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October 02, 2005
OPINION : Yesasia.com OR Coolwin-Video.com? The Guide To Online Shopping From The Msian Perspective
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I am sure many of you have never shopped online for videos and VCDs and stuff so I thought I might share with you some of my opinion of one very major online shopping centre which specialised in tapes, CDs, DVDs, etc of all genres and all languages that is yesasia.com which is based in HK and coolwin-video.com which specialises in Japanese, Korean series and movies based in Malaysia. There aren't much difference with shopping at yesasia.com and at coolwin-video as I found both to be efficient and professional but there are some minor differences which I am sure may mean something to a consumer at where to shop. The following is meant for Malaysian consumer living in Malaysia intending to buy drama box sets. Just so you know TVB box sets are always expensive. All items are original merchandise.
NOTICE
Although my website is affiliated with Yesasia.com (which means when you click my yesasia.com link in here and then you buy something there, I earn commission but thus far none! I wanna cry!), the statements I made below are not because of commission or anything like that. I don't even get commision from coolwin-video, so if you do make purchases there because of what I wrote here, I won't profit from it. So whatever I wrote below, they are sincerely by me.
Coolwin-video.com yesasia.com Sensasian.com
WHY BUY ONLINE?
Most obvious is you can't find the box sets and movies you want in the stores. But do check out Jusco (normally 20% off), Speedy video (lots of TVB series) and Tower Records (lots of Korean series). If you still can't find what you want, I recommend yesasia.com (click the link through my website would be most helpful as I can earn a bit of commission) and coolwin-video.com.
ITEMS AVAILABLE
For one, coolwin-video primarily sells Japanese and Korean drama series box set. But you will find some Chinese series as well as soundtracks and movies, animes but not English movies or series though. Maybe I missed it. There is a clear indicator which is available and which is not. Out of Stock obviously means no more. I was curious as to what In Transit meant so I emailed the webmaster and was informed that In Transit means they don't have the stock in office but they can get it from the supplier. It would be very helpful if this is explained in the website itself. The only lack of information I find is this and also the products itself. I would love to see summaries, clear indication of whether second DVD is translated or not, etc etc etc.
That would have made the shopping more enjoyable. My only complaint is they now adopted this explanation of the subtitles like for All About Eve, the subtitles they say is "Above Average". Seriously, it should be "Not high quality" would be more accurate! And all items in coolwin-video has been passed through the Malaysian censorship board so if you were to buy Untold Scandal from this website, I seriously doubt you will get to see Bae Yong Jun in "action". For Malaysians looking for English/Malay subtitles for their Korean or Japanese series or movies, this is the place to shop.
Yesasia.com has no restriction in censorship but be careful when you order; your country's custom officer open the stuff and check. Luckily mine wasn't. I seriously doubt they will check though as the items are listed as CDs and DVDs so no reason to check. But I am sure you can't find porno movies there but Untold Scandal should be uncensored. Yesasia.com has more stuff of course and more variations of the same box set. The English subtitles in all the products I bought were excellent so if you want good quality subs, try yesasia.com since their supplies are either from Korea itself or maybe from the States. Just check out the name of the distributor.
PRODUCT DIFFERENCES
For example, I could not find Taegukgi DVD anywhere in the shops. I know it is RM29-90 which is cheap for a DVD come packed with a Making Of VCD all translated into English. It is distributed by PMP Entertainment which is probably the very few who actually invests in making the box sets look nice and presentable. I am very impressed with their Winter Sonata box set although there were obvious spelling mistakes and some major flaws in storing the DVD discs. More on that later.
Anyway I found Taegukgi DVD in coolwin-video.com which is the PMP version, with Malay, Chinese and English subtitles. In fact if you want Malay subtitles, it is better you shop at coolwin-video because yesasia.com doesn't have Malay subtitles.
And that is the product differences, apart from the price. In yesasia.com, Taegukgi DVD is more expensive as probably comes in maybe a Tin box like Chingoo or something else. And no Malay subtitles but got English subtitles which is I am sure is of good quality.
