Beware of Japan AD

[seiko.citizen]

Really appreciate your clear explaination. everyone can benefit from sharing.

Apparently, when i check my e-statement just now, they reverse the original deduction and change it to the correct amount. I wonder if it's because i have pass the form to the custom or the custom officer did a investigation on that matter since i told them my scenario. Somehow i still don't feel comfortable with the way they handle things.
I may get a gd deal so if u guys want to get a watch there...just remember what happen to me.

It could be that the tax system must charge full price, then keep warranty paper to lodge return paperwork, and credit you refund, and send you warranty.

Not only in Japan, many tourists also face the same problem when claiming their sales tax in many other countries. So do your homework and ASK all questions before making any purchases...

My father bought LCD tv and bring to Oz, he check in and never claim the GST due to the check in girl telling him that can check in and claim once pass immigration, only to find out *rudely* that the answer is NO, and no chance of going back out.

Surely as a staff at the airport you know roughly what is going on. For that I blame Customs/airport staff.

However it took two long months of ding dong email, plenty of tai chi on both sides, and a lot of complaints to STB, SG Customs, changi airport to get the ball rolling.

[116520]

Not only in Japan, many tourists also face the same problem when claiming their sales tax in many other countries. So do your homework and ASK all questions before making any purchases...

[Oceanklassik]

Thanks for the update. At least it's fair now.

[SOHrolex]

bro, whn u make purchase, did u show passport and fill up a tax form and they have a copy of the form paste in your passport. If have, they over charge u..... If dont have, some misunderstanding loh.

Ok, me no expert hor, but jst share some info:

1. jst like spore, some shop no tax refund 1 ( so check first b4 buying ).. big dept store sure hv. sometimes language barrier... so double & triple check. ( those want to buy RXW watch...they dont hv tax refund )...
2. their tax refund easy easy... for dept store.
eg. bought frm sogo... pay in full ( incl of tax ). after tht, bring passport down to their customer service ( usually at basement and where they sell gift vouchers/ membership etc, show them passport/ receipt etc.. fill up form, thn they gv u tax refund back in cash. they will paste a form in yr passport.. whn u depart, custom will take it.
eg. some other dept store, at cashier, fil up form, show passport, pay total less tax amount. they will too paste a form in yr passport.. whn u depart, custom will take it.
3. warranty, usually within 1- 2 months time they ems u... tht's provided the AD dont screw up... hehee ... also check tht u hv some forms/ those notes in the box... there's usually a pc of reg form ( in jap, with yr serial no & AD name printed on it ). ..( dunno how to describe, i free, go take a pic of it ) ...least hor, if u dont recieve yr plastic reg card, u still hv record the serial & AD name there... there's some contact no on it also etc...

Really appreciate your clear explaination. everyone can benefit from sharing.

Apparently, when i check my e-statement just now, they reverse the original deduction and change it to the correct amount. I wonder if it's because i have pass the form to the custom or the custom officer did a investigation on that matter since i told them my scenario. Somehow i still don't feel comfortable with the way they handle things.
I may get a gd deal so if u guys want to get a watch there...just remember what happen to me.

[triton]

thanks pet for the explanation on how to claim the tax in Japan.

[pet]

Hi Guys ,

Just wanna share my bad experience with Japan AD recently.

Since i join this forum, my love for GMT-Master II 116710 grew so strongly that I decide to own one soon. Last week while i was holidaying in Tokyo. I chanced upon a Rolex shop in Ginza. Straight away i pop in to check out 116710. When i saw it was available, I went to check out the price.

The price tag state 2 prices. Since i don't understand japanese, i ask the sales person. He told me the lower amount reflect the after tax amount. I thought to myself tat I'll going to get a piece at 5% discount from list price. Isn't it great.

However, he told me to pay the list price and to GET REFUND AT THE AIRPORT.He proceed to bring out the box, fill up a form which he say warranty card will be send to me in 1 month time (which i start to ponder if it's true).

I didn't know i get cheated only when i arrived at the airport and proceed to the custom to hand over a form which state my purchase price. I asked for my 5% refund and was told Japan don't have a tax refund system at the airport. We are supposed to ask for immediate discount when we make our purchase.

