Softbank pre-paid keitai

[Hokuto-shinken]

[SIZE="6"][color="Silver"]=[/color][/SIZE] [color="DimGray"]It states on the Softbank HP that you can buy some of their handsets from convenience stores. What stores sell pre-paid phones?

Has anybody ever bought a pre-paid phone from a convenience store and if so, was it less hassle that going the phone shop.

Thanks[/color]

[Sotei-guy]

I thought you could only buy pre-paid Keitais from convenience stores these days (DoCoMo and AU have cut down on selling them in a major way because they don't want to encourage FG without gaijin cards to use them for disturbing the peace)

[FG Lurker]

Unless you want to pay insane per-minute costs you do NOT want a prepaid phone.

[Hokuto-shinken]

I thought you could only buy pre-paid Keitais from convenience stores these days (DoCoMo and AU have cut down on selling them in a major way because they don't want to encourage FG without gaijin cards to use them for disturbing the peace)

Yes, you can get them from any Softbank shop. Some Au shops have them too.

[Mulboyne]

If you can get one from a Softbank shop then that would probably be better. They ought to be more familiar with the procedures than a convenience store clerk.

[Hokuto-shinken]

Unless you want to pay insane per-minute costs you do NOT want a prepaid phone.

[color="DimGray"]Yes, I agree the prices are out of this world for making calls. I use my pre-paid for receiving calls only. I`m not a big fan of Softbank, but you can receive e-mails for free and your phone number can be used for a year for as little as 3000 yen. I am hoping to save up for a car, so the spare cash I can save from not having a contract phone is very useful.

Anyway, any ideas on what convenience stores have the phones in stock?
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[Hokuto-shinken]

If you can get one from a Softbank shop then that would probably be better. They ought to be more familiar with the procedures than a convenience store clerk.

[color="Gray"]Yes, I guess I would just prefer to get one from a convenience store.[/color]

[FG Lurker]

Yes, I guess I would just prefer to get one from a convenience store.

You still have to activate the phone, and that requires providing ID, just the same as a normal contract phone.

[FG Lurker]

FG without gaijin cards to use them for disturbing the peace)

You need a gaijin card or drivers license to activate a prepaid phone now.

[Kuang_Grade]

It has been a while, but I remember seeing vodaphone (that should give you an idea of how long ago it was) prepaids at in a few Sunkus stores....Typically in the more residental neighborhood outlets rather than the ones in retail areas or by train stations. They kept them behind the counter.

[jdm-justin]

I got an old pre-paid Vodafone from a random 7-11 by Tokyo station. Just bought the phone and a phone card and that was it.

That was before the gaijin-card requirement though. I had a J friend register the phone for me though, and the phone is still good to this day. I don't know what kind of contract/paperwork he had to sign, though...

EDIT: I just read this post back and thought I should add that I bought the phone NEW from 7-11. This was back in '04 - I don't know what's changed in the past couple of years.

[Mulboyne]

If you look at the Softbank site then it tells you which chains in which areas supposedly sell prepaid phones. However, I can't say I've seen a prepaid on sale in any Tokyo convenience store lately. They used to be clearly on display in boxes behind the counter so either it means that the shops I've been in recently are too small to stock anything or else the handsets have been moved under the counter and you have to ask the staff. I did see them advertised for sale in the Donki on Yasukuni Dori in Shinjuku.