Apple Launches 'iTunes Pass' at Japanese Stores, Enabling Customers to Refill iTunes Credit With Passbook [Updated]

[richwoodrocket]

I'm confused ... Don't they need cash or a credit card to PAY for that refill ?

Is this only for people who want to put less than $15 on their account ? Because you can easily buy an iTunes gift card at an Apple Store, peel the sticker and snap a picture of it which loads right into your account .

Agree. This seems easier to me rather than having to see a "specialist".

 

[ChrisA]

I'm really failing to understand what this is.

Why does someone need to go to an Apple store to put credit on their account?

Many people deal in CASH. That must be done in person, at the Apple store.

Even here in the US in working class neighborhoods you see MANY check cashing placing. Peoole will stand in line and pay a hefty fee to cash their paychecks. Then they pay the electric bill by going to the electric company office and standing in line and paying cash, I don't understand it but it's common. Many people who grew up poor in Mexico don't trust banks and they don't understand that they are different in the US.

As for Japan, I don't understand it, those people are all well educated and affluent why some of them prefer cash transactions, I don't know. I've been there a few times. My wife grew up in Tokyo. I think part of it is that it is perfectly safe to cary $1,000 in cash there. Lots of older people do because they don't understand on-line banking with a cell phone. But anyone under a certain age would use their phone to buy at least some stuff. Also I suspect strongly that it is considered more polite to give a shop keeper or waiter "real money" then to give a signed piece of paper.

 

[APlotdevice]

Huh? We use credit cards all the time here in Japan.

I'm going by statistics.

 

[joshdammit]

I'm confused ... Don't they need cash or a credit card to PAY for that refill ?

Is this only for people who want to put less than $15 on their account ? Because you can easily buy an iTunes gift card at an Apple Store, peel the sticker and snap a picture of it which loads right into your account .

Right. And now, in Japan, you don't even need to do that. Just another convenience that people on here will complain about even though they don't have to use it (and don't even live in Japan) because they think the same people who design iTunes services are the same people who are working on the new iPad or whatever.

Speaking generally, not directing it at you.

 

[commodorepet]

Right. And now, in Japan, you don't even need to do that. Just another convenience that people on here will complain about even though they don't have to use it (and don't even live in Japan) because they think the same people who design iTunes services are the same people who are working on the new iPad or whatever.

Speaking generally, not directing it at you.

The convenience is mostly for Apple. They get to
a) no longer stock itunes top up cards in the Apple store, because it's all virtual.
b) bring people into an Apple store to top up itunes accounts instead of purchasing top up cards at the convenience store
c) Avoid the convenience store taking a percentage of the top-up card as a reseller.

The convenience to the user - no longer restricted to the amounts on the top-up cards. A couple of times I've wanted 3000 yen, but that was out of stock, so I got a 3 pack of 1000 yen instead. No biggie really.