Where to buy cheap phone?

HanSolo · 24 Jul 2015

I'm looking for a very cheap 'dumb' phone. Its purpose is simply to hold my Australian SIM so I can receive banking SMS confirm code messages. I currently have to swap out my Japanese SIM and restart my smartphone each time.
For this reason, all the phone needs to be able to do is:
1. Turn on and connect to a GSM mobile phone network (probably DoCoMo) so it can roam.
2. Receive an SMS message.

Any phone recommendations or shop ideas? A place that sells 2nd hand old phones, if it exists, would probably be good too.

Many thanks

wahahanihon · 28 Jul 2015

would like to know about this as well! maybe not a dumb one, but one that also can be used for GPS(when using WiFi)

HanSolo · 30 Jul 2015

I've noticed Japan has a lot of second-hand stores, and the stuff is actually in good condition. This includes mobile phones, many of them are the clam-style phone, and many were cheap. I'm thinking of getting one, I'm just not looking forward to the initial language/tech hill to climb over getting it working.

WonkoTheSane · 30 Jul 2015

Seems like it might be easier to just set up forwarding for the sms messages. Have you looked into that?

wahahanihon · 30 Jul 2015

Thanks, I'll check that out

HanSolo · 30 Jul 2015

WonkoTheSane said:
Seems like it might be easier to just set up forwarding for the sms messages. Have you looked into that?

I hadn't thought of that actually, but that's an interesting idea. Problem is I use Skype over mobile internet, and Skype can't receive SMSs for god knows what reason.

cocoichi · 30 Jul 2015

Many students (like I did myself) buy a prepaid Softbank phone with some call credit for about 6000 yen. I don't know how much you are willing to spend, but that is as much as a new phone has to cost. If you know where/how to reach students that are almost leaving Japan, you might be able to buy their phone off them for 3000? I don't know about simlock though.

other options:
- yahoo auctions
- buy a second hand phone in Australia, and have someone ship it to you
- buy a cheap phone from on of those online Chinese webshops
- sell your current smartphone and buy a new smartphone with dual SIM option

WonkoTheSane · 30 Jul 2015

HanSolo said:
I hadn't thought of that actually, but that's an interesting idea. Problem is I use Skype over mobile internet, and Skype can't receive SMSs for god knows what reason.

Have them forwarded to email?

wahahanihon · 31 Jul 2015

Hmm, as for sims, which company can I buy only a Sim card?

cocoichi · 31 Jul 2015

wahahanihon said:
Hmm, as for sims, which company can I buy only a Sim card?

I don't know, but I do know that a prepaid sim card at Softbank an come with very cheap phone.

For example 301Z 料金・機種代金 | 製品を一覧からさがす | 製品情報 | モバイル | ソフトバンク (I don't know if linking to a commercial site is allowed, so please excuse me if it isn't). You pay 6500 for the total package, and this incudes 4000 yen of credit. Basically the phone is only 2500 yen.

If you are a tourist or staying for a limited amount of time, you can always rent a sim card.

wahahanihon · 31 Jul 2015

I had the opposite feeling, every place i went, showed them my Galaxy s3 and they said there is no way to get a sim for that... I know it's weird... thats why I'm asking about it. Do you know maybe how is that plan called? like "Gaikoku plan" or something, because they are pretty much clueless if you don't speak proper Japanese.

cocoichi · 31 Jul 2015

I believe the basic rule in Japan is that if you do not have a residence permit or proper visa, you cannot buy a sim card or prepaid phone. So my first question is: are you a tourist or staying more permanently?

If you are a tourist: go for a rental sim card, or try to convince a Japanese friend/foreign friend with proper visa to get you a prepaid phone.
If you are staying more permanently: bring a Japanese friend to the store, or go to a branch with English speaking staff. In Tokyo for example, the Softbank Omotesando branch is usually where foreign students go to for help in English.

If it's just for a matter of texting and limited phone calls, I would not bother looking further and just go for the Softbank prepaid plan. For about 300 yen you can activate "unlimited text messages", which keeps you phone expenses very low.

wahahanihon · 31 Jul 2015

Its not for me personally, I have an expensive plan for 2 years, so I can't change that. But Now I'm working in a Japanese school where people come here for short time study and long term, and this problem is the biggest.
So you're saying that the best way, is to but a prepaid phone, A smart one also is available, and charge it every time?

cocoichi · 31 Jul 2015

I know from experience that many language schools let short stay students study on a tourist visa. In that case those students would not be able to obtain a phone in the "legal" way, other than to rent. The long stay students with a proper study visa can get a phone without too much hassle. If those students are mainly using their phones to contact each other, then prepaid is definitely sufficient. No one calls nowadays, so texting is the only expense. For 300 yen per month you can activate unlimited texting, and the credit on the phone is valid for three months I believe.

simple smartphones are indeed available too. I saw models that cost 19000 and included 10000 credit. Cheaper is possible I think.

But again, the visa is really the issue here:banghead:

Good luck!

wahahanihon · 3 Aug 2015

Thanks, will certainly pass this info on!

Where to buy cheap phone?

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