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Denno42



Joined: 21 Jan 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Michigan
PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:56 pm Reply with quote
Hello people. I am new to this site and I have a question. I have been a fan of anime for a while now...I have downloaded some anime and have bought some from a certain website. The problem is that I am a poor college student and cannot afford to buy the 29 dollar DVD's of anime that I know nothing about, or am not willing to take a risk on buying and not like it. Downloading them is ok, but I would rather have better quality and in english...forgive me but when drunk it gets hard to read the subtitles. So, are there any ways in which I can procure anime without spending all my tuition money?
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qollocust



Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 182
Location: Philadelphia
PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:08 pm Reply with quote
First of all, I recommend searching around the internet for information on titles that may interest you. Also, what I usually do is I go into a store that sells anime (like Best Buy, Suncoast, FYE, most stores that sell a lot of DVDs carry anime) and look at their selection. There, I can look at the actual DVD and read the information on the back.

As for buying, there are a lot of online stores that sell the DVDs cheaper than $30 (I reccommend AnimeCastle, but there are many others). Also, I don't know what kind of stores you have near you, but I buy most of my anime at Best Buy - they usually have pretty good deals.

Search around this site a bit, and I also suggest you check out anipike.com, they have listings for fansites and anime stores.

Hope I could help!


Last edited by qollocust on Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
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BFLP1



Joined: 06 Aug 2003
Posts: 9
Location: Los Angeles, CA
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:14 am Reply with quote
Buy used DVDs. A lot of websites that sell anime DVDs also sell them used, which is a lot cheaper than buying new. Or you can try auction websites, sometimes you can pick up a whole series for the cost of two or three new DVDs. You just have to be careful to avoid bootlegs.
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rage-demon



Joined: 08 Oct 2003
Posts: 356
Location: WA, USA
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:17 am Reply with quote
You can also try renting an anime first. I do that from time to time if i want to check out an anime before i buy it. Actually, there's a great Japanese hobby shop here in Seattle that does that. True, you live in Michigan, but you still might be able to find one close to where you are that offers anime for rent.

If that doesn't work you could try something like Netflix as long as they have a good selection of anime (i wouldn't know since i never use them).
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ANN_Bamboo
ANN Contributor


Joined: 05 Jan 2002
Posts: 3906
Location: CO
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:37 am Reply with quote
Well, being a poor college student myself, there are certain things you can try out.

Like someone mentioned, you can rent anime online from places like Netflix and Greencine. If there's a well-stocked rental store in your area, you can also try their anime selection. Another option is your college anime club. A lot of them don't have great selections, but if you're lucky, there might be a few titles that pique your interest.

Another option is to just find cheaper sources of domestic DVDs. Places like Best Buy will have DVDs at around $22 with a decent selection. If you're not adverse to shopping online, places like Digital Eyes have anime DVDs at around $20, with only $2ish shipping charges.

Once again, it's sometimes helpful to check out online reviews and user ratings of some anime shows just to gauge whether or not you really want to dish out $20 on a disc. Sure, it's not foolproof, but it'll help. And if you find that you don't like what you just bought, you can always try chucking off the DVD on eBay so you don't lose that much money.
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Vigilante024



Joined: 11 Jul 2003
Posts: 578
Location: back. but not really.
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:46 am Reply with quote
another idea is to check to see if your college has an anime club. or a gaming club since your chances of finding fellow anime fans are better than just going up to random people.
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SuperSkylineGTR



Joined: 20 Aug 2002
Posts: 471
Location: Chicago, IL
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:01 am Reply with quote
Selling a kidney might help. C'mon, do you really need two of them?

Just kidding.

Anyway, there is a lot of places that buy back and sell used DVD's and VHS (Music Recyclery, for instance). Generally, their prices are a buck or two cheaper then Best Buy. Keep in mind: it may be difficult to get a whole series through those places, but at least you get a few DVD's of the series for cheap. Also, they have a HUGE selection of VHS anime (from people like me who sold their entire VHS collection to upgrade to DVD).

But if you want DVD and you want it new, Best Buy is where to go.
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mahoro



Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 310
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:51 am Reply with quote
First try not to waste your tuition money on entertainment, it is meant for your education and the essentials like books and food. Second, before you even spend money buying OR renting, borrow for free from anime clubs, friends, and the local library.

Since you are in college odds are depending on your location, there already is a established anime club. Visit the screenings and talk to some of the members. Try to find out what their library/borrowing policy is and see if you can qualify. Also remember if you join a anime club it will eat into your studying/working time considerably... your grades will be effected.

Third, visit the AV aka audio video library commonly located in the college library. Look through their catalog and speak to a librarian there as well. Usually the AV catalog is huge and does include animation titles.

