Which place is best to buy Ayu's new single?

[jbrat2219]

Okay I wasn't too sure where to put this, but I need some advice...

The United States' economy is in the gutter right now, so everything is more expensive than it should be... So I went to compare prices at the three best places to buy Ayu's new single... YesAsia, CD Japan and HMV Japan.

If I buy it from YesAsia with the cheapest shipping it is $24.74... However, I won't get it until December 24 (With Christmas the next day, I doubt I'll even get it then!). Plus it won't count on Oricon, this year is the only year that is important to me.

If I buy it from CD Japan with moderately fast shipping and a coupon it is $27.47. I only ordered form CD Japan once that I can remember, so my question is: is Registered Air Mail fast and reliable?

If I buy it from HMV Japan it is flat out 3,000 yen ($30.81 TODAY) HMV is pretty darn fast, I got my stuff either the day of the release or the next day. BUT I don't think I can afford $30.81 for a single... I try to pay less than that for an album if I can.

My delima is, if the economy gets back on track and the dollar is more than 100 yen again, the prices at CD Japan and HMV will go DOWN and they will still count towards Oricon. But if I buy it at YesAsia for much less, I still get the first press and I don't have to risk paying more if the economy decides to kick the bucket.. But I don't get it until MAYBE after Christmas if I'm lucky...


So based on your experiences, which place do you all recommend I buy this single from?

[Delirium-Zer0]

Yesasia has always been fastest for me for the money (I do recommend asking for extra bubble wrap around the packaging in the comments for your order though, because things do arrive cracked for some people. I personally have only had ONE cd arrive with cracks in the 7 years I've ordered with them). CD Japan ships from japan so the shipping is slower & more expensive, but more reliable. HMV are fast too but they cost more, and I'm cheap.

And I'd say, don't hesitate to order now. For one, I don't think the economy will noticeably improve before the new year, if at all. And even if the economy gets better, the rule of sticky prices shows that most stores don't lower their prices even when they can afford to, unless sales SERIOUSLY suffered as a result of the higher prices. Once they've learned that people are willing to pay the higher prices, they usually keep them that way to keep as much of a profit as they can.

However, if the price of the CD does go down, YesAsia has a very good customer service reputation and I'm sure they'd adjust your order so the amount you pay is changed to reflect the new price. They don't actually charge you for your order until it ships so even if they forget to change the price, if you notice it go down, there's plenty of time for you to just shoot them an e-mail and ask for the change to your order and I'm sure they'd be happy to oblige.

[jbrat2219]

Thank you for your reply

The think about YesAsia, if there's one thing I can count on YesAsia for, it's consistancy... Also, if they say it's going to be there by a certain date, it is there by that date, no later or sooner D: Which is why I'm worried because I want it much sooner than the 24th... Because of mail traffic and such xD;....

Each store has it's different strong points... YesAsia is reliable, I have a coupon with CD Japan, and HMV is super fast and also has changed the price based on the the recent economy... When I bought Mirrorcle World there, they charged me $4 less than the price quoted because the economy was good...

So I'm leaning b/w YesAsia and HMV....

[Delirium-Zer0]

If Yesasia is usually slow for you, and you can afford the extra $3, go with HMV definitely. Yesasia for me, the stuff usually arrives several days before they estimate, but depending on where you live, that's gonna be different. I always go with yesasia just cuz i'm broke & patient and if you're broke & patient, they're by far the best option.

[Suteisi]

CDJapan for me as always been reliable, Registered Air Mail is okay. I used it once and it arrived on the 7th day after it was shipped. With EMS it arrived on the 4th day. BUT, personally I find that CDJapan's shipping is REALLY expensive. For A COMPLETE EMS cost 40$ and Registered Air Mail was 20$.

I don't understand what you mean when you say one single will cost you 30$ with HMV, I just ordered Ayu's two new singles through them today and they both come up to about 20$ for me (I'm in Canada, and our dollars are almost the same). And shipping was only 14$. I never ordered from them before, so I don't know how fast it will arrive, but the cheapness of the shipping makes me happy! Lol.

I never ordered from YesAsia.

[LacusClyne]

about hmv, i can explain a little.

see when i order from hmv, (shipping to singapore), they charge only 900 yen for shipping, no matter how many cds you got, the more you order, the more you save. that's why i always use hmv when i'm ordering more then 2 cds.

1 cd, shipping 900 yen
2 cds. shipping 900 yen
3 cds, shipping also 900 yen

you do your maths. (^_^)

just a clarification, only sales from cdjapan count towards Oricon, hmv don't.

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

If Yesasia is usually slow for you, and you can afford the extra $3, go with HMV definitely. Yesasia for me, the stuff usually arrives several days before they estimate, but depending on where you live, that's gonna be different. I always go with yesasia just cuz i'm broke & patient and if you're broke & patient, they're by far the best option.

You're in Albuquerque, is that more towards the west? If so, that's probably why you get yours sooner! If it's shipping from Hong Kong/Japan it's going to get to you much sooner since you're closer to the western coast... but I'm alllllllll the way on the east coast xD; I can see the Atlantic from my house! j/k

Originally Posted by Neffiline

I don't understand what you mean when you say one single will cost you 30$ with HMV, I just ordered Ayu's two new singles through them today and they both come up to about 20$ for me (I'm in Canada, and our dollars are almost the same). And shipping was only 14$. I never ordered from them before, so I don't know how fast it will arrive, but the cheapness of the shipping makes me happy! Lol.

Shipping included it was $30... I think MW (w/ DVD) was..... 1,300 yen? I can't remember...


I think I'm going to go with HMV, I'll def have the money by the 17th!!


Thank you all for your suggestions and ideas!!!

[Delirium-Zer0]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

You're in Albuquerque, is that more towards the west? If so, that's probably why you get yours sooner! If it's shipping from Hong Kong/Japan it's going to get to you much sooner since you're closer to the western coast... but I'm alllllllll the way on the east coast xD; I can see the Atlantic from my house! j/k

Yup, I'm in albuquerque... and yeah, the Yesasia warehouse is in California, so it's a bit faster for me here. (I used to live in California.... I miss those days, free shipping only took a day or two! O_O!!!)

[emi♡]

^Yeah I was gonna mention that about YesAsia...

I remember my stuff would get here within a few days...

I usually use YesAsia, but really only because they are reliable for me...CDJapan shipping is...not cool.

but since the shipping thing doesn't really apply for you...I guess HMV?

[jbrat2219]

^ Yeah I just ordered a little while ago from HMV... I mean I forgot to take into account they don't charge until it's shipped, if that's the case, a dollar a day, I could buy two lmao xD;....

[me0wie]

i'll go for hmv... they always have offers and discounts and even when there isn't, its worth paying a little more for EMS. they're always quite to ship new releases too~ i just checked hmv today and Green CD+DVD is now 1701yen instead of the previous 1890yen! which means cheaper than cdjapan~ if u buy more copies from hmv, its cheaper than yesasia too!