Let me start of by saying that the service at Ginza is still top notch to say the least. If ever there are some hiccups, it is really because the sheer number of people who want to buy a B/K at any of the Japan H stores.
They will still sell a B/K to anyone at Ginza and you have a very good chance in the morning when the store opens. Unfortunately, this will involve some determination on your part as many will try the luck at the same time as you. My SA says that the internet has turned their jobs harder because people are now wanting to try their luck in Japan and is pushing their supply system to the limit.
It all starts by waiting for the store to open at 11am. If you want to be sure to be #1 on the line, you have to be there no later than 10am in my observation. By 10;45, there are probably 10-15 people waiting in line at the store front. I take it as a good sign when the doorman comes out early that there is indeed B/Ks ready to be sold since he makes sure the line outside the store is organised and orderly as there are some stubborn tourists who refuse to accept that there is a line and try to muscle their way in. Most people in line are dressed to the nines with their H goodies proudly worn or carried but they certainly won't treat you any different if you are dressed more casual.
When the doors open at 11, this is when the magic happens. The door man lets you in one by one in a staggered fashion and as soon as you enter, all the SAs of the store are lined up on the left and right creating a pathway to the elevators. They bow down one by one as you go pass them. Sort of like an honour guard on the red carpet. When you reach the end, they give you a chip signifying your place in line and are directed to the elevators to the 4th floor.
Once at the 4th floor, whatever B/K available at that time is proudly displayed on the counter and no one is allowed to go near them except the current chip. No.1 gets first pick, so on and so forth. Once all the B/Ks are sold, they then open the floor to everyone. Unfortunately, there are some rude people who insist to see the bags that have been sold and are waiting to be packed in boxes. You could also hear some complaints of why they sold bags to the people first in line and not them. Hello! you guys didn't wait an hour outside so don't complain.
Anyway, just goes to show that they don't hold out over there. They will sell to walk-ins whatever they have. There are days that there are multiple bags while there are days that they only have one. If the doorman does not bother to check the line before opening, its a sign that they do not have anything on that particular morning.
I was looking for something very particular this trip so I was not able to buy anything but I did miss out on a black B35 one afternoon. If I approached an SA earlier, I may have gotten it but another lady asked by mere seconds ahead of me. Oh well, I was looking for a blue shade this time around anyways.
