That would totally be a normal price for a box set. When I was living in Japan, though it's been a long time now, a single music CD new ran 30 bucks, DVDs usually around 40. Even at used stores, they were still what Americans would consider 'pricey'.
For real? Why does it cost so much?! I mean I thought you got a good bit compared to our Discs, cardboard box and MAYBE commentary. I know we want things at a low price, but that is a shock to me and has sparked my interest/curiosity. Thanks for the insight on that!
Couple of reasons... #1 is demand. The market for CDs and DVDs in Japan is smaller than the US, and there were still more small record stores and DVD shops, so they can get away with higher prices. Not as many 'big box' stores to use CDs/DVDs as loss leaders (though that was starting to change, I don't know if that's really still the case). #2 Mini-disk- For CDs, they are available for rental. Why pay 30 bucks for a CD when you can rent it for 3 bucks and put it on a minidisk? #3 As far as I could tell, internet piracy wasn't as rampant, in northern Japan at least, there were fewer kids with mp3 players, computers of their own, so they didn't have to compete with that.
Mostly though, it was that they could still sell things at that price and people would buy it. If you tried to sell a Britany Spears cd in America for 25-30 bucks, people would think you lost your mind. Over there it was just how much it cost. Imports were a little cheaper, but not by much.
Aww, that's really cute! I would be interested in seeing this too even if I couldn't understand. What's the name of it? Im afraid I can't read the title. :)
It's called Soreyuke! Tetsunoshin. If I could find someone that could translate it, I would do a real sub. I think its rather interesting. Cute and odd, but neat nonetheless
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I know we want things at a low price, but that is a shock to me and has sparked my interest/curiosity. Thanks for the insight on that!
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Mostly though, it was that they could still sell things at that price and people would buy it. If you tried to sell a Britany Spears cd in America for 25-30 bucks, people would think you lost your mind. Over there it was just how much it cost. Imports were a little cheaper, but not by much.
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