Fourth, go online and visit the current holdings at your local library. Odds are they have licensed anime on vhs and dvd available for viewing and borrowing. Likewise holds this true for manga. Usually you can reserve titles once you have a library card and have them sent to the library where you can check them out. As such, invest the time getting to know the FREE resources available to you first before you spend money.

Lastly, as others have mentioned sell some of your possessions that you do not need and obtain some credit at places that do sell or rent anime. I also strongly recommend selling your old textbooks at the beginning of the semester after you completed the course. Doing this helps you get more monies than if you were to sell it back to the bookstore. One note though, consider holding onto some of your major textbooks for reference. Also consider selling or trading in your used/old cds and dvds that you do not use. Typically, if I do not use something at least once a year, IMO I do not need it and I try to sell, trade or donate it.

Hopefully, these suggestions give you some good ideas and alternatives to buying/spending when you find yourself without money to do so. Wink
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mahoro



Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 310
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:20 pm Reply with quote
This topic was also discussed in this thread...

animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3573&highlight=

you might find some insightful information there on practical alternatives to actually purchasing the anime outright. As I mentioned previously, since you are in school you actually do have a variety of resources at your disposal, it is prudent for you to investigate cost effective alternatives, before committing to buying anything.

Good luck! Wink
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molloaggie



Joined: 30 Jun 2003
Posts: 578
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:37 pm Reply with quote
mahoro wrote:


Fourth, go online and visit the current holdings at your local library. Odds are they have licensed anime on vhs and dvd available for viewing and borrowing. Likewise holds this true for manga. Usually you can reserve titles once you have a library card and have them sent to the library where you can check them out. As such, invest the time getting to know the FREE resources available to you first before you spend money.


The public libraries in the major cities seem to have anime dvds for lending. You can get any library item in the country for free through the interlibrary loans program. You should ask. It might take a bit of time though.
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mahoro



Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 310
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 8:00 pm Reply with quote
Yes molloaggie, I know that the libraries in most major cities have a decent AV selection. In my city we have a huge selection and it seems the selection improves monthly. Razz However, since I did not know where in Michigan Denno42 is located, I felt it would be best to state, “Odds are they have licensed anime on vhs and dvd available for viewing and borrowing.”, since I did not know specifics for this users situation. Wink
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SuperOnizuka



Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 421
Location: When I look At the World- New Jersey
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:03 pm Reply with quote
I am a full time student, who earns hardly enough money. I am the fourth child, and I don't get a lot of stuff because my parents pay for my tuition and texts, as with my older brothers. Two graduated already, and the other is in grad. school. So how can I get my anime?

Simple, I have a part time job.
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cyrax777



Joined: 05 Mar 2003
Posts: 1825
Location: the desert
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:14 pm Reply with quote
you know im probly going to get flamed to hell and back but there's always fansubs. Of course buy the ones you liked when they get released.
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Denno42



Joined: 21 Jan 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Michigan
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:22 pm Reply with quote
I do have a part time job. Unfortunately, my parents do not pay a dime for my schooling and I am unable to work much because I am taking 23 credit hours in order to graduate this may. For those who were wondering I am in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan which, for those who are familiar with this area, there are no large cities around (to know where mt. pleasant is, look at your right hand, palm facing you, and point directly in the center of your hand...thats where I am)...so that is probably out of the question but I will look around. Unfortunately, there is no anime club here at CMU...I was a part of it but it disbanded due to lack of interest.
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Josh



Joined: 24 Aug 2003
Posts: 19
Location: Tucson, Arizona
PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:32 pm Reply with quote
here are a few i love and have gotten from a few diffrent cheap sites:

Cowboy bebop
trigun
Love Hina
Escaflowne
Noir
Angel links
outlaw star
hellsing
silent mobius
soul taker
Argento Soma

those are all titles - CB that i got for only 30$ or less for all the episodes. and yes they are imports from japan but they are cheaper and i think better then spending hundreds for sets. also they are all dubbed.

Witch Hunter Robin
Last Exile
King of bandits : jing
Pretear
.hack//sign

those are a few that are coming out slowly dubbed that are out that arent dubbed. but the voice acting is awesome in them, and im waiting for all of them dubbed.

some cheap sites to get anime is :

[EDIT -- All bootlegging sites. -C]

Great sites for cheap import anime dubbed and subbed.
every pay check i try to get at least a new series. sucks though cause im having a problem with finding new titles to get.

Stay away from :

Weib Kreuz - worst dubb job and animation i have ever seen. and they are assains and they work in a flower shop whats isnt gay about that. the way they dress too tight white shirts and pant. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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