Where To Purchase Anime?

[Lightning Flik 0]

Hope this is the right place to put this...

 

To be honest, I'm tired of trying to find a relatively inexpensive place to find anime to buy. Most places I go to ask for like $50 (Canadian) for a freaking 1 disc DVD that's apart of the whole series I want.

 

And no, I don't have the money currently to buy anime, but I'm out in like 3 months from school and I would like good places to buy anime since I'll soon get a job and make money (and since I'm still living at home, LOTS OF MONEY ... well to me its lots more than I've ever had )! I haven't considered any online sites, because I can only use PayPal, but if you know of a good place to buy that'll accept PayPal then I'll do that.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

Edited April 10, 2005 by Lightning Flik

[Ravenbomb 0]

http://www.ebay.com

[chirs3 0]

If you don't have a problem buying bootlegs, www.importanime.com accepts Paypal.

 

Trouble is, they've stopped stocking FX titles for the time being, and FX is the only bootleg company I trust. Most others have terrible subs, but FX just rips them straight from the Region 1 release. Supposedly MAC does the same thing (which ImportAnime is stocking), but I've never bought a MAC, so I can't say for sure.

 

If you don't want bootlegs, then your best bet is as Raven said - Ebay.

[Lightning Flik 0]

...ok. Since when did they take pay-pal? And if you mean buy from other people, no. I want to buy them brand new.

[chirs3 0]

I'm pretty sure they do. I'm on the computer lab right now, so I'm not whipping out my credit card to test it... let me check my email, see if I kept any receipts.

 

EDIT: Never mind, it's right in their FAQ.

 

I accept paypal (www.paypal.com) which you have to sign up for, and use either your creditcard or bank account to pay with. Money Order, or cash if you want to risk mailing it.

 

EDIT: Don't read any of this, ever. See below.

Edited April 11, 2005 by chirs3

[Lightning Flik 0]

I'm pretty sure they do. I'm on the computer lab right now, so I'm not whipping out my credit card to test it... let me check my email, see if I kept any receipts.

^__^;; That was actually meant to the ebay comment... Sorry.

[chirs3 0]

D'oh.

 

It depends on the seller - some take Paypal, some don't.

 

Also, lots of stores sell their wares on Ebay, so not everything's used. You just have to look carefully.

[Lightning Flik 0]

If you don't have a problem buying bootlegs, www.importanime.com accepts Paypal.

 

Trouble is, they've stopped stocking FX titles for the time being, and FX is the only bootleg company I trust. Most others have terrible subs, but FX just rips them straight from the Region 1 release. Supposedly MAC does the same thing (which ImportAnime is stocking), but I've never bought a MAC, so I can't say for sure.

 

If you don't want bootlegs, then your best bet is as Raven said - Ebay.

Bootleg? Is there any difference in video quality or anything? I wouldn't mind if everythings the same, but the stuff is better.

 

Terrrible subs I've seen. I downloaded Tenchi Muyo GXP (which is the actual DVD rip) and geezus the actual sub is what the english VAs speak. Which is brutal because its NOT the exact same thing as what the japanese VAs are saying. I was so pissed because

 

So yeah. I wouldn't mind bootlegs, as long as its good quality for the subs because I like watching it as english first than japanese with subs. And I really don't trust going E-bay.

 

Also, lots of stores sell their wares on Ebay, so not everything's used. You just have to look carefully.

Ok this I didn't know.

Edited April 11, 2005 by Lightning Flik

[chirs3 0]

Bootlegs are tricky. By no means do I consider myself an authority on the subject, but I think they basically fall into two categories:

 

1. Hong Kong bootlegs - if there's not an ounce of English on the packaging and the only spoken language available is Japanese, it's probably one of these. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. They're subbed by people who don't speak English and the timing is typically about 9 minutes off.

 

2. Region 1 Ripoffs - The "good" bootlegs. They steal everything - video, audio, subtitles, extras, even boxart, straight from the American release. FX is one such company.

 

Some people say the R1 Ripoffs have lowered video quality, because they pack a lot of episodes onto one disc (Cowboy Bebop's FX set is over three discs - 9 episodes, 9 episodes, 8 episodes, for example), but honestly, I've never really seen much difference or reason to complain. I've viewed them on different TV's with different players and never seen anything that made me regret buying them. I've got seven FX sets at the moment, never had any problems with any of them.

