I think what you bought at Bic Camera was not a router but a wireless modem. Am I right?

•  匿名
• 2012年1月24日 13:31

I thought you already have a Wi-hi router because you did entries while you were away before. Actually, I'm interested in mobile Wi-hi routers like "Pocket WiFi" or "Hikari Portable" at the moment because my father gave me his iPad the other day. It's a long story, but let me explain about it for my writing practice.

On the New Year's day, we got together at my father's house. I was playing some games on my sister's husband's iPad, and then my father said to me, "My iPad broke down. It won't start, and I can't even recharge the battery." I said, "Why don't you take it to the electric store you bought it?", then my father told me that he had bought it on the Internet, and it was okay for him not to have it repaired because he didn't use it often. In fact, he was using it like a USB flash memory to store pictures. I said to him, "If I fix it, can I keep it?", then he said okay, so I took it home. I switched it on, but it wouldn't start. I tried to recharge the battery, but the screen just stayed black. I have an iPod, but I knew next to nothing about iPads, so I searched for some solutions on the Net. I found how to reset all the settings, and I tried it several times, but it didn't work. I almost gave up the idea of fixing the iPad myself, but I gave it another try, and... it worked! (I just pressed the button for longer than was necessary.) It said, "Connect to iTunes", so I followed the instructions, then the iPad became good as new.

We have a wireless LAN at home, so we can access the Internet on the iPad when we are around the house. All my family members are very happy about that, but I think it would be more useful if we could access the Internet on the iPad when we are away.

Have a great time in Hokkaido, and see you soon.

Tomo

PS I thought the shop was called "Big Camera", too!

•  Tomo
• 2012年1月24日 14:17

Hi David and everyone,

I'm not familiar with PC things, but anyway, lucky you!

As for your question, I say,"Yes!"

I had my kitchen and bathroom remodeled last Feb. My husband and I chose a company specializing in gas related things because we were planning to install the underfloor heating and were going to use a gas range.
All in all, our decision was successful, and we were satisfied with our new kitchen and bathroom.
After completing everything, a staff came to my house with a beautiful basket of flowers and said," If you are using a gas stove, we are prepared to give one away ." Of course, I said,"Yes, thank you!" immediately. Then he went back to the office, and returned to my house with a brand-new gas stove. He kindly set it up. Actually my husband I were planning to buy another heater, so we were happy with that unexpected present. And moreover, we received 10,000 yen gift cards for installing that system. This winter, the gas stove has warmed the room.

Aside from unexpected ones, the phrase "for free" lures my attention, but I'm afraid I need to be careful not to get a lot of things because I ended up throwing away some of them.
It is said that there is nothing so expensive as something which is free, right?

I might be stingy, but I like receiving cosmetic samples for free. When I need more cosmetics, I usually buy them when they are sales campaigns; you'll get a set of sample skin lotion and cream, sample rouge newly on sale, and some other products. I even receive sample cosmetics when I come across beauty experts passing out samples. These are small things, but they make me feel good!

David, have a great time in Hokkaido!

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2012年1月24日 22:47

I just checked on the box, and it says "3G Wi-Max Wif-Fi Router."

•  davidbarker
• 2012年1月24日 23:40

Hi everyone!

I don't know much about digital equipment too , but Lucky for you David.
I have never received such a expensive stuff for free.
But I sometimes get something by point in a variety of shops . I think it's similar.
Actually I try to go to same shop to get point ,if I need something. I like this system. By the way , I've often seen an ad from menswear store like スーツの青山.
It said that if you bought a suit then you could get another one for free. At that time, I've thought that I wanted to buy a suit at half price from original price , though I won't buy it.
Aside from this, I ate a chocolate named 白いブラックサンダー　which was gift from my friend who visited Hokkaido today. It was delicious !!
I have never been to Hokkaido .If I will go to Hokkaido I want to eat 海鮮丼. I think there are lots of delicious cuisine in Hokkaido . I'm getting hungry.
I will go to Hokkaido someday.

