The DoCoMo shop in shibuya made my 503i purchase a difficult experience, as
my visa was expiring 81 days from the sale date (9 lousy days). I was quite
controlled and reserved while talking to the manager (NOT), and in my bad,
rude Japanese I asked him to explain why they had the 90 day limit on
non-Japanese people.
The manager suggested that Gaijin will return home to their country with the
new phone and DoCoMo loses money.
I explained that I could return home any time I wanted, I did not need to
wait until the last 90 days of my visa. He understood this, but
unfortunately the rules say...
I offered to pay a deposit and have them refund the deposit when I returned
with my visa. He thought this too was a good idea, but unfortunately the
rules say...
I explained that I can only apply for my new visa 2 months (60 days) before
it expires (this may be different for different passports). Even then, the
visa might take up to 3 months to be approved. In effect I would wait
nearly 5 months before buying the phone. I checked if DoCoMo knew about the
"2 months before expiry rule" and he said, DoCoMo was still researching this
(in other words "no"), but unfortunately the rules say...
What about having a Japanese person as guarantor on the phone. He thought
this too was a nice idea, but unfortunately...
I asked him to be a manager and make a decision or be a wimp and do
nothing... looks like DoCoMo is managed by wimps ;-).
I did get the phone eventually and at the same time I filed a letter of
protest with DoCoMo and had the manager sign (stamp) it.
I had a Japanese citizen purchase the phone and I will transfer the phone to
my name once I have obtained my visa... I also got the manager to agree to
cancel the $20 transfer fee when the transfer takes place.
The interesting point to note is that DoCoMo do not follow up on the 90 day
visa issue once the phone is purchased.
--Kevin.
>From: Gustaf Rosell <gustaf@xpedio.com>
>Reply-To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
>
>Hmmm... The stores around Shibuya that earlier slipped in letting
>foreigners buying phones with <90 days VISA seems to be more restictive
>now. Did anyone have any ideas of how to get round this?
>
>(I am becoming a little bit afraid of pushing my partners here too much for
>help in this matter (for the fourth time...).
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Received on Mon Jan 29 07:53:15 2001