Play-Asia pissed me off... =___=
So the GazettE's new single was out on this Wednesday.
My usual practice of pre-ordering singles would be with the websites providing discounts/coupons.
I used to pre-order with YesAsia because their coupons are very flexible.
You can get $3 off $15 and $5 off $30 for purchases using NEW accounts. (Those coupons are for new customers so I register a new account every time I pre-order. XD)
But those coupon codes become invalid since 2009. So I had to hunt for better offers.
And then I found Play-Asia.
Like YesAsia, it is a Hong Kong-based company which is an advantage for me.
After they received the goods from Japan they will mail it to be via registered mail so it's much faster than HMV Japan (plus, free shipping!).
Best of all, the prices are slightly lower than YesAsia (like, for a single, it'll be $1 less) and there are tons of coupon codes floating around.
They mostly are $5 off $50 and $7 off $50. Some very rare ones are $10 off. 0__0 Those are VERY HARD to find.
There are some great sites with coupon codes.
http://play-asia-couponshare.com/ - Coupon code sharing site
http://www.strikebang.com/ - They sometimes have promotion in which if you post 5 times they'll give you a $7 off coupon. XD
The first time I purchased with Play-Asia was in mid January which was smooth.
I bought 3 CDs of $70-something worth and used a code.
In the box they include another code. XD
Now here's the second time.
the GazettE's single is released on March 25.
I pre-ordered both the auditory and optical versions, plus a SID's already-released single, on March 6, and sent the payment on the same day.
In the past YesAsia SOMETIMES gives us the bonuses, like the GazettE's LEECH sticker and Girugamesh's MUSIC towel.
There's once they didn't give me the sticker that comes with STACKED RUBBISH and other people ordering with them did, so I emailed them and they kindly sent me one. But there's also once when I ordered alice nine.'s album with them which should come with a poster. I asked them for it when I saw this poster (which read 'NOT FOR SALE' on its face) was on sale in YesAsia, they simply said the product description said clearly it doesn't include a poster. T___T
So the other day, since this was the first time I ordered something which normally comes with bonuses, I asked Play-Asia about it.
And they replied:
"We often receive preorder gifts as well but sometimes in no sufficient quantities. In such cases, we serve on 'first come & first get' basis. Therefore the chance to receive a preorder gift is higher when making an early reservation."
Oh yeah, so I made a wise decision to preorder at least 2 weeks before the release. That's not too late, huh?
Or at least I think so...
The estimated shipping date was on or before March 26.
Everything went well and the SID single was also available.
So, on March 26, while I was anxiously waiting for the email confirming shipment of the singles, I received, to my horror (!), an email which reads:
"今天我們已寄出您的訂單！(We have shipped your order today!)
但是，很抱歉，您的訂單內一個或以上的產品暫時未有存貨，所以我們將訂單分開寄出。如果您已經一次完全付款，餘下的貨物，我們是會承擔餘下的運費，這一點您不用擔心。(However, our apologies, one or more of the products in your oder is/are out of stock, so we will split the shipment. If you have paid in full, you don't have to worry about the remaining shipment as we will pay for you.)
我們將餘下的貨物，已經開了另一個新的訂單，我們將會儘快寄出餘下的產品。請隨時查看您的賬戶。(We have created a new order for the rest of the goods. We will send the remaining products as soon as possible. Please check your account at any time.)
再次，我們很抱歉未能一次送出所有產品。 (Once again, we apologize for not being able to send all products at one time.)"
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?????!!!!!!!!
Out of stock?!
I was really shocked....
So I emailed them asking why it delayed:
"I would like to know why there is a 3-week delay.
I understand that to have the CDs shipped from Japan to Hong Kong and then to me requires some time, but 3 weeks?
I would like to know what caused such a long delay.
Will I still get my bonus/preorder gift (特典) that comes with the CDs?
I asked about this and you replied that it's on a "first-come-first-serve" basis."
And I received a prompt reply:
"I am sorry that this item is not in a high demand and thus rather difficult to find the source. You would probably need to wait for 1-2 weeks more for us to get the item and we kindly ask for your patience.
There is no guarantee for the gifts and it just depends on whether the supplier give them to us or not when the items arrive here."
So, it is difficult to SOURCE.
By the time you've found them, there must be not bonuses left.
I have never encountered this kind of sourcing problem of pre-orders with YesAsia.
I have definitely disappointed with Play-Asia.
Just because there're not many people ordering the item or you couldn't pre-order the thing given you have 2 weeks to do so, is not a valid reason.
You have put that product in your website. Said it's available for pre-order. I pre-ordered and paid for it.
You are expected to pre-order with the record company/their agents, not to find the product after the release.
I am very angry about this.
But what can I do?
I am just a student with very little savings.
Yet I would like to support the people I love and respect.
These sites make ridiculously huge profits from these, and provide this kind of service...
