While attending the Ginza (Tokyo) Apple store grand opening, I visited the 6-story Bic department store, which offers a huge assortment of photographic, electronic and computer equipment. On the 5th floor is a very brightly-lit section for Macintosh products. The displays have a stunning amount of detail, including product comparisons, specifications and prices. There is an on-duty Apple Solutions Consultant (ASC) Retail Representative in the store, with Apple ID and T-shirt. It's obvious the store is serious about selling Apple products, although its technique (duplicated on all the other floors) almost overloads the senses.

Bic prices are posted on cards, along with a certain percentage, which represents how many "points" you receive. These points can be used at any time in the store to purchase merchandise. The point system essential is like a discount, only you can only use the money you save at the store. Here are some typical prices as of Dec. 1, 2003, along with the percentage of points you earn by buying the product. The yen was valued at about 109 to the dollar, so divide by 109 to obtain the U.S. equivalent price, and then figure in the "points" discount.

• G4 desktop, dual 1.25 GHz - 195,800 yen + 10%
• G5 desktop, 1.8 GHz - 299,800 +10%
• G5 desktop, dual 2 GHZ - 374,800 +10%
• iPod, 40 Gb - 59,800 +2%
• iPod, 20 Gb - 47,800 + 2%
• iMac, 20-inch - 249,800 + 2%
• iMac, 17-inch - 199,800 +2%
• airmac card (Airport in US.) - 9,400
• airmac Xtreme base station - 22,800
• Panther OS 10.3 - 14,800
• Powerbook G4 battery - 16,000
• Cinema display, 20-inch - 164,800
• Powerbook G4, 1 GHz, 15-inch - 249,800 + 10%
• Powerbook G5, 1.3 GHz, 17-inch - 299,800

It appears that Bic undercuts Ginza store pricing by a slight margin on selected products. Interestingly, iPod prices are identical, but some other products are $60 less expensive at Bic. Lastly, the exchange rate was 120 yen to the dollar as recently as August 2003, which would change the U.S. dollar value of the products. Check Ginza's pricing and this fuller comparison of pricing.