Good night and see you soon.
David ,Have good time in Hokkaido .

Zim

•  Zim
• 2012年1月25日 01:34

Hi David and everyone,

David, that was a good buy!
I've never get something so nice for free, I got just food samples or consumables so I ate or use them, no need to throw away. (They are not unexpected gift, though)
I may get off track, but my youngest often gets lucky and gets nice gifts by some kinds of drawing, Fo example, at housing store 住宅博or game arcade. Thanks to him I got some useful items. And at 駄菓子屋さんhe often gets 当たりand have an extra one.
I think adding freebee is a tactic to sell goods by companies. And most people are weak at free gifts so they might end up buying unnecessary goods by being attracted with free stuff sometimes. I want to keep my house with minimum goods but my husband likes shopping. He often buy unnecessary things because of free gift. Sorry, I'm just moaning and complaining.

Hokkaido in this season must be cold. But have a good time there.

It has been really cold for a couple of days, so take care of yourself, everyone!

Fumie

•  Fumie
• 2012年1月25日 06:42

Hi David and everyone,

I can't remember that I have gotten any unexpected stuff, but "free stuff" always attracts me a lot;) Same as Anne, when I buy cosmetics, I sometime get free stuff not only samples but pouches, bags, cups, accessories and something like that. If I like it, I keep it and if I don't, I give it to someone who wants it.

Bye for now,
amo

PS, Are you on the way to Hokkaido or you are already there? Hope you will enjoy your stay there;)

•  amo
• 2012年1月25日 20:46

I'm on the ship, but we haven't left the port yet. I wasn't sure whether I would make it on time, because there was a lot of snow on the roads, but I got here okay. They have warned us that the sea is going to be rough, and there was just an announcement saying that they are selling medicine and sick bags at the shop!

By the way, this comment comes to you courtesy of my new wif-fi router :-)

•  David
• 2012年1月26日 00:13

Hi David,

Hope you had left the port smoothly, and the sea was not rough. I've forgotten how long it takes you there. Anyway, you seem to be happy with your new wi fi router, and it would be a good company all the time;)

Have a nice day, everyone:)

amo

•  amo
• 2012年1月26日 08:27

Hi, David

It is extremely cold this morning in Sapporo.
My nose was about to freeze while I was taking my daughter to kindergarten.
I hope the port your ship are going to land is not frozen.

I laughed when I read the sentense 'What on earth does "Bic" mean?' I agree with you! It's really strange. By the way, I like Yamada Denki better than Bic Camera. At Yamada Denki, we can try a slot game to get some points for free. Every time I try, I get 50 (yen) point. If I buy something at the store, I can try the game four times. It is really fun, and I like it.

Hi, Zim

I live in Hokkaido. I like 白いブラックサンダー. It's smaller than ブラックサンダー, nice size for woman to eat. Why isn't its name ホワイトサンダー??

Hi, Anne

It's nice to know you are satisfied with your new kitchen and bathroom. Underfloor heating system seems really nice! I envy you!

•  panda
• 2012年1月26日 09:56

Hi,

Have you ever read a book titled "Free" written by Chris Anderson?

I think when something is given free, there is always a string attached. It is a strategy for those who give away. They do so to create opportunities to gain profit later on, be it money or a list of future customers, or to immediately grab or attract a person right at the spot for whatever the purpose they aim to achieve.

•  fab
• 2012年1月26日 12:30

Hi fab,

I think you are right, but I was going to buy the router anyway, so it was a good deal for me. One free thing I hate is those stupid plastic toys they put on the top of PET bottles in convenience stores. I always avoid those because it seems such a waste to just throw the toy away.

I'm still on the ship. It's almost empty! The sea is quite tough, but I don't get seasick, so it's fine. I'm actually having a good time :-) We get in to Tomakomai at 8.45.

