Anyone shop in Japan recently?

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#106
fsadeli said:
Can anyone confirm with me if the price online is include or exclude tax? Do we still get a tax refund after? If so, that's a really good deal!
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I can only speak for US website pricing - it's exlcuded tax. I recently visited Japan and was comparing pricing as well. I was surprised about the relatively lower pricing in Japan compare to the US. I was interested in the Sweet Alhambra white gold earrings with diamonds. US price is about $6000 plus tax (about $6600 out the door if I buy it in California). Versus, in Japan the price was about $5000 out the door (with tax refund)....Have fun and enjoy some fun shopping!!
 
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#107
beyondbeing said:
I can only speak for US website pricing - it's exlcuded tax. I recently visited Japan and was comparing pricing as well. I was surprised about the relatively lower pricing in Japan compare to the US. I was interested in the Sweet Alhambra white gold earrings with diamonds. US price is about $6000 plus tax (about $6600 out the door if I buy it in California). Versus, in Japan the price was about $5000 out the door (with tax refund)....Have fun and enjoy some fun shopping!!
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thanks! so excited as I'll be visiting Japan in August!
 
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#110
Prada Prince said:
Fair warning — a long post is coming up haha!

I was at the Tokyo Ginza Maison on Tuesday too, and none of my wishlist items (Ginza Edition pendant; onyx 5-motif bracelet; MOP 5-motif bracelet) were available either. They were completely sold out of all the 5-motif bracelets across Tokyo.

But I hit it off really well with one of the SAs in the Maison, and had such a lovely time chatting to her and exploring other options. I started considering the Onyx Alhambra ring, as well as the Onyx Vintage pendant.

View attachment 5987956

Between the two, I was leaning towards the ring, given that I can enjoy seeing it more than the pendant…

My new S.A. put the ring on hold for me, but given that I was in Tokyo till Saturday, I decided to hold off from pulling the trigger just yet.

The best part about that day other than hitting it off with the Ginza Maison S.A. was also meeting a new friend from TPF who lives in Tokyo! We had such a lovely time exploring Ginza, and I am ever so grateful to her for such great company during my solo trip!

We then went to try another two VCA boutiques in the Ginza area, in Ginza Six and Matsukoshi.

At both boutiques, they didn’t have availability either, but I spoke to an S.A. at each boutique and got their contact details too. They said they’d keep their eye out for the 5 motif bracelets during my trip as well, but they didn’t seem hopeful either.

But I was supremely impressed with the Ginza Maison S.A. who kept in touch with me every day unprompted to update me with inventory levels!

Finally it came to my final day in Tokyo with no success thus far. I had an appointment at the Ginza Maison before my flight that evening, to get the ring as my consolation prize, and as my souvenir for my Tokyo trip, which had been full of such wonderful memories thus far.

My S.A. took me to the second floor, and brought out the ring for me to try on again. However, she then whispered to me that they had received a batch of inventory, and she had seen an Onyx 5 motif bracelet available among some other 5-motifs, but that the staff were still cross-checking all the new arrivals.

She couldn’t promise me anything, but asked if I wanted to come back later to see if it was available for me. I told her I was happy to wait in the boutique if she didn’t mind, so that I wouldn’t have to rush back if there was indeed any success.

She also advised me that they had carnelian, white MOP and a WG guilloche 5 motif as part of that day’s batch. I told her that I would go for the white MOP if the onyx bracelet went to someone else.

We continued to have a lovely conversation, and she asked me about my trip thus far, being really excited that it was my first time in Japan.

She periodically disappeared to check on the status of the inventory, she basically wanted to make sure she was ready to pounce the moment it was available, especially given how heaving the store was with people queuing up hoping to be seen without an appointment.

She left me again, and then suddenly reappeared with the biggest smile on her face!
View attachment 5987959

“I got it for you!!!” Honestly she was as excited as I was!

View attachment 5987960

It was love at first sight, and there wasn’t any doubt I was going to pick this black beauty!

