A few days ago, Amazon Japan made an announcement through its Seller Central discussion forum, but it’s one that affects buyers as well. The e-commerce giant will be altering its payment options policy, and shoppers will no longer be able to choose to pay by cash on delivery, or daikin hikikae (代金引換), as it’s called in Japanese. The option is being removed for all items sold through Amazon Japan, both those sold by Amazon itself and those offered through Amazon Marketplace.
This won’t matter to the many shoppers who already chose to pay for their online shopping with credit cards, but the new policy might be a problem for some members of Japan’s foreign resident community. While it’s not impossible for foreigners to get credit cards in Japan, obtaining one can be a frustrating struggle. Reasons aren’t always given for rejected applications, but non-permanent residency is generally considered a credit risk, as is income that’s relatively low or irregular, which is often the case for foreigners in Japan working in teaching positions or doing freelance work. It’s not that those factors contribute to a card with a lower credit limit, either, but that they lead to the application being rejected in whole.
So if you’re legally living and working in Japan, but can’t get a credit card, cash on delivery was a very handy thing if you were buying something from Amazon Japan, but one that’s going to be going away soon.
Thankfully, there is still a way to buy things through Amazon Japan and pay for them in cash, though it involves a few extra steps. Amazon Japan will be continuing to offer “convenience store payment” (コンビニ払い) as a payment option. With this method, when you place your order with Amazon, you receive a confirmation email with a payment number. You then take that payment number to a branch of the 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, MiniStop, Daily Yamazaki/Yamazaki Store, or Seico Mart convenience stores, where you either plug the number into the in-store ticket payment kiosk or show it to a clerk at the register. You can then pay for your online purchase in cash, and when Amazon receives confirmation of the payment, they’ll ship your item to you.
Alternatively, credit card-less shoppers can transfer the necessary money to Amazon Japan from their bank account using either an ATM or their bank’s online money transfer services, though these usually require a service fee.
Amazon has given no reason for the policy change other than “continuing efforts to improve both buyers’ and sellers’ experiences.”
The last day for cash-on-delivery payments for Amazon Japan orders will be June 5.
Source: Amazon Japan, Impress Net Shop via Yahoo! Japan News via Jin
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2024/06/03/amazon-japan-makes-payment-policy-change-that-could-be-a-problem-for-foreigners-in-japan/
54 Comments
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koiwaicoffee
You buy at Amazon for convenience, but if Amazon suddenly disappeared we would just adjust and wouldn't notice much difference.
wallace
I tried to pay by COD if I was sure of the item to be delivered. Mostly use credit cards. Choosing the right ordering day delays the payment.
ian
Customers can buy Amazon shopping cards at kombinis instead. I think there's an additional charge for paying for items directly at the kombinis
GBR48
Doesn't Japan have 'debit cards'? If you have a bank account, you normally get one of those automatically, surely?
WoodyLee
""While it’s not impossible for foreigners to get credit cards in Japan, obtaining one can be a frustrating struggle. Reasons aren’t always given for rejected applications, but non-permanent residency is generally considered a credit risk,""
AMAZON is joining these Credit Cards Issuers in the crime of depriving foreigners of any privileges while living in Japan.
I am hoping that Amazon will change this policy or the Governing Agency to force them to continue this service in fairness to the unprivileged.
wallace
For my first ten years or so I was refused a credit card. Used my Japanese partner. After that, the credit card companies started asking me. I think I now have three.
bass4funk
I was able to get an American only after 6 months of living in Japan, I lucked out because at the time Costco was having a campaign, I applied and got one, now Gold. So I lucked out, but having said that, the Japanese do have an unfair and non-transparent system of determining the qualification of an applicant. Unlike the States you should be able to know why you were denied and what steps you can take to rectify the situation. That is one area where Japan needs to definitely make massive improvements. It’s not fair especially if you have lived for many years in Japan and paid taxes and done the right thing and followed all the rules.
Gaijinjland
Any bank in Japan will give foreigners a cash/ debit card and you can order anything from anywhere so long as there is money in the account. Much prefer that than credit cards in Japan because even one late payment will ruin your credit history for 5 years and make it incredibly difficult to get a housing loan from any of the major banks or creditors.
Sven Asai
I have more credit cards than income. rofl But fun aside, I guess other commenter's replies to use debit cards and convenience store sold Amazon gift cards' deposits can be applied here.
DanteKH
Debit Cards made redundant the Credit Cards. As long as you have an account in a Japanese bank, you can get nowadays both a Cash Card and a Debit Card, which can be used as both, issued by either Visa or Mastercard. I have those since forever and I can use them without any issues, not only in Japan, but overseas as well.
Sh1mon M4sada
My own experience says it's very hard and involves a lot of documentation just to get a bank account. I use a credit card that I got in Hong Kong whikst in Japan and have given up trying to get one.
Hawk
In my experience, I could never get a credit card when applying online. The credit card application wouldn't take middle names (of which I have two) but my bank account includes them, meaning the names wouldn't match up. I did manage to get my name on a card - when my wife was applying for one and also got a 'family' card. On a whim, I applied in person when walking past an application counter set up in a shopping mall to see what would happen, and got the card.
