Rakuten - No more.

[Ben_UK]

The very first online purchase I made was from Play.com back in 2001 or something. A shame to see it die off...

[Ste7en]

Upstart

I used to order DVDs from VideoCave when the interwebs was little more than FTP servers... and everyone had 2001 samples on their computers.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by malcy30

I thought that Kindle has something like a 95% market share for e-books in the UK, although it's hard to get official statistics.

Yeah, Rakuten/Kobo habitually doesn't comment on the business side of things, and frankly I'd take Amazon's statistics about itself with a Mount Snowdon of salt. Me, I bought a dedicated e.reader because I prefer a size approaching an actual book, and I much prefer reading on an e.ink screen over a backlit LED. But I suspect the market for e.readers in general is shrinking, as tablets and even smartphones take over. Amazon's already driven most competitors out of the market, as no doubt it will with Kobo, but I find that a bit disappointing; its e.book format is inferior, even the radically revamped azw, so it'll be the BD/VHS/QWERTY story all over again.

I have a few Rakuten/Play steelbooks myself, and they're some of the best-designed I have, but there were a fair few I missed out on because Play wouldn't ship outside Europe. The ones I have are only among those that became available through Zavvi or the Entertainment Store on e.bay.

[Celtic]

Crap website

Play.com was great though, I remember when they were the first ones to come out with exclusive steelbooks. Carlitos Way, Casino, Shaun of the Dead etc

[Se.Vero]

please correct me if i'm wrong but isn't ZAVVI part of rakuten, too?
what will happen to them then?

[gothic_hobbit]

The writing was on the wall when playusa.com closed down, if you ask me.

I really miss that site.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

please correct me if i'm wrong but isn't ZAVVI part of rakuten, too?

what will happen to them then?

No they are different companies.

Zavvi is still a British company and is part of theHut group which has amongst its owners a senior British conservative MP (can't remember his name).

Rakuten is Japanese.

[Se.Vero]

Originally Posted by malcy30

No they are different companies.

Zavvi is still a British company and is part of theHut group which has amongst its owners a senior British conservative MP (can't remember his name).

Rakuten is Japanese.

thanks, theHut group was the name... somehow mixed it up.

[Mavrick]

Logged in to see if it still had my old orders seems they wiped everything. But I think my first order on Play.com was Fulltime Killer back in '05 maybe '06



Never knew it when it was known as Play247.com though. pre 2000 internet was a bit before my time.

[FaceInTheLeaves]

I miss Play. It feels like only yesterday that Long-Suffering Partner was complaining about the number of Play packages our postman was delivering.

When I started buying from Play they sold films that were £20 in HMV for £8. Play was the reason my DVD collection grew so quickly. Back then it seemed like there was hundreds of DVD releases every month, in collectible packaging with special features. Nowadays you're lucky if you get a trailer and a slipcase.

[Pineapples101]

I used to be a member of Plays mailing list before DVD came about.

Basically an A5 booklet of current and up-coming Laserdisc releases.
If I remember correctly the first ones were literally photocopied A4 folded and stapled, the later booklets were properly printed glossy booklets.

Really wish I had kept hold of them

[Ste7en]

Likewise. The Disc Emporium sales booklets as well

[WilsonBros]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

The Disc Emporium sales booklets as well

I have a load of those things! I even wrote a number of reviews in them!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by FaceInTheLeaves

I miss Play. It feels like only yesterday that Long-Suffering Partner was complaining about the number of Play packages our postman was delivering.

When I started buying from Play they sold films that were £20 in HMV for £8. Play was the reason my DVD collection grew so quickly. Back then it seemed like there was hundreds of DVD releases every month, in collectible packaging with special features. Nowadays you're lucky if you get a trailer and a slipcase.

Same here. The postman once asked me if I had my own business! .

[WilsonBros]

Some reviews of particular titles I (and my brother) wrote for Dave et al pushed the sales of them through the roof, so we were told.

It was just as depressing then as it is today, where a titles which snobs have no interest in suddenly becomes the must-have item when you mention that it has the best mono-to-surround mix you have heard.

[Hrvojeos]

Hello.

I need some help if someone can asisst.

I was buying from rakuten last few months.

Cheap used blu rays. Mostly from shop zoverstocks. I see they are musicmagbies.

The point is some used where very cheap. I think I bought Avatar for 2.3 or 2.4 pounds. It is completly like new. Only I waited pretty long.

But the main thing is I am from Croatia and there shiping was 1 pound !!!

When I try to buy something from amazon.co.uk it is about 5 6 7 or more pounds.

Even this same shop.

Can someone help me with some pages like rakuten (i know for zavvi but prices are much more ok but still much more then this)

Or some shops on amazon with low shiping maybe?

Thank you

[jono3000]

Originally Posted by Hrvojeos

Hello.

I need some help if someone can asisst.

I was buying from rakuten last few months.

Cheap used blu rays. Mostly from shop zoverstocks. I see they are musicmagbies.

The point is some used where very cheap. I think I bought Avatar for 2.3 or 2.4 pounds. It is completly like new. Only I waited pretty long.

But the main thing is I am from Croatia and there shiping was 1 pound !!!

When I try to buy something from amazon.co.uk it is about 5 6 7 or more pounds.

Even this same shop.

Can someone help me with some pages like rakuten (i know for zavvi but prices are much more ok but still much more then this)

Or some shops on amazon with low shiping maybe?

Thank you

Try musicmagpie on eBay UK

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Hrvojeos]

Originally Posted by jono3000

Try musicmagpie on eBay UK

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Thx. I did find them. I think shiping prices are bit more but just slightly so it is ok.

Does somebody know some other shops with used discs and low shipment?

Thank you

[Blu Lemmy]

I was pretty much a play.com exclusive shopper, but never touched it after the change.

Good riddance

[Simon_LDT]

Am I the only one that has had plenty of great purchases from Rakuten over the years? I've purchased loads of things at great prices and with them doing lots of coupons and a loyalty scheme that is actually decent I've used them far more than Amazon (and not just blu-rays but for cds/vinyl too).

Of course, Play.com was great but once the VAT loophole was closed it was the end of that.

I'm sad to see them go and even though they were just a marketplace their prices beat Amazon many times for me.