Better to wait for cheaper DVD box sets?

[tanahome]

it's definitely an on-going debate to buy individual DVDs as they are available, or boxsets if they are available to save money and space.

i'm preferably in the latter group, but will buy individual discs if they are a great buy. but there's never a guarantee that a series will ever be available on boxset.

so, what's the best way to determine if a series will ever be released on boxset?

the reason why i ask this is because of the current Funimation sale on TRSI. i did a preliminary shopping spree of all that i wanted and the end result was HOLY CRAP! I'M EATING RAMEN NOODLES FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS! :sweatdrop:

i like to think i'm a smart shopper and will spend money on getting good deals. but looking at my shopping cart, not sure my decision to get the individual discs is such a good idea. maybe it's best to wait/hope for a cheaper boxset?

the ones that i'm contemplating to get and are only currently available individually:

Black Cat DVD 1-6 ($97.15)
Hell Girl DVD 1-4 ($67.96; i think there are 2 more DVDs to come)
Moon Phase DVD 1-6 ($97.15)
Mushishi DVD 1-6 ($97.15)
School Rumble DVD 1-5 ($80.95; i think there is 1 more DVD to come)
Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE DVD 1-6 ($97.15; has the 2nd season been licensed or scheduled for release?)

if there were to be a boxset version in the future, the price could easily be half of what i listed above.

i'm already planning on getting the boxset versions of Blue Gender, Deserk Punk, Fruits Basket, Galaxy Railways (BTW, original boxset or Viridian version is better?), Lupin movie collection 1&2, Negima, Rumbling Hearts, Slayers season 1-3, Tenchi Muyo GXP, YYH collection 1&2&5&7&8... as you can see, that's why i'm keen on saving as much money as i can! :sigh:

so, what do y'all think? go for this great sale on the individual discs (though i have a HUGE backlog & don't know when i'll be watching these anyway), or wait & hope for a cheaper boxset that may never happen?

i have to admit that i'm a big collector and get a nice little thrill at getting a bargain... :content:

[stfram]

Ooh...funimation sale at TRSI!

Keep in mind that the deepdiscount.com 20% sale is likely to start in November, and that can nicely reduce your cost on all currently available discs, like, say Black Cat. Although TRSI's instant rebate program beats DD even at 20% off...

Also, if you're going through TRSI, get a Got Ahime membership. It'll pay for itself the first time you place a large order, like you want to do now.

For preorders, a TRSI studio sale is made of pure win. Particularly when you order starter sets...their packaging is top-notch, and ensures you get your items it great condition.

[joelgundam01]

Keep in mind that the deepdiscount.com 20% sale is likely to start in November, and that can nicely reduce your cost on all currently available discs, like, say Black Cat. Although TRSI's instant rebate program beats DD even at 20% off...

Have you seen DD's prices lately? They are higher than their sister company's (DVD Planet) prices.

Most of their Funi titles cost $19.80. There's not going to be much difference in price, after the discounts are applied.

[tanahome]

yea, i used to order pretty exclusively with Deep Discount. but i find that TRSI is cheaper with their sales, weekly specials, and daily specials. and i actually love how TRSI tracks all your orders, like it will let you know if you had already ordered an item when you're viewing it. that helps me a great deal cause i sometimes am bad at knowing what i already have... :sd:

i did check out the prices of Black Cat at Deep Discount. assuming DD has a 20% discount in november, then Black Cat would be $15.84. but at TRSI with the FuNi sale, it's $16.19 (yea, i got the got anime club!). saving $.35 would not be worth waiting for DD, but thx for the suggestion anyway.

*sigh* i may have to tighten my belt and prepare for the long winter with all that i plan on order with TRSI.

BTW, any word on Geneon? is the cutoff date still Nov.6th for new orders? i want to start collecting the following before it's too late:

black lagoon
ergo proxy
fafner
fate/stay night
fight spirit
haibane renmei
jubei chan 2
karin
magical project s
paradise kiss
rozen maiden
story of saiunkoku
strawberry marshmalow
texhnolyze

when should i start ordering these before it's too late? i was reall hoping for another Geneon sale at TRSI instead of the current FuNi sale. *shrug* oh, well...

[stfram]

Have you seen DD's prices lately? They are higher than their sister company's (DVD Planet) prices.


