Taking my Discover it to Japan

[mendelssohn]

Discover fans and haters, this thread is for all of you.

 

I'm going to be taking my Discover it with me to Japan in just over a month, and I will compare acceptance, customer assistance, declined transactions, and everything else you can think of. Acceptance should be decent since Discover is processed on JCB, and their cards also have no foreign transaction fee.

 

In my wallet this trip will be:

 

• Amex Platinum-mainly for concierge service and airline lounge access
• Amex SPG-any non-bonus category purchases where Amex is accepted
• CSP-all travel and restaurant purchases, as well as non-bonus category purchases where Amex is not accepted
• Barclaycard M&M MC-just to have a no FTF MC with me
• Discover it-I will make some test purchases in various venues and give their customer service a few tests

How will Discover compare to the other processing networks or other card issuers? Stay tuned...

 

[hegemony]

Just tell the clerk to run it as JCB. In Tokyo at large stores you will not have a problem. Some smaller places or in rural areas will be confused.

 

Frankly I don't think you're taking enough cards. I would take at least one more Visa product as a back-up.

[mendelssohn]

I will probably take my NFCU Flagship as well as one more Chase card. The cards in that list are just what I intend to use.

 

This should be interesting, and Japan is probably by far the most favorable foreign destination to give Discover a shot against the other networks.

[pkrider7]

Whereabouts in Japan are you going

[mendelssohn]

I just requested a replacement card from Discover with a chip since they are the only issuer on that list that didn't automatically send me a new card.

[Konrad2012]

I'd take a debit card so you can get cash at post offices.

[mendelssohn]

Whereabouts in Japan are you going

Tokyo, although I have 2 day trips planned from there.

[mendelssohn]

I'd take a debit card so you can get cash at post offices.

Of course I will, but my list of cards is what I plan on using and comparing for credit purchases.

[hegemony]

I've used JCB in Europe and all over Asia.

 

_subprimeDiscovery failed me in China but mostly because the retailers did not think it was UnionPay.

[Burgerwars]

 

Whereabouts in Japan are you going

Tokyo, although I have 2 day trips planned from there.

 

I enjoyed Tokyo. Definitely a different culture than here. Street addresses made no sense to me, but I managed. Even though very crowded, it's very safe. Have fun.

[mendelssohn]

 

 

Whereabouts in Japan are you going

Tokyo, although I have 2 day trips planned from there.

I enjoyed Tokyo. Definitely a different culture than here. Street addresses made no sense to me, but I managed. Even though very crowded, it's very safe. Have fun.

Thanks!

[hegemony]

Can you bring me back some Macha Kitkats?

[mendelssohn]

Can you bring me back some Macha Kitkats?

Looks interesting. I've seen some other odd flavors as well.

[hegemony]

If you have crap1 and want to have fun, see how fast they shut you down even if you inform them ahead of time.

[mendelssohn]

Maybe I will add that to the mix.

 

They use the least favorable exchange rate of the cards with no FTF.

[hegemony]

Maybe I will add that to the mix.

 

They use the least favorable exchange rate of the cards with no FTF.

we could have a pool for how many hours after first use in Tokyo crap1 shuts down your charging privileges

[mendelssohn]

I will add Crap1 to my list, although most of my charges will go on my good cards.

 

I'll call all issuers a couple days before I leave and give a travel notice.

[Konrad2012]

Take your Barclays Aviator and try to get it to fail. Then make them give you 50000 miles

[mendelssohn]

That would be a good plan if I had a Barclays Aviator.

[pkrider7]

 

Whereabouts in Japan are you going

Tokyo, although I have 2 day trips planned from there.

 

 

Ahhh have fun I'm from there...but haven't been back since '95. My mom said so much has changed it doesn't feel like Japan any more. I'll go back there someday to visit.

[cv91915]

That would be a good plan if I had a Barclays Aviator.

Take mine.

[themanwhocan]

Can you bring me back some Macha Kitkats?

 

Why not just buy them on Amazon.com ?

 

If you wait until the 3rd quarter, you can use your Discover card for 5% cash back on Japanese Kitkats on amazon.com

[mrjuggalo9er]

Discover will make an excellent card to use as a door stop

[Konrad2012]

None of you have Asian supermarkets around? Japanese KitKat can be found in any Japanese, Chinese or Vietnamese market

[PotO]

I've used JCB in Europe and all over Asia.

 

_subprimeDiscovery failed me in China but mostly because the retailers did not think it was UnionPay.

I've never had issues at all. Disco has a little card in Chinese you can print that tells the merchant to just STFU and swipe the card. Or you can have even more fun and just tell them in Chinese yourself.