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Where do you buy your Anime and Manga?
- Thread starter volleyball setter! #40
- Start date
manhattangurl10
New member
Anime: FYE (where there lately have been some amazing discounts in my area). Manga (and the occasional scholarly book on the subject): Barnes & Noble.
Powells for manga (especially since you can get used manga there - $4.75 for Gintama - HOW CAN I PASS THAT UP!?!?!?!?!?) and BestBuy for anime, although I don't buy ze animoo that often due to having a very tight budget. :B
I also hit Everyday Music which is a used music store that also has a crap ton of movies. Every now and then I find some really obscure stuff there for dirt cheap.
I also hit Everyday Music which is a used music store that also has a crap ton of movies. Every now and then I find some really obscure stuff there for dirt cheap.
That's exactly how I do it. I might go months between purchases, but when there is a studio sale for things I want, I'll make one big purchase--often doing a bunch of pre-orders at once as well, hoping that'll hold me until the next sale Also means I easily qualify for the free shipping.
I've actually had fairly good expericenes with Amazon marketplace...Of course Iv'e only bought a few DVRAB off of it, they've both been legit, so I plan to buy the others From the same seller, It also helps to check there approval rating, I don't order from anyone on the marketplace that has lower then 85% (& thats just cause i'm a nice guy)
But yea, hastings used section has some pretty good buys ever now & then, I got my Cyborg 009 DVD for only 5 bucks a few years back. and its almost in mint condition too! also got a Getter Robo:Armageedon DVD for 3 bucks!
But yea, hastings used section has some pretty good buys ever now & then, I got my Cyborg 009 DVD for only 5 bucks a few years back. and its almost in mint condition too! also got a Getter Robo:Armageedon DVD for 3 bucks!
That's definitely true. I had some difficulty with finding legit DVD box sets for Fushigi Yugi at Amazon's Marketplace, not to mention how one person sent in the OVA set when I ordered the first box set. I've had much better luck with used books than used DVRAB at Amazon's Marketplace.
As for me, I buy my anime sets and DVRAB mostly online now. It's usually either Amazon or RightStuf. RightStuf usually has better sales and prices than Amazon, not to mention they tend to ship the order well before other online stores. Though, most of my orders from Amazon arrive in less than a week after I made the order. I still occasionally go to my local Best Buy, but they didn't have much of a selection the last time I was there. Other than a Pokemon set and perhaps one of the many One Piece sets I haven't gotten yet, there wasn't anything there that really grabbed my interest.
I rarely buy any manga nowadays. When I do, I shop at my local Borders. They have a nice selection, but it's hard to actually find the Pokemon mangas they have now. I also order from RightStuf if I want to get the manga sooner.
As for me, I buy my anime sets and DVRAB mostly online now. It's usually either Amazon or RightStuf. RightStuf usually has better sales and prices than Amazon, not to mention they tend to ship the order well before other online stores. Though, most of my orders from Amazon arrive in less than a week after I made the order. I still occasionally go to my local Best Buy, but they didn't have much of a selection the last time I was there. Other than a Pokemon set and perhaps one of the many One Piece sets I haven't gotten yet, there wasn't anything there that really grabbed my interest.
I rarely buy any manga nowadays. When I do, I shop at my local Borders. They have a nice selection, but it's hard to actually find the Pokemon mangas they have now. I also order from RightStuf if I want to get the manga sooner.
Exactly the same for me. When pre-orders go up, I make a list of everything I want. I check the sale, see what I want from the company that's on sale, and pre-order (or order, if it's been released) everything on the list from that company, then delete what I bought and wait for the next one.
nickhil2003
New member
A nuraber of reasons: Japan fears reverse-importing like the dickens so they tell the licensees how to release their series, and also because licensing costs a hell of a lot of money for a simple, 'standard' release. Dubs alone cost $10,000+ an episode.
HMV for mainstream stuff (although their selection is highly inconsistent, sometimes they'll get a bunch of copies of an obscure show and other times, they don't even carry a popular title) and Amazon for specific/niche shows (like Section23/ADV stuff).
As for manga, I buy them at the local Renaud-Bray (They're pretty much the only store with a wide selection). I buy the French editions and they get the titles about 1-2 month after they came out in France. Sure, it's a little annoying, but even with the delay, we get titles faster than the U.S.
As for manga, I buy them at the local Renaud-Bray (They're pretty much the only store with a wide selection). I buy the French editions and they get the titles about 1-2 month after they came out in France. Sure, it's a little annoying, but even with the delay, we get titles faster than the U.S.
When I first got started in anime I bought my dvRAB from Suncoast (were they ever expensive), after they shut down I decided to buy my stuff online. I use Amazon.com for much of my anime dvRAB, I usually use giftcarRAB to pay for my stuff, but takes me a year to earn about $400 worth of giftcarRAB from rewarRAB sites, so I usually buy anime during the Christmas season. I've also used the Amazon Marketplace to buy my Yawara boxset, Amazon's $125 cost turned me off so I decided to get the inexpensive from a seller.
I also use RightStuf sometimes when I want something that's on sale. I've also used Ebay to buy anime that's even cheaper or to buy stuff that's no longer in print, I got my Hikaru no Go and Cyborg 009 dvRAB from Ebay.com I don't usually buy alot of manga, but when I do I usually go to Barnes and Nobles. I've also used Kinokuniya to get the new Cyborg 009 compilations and vol 10 of the english translated version.
I also use RightStuf sometimes when I want something that's on sale. I've also used Ebay to buy anime that's even cheaper or to buy stuff that's no longer in print, I got my Hikaru no Go and Cyborg 009 dvRAB from Ebay.com I don't usually buy alot of manga, but when I do I usually go to Barnes and Nobles. I've also used Kinokuniya to get the new Cyborg 009 compilations and vol 10 of the english translated version.