View attachment 5987961

She told me I couldn’t choose between the travel pouch and the box, and given how special the purchase was to me, I wasn’t going to make a fuss, and I chose to go for the box instead.

I might consider asking the Singapore boutique if they would let me have a travel pouch before I fly home.

View attachment 5987962

But all in all, the Tokyo trip was a resounding success! I got my dream piece, and I couldn’t be happier.

Funnily enough, I think Saturday was a bumper crop of inventory, as I then got two successive messages from the Ginza Six and Mitsukoshi boutiques advising me that they had the same bracelet in stock. I wasn’t expecting the other two S.A.s to get back to me, so that was a pleasant surprise! But I’m gonna be loyal to the Ginza Maison!

View attachment 5987963

Thanks for reading another bout of verbosity from me! Hope it wasn’t too tedious! Haha!

Wishing everyone heading to Japan all the success in getting your dream pieces!
Click to expand...
Congratulations! It’s perfect and I am so happy for you :D
 
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#111
cloee said:
Congratulations. The 5-motif onyx looks great on you. Glad that the SA came through.
Click to expand...

DrTr said:
@Prada Prince, Congratulations to you!!!🖤🎉 what a story - you tell the best stories, and that piece looks marvelous. Indeed new stack level unlocked. So glad you got exactly what you wanted (and made your flight) as a remembrance of your time in Tokyo. It’s a gorgeous piece 🖤
Click to expand...

WingNut said:
Congratulations! Twins on the Onyx 5-motif.
Click to expand...

880 said:
Congratulations! It’s perfect and I am so happy for you :biggrin:
Click to expand...
Thank you all so much! I've not been so giddy over a purchase for a while now, and I can safely say I am obsessed with my new bracelet.

I initially said to myself that I would only wear the 5-motif from time to time, and mainly on weekends, but as you can imagine, it has not left my wrist other than in the shower and to bed!

I can't foresee myself not wearing it, and am now basically planning my stack around both the 5 and 6 motif bracelets...
 
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#112
Prada Prince said:
Fair warning — a long post is coming up haha!

I was at the Tokyo Ginza Maison on Tuesday too, and none of my wishlist items (Ginza Edition pendant; onyx 5-motif bracelet; MOP 5-motif bracelet) were available either. They were completely sold out of all the 5-motif bracelets across Tokyo.

But I hit it off really well with one of the SAs in the Maison, and had such a lovely time chatting to her and exploring other options. I started considering the Onyx Alhambra ring, as well as the Onyx Vintage pendant.

View attachment 5987956

Between the two, I was leaning towards the ring, given that I can enjoy seeing it more than the pendant…

My new S.A. put the ring on hold for me, but given that I was in Tokyo till Saturday, I decided to hold off from pulling the trigger just yet.

The best part about that day other than hitting it off with the Ginza Maison S.A. was also meeting a new friend from TPF who lives in Tokyo! We had such a lovely time exploring Ginza, and I am ever so grateful to her for such great company during my solo trip!

We then went to try another two VCA boutiques in the Ginza area, in Ginza Six and Matsukoshi.

At both boutiques, they didn’t have availability either, but I spoke to an S.A. at each boutique and got their contact details too. They said they’d keep their eye out for the 5 motif bracelets during my trip as well, but they didn’t seem hopeful either.

But I was supremely impressed with the Ginza Maison S.A. who kept in touch with me every day unprompted to update me with inventory levels!

Finally it came to my final day in Tokyo with no success thus far. I had an appointment at the Ginza Maison before my flight that evening, to get the ring as my consolation prize, and as my souvenir for my Tokyo trip, which had been full of such wonderful memories thus far.

My S.A. took me to the second floor, and brought out the ring for me to try on again. However, she then whispered to me that they had received a batch of inventory, and she had seen an Onyx 5 motif bracelet available among some other 5-motifs, but that the staff were still cross-checking all the new arrivals.

She couldn’t promise me anything, but asked if I wanted to come back later to see if it was available for me. I told her I was happy to wait in the boutique if she didn’t mind, so that I wouldn’t have to rush back if there was indeed any success.

