Facebook Fan Club to receive the discount voucher
Enter the Bic Camera Traditional Chinese Fan Group (https://www.facebook.com/biccamera.tc), find the coupon message, click “Receive”, the e-coupon will be sent to your Facebook account mailbox.
Step XNUMX: Check the e-mail box and print out the paper coupon
After logging in to the email address registered in your Facebook account, you can find the email that provides the coupon, print out the paper, and then you can go shopping with the coupon.The coupon specifically states that Apple products offer 8% duty-free and 5% discount, but the maximum 7% discount is not reached. The price of Apple products is really hard!
The range of coupons for the above activities includes VISA, Master, JCB, UnionPay, American Express and other major credit cards. There is no restriction on using only the VISA credit card that Bic Camera has long-term cooperation with.
If the event has ended, you can also enter the Bic Camera official website (http://www.biccamera.co.jp/), check whether there are related promotions, usually you can see that VISA credit cards provide at least 5% discount. As for the 8% tax-free discount, thanks to the new tax rebate measures for tourists in 2014 in Japan, overseas tourists can enjoy it!
After you have checked the shopping discounts, the next step is to compare the prices of the two countries' goods, plus the exchange rate difference, freight and other costs, and deduct the discounts that you can enjoy directly in the country, and evaluate whether it is cost-effective.Of course, you have to see if you can afford other intangible costs such as taking up travel time, transporting and sending by yourself, and language communication.
In addition to preparing discount coupons, it is recommended to check the location of Bic Camera and the nearby post office first to avoid heavy goods, which can make you half tired.In addition, when shopping, you must prepare a credit card, passport, and discount coupons; when sending, you must prepare your home address in Chinese and English and cash.
This time I bought an iMac at Bic Camera, and I also stopped by Yodobashi to see the Apple area. In fact, the Apple area of Yodobashi has a better texture and a larger area.However, the price is the most important thing, so choose to buy at Bic Camera, next to the post office, it is much more convenient.
▲ The apple area of Yodobashi, the decoration and furnishings are quite textured and relatively broad.
Sharing experience of purchasing Bic Camera in Japan.
Stayed at a hotel on the first day in KyotoAPA Hotel Kyoto-Eki-Horikawadori, From Kyoto Station, turn left and walk straight to the hotel. I don’t know whether it’s a fate or emotional entanglement on the way. Bic Camera is stuck between the station and the hotel. After going back and forth twice, I walk into the store directly. Is there a batch of cheap apples to buy?
In fact, the 20-inch iMac (Mid 2007) at home has been in service for seven years, and it was hung up once in 2013. One of the DRAM slots has been damaged, and the remaining one alone will support the overall situation. This time, it has finally been upgraded.
I have become a Retina iMac. In addition, it coincides with the maple viewing schedule, and Taiwan has not yet been listed, and I will miss the anniversary of the department store when it goes public, so I made up my mind to come and come, go to Japan, and buy an iMac!
▲ Bic Camera is located on the left of Kyoto Station, closer than Yodobashi in front.
▲ The hotel is on the left front of Bic CameraAPA Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae, The post office is on the right front.
▲ Business hours are 10:00-21:00, open all year round.
▲Go up to the fourth floor from the elevator next to the door, where you can find computer supplies.
▲ The furnishings of the Apple area follow Apple's style, but are surrounded by a bunch of electronic products of various brands.
▲ iMac 5K has just passed the electromagnetic compatibility test (EMC) in Taiwan, and it is not yet available in general stores.
▲ This time I finally saw the big screen and high-quality charm of iMac 5K with my own eyes.
▲ Immediately opened the Anya Travel Blog and Wendy Movie Channel on the Japanese iMac, and even wanted to set it as the homepage.
▲ The price of iMac 5K is 258,800 yen without tax.
▲ With a VISA credit card, even if there is no coupon, you can still enjoy the same 8% tax-free 5% discount.
▲Now that the coupons are printed, show them.
▲ Presenting a passport is also a necessary step for overseas shopping. The tax-free shopping certificate will be placed in the passport.
▲ The purchase procedure is very common, just swiping and signing!
▲ Based on the price of 258,800 yen without tax, and a 5% discount, the actual purchase price is 245,860 yen.
▲ I was not sure what time the post office would open at that time, so I let the contents of the bag lie quietly on the cart and enter the warehouse for the night.
▲ The clerk provides a bill of lading and waits for it to be picked up tomorrow, which will be sent to the post office.
Experience sharing on parcel delivery from Japan Post Office.
When shopping in Japan, you must first consider whether to carry it through customs or use international express.This time I returned to China at the airport. I saw two water wave stoves and an electronic pot on the luggage conveyor belt. It can be seen that there are many cases of going back to Japan to buy electronic products and directly carrying customs clearance.