Edited April 11, 2005 by chirs3

[Lightning Flik 0]

Bootlegs are tricky. By no means do I consider myself an authority on the subject, but I think they basically fall into two categories:

 

1. Hong Kong bootlegs - if there's not an ounce of English on the packaging and the only spoken language available is Japanese, it's probably one of these. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. They're subbed by people who don't speak English and the timing is typically about 9 minutes off.

 

2. Region 1 Ripoffs - The "good" bootlegs. They steal everything - video, audio, subtitles, extras, even boxart, straight from the American release. FX is one such company.

 

Some people say the R1 Ripoffs have lowered video quality, because they pack a lot of episodes onto one disc (Cowboy Bebop's FX set is over three discs - 9 episodes, 9 episodes, 8 episodes, for example), but honestly, I've never really seen much difference or reason to complain. I've viewed them on different TV's with different players and never seen anything that made me regret buying them. I've got seven FX sets at the moment, never had any problems with any of them.

One of my friends had a Hong Kong bootleg. It was of Flame of Recca, which wasn't terrible but damn if I wasn't a speed reader those subs would fly freaking buy as fast as people said them. ^__^;;

 

So the Region 1 Ripoffs are pretty good. Alrighty, why did FX stop being supplied? They get caught or something? And considering I'm used to watching my anime on my monitor, don't think having a slightly lower quality will be all that bad to getting all the goodies with it.

 

Oh, I found this one site called: www.nextdayanime.com

 

Anyone know if this place is any good? Prices seem quite reasonable... Which scares me.

[Mik 0]

^__^;;

You suck.

[chirs3 0]

Bootleg prices are obscenely reasonable. That's why I buy 'em.

 

As far as FX goes - I've got no idea. I've been trying to find out, but all I know is what importanime said on their front page. They're having, quote, "some issues", unquote. They indicated that, at some point, they'll probably be restocking FX, so that's good. Especially considering FX steals lots of series' that no other companies do.

[Lightning Flik 0]

"Steals" what do you mean?

 

Like do a lot of a series that have no chance in hell of coming over? Or are in the stages of being brought over (ie: not for like five years later)?

[chirs3 0]

"Steals" what do you mean?

 

Like do a lot of a series that have no chance in hell of coming over? Or are in the stages of being brought over (ie: not for like five years later)?

It's a bootleg. That's what I meant by stealing.

 

And as far as the series' it covers - FX bootlegs just about everything, from what I've seen, while other companies (like MAC) go for more obscure stuff. The FX boots I own are all big names - Cowboy Bebop, Lain, FLCL, etc - but I almost never see bootlegs of these series by other companies.

 

That's not to say they don't exist - it's just most stores carry (carried) FX. And since FX's "issues", I've had a helluva time trying to find the series's that they carried from other companies.

Edited April 11, 2005 by chirs3

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

I can't speak for Canadian prices, but Best Buy usually has some nice anime deals and ADV seems to be having sales very few months on their site for that might be worth checking out too.

[chirs3 0]

There's also a budget title, ala PS2's "Greatest Hits", for a few companies. I forget which ones run it... one of them is whoever (legitimately) owns Lain. Discs are lowered to about $15, US, which I'd be willing to pay. I turn to boots because regular prices are just obscene - as soon as a series drops to a reasonable cost, I buy the real version.

 

Also, it's good to check every site you can find during holidays - over Christmas, Rightstuf sold the Neon Genesis Evangelion 8-Disc Box Set for $40. Yes, that's right - $40. It still goes on Amazon for something like $130.

Edited April 11, 2005 by chirs3

[El Psycho Diablo 0]

Rightstuf has good weekly sailes, and sometimes good stuff on the daily ones.

 

If you just want to download, try Here. They've got complete series only.

[Lightning Flik 0]

There's also a budget title, ala PS2's "Greatest Hits", for a few companies. I forget which ones run it... one of them is whoever (legitimately) owns Lain. Discs are lowered to about $15, US, which I'd be willing to pay. I turn to boots because regular prices are just obscene - as soon as a series drops to a reasonable cost, I buy the real version.

