During the New Year in Japan, many retailers often offer a Fukubukuro, also known as a "mystery bag" or "lucky bag", which is a grab bag filled with an assortment of products usually sold at a steep discount. Apple Japan has once again announced that it'll take part in the promotion, which begins January 2 in Apple Retail Stores across Japan.
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Last year, Apple's Lucky Bags sold for 36,000 yen, or $345, and usually contained items like iPods, headphones and t-shirts. Purchasers of the Lucky Bags don't know what's inside the bag, and cannot get a refund unless a product is defective. Some fortunate customers have received big-ticket items like iPads and MacBook Airs in their Lucky Bags, which is part of why Lucky Bags have become so popular in Japan.
As with past years, Apple's Lucky Bag promotion is limited to Japanese customers. The company has not yet announced pricing for this year's Lucky Bag promotion, but it's likely to be in line with previous years' pricing.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)So why isn't this done in the USA again?
Probably because people would line up and buy a bunch of them only to turn around and sell them on eBay at full price taking the fun out of it.
Us Americans have a knack for ruining a good time when the chance for making money off other people makes itself known...
So why isn't this done in the USA again?
Because lawyers. Lawsuits.
Apple does not want to bother with Americans who are dissatisfied with the (random) contents of their lucky bags, then hiring lawyers to go after Apple.
That's why.
As with past years, Apple's Lucky Bag promotion is limited to Japanese customers.
I would say that it's actually limited to customers in Japan.So why isn't this done in the USA again?
This is a lottery, and lotteries are very carefully regulated in the US. This is why things like the McDonalds Monopoly game have "NO PURCHASE NECESSARY" all over the place. That makes it a sweepstakes, not a lottery.