Hi, I’m going to Japan and want to buy a new camera. I’ve been to Japan before and know that it’s mostly a cash-based country. However, today I went to the BIC Camera website and saw a notice saying they only accept credit cards. Am I right in understanding that it’s now much harder to pay with cash, and does this apply only to BIC, or to Yodobashi as well?
by rarepepega
11 comments
Why are you applying what you saw at a chain to a different one and also the rest of Japan?
While there are many places that only take cash, big cities are not cash-based.
They’ll accept both cash or credit card. I brought earphones from a BIC Camera just 2 weeks ago, had no issues with paying in cash. Perhaps it only applies for items with high cost, cash isn’t feasible/sensible option.
> BIC Camera ***WEBSITE***
Payment on the WEBSITE with credit card only, probably?
You have to use the actual card at yodobashi, with the pin. You can’t use Apple pay.
Firstly, if you’re looking at the BIC Camera *website*, it’s hardly surprising that it only accepts credit card as payment. After all, you can’t exactly pay cash to a website.
Secondly, Japan has changed over the past decade, particularly the past 5 years. While there are some places, such as smaller stores, temples and shrines, which only accept cash, the great majority of businesses now accept card payments, particularly in cities.
It’s important to note, however, that places don’t always accept “tap and pay” or Apple Pay, and also you cannot withdraw money from ATMs with a virtual card, so it’s really important to bring an actual, physical card to Japan.
Found an article on switch2 sale that BIC only allows credit card with purchase history to prevent scalping.
Since the site you attached also included a line regarding cancellation of sales if they suspected scalping and the fact that the item is already discontinued (and hence considered rare), I’d say that’s probably the reason why.
I just paid in cash yesterday in Akhirabara
We bought an ipad 15 days ago and they accepted both cash or card, no touch card though, only physical
Japan definitely isn’t a cash based country unless you’re in the more rural areas. Pretty much every store you’ll find in the major cities will take any type of card, just not all will take Apple Pay or other tap services
a big store like BIC Camera accepts like 10 different payment systems by now, including cash and card
Japan is *not* a cash-based country. It’s rare to find places that don’t take the major credit cards (as well as JCB/Discover and Diners Club), and a lot of places accept IC card and mobile payments.
The physical stores take cash though.
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