Yeah, just saw that.

I recall that DD had a pretty sweet funi sale where I picked up the rest of Solty Rei for ~$13 a volume.

Oh well, I know exactly what I want from DD when they run their sale, and it's not anime anyway, although I may pick up The Third Vols 1-2 from them at the same time.

[stfram]

BTW, any word on Geneon? is the cutoff date still Nov.6th for new orders? i want to start collecting the following before it's too late:


An added wrinkle is how TRSI will be affected, since they're partners with Geneon WRT customer service functions.

Some of your shows are in the bargain bin at TRSI...that is stock that TRSI owns, that they got a bargain price on.

Fafner, for example, is a dilemma. Do you order the cheap volumes instead of the box, and hope you can find the missing ones for cheap later? Or do you just grab the complete box?

[HyugaKojiro]

@ tanahome:

All of funis current releases will most likely get a box release so there is little to worry about. Since you already have a backlog I'd say wait for the boxes to be released and for them to go on sale (TRSI or DD20%). I don't recall any Funi series for that matter that hasn't seen a boxed release after the initial single run. Also they're currently releasing discounted singles in a second run so you could wait for those too if you don't like digipaks.

Also you might want to take into consideration the possibility of a JP Blu-ray release with the english dub/sub later on, or for that matter a BR release by Funi (for their more popular properties), whose authoring/encoding will most likely have to be outsorced since the point of HD is a better and clearer picture quality

[tanahome]

All of funis current releases will most likely get a box release so there is little to worry about. Since you already have a backlog I'd say wait for the boxes to be released and for them to go on sale (TRSI or DD20%). I don't recall any Funi series for that matter that hasn't seen a boxed release after the initial single run. Also they're currently releasing discounted singles in a second run so you could wait for those too if you don't like digipaks.
hmm... you got a great point! if there's no worry about them releasing a boxset version later, then i'm okay with that. when they do release, i can wait for the next FUNi sale at TRSI and get those, like i am for the other ones now that are available on boxset.

the only thing is that there are those that will probably never be available via boxset:

Burst Angel OVA: Infinity
CLAMP Double Feature: Tsubasa Chronicles and xxxHOLic (getting the manga for both, so may not need to watch all of Tsubasa season 1)
One Piece Movie 8: Episodees of Alabasta
Shuffle DVD 1

do you think it's worth getting the above for now instead of waiting? and what's One Piece Movie 8 about? i saw the Alabasta arc on Toonami, so have no idea where this movie fits in. is it just a condensed version of the TV version?

Also you might want to take into consideration the possibility of a JP Blu-ray release with the english dub/sub later on, or for that matter a BR release by Funi (for their more popular properties), whose authoring/encoding will most likely have to be outsorced since the point of HD is a better and clearer picture quality
do you think Blu-Ray will beat HD DVD? i'm still waiting for the PS3 to come out with the next generation. and i don't have a big @$$ tv to really enjoy or notice the higher resolution. so, for now, i think the contents of the DVDs are more important than the video quality at the moment.

[HyugaKojiro]

the only thing is that there are those that will probably never be available via boxset:

Burst Angel OVA: Infinity
CLAMP Double Feature: Tsubasa Chronicles and xxxHOLic (getting the manga for both, so may not need to watch all of Tsubasa season 1)
One Piece Movie 8: Episodees of Alabasta
Shuffle DVD 1

do you think it's worth getting the above for now instead of waiting? and what's One Piece Movie 8 about? i saw the Alabasta arc on Toonami, so have no idea where this movie fits in. is it just a condensed version of the TV version?

Yeah all the OVAs and single standing movies won't be boxed for obvious reasons, so at any time there is a sale its a good time to buy. Sure there will be reprices but a single movie is a much smaller investment than a whole series so its nothing to really worry about.

I'm not sure about the One Piece movie but my guess is that it'll be uncensored. OP is Shonen Jump so if it goes like DBZ the movies will be boxed together down the road as well.

So from the titles above I'd say pre-order the Burst Angel OVA, if you currently own the series, and maybe the clamp double feature.


do you think Blu-Ray will beat HD DVD? i'm still waiting for the PS3 to come out with the next generation. and i don't have a big @$$ tv to really enjoy or notice the higher resolution. so, for now, i think the contents of the DVDs are more important than the video quality at the moment.