Last time I bought the iPad Mini at Yodobashi, I just took it with me back to my country. This time I considered the iMac 27 I bought, but it was a behemoth, and I couldn't help but buy it on the first day, so I chose to go to the post office to send it.
In fact, before departure, I had already checked that there is a post office near Bic Camera, so I bought it on the first day and sent it straight to the post office the next day. This is a somewhat premeditated method of course!
▲ After finishing the maple viewing trip the next day, go to Bic Camera to pick up the goods in the evening.
▲ After showing the bill of lading to the clerk, you can pick up the goods.
▲ There is a packaging machine next to the checkout counter for simple packaging.
▲ Specially emphasized to the shop assistants that they need to be shipped back to the country, and asked them to take special protective packaging measures against collisions.
▲ In fact, there are thick sponges and fixed styrofoam inside the iMac outer packaging box, which is quite anti-collision.
▲ The machine is tied with a plastic belt and a simple handle is added for easy lifting and carrying.
▲ Yes, the shopping goals of men and women are quite different, but the refreshingness is the same.
▲Walking to the right from the Bic Camera gate, you will find the post office.
▲ On the way to the post office for hand-carried goods, the walking distance is about 140 meters.
Carrying the 15 kg iMac 27 packaging box, this is no joke. I have checked in advance that the Bic Camera in Kyoto Station is diagonally across the road from the post office, and then I made up my mind to go shopping. You can compare the weight of the product with yourself. Considering physical strength, this is an additional cost.
▲ Waiting at the counter for international parcel delivery.
▲ The counter personnel first weigh the goods and calculate the freight.
▲ The 15 kg iMac 27 will cost 10,250 yen for the airline.
International parcel delivery is mainly divided into three types: EMS, air service and ship service. EMS is an international express mail, it will arrive in about three days, and the price was about 15,000 yen at the beginning; the air mail will be sent by air, and the clerk will tell you that the goods will arrive in about 7-10 days; the ship will be shipped by sea, and the freight is cheaper, but The waiting time is longer.
At that time, considering that there were 8 days to travel in Kyoto, I decided to choose the air service. The goods will arrive right after I return home. The entire package weighs 15.11 kg. The counter staff uses the computer to directly weigh the package. The shipping fee is 10,250 yen. The international package shipping fee is already Duty-free price.
▲ After selecting the shipping method, then fill in the postal delivery note.
The postal delivery note mainly fills in the names and addresses of the sender and recipient, as well as the type, model, quantity and price of the goods.The sending and receiving information can be the same, but the sending information must be provided in English, which can be mainly recognized by the Japanese side, and the receiving information can be filled in Chinese so that the Taiwanese side can recognize it.
You can also fill in the second preliminary mailing address at the bottom of the application form. In case the original address cannot be delivered, you can send it to the preliminary address and fill in Chinese, because it is handled by the local postal staff.
▲ Remember to prepare the English address first, so as not to be in a hurry.
▲ The letter of appointment for customs clearance required for international shipments can be signed and approved by the sender.
▲ There are other materials such as the declaration of liability for goods compensation and the agreement on claim settlement, and the sender can also sign on it for confirmation.
▲ The postal office has to pay in cash for parcels sent, so remember to keep some cash in your hand!
After completing the mailing-related information and payment in cash, the package will be left to the post office counter staff for processing!
Parcel express query and tracking.
After completing the application for international parcel delivery, the next step is to wait patiently for the parcel to arrive at home!People who are itchy or not at ease can use the online package tracking service in Japan and Taiwan to check the processing status of package delivery in real time, as long as they are ready to write down the number (Item Number / No.) on the mailing list, and go online according to You can check the delivery progress in the following ways.
Step XNUMX: Log in to the official website of Japan Post and enter the parcel number
Enter the official website of the Japan Post Office (http://www.post.japanpost.jp/), on the right side of the page, find the "Tracking Service (Tracking Service)" option, enter the package number, and press the "Tracking (Tracking)" function key.
Step XNUMX: Check the mail delivery status
The website displays the delivery status of the package in real time and lists the entire delivery history in detail. From it, you can see how many processing links have been passed, including location, date and time, etc., which are very detailed.
If you feel that the Japanese interface is not very friendly, you can also go to the official website of the Taiwan Post Office (http://postserv.post.gov.tw/) For inquiries, many countries have completed the data and system connection for such internationally delivered packages. Only when it is useful to know that it is actually doing quite well.
