How do you prefer to buy your anime

[Epyon999]

Also where do you think is the best place/website to buy anime?

[Amano Ginji]

I try to get the box that comes with the first volume.

I like to buy off of Amazon (www.amazon.com).

[Jade_GL]

I usually buy whole sets only if I know I like them. there is no way I would buy anything on word of mouth alone. I mean, a million anime fans like EVA, but if I haven't seen at least four episodes, I won't buy the box set. So I'll try it first.

The best place for DVDs in http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com . Not only are their DVDs well priced when you look around at other online stores, but they have free shipping no matter how much you spend. So let's say you buy one movie, 20 bucks. At Amazon, you only get free shipping if you spend 25 dollars or over. At Deep Discount, you get free shipping for any purchase, even if it's only something that's ten dollars. :D

And I do ebay, but you must read carefully. People sell bootlegs and VCDs, so you have to make sure it's the real thing before you bid. But I got my Utena Movie DVD for a total of 28 dollars, which includes the shipping, as a preorder, and they were selling it for no less than 30 dollar, not including shipping, at Animenation at the same time. So look around and try stuff out! :D

[Karl Olson]

Depends on the series. Sometimes I can't wait for the box and buy as I go along. Other times, I can wait, or the box is already released and is much less expensive than getting the individual volumes.

I usually internet order boxsets, and buy individual dvds at the local anime store, www.animekingdom.com (hasn't been updated in over a year, so it's not that interesting).

[Poser Wannabe]

I almost always buy Vol 1 w/ box and collect the rest. The only series I haven't done that with recently was RahXephon because the box is cheap.

The three places I buy anime through is:
Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/) -- They only have good deals on preorders, everything else is overpriced. Plus I got on the AoD STL list and I usually get good deals through that.

DVDPlanet (http://www.dvdplanet.com/) -- Really good prices, and I love their shipping. I may have to pay $2.50 for it but I usually get my DVD in 2 days. :)

and the Rightstuf (http://www.rightstuf.com/) -- They have amazing weekly specials that are hard to resist. :( For example right now they are selling volumes 1-6 of Nadesico for only $60.00 (http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/J4FXfMkjlq8d=FN0Qx/browse/item/59602/4/153/0)... Must resist... :p Plus TRSI has some of the best customer service of any anime company.

[jeffrey 228]

Individual DVDS as long if they are cheap and would finish off my collection, as I usually do. :rolleyes:

[uhhuhioi]

If it's an anime I really like I get the boxset. But I have this habbit about buying the individualy only to find out later there is a box coming. I like to watch a good amount of the series before buying. But there are times I find a great sale, like the Nadesico(SP) boxset, and buy it only seeing a few eps. I usually buy/order my things from Bestbuy.

Side note: I didn't know you could just get the first volume with the box. Does everyplace do this or is it like a special request?

[Amano Ginji]

Releasing the box with the first DVD is becoming pretty popular.
It's a fairly new way of doing it.

[uhhuhioi]

I'll have to keep my eye open next time. And Poser Wannabe, check out this (http://www.bestbuy.com/movies/ProductInfo.asp?e=11171268&m=270&cat=&scat=) deal for Nadesico :p. Not sure they are the same, but if so I was just giving you a heads up.

[Conekiller]

I preferr to buy them with employee discount ;P

but really it depends on the show

I'm wating for the Excel Saga boxset but I bought the Boxw/ vol 1 of .hack//SIGN it just depends on me

and I rarely BUY anime, not when I can rent, borrow or download
I make special occasions for series truly worthy of my money

[Elven Moon]

Well, it really depends on the series. For the most part, though, I buy individual discs.

[Cyber E.]

Since I don't own a DVD Player at the moment but will be getting one soon (To whom who replied to my thread "What should I get?" : You happy now?! You convined me.) so I'll just talk like I have one since I'll have the same feeling and statements once I own one..

It depands on what the series is, but I'll get the series one by one, I never believe or trust a box set. Even though it there are some nice ones like the Evangelion one, I am better off spending the little amount of money I have every so often. To me it makes sense.

-aJb

[gohan11]

Boxsets for sure, I can't stand watching one episode then having to wait 1-3 weeks for the others.

[EscaflownePilot]

I like to buy the first volume with a box - it usually comes with a bunch of great stuff, like the stationary in Pioneer's Chobits, the soundtrack and plushie in Bandai's .hack//SIGN, or the T-shirts, like almost all of ADV's series. Plus, this way I can try out a series and, if I like it, continue with it while still getting a great box to complete the collection, as opposed to the full boxsets where you're paying a TON of money right away, gambling on whether you'll like the series or not.

Boxsets for sure, I can't stand watching one episode then having to wait 1-3 weeks for the others.
I do like boxes though because, like gohan11 said, it's so much easier to have the full series to go through as fast or as slowly as you want to, without having to wait for the release of more volumes. This would be my second choice for release format.

[joshualane]

I do a little of all 3 options. For example, I bought .hack//SIGN Vol. 1 w/ Box and plan to collect the rest of the series when it comes out. I also buy discs individually and am currently collecting Excel Saga and Reign in that fashion. However, I also wait for boxset releases and am currently doing that for Berserk and possibly the X TV Series.

[EinBebop]

Releasing the box with the first DVD is becoming pretty popular.
It's a fairly new way of doing it.Good idea from a business perspective, too. Many customers drop off after buying the first DVD or two. But people are driven by need to fill those half-empty boxes.

[Sir Gatts]

Usually I always try to acquire the boxset if it's a lengthy series but if the series consist of about 13 or fewer episodes, I'll just get the single releases. The individual DVD releases as already stated usually take too long in-between releases anyway, thus is also one of the main reasons as to why I'll wait for the boxset.

[Galaxia]

I usually do all 3, lol. On a more personal level, I buy individual DVDs when as far as I know there's no box (Lupin the 3rd, FLCL, Excel Saga, Sailor Moon S), certain box sets with volume 1 (Noir, His & Her Circumstances) and full box sets (the Tenchi Muyo! OVA, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Cowboy Bebop). I can go either way, but I'll usually buy full box sets if I can get them pretty cheap.

[BlackCat]

For me, it depends on what is available right now. If a series is still getting released, then I will go ahead and get the individual DVDs or the first volume with the boxset. If the boxset is already available, then I will go ahead and get that.