Pittsburgh Handy Book

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American-made pens and other stationery have poor quality. Japanese-made pens are also available, but they are rare. Mechanical pencils are not sold much. The paper quality of notebooks is also poor.

Types of accounts

One major difference between US and Japanese banking services is that checks can be used. Monthly rent, phone bills, credit card payments, etc. are usually paid by sending a check. The following are the main types of accounts:

Checking Account: An account that allows you to use checks.

Checking Account with Interest: An account that allows you to use checks and earn interest.

Savings Account: An account that is equivalent to a savings deposit in Japan.

A checking account is essential in the US. In addition, it is common for people with a large amount of money to create a savings account.

You can deposit a check at a bank or an ATM. If you go to a bank, fill out a deposit slip and submit it along with the check. If you use an ATM, sign the endorsement on the back of the check, put it in the provided envelope, and select "deposit" on the ATM. The deposit will be made on the same day or the next day.

All banks offer Telephone Banking and Internet Banking services. You can check your balance, transfer money between accounts, and perform other transactions over the phone or online.

Personal sales

Craig's List - A platform for personal sales in Pittsburgh, not limited to Japanese people. You can find a large amount of information here.

Bulletin boards on university campuses

Bulletin boards in apartments (for residents only)

If you are selling furniture or a sofa that is considered "clean" by American standards, it will likely be accepted by foreigners, even if it is not up to Japanese standards. We recommend evaluating your items from an American perspective.

When selling to Americans, they will usually arrange their own truck or large car to transport even large furniture, so you don't have to worry about helping them.

If you list an expensive item on Craigslist, you may be asked to use a check for the transaction, with the buyer saying "I'll send you a check first, and then you can send me the item." However, most of these cases are scams, so be careful. Although the check may be temporarily recognized and deposited by the machine, it will not be deposited after the review. In addition, there are cases where the buyer asks you to send the money back, saying "there was a mistake in the check," and tries to take the money from you. We recommend using a secure method, such as cash transactions.

When selling on Craigslist, in most cases, buyers will negotiate the price. It is common for them to decide to buy and then ask for a lower price. Therefore, it is recommended to list the item for sale at a higher price than what you actually want to sell it for, assuming that negotiations will take place. This way, you will usually end up selling the item for a higher price than what you originally wanted. (Saito, March 2016)

Notes on individual sales

Based on the raw voices on the pgh-j (formerly cmu-j) mailing list and the editor's observations, the following are some precautions to take when engaging in individual sales:

In individual sales, there is no margin, so sellers can sell at a higher price and buyers can buy at a lower price. However, it is important to remember that there are risks involved that are different from those of dealing with a store.

Please also refer to the page on individual payments.

Points to note for sellers

When announcing a transaction, sellers should clearly indicate the product information, price, product description, condition, contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc.), transaction rules, and conditions in emails or posters.

There have been reports of cases where a seller made a promise to sell to the second person who replied to a moving sale information email one minute after it was sent, because the first person's email was classified as spam, and then had to sell to the first person due to their inquiry. Sellers should be careful not to cause one-sided cancellations due to their own mistakes, as this can also cause inconvenience to buyers.

"When selling a car privately, even between acquaintances, it is recommended to receive a proper deposit. Both the seller and the buyer may encounter situations where the agreement cannot be fulfilled as promised. It is not a pleasant situation when something goes wrong just before returning home, when you are busy and trying to enjoy your last moments in Pittsburgh. Although it may be troublesome, it seems reasonable for the seller to have the car evaluated by a used car dealer in advance and receive a deposit for the difference between the promised amount and the actual value in case the buyer cancels the deal at the last minute. By researching in advance, it will be easier to handle the situation if something goes wrong. As a Japanese person, I think that many people may have some resistance to this type of contract (I also do), but if both parties can handle the situation in a reasonable and satisfactory manner in advance, it will be much smoother. If you are considering buying a car privately after reading the convenient guide/pgh-j, please cooperate with the seller by making a deposit, taking into account the situation of the person returning home. In the near future, you may also become a seller when you return home." (Kageura, Oct 2002)

Points to note for buyers

Before purchasing, be sure to check the product carefully. Any doubts or requests should be resolved before purchasing.

Once the purchase is decided, make sure to buy it. If you have to cancel the purchase, contact the seller promptly. The seller will be in trouble if the item they thought they had finally sold is suddenly "canceled" as the return date approaches. Buyers may also become sellers themselves in a few years.

Points to note for both buyers and sellers

When it comes to buying and selling cars, the buyer must have a PA driver's license or photo ID to make the purchase. For details, please refer to the guide on buying and selling cars.

"We often hear about troubles related to moving sales. In the case of moving sales on pgh-j, it is common for the seller to sell to someone who has returned to the US from overseas, which often results in the buyer crying due to reasons such as (1) the buyer being inexperienced, (2) the seller having already returned to their home country when trouble occurs, and (3) it being difficult to make a personal guarantee contract. We ask that the seller explains the contents as accurately as possible, and that the buyer checks the item thoroughly before making payment, so that both parties can proceed with the transaction in a satisfactory manner." (Notice by the administrator, May 2002)

Let's try to keep the agreement and process, such as price, conditions, delivery/payment schedule, as something that remains in a tangible form as much as possible, such as a written agreement or email. This can prevent troubles caused by verbal agreements. It may seem formal, but let's make an effort to prevent troubles by making communication explicit.

Even if you do all of the above, troubles may still occur. Let's participate in transactions with the knowledge of the risks involved in dealing with strangers.

Only the headings are linked