February 2012 - Monthly Spoils Thread of Valentine's Day STDs

[Kakizaki]

A lot of Japanese sellers on Ebay charge just as much, if not more, for shipping than Play-Asia does. Shipping charges have just gone up across the board.

Topo, I wonder if those are just Australian shipping limitations through PA. I see they still offer Fedex and UPS to the U.S. and I didn't see any $20 limitation. I just put through a dummy order and the shipping was calculated purely off of weight.

I guess I am just biased. Ironically, until very recently, I have never had a problem with Play Asia. Everything has been remedied pretty quickly. I'm just currently waiting for a book that was ordered back in December :/

edit - Just saw DTR's post. Flat rate for EMS? I'm not getting you here. Are you saying this was for a particular order that you placed or is for everything. Because I was offered EMS shipping for around $20 on a fairly weighty book just now. I was also offered Fedex and UPS as options.

I have to strongly disagree about NCSX pricing. Nearly everything I have ever looked at has been quite a bit more at NCSX - unless things have changed within the last month or two. Usually the price difference could be offset by the shipping, but understandably, NCSX stock is pretty limited and not always restocked. I have also never been that impressed with NCSX shipping either - I have received a handful of items with cracked cases, dusty, thin bubble mailers, etc, and really, considering that they are domestic, their shipping charges are pretty high.

I don't know - just looked at a few titles on PS3 between NCSX and PA. Each one was almost $10 more at NCSX. Although, I am sure if you did enough digging, you could probably find examples to support either side.

[John Cavil]

I guess Kaki needs another example lol:

Play-Asia Price is $72.99 with minimum shipping of $4.90. Totals to 77.89.

Random eBay Seller's Price is 63.20 with minimum shipping of $4. Totals to $67.20.

[Kakizaki]

^You can cherry pick examples all day long. Also, aren't you comparing the Asian version against the Japanese version? Ebay seller is from S. Korea and that isn't the Japanese version of KH BBS.

edit - Looked through Japanese versions from Japanese sellers. First handful I browsed through were a lot more expensive then PA. Not to say you couldn't find a deal. I am sure you can. Just think you are over exaggerating how expensive PA is.

edit - Also, out of curiosity, I checked the price of KH BBS at NCSX. DTR was right on this one - it was about $3 less. However, I put it through to see what shipping was. 1st option - standard UPS for $14. Pretty pricey. USPS standard was only $6, but still that isn't a dramatic savings.

[John Cavil]

:> Here's a small confession of an embarrassed mind: I bought the game from that seller, and it is indeed the Japanese version - NOT the Chinese. It came with a Cloud DLC code for Dissidia to boot. So I'm guessing that's just a stock image.

...Did I just admit that I bought BBS Final Mix? >_<

[Kakizaki]

^Then he needs to change the item description - it isn't listed as Chinese either. It is Korean.

I hope you read the description of items you buy.

edit - Again, out of curiosity, I checked shipping options at PA (besides the minimum) against the seller you listed (cheaper game yes, but I am not certain that is the Japanese version for obvious reasons). EMS through PA to the U.S. : $17.90, Fedex $14.90, UPS $16.90

EMS shipping through Ebay dude: $19.90, Fedex $49-54! (I hope I read that wrong!)

[Dead to Rights]

Originally Posted by Kakizaki

edit - Just saw DTR's post. Flat rate for EMS? I'm not getting you here. Are you saying this was for a particular order that you placed or is for everything. Because I was offered EMS shipping for around $20 on a fairly weighty book just now. I was also offered Fedex and UPS as options.

I have to strongly disagree about NCSX pricing. Nearly everything I have ever looked at has been quite a bit more at NCSX - unless things have changed within the last month or two. Usually the price difference could be offset by the shipping, but understandably, NCSX stock is pretty limited and not always restocked. I have also never been that impressed with NCSX shipping either - I have received a handful of items with cracked cases, dusty, thin bubble mailers, etc, and really, considering that they are domestic, their shipping charges are pretty high.

I don't know - just looked at a few titles on PS3 between NCSX and PA. Each one was almost $10 more at NCSX. Although, I am sure if you did enough digging, you could probably find examples to support either side.

I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear I was talking about bulk orders when I was talking about EMS shipping. I have placed large orders with Play-Asia in the past and my options were always FedEX $17 EMS $25 and UPS $26 these options and prices never ever changed no matter how huge (heavy) the order I placed was or how many items I ordered.

I wanted to place an order for a single figurine last year and my only shipping option was EMS $45. I also tried to place an order for a few games and a converter and again my only shipping option was EMS $45. Maybe they have different options now, but last year EMS was always coming up for me $45. And as far as the single game item is concerned Play-Asia is still charging a lot more for simply adding a soup to your order.

