Game prices in Japanese retail stores?

[Vexorg]

One of my co-workers is going to be taking a trip to Japan on business, and I am looking to have him pick up some Xbox 360 imports for me while he's there (looking at Dodonpachi Saidaioujou, Ginga Force/Eschatos Wonder Pack and Espgaluda II.) Not being particularly familiar with the prices of games in Japan, I'm curious to know what I should expect in terms of costs. I can see the MSRPs for the games on amazon.jp (along with the actual prices they charge, which are usually cheaper.) If he's buying them at retail, should I expect to be paying the retail prices?

[GaijinPunch]

At a shop like Bic Camera, or other chain, yes. However, if you buy them w/ the point card, he can expect 10% in "points" which are redeemable for goods the next day. Going into Akihabara, there is generally no point card, but the prices are (often) cheaper. And of course, they are often marked down as time goes on.

[Vexorg]

Also, should I factor in any sort of sales tax/VAT into the prices? I figure I'm looking at around the equivalent of $200 or so for all three of the games I'm looking at, but I just want to make sure I'm giving him enough to cover it.

[ACSeraph]

New release games usually are about the same as the prices on Amazon after sales tax has been added in. 200$ should be more than enough for 3 new games. If you bought used you can generally get new-ish games for around 5500 yen, but its better to buy new to support the companies.

[Domino]

My rule of time if buying in Tokyo the prices will be higher than outside Tokyo.

[ACSeraph]

^ It depends on where you are shopping. In Akihabara things tend to be slightly more expensive, but the catch is you can find almost anything you want easily there, including things you just straight up can't find elsewhere. As far as newer stuff goes there's not much difference between getting it from Sofmap in Akiba to getting it from a Tsutaya up here in bumfuck Tohoku. For semi-rare classic games online shopping is usually the best option regardless of whether you are in Tokyo or a smaller area.

[Vexorg]

The stuff I'm looking for is still relatively new, so I don't think it should be too hard to find. One of these days I really need to make a trip to Japan myself, although I'm worried I'd bankrupt myself buying stuff in Akihabara if I did. I think my co-worker is going to be relatively close to, but not in Tokyo (I believe he is going to be in Atsugi) but will probably end up there at some point anyway.

[Cuilan]

Buy the games used.

Tell your friend to check Book Off stores first, since from my experience, they tend to have the lowest prices (but also lowest selection). After that, check Geo. Finally, check Trader stores. Trader seems to have the largest variety, but their prices tend to be higher than other places.

[GaijinPunch]

If we're talking about retail games, packaged, and semi-new, there's going to be VERY little deviation in the price between Akihabara and bum fuck Hokkaido.

By law, everything must show it's tax-inclusive price in an ad or on the packaging. So if you see two prices, and one is 5% higher than the other, that's what you pay.

[scrilla4rella]

I'd say the Trader stores in Tokyo have the best prices. I saw a used special edition of DDP Sai Dai Ou Jyo for 5,000 and a super special edition for 10,000. Keep in mind I payed 9,000 for a special edition new so sometimes the prices on used drop fast. Ginga Force and Shooting Love are a little over the 5,000 mark used.

[ACSeraph]

Tell your friend to check Book Off stores first, since from my experience, they tend to have the lowest prices (but also lowest selection). After that, check Geo. Finally, check Trader stores. Trader seems to have the largest variety, but their prices tend to be higher than other places.

Here up north the prices at Book Off and Geo are a total crap shoot. I always just check both and compare the prices. The absolute cheapest place to buy games up here is a place called Mansaido (previously Mangasouko). It's like a wall mart sized pawn show that sells everything, and about half of it is video games ranging from classic to new. Their prices and selection are almost always better than the other stores, and it's one of the only places where you can find classic games at cheaper prices than Amazon. They also have wicked sales, like all retro games (PS2 and older) 50% off. I've gotten tons of PS2 era shmups from there for a fraction of the asking price on Amazon. I have never seen one in inner Tokyo, but I have been to one in Chiba. If anyone shopping in Japan ever gets the chance, Mansaido is the absolute best.