Some VCD box sets may not have English or Malay subtitles. In fact very rare for VCD box set to have English subtitles. As for DVD box sets, if you live in America, it is better you spend a bit more to buy the Korean drama series from yesasia.com because those released by yesasia.com has reportedly excellent English subtitles.
Coolwin-video sometimes sells box sets not distributed by local distributor. I found that in Hotelier and I wonder is that the one translated by the fans?
PRICING
Yesasia.com is all on US dollars basis whilst if you're a local, coolwin-video will sell it at a converted to Ringgit basis which is really better for me because US dollars somehow looked more expensive to me. Now both websites have offer up to 20% for box sets so this is the best time to buy if you can't find your stuff at the local shops.
DELIVERY
Yesasia.com has both normal and courier delivery service and since it is based in HK, expect it to be very expensive if you buy a lot. Their system is on the shipping unit system which I can never understand. Right now if you buy about USD49-90, for normal delivery it is FREE so this is the best time to buy stuff from yesasia.com.
Imagine this.
I bought Friend, JSA, one more title PLUS free one DVD. The stuff is pretty bulky and heavy because Friend comes in a nice heavy Tin Box. The delivery was free. Imagine if it wasn't? I calculated and it should cost me around USD 12-00 to USD16 -00 for the delivery and times that into Ringgit and you will see the delivery is expensive. In fact the delivery may in the end cost the same as in one DVD if you buy a lot. Sensasian.com adopts the same method. So now is the best time to buy from yesasia.com but the offer only applies to series and movies only.
Delivery estimate : For example, my own experience. I bought the stuff one day, credit card company confirmed the next day, stuff shipped out the same day and I got my stuff about 2 days later. Very fast.
Coolwin-video became my favourite because of the delivery charge aspect. For one, for locals, if you choose normal post (3 days you will get your stuff but make sure somebody is at home to pick it up if not our postman may just chuck it by the gate) it is free no matter how much you buy. I think coolwin-video absorbs the cost I guess. But I always choose Pos Laju, our local courier service. Don't say it is bad and not like FedEx because I just found out Pos Laju is very fast and the collection centre opens 7 days a week whilst the postman do deliver on the day they're supposed to be off duty, or so I was told they're supposed to be off duty. For International purchase maybe they use FedEx, I don't know. Anyway the most attractive reason to buy from coolwin-video is no matter how many you buy, the Pos Laju fee they charge is always RM5-00. I seriously doubt my items are only RM5-00 kinda weight so I am sure they absord the extra cost. So you don't need to crack your head calculating the shipping units or worrying how much the conversion would cost or how expensive it is going to be because you bought 6 box sets because all fixed at RM5-00 which is great for me and help me to save a lot. I am sure if you buy in bulk the sum may be adjusted but I don't know. For consumers
like I, knowing that I buy so much it is only RM5-00 is like heaven sent to me and I find this to be the first and best reason to shop at coolwin-video.com. By the way they are based in Penang.
Delivery estimate : For example, this time I bought Winter Sonata DVD and some VCDs. Ordered online Thursday, paid via bank transfer on Friday, postman came on Saturday (wasn't home), collected my stuff from Pos Laju office on Sunday.
Coolwin-video delivery charges : International charges are basically the same as Sensasian.com and Yesasia.com with a bit of discount if you buy more. But for the local perspective, Sensasian.com and Yesasia.com do not care if you're from Malaysia which means they charge the same. Maybe Sensasian.com has some discount but I can't find it if it has one. For coolwin-video, these are the charges. For the whole of Malaysia (just checked the website) , registered post, free. Although during checkout it writes free for Pos Laju, it is not. You will see the sum during the last checkout stage. Pos Laju (National Courier) RM5-00 however much you buy I think. The most I bought is 3 thus far, one very heavy one still the same RM5-00. Probably if you buy 10 the sum could be lower. All About Eve was just 1 and still RM5-00.
