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KaitoDoku



Joined: 10 Jul 2012
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:04 pm Reply with quote
I know that a lot of "import sites" are notorious for selling bootlegs, and a lot of them are based here in the states. So, because I am sick and tired looking at the first box set of Monster and realizing that is the only DVD of this glorious series were getting cause Viz is a bunch of jackasses (pardon my language) and don't want to release the rest because of "low sales" (the prices on a lot of their DVD's are outrageous might I add, so theres the reason for low sales).

So yea, does anyone know a site to import directly from Japan? And how to convert dollars to yen?
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 8016
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:28 pm Reply with quote
Well there's CDJapan which sells CDs, DVDs, and BDs. Monster is a little old though so I don't guarantee it's still in print, not to mention with the series' length, Japanese marketing strategy, and import fee it will cost you a fortune.

If you buy DVDs you also have to make sure you are in the same region coding as Japan or have a region-free player. Also note that most anything you import from Japan will NOT be subtitled or dubbed in English aside from a few exceptions, so you'd have to be able to understand Japanese or all you'll be importing is an expensive piece of shelf dressing.


Last edited by Kruszer on Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:27 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Polycell



Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 4623
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:28 pm Reply with quote
Your card issuer(or more properly, your card's payment network[Visa, Mastercard, etc]) will handle the currency conversion(there's typically a fee involved, charged as a percentage of the US Dollar amount; check your cardholder agreement), so you just need to make sure the site takes your card or PayPal(who can handle the currency conversion for you, which'll save you the foreign transaction fee but give you a worse exchange rate[that's where they get their fee]). That's the whole reason I got a card from CapitalOne, as a matter of fact.

As for sites, there's Amazon.co.jp(there's an option to have the website in English, but that won't give you translated product descriptions) and CDJapan(higher prices, but you can be guaranteed you'll at least get the technical details[dubs, subtitles, running time, etc] in English). AmiAmi also sells some discs, but I don't think they'll have what you're looking for.

On a final note, sometimes it helps to know the actual Japanese(ie, not romanized) title of what you're looking for; you can find that in ANN's encyclopedia. In this instance, that'd be "モンスター".
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superdry



Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 1309
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:23 pm Reply with quote
To add what Polycell mentioned....

If you know you're going to be doing lots of importing, definitely try and get a card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee, like a CapitalOne card (you can also call and ask your current CC provider...sometimes you might be surprised).

HMV JP is another option for importing from Japan.
YesAsia and JS DVD Mall - sell legit Taiwanese licensed anime which is a lot cheaper than the Japanese release (YesAsia also sells JP stuff, but it's hella expensive).

Do realize that shipping from any of the Japanese stores can be quite expensive:

  • CDJapan - charges MSRP, but I think offers cheaper shipping options outside of express shipping.
  • Amazon JP - Flat rate shipping via DHL; 1700 yen+300yen for each item. If you add a book or magazine it jumps to 2700 yen+300 yen for each item.
  • HMV - Uses only EMS shipping which varies by weight - can be a cheaper option if you only order like 1 or 2 discs compared to Amazon.
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The King of Harts



Joined: 05 May 2009
Posts: 6712
Location: Mount Crawford, Virginia
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:31 pm Reply with quote
If you wanna save a couple hundred dollars, I'd recommend the French box set.
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KaitoDoku



Joined: 10 Jul 2012
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:19 am Reply with quote
Quote:

If you know you're going to be doing lots of importing, definitely try and get a card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee, like a CapitalOne card


Ok does anyone know if BoFa charges Foreign Transaction Fee's, or if Amazon.jp accept paypal?
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superdry



Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Posts: 1309
PostPosted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:14 pm Reply with quote
KaitoDoku wrote:
Quote:

If you know you're going to be doing lots of importing, definitely try and get a card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee, like a CapitalOne card


Ok does anyone know if BoFa charges Foreign Transaction Fee's, or if Amazon.jp accept paypal?


You should probably call BoFa and ask if they charge foreign transaction fees on the card you use. And, Amazon JP does not accept Paypal.
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KaitoDoku



Joined: 10 Jul 2012
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:52 pm Reply with quote
BoFA does not charge a Foreign Transaction Fee...thank you everyone who helped me with this "problem" -bows- Arigato~!!! Anime catgrin
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larinon



Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Posts: 992
Location: Midland, TX
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:10 pm Reply with quote
Polycell wrote:
there's Amazon.co.jp(there's an option to have the website in English, but that won't give you translated product descriptions)

If you're using Google Chrome as your browser, a button will drop down from the top of the page offering to translate the page for you, and this will also translate the product descriptions. Granted it's closer to engrish than English, but it's something to go on at least.

I've purchased from both Amazon.co.jp and cdjapan.co.jp and recommend both of them. I have found Amazon to be better for older titles for what it's worth.
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 8016
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:48 pm Reply with quote
larinon wrote:
Polycell wrote:
there's Amazon.co.jp(there's an option to have the website in English, but that won't give you translated product descriptions)

If you're using Google Chrome as your browser, a button will drop down from the top of the page offering to translate the page for you, and this will also translate the product descriptions. Granted it's closer to engrish than English, but it's something to go on at least.

I've purchased from both Amazon.co.jp and cdjapan.co.jp and recommend both of them. I have found Amazon to be better for older titles for what it's worth.


You can also used the FoxLingo app in Firefox to translate any page or piece of text into any other language.
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