So guys don't believe in them when they ask you to collect refund in airport. I believe them cos i claim refund in europe before and singapore works the same way.Just remember to ask for tax refund immediately on your japan trip.
Beware of this shop http://www.nsdo.co.jp/nb/profile/profile.html

bro, whn u make purchase, did u show passport and fill up a tax form and they have a copy of the form paste in your passport. If have, they over charge u..... If dont have, some misunderstanding loh.

Ok, me no expert hor, but jst share some info:

1. jst like spore, some shop no tax refund 1 ( so check first b4 buying ).. big dept store sure hv. sometimes language barrier... so double & triple check. ( those want to buy RXW watch...they dont hv tax refund )...
2. their tax refund easy easy... for dept store.
eg. bought frm sogo... pay in full ( incl of tax ). after tht, bring passport down to their customer service ( usually at basement and where they sell gift vouchers/ membership etc, show them passport/ receipt etc.. fill up form, thn they gv u tax refund back in cash. they will paste a form in yr passport.. whn u depart, custom will take it.
eg. some other dept store, at cashier, fil up form, show passport, pay total less tax amount. they will too paste a form in yr passport.. whn u depart, custom will take it.
3. warranty, usually within 1- 2 months time they ems u... tht's provided the AD dont screw up... hehee ... also check tht u hv some forms/ those notes in the box... there's usually a pc of reg form ( in jap, with yr serial no & AD name printed on it ). ..( dunno how to describe, i free, go take a pic of it ) ...least hor, if u dont recieve yr plastic reg card, u still hv record the serial & AD name there... there's some contact no on it also etc...

[Oceanklassik]

i received my warranty 1mth later after purchase by EMS . no worries

I think a sound qns (asked earlier) was if there was any reason why the warranty can only be given in this manner. Why not on the point of purchase?

Thanks.

[seiko.citizen]

maybe the tax system in jp diff ?? hence their system.

[torristo]

i received my warranty 1mth later after purchase by EMS . no worries

[seiko.citizen]

In Singapore same what, when you claim GST from the airport, you cannot FULLY claim the GST also... my friend from HK was also not very happy about it... told me will never buy things from Singapore but when you see something you really really like... esp Rolex... die die must buy lah...

s'pore PAP party what you want... can claim back be happy ........ my gov't does one better, give you 100% of the GST. ie. A$300 spend, you would have paid A$30....... you will get full A$30, not A$25 or thereabouts. The admin fee is eaten by the gov't (aka the people )

[116520]

In Singapore same what, when you claim GST from the airport, you cannot FULLY claim the GST also... my friend from HK was also not very happy about it... told me will never buy things from Singapore but when you see something you really really like... esp Rolex... die die must buy lah...

[Oceanklassik]

true la, may b miscomm

[seiko.citizen]

next time go japan wanna buy watch..must start the conversation by saying.. ah...no....

ah no... then switch back to eng... the AD staff will be like WTF Luckily my jap friend will go back during the holiday, i may follow her to tokyo and look look around. hopefully got good lobang for rolex watches and if i cant find my gmtII in s'pore, i hope to hell i can find in japan

[triton]

i empathise TS situation. let's treat this as a learning experience. i encountered somewhat similiar situation in france as well.

so it is important that we know how the claiming of tax works in different countries. i was holidaying in france. was @ lafayatte. bought some LV items. saw the queue to claim tax - almost an hour long. ask the staff there, they replied can claim the tax before you leave europe. next stop was london. so it is a choice to stay in queue or leave the queue to join the group for dinner. chose to stay, another couple left after seeing the queue. the couple can claim up to 1k euros of tax.

when we were @ heathrow airport, they say sorry cannot MAKE claim there, it is only where you can claim the tax throught cash or credit card. they do not have forms for you to fill in also.

so does that mean one is going to ban lafayatte a big retail outlet? sometimes it is not the company fault, it is the staff fault. like what someone pointed out, could be because of language barrier. the staff @ lafayatte is not wrong to tell us that can claim tax any point of exit leaving the country. but did not say need to file the claim @ the point of sales.

[leslie]

Any possibility there is a mis-communication? I notice they dont understand english very well

Try email Nisshindo, state what happened and see if they reply. A long shot, but worth trying for $400

next time go japan wanna buy watch..must start the conversation by saying.. ah...no....