Used game console sales illegal in Japan APR 1st.

bullshit!! ...sorry

 

I hear April 1st...

Had my heart beating a bit faster though! Nice one, you got me at first.

EDIT - (It comes into effect April 1st. Looks like coincidence now.) Lots of people are reporting it - I thought it was a joke... Ah well even if it is not a april 1st stunt - lots of blogs are already showing loopholes in it. Don't panic.

 

april 1st in NEXT wednesday

 

For a more balanced account - http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/2nd-hand-electronics-sales-will-not-soon-be-illegal-in-japan Looks like consoles will probably be exempt.

Intitial story in asahi http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200602210407.html

Paints a better picture than the scaremonger story at Akihabara news.

 

What calendar do you use?

 

Motherfuckers! I was sooo close to move there:crying:

 

Mmmmm how will this affect the online used JP games market (Those JP sellers on ebay and those who have thier own stores online?) Maybe prices will go down like hell? (Online)

 

I think he might have meant March 1st, which is next week.

I really do not understand the government's motive on this new law supposedly set to come. So, since consoles and electronic goods older than 2001 (or 5 years in ceratin circumstances) cannot be sold as second-hand items, can they be sold at all? Can they be sold outside Japan, or no selling period?

 

The reality (fresh from the original asahi article)

"The Web site also explains how to legally sell used products. By law, a retailer can become a "manufacturer," authorized to conduct safety inspections and affix PSE labels, simply by registering with the ministry.

Registered "manufacturers" may attach PSE labels after confirming three very simple things: the product looks fine, works properly when turned on, and does not leak electricity at 1,000 volts. "

"The easiest way may simply be to perform the safety certification themselves. For many of the products, it is laughably easy to do so. "

SovietStriker - games will not be covered by this bill. Hardware looks unlikely to be effected in any real sense. So it seems like dreams of ultra cheap gear will have to wait!

The real problem with this is that the tiny shops in akihabara may not be able to apply for a license to authorise products (Possibly). Also they may not have the time or abilty to test them properly. That is the true sad thing, I remember in the late 90's when I went to akihabara for the first time, there were loads of places selling weird and wonderful appliances (not that they interested me). But we may see a further decline in those places because of this.

I am not going to go into the problems this causes for musical instruments, dryers and cookers. But it looks very much like - consoles are either exempt or are "laughably easy" to have certified.

 

Actually, if you read through the asahi.com article, then it's not so bad. More paperwork for small retailers, but hardly the death of Akihabara. Computer equipment, including consoles, don't seem to be covered by the law anyway.

Basically, it means that if a second hand item you sold burns down the buyer's house, you're responsible.

Here's the government's FAQ on the law (Japanese)

http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/consumer/seian/denan/keikasochi/keikasochi_q&a.htm

 

thats one of the most stupid thing i've ever heard.

They do that to get the econimics running, but, hey, what about those things you cannot buy anymore? What about antiquities? What about collections? 'cause buying used electronics doesnt necesarly mean buying 50 inches hdtvs. that's just plain stupidity.


So, those little video game shops like you posted on the front news a while ago, will they all close?

 

Relax guys. It's only some electronics. You can still buy old ass games.

 

It's funny how easily the internet becomes a haven for alarmism. A headline pops up, and all of a sudden the sky is falling, the Soviets are not only back but have launched every global nuclear weapon in their arsenal, and Jesus has returned to shepherd the entire human race straight to the bowels of hell.

All I'm seeing is a new regulation that requires secondhand sellers of electronics to register with some Japanese government branch, and then test every electronic item they sell to ensure it's in good working order and doesn't electrocute them. This takes maybe five minutes at the very maximum for something slow to boot like a PC. The only thing I can really see this to mean is added protection for the consumer: you're not going to go into some used electronics shop and shell out money for something that doesn't even work when you haul it home.

That Mutant Frog article also raises a very good point: You try to run any game system, computer, or any other electronic else at 1000 volts, and you'll be lucky if your shop doesn't burn down. It sounds like there's still quite a bit to be worked out for this new regulation, and a lot of people are getting up in arms over shoddy reporting without even having the full story.

 

Yeah, the asahi.com article puts it into a little better perspective. It is still ashame to see the government involving themselves in these matters.


^_^_^

 

For REAL? HOLY SHIT WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!h:h:h:


PS: i'm j/k....

 

Yeah, the car situation is a fantastic racket for the government, mechanics, and car dealers. It's horrible for anyone else. You don't see many old cars on the streets here, because most people are strongarmed just to keep buying new cars.

About the appliance law, it does look a little heavy-handed. Does it cover machines that have DC power coming into it from an adaptor (ie: not 110vAC), or all AC electronics?

 

That has more to do w/ Japanese consumer mentality than any laws. You can get used cars for free almost in Japan -- nobody wants them.

 

Had me scared for a moment, then for a second I thought I might be able to make a killing selling used game consoles to Japan. Oh well.