SERVICE
Yesasia.com is I admit more professional in email correspondence. But don't mistake this as coolwin-video being unprofessional, quite the contrary. For one, if you email coolwin-video, you will get a reply as soon as in 1 minute and as late as in one day. I am not joking! 1 minute. Yesasia.com may take a day or more.
But yesasia.com's reply is more corteous. I am not saying coolwin is rude. But you won't have greetings or thank yous, like most Malaysian emailing style, we all go straight to the point. I never knew who replied my email. Yesasia.com comes complete with a logo, a name, a designation, dear and thank you and yours faithfully. More formal. But coolwin was never rude, but rather indifferent.
ORDERING THROUGH YESASIA.COM
First you create a shopping account. Malaysia does not have Paypal so you will have to pay by credit card if you want your stuff fast. You can pay by bankers cheque. I am sure the shopping is secured. Once you paid by credit card, you will receive a confirmation of order, and the another pending email because you credit card may need to verify your purchase (like Mastercard). Once you call Mastercard to release the sum (mine was RM30-00 and still I need to confirm, which is good because it is secure and safe transaction) the same day you will receive a confirmation on your order has been shipped out plus the invoice. You can track your stuff through the website which is really of no use actually. So at yesasia.com you will constantly be notified on the status of your purchase before shipping out, so you know what is going on. I find this method very reassuring and very professional. The emails are all very professionally written by the way.
ORDERING THROUGH COOLWIN-VIDEO.COM
Same way, creat an account. Malaysia does not have Paypal, but coolwin is more convenient in the sense that you can pay via bank transfer at Mayban. In fact I encourage you to pay like this to minimise your credit card exposure you know. Once you paid, FAX your payment receipt (write your order number on it) to the fax number as provided, write a note that you insist on them emailing you once they received your payment receipt. I do not know if they will do so automatically even if you never write that notice BUT I always write it and I always get a reply via email that my receipt is received and items shipped (if the items are in stock of course, never bought an item in transit so seriously I do not know if they'll email you). You can track your purchase at the website which is not very good actually because I remember buying All About Eve DVD, even after I received my stuff the note in that website was still PENDING or something like that. For my latest purchase though I found out it was shipped when I went to the website and it was written SHIPPED (on Thursday, the day I paid the money). So I guess it depends on how free is the webmaster! I think they must be free, not sure if good business or not. Although the emails are a bit curt and impersonal and indifferent, I find the confirmation
reassuring and that to me is professionalism.
Both Yesasia.com and Coolwin-video are both efficient and professional at the end of the day.
IMPORTANT POINTERS : Never ever give the wrong address man! Never! Make sure someone is at home to take your delivery if not like me you have to drive ALL the way to Pos Laju's office or maybe you delivery may be left by the gate, in the rain!
CONDITION OF PRODUCTS
Both mail their stuff in tightly packed brown envelopes. I haven't bought enough to merit a box. But I find coolwin-video more fanatic when it comes to packing their stuff; super tightly packed. Condition for coolwin is better because it is from Penang only, so the box is always still in great condition. Yesasia.com was a bit disappointing because my Chingoo box a bit dented (the paper box that is) and the JSA box is a bit dented also. You can return the items to get new ones but aiyah have to pay delivery cost and all, so never bothered to do so. Some said online shopping is not good because you can't change the discs if they're no good. There are return policies in both websites. BUT thus far the discs are of excellent quality, depending on which version you buy. No scratches thus far, also you must thank you postman who may have been very gentle with the packages. I have yet to have bad experience when it comes to the condition of the products
except for those I mentioned. I was a bit angry because these two DVDs aren't cheap you know.
WHERE TO BUY FROM?
If you're Malaysian, and if you live in West Malaysia, and you found the same items at Yesasia.com and in Coolwin-video.com, the version is the same and is what you want, in terms of speed, delivery cost and discount also, I would say coolwin- video.com, especially in terms of delivery cost. For whatever else you can't find, yesasia.com is the next stop. For example you will never find Chingoo in Malaysia. So yesasia.com is the only next stop. I can't comment on Sensasian.com's service since I have yet to buy anything there and so far my enquiries have all been answered up to a certain extent. My last email was not answered after I replied on the same subject for I think the 3rd time.
