Buying Eneloops from Japan

Tigi on 15/04/2016 - 22:16

Being the typical OzBargainer I've bought my first set of tropical Eneloop from one of the Dick Smith deals at around $15.

Found them to be of good quality and now I'm looking to buy another set that are made in Japan (if possible). Unfortunately with the demise of DS, we can no longer get Eneloop deals. Luckily for me few family members going to Japan this month. Can I please get your input on the following:

  • Best place to purchase cheap genuine Eneloop in Japan
  • Any ideas where they sell genuine Disney Eneloops?
  • Should we be wary of fakes?
  • What upper limit should I tell my rellos to purchase one, would AUD$30 be reasonable for Japan made or AUD$20 for non-Japan? The last UOMO AA deal in the forums was around AUD$24 - not counting ridiculously price clearance which is almost impossible to get.

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Electrical & Electronics Battery Panasonic Rechargeable Battery

Comments

  • dissin on 15/04/2016 - 23:18
    +3

    This is real dedication ;-)

    • boomramada on 18/04/2016 - 13:40
      +1

      Yes but not worth it.

  • altomic on 15/04/2016 - 23:37
    +2

    some where like Bic Camera in Ginza would be great. it's sort of like a japanesque harvey norman. but way bigger and better.
    like, awesomely better.

    don quixote is a great chain store that has a wide range of stuff but really basic stocking style with some really random stuff. they may possibly stock eneloops.

    • peteru on 15/04/2016 - 23:56
      +1

      Are you nuts? Shopping for electronics in Ginza? Surely you would send them to Akihabara.

      The Akihabara JR train station courtyard has small shops that sell batteries, but once you walk out and turn the corner to your right, you have several blocks of electronics stores to choose from.

      As for the price? Set yourself a budget and stick to it. A quick search on Kakaku shows prices ranging from 1,600 yen for a 8 pack to 2,500 yen for a 4 pack.

      • altomic on 16/04/2016 - 00:11

        yeah, ginza. I used to work around the corner from Bic Camera.

        I was never amazed by akihabara. though the street of second hand computer shops was pretty cool.

        • peteru on 16/04/2016 - 00:21
          +1

          I used to spend whole weekends in Akihabara, discovering some amazing stuff. I found Ginza a bit sterile and upmarket, not to mention overpriced.

          Mind you, if you are shopping for batteries, it probably doesn't matter too much where you end up. I'm sure that Shibuya would also be a good place to look for batteries.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/04/2016 - 09:56
    +1

    Maybe more for other people than the OP (a cute Eneloop newbie), but if you have any exciting OzBargainy devices e.g. kicking around that take D size cells, and haven't been thrilled by the longevity of regular-capacity AA Eneloops in even three-cell adapters (search eBay if unfamiliar with those), don't be tempted by the Eneloop D (and C) cells that you may read about and which sell in the Japan-only market.

    Genuine, but they are not quite as you may wish them to be. They just consist of ordinary 3x AA (and 4x AAA) cells connected in parallel, so same as using regular Eneloops in plastic adapters.

    For anybody interested (and who doesn't want to use Eneloop Pro's) in adapters, near to double the capacity if you buy purpose-built C and D LSD's of other brands -
    www.metaefficient.com/rechargeable-batteries/d-size-recharge…

    Links to C's and various purpose-built chargers, for both, on that same page. Others not mentioned there include Nitecore models for C-only and Opus models (with included charge adapters) for both C and D.

    Luckily for me few family members going to Japan this month

    OP, along with your AA Eneloops, please ask them to bring back one of every crazy Japanese Kit Kat flavour you see, for every OzBargainer who contributes anything to your thread. It is also the polite thing for them to do, for your taste buds…

    You know it is so don't let any of us down!

    :)

  • nismo on 16/04/2016 - 10:22
    +1

    I'll be in Japan later this month too, will keep a look out for them but in previous years never bought any because they were always cheaper here.

    I used to see them in drug stores like Kirindo, Cosmos, in addition to places like Edion, Yamada Denki of course. Can't recall if I've seen them in Don Quixote, probably, but I have seen them in Nafco - a bit like Bunnings.

