Job Discussion Forums

seklarwia

So I'll be moving in less than four weeks to my new apartment which is going to be pretty bare. The only things it has are air con/heating units and a singing, butt warming and washing toilet.

I don't drive and most of my friends only have smaller cars.

Two of the things I will need to pick up immediately are a decent size fridge/freezer and a washing machine.

So my questions: Do large stores like Yamada Denki offer home deliveries if you buy in store? And if so, can they deliver the same day or would I have to buy in advance?
Unfortunately, I can't read enough Japanese to find out on Yamada's site and I don't want to brave a 30min skate on ice just to find that they are already shut for New Year's.

I don't want to actually shop and pay online unless I can pay via cash on delivery (like Amazon allows if you are buying products stocked by them) because then I would have use my UK card and I would be losing a lot of money in the exchange from � to yen.

the4th2001 · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 130 Location: Tokyo

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Yes, they offer home delivery, but in my experience it's not free, nor is it usually possible to get same day delivery. They are pretty busy. Expect 1-2 weeks. Don't like it, and you will just have to rent a truck yourself and have a few gorilla-like friends help.

the4th2001 · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 130 Location: Tokyo

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks to both of you.

@ the4th: I'll look out for the stickers.

@ Glenski: I don't really keep company with unrefined and undomesticated animals so that wouldn't work. Laughing

Like I said before I have some weeks before I move so I don't mind buying before hand. And I wasn't expecting free delivery. I simply don't want to be paying large sums on my English card and losing heaps of money merely to get delivery services... such a waste especially when I have the cash on hand. Although I doubt I'm outside their delivery area being little more than 5 mins drive away (it's just a longer journey for me since I don't drive and don't wear snow tyres) and I'm planning on spending a fair bit of money on appliances.

Honestly I'd prefer to buy in advance because I'm going to be more than busy enough on moving day.

I didn't want to move during the term, but the new landlord was forcing me (understandable since an empty apartment isn't making them money).

I guess it's not all bad because I'll then be able to visit family during holiday and make up for the fact I'm skipping out on meeting up with them in HK this week.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Delivery charges are minimal, IMO. Something like 1000 yen.

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:42 am Post subject:

That's even better. Even someone as tight as me (even though I have money, I get really anal-retentive about spending money when it can be avoided) wouldn't make a fuss over a few thousand yen if they can get the stuff to me on my moving day.

I'm actually getting really excited now. I even started packing last night and was shocked by the amount of stuff that I've aquired in less than two years.

It doesn't help that one of the few things I like spending money on is home making. I went to one of my favourite local stores in the evening and stupidily started buying crockery and cutlery... I'm having to force myself to stop though because it's just more stuff to move.

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:37 pm Post subject:

Once again thanks to the both of you.

I went shopping at Yamada Denki this evening and was able to pick up some great deals on appliances and funiture, it being the last day of the New Year sales. They will be delivered on my moving day and I'll get a call the evening before to arrange a time.
No delivery charges either so doubly Very Happy

Wanted to sort the internet today as well... stupid guy in charge of that had already gone home Evil or Very Mad

Will have to try again during the week. Probably not a bad thing because I forgot to ask the estate agent about whether the block is wired for cable or fibre optic services anyway. If either of those are set up already, I'd choose them over ADSL because the speeds are more stable (very important to a FPS multiplayer gamer!)

But I do have a question about that:

I know that there are phone jacks in all the main rooms. I don't want nor need a landline phone. Do I still need to buy a phone line if I only want the internet set up?

Just want to make sure before I deal with the internet guy as I noticed today that our salesmen are extremely good at pushing people into buying things that they hadn't intended to (and kudos to them for being good at their job).

G Cthulhu · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Agreed. We have had internet connection for the last 6 years in two different places without ever having had to buy a phone line. We get our internet through NTT, but it's an internet-only package, no landline with it.

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:48 am Post subject:

Thanks for that.

I have little idea how internet works here; never had to set it up until now.
Moving in exactly 2 weeks now, and I've been reading how getting the internet sorted can turn into an extremely lengthy process if you require any sort of prior installations/set ups.

And although many of the internet set up explanation pages make no mention of purchasing a phone line, I then come across blogs and whatnot that speak about setting up a phone line as if it's part of internet set up process. For example: