やっぱり HMV is still the best!
i've become the master of online shopping for CDs or so i would like to think. i've bought things from all the usual sites used when buying CDs and HMV is still the best. here's my analysis and comments on the various sites. :)
CDJapan - fast shipping if you use EMS but their shipping cost a bomb which makes it the most expensive place to purchase stuff.
YesAsia - shipping cost is in fact already included in the price quoted hence shipping is NOT actually free. and the shipping mode for people who choose the free shipping option is normal airmail with no tracking and insurance. it took about 3 weeks for my Summer Time singles to arrive.
Amazon JP - shipping is a bit higher than HMV but overall the price is still lower than the above 2 sites because you get EMS. very good customer service too. they shipped me a replacement product no questions asked but please do not abuse this.
HMV JP - cheapest shipping cost especially if you buy more than 1 item and you get EMS. my only complaint is you can't add items but can cancel part of your order. when in doubt, order a few copies and just sell the rest to lower the cost of shipping per item.
anyway why the sudden declaration of love for HMV? cuz i received my package today!!!
finally, my ayaka album!
and it's beyond amazing! i love Sing to the Sky more then her first album First Message!
singles aside, i love ALL the new songs! my favourite new song is Kon'ya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete which isn't really a new song i found out recently since she performed it at MTV. but whatever. as long as it's not a recorded song, it's new. and the DVD which has her live performance at Budouka. AMAZING. it's honestly a concert DVD already. so much value for money. ayaka is such an amazing live performer, i definitely want to go to her concerts if i have the chance.
oh and of course my Tegomass Ai Ai Gasa single was in the package too. good thing their LEs don't sell out which allowed me to keep cancelling my orders when i wanted to add other stuff to my order. about the single.........one word. disappointment. X__X don't get me wrong, the other songs beside Ai Ai Gasa are not too bad (won't be my favs but listenable) but it just reinforced my disappointment in singles in general. the booklet had just 1 picture of Tegoshi and Massu besides the cover and plain lyrics page. as for the DVD which was what made me buy the single in the first place, i've already seen both the PV and making of PV subbed so there's just no excitement in watching it already. oh and there's like a crack/scratch on the cover so almost no resale value now.
but anyway like what i said, Tegomass's single just reinforced my disappointment with singles in general. ever since Taiyou no Namida, i've been feeling more and more disappointed with singles. only a few songs with very little pictures and no bonus stuff too. basically im going back to pre-NEWS me where i think buying singles is not worth the money. which is why i've decided from now on im not going to buy any more singles. not even NEWS. unless it has a bonus DVD like Ai Ai Gasa to tempt me.
but if NEWS does have 2 LE versions for the Pacific DVD, i'll definitely buy both LEs without hesitation unless the content is really too similar.
well enough with ranting. on a happier note, im going to watch Kungfu Panda tomorrow with Magdeline, my flat mate! i heard it's really funny so i can't wait! and i'll be making a trip to uni on wed to scan loads of stuff before i sell some of them. :D and hopefully download new episodes of Last Friends which is taking so long to be subbed. i appreciate and salute fansubbers though cuz i translate for a sub team too so i know and understand that it takes time but waiting is still a pain.
this week has started fantastically!
CDJapan - fast shipping if you use EMS but their shipping cost a bomb which makes it the most expensive place to purchase stuff.
YesAsia - shipping cost is in fact already included in the price quoted hence shipping is NOT actually free. and the shipping mode for people who choose the free shipping option is normal airmail with no tracking and insurance. it took about 3 weeks for my Summer Time singles to arrive.
Amazon JP - shipping is a bit higher than HMV but overall the price is still lower than the above 2 sites because you get EMS. very good customer service too. they shipped me a replacement product no questions asked but please do not abuse this.
HMV JP - cheapest shipping cost especially if you buy more than 1 item and you get EMS. my only complaint is you can't add items but can cancel part of your order. when in doubt, order a few copies and just sell the rest to lower the cost of shipping per item.
anyway why the sudden declaration of love for HMV? cuz i received my package today!!!
finally, my ayaka album!
and it's beyond amazing! i love Sing to the Sky more then her first album First Message!
singles aside, i love ALL the new songs! my favourite new song is Kon'ya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete which isn't really a new song i found out recently since she performed it at MTV. but whatever. as long as it's not a recorded song, it's new. and the DVD which has her live performance at Budouka. AMAZING. it's honestly a concert DVD already. so much value for money. ayaka is such an amazing live performer, i definitely want to go to her concerts if i have the chance.
oh and of course my Tegomass Ai Ai Gasa single was in the package too. good thing their LEs don't sell out which allowed me to keep cancelling my orders when i wanted to add other stuff to my order. about the single.........one word. disappointment. X__X don't get me wrong, the other songs beside Ai Ai Gasa are not too bad (won't be my favs but listenable) but it just reinforced my disappointment in singles in general. the booklet had just 1 picture of Tegoshi and Massu besides the cover and plain lyrics page. as for the DVD which was what made me buy the single in the first place, i've already seen both the PV and making of PV subbed so there's just no excitement in watching it already. oh and there's like a crack/scratch on the cover so almost no resale value now.
but anyway like what i said, Tegomass's single just reinforced my disappointment with singles in general. ever since Taiyou no Namida, i've been feeling more and more disappointed with singles. only a few songs with very little pictures and no bonus stuff too. basically im going back to pre-NEWS me where i think buying singles is not worth the money. which is why i've decided from now on im not going to buy any more singles. not even NEWS. unless it has a bonus DVD like Ai Ai Gasa to tempt me.
but if NEWS does have 2 LE versions for the Pacific DVD, i'll definitely buy both LEs without hesitation unless the content is really too similar.
well enough with ranting. on a happier note, im going to watch Kungfu Panda tomorrow with Magdeline, my flat mate! i heard it's really funny so i can't wait! and i'll be making a trip to uni on wed to scan loads of stuff before i sell some of them. :D and hopefully download new episodes of Last Friends which is taking so long to be subbed. i appreciate and salute fansubbers though cuz i translate for a sub team too so i know and understand that it takes time but waiting is still a pain.
this week has started fantastically!