HMV Japan

Posted by: J.N. on 01 June 2005

Some of you may be aware that Japanese made CD's (as with vinyl) offer the ultimate packaging and sound quality.

I've just used HMV Japan for the first time. Prices are in Yen and the postage costs are a bit steep.

My first order of two discs arrived today. Both recent 24 bit remaster/reissues in LP type mini-cardboard sleeves:-

Mannfred Mann's Earth Band - 'Nightingales and Bombers' and Ace - 'Five a Side'.

The sound quality is predictably superb, but what really amazed me was that the discs arrived FOUR DAYS after placing the order.

There is no mention anywhere on the paperwork of a UK distribution centre, and the discs appear to have come directly from Tokyo, via Fed-Ex (who have an excellent on-line order tracking facility).

The downside of course was the price - around £42.50 (inc p&p) for the two discs. I shall certainly be using them again.

John.

Posted on: 01 June 2005 by Squonk

Thanks John for this. The site looks pretty good and will be useful to me in obtaining some of the less available jazz releases I like to buy.

Cheers
Adrian

Posted on: 01 June 2005 by kuma

quote:
My first order of two discs arrived today. Both recent 24 bit remaster/reissues in LP type mini-cardboard sleeves:-

The sound quality on those reissues, however, varies by the title.

I've ordered few discs from them and their service has been excellent, indeed.

Posted on: 02 June 2005 by RoyleBlue

I use this site - good for DVD's as well!

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/index.html

Posted on: 10 June 2005 by J.N.

My second order of five discs arrived in five days (from Tokyo!)

But, beware............ I'm now receiving written demands for import duty and handling fees from Fed-Ex.

Bugger!

John.

Posted on: 13 June 2005 by Peter Stockwell

quote:
Originally posted by J.N.:
My second order of five discs arrived in five days (from Tokyo!)

But, beware............ I'm now receiving written demands for import duty and handling fees from Fed-Ex.

Bugger!

John.

That's because FEd-ex had to pay it for you!

You have to be careful with buying outside the E.U. if the value is above 22€(for France), including P+P, I might have to pay the 2.5% import duty + the VAT (19.6%) and also maybe a handling charge.

FWIW, Caiman on amazon.?? will send CDs individually, neatly sidestepping the 22€ limit most of the time.

Posted on: 14 June 2005 by J.N.

Peter;

Yes indeed - I do know the rules on this, but the USA CD suppliers that I regularly use, tell 'fibs' on the packaging to avoid this additional expense most of the time.

I think that technically, any value of goods over £18 attracts import duty and VAT.

John.