The reason why unlocking your docomo phone costs 3000 yen(?)

UPDATE: In both the comments and on a google plus thread, several people have confirmed that docomo is not using a new SIM each time the unlock a phone. The shop I went to had probably just never done it before, so they had to bring out a brand new SIM.

A docomo "special" unlocking SIM

The current price with tax to unlock a docomo phone is ¥3,150, which is also what docomo charges for new SIM cards. Whether it be from an MVNO or straight from docomo, when you receive a new SIM card, docomo gets ¥3,150.

Could it be that each one of these "special SIMs" (which are nothing more than a SIM card that doesn't have an MCC and MNC equal to 44010) are single use?

As you can see from the photo I snapped during the long and grueling process, that is a fullsize SIM with a micro-sized perforation. It's never been used. And being from docomo, it's the equivalent of ¥3,150.

Of course it costs almost nothing to stamp out these SIM cards, so if they are single usage, it would likely be just a means of justifying the cost. Unlocking consumes a SIM card, and the price of a SIM card is ¥ 3000 + tax. But what a waste.

Now, it is entirely possible that this particular shop had never actually unlocked a phone before, and that's why this SIM had never been used. Based on my experience, this is indeed a possibility. It took forever because more time was spent reading the manual than actually unlocking my phone. I was explained that unlocking could result in a full data loss (whatever). Halfway through the procedure, I was given a list of disclaimers for using an unlocked phone on docomo's network, which was exactly NOT what we were there to do. Several discussions and meetings were required.

One thing is for sure: it was the first time any of them had seen an encrypted phone.

Following one of these confabs, which took place out of sight in the back, they actually began to unlock the phone. For about 10 minutes I estimate, they repeatedly tried to key in the IMEI-based unlock code into the storage decryption field, making as one would expect, zero progress. They finally came back to me and said that an unexpected screen was being displayed and they didn't know how to proceed.

It's a good thing there's not a limit to failed password attempts during decryption :)

Needless to say, I was shocked that they didn't grasp that the phone was encrypted and they needed to enter the passcode before it would boot, especially since it clearly states in Japanese that ストレージを復号化するパスワードを入力してください。 (Please enter the decryption password.)

What has been your experience with unlocking docomo phones. Has anyone else seen a fullsize, unused SIM? I wonder if they are supposed to pop the SIM out where the customer can't see?