    You could get a rough idea of cost here:

    http://www.edion.com/disp/CSfDispListPage_002.jsp?action=sea…

    http://www.yamada-denkiweb.com/search/Eneloop/?searchbox=1

    I don't think cheap and genuine go in the same sentence.

    I've never seen fakes in Japan, if you stick to the Japanese retailers mentioned so far, I don't think you'll come across any fakes. As for cheap, good luck with that. A lot of electronics in Japan are expensive..

  • nismo on 16/04/2016 - 10:35
    +1

    Have a read of the comments here regarding electronics in Japan

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/241420

  • nismo on 16/04/2016 - 11:13
    +1

    More stores to check cost / buy from:

    http://www.yodobashi.com/ec/category/index.html?word=Eneloop…

    http://www.biccamera.com/bc/disp/CSfDispListPage_001.jsp?dis…

    Use Chrome, which should auto translate these.

  • Tigi on 16/04/2016 - 21:50
    +1

    Thanks all for the input.

    @Nismo - thanks I just learnt something new, this Google Chrome translation function is brilliant :) Checked the suggested websites, I can probably get a pack of 8 AA for around $20AUD.

    Like you suggested, will set a budget and if they are over I might pass up on this and just ask for the obligatory outrageous kitkats flavours: pudding, baked potato and cheesecake here I come…

    • nismo on 18/04/2016 - 20:06
      +1

      For the kit kats, often the tourist areas are expensive, but, you'll often find limited edition ones that can't be bought elsewhere (or out of season). For the everyday flavours stick to supermarkets and places like Donki eg.

      https://donki-welcome.com/goods_en_jpy_698.html

      Only 278 Yen for the matcha one.

      I think I've even paid closer to 200 Yen in stores.

      • Tigi on 19/04/2016 - 20:01

        Thanks for the tip. Wow $3.30 AUD that's quite a difference to what they charge in Sydney for imported ones (around $10)

  • nismo on 19/04/2016 - 10:41
    +1

    I assume you've seen this: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/243989

    It will be mostly the Made in China Eneloops, but there is a mention of some Sanyo branded ones.

  • nismo on 06/05/2016 - 19:30
    +2

    Sweet potato kit kat, 10 pack ¥138 cheap!
    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/77537/39176/img_201605…

    Green tea, 9 pack ¥188
    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/77537/39177/img_201605…

    Panasonic Eneloops, from left to right:
    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/77537/39178/img_201605…
    Charger + 2 AA batteries ¥1980
    2 pack AA batteries ¥898
    4 pack AA batteries ¥1680
    Charger + 2 AAA batteries ¥1980

    There's also a 2 pack of AAA's for ¥989 not pictured.

    These are all from a store (chain) called Cosmos (コスモス) and include tax. It's a bit like a supermarket & pharmacy in one. http://www.cosmospc.co.jp/

  • nismo on 06/05/2016 - 21:30
    +1

    Ah and here's a limited edition one I saw on a recent trip to Kyushu, Citrus Blend, 12 pack ¥864

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/77537/39180/img_201605…

  • Tigi on 06/05/2016 - 23:42
    +2

    Thanks for all the tips Nismo, appreciate it. You're right Eneloops aren't much cheaper than in Australia.
    So many choices for Kitkats this is amazing…

    • nismo on 12/05/2016 - 15:21
      +1

      No worries. I also saw a raspberry kit kat a few times recently. If you were to travel around Japan you would come across even more flavours…

      I've had to stop myself from indulging too much on them due to weight issues :(

      Some of the bigger electronic stores may be cheaper for eneloops, but I haven't been to many yet this year or forgot to check!

  • newbie12345 on 22/05/2017 - 13:18

    I've been looking for Japanese Eneloops too (standard white ones, not the black pro ones) and read on some sites that Fujitsu rechargeable battery (white ones) are same as Japanese Eneloops. Saw a 4 pack of Fijitsu on ebay for $20.

    Anyone know a cheap place to get Japanese standard Eneloops or Fujitsu recharable batteries (looking for the newer white ones that have 2100 cycle, not the older 1900 cycle if possible) ?

    And Yes, I got the Ikea Ladda's 2450, but want to keep the standard eneloop or Fijitsu as backup in the cupboard as they claim a 5 year 70% capacity.

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