Now, as others have said, banks will supply debit cards through Visa etc which can be used online.
rainman1
I applied for a received a Credit Card 6 months after arriving here. Have since upgraded to better ones that offer more air miles etc. These days, use my Debit Card , or my AMEX.
Why have people encountered problems? 10 years @wallace?? Were you declared bankrupt?
Antiquesaving
Have either of you seen an option to use debit card on Amazon or any other online shopping?
I haven't seen such an option in Japan.
As far as I know I don't know any places that take bank debit cards, this is the reason so many use passmo and suica cards as cash cards.
Several years back Some places started offering clients the option to pay by bank debit card but most have since stopped claiming the fee charged by banks were too high.
ian
Probably his residency status
rainman1
@Antiquesaving: Anywhere that takes a VISA card takes my bank debit card! What on earth are you talking about? I use it daily, heavily, in many places. Money straight out of my current account and I also get an email to confirm as such! Hopefully not long before the trains (its on trial on a couple of line) let use use them to 'touch and go'. I can then get rid of my mobile Suica as its the only thing left I use t for.
Gaijinjland
@antiquesaving
I have literally spent millions of yen on Amazon over the years buying stuff on Amazon with my Prestia, SMBC, UFJ debit cards and to a lesser extent my Mizuho JCB debit card. Not sure what you’re going on about?
wallace
rainman1
What year did you arrive?
Strange comment. It was most likely because I did not work for any company.
bogva
Despite having reputable job I was refused 3 times credit card. The last one my wife was with me at the bank (where I had account and received my salary) and she pressed them to tell us why I am rejected.
At first they refused stating security reasons but finally they gave up took out a thick book and basically the reason was I was not permanent resident at the time. After I got PR I haven't had problems obtaining cards.
Debit cards are getting off just recently - for example Post bank just started offering them a year ago or so as far as I know... And as said one can use Debit card in place of credit card without problem online or in stores.
timeon
As Antiquesaving said, the use of debit cards is not common in Japan, at least in stores
For online shopping, I use only credit card, so I was curious and checked amazon HP, and indeed the payment options include paying through a bank account.
The options are:
1) credit; 2) cash on delivery (it's still there); 3) Convenience Store/ ATM/ Internet Banking/ e-Money; 4) Others: paidy / au or softbank phone billing / PayPay.
rainman1
@wallace: 1992.
rainman1
@timeon: No , that's not what he said - he said he's never seen the option and is not aware of any shops that accept then. Well, the truth is, widely used or not, MANY more places will accept a debit card than a Suica or Pasmo.
Gaijinjland
Debit cards are not common in Japan? Really? I never use cash and pay for everything with debit cards. Every place that accepts credit cards accepts debit cards. They work the same way, as far as the machine reading the IC chip is concerned
timeon
ok, I will try it tonight at the local combini. Never used a debit card for shopping in Japan in 25 years.
Gaijinjland
If it’s a self service checkout there is no “debit” option. Tap the credit option then swipe or tap your debit card. Works like a charm. Also in Amazon, when it asks for credit card number put in your debit card number instead. Works the same way. I thought this was common sense?
timeon
Are you sure? I am looking at the Family Mart HP for example, and they are very specific about the credit cards that can be used. No mention of bank cards.
https://www.family.co.jp/services/payment.html
Gaijinjland
Visa, Mastercard, JCB debit are all accepted everywhere. The issuing bank doesn’t matter. Bought breakfast this morning at family mart with my visa debit issued by SMBC. Just tap or swipe like a credit card.
ian
I only use debit card. It's accepted in place of /considered as credit card also
ian
What year was that?
ian
To pay with debit card, it has to be one time payment
Hawk
I'm baffled by the people saying yoy can rarely use debit cards here. I've been using mine for years both online and in stores and have never not been able to, although once or twice I've had to specify that it's debit, not credit.
Anywhere that accepts Visa (the logo on the card) credit cards will take their debit cards, too. I assume it's the same for Mastercard etc.
BertieWooster
No worries, we can shop at Temu. Many of the items are the same, cheapo made in China, but they are even cheaper because we don't need to pay the Amazon tax.
Gaijinjland
@Hawk
Exactly. Baffled is the word as the cards are universally accepted here except for the few remaining cash only shops. I think some old timers on here are thinking of “J-Debit” which was/ is something completely different and could only be used with affiliated stores and was not useful at all.
Hawk
Gaijinland,
Definitely possible. I remember the accompanying blurb saying that the user should make sure the vendor doesn't mistake Visa debit for J-Debit when I got my first card.
timeon
I understand why I was confused: Japanese banks issue three types of cards: cash, debit, and credit. I thought cash and debit cards are the same thing, but with the cash one (the one I have) you can't buy anything, just withdraw money, while the debit ones function as a credit card
ian
Might as well mention anything that could be useful related to the subject.
If one doesn't have a cc or dc and suddenly got an immediate need for one there is something like a prepaid credit card that cam be bought from the kombinis also
Antiquesaving
J-debit may in theory be available but look around and see how few places take is today!