.... I don't know what to say. What can I do.... T____T
My usual practice of pre-ordering singles would be with the websites providing discounts/coupons.
I used to pre-order with YesAsia because their coupons are very flexible.
You can get $3 off $15 and $5 off $30 for purchases using NEW accounts. (Those coupons are for new customers so I register a new account every time I pre-order. XD)
But those coupon codes become invalid since 2009. So I had to hunt for better offers.
And then I found Play-Asia.
Like YesAsia, it is a Hong Kong-based company which is an advantage for me.
After they received the goods from Japan they will mail it to be via registered mail so it's much faster than HMV Japan (plus, free shipping!).
Best of all, the prices are slightly lower than YesAsia (like, for a single, it'll be $1 less) and there are tons of coupon codes floating around.
They mostly are $5 off $50 and $7 off $50. Some very rare ones are $10 off. 0__0 Those are VERY HARD to find.
There are some great sites with coupon codes.
http://play-asia-couponshare.com/ - Coupon code sharing site
http://www.strikebang.com/ - They sometimes have promotion in which if you post 5 times they'll give you a $7 off coupon. XD
The first time I purchased with Play-Asia was in mid January which was smooth.
I bought 3 CDs of $70-something worth and used a code.
In the box they include another code. XD
Now here's the second time.
the GazettE's single is released on March 25.
I pre-ordered both the auditory and optical versions, plus a SID's already-released single, on March 6, and sent the payment on the same day.
In the past YesAsia SOMETIMES gives us the bonuses, like the GazettE's LEECH sticker and Girugamesh's MUSIC towel.
There's once they didn't give me the sticker that comes with STACKED RUBBISH and other people ordering with them did, so I emailed them and they kindly sent me one. But there's also once when I ordered alice nine.'s album with them which should come with a poster. I asked them for it when I saw this poster (which read 'NOT FOR SALE' on its face) was on sale in YesAsia, they simply said the product description said clearly it doesn't include a poster. T___T
So the other day, since this was the first time I ordered something which normally comes with bonuses, I asked Play-Asia about it.
And they replied:
"We often receive preorder gifts as well but sometimes in no sufficient quantities. In such cases, we serve on 'first come & first get' basis. Therefore the chance to receive a preorder gift is higher when making an early reservation."
Oh yeah, so I made a wise decision to preorder at least 2 weeks before the release. That's not too late, huh?
Or at least I think so...
The estimated shipping date was on or before March 26.
Everything went well and the SID single was also available.
So, on March 26, while I was anxiously waiting for the email confirming shipment of the singles, I received, to my horror (!), an email which reads:
"今天我們已寄出您的訂單！(We have shipped your order today!)
但是，很抱歉，您的訂單內一個或以上的產品暫時未有存貨，所以我們將訂單分開寄出。如果您已經一次完全付款，餘下的貨物，我們是會承擔餘下的運費，這一點您不用擔心。(However, our apologies, one or more of the products in your oder is/are out of stock, so we will split the shipment. If you have paid in full, you don't have to worry about the remaining shipment as we will pay for you.)
我們將餘下的貨物，已經開了另一個新的訂單，我們將會儘快寄出餘下的產品。請隨時查看您的賬戶。(We have created a new order for the rest of the goods. We will send the remaining products as soon as possible. Please check your account at any time.)
再次，我們很抱歉未能一次送出所有產品。 (Once again, we apologize for not being able to send all products at one time.)"
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?????!!!!!!!!
Out of stock?!
I was really shocked....
So I emailed them asking why it delayed:
"I would like to know why there is a 3-week delay.
I understand that to have the CDs shipped from Japan to Hong Kong and then to me requires some time, but 3 weeks?
I would like to know what caused such a long delay.
Will I still get my bonus/preorder gift (特典) that comes with the CDs?
I asked about this and you replied that it's on a "first-come-first-serve" basis."
And I received a prompt reply:
"I am sorry that this item is not in a high demand and thus rather difficult to find the source. You would probably need to wait for 1-2 weeks more for us to get the item and we kindly ask for your patience.
There is no guarantee for the gifts and it just depends on whether the supplier give them to us or not when the items arrive here."
So, it is difficult to SOURCE.
By the time you've found them, there must be not bonuses left.
I have never encountered this kind of sourcing problem of pre-orders with YesAsia.
I have definitely disappointed with Play-Asia.
Just because there're not many people ordering the item or you couldn't pre-order the thing given you have 2 weeks to do so, is not a valid reason.
You have put that product in your website. Said it's available for pre-order. I pre-ordered and paid for it.
You are expected to pre-order with the record company/their agents, not to find the product after the release.
I am very angry about this.
But what can I do?
I am just a student with very little savings.
Yet I would like to support the people I love and respect.
These sites make ridiculously huge profits from these, and provide this kind of service...
.... I don't know what to say. What can I do.... T____T