 

Also, it's good to check every site you can find during holidays - over Christmas, Rightstuf sold the Neon Genesis Evangelion 8-Disc Box Set for $40. Yes, that's right - $40. It still goes on Amazon for something like $130.

Hm. I see. I'll check into that then. Didn't know some had best buy titles.

 

Rightstuf sold NGE for 40 US? That's a steal.

 

Ok, remember that site I mentioned earlier, NextdayAnime? Anyone know anything about them? Cause I've been looking at the prices and their insanely cheap.

 

If you just want to download, try Here. They've got complete series only.

Ah, good old BoxTorrents. How I downloaded from thee... I managed to get Love Hina off of them before ADV went apeshit and had it pulled.

 

While I don't mind downloading, anime is one of those things I want to physically own. Unless its like a fansub of something that's either a) gonna get dumbed down upon reaching the US (like Naruto will) or b) no chance in hell its gonna be released (like, well I'll use Ichigo [even though its only in manga form right now]).

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Rather than support some stupid bootlegger, just keep downloading. Why give money to a guy so he can take the same fansub you're watching and burn it to a DVDR, or do something similar with an even worse translation?

 

If you want something physical, use a CD/DVD burner. Because there's otherwise no reason to pay money for the stuff and support some thief instead of the people that are bringing it to these shores.

 

I don't know why you're stuck to PayPal (since that seriously limits your options), but eBay's subsidiary Half.com (www.half.com) is basically a store instead of an auction site, and they list DVD's by quality. The highest category is unopened product.

[El Psycho Diablo 0]

'cept Love Hina is Bandai..

 

I do prefer to buy, myself. I like to see the show before I do, unless it's by a director that I like.

 

Sometimes, DVD releases are unacceptable, though. Bandai's recent Zeta Gundam box (Retailed for almost $200, paid about $130 for it) didn't have the original openings and endings, because they were too cheap to pay for it. They also convinently forgot to tell anybody, so it shipped without anyone knowing.

[Soja 0]

Terrrible subs I've seen. I downloaded Tenchi Muyo GXP (which is the actual DVD rip) and geezus the actual sub is what the english VAs speak. Which is brutal because its NOT the exact same thing as what the japanese VAs are saying. I was so pissed

 

Heh. Either they ripped the wrong sub or they included both and you didn't option on the second, as there's two subtitle tracks on every FUNi DVD - one for the English vocals, and one that translates the original track.

[Soja 0]

Ok, remember that site I mentioned earlier, NextdayAnime? Anyone know anything about them? Cause I've been looking at the prices and their insanely cheap.

 

A cursory glance & knowledge of their past rep says pretty much everything. They're all boots, if you care. Some include the English dub, others not.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Heh. Either they ripped the wrong sub or they included both and you didn't option on the second, as there's two subtitle tracks on every FUNi DVD - one for the English vocals, and one that translates the original track.

Ok, I checked some of the last ones (think its the last 4 to 6) and they have both subs, but in a different fashion to get them, so I probably just don't know how to get the first ones then. I'll play around with it to find out.

 

Ok, remember that site I mentioned earlier, NextdayAnime? Anyone know anything about them? Cause I've been looking at the prices and their insanely cheap.

 

A cursory glance & knowledge of their past rep says pretty much everything. They're all boots, if you care. Some include the English dub, others not.

Oh. Bootlegging I really don't care as I said. Long as I get my anime at a reasonable price, I'm a happy otaku.

 

As for if it has English dubs or not, I don't mind not having them, but I at least like to hear the dubs just to be able to understand in my native language. I mean, I can speed read, but sometimes I don't want to do that, ya know?

Edited April 11, 2005 by Lightning Flik

[ragingfear79 0]

I wouldnt recommend next day anime, they are tricky and can take a long time, i ordered like 5 dvds from them. All of them said that where available and two weeks passed and no orders, so i inquired and they said that they where all sold out. It took them almost a month after that to refund my cc, then when they finally did, they did it wrong. I mean it might have been just me but cuz of that i will never trust them again. One site that i buy from regurlarly is kcdvd.com, they are bootlegs but the video and audio quality. The only downside is that their selection is kinda crappy. Hope that helped out