Cannot buy from iTunes Japan..

Question

Level 1

8 points

Cannot buy from iTunes Japan..

There is a brand new album I want to buy, but iTunes will not let me do it.. can't seem to find the link to complain to Apple about it either- if I can use my Visa card in Jp with no problem, why does iTunes say my card is invalid there, makes no sense..

Windows 2000

Posted on Nov 18, 2006 11:12 PM

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Answer 1

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Nov 19, 2006 12:57 AM in response to Max_D

In order to buy from a specific country's store, you must have a credit card from that country & a billing address within that country. These rules are mandated by the record companies not Apple, as the record companies do not care for cross-border sales.

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Answer 2

Max_D Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2006 10:06 AM in response to StarDeb55

Might make sense if there was any chance of that cd ever coming out in any other country- which there isn't..
Also, they should make that clear in the error message, instead of merely saying my credit card is invalid.
I find it pretty hard to believe that I am willing to pay for content but not allowed to..
That said, would buying myself a gift card for that country's iTunes store work?
It's crazy that I have to go to these lengths just to buy a few songs in another language

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Answer 3

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Nov 19, 2006 11:23 AM in response to Max_D

Sorry the gift card won't work as the billing address rule also applies.

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Answer 4

Max_D Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2006 9:24 PM in response to StarDeb55

Thanks. Well, sounds like I'll have to ask a friend to get me a gift card to use in exchange for etc.. Kind of frustrating to go to such lengths to simply get a few songs. Obviously this is an issue Apple really needs to resolve

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Answer 5

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Nov 20, 2006 2:12 AM in response to Max_D

From the sounds of this post, are you thinking you can get a friend in Japan to get you a gift card to purchase from the Japanese store? If that is what you are going to attempt, it won't work. A gift card purchased in Japan must be used by someone with a Japanese billing address. If I have misunderstood your post, my apologies.

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Answer 6

Max_D Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 20, 2006 11:56 AM in response to StarDeb55

Wow- I had assumed that all I needed was the # from the gift card and that would suffice. So unless there's some other way- such as someone I know who has still a Japanese billing address for their credit card, purchase the album, go over to their house in the US and copy the songs to my ipod- looks like my only choice may be buying the actual CD itself instead of from iTunes ..

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Answer 7

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Nov 20, 2006 2:07 PM in response to Max_D

That is pretty much the only choice you have is purchasing the CD, because a friend purchasing it from the store for you is considered to be "illegal file sharing." Terms of purchase state that downloads are for "personal use only".

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Answer 8

Max_D Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 20, 2006 7:29 PM in response to StarDeb55

Yeah, apparently that's what I have to do.. Oh well, looks like I'll be spending my hard earned at my local Japanese bookstore instead of iTunes

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