Child of Eden PS3 $16.90
Shipping $4.90
Total $21.80

Child of Eden PS3 $16.90
Nissin Cup Noodles - Spicy Seafood Flavor $0.99
Shipping $8.90
Total $26.79

You are spot on about NCSX being more expensive though but I guess that is the price you pay for receiving your stuff in a week versus three (or more). I'm not going to argue about the quality of shipping because Play-Asia isn't exactly using world class triple a bubble mailers to ship their stuff either.

[Kakizaki]

^Makes sense. I did see that you mentioned that one particular order before but I wasn't quite sure what you meant in regards to the flat fee.

I have always received my orders from PA in a box. Not sure if that is because I always use EMS or Fedex though. I never bother with standard / low cost shipping methods. Too impatient and I usually get stuff in 3-4 days using EMS.

I will agree that toys or models are severely jacked up on PA though.

[John Cavil]

Originally Posted by Kakizaki

^Then he needs to change the item description - it isn't listed as Chinese either. It is Korean.

I hope you read the description of items you buy.

edit - Again, out of curiosity, I checked shipping options at PA (besides the minimum) against the seller you listed (cheaper game yes, but I am not certain that is the Japanese version for obvious reasons). EMS through PA to the U.S. : $17.90, Fedex $14.90, UPS $16.90

EMS shipping through Ebay dude: $19.90, Fedex $49-54! (I hope I read that wrong!)

It really doesn't matter which version I got - the PSP is completely region free after all. Besides, I used to play "plausible deniability" back in the days when I bought bootleg DVDs so I could complain and get refunded and keep them. >:3 That was in my "evil phase" of growing up.

Besides, Kaki. If you're gonna continue this, I'll put you to a challenge. Add this to your shopping cart, and tell me how much the shipping is: http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...n-70-3ujn.html

Maybe it changed. Last time I tried to buy that was roughly a year ago.

[Kakizaki]

^The version does matter if you are attempting to compare price points. I know you know this JC. Just about anyone who has ever ordered a import game within the past 10 years knows there is a difference in price between Japanese versions and Asian region versions. PA was sold out of the version that the Ebay seller was selling. Example (same game / different version / both from Play-Asia):

Japan version - $73.99

Asian version - $64.90

I'd wager the price differential between versions of KH BBS was the same.

Also, larger items typically cost a lot no matter who you order them from. Your item weighs over 5 pounds! Ever buy a console from Japan and use EMS? A lot of sellers require some sort of trackable / insurable shipping method for large or expensive items. All of the systems that I have ordered from Japan through different outlets have typically charged around $50 when using EMS.

[Iris]

I just check prices on the individual item I am buying at the time I'm actually ordering it. Sometimes Play-Asia is a better deal. Sometimes Ebay is.

I don't really see how throwing random examples back and forth is really going to prove anything.

[John Cavil]

I paid $33 shipping for my Japanese PS2 from PA. So I see zero excuse for them to raise that particular item to $55. Unless, once more, they changed it since then.

Tell me, seriously. Is it more, or is it less?

[Kakizaki]

Don't know what shipping method you used, but EMS charges have gone up in the last 2 years. It isn't just PA.

Also, PS2 weighs less (depending on model) than that DJ package. However, depending on courier, weight will sometimes be round up.

Iris, I agree. My example from the previous post was purely to show that JC was comparing apples to oranges. Just contending that PA isn't as outrageous as it is being made out to be.

[John Cavil]

*sigh* I could start listing a million and one examples, only for you to list a million and two to counter mine.

Point is, whatever I personally want from Play-Asia, I could almost always find a cheaper alternative. Therefore, from me, Play-Asia sucks.

Besides, here's a relatively good example of my needs: Square Enix's Ultimate Hits lineup. Back when I bought KHFM and FFX both in Ultimate Hits, they cost me $35 without shipping. That was standard price. Now, it's $44.99 for any Ultimate Hits title. The games aren't out of print. SE didn't raise the prices. So why have they inflated exactly?

What about the MGS 20th Anniversary box set? The really nice one. That item had a rough price tag of...I think 6,500 yen (or was it 5,000 - all I know, it was mad cheap for what it was). Yet Play-Asia charged $130 for it at the get-go. Not counting shipping, which as you said earlier regarding weight, probably would've been another $50. That particular item, I didn't buy at eBay - I opted for YesAsia, which had a flat rate of $88, shipping included. How do you explain that one exactly?

Play-Asia, for me, is weird as hell and disproportionate as f**kall. Paid for by Amalgamated Testosterone.