Amazon doesn't! From Amazon Japan's own site:
Only a few very large businesses take it and the cost to the retailer is high.
This is why places using Square POS, Rakuten POS, PayPay POS, etc.. don't take debit!
If a retail business wants to take debit cards then it will more than likely go directly to a large bank and set up a sales register through them at a very high service fee!
A certain large auto supply retail chaîne once took debit cards but stopped because the fees were too high and they switched to a cheaper POS system!
My business doesn't take debit because my POS service doesn't even offer it as a possibility.
If debit cards were widely accepted then why would people bother with cards like suica, pasmo, edy, or services like PayPay etc..?
The reason people use these cards and PayPay is because debit cards are so rarely accepted!
Hawk
Antiquesaving,
You're dreaming. You can use debit cards pretty much everywhere. End of.
Norm
Yes.
I don’t know about other cards, but I’m using the Vpreca (Vプリカ) debit card on Amazon, and being a Visa card, it works just like a Visa credit card.
I like the fact that it is truly prepaid and I never have any debt from my online shopping.
rainman1
@Antiquesaving - Who has mentioned J-Debit anywhere here? We are talking about Bank Debit Cards here. linked to the Visa/Mastercard system, which take money straight from our bank accounts.
So far, today, I have used my SMBC Debit card to buy coffee this morning, to pay for my lunch at the Chicken Rice place, I then used it in a Lawson to buy a snack and a Yoghurt at 3pm. I stopped at Picard to buy some Bagels after work and used it there too. And - it's all recorded as spent and taken from current account seconds later.
And for the record, I use it on Amazon Fresh every week!
rainman1
....and they are contactless also, up to a certain amount. Mine card also incorporates the ID payment system should I come across the rare vendor that only takes pure e-money (such as PayPay etc) .
JRO
Antiquesaving
I think you might be misunderstanding what a debit card is, it's not a cash card which is only used for taking money out of your bank. If your debit card has a visa or mastercard logo it will work exactly as any credit card. Used mine to buy from Amazon today.
Wesley
This is actually a good thing. Prevents credit card fraud by certain people from a nearby communist country. Esp the "students" who are here to study at Japanese universities.
Antiquesaving
I think it is you that is misunderstanding!
Yes there are debit cards that are also credit card but all that means is you just used a credit card!
You didn't buy today via debit, you bought using the credit card portion not a direct withdrawal from your account!
And as the article says foreigners living in Japan has trouble getting a credit card!
So if someone cannot get a credit card then a debit card with visa/Mastercard is also not possible.
Again From Amazon Japan's own site:
So you bought with a credit card that also is a debit card but you are being charged on your credit card!
Antiquesaving
See
So again not a debit card !
You are talking about a credit card!
Not sure you understand the difference between a credit card and debit card!
So what you have is an ATM with credit card! It is a Visa our Mastercard.
A debit card is taken straight from your account and doesn't need a credit card and if you don't have enough money in your account the transaction doesn't go through.
Many people in the west use debit card only ! No Visa no Mastercard! A debit card can be obtained by anyone with a bank account but a credit card or a credit card with debit/ATM cannot, you need to pass credit verification.
Strangerland
No. I can't speak on Japanese banks anymore, but all debit cards in the west now have a visa number so that debit cards can be used the same as credit cards, but the money comes direct out of your bank, and you do not get credit. They are NOT credit cards, as there is no credit involved.
I don't believe you can even get a debit card that isn't like this here.
JRO
Not sure how you ended up with this information, but no it's definitely a direct withdrawal and there is no credit on my UFJ visa debit card, I'd show you my bank statement if I were allowed to. Not sure how you got this confused, this is nothing new, this is how debit cards have worked for decades.
Johnny Park
For how backwards some things are in Japan the last thing I would think they'd do is get rid of a cash option.
JRO
I think you are confused with this J-Debit thing, I had no idea what J-Debit was, but looking it up it seems to be it's whole own thing, and is not linked to mastercard or visa. J-Debit doesn't stand for Japanese debit cards in general just J-Debit, it's a brand name.
Gene Hennigh
As to the topic of Amazon, I never use them. They are a lot of trouble (they will put you on their Prime list, or whatever it's called, without telling you) and email you endlessly about "now you can shop for your favorite brands," none of which are my favorite brands. That's here in the states. If Japan's Amazon is anything like that, buy what you want somewhere else.
rainman1
@Antiquesaving.
No, Its defintely a debit card and the money I spend is removed directly from my account. No credit. What I don't have, I can't spend on it.
Please look:
https://www.smbctb.co.jp/en/lp/gp/001/
Jim
With the new immigration bill which will come into effect, foreigners holding Permanent Residency will find it even harder to get credit card in Japan because for credit card companies the Permanent Residency status of foreigners will become of low value or meaningless! It will no longer mean “PERMANENT“ !
rainman1
@Jim - Then what I've posted above will be the perfect solution it what is becoming a cashless world!
@Antiquesaving needs to brush up on current banking methods in Japan, which although slow and behind the times are slowly catching up.