The rest of those online shopping for DVD are either very expensive or the delivery is expensive. Just for your info, sensasian.com adopts the same system as yesasia.com but I was informed you can collect your stuff from the KL office which may cost less, that I do not know. Why I chose coolwin-video.com over sensasian.com or yesasia.com if the product can be found there is primarily and honestly because of the delivery cost and because everything is in Msian Ringgit which is easier for me to understand. No shipping fee, no handling fee, no processing fee. For me as long as I get my products safe and secured, Pos Laju is good enough for me and more so at a fixed rate.
Example : You wanna buy Dae Jang Geum VCD Box sets which comes in 3 or 4, very heavy ones. Imagine the delivery cost! By the way there is a Dae Jang Geum DVD box set, RM200-00 or so but do the math calculation, it is worth the price since all 70 episodes in one box set!
Another example: I wanna buy Nowhere To Hide (VCD) with English subtitles. May be different distributor but at the end same movie. Did some research at 3 shopping sites I mentioned above and these are the figures... (correct me if I am wrong)
Sensasian.com
After discount : USD6-99 (RM26.56)
Reg Mail : USD4-00 (RM15.20)
Convert to Ringgit : RM41.76 or somewhere that region.
Yesasia.com
After discount : RM18.76
Standard Post : US$6.48 (RM23.98)
Convert to Ringgit : RM42-74 or somewhere that region.
Coolwin-video.com
After discount : RM16.90
Pos Laju : RM5-00
Total : RM21.90 (darn it! Out of stock!)
MORE THOUGHTS
I just bought the Winter Sonata DVD distributed by PMP Entertainment. Box is beautiful but the spelling mistakes are very embarasing. Bae Yong Jing? Winter's Sonate OR Winter Sonata? Why not just Winter Love Song? Or could it be Winter's Love Song?? But there is an NG segment and all. I am very impressed with PMP packaging. Much thought had been poured into the packaging that I just wish they were the one distributing All About Eve and Hotelier. I checked out the subtitles, slightly better than All About Eve but still got mistakes like "cann't". Maybe more care should be put into the subtitles, PMP!! The flaw with the storage is that it is not in some pouch but like those VCD movies. Since only 6 discs, I think they opted for this option. Each compartment got a nice picture of the stars. I find the box exquisite. But when I opened it, there is a danger of a disc dropping onto the floor because the disc was not properly and securedly fastened to the casing. That is the flaw. Why not a pouch? The best storage is actually Friend or JSA DVD. I remember describing it to you and I think 6 discs stacking on top of one another the way JSA or Friend was (although 2 discs only) would be the best method. The worst was All About Eve, 10 discs stacking on top of one another without a divider between each one was shocking to me. To me the distributor wasn't interested in making the product look good and secured, and I was most disappointed with the profit first, product second attitude. PMP is I am happy to say in the right direction but the casing can be improved.
Anyway Taegukgi DVD was better. Same concept as Winter Sonata DVD but since only 2 discs and securedly fastened to the casing. I like the pictures in it and the extra hard plastic cover to cover the DVD box which is smaller than I expected. Water also won't destroy the paper box I tell you! And for only RM29-90, a good buy. But the interface as in menu is unimaginative, unlike Friend or JSA or Lost Memories. I suspect the international release may have a different menu. Again only RM29-90, what to expect? The Making Of VCD is translated by the way, thank God for that. Still pissed that Friend and all never translated!
To tell you the truth, the most beautiful movie DVD box set I got was Friend, which is a limited edition and can only be bought at yesasia.com. So do get that one if you want to watch this movie.
Anyway I can now officially open a Jang Dong Gun Media Library. I just cleaned out TWO small cabinets for his movies and series! I bought Icing and Myth Of A Hero/Legend of a Hero (Taiwanese version only! Very disappointed) at half the price at JJ Maluri.
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1 COMMENTS
hehhehe