I own a PS3 myself and I do think that if one of the two will be victorious it will be BR. For now the PS3 is ensuring it's success as all media sales data indicate.

It all comes down to the demand of the consumer market for HD content in the coming years. There is a chance that with the movement to digital broadcast in the US many/most families will upgrade their sets, thereby increasing the demand for HD content; but if most Americans just use government rebates to buy cheap converter boxes than the time for an HD format to replace DVD will be increased by a long shot.

But prices for HD sets should come down at the time of the switch so I'm not really worried. I'd say that at that time it would be a good idea to get a new set as retailers will be running all sorts of promotions/sales to push HD onto the consumer market that is deliberating about whether or not to upgrade their sets.

Until then the Trojan Horse 3 will make sure that there is a greater userbase for BR than for HD-DVD.

[HitokiriShadow]

the only thing is that there are those that will probably never be available via boxset:

Shuffle DVD 1


Unless Funi decides they will no longer do boxes or they go out of business before they get around to it, this will get a box eventually, you'll just have to wait about about two years for it.

[tanahome]

hmm... i had gotten the impression that the FUNi rep seemed to be pretty sure there will NEVER be a box for Shuffle. but, of course, no one can predict the future. if someone from marketing detects a Shuffle boxset can bring in more money by using up the Shuffle disc surplus, they'll probably do it.

dang, i don't want to be double-dipping! and the FUNi rep mentioned something about a pinup poster. i can only assume this would be a small poster that's folded up 1/2 twice to fit inside a DVD. but there's no guarantees that even if there's a Shuffle boxset, the posters will still be available.

darn, what a conundrum to decide upon! (hope i'm using that big word correctly! :sweatdrop: )

[Hayate Kurogane]

the only thing is that there are those that will probably never be available via boxset:

Shuffle DVD 1


Unless Funi decides they will no longer do boxes or they go out of business before they get around to it, this will get a box eventually, you'll just have to wait about about two years for it.

Or if it sells terribly you might expect some sort of box set or collection mere months after the final volume. (see also: Rumbling Hearts)

[HyugaKojiro]

there will always be a box. Its the reps job to hype product on these boards, if they came out and said "oh we're going to release a Shuffle complete collection 6-10 months after the end of the series with a nice box and an extra booklet" how do you think the singles were going to sell.

Also if you want pinup posters you should get the Megami magazine (from Animenation) or if you just want the best promotional illustrations used for the fold-outs get Megami Deluxe (from amazon japan). Megami Deluxe is imo a much better deal as its pretty much just an eye candy full page per artwork art book for all the newest series.

PS: Forget what I said about Megami deluxe and amazon japan, as it seems that its getting a domestic release in the US, just check amazon.com (cheaper) or TRSI for "Megami DX"

[HitokiriShadow]

hmm... i had gotten the impression that the FUNi rep seemed to be pretty sure there will NEVER be a box for Shuffle. but, of course, no one can predict the future. if someone from marketing detects a Shuffle boxset can bring in more money by using up the Shuffle disc surplus, they'll probably do it.
)

They said there would never be a vol. x + box. In other words, a single volume with a box to hold the rest of the single volumes. But there WILL be a set of some sort eventually. I guess if by "box set" you meant all of the singles in a box, then you are probably right. I assumed by "box set" you mean a collection of the whole series regardless of how they were packaged.

[mighty_vespa]

I'm probably not the typical AoD binge shopper, but I know I'm not all that unique either. I buy singles or boxsets, when I have the cash to spare and the time to watch them. I'm perfectly fine with waiting months---if not years---to get around to watching or buying an anime series.

My patience sometimes borders on the ridiculous though. Case in point, Boogiepop Phantom and Gundam 08th Team. I bought the first three volumes for both series very early on, around 2002; I got them new or used on eBay and through AnimeOneStop.

I didn't get the final volumes, until 2004. Haha, yeah, I know. Killer cliffhanger! That's just how my buying habits are. I'll buy, when the time is right, the deal is good and I have the cash. It's gotta be a perfect storm of all three for things to happen.

By the time I get around to buying a series, however, the boxset may already be available and/or there are a handful of fans selling complete singles on eBay. I have some choices on where to buy. And, yeah, there's always the OOP (out-of-print) risk. I missed on on a few titles because sometimes I waited too long.

