HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Agreed GN. And while there are exceptions to every rule, it does seem that the majority of foreign owned business are aware of their role in communities and make particular efforts to be a part of the community and give back where they can. I have not used a travel agent for my Japan travels, with the exception of booking the JAL flights as I have been unsuccessful at doing that myself every time, but I would think that even if one did book a 'package deal' and only a small percentage of the air/ground transfers and accommodation went back into Japan - there will be the dinners out, purchases of new kit, of souvenirs, Lift tix, lessons, drinks... Get them there, and they will spend Link to post Share on other sites
sand 17 Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I wasn't in doubt that investment brings jobs and snow tourists help the local economy, I was wondering of the foreign tourist dollar what % of that money disappears back out of Japan? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Not that much foreign tourist money here anyway but I would say almost all is Japanese owned businesses anyway round these parts. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Pretty wild at the moment. Buying up a few things as the rate is so good. Great deals. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Yes.. I have been doing some online shopping to take advantage also. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Absolute bargains on amazon now.... cheap prices, exchange rate, VAT taken off to ship out of UK. Giveaways-like! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Originally Posted By: grungy-gonads Absolute bargains on amazon now.... cheap prices, exchange rate, VAT taken off to ship out of UK. Giveaways-like! Shame postage is so high though. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Actually I find it isn't that high if you buy a few things together at once. I can't quite remember the details but I spent about 200 quid with one package not so long ago and the postage came to considerably less than the amount of VAT that had been deducted. Seemed a real bargain. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Arseing site won't let me order games to Japan as their "merchant" will only ship to UK addresses. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Ah yes games are a no go. But for DVDs it's great, esp. now with the rates as well. And it has to be direct from amazon and not a marketplace to get the VAT thing going it seems. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I ordered some leather boots from the UK on Friday evening (Perth time), and they got here at 2.30 Monday afternoon. Price of the boots only - the postage was free. I couldn't get stuff from the within my own metro area delivered that freaking quickly! LOVING online shopping right now! (although I am still waiting on a pair of shin skins - for running with shin splints - from the US, that I ordered 2 weeks ago...) Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I am also enjoying buying some things. But I worry about the snow season and exchange rate for foreign guests. Link to post Share on other sites
Fonty 1 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Originally Posted By: ILoveZao I am also enjoying buying some things. But I worry about the snow season and exchange rate for foreign guests. Don't worry ILoveZao. The AUD/JPY has picked up a little since and it at about the same as last year. So not so bad. Although not such good news for the Brits and USA. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 In the case of Zao, Australia is not as big a market as other countries. Not that I am directly affected as such, but of course I want to see Zao have a good season. Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Definitely. Amazing how strong with yen has been with all that has happened to Japan. Not that I understand how all this lot works of course. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Under 77 against the $ now. Time for some shopping I think! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Originally Posted By: SKI Under 77 against the $ now. Time for some shopping I think! Indeed, didn't it reach about 76.5 at one brief point? Think that's what the NHK newsman said. Link to post Share on other sites
maestro 0 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Rates are harsh at the moment. Luckily I have a bit of cash in an account in Japan that a relative looks after for me so I can use that. Converting now would be painful. Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Good time to import some cheese! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 124yen to the pound now. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 yeah, I sent some money home yesterday to pay my credit card and was pleasantly surprised how little I had to send! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 How do you send home Tubby? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 thru the Post office Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Me too. Every time I think I should try to look into other ways, but I end up going there. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Did a bit shop at amazon yesterday, with the exchange rates and the vat off, my 200 order became considerably less. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts