Why does the offical SE store GOUGE on prices and shipping so much???

[Doki]

For instance, today's Lodestone post about the Growing Light OST that redirects to the special site. On that site it gives links to the SE NA Store, SE EU Store... and CDJapan.

CD Japan price: $32.95 (+$19.62 for 2-3day DHL shipping or as cheap as $11.53 for Airmail with no tracking). There was a special coupon promotion that also took another 500 yen off. Total Price with DHL shipping: $49.28 (7747 yen)

SE NA Store price: $49.99 (+$35 for 2-day shipping, or $9.99 "Standard" shipping) So to be comparable to a DHL order from CD Japan, Total price with "2-day" shipping would be: $64.16

It's $14.88 cheaper to purchase from online retailers in Japan with English webpages than it is from "regionally local" online official stores.

It's clear what is happening here is that the SE NA (and I assume the same goes for the EU store) is they are shipping items somewhere regionally local, and passing that 2nd shipping & handling cost on to the purchaser. That is just beyond ridiculous in today's online world.

It is also worth noting that in addition to the extra cost, you actually get the items delivered MUCH later than if you order direct from the Japanese retailers in nearly all cases. The JP retailer receives the package and starts mailing it out to you the same day it starts to ship to the NA\EU stores who then take a week to ship it on to you afterward.

[Souljacker]

Welcome to america, where we are FREE to pay more than just about everyone else, and get less for our trouble.

How else will the shareholders extract as much profit as possible? Aren't you a capitalist, friend?

[Hanayumi]

Its on the rare side, but browse around Amazon and Target, CDs and art book occasionally show up in their listing at same prices as SE store (even on sale at times) but without the shipping hassle.

[Doki]

Amazon Japan (which you can view in English and make purchases) often has the books & CDs cheaper than the NA\EU store.

[Bun_Vivant]

A law school casebook that cost $200 in the US is often available -- new from the publisher -- in developing countries for less than US$20.
And used books are deprecated because the authors (law school professors) come out with new reversions every year -- and you have to use the latest revision.
There's a gray market in imported books, but it's small and most US law school students seem to either not know or not care.

It's a straight-forward case of charging what the market will bear. Capitalism at it's finest, and not necessarily a bad thing: it provides a product to a developing country that otherwise might find it difficult to afford by subsidizing the product using US sales.

[Yodada]

For instance, today's Lodestone post about the Growing Light OST that redirects to the special site. On that site it gives links to the SE NA Store, SE EU Store... and CDJapan.

CD Japan price: $32.95 (+$19.62 for 2-3day DHL shipping or as cheap as $11.53 for Airmail with no tracking). There was a special coupon promotion that also took another 500 yen off. Total Price with DHL shipping: $49.28 (7747 yen)

SE NA Store price: $49.99 (+$35 for 2-day shipping, or $9.99 "Standard" shipping) So to be comparable to a DHL order from CD Japan, Total price with "2-day" shipping would be: $64.16

It's $14.88 cheaper to purchase from online retailers in Japan with English webpages than it is from "regionally local" online official stores.

It's clear what is happening here is that the SE NA (and I assume the same goes for the EU store) is they are shipping items somewhere regionally local, and passing that 2nd shipping & handling cost on to the purchaser. That is just beyond ridiculous in today's online world.

It is also worth noting that in addition to the extra cost, you actually get the items delivered MUCH later than if you order direct from the Japanese retailers in nearly all cases. The JP retailer receives the package and starts mailing it out to you the same day it starts to ship to the NA\EU stores who then take a week to ship it on to you afterward.

Better look up Taxes and Duties

[DrWho2010]

depends on what you like regarding each places storefronts/options/policies/rewards. CD Japan has it's own set of rewards, as does the Square Enix store. pick your poison. sometimes it's not always about the cheapest bang for your buck. but that's up to you. FREEEEDOM

[Tylandria]

I've been using CDJapan since 2017. I have never had a single issue and today was the official release. It's out for delivery right now. I'm in Canada. I saved over $30 and that's with using DHL for shipping. Their points also are used to lower the cost further, so at least they are useful. I buy all my FFXIV CD/Blu-rays from them and the Artbooks. In some cases I got them MONTHS in advance before the NA Store. One of my Artbooks came 2 months before NA even began to ship, JP gets different release dates on occasion. I use Amazon for the Encyclopedias and other books for English release. I use Meccha Japan for Plushies and other merch. I have yet to have a single issue.

[Jojoya]

That is just beyond ridiculous in today's online world.

Today's online world is no more ridiculous than yesterday's.

Seller costs are always passed onto the buyer. That you order online is irrelevant, especially when it's a physical item.

Then there are business regulations. A seller still has to be authorized to do business within the purchaser's (or recipient's) country of residence. Businesses based in foreign countries can find it expensive to do business across borders.

Once upon a time, taxes/fees/duties related to foreign purchases would be the responsibility of the buyer. Government beancounters realized that the buyers were rarely reporting purchases made from foreign businesses and so also weren't paying those taxes/duties/fees as required. It's a lot harder (and more futile) trying to go after millions of buyers deeply in debt in court than it is to go after a few thousand companies that have been selling those items (and usually are more solvent). So some governments have been slowly transferred that responsibility to the seller instead (which is why you might find local sales taxes listed on some online purchases that weren't taxed in the past. Those companies generally don't want to lose their ability to do business in countries where sales are brisk so they make sure all those annoying taxes/fees/duties get paid - and make certain to increase the product price to cover them.

So you pay more because it costs the seller more to get the item to you. If you can purchase direct from an overseas retailer, go for it. Just don't be too shocked on those occasions when you get to checkout and they tell you that they will not sell//ship to the country listed in the billing/shipping address. Just ask those living in AUS/NZ, they're used to it but then their local business regulations have a history of being very unfriendly to foreign business.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

Better look up Taxes and Duties

In the US, customs don't need to be paid for purchases under $400 I believe, and that's per transaction, not yearly or monthly.