By the way, if you have a monster backlog, maybe it might be a good idea to show some restraint, start watching what you have and stop buying. Waiting isn't a bad thing. Most "Once-In-a-Lifetime" are one upped by something better months or years later, unless it's a store liquidation or something. Just buy when you think it's right and you'll feel good about plunking your hard-earned change for that anime.

This is probably why my collection is rather modest and tiny; I could carry it in one huge Rubbermaid bin, if I needed to.

[neo-pactio]

This is the big debate I struggle with all the time, especially since Geneon's kicked the bucket, which makes grabbing one of their series "a do or die moment".

Usually, when I decide between singles or sets, I consider the length of the series and compare what I get out of each. If the singles have a low overall count (like around 3 to 6 singles), good extras, a good artbox and it's a series I'll kill myself for, I would buy those. If a set is cheap, space-saving, and the singles have a count that's too high and the series is low-priority, then I get sets. Some expections to this rule are series that can only be finished through singles (For me, that's going to be Kodocha.)

[joelgundam01]

hmm... i had gotten the impression that the FUNi rep seemed to be pretty sure there will NEVER be a box for Shuffle. but, of course, no one can predict the future.

The Funi rep said no "starter set" box. Those are the ones that come with volume 1 for a little more money. She didn't rule out the possibility of a future collection/box set down the road.

[hououjifuu]

I mostly stick to just buying the individual volumes when they're released, as well as when there isn't a boxset for it. The "buy today and enjoy it now!" convenience is really something I'd take over trying to wait months/years for a cheaper and available boxset. If I'm really interested in the series and am willing to spend the extra convenience fee at that moment, I'll do whatever I can to watch it right away (sans trying to illegally download it).

so, what's the best way to determine if a series will ever be released on boxset?
For those vol. 1 + box type of deals, I'm guessing popularity of the series prior to it being licensed is a big factor.

For an already released series with no box, I'm not really sure.

[tanahome]

yea, good advice. i've binged shop so much in the last 3 months to make up for the last 5 years of hardly buying anything. i feel like i'm a born-again-otaku... :sweatdrop:

i think i'll just focus on boxsets or complete collections for the time being to maximize on savings and space limitations. but i will focus on getting the remaining Geneon titles that i'm missing before it's too late.

nice thing about binge shopping in the last few months is now there's not as much to binge shop on... :P

[tanahome]

yea, i had to purchase the singles to complete Kodocha too. the TRSI FUNi sale's gonna help me get the last DVD! too bad more won't be released on DVD.

[tanahome]

thx! megami DX vol.1 gets released on Halloween next week! i better preorder with Amazon then. but is megami DX better than the animenation magazine you mentioned? i know New Type has a U.S. version, but i don't know much about animenation.

[Njr Scrawl]

If a series is long, I'll wait for cheap sets, e.g. Ranma.
If I want extras, I'll buy ADV singles, if not I wait for a collection from them.
If I want individual cases, but a collection will be digipack or brick, I'll get singles - unless its hindsight buying & what's available is limited.

I supported the MB AMG TV season 1 & MB passed on S2.
I always bought Geneon singles, & the company & ongoing titles were effectively killed by the Japanese parent. All the whole Geneon shows I'm buying this month, are cheaper bricked. Buying their singles is truly :horse:

[HyugaKojiro]

thx! megami DX vol.1 gets released on Halloween next week! i better preorder with Amazon then. but is megami DX better than the animenation magazine you mentioned? i know New Type has a U.S. version, but i don't know much about animenation.

Yes megami dx is definitely better than the regular megami especially since dx is getting a domestic release and it only contains the best art of the monthly published megami mag. megami is like newtype, it covers a lot of series but all the text is in japanese. Megami DX just compliates the best promo art from megami into a softcover art book, no text or articles just full page art (and a poster), so yes its a lot better.

[Draneor]

Personally, I like having the posters themselves rather than just images of them. I do get both Megami and Megami DX though. Hey, I'd buy it just for the StrikerS manga.

[ADC]

In the past, I'd been much more likely to buy the singles. Recently, I've begun to look more closely at boxsets — but only if it's a show I'm only interested in at the lower price. That covers ADV and Funimation, anyway. It all depends on the show.

Which probably explains why I barely ever bought boxsets from Geneon.