1 & Only Amazon Japan Thread

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Damius

Maybe, but I would still prefer Amazon JP to:

1. Make a first shipment of all the items that are in stock at the moment I make the order
2. Ship the rest when the last item of the order is released.

Well, they could do that, but then you'd have to pay the base per-shipment fee twice... and I'm sure that'd defy the whole point. I think their shipping is already the best deal in the business as it is, unless you're buying small quantities of light items (which, granted, some people do). They also already give the best prices per-item... so I find it hard to ask for too much more (though obviously it's nice to wish...).

(Personally, my wish would be that they just do exactly what it says on the order unless a product is delayed or something happens outside of their control. So if they say it'll ship in one shipment in a month, I'd like for them to do what they said... but I understand they have their reasons...)

[something]

When did Amazon start awarding points for DVD and BD orders? I've only ever gotten points before for CDs. It doesn't seem to be everything though.

Some examples from my wishlist. Pre-orders only, because I don't see points on any in stock items:

Aniplex
Dog Days' v3: 9%
Dog Days' v4: 1%
Dog Days' v5-6: none
Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb v1-2: none

Bandai Visual
Rinne no Lagrange 2 v3-6: none
Horizon II v2: 6%
Horizon II v2-5: 2%
Horizon II v6-7: none
Girls und Panzer v1-4: none
Girls und Panzer v5-6: 1%

Kadokawa
Hyouka v5,7-8,10: none
Hyouka v6,9,11: 2%

King Records
Kokoro Connect v2-7: none

Pony Canyon
Acchi Kocchi v6: none
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! v1: 8%
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! v2: 9%
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! v3-4: 1%
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! v5-6: none
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita v3: 7%
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita v4-6: none
Yuru Yuri♪♪ v3,6: 7%
Yuru Yuri♪♪ v4-5: none

Warner Brothers
Little Busters! v1-6: 2%
Little Busters! v7-9: none

That's enough for now. Conclusion? Umm a very weak pattern of points decreasing as a release gets farther out, but it's pretty scattershot. And the points range from 1% to 9% in this small sample. No particular distributor relationship either, but again, small sample size.

[Damius]

Originally Posted by something

When did Amazon start awarding points for DVD and BD orders? I've only ever gotten points before for CDs. It doesn't seem to be everything though.

I think the first time I noticed it was around summer. (maybe June/July)

[something]

Originally Posted by Damius

I think the first time I noticed it was around summer. (maybe June/July)

That long ago? Huh. I guess I've just never realized it. I figured any points I had at ordering time must have come from CDs. Guess this means it doesn't add up to much even with all I order.

[relentlessflame]

I've noticed the points recently too, and as said, it seems to be applied particularly to early pre-orders (but not too early, apparently). It also fluctuates; I've seen the points change from day-to-day. I assume there are basically two reasons Amazon is doing this: 1) because it prevents their advertised price from dropping so low that it makes people like Aniplex and local retailers mad, and 2) because the Pre-Order Price Guarantee doesn't apply to points. Of course, points also encourage repeat business as well. I've started placing some of my pre-orders a bit earlier now having noticed this new point trend, as you might as well take advantage of it if you can.

[Damius]

Originally Posted by something

That long ago? Huh. I guess I've just never realized it. I figured any points I had at ordering time must have come from CDs. Guess this means it doesn't add up to much even with all I order.

Thinking about it, I think the first time I noticed it was for K-On! Movie LE

[something]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

and 2) because the Pre-Order Price Guarantee doesn't apply to points.

I think they are adjusted actually: "When you order an item that has not yet been released, you will earn the number of points displayed on the website at the time you order, unless the price changes before the item is shipped. In that case, points will be distributed according to the new price."

Unless that's not what you mean.

Also, only just noticed that the "Amazon Points" link at the top of the site now shows me a list of all orders I've placed and how many points I got for what items. When I clicked on that link this afternoon I just noticed the FAQ.

Looks like I'm getting 2,228pts from the order I placed today and 1,715 of those are from BDs.

Looking through recent orders, as far as points I got for BDs:
7 for ¥1,715 in November (Dog Days' v1, Hyouka v6, Jintai v3, Saki Achiga v6, Horizon II v3, Yuru Yuri♪♪ v3, Strike Witches S1 BD Box)
1 for ¥*,319 in October (Horizon II v2)
1 for ¥*,*44 in September (Hidamari Honeycomb Fandisc)
0 in August
1 for ¥*,*55 in July (K-ON! Movie)
0 in June
0 in May
0 in April
...etc, and every order before that. All orders had roughly similar numbers of BDs included.

So either I got lucky this month or they've really upped the selection of BDs that offer points.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by something

I think they are adjusted actually: "When you order an item that has not yet been released, you will earn the number of points displayed on the website at the time you order, unless the price changes before the item is shipped. In that case, points will be distributed according to the new price."

Unless that's not what you mean.

Well, the points are a percentage of the price, and the percentage of points you get is determined at the point of order. So let's say when you order, the item gets 0% points. No matter what happens, you'll still get 0% points. If it's 5% points, and the price of the item goes down due to the pre-order price guarantee, you'll still get 5% of the reduced price. But if they decide to change the point allocation from whatever percent to 9% (or whatever), you'll never get 9% points unless that's the percentage it was set at when you ordered.

If you were to think of the points as another form of price reduction, it's a reduction that doesn't apply retroactively to existing pre-orders. (So, for example, people shouldn't order Chuunibyou v3-6 now, but wait for the points to get higher.)

[something]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Well, the points are a percentage of the price, and the percentage of points you get is determined at the point of order.

Ah so the percentage itself is locked in.

Since I'm forced onto monthly orders anyway, there's only about a 1-week window at the end of a month in which I order for the next. I guess it's not like I could pick and choose anyway. Waiting a few days for one item to go higher could just result in something else going lower. But at that point nothing from the order should be out yet and nothing should be more than a month away, so I guess it's an ideal time, on average, for points anyway.

[WTK]

The latest discounted sale on select anime (particular single volumes) @ Amazon Japan.