Briefly: Japanese Apple Stores likely to kick off 'lucky bag' sales on Jan. 2
While no official announcement has been made, Apple is thought to be planning its annual "lucky bag" sale in Japan for Jan. 2, as the company will be opening stores early that day at 8 a.m. local time.
Operating hours for Apple Store in Ginza, Tokyo shows early 8 a.m. open time for Jan. 2.
As it has done in years past, Apple Stores in Japan will likely start 2014 with sales of Fukubukuro, roughly translated to "lucky bags," in celebration of the Japanese new year. Apple retail locations across the country are scheduled to open at 8 a.m. local time on Jan. 2, some two hours earlier than usual, strongly hinting at an as yet unannounced sales event, reports Mac Otakara.
In practice, retailers participating in the custom bundle various goods in a bag, which is then sold for a preset price. The contents of each bag can vary, but customers never know exactly what is inside until the package is opened after purchase. If tallied up separately, the products are usually worth more than the package sales price, thereby offering consumers a discount, albeit sight-unseen.
Apple's Fukubukuro promotion has seen customers net savings of over $500 per bag as some contained "special gifts" like MacBook Airs and iPads. Last year, customers were so eager to get their hands on one of the few bundles allotted to each Apple Store that lines formed hours prior to opening.
The Fukubukuro custom was first started nearly 100 years ago in Tokyo's famous Ginza shopping district and quickly spread across the country. Other locales outside of Japan now practice the Fukubukuro tradition as well, including retailers in the U.S.
Operating hours for Apple Store in Ginza, Tokyo shows early 8 a.m. open time for Jan. 2.
As it has done in years past, Apple Stores in Japan will likely start 2014 with sales of Fukubukuro, roughly translated to "lucky bags," in celebration of the Japanese new year. Apple retail locations across the country are scheduled to open at 8 a.m. local time on Jan. 2, some two hours earlier than usual, strongly hinting at an as yet unannounced sales event, reports Mac Otakara.
In practice, retailers participating in the custom bundle various goods in a bag, which is then sold for a preset price. The contents of each bag can vary, but customers never know exactly what is inside until the package is opened after purchase. If tallied up separately, the products are usually worth more than the package sales price, thereby offering consumers a discount, albeit sight-unseen.
Apple's Fukubukuro promotion has seen customers net savings of over $500 per bag as some contained "special gifts" like MacBook Airs and iPads. Last year, customers were so eager to get their hands on one of the few bundles allotted to each Apple Store that lines formed hours prior to opening.
The Fukubukuro custom was first started nearly 100 years ago in Tokyo's famous Ginza shopping district and quickly spread across the country. Other locales outside of Japan now practice the Fukubukuro tradition as well, including retailers in the U.S.
Comments
That's sounds like a fun -- if nerve-wracking -- experience.
"I got a bag full of rocks." —Charlie Brown
This is one of the coolest things that Japan does in general. We need to do this.
This is one of the coolest things that Japan does in general. We need to do this.
Agreed, very cool.
You are lucky.
This is one of the coolest things that Japan does in general. We need to do this.
American customers would probably find a way to litigate if they didn't feel they got value for their money. However, these are the same customers who would waste a weekend in Vegas feeding the casinos.
There are many, many cooler things in Japan than this.
American customers would probably find a way to litigate if they didn't feel they got value for their money. However, these are the same customers who would waste a weekend in Vegas feeding the casinos.
I love gambling, and do it a fair amount -- not a lot, but every once in a while. But the number of people who don't understand the inherent odds is scary. Personally, I don't care if I lose my money, since I don't gamble with money I can't afford to lose. A lot of people, however, don't seem to grasp this concept.
This text is worth everyone’s attention. How can I find out more?