Billet -Doux [Harps]
New member
I usually buy at Amazon for DVRAB and any local book store for manga. I might take a look at Right Stuff seeing that they seem to have such a great reputation, though.
melnat0182
New member
Most of my anime shopping is done at my local Best Buy. I guess I lucked out in that my local BB has a huge selection and they usually put out titles before the street date. Plus, I do so much other shopping there that I rack up a ton of reward zone points.
WuvNmyEarl
New member
Amazon. RightStuf. That's 'bout it. The only place I ever really shop offline is Barnes & Noble, and it's cheaper to buy manga online. Larger selection, too.
Aphrodite_Mermaid
New member
Older shows like the Hellsing TV series always have various versions going in and out of print, meaning that prices fluctuate wildly. Hellsing TV in particular was distributed by the now-defunct Geneon and went out of print when that company folded, which would go a long way toward explaining why its price has been artificially inflated. (Funimation rescued the new Ultimate Hellsing OVAs, but not the old TV show, so as far as I know it's currently effectively unlicensed.) Prices were rock-bottom right after Geneon crashed when they were trying to get rid of their back stock, but it looks like they're back up again.
Your best bet for finding a good price is probably to keep your eyes open for used copies of the single-disc version rather than try to track down the full series all at once. It'll take more work, but it'll be a lot cheaper: Amazon Marketplace currently lists them at around three bucks a pop used, meaning you'll probably pay under $20 for the whole deal after shipping. I always see them at my local Bookmans for very reasonable prices, too.
Like Soundmonkey said, just keep a close eye on the customer approval rating when buying from Amazon Marketplace. Personally I wouldn't go under 95% if I could help it, but that's just me. The nice thing about buying from Amazon Marketplace as opposed to eBay or wherever is that you have someone to complain to if the seller screws you over, so most of them will accept a return for a refund if you get unlucky and get shipped a bootleg.
Your best bet for finding a good price is probably to keep your eyes open for used copies of the single-disc version rather than try to track down the full series all at once. It'll take more work, but it'll be a lot cheaper: Amazon Marketplace currently lists them at around three bucks a pop used, meaning you'll probably pay under $20 for the whole deal after shipping. I always see them at my local Bookmans for very reasonable prices, too.
Like Soundmonkey said, just keep a close eye on the customer approval rating when buying from Amazon Marketplace. Personally I wouldn't go under 95% if I could help it, but that's just me. The nice thing about buying from Amazon Marketplace as opposed to eBay or wherever is that you have someone to complain to if the seller screws you over, so most of them will accept a return for a refund if you get unlucky and get shipped a bootleg.
The Mad Hatter
New member
For anime at retail stores,I mostly go to Best Buy,though I also go to FYE on occasion (when they have a sale,otherwise,their anime is way overpriced)...Online,I use Amazon or Right Stuf...though I don't really buy much anime....
For manga,I mostly go to Borders (there's one near my work that has a pretty good selection) or Barnes and Noble (sometimes they get manga in really early)...I usually only order manga online if I can't find what I'm looking for in a store,and then I use Amazon or Right Stuf...
For manga,I mostly go to Borders (there's one near my work that has a pretty good selection) or Barnes and Noble (sometimes they get manga in really early)...I usually only order manga online if I can't find what I'm looking for in a store,and then I use Amazon or Right Stuf...
This reminRAB me of two things (both CLAMP related) that I marathoned bought last year because they were both out of print. The first was Tokyopop's RG Veda manga series. Around this time last year I found out that most bookstores didn't stock it so I used Amazon and Rightstuf to get the remainder of the series. I ordered each volume from multiple sellers and other of the 8 orders I did 2 of them messed up. One sent me the wrong volume nuraber and the other one sent me a library bound version of the volume when it was specifically noted as not being such. Fortunately, I got my money returned from both (and I did get the correct volumes for my collection from other sellers).
The other thing I was buying was the Card Captor Sakura anime series from Geneon/Pioneer. I did the exact same thing as I did above by using Amazon. Luckily there were no complications this time around and I made sure that when I got the discs (because they were all used) to check for any scratches and watched them immediately to see if they ran properly.
The reason I decided to get them as singles was:
1. The boxed sets were ridiculously expensive.
2. The individual discs were varied in price and while there was the occasional pricey one overall it evened out with some good deals.
3. It was easier to collect over time and not blow all my money at once. After about six months I had the entire series.
In the end Amazon did workout for me and I recall also doing this for Marmalade Boy and Fushigi Yugi (good luck finding all of the above these days for a decent price).
O-chan
The other thing I was buying was the Card Captor Sakura anime series from Geneon/Pioneer. I did the exact same thing as I did above by using Amazon. Luckily there were no complications this time around and I made sure that when I got the discs (because they were all used) to check for any scratches and watched them immediately to see if they ran properly.
The reason I decided to get them as singles was:
1. The boxed sets were ridiculously expensive.
2. The individual discs were varied in price and while there was the occasional pricey one overall it evened out with some good deals.
3. It was easier to collect over time and not blow all my money at once. After about six months I had the entire series.
In the end Amazon did workout for me and I recall also doing this for Marmalade Boy and Fushigi Yugi (good luck finding all of the above these days for a decent price).
O-chan
CindyComesBack
New member
About 70% of my anime/manga purchases come from Right Stuf. For manga, I still support Borders, but I only buy the more popular series there since they suck with niche manga. If Right Stuf or Borders does not have my manga, I'll check out Amazon. For anime, I go where the sales are. I'll buy to Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, but mostly Right Stuf. I also go to Half Price Books and occasionally find anime/manga I'm not looking for.