3COINS
In Japan, 100-yen shops like Daiso are widely known, but 3COINS is another popular nationwide variety store chain, offering most of its products at the affordable price of 300 yen.
From interior goods and kitchen or bathroom items to fashion accessories and smartphone-related products, 3COINS provides a wide range of trendy and inexpensive items that have earned strong popularity.
With stylish designs and seasonal limited editions, it appeals to both young people and families, and each season’s limited goods or collaboration items often become a hot topic.
3COINS offers a wide variety of toys for babies and young children. Among them, the electronic piggy bank stood out the most to me. It became so popular in Japan that it sold out shortly after its release, and many people had to wait for restocks.
Electronic Piggy Bank Contents
The 3COINS electronic piggy bank comes with the main unit, a card, and one paper bill. The set is simple, but it includes all the basic elements needed for use.
The main unit of the electronic piggy bank measures 17.5 cm in height, 13 cm in width, and 11 cm in depth, making it a convenient size that can be placed on a desk or shelf without feeling bulky.
The included card is used to open the door of the electronic piggy bank. On the back of the card, a Japanese message is written in romanized form, and its meaning is as follows.
“Let’s start saving money in a fun way. A little bit every day. Let’s keep going, starting with what we can do. There are many ways to use money. When you have saved a lot, think about what you would like to use it for.”
There is a battery compartment on the bottom of the piggy bank. It is secured with a screw, so a small screwdriver is required when replacing the batteries.
Three AA batteries are needed, and they are not included with the product, so they must be purchased separately.
How to Set the Initial Password
1. Enter the initial password, 0000, using the number buttons.
2. A voice prompt instructs you to place your hand over the scanner. When you do so, a sound effect plays and the door of the electronic piggy bank opens.
3. With the door open, press the * button.
4. A light turns on and a voice prompt indicates that the password can be changed.
5. Within 10 seconds, enter a new four-digit password and press the # button.
6. When a voice confirms that the password has been changed, close the door.
If you would like to change the existing password again, repeat the process starting from step 3.
How to Insert Paper Bills
Simply insert the bill slightly into the slot, and the rollers will automatically pull it inside. Each time a paper bill is inserted, a sound effect plays, which naturally makes you want to save money again.
Coins are inserted through the coin-sized slot on the top of the electronic piggy bank, and in this case, no sound effect is played.
Opening the Piggy Bank with a Card
The 3COINS electronic piggy bank can be opened in two different ways, and opening it with a card is especially simple. Since you only need to hold the card over the scanner, I usually use this method to open the door.
Each time I open the piggy bank using the card, a cheerful sound effect plays, which somehow makes the experience more enjoyable.
Opening the Piggy Bank with a Password
When opening the electronic piggy bank using a password, you first enter the preset four-digit code using the number buttons, and then place your hand over the scanner.
The additional step of recognizing your hand after entering the password appears to be designed to prevent accidental operation and to make the act of opening the piggy bank feel more like a playful experience.
User Review
After using the 3COINS electronic piggy bank, which caused a buying frenzy and frequent sell-outs, there were a few points that felt slightly disappointing. I personally bought it with the intention of actually saving money, and while Japanese paper bills do fit inside, the piggy bank itself is quite small, so the bills end up being bent. Since I prefer not to bend or crease banknotes, it felt a bit difficult to use it for storing a large number of bills.
In addition, the sound effects were louder than I expected, and there were moments when they startled me. I felt it would have been even better if there had been a volume control for the speaker.
That said, true to the 3COINS brand, being able to purchase an electronic piggy bank toy of this quality at a relatively affordable price is certainly appealing. It has a slight safe-like feel, and especially for children, it could be a fun way to develop an interest in saving money. As various color options are now available, it is also possible to choose one that suits your personal taste.
■3COINS Electronic Piggy Bank
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