Online Shops selling anime/figures survey

B

Babyrat

Hikikomori
Hey there, I would be very grateful if you have the time to fill in this small survey to the best of your abilities. Thanks in advance to anyone who answers.

1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

2. How many Anime/figures do you approximately buy per month?

3. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

4. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

5. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

6. If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?
 
1. For anime I normally use ebay, or play.com. And for figures and region 1 anime, I use up1.

2. Unable too answer!

3. I like ebay because I can often bag some great bargains on manga, anime, and figures; Play.com is great for some bargains too, and it's very fast and has a nice interface too see things (the new releases in anime, etc.). And up1 I like because of the alright prices, and because I can get items before they are released in the uk!

4. Credit card. Or, paypal.

If I could change something about ebay, I'd probably make it so that there was a better way of searching for anime; It's annoying that I have too search through 10 pages of "manga force" dvd's >_>. Also, it would be nice if they had a stricter anti-bootleg policy/technique. As for play, maybe a way too bid on other peoples items (instead of that playtrade thing), I think it would be cooler too bid on the items, or leave offers too the owner. The only thing I could say about up1 is because it isn't always cheap; Most of the time I end up paying a few pound more (that's why I only buy them if I'm really impatient).
 
1. Only buy anime. Need stories, nothing else. UK Region 2... Play.com. Anime On Line, HMV.com, DVD.co.uk, Region 1 DVD Pacific, Region 4 Atlantic DVD, DeVoteD

2. It would have to match price. After import and customs, they usually can't up1's region 1 DVD prices make my eyes bleed.

3. I'm lucky, I haven't been burnt so far. Except for Amazon, but that wasn't anime related. I ordered a book and they lost my debit card details and a thief went on a spending spree. Everyone blamed Amazon's security, including my bank, but they never took responsibility. As a result, they could give anime away for free, I still won't risk my personal information in their hands.

4. Debit Card

I wouldn't change anything about the sites I use, but if I could, I would punch Gordon Brown in the mouth. He puts up the Customs limit on Imports to £120, but leaves VAT on Imports at £18. Traditionally, the two have gone up hand in hand in this country, but not this time. Bastard!
 
1. Amazon UK Marketplace, Amazon.co.uk/com/ca, Play.com, Ebay.

2. Yes.

3. Have to be very careful when using Ebay (bootlegs and the such like). Also have to be careful not to hit the 1-click order button accidently on Amazon. :p Play.com could do with better browsing features i.e I click Anime and it just gives me one big list whereas I would like it to be split by ganre and maybe series.

4. Paypal, Card.

Sorta answered the last question in answer 3.
 
Babyrat said:
1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

Play.com and Amazon. I use TBD for manga if you care too. For music I use CDJapan.

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

YES. I'd much prefer it.

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

Mhm. I guess sometimes with eBay trawling through endless pages, or lame item descriptions. I mean when im buying anime I wanna know how many eps are on each volume, and general stuff like that. Stuff that you'd expect to be there, but just isnt always there.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

Paypal, Card

If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?

Just the description and sometimes ease to find things.
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1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

DVD's Deepdiscount.com Play.com amazon.co.uk Playusa.com (prices are now more competitive with the exchange rate) dvduniverse.com otaku.co.uk (last resort normally, too expensive) movietyme.com (not very good if out of stock as they don't let you know on ordering) I may try up1.co.uk

With play and amazon I mainly buy from traders for anime as I tend only to be interested in region 1 DVD's.

Books bookdepository.com

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

It would all depend on cost and service. I am not usually that bothered waiting a little while for the post if I save money on the order.

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

Most if not all sites have a very bad library system when it comes to trying to browse and quite often you find things under completely different sections even when they have an anime section. Listing items after they have been cancelled by the companies.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

Debit card or credit card.

If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?

The way items are stored and ordered on the site, sub-genres would be nice like most have for their normal films. Also item descriptions, some sites just don't bother and some are just wrong withe examples being copying from the standard release to the limited edition.
 
1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

HMV for anime DVDs, Amazon for manga and Kid Nemo for merchandise.

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

Depends on if they had exactly what I was looking for, and at a better price.

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

Pre-ordering anime normay resulted in it arriving a couple of days before the official release date, which is always lovely.
Also, mercho-wise, I once attempted to order a figure of L from Death Note that I had my eyes on. First, payment was very confusing and my order got rejected a couple of times. When it did get accepted, the figure suddenly got put on back order for 8 months. Then when it was finally in stock, it turned out that my order still didn't go through correctly, and ta-da, that was over £30 (About £20, but p&p was a dog seeing as it was overseas) down the toilet, seeing as the figure was already "paid" for. Can safely say, I never ordered from that website again.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

Paypal or Debit Card.
 
Hello!

1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

Anime can be DVDPacific, DeepDiscount, Play, Amazon, Axelmusic, sometimes UP1. I'm not that loyal and will go wherever I can get an item cheapest and most reliably.

Manga is Amazon/Book Depository usually. I'm not fussy about manga and like it as cheap as possible.

Figures are mostly from Hobbylink Japan. I don't buy that many figures though.

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

Yes, incentives are free shipping and the avoidance of import duties. It would have to be competitive on price and services. And it absolutely must not sell bootlegs of any kind or I will mistrust the company as a whole.

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

I don't like bad search engines (DeepDiscount is horrible for this) and flakey stock levels - often I'll order things when I know it's out of print and it will show up as in stock on one site. If they then turn out to be unable to get it, I feel annoyed.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

Paypal or credit card.

