If I purchase Apple Watch from Apple Store online , how do I get the refund ?
Usually Japan give tax refund when purchase more than 10,000 yen with Apple Store , but I've no idea how to do it when order online ?
You can't 100%.
I used to work at Apple and have people come in all the time with online receipts and wanting us to give them their tax refunds. Not possible. Only if you physically buy from a store in person can you get the tax back.
Darn that's too bad. Thank you for the definitive info though.
Would you happen to know if other stores (Yodobashi etc.) can do tax-free online?
I'm not sure it's possible as they need to stick something in your passport and have you fill out paperwork.
You probably know this, but you can only get the tax refund if you are here for less than 6 months. I was told by the Apple Store that they are only selling the watches to people living here (not sure how that is checked).
Also, only apple stores at this point are selling the watch.
Oh, I wasn't aware of that, thanks. I'm just visiting Japan for a week in June. If they're really only selling to Japanese residents, that totally sucks. Apple doesn't have a presence in my country and we probably won't get any Watches for months.
Yeah, it sounds like for the tax refund I'll have to do an in-store purchase if they put something in your passport. Doesn't seem like there'd be any feasible way to do that with an online purchase.
I think this was for the initial launch period only.
I'm not sure how they judge that you in Japan or not, but my guess is that as it is online only at this point, they need to deliver to a Japanese address and you need to pay with a Japanese credit card.
Hopefully by June they would be selling in store in which case I can imagine no way that they could enforce such a policy (or the legality of such a policy).
If you want to PM me closer to your arrival date I can swing by an Apple Store and see (if it turns out they are selling in store eventually).
As for the tax refund, some countries allow you to claim the tax back at the airport. I'm not sure whether japan has this system but you could look into it.
I think this was for the initial launch period only.
I'm not sure how they judge that you in Japan or not, but my guess is that as it is online only at this point, they need to deliver to a Japanese address and you need to pay with a Japanese credit card.
Hopefully by June they would be selling in store in which case I can imagine no way that they could enforce such a policy (or the legality of such a policy).
If you want to PM me closer to your arrival date I can swing by an Apple Store and see (if it turns out they are selling in store eventually).
As for the tax refund, some countries allow you to claim the tax back at the airport. I'm not sure whether japan has this system but you could look into it.
wow , i'll go to Tokyo around 25-28 April , but I've order online already ,
Do we have a way to negotiate with the store ?
Nope - they won't offer you the refund without purchasing from the store itself.