Edit update: just came back from the store lugging my new Studio Display and Mac mini. Phew that display is heavy. I bought it at the store with my US credit card no problem, but the staff confirmed with me that the Japanese website doesn’t accept foreign credit cards anymore.
Anyone bought a new Mac with a foreign credit card in the physical store?
I went into the Shinjuku Apple store to buy a new iMac today after confirming with a staff member that the exact model I wanted was in stock. When I walked in, a staff member said I needed to make a reservation (there weren’t any for the rest of the day) or buy it online.
So I went home to try to buy it online, but the Japanese Apple Store won’t accept my US credit card and I have to pay for it in advance whether it gets delivered to my house or I pick it up in the store.
I made an appointment tomorrow with support staff because there were no appointments for shopping, but I think this kind of falls into the category of needing support.
Anyway, I imagine (hope) they should be able to take foreign credit cards, and I still can’t understand why the staff wouldn’t sell me the computer on the spot today. Maybe they had to dig it out from the back somewhere?
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I heard its to stop people buying up store stock to export abroad, or something to that effect.
I bought a laptop at their Shibuya store with my US credit card a few years ago. I didn’t have a problem then.
I know you can’t use a foreign credit card in the online store, but as for in-store, I’m not sure. I ended up paying for my last Mac online with Line Pay.
Apple has an official store on Amazon.co.jp which should accept your overseas credit card. Edit to add I occasionally have trouble with my Visa credit card in some stores here, but it works fine on Amazon.
I bought a phone there a week ago, while a paid for my phone in cash, they asked for my card for AppleCare. They accepted my card with no problems, so I think you should be fine.
In store, you can use a foreign credit card. Online you cannot. You can use a Wise credit, however online.
Bought iPad Mini couple months ago (online purchase, pickup in Marunouchi store) and paid with EU credit card. It went through. Maybe your bank has this antitheft thingy and they declined charge because of crazy hour and location? Happened to me before.
I used my US credit card to buy an iPhone 14 online 🤷♀️ worked just fine. They still bill me on that same card for the applecare+.
I bought an iMac in a physical store with a U.S. credit card a few years ago. No problems.
I was also able to use my (US) Apple Card on the Japanese Apple website.
Bought some iPad accessories with a foreign non-US credit card at the Apple Ginza store. Not sure about online.