5. If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?

Current exchange rates and import duties ;(

I'd also like global free shipping on some. Even if the individual item prices were higher as a result, it would be much easier to compare. Sometimes you can't tell how much delivery will cost until it actually ships (unless it's a Paypal deal)!

R
 
1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

Right Stuf, Up1, Play and Amazon/Marketplace.

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

Right Stuf are king for special offers, discounts etc, so that's all I'd really like to see become implemented into other sites, especially Up1.

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

The only thing I *could* complain about is having to wait a lot longer when I order from Right Stuf or Caiman via Amazon Marketplace, but the wait is inevitable seeing as the goods are getting shipped from America.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

Debit card.

If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?

Up1 looks like it was created in notepad by some old bloke who didn't have anything better to do than fiddle around with some HTML, so a fresh look done with the Adobe Creative Suite wouldn't go a miss.

But, hey, as long as it functions correctly I'm not that fussed.
 
Rui said:
3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

I don't like bad search engines (DeepDiscount is horrible for this) and flakey stock levels - often I'll order things when I know it's out of print and it will show up as in stock on one site. If they then turn out to be unable to get it, I feel annoyed.
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Deepdiscount is normally my favorite for price due to the shipping being reasonable and not charging extra for sending as separate packages. I have to agree though, that their search and cataloguing are awful especially when you finally find something has been located under comedy or something like that yet all the other volumes have been under anime correctly.

Movietyme has to be one of the worst for the stock levels as it does not tell you that something is out of stock when you order it yet they take payment.
 
Babyrat said:
Hey there, I would be very grateful if you have the time to fill in this small survey to the best of your abilities. Thanks in advance to anyone who answers.

1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?
Click to expand...
1. Amazon, Play.com, United Publications, eBay

2. I buy one DVD volume every 3 weeks or so, or one DVD boxset every 4 months.

3. Yes

4. eBay has no way of getting rid of people who sell pirated and fake goods. Amazon doesn't check often enough if listings are correct or legitimate.

5. Debit card

6. eBay - Allow users to be vigilant in reporting items that are pirated or fake.
Amazon - Actually check sellers are selling what they claim to be selling.
Play.com - Lower prices to compete with other sites.
 
1. Anime-wise, I almost always buy from UP1 (United Publications), but I also shop at HMV. As for figurines, I've shopped at UP1 and TokyoToys.com, but you can get them from auction sites (like ebay) or Forbidden Planet or Otaku.co.uk.

2. Well, I've only used an American site once, and I'm not fluent with any other languages... So to buy anything outside UK would be highly doubtful. But yes, things like boxsets (i.e. Haruhi Suzumiya) would be nice to buy here, instead of just a cardboard box all the time.

3. I find them the easiest way to shop. Plus, you dont have to go into town to find out the shops dont have what you're looking for.

4. Because it's mainly online, it has to be card, but I prefer using cash when I'm face-to-face with a shop assistant. :)

5. Maybe a suggestions box when you log on, like amazon does? (Totally optional in a menu section, so you can turn it on/off.)
 
devilrules666 said:
I have heard bad things from people about using play.com. has anyone got any good things to say about them?
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I have used Play for years (240+ items including play trade) and I really can't think of any problems I have had with them. I think the only thing is ordering out of stock items, they seem to take ages to realize it is never going to come back in stock. If you order from them direct and the items are in stock you will normally get them within 2 days.
 
Babyrat said:
Hey there, I would be very grateful if you have the time to fill in this small survey to the best of your abilities. Thanks in advance to anyone who answers.

1. Which online shops do you buy anime/figures and other japanese items from?

2. If you use any foreign sites to buy anime/figures would you switch to a UK based company if it offered the same services?

3. Did you like/dislike any parts of the buying experience using these sites? If so please explain as best as you can what you liked/disliked.

4. what is you preferred method to pay for items?

If you could change anything about these sites what would it be?
Click to expand...

1) Anime wise, Play.com, Amazon, HMV, manga wise, The Book Depository, amazon again. Figurines etc: Ebay and Otkau.co.uk and gundammad.co.uk

2) As long as the price was good then yep would save deilevery time

3) With ebay you are never sure what you are getting is the real deal or not so i'll echo other people's sentiments other then that i never have any real trouble.

4) Card and paypal

Can't think of any suggestions at the moment i'll edit this once i've thought of something :)

devilrules666 said:
I have heard bad things from people about using play.com. has anyone got any good things to say about them?
Click to expand...

I've been using them for a good 4 years now and i've only had one problem in that time (an item which wasn't in stock but they would not let me cancel the order) So from that i would still recommend them to people, sometimes they offer the best prices.
 
Play are brilliant in my opinion. I ordered the laptop that I'm typing this on from them this year. The first one went adrift in the delivery, and I phoned them about it. They sent a replacement out no questions asked, and I got it the next day. Excellent service.
 
Thank you to everyone who has replied so far. I have added a new question to the survey (Question number 2). If you have already replied to the survey i would be grateful if you reply again answering question number 2.

Thank you again.
 
Dracos said:
I think the only thing is ordering out of stock items, they seem to take ages to realize it is never going to come back in stock. If you order from them direct and the items are in stock you will normally get them within 2 days.
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I've had this problem on one occasion. I ordered Perfect Blue back in March, and hadn't heard a thing since then, so I just cancelled it in October.
 
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