She also advised me that they had carnelian, white MOP and a WG guilloche 5 motif as part of that day’s batch. I told her that I would go for the white MOP if the onyx bracelet went to someone else.

We continued to have a lovely conversation, and she asked me about my trip thus far, being really excited that it was my first time in Japan.

She periodically disappeared to check on the status of the inventory, she basically wanted to make sure she was ready to pounce the moment it was available, especially given how heaving the store was with people queuing up hoping to be seen without an appointment.

She left me again, and then suddenly reappeared with the biggest smile on her face!
View attachment 5987959

“I got it for you!!!” Honestly she was as excited as I was!

View attachment 5987960

It was love at first sight, and there wasn’t any doubt I was going to pick this black beauty!

View attachment 5987961

She told me I couldn’t choose between the travel pouch and the box, and given how special the purchase was to me, I wasn’t going to make a fuss, and I chose to go for the box instead.

I might consider asking the Singapore boutique if they would let me have a travel pouch before I fly home.

View attachment 5987962

But all in all, the Tokyo trip was a resounding success! I got my dream piece, and I couldn’t be happier.

Funnily enough, I think Saturday was a bumper crop of inventory, as I then got two successive messages from the Ginza Six and Mitsukoshi boutiques advising me that they had the same bracelet in stock. I wasn’t expecting the other two S.A.s to get back to me, so that was a pleasant surprise! But I’m gonna be loyal to the Ginza Maison!

View attachment 5987963

Thanks for reading another bout of verbosity from me! Hope it wasn’t too tedious! Haha!

Wishing everyone heading to Japan all the success in getting your dream pieces!
Click to expand...
Yay! Love reading happy stories here! Congrats!
 
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#113
Hey all! I’m new to the PF :)

Thank you all so much for your comments on this thread, it’s been super helpful for me.

I’m planning on going to Japan next week and picking up some VCA items.

Does anyone know if these items would be eligible for tax refunds?
 
#114
ispendtoomuchmoney said:
Hey all! I’m new to the PF :smile:

Thank you all so much for your comments on this thread, it’s been super helpful for me.

I’m planning on going to Japan next week and picking up some VCA items.

Does anyone know if these items would be eligible for tax refunds?
Click to expand...
I can't see why not? If you are not a Japan resident, your purchases would be eligible for tax refunds.
 
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#116
ispendtoomuchmoney said:
Hey all! I’m new to the PF :smile:

Thank you all so much for your comments on this thread, it’s been super helpful for me.

I’m planning on going to Japan next week and picking up some VCA items.

Does anyone know if these items would be eligible for tax refunds?
Click to expand...
If you buy at a flagship store it's applied when you pay so you get the discount on the spot. If it's within a shopping centre you have to go to their kiosk to get the refund and I think you get a little less back due to fees.

Let us know how the stock is like when you go please!
 
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#117
ispendtoomuchmoney said:
Hey all! I’m new to the PF :smile:

Thank you all so much for your comments on this thread, it’s been super helpful for me.

I’m planning on going to Japan next week and picking up some VCA items.

Does anyone know if these items would be eligible for tax refunds?
Click to expand...
As what @Prada Prince and @kelzdez mentioned, you can get tax refunds if you’re not a resident of Japan.
The stocks of the more popular pieces are very limited though. Most of the items I wanted were either OOS or no size.
If you can secure an appointment prior to your trip, it’s best to do that. Also recommend trying to get it at the Ginza Maison as they seem to have the most stocks. Good luck
 
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#118
kelzdez said:
If you buy at a flagship store it's applied when you pay so you get the discount on the spot. If it's within a shopping centre you have to go to their kiosk to get the refund and I think you get a little less back due to fees.

Let us know how the stock is like when you go please!
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for clarifying! Will do, I’m going to Osaka only so will do a full update. It doesn’t really sound like there will be much but a girl can only try…
 
#120
Hi everyone! I’m going to Japan in 6 months, and I want to secure an appt to the Ginza Maison as soon as I can. Is it hard to make an appt? I was looking online and looks like you can make an appt three months out.
 
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