Japanese blu-ray prices?

[Disturbed Blu 1]

I just have a question. I would like to start collection and importing Japanese blu-rays. I want to know if they're are any legit venders that carry blu-rays at good prices. So far I have checked out Amazon JP, PlayAsia, and YesAsia. All of the prices are $50+ for one blu-ray. Or is this normal? Thanks.

[jw]

Originally Posted by Disturbed Blu 1

I just have a question. I would like to start collection and importing Japanese blu-rays. I want to know if they're are any legit venders that carry blu-rays at good prices. So far I have checked out Amazon JP, PlayAsia, and YesAsia. All of the prices are $50+ for one blu-ray. Or is this normal? Thanks.

prices are normal. People there rent more than they buy.

cdjapan is another option, pricing is similar

[Disturbed Blu 1]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

prices are normal. People there rent more than they buy.

cdjapan is another option, pricing is similar

Are you serious? I understand that Japanese prices are higher than the US but they must have sales every so often. *sigh* Thanks though for the reply.

[nincollector]

I shop at amazon.co.jp sometimes, I have a fairly useful utility, which checks prices on specific items for me, on a 2-times-a-day basis. But, in general, prices on "hot" formats and items, like Blu-Ray is now, are high and only go down around Christmas. I will have to disagree with the $50+ per BD statement, though, as I recently ordered Monsters, Inc. (which right now has a very good price) for approx. $34 including shipping costs, and Equilibrium for $45, including shipping as well. Last thing I wanted to say: I see no point in importing Japanese releases if they are the same as US ones, because usually that is the case and I can wait a couple of months for the same content to be available in US at a lower price (and with an English cover art as opposed to Japanese hieroglyphs all over the case). There are maybe just a couple of exceptions when a Japanese BD release is either superior to US (and the rest of the world) or is just out, while the rest of the world has no idea even as far as the release date.

[jw]

Originally Posted by nincollector

I will have to disagree with the $50+ per BD statement, though, as I recently ordered Monsters, Inc. (which right now has a very good price) for approx. $34 including shipping costs, and Equilibrium for $45, including shipping as well.

Last thing I wanted to say: I see no point in importing Japanese releases if they are the same as US ones, because usually that is the case and I can wait a couple of months for the same content to be available in US at a lower price (and with an English cover art as opposed to Japanese hieroglyphs all over the case).

I believe you contradicted yourself here as Monsters inc is gonna be released in a couple months

[nincollector]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

I believe you contradicted yourself here as Monsters inc is gonna be released in a couple months

Not exactly. I should have mentioned it earlier, that I ordered both items for a friend, they were shipped together with the 2 items I actually bought for myself (those would be two different releases of Marilyn Manson's latest album "The High End of Low").

I am considering ordering Equilibrium from Japan for my own collection, but may give it another few months of wait. First, to see if price will drop, and second because there is a very slim chance that this title will see a proper re-release sometime end of this year.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Disturbed Blu 1

Are you serious? I understand that Japanese prices are higher than the US but they must have sales every so often. *sigh* Thanks though for the reply.

Yep, they actually are that way...no matter where you import them from (some are slightly lower-priced than others, but usually the price range is the same).

I usually import games and anime when I don't want to wait eons for it to get distributed by Western studios--usually I'm more quick to do it w/ games than movies as game prices, especially PS3 are typically not too outlandishly far from the prices we pay here in US.

But anime I usually have to weigh on those....when I originally bought GITS: Innonence (JPN), I spent 75 bucks or so and that was over 2 yrs before they set a release date for it in the West (didn't come out in the US until earlier this year!). Mind you, if I really want it and can afford to splurge on it at that time I generally won't hesitate buying it.

[Kyo28]

Prices have always been this expensive in Japan, even in the VHS days that was already the case. There's no alternative really and Amazon Japan is the cheapest I can buy my new discs.

Back in the day, I even bought VHS tapes that were as much as 6.000 Yen a piece, only containing two episodes of an anime series. I still own LaserDiscs that cost 3 times the price of a western BD, bought over 10 years ago.

Every time I'm in Japan, I also check the used DVD/book stores. Sometimes it's possible to find a good deal there on a used Japanese BD but even there you're hard-pressed to find a BD under 2.000 Yen.

[ranitasus]

I got my Perfect Blue blu-ray during the holidays. That thing was about $90 and it was a Japanese import. I went to see if they still had it on Amazon.com and almost fell to the floor when i saw how much it is going for now: $145!!!!!!! glad i got it when it was cheaper

[ranitasus]

Originally Posted by Disturbed Blu 1

I just have a question. I would like to start collection and importing Japanese blu-rays. I want to know if they're are any legit venders that carry blu-rays at good prices. So far I have checked out Amazon JP, PlayAsia, and YesAsia. All of the prices are $50+ for one blu-ray. Or is this normal? Thanks.

I was actually going through my collection today and pulling out the films that i have imported from Japan or other countries. Below are the prices i paid for each one. I hope it helps

Invisible Target: $60
Lust, Caution: $45
My Blueberry Nights: $55
Seven Swords: $50
The Empress & the Warriors: $55
Three Kingdoms: $45
Hidden (Cache): $40
Perfect Blue: $90

[JimShaw]

Just received The Phantom of the Opera from Japan for $45.00 which includes shipping. Expensive but a much better AQ then the American version making it worth the $$$$.

DD 5.1 vs TrueHD and PCM