Why are overseas versions less expensive?
 

Why, in general, are Hong Kong/Taiwan/Korean versions of Ayu's CD's and DVD's so much less expensive, especially through third parties, like sellers on eBay?
I mean...there's not really any difference, is there, aside from subtitles, perhaps?

Check this thread first~
http://ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3009

honestly booklet quality isn't bad but colours are definetely different.
i really trust and find good deals in HK/Taiwan versions but i had a bad experience with indonesian version..both the realeases couldn't be played

its more of a piracy thing I think but with japanese version you get the best quality

^ Even with the official Hong Kong/Taiwan/Korea versions sold on sites like CDJapan? I find it kind of hard to believe that they would be lower quality.

Does anyone know if the subtitles are hardcoded in to the Chinese, etc. versions? Can they be turned off?

In the end, I want to get the Japanese DVD, but damn, if it isn't expensive. :-/

Yes, you can turn off the Chinese subtitles if you want. They are optional for DVD, but for VCDs, they are hardsubbed.

Alrighty! Thanks.
I guess I'll have to weigh the options. How different getting an overseas DVD would be, versus getting it quickly, versus blowing my money on the Japanese one. Ayu, why must you release such an incredible DVD for so much money?!

That's such a common misconception. Overseas versions really aren't of lesser quality. I buy both Japanese and Overseas versions (depending on the deal/extras, etc.) and there's honestly no difference in quality between them.

Yeah the CD/DVD quality have absolute no difference. Who do you think gives Avex Taiwan or Avex Hong Kong the data to make the CD/DVDs? The only big difference is the booklet quality.

^ But honestly there isn't even a difference in booklet quality with legitimate Overseas versions. That's the complaint I always hear and it just isn't true. If there's any difference in quality at all, it's extremely slight.

the booklet quality is different (at least it is,for RnRC because i bought both versions) but the difference is just a small different.

@bondingo: sometimes the booklet feel more glossy for the JP version
And maybe it's only me, but the stickers for JP press are much easier to peel off lol

And I remember for A COMPLETE, the OS press made Ayu's hair have a greenish tint while the JP press was just yellow~

I just haven't noticed any sort of difference that could possibly justify spending more money on the Japan version. Anyone who tries to say there's a big difference, and that's why they're spending another $20 is just trying to justify their money wasting if you ask me. I've compared a few different albums (I buy Overseas versions 85% of the time and my roommate always buys the Japan versions) and if there was any difference at all in terms of print quality, I couldn't notice it.

But now that you mention it though pommy, I think you're right about the glossiness with some albums, but a few I own Overseas versions of are just as glossy. I guess it just depends on the label?

^ Ohhh, please! I'm actually really curious to see since the only ones I've seen haven't had any really noticeable differences.

There is definitely a difference in print quality between the different manufacturers, whether it be in contrast, saturation, color, or even paper quality.
If you can't notice it though, then good for you really, you get to save money without being bothered.

^
but the differences are pretty meaningless (except for those A COMPLETE greenish hair, that I really want to see O_O). I have CDs of many presses, but I never seen anything wrong with non-japanese ones yet. Although the print and the paper quality is different.

I don't really think anyone here stare at booklets to find differences between Ayu's eyebrow shadows colors in OS ver. and Japanese ver. :laugh. Well, I hope so.

because japan do dumping political economy
where any goods r sold much higher in their own country..
May b it one of the reason why *** ver is twice higher

I always thought that the biggest reason for the pricing structure was that Japan's prices accounted for the huge rental market that exists.

Huge numbers of Japanese only rent CDs, possibly because of space concerns, so to account for the potential loss, prices are jacked up. That's also why DVDs remain so expensive over there - they charge more to specifically cover sales eaten up by the rental market.