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Amazon Offers Prime Instant Video in Japan




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kanjineogeo



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
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Location: Flordia, USA
PostPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:58 pm Reply with quote
Did anyone know how Netflix did in japan for now on?
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Agent355



Joined: 12 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:58 pm Reply with quote
Why is Amazon Prime so much cheaper in Japan than in the US?
I'd be really happy if this meant more anime (or Jpop, if they add a music service, too) would be available in the US, but considering how different Amazon US and Amazon Japan's current digital service offerings are, I think they'll keep things separate. Netflix, OTOH, wants to make every show on their service available worldwide.
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samuelp
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Joined: 25 Nov 2007
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:04 pm Reply with quote
Agent355 wrote:
Why is Amazon Prime so much cheaper in Japan than in the US?
I'd be really happy if this meant more anime (or Jpop, if they add a music service, too) would be available in the US, but considering how different Amazon US and Amazon Japan's current digital service offerings are, I think they'll keep things separate. Netflix, OTOH, wants to make every show on their service available worldwide.

Probably because shipping in Japan is a lot cheaper than it is in the us...
Well, it's not cheaper per km I suspect, it's just that Japan is a lot smaller than the US.
Also the other perks of the video and stuff weren't available yet, so maybe they'll start raising prices now.
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fencer_x



Joined: 28 Jul 2011
Posts: 278
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:41 am Reply with quote
samuelp wrote:
Agent355 wrote:
Why is Amazon Prime so much cheaper in Japan than in the US?
I'd be really happy if this meant more anime (or Jpop, if they add a music service, too) would be available in the US, but considering how different Amazon US and Amazon Japan's current digital service offerings are, I think they'll keep things separate. Netflix, OTOH, wants to make every show on their service available worldwide.

Probably because shipping in Japan is a lot cheaper than it is in the us...
Well, it's not cheaper per km I suspect, it's just that Japan is a lot smaller than the US.
Also the other perks of the video and stuff weren't available yet, so maybe they'll start raising prices now.


Amazon Japan has free standard shipping (which means it arrives the next day), and IIRC Prime shipping offers free same-day shipping (as long as you order before noon). This may depend on location--I live in Tokyo and generally receive my parcels the next day with standard shipping--but it's FAR nicer than Amazon US's standard shipping fees and times.

So really there's no point in having Prime in Japan; they have to make it MUCH more desirable and worthwhile than in the US, since we already get extremely fast and free shipping.
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Spotlesseden



Joined: 09 Sep 2004
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:51 am Reply with quote
Free Shipping can still than 5 to 7 days in some smaller cities/towns, it a good idea to have prime.
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Kadmos1



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PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:58 pm Reply with quote
Though the Japanese might to pay fee to view each video (to me, $1.99 is reasonable for the top quality videos), that is a lot more economical than spending so much to buy a standard anime DVD/BD that has 2-3 episodes and minimal extras.
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enurtsol



Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 14773
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:45 pm Reply with quote
Spotlesseden wrote:

Free Shipping can still than 5 to 7 days
Kadmos1 wrote:

Though the Japanese might to pay fee


We know txting has trained us to drop letters in words, but we're up to dropping whole words now? Laughing
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configspace



Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Posts: 3717
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:06 pm Reply with quote
Do they use local couriers in Japan? If so, I wonder if that accounts for the difference in speed in standard shipping vs the US. I'm a prime member (primarily for shipping), but besides the US post office, all I've ever gotten from Amazon are from international shipping companies.
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samuelp
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Joined: 25 Nov 2007
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Location: San Antonio, USA
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 8:09 am Reply with quote
configspace wrote:
Do they use local couriers in Japan? If so, I wonder if that accounts for the difference in speed in standard shipping vs the US. I'm a prime member (primarily for shipping), but besides the US post office, all I've ever gotten from Amazon are from international shipping companies.

Yes, of course they use local couriers. Amazon packages come from kuroneko or sagawa usually... sometimes smaller companies too, depends on the schedule and which warehouse it's coming from.
Using fedex or DHL for internal Japan domestic shipping would be 2-3 times more expensive for them, without doubt.
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