uh crap

[dr4b]

I ordered a laptop last night from HP to be delivered to Seattle... or so I thought.
I got an email just now saying the order was declined and I have to call on weekdays between 10am and 10pm to find out why or if it was in error.

naturally, it is JUST past 10pm now... so I can't call for several days.

I ordered with a US credit card to a US mailing address... I wonder what the problem is? Aside from that I ordered from a Japan IP?

I'm almost thinking I should just say fuck it and buy a laptop here in Japan, even though I think it will be more expensive. Sigh. I could also go buy one in an actual physical store while I'm in the US but I get the feeling that is ALSO expensive.

and goddamnit this is my 8-classes day so I will now be stressed about this all day. ARGH!!!

Comments

[alibash.livejournal.com]

Ordering from a japanese IP maybe indeed be the problem. I wasn't able to use my US credit card from a japanese IP to buy games on steam, regardless of whether I used a japanese or US address. This was basically the main reason for me to get a japanese credit card =P

[dr4b]

ugh :(
if I don't get this straightened out you might have to take me shopping for a new computer afterall...

[tg2k.livejournal.com]

Deanna, this is a bit of a trick (and you probably know all this already), but if you have an account on a Unix box in the US, you can set up an X client from Japan, run Firefox off the Unix box, and then the transaction will be coming from the US IP address of the Unix box.

Or even try Lynx I guess, but you get the idea. Could take some time to pull it all off but it may be better than the alternatives.

[xtalcy.livejournal.com]

If the box doesn't run an X server, you can set up a proxy over SSH instead. That would have been my first inclination, actually.

[tg2k.livejournal.com]

Probably a good bet...I confess I'm almost clueless about SSH, since it came into popularity after my college years.

[xtalcy.livejournal.com]

It's probably obvious that I'm more familiar with the SSH way of doing it, seeing as how I mixed up X server and client. As always ;-)

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

Another (not nearly as clean method) might be to have a friend in the US use the "windows assistance" thingy (or any other remote desktop software) to take control of their computer and order the box from there.

But any *nix way that I know of would be more secure and probably less hassle.

[bk3c.livejournal.com]

The other option is to just order from a good US distributor / online store (CDW, newegg, pcconnection) when you get over here, and then just get next day delivery.

It's usually around $50 for the shipping, which isn't great, but it seems like it might be a lot less than the Japan price premium, or the hassle of trying to do an international order.

Depending on what you want, that also might be break-even with just getting something at a physical store, but this gives you wider selection if you decide you want it.

Not that I frequently need computer equipment in a hurry or anything.

[dr4b]

hmmmmm.
yeah, I don't know. of course the problem being that I won't have a computer of my own when I get there, though I'm sure I can use someone else's, maybe.

I really have no clue what I should do. I think I will try to call HP tomorrow or whenever it becomes the proper timezone in America and explain the situation, maybe.

also, are you coming to Carnival?