Bic Camera, Japan

[CY_OH]

Went to Hokkaido, Japan from 12-19 May. Visited Bic Camera stores in Sapporo and Tokyo and bought the cleaning kit and magnifying eyepiece. Images in this post taken with Sony Ericsson K800i.


Pentax display in Bic Camera, Sapporo
http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/chengyu83/Bic%20Camera%20Sapporo%20/

Pentax display in Bic Camera, Shinjuku, Tokyo
http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/chengyu83/Bic%20Camera%20Shinjuku%20Tokyo/


FA* 300mm f2.8 on display in Tokyo branch.

Special offer for K100D for about S$830, kit for about S$947 in Sapporo branch.

View from hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Bic Camera is in the building half-covered in shade near the center. Shinjuku Center Building is in the brown building in the top right corner, where Pentax Forum is located. Couldn't find time to visit.

Another view form the hotel of skyscraper district.

 

[creampuff]

Wah, photo #1 is the kind of photo that bring tears of joy to Pentax owners!!!
I can only imagine the day we'll get to see Pentax merchandise openly displayed with accompanying prices prominently shown over here. :angel:

 

[VSonic06]

*drool*

 

[Tetrode]

Pentax suffers from poor distribution around the world - Sg is not the only country. Even the people in the States have problems getting hold of Pentax stock.

But in Japan, you can find and buy their lenses easily - even the limited edition ones.

 

[the mac 13]

How much did you buy the cleaning kit for?

 

[CY_OH]

How much did you buy the cleaning kit for?

3360 Yen, about S$43.

 

[longko]

3360 Yen, about S$43.

Wow. Very cheap:thumbsup:

 

[alanswan]

Dig out old thread...

Check with you guys regarding these big electronics stores like BIC Camera and Yodobashi.
I'm assuming we can't haggle in there.
Do they accept card payment? Like VISA or Masters? Other then JCB.
Any advice when shopping there?

 

[CY_OH]

Dig out old thread...

Check with you guys regarding these big electronics stores like BIC Camera and Yodobashi.
I'm assuming we can't haggle in there.
Do they accept card payment? Like VISA or Masters? Other then JCB.
Any advice when shopping there?

VISA / Mastercard should be ok. Paid for 2 magnifying eyepiece at Bic Camera with mum's card with no extra charge. Price is fixed, as with most places in Japan.

The tax refund is for purchases of 10,000 Yen (S$130) and above. You should be able to get cash on the spot, not at airport, even if payment is by credit card. I printed out the item description from the webpage in Japanese to avoid any communication problem.

 

[alanswan]

Oh yes... so how does the tax refund work?
What's the process like?

 

[VSonic06]

Oh yes... so how does the tax refund work?
What's the process like?

Just show your passport when you pay. The cashier will either fill out the tax refund documents (most places do this and it takes 5-10min at least) or just give a 5% discount and skip through all the paper work.

Remember the amount will have to be at least ¥10,000

 

[alanswan]

Cool Thanks...

 

[Kotetsushin Jeeg]

I thought the FA* lenses are long discontinued? Why is it still on sale in Japan?

 

[CY_OH]

I thought the FA* lenses are long discontinued? Why is it still on sale in Japan?

FA* 300mm f2.8 and FA* 600mm f4 are still on Pentax Japan website, with 600mm being made to order.

http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/ja/lens/

 

[alanswan]

Just back from Japan, and trying to find ways to squeeze my new glasses into my dry cabinet...
Bought a FA50/1.4 and a DA70...

I'm amazed by the size of Yodobashi and BIC.
For those going/in Japan, I have the following observations:
Yodobashi seems like a bigger chain with more outlets around Japan.
But BIC seem to carry a more comprehensive line of products for Pentax.
Although I bought all my stuff from the Yodobashi in Akihabara which seems to be the biggest outlet.
Both accept foreign credit cards without extra charge, and will handle the tax-exemption on the spot at the counters.
Don't visit too often or stay too long in Yodobashi; if not you will have their jingle stuck in your head like me now.

 

[giraffed]

Don't visit too often or stay too long in Yodobashi; if not you will have their jingle stuck in your head like me now.

The BIC Camera jingle will stick in your head too if you stay there too long ;p

 

[alanswan]

The BIC Camera jingle will stick in your head too if you stay there too long ;p

Yeah... It did for awhile after my visit to the one in Kyoto which was the biggest BIC I visited.