Why are overseas versions less expensive?

Larien · #1 25th April 2011, 05:00 AM

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?

pommy48 · #2 25th April 2011, 05:06 AM

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

C+R+E+AYUMI · #3 29th April 2011, 07:29 AM

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

douggn · #4 6th May 2011, 03:11 AM

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

Larien · #5 8th May 2011, 05:10 AM

^ 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. :-/

pommy48 · #6 8th May 2011, 05:18 AM

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

Larien · #7 8th May 2011, 06:35 AM

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?!

bondingo · #8 8th May 2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by douggn

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

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.

pommy48 · #9 8th May 2011, 08:04 AM

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.

bondingo · #10 8th May 2011, 08:06 AM

^ 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.

nanakopy87 · #11 8th May 2011, 08:49 AM

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

pommy48 · #12 8th May 2011, 09:48 AM

@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~

bondingo · #13 8th May 2011, 10:22 AM

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?

LacusClyne · #14 8th May 2011, 06:35 PM

^there is a difference on the color. i own both copies of A Complete singles set, and the color is different, her hair is more green.

I could take a picture to show u.

bondingo · #15 8th May 2011, 11:29 PM

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

Mitkki · #16 9th May 2011, 03:27 AM

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.

Kazeyomi · #17 9th May 2011, 03:39 AM

^
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.

. Well, I hope so.

chu-lips · #18 12th June 2011, 02:13 PM

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

kendelle · #19 17th June 2011, 10:19 AM

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.