•  David
• 2012年1月26日 14:26

Hi David and everyone,

David, the ship was almost empty!? Wow! You seem to have had a good time on the ship , and that sounds great. I assume you've already get off the ship.

Speaking of "free stuff", there are a lot of things to talk about,right?
It reminds me of free ad tissues and my experience related to that.
I'm not sure, but this service is unique to Japan. If so, I'm wondering how people from foreign countries felt when they received free ad pocket tissues on the road for the first time.
These days, the economy is stagnant, so I guess the number people of handing out them is decreasing compared with a decade ago, but still when you hang around a busy street, you might have a chance to bump into people who are handing them out with fliers.
Of course, it is done as a sales promotion, and they target customers depending on what they want to sell or advertise.

Several years ago, I had a funny but a bit frustrating experience. One day, when I was walking along Sakae, where there are several department stores, and I saw a young lady who was passing out pocket tissues with a lovely smile, but she ignored me!
It was not once, but I had the same experience another day.

What can you imagine she was promoting? Beauty salon? A restaurant for young people? A bar? Yes, if so, what happened to me makes sense. No wonder she was not interested in me or women in my generation, but that was from some language school! I'm not complaining about why I didn't get the tissue, but I'm wondering if learning English (or other languages) is just for young people or businessmen. No, I don't think so. That made me think about the intended buyers in each company. Anyway, it might have happened to me by chance...

As Zim said, whenever I see TV shopping, I always said to myself," I don't need two!" Two for the price one sales could be frustrating.

Hi fab,
I didn't know the book "Free." Thanks for the information.

Hi panda,
These couple of days, it's freezing, so the underfloor hearting feels good^^)

訂正；

"my husband I were planning to buy " should be "my husband and I were planning to buy ."

See you soon,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2012年1月26日 22:03

Hi panda

The chocolate I ate was bigger than original size . But I thought it was irregular size. It was size for gift ,I guess.
Anyway, I love ROYCE's potato chip chocolate!
It's great invention that chocolate coated potato chip ! I've very often eaten it . By the way , I live in Wakayama .
It is also cold here. But ,did your nose almost freeze ?
I can't believe that! I have to go now.
Take care and have a nice day everyone !

See you later.

Zim

•  Zim
• 2012年1月27日 05:40

Hi, David

It is another icy cold day. I assume you are driving on the road in Hokkaido now. Please take care, because the road is like ice skate rink.

As for the topic, comments from members reminded me of the experience we had two years ago. There was a coloring contest the company of Sylvanian Families hold every year. My daughter applied for it and and got a prize for a lovely little toy house. We are very pleased and she played with Sylvanian Families toys every day. Accordingly, her birthday presents and Christmas presents became all Sylvanian famillies toys. Now we have five boxes of Sylvanian family toys in my house! It's like ''エポック社の思うつぼ'', and I am sure that's what Chris Anderson says in the book Fab mentioned. (Is it right, Fab?)

Hi, Zim

I love ROYCE's potato chip chocolate, too!! It's one of the great inventions Royce made. I love all products of Royce. The Royce shop near my house sell bread, and it is delicious, too!

•  panda
• 2012年1月27日 10:25

Hi everyone,

Talking about free stuff, I used to get some of them at exhibitions. For example, pens, mechanical pencils, Post-it and so forth.
When we bought a new fridge, the saff member in the electric applicance store gave us a cooking tool.
I don't know its name in English name. It consists of a plastic bowl, a basket and a lid with a handle.
When we rurn the handle, the basket will rotate in the plastic bowl. It is to shake off water dew on vegetable after rinsing with centrifugal force. It's very convenient.

By the way, have you ever heard of Ameria Erhart?

She is a femail pilot in the U.S. in old days.
Her story is very interesting. If you are interested in, please read this URL.

****://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/us-history/Amelia-Earhart-The-First-Woman-to-Fly-Across-the-Atlantic-Alone--137994933.html

Put http to ****, and search.

See you,

•  Gussan
• 2012年1月27日 12:45