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Does Buying Bargin Bin Anime Help the Producers?




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ukounouni



Joined: 20 Dec 2012
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:54 pm Reply with quote
When I buy anime (and manga), I want to buy anime that help the producers of the anime - the writers, animators, songwriters, etc.

Here's my dilemma. Every so often, anime stores have large "Bargain Bin" or "Clearance" anime sale. Do the proceeds from these sales go back to the anime producers?

I'm trying to decide if it's more helpful for the industry if I should buy 4 bargain bin series for $10 or 1 non-bargain bin series for $40.

Remember, my main purpose in buying anime is to support the produces of the anime so they can make more anime rather than build a giant collection to gather dust.
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Veers



Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Posts: 1197
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:17 pm Reply with quote
Generally, stuff in the bargain bin has already been purchased by the retailer from the distributor so they've already gotten their money. Stuff in the bargain bin is usually in there because it hasn't sold very well, so the store is trying to get rid of it, and they're the ones taking the hit by marking it down so far, not the creators. Buying something that's not marked down so far will probably mean a better profit margin for the retailer than the bargain bin titles, which has obvious benefits for them and the industry.

If something you want to watch/own is in the bargain bin, buy it without feeling bad, because you're still contributing.
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ukounouni



Joined: 20 Dec 2012
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:32 pm Reply with quote
Veers wrote:
If something you want to watch/own is in the bargain bin, buy it without feeling bad, because you're still contributing.


Well, I have enough patience that I can wait for nearly any series to end up in the bargain bin. Sure, I'll end up saving lot of money but I'm not sure how much help I'm giving the industry that way.
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PrecisionCrab



Joined: 02 Nov 2012
Posts: 215
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:39 pm Reply with quote
This crap again? Buying just to "help the industry?"

If you want to piss away your money so badly for a good cause, there's plenty of terminal illness research foundations that can use the extra buck. If you're gonna buy anime, but it for yourself - for your entertainment, and not anyone else's.

Buying it just to "help the industry" is the dumbest, most pointless and naive shit there is. Because, believe me, you spending $50 more on something than you could have/should have makes absolutely no difference on the producer's profit margin. There's these magical things called "retailers" - who are in layman's terms the middle-man - who recoup the costs one way or another so long as volume is moved.


Last edited by PrecisionCrab on Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Veers



Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Posts: 1197
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:43 pm Reply with quote
ukounouni wrote:
Well, I have enough patience that I can wait for nearly any series to end up in the bargain bin. Sure, I'll end up saving lot of money but I'm not sure how much help I'm giving the industry that way.

Less than if you bought stuff at closer to MSRP, but more than if you didn't buy anything/bought bootlegs/bought used. It's not something you can put a neat figure on, so don't sweat it. Buy what you enjoy, at a price point you can afford, and not out of some sense of donation obligation.
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poonk



Joined: 05 Jun 2008
Posts: 1490
Location: In the Library with Philip
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:53 pm Reply with quote
I'd say buy whichever title(s) you like more. Granted it's better for your local licensors, who in turn pay the Japanese rights holders licensing fees, if you buy that title at full (new release) price or better yet preordered it; this way you've put your money where your mouth is and maybe they'll be more likely to license similar series. But if you really want a title that happens to be in the bargain bin I don't see why you should have any moral qualms about picking it up.

Since having an physical collection of DVDs doesn't seem to be your goal another possibility is, for example, to support the musicians you can buy the OSTs or OP/ED singles (I specifically recommend sites like YesAsia and CDJapan in order to avoid bootlegs-- for which exactly $0 will get back to the artists).

Also, don't forget merchandise! Almost every series has something out nowadays-- not just the standard PVC figures, artbooks and phone straps, but also tableware (cups/dishes/water bottles), houseware (pillows/bedding), small charms, jewelry... you name it. (I use sites like HLJ/AmiAmi for merch that doesn't get sold through local licensors.)
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Mesonoxian Eve



Joined: 10 Jan 2012
Posts: 1858
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:26 pm Reply with quote
ukounouni wrote:
Remember, my main purpose in buying anime is to support the produces of the anime so they can make more anime rather than build a giant collection to gather dust.

I'll make you a deal you can be comfortable with: you buy all the bargain basement anime you can afford, and leave the bigger stuff to me, okay?

This way, we're both happy with our expenses and no one needs to worry.

Smile
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ukounouni



Joined: 20 Dec 2012
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:37 pm Reply with quote
Does anime use remaindered system similar to how books are sold in the US?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remaindered_book
http://sfwriter.com/2008/01/remainders-what-do-authors-get.html
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Alan45
Village Elder



Joined: 25 Aug 2010
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Location: Virginia
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:38 pm Reply with quote
Buying stuff that is on sale helps the R1 distribution company by providing them cash and storage space to get new stuff. As long as your source for anything is legal it helps. Of course some things help more than others, but don't sweat it.

Neither you nor I nor all of us in combination can buy enough to keep an R1 distributor in business. It takes the whole market.
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Mesonoxian Eve



Joined: 10 Jan 2012
Posts: 1858
PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:03 pm Reply with quote
ukounouni wrote:
Does anime use remaindered system similar to how books are sold in the US?

TRSI's bargain bin works in the same manner as it buys liquidated anime from larger retailers (who take the loss) and then turns around and sells it, usually without a huge markup.

These can be considered "lead in" products, where it's better to take a little profit in the hopes buyers will shop the store and buy products at a higher price.

It worked. They snagged me like a fish to a hook. Very Happy

I think you're over-thinking this. Admirable, but unnecessary. Anime's been around for a very long time, had its bubble burst, and is looking good right now.

Just buy what you can and enjoy it for what it is. It's not your job to run their business, so if a product's cheap, get while you can.

DVDs will go out of print, and once they're gone, they rarely come back.

Don't regret the opportunity to buy it cheap.
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Nico87



Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Posts: 139
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:05 am Reply with quote
If you want to help the producers, www.amazon.jp is the way to go. I'm pretty sure there's just the license fee and probably some provisions in there as well for animes licensed outside of Japan.

Studios make their money from BD sales in Japan.
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HyugaHinata



Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 3505
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:20 am Reply with quote
The benefits to the retailer of having a bargain bin are considerable.

If they own the warehouse, they can sub-lease the area they are no longer using, or use it for more recent titles that are more likely to sell high quantities.

If they are renting the warehouse, getting rid of surplus stock will reduce their storage costs (assuming they have a fair plan in place that only charges them for the area they use during any given week or month).
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Altacia



Joined: 11 Feb 2004
Posts: 286
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:01 am Reply with quote
Don't worry about it, At least you're buying things instead of merely downloading them like the majority of the Anime community.

Other then Natsume and Utena {Preordered Both}, I don't think I have ever bought an Anime {DVD} at "Full Price".

It's just called Smart Shopping.
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ukounouni



Joined: 20 Dec 2012
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:00 pm Reply with quote
poonk wrote:
....this way you've put your money where your mouth is and maybe they'll be more likely to license similar series.


I like the art style of Samurai Girls. I also like the plot of Master Keaton and Kino's Journey. While my voice is tiny, I do want it to count for something.

(Master Keaton is one of those I missed so I'm not sure I can do anything about that anymore.)

I did try importing things directly from Japan however that venture didn't last long when I realized I was supporting the Mail and Oil Industry more then I did the Anime Industry.

If there was only some way I could buy a digital copy and go from there but it looks like it's too early for that.
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potatochobit



Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 1373
Location: TEXAS
PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:32 pm Reply with quote
the more things in the bargain bin...

the less retailers will buy next time

so buy from the bargain bin! for great justice!
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