Step XNUMX: Log in to the Chunghwa Post Internet Post Office website, enter the mail number and graphic verification code
Currently, the homepage of Chunghwa Post Internet Post Office does not provide a function box such as mail inquiry. You can find the "International Parcel Mail Inquiry" option of "Mail Inquiry", or go directly to the following website (may be invalid) and enter the mail number And the verification code, just press the "query" function key.
http://postserv.post.gov.tw/webpost/CSController?cmd=POS4006_1&_SYS_ID=D&_MENU_ID=189&_ACTIVE_ID=193
Step XNUMX: Check the mail delivery status
Taiwan Post's delivery status information lacks the processing details in Japan, adds the delivery details in Taiwan, and has detailed export customs clearance information. You can compare them.
Judging from the delivery history, the air parcel can be delivered within 7-10 days. Take this delivery as an example. It takes about four days for shipping from Japan to Taiwan, and it takes about three days for Taiwan to process customs clearance and delivery.When I arrived in Kyoto, I first completed the purchase and delivery. When the journey is over and I return to my country, I will go directly to the administrator to pick up the package!
→ Further reading ▶️[Out of the box] Apple iMac 27 with Retina Display 5K: Take the lead in experiencing the shock of Apple's large-screen, high-definition desktop integrated PC!
iMac 27 Retina 5K Japan shopping record settlement.
Finally, everyone would definitely want to ask, is it cost-effective to go to Japan for purchases and then return to the country by air?Here is a simple evaluation and calculation.
1. Department Store Anniversary Promotion
81,900 (New Taiwan Dollars) ─ 8,100 (Free XNUMX discounts for thousands of dollars) =73,800(New Taiwan Dollar)
Note: Assuming the iMac’s listing coincides with the anniversary of the department store, and there are thousands of free gifts, it can be purchased for NT$73,800.However, in fact, the full thousand free XNUMX discount is a consumption trap that makes you spend more money on shopping. Of course, there are also credit card gifts, department store gifts, point collection points, credit card installment zero interest rates, etc., which can be slightly compensated for. .
2. Preferential price at Apple Education Store
81,900 (New Taiwan Dollar) ─ 6,600 (Education price discount) =75,300(New Taiwan Dollar)
Description: Apple Store online education store for school students and faculty, provides preferential prices as an incentive to promote products, you can go toApple Education StoreBuying, giving a discount directly, is more direct and affordable than an anniversary shopping coupon.In addition, Apple will also launch discounts for the start of school season and shopping season, but the product range is limited, and chances are hard to find.
3. Japan purchases and returns to the country by air
279,504(日圓)─20,704(除1.08，8%消費稅)＝258,800─12,940(乘0.95，5%折扣)＝245,860(Japanese Yen)
245,860 (Japanese yen) 10,250 (airline fee) = 256,110╳0.262 (estimated exchange rate) =67,100(New Taiwan Dollar)
Note: Purchase from Japan by air to return to the country will cost approximately NT$67,100, which means you will save about NT$14,800. This should be a bargain!People who are full of energy and stingy can of course also choose to save freight. I personally carry my luggage to the airport and carry it through customs, and I can save about NT$2,600, provided that I don’t take a low-cost airline.
In addition, purchasing in Japan cannot enjoy the zero interest rate of credit card instalment. It is also fortunate not to encounter the potential risks and costs of customs, taxation, damage or loss of goods, etc. Fortunately, the global warranty and multi-national interface of Apple products reduce this slightly. risk.
So, do you think it's cost-effective to go to Japan to purchase Apple products?It really depends on the evaluation of personal preference!
PS. After actually inquiring about the credit card consumption information and bills, the final payment amount is NT$64,693, plus the additional foreign transaction fee of 970 yuan, the total fee is 65,663, which is 81,900 cheaper than the original price of 16,237 yuan in Taiwan. Yuan, although it has to bear more than 2 yuan in freight, the real cheap amount is about 14,000 yuan, but it seems that the risk is worth it!
※ 2016.9.13 promotion information update
After updating the information provided by netizens, there are currently no discounts on Apple products, only duty-free discounts.It is recommended that you join the official Chinese fan page of BIC CAMERA to get the latest information, and the discount coupon can also be directly stored online!
- BIC CAMERA Chinese official fan page:https://www.facebook.com/biccamera.tc/
※ 2015.2.3 update of discount information
BIC CAMERA has formed an alliance with the Taiwan EasyCard Company to launch a special promotion for EasyCard. The activity will last until January 2016, 1, which is really anal temperature.It is recommended that you join the BIC CAMERA Traditional Chinese Fan Group, and you can receive discount messages at any time!
◎ Bic Camera JR Kyotoeki (ビックカメラ Kyoto Station Store)
– Business hours: 10:00-21:00 open all year round
– Tel: 075-353-1111
– Address: 927, Toshiokojicho, Shimogyo District, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
◎ Kyōtochūō Post Office (Kyoto Central Post Office)
– 營業時間：09:00-21:00 (平日)、09:00-19:00 (假日)
– Tel: 075-365-2471
-Address: XNUMX-XNUMX, Higashishikojicho, Shimogyo District, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
