Apple Japan Announces 2015 'Lucky Bag' Promotion to Start January 2

[MacRumors]

During the New Year in Japan, many retailers often offer a Fukubukuro, also known as a "mystery bag" or "lucky bag", which is a grab bag filled with an assortment of products usually sold at a steep discount. Apple Japan has once again announced that it'll take part in the promotion, which begins January 2 in Apple Retail Stores across Japan.

Last year, Apple's Lucky Bags sold for 36,000 yen, or $345, and usually contained items like iPods, headphones and t-shirts. Purchasers of the Lucky Bags don't know what's inside the bag, and cannot get a refund unless a product is defective. Some fortunate customers have received big-ticket items like iPads and MacBook Airs in their Lucky Bags, which is part of why Lucky Bags have become so popular in Japan.

As with past years, Apple's Lucky Bag promotion is limited to Japanese customers. The company has not yet announced pricing for this year's Lucky Bag promotion, but it's likely to be in line with previous years' pricing.

Article Link: Apple Japan Announces 2015 'Lucky Bag' Promotion to Start January 2

 

[bushido]

Where is my 12 days of Christmas app!

 

[Pakaku]

Where is my 12 days of Christmas app!

No one owes you a Free Stuff app.

 

[Waxhead138]

Yay a new topic besides "The Interview" !

 

[xARx2]

...which is part of why Lucky Bags have become so popular in Japan.

Colonel Sanders would be proud.

 

[Freis968]

Yay a new topic besides "The Interview" !

If I hear about that damn movie one more time I am going to f...ing puke!

 

[Anitramane]

Meh. I already got all the apple **** I need for this season. I don't need any more. But t-shirts would be nice, I need some new clothes.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

If I hear about that damn movie one more time I am going to f...ing puke!

Haven't seem The Interview, yet. have you?

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We need to start that tradition here in the US!

I could go for a $345 bag of >$345 products.

 

[furi0usbee]

So why isn't this done in the USA again?

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Yay a new topic besides "The Interview" !

I hope there's another timely update to the Steve Jobs biopic.

It's all I wanted for Christmas.

 

[nostaws]

No one owes you a Free Stuff app.

Bah humbug.

 

[KindredMAC]

So why isn't this done in the USA again?

Probably because people would line up and buy a bunch of them only to turn around and sell them on eBay at full price taking the fun out of it.

Us Americans have a knack for ruining a good time when the chance for making money off other people makes itself known...

 

[iBoffin]

Fukubukuro

Dat name tho.

 

[Solomani]

So why isn't this done in the USA again?

Because lawyers. Lawsuits.

Apple does not want to bother with Americans who are dissatisfied with the (random) contents of their lucky bags, then hiring lawyers to go after Apple.

That's why.

 

[calebegg]

So why isn't this done in the USA again?

This is a lottery, and lotteries are very carefully regulated in the US. This is why things like the McDonalds Monopoly game have "NO PURCHASE NECESSARY" all over the place. That makes it a sweepstakes, not a lottery.

 

[TallManNY]

This is a lottery, and lotteries are very carefully regulated in the US. This is why things like the McDonalds Monopoly game have "NO PURCHASE NECESSARY" all over the place. That makes it a sweepstakes, not a lottery.

I'd like no purchase necessary for a lucky bag.

 

[mariusignorello]

Where is my 12 days of Christmas app!

The one that everyone complained about last year?

 

[chr1s60]

They should include copies of The Interview in the Lucky Bags.

 

[KPOM]

This is a lottery, and lotteries are very carefully regulated in the US. This is why things like the McDonalds Monopoly game have "NO PURCHASE NECESSARY" all over the place. That makes it a sweepstakes, not a lottery.

IANAL, but if it includes merchandise with a retail value of at least $345 would it really be considered a sweepstakes?

 

[demodave]

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/26/2015-apple-luckybag-announced/
During the New Year in Japan, many retailers often offer a Fukubukuro, also known as a "mystery bag" or "lucky bag", which is a grab bag filled with an assortment of products usually sold at a steep discount. Apple Japan has once again announced that it'll take part in the promotion, which begins January 2 in Apple Retail Stores across Japan.

Article Link: Apple Japan Announces 2015 'Lucky Bag' Promotion to Start January 2

Can't wait to see what the Chinese shopping bag has to offer, what with the iPhone being fully available during the whole run-up to February 19!

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"So why isn't this done in the USA again?"

Probably because people would line up and buy a bunch of them only to turn around and sell them on eBay at full price taking the fun out of it.

Us Americans have a knack for ruining a good time when the chance for making money off other people makes itself known...

Yeah, and we Americans have totally captured the market on that. There are no iPhones being purchased in Hong Kong early for sale at significant gray market mark-up in China. Yeah, no way, not no how. :!

 

[mrgraff]

So why isn't this done in the USA again?

Closest I've ever seen was at the World of Coca-Cola store in Las Vegas. They offer a mystery bag for $1. Usually contains a bottle opener, carabiner clip, logo magnet or something similar.

 

[Solomani]

The one that everyone complained about last year?

Apple should never give anything free during the Holidays. That's the best way to avoid any complaining and whining about crappy freebies.

 

[macfoxpro]

I need a iMac 5K and a retina MBP in my lucky bag.

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If I hear about that damn movie one more time I am going to f...ing puke!

How about that 'The Interview" movie?

 

[HenryDJP]

If I hear about that damn movie one more time I am going to f...ing puke!

Hey have you heard about THE INTERVIEW? Wonderful movie.

 

[a0me]

As with past years, Apple's Lucky Bag promotion is limited to Japanese customers.

I would say that it's actually limited to customers in Japan.