[Kakizaki]

^I never said I could explain everything, and I don't disagree that PA can be inconsistent , but what retailer dealing with similar goods isn't? I have heard similar criticism leveled at YesAsia, and many years ago, at Lik Sang. I have personally had headaches with Japan Video Games and Himeya Soft. Just didn't think your comparisons were entirely fair or that Play Asia's prices were that inflated (on a consistent basis ).

[John Cavil]

Yeah, well, Play-Asia hasn't exactly been fair to me either. :<

I mean, at the very least, they used to send out $5 coupon codes for any purchase $25 and up with anything you buy. That, at least, could pay for the cheapest of cheap shipping. Now, not only have shipping prices gone up, but they don't offer the coupons unless you shell out a minimum of $55.

[TopographicOcean]

Originally Posted by Dead to Rights

I'm totally jelly of your spoils, TopographicOcean.

Thanks! I have to look spiffy while playing Soulcalibur V

By the way, you were right about Natsu.

Originally Posted by Kakizaki

Topo, I wonder if those are just Australian shipping limitations through PA. I see they still offer Fedex and UPS to the U.S. and I didn't see any $20 limitation. I just put through a dummy order and the shipping was calculated purely off of weight.

I guess I am just biased. Ironically, until very recently, I have never had a problem with Play Asia. Everything has been remedied pretty quickly. I'm just currently waiting for a book that was ordered back in December :/

They could be Aussie limitations I suppose. In fact, I'll try and find out about that. Still a pain in the butt. The sad thing is, I would be biased to PA too.

I've never had a problem with them at any point save for their strange changes to postage and shipping costs.

I think I'll have to shop around a lot more for a bargain now. I usually never do that because I'm too lazy, but I think my money is more important than 15 minutes worth of time spent looking for a better place to find something.

That said, PA is always a good place to start from.

EDIT - Bloody hell, I just did a 10kg dummy order to see if a large weight would change the postage options. It sure does...

For some reason, I can now choose Fedex for $100 AU on top of a $669 AU total for the actual items. EMS is $128 AU as well, with no choice of standard shipping at all. Well, I'm glad I rarely get anything large from overseas, or that I don't get hit by customs or tax until the price of goods are over $1000 AU.

Keep in mind, the Aussie dollar is stronger than the US at the moment, so this is touch more in US dollars. That said, the shipping would be completely different thanks to the different destination.

[John Cavil]

Sooo...in short? ...Play-Asia sucks.

>:3

[Kakizaki]

^Yeah, surprising that international shipping on an item over 20 lbs would cost so much...

[John Cavil]

Originally Posted by Kakizaki

^Yeah, surprising that international shipping on an item over 20 lbs would cost so much...

Stop spreading your "shipping" propaganda. Paid for by Amalgamated Testosterone.

[System_Error]

Been a while kids.

[John Cavil]

Should've gotten the CE for SCV. It's gorgeous!

[DarkRPGMaster]

Originally Posted by John Cavil

Stop spreading your "shipping" propaganda. Paid for by Amalgamated Testosterone.

For some reason, when you said shipping, I thought of the OTHER kind of shipping...

[Camanche]

Originally Posted by DarkRPGMaster

For some reason, when you said shipping, I thought of the OTHER kind of shipping...

why... wwwhhhyyyyyy

On Topic: Rune Factory: ToD. Finally found it at a decent price.

[John Cavil]

Originally Posted by DarkRPGMaster

For some reason, when you said shipping, I thought of the OTHER kind of shipping...

No...but don't rule it out.

[Camanche]

Also got a small hardcover book on hedgehog care and some nail polish.

[Steel Greyfalke]

A New Desk (Well I bought it at an ouction at the Air Force Base)
A figure of Carl
Ichigeki Sacchu!! HoiHoi-san (PS2 & the Manga)
A USB NES controller
A Replica of The Bluesmobile
A Tool kit for Plastic Models
Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond the Call of Duty :Vol 1
A set of Gore-Tex gloves
and
a Fanny pack

[DamageCity]

Big thanks to Camanche

[TopographicOcean]

Aw, you're lucky DC. That hasn't been released here. :\

When I found out about it, my heart was all aflutter... Then it never got released, with no plans to. I don't want to have to make another dang PSN account just to get it!

[John Cavil]

I honest-to-god still think that Xseed will still bring the sequel over. They're like Aksys - they're oblivious to the fact that absolutely no one is buying PSP games here anymore.

In a way, that's happy news for me. Corpse Party is just about the only VN-ish game that I actually liked.

[Evilkinggumby]

Originally Posted by John Cavil

I honest-to-god still think that Xseed will still bring the sequel over. They're like Aksys - they're oblivious to the fact that absolutely no one is buying PSP games here anymore.

Crap.. you might want to tell Atlus.. they keep making psp games.. it could be their downfall!