[Remembrance]

I'm looking to pick up some of the same games as the OP in Tokyo next week (won't be going anywhere outside of Tokyo, unfortunately). I see that Amazon.co.jp has Espgaluda II platinum for under Y2000 and the Eschatos/Ginga Force pack at ~Y5200, which is 40% off the MSRP.

Based on the comments here I wasn't expecting much from Amazon's discounts, but these seem to be pretty cheap as budget re-releases. Does it seem like a good deal to just have Amazon ship these to a local convenience store for pickup (with free shipping), or is there still a better deal to be had from digging around the aforementioned shops?

[quash]

If we're talking about retail games, packaged, and semi-new, there's going to be VERY little deviation in the price between Akihabara and bum fuck Hokkaido.

This is something I've observed, as well.

One thing I have been pretty disappointed with here is that games and electronics really aren't that much cheaper than they would be online (Chinese scalpers notwithstanding). Hell, Amazon US can usually match or beat prices I see in stores here. The idea that Japan is jam packed with cheap games is pretty outdated, by now.

On the flip side, Book Off is really a hit and miss experience. It's actually kind of exciting to go to a Book Off for the first time, because sometimes they're sitting on gems. There's two in Yokosuka that I've been to, and one of them has used HRAPs for $50!

[dcharlie]

Every Book Off, every Tsutaya, every Chameleon Club, every Geo, every Dorima....

they are all an adventure because prices vary wildly - as do stock levels and contents. I have 5 BookOffs that i'm regularly near and the price variations are wild. It makes for fun shopping - or it would if i was actively buying much these days - most the time i just window shop for fun.

Watch out for Chameleon Club sales - some are insane. One year the one near my old house had a deal on where if you could link the final character of one game to the next then the three second hand games were 50% off, regardless of title but you had to link a multiple of -3- games... so good.



oh btw - people are going to love next gen Japanese games prices! Sony first party Killzone is preorderable in stores at 7280 yen, all the Ubisoft games are pulling in at 8890 yen lol.

NICE WORK! :/ I'm sure this is probably just "launch idiot tax" but... let us see :/ (yes, i have a preorder)

[undamned]

Is Mandarake still any good? Seemed to be pretty cool all around when I visited (probably hit 4 of them).
-ud

[GaijinPunch]

they are all an adventure because prices vary wildly - as do stock levels and contents. I have 5 BookOffs that i'm regularly near and the price variations are wild. It makes for fun shopping - or it would if i was actively buying much these days - most the time i just window shop for fun.

Are you talking new or used... and if new, are you talking brand new? I've never seen a shop beat Amazon JP's price for a new game. Then again, I've not bought a new game in ages.

NICE WORK! :/ I'm sure this is probably just "launch idiot tax" but... let us see :/ (yes, i have a preorder)

They're paying for the 3/11 reconstruction.

[dcharlie]

Are you talking new or used... and if new, are you talking brand new? I've never seen a shop beat Amazon JP's price for a new game. Then again, I've not bought a new game in ages.

sorry - was talking mainly about used. Brand New - yeah, i've not seen anywhere come close to Amazon's prices - though prices decrease much quicker in stores and Sofmap do have a nice line of flash sales recently on month+ old stuff.

Is Mandarake still any good?

yes - at least Nakano's Galaxy and the new Akihabara ones are. They have a nice range of prices - so if you are prepared to go B grade , or not-entirely-brand-new-looking on your retro purchases then they're great, though the boxed mint retro stuff can get a bit silly as you'd expect

Actually, the Aki branch has pretty good prices on recent releases too.

[Remembrance]

To follow up, I'm posting directly from Akihabara tonight and, frankly, it's pretty grim. It feels like somebody cleaned out the place before I got here!

Bad timing, probably... But looks like it's more online ordering for me for the foreseeable future.

[rancor]

You didn't happen to be in HEY! tonight playing Garegga did you? Odd to see a foreigner doing so well.. I figured it would be someone from here.

.... or was this you, holding this sign just outside the station?

[quash]

That's amazing, haha.

[GaijinPunch]

That was me. Sorry.