On Monday, July 30, 2012 11:08:43 AM UTC+9, Totti wrote:
> Hey all,
> since my mobile phone contract is going to end, I was looking for
> alternatives.
> However, as you all know Japanese mobile phone market is close to
> insanity.
> All this plans, dozen of different options, half of which are
> "mandatory options" (that is so ridiculous to have "must-tick"
> options)...
> Another half dozen of options which can or can not be canceled a few
> weeks later.
> All together with special offers, special plans, special service and
> sure a dozen of money back offers.
> And to all this horror people at the counter are, let me say polite,
> still on there way of being professional. They actually telling you
> stuff which is simply not true and on most and all more difficult
> questions they ask you to wait for them as they go to get feedback
> from a supervisor.
> Actually, my phone is fine and I was considering to reuse it but maybe
> switch to a cheaper plan with data-flat. I asked in several shops...
> None of them could tell me if they just offer a bare standard contract
> offering just a SIM card, no new phone, no special whatever options.
> Just a monthly fee and a SIM card. I ended up again and again in a
> selling conversation for a new phone.
> On the other hand I know many stuff is possible, as long as you show
> the staff in the shop exactly what you want to have and point them to
> hard facts. They will check up again and again with the supervisors
> but eventually, after hours of debating and waiting you might end up
> with a SIM card.
> So maybe we can summarize here the most easiest and cheapest way to
> run a mobile phone in Japan without trapping in all this
> super-offer-option-payback-point-collection nonsens...
> That is a topic which is coming up over and over again on this list
> and if we find some sane good solutions we could add this to the THS
> page.
> Ok here is a start
> Long-time residents (2 years and longer):
> Just sign up for one of the plenty 2 year contract offers, make sure
> you do not pay to much for the phone (the price given is not the
> market price), ask for discounts if you pay the phone in one go, take
> a native Japanese speaker with you (it's not only language but also
> cultural translation), try to avoid as many of the "attractive"
> options as possible, make sure you can cancel the mandatory options
> later. Do not get talked into something!
> Mid-time residents (3 month - 2 years):
> Try to get a bare SIM card offer and use it in your own phone.
> Make a 2 year contract like above but check out for cancellation fees
> if you have to cancel in advance.
> Short-time visitors (<3 month):
> Use some of the prepaid SIM cards like bmobile and your own phone
> Rent a phone from services at the airport or online
> Totti
