My sympathies.

OT: Question by Ansela on 2009-01-08 22:00:00 UTC Reply

Has anyone here ever spotted something on a website that they really, really, really want to buy, only to find out (once they've managed to locate the handy little link that turns the page into a readable language) that they can't because it's only available within one country?

Yes, on the BBC website by Five_redclawed on 2009-01-09 17:30:00 UTC Reply

I've had a tough time getting access to the British Life on Mars television show. I'd be more than willing to rent it from the video store, but there is no domestic import; while I've managed to get my hands on copies from Britain, the DVD format is different and messes with my laptop. You'd think that if a show was so appealing to people that various countries around the world are remaking the series, it would be a good idea to export the original, but noooo...

Sorry, this has been a long-running pet peeve. I'll stop ranting now.

Also, while I haven't been actively trying to buy it, I've heard of gamers who wanted to get the Japanese game called "Metal Wolf Chaos." However, the company won't export it even though the game has the most spectacularly awesome concept ever.

*looks shifty* by Ansela on 2009-01-09 18:07:00 UTC Reply

Life on Mars UK version? If you can use torrents, then you could download it until you can get a DVD that's encoded for your region. The BBC is a bit crap though, when it comes to exports, so you might be waiting a while.

http://www.btmon.com/Other/Unsorted/LIFEONMARS-THECOMPLETEFIRST_SERIES.torrent.html (tells you how to use torrents as well).

There are less illegal options... by Techno-Dann on 2009-01-11 01:52:00 UTC Reply

For example, switching your DVD drive to a region free firmware.

(Surgeon General's Warning: Firmware flashing is not risk-free. Make sure to get the appropriate version for your system, etcetera.)

*is currently living in Japan* by Leto Haven on 2009-01-09 09:28:00 UTC Reply

If you trust me I can get it to you, depending on if I can get it. I would have to get your real life address (off list of course). Or you could even have amazon send it to my place, and then I would send it to you.

What are you looking for? (I may be able to get it at a cheaper price than amazon). Since it isn:t an English book or something like that, it is not easy to get english books in Yamaguchi-ken. *wink*

Up to you, I would not be offended in the slightest if you don:t want to give me your address at all.

PS, depending on the weight, international shipping can be very stupid. Four paper back books form Canada to Japan by mail cost $30 CAD. If you don:t mind waiting for it (~6 months) I can get cheap shipping. If not, it does add to the price of the object.

Leto

Re: *is currently living in Japan* by Ansela on 2009-01-09 18:09:00 UTC Reply

That wouldn't be too much trouble? You're an angel! Are you still on the same email?

I don't mind waiting. The figurine set I want isn't out until April 25th, so I'd have to wait for it anyway.

Books, huh? Depending on what it is, I can get hold of English books pretty easily. ~~I'm assuming you mean books in English here, not books for teaching English, since you tend to need to go to specialist suppliers for them.~~

I have a good suply for novels! by Leto on 2009-01-09 22:18:00 UTC Reply

But yes, I am still at letohaven @ hotmail . com and will ship it to you when you want! I know the pain of waiting for things. I wait for my favourite authors to write their novels all the time!

If they all come out at the same time, I will be able to get them to you. And 6300 yen is much less then I would have expected for them.

I am in the country until Sepetember, maybe December, haven:t decided yet.

L

Perchased, now it is the waiting game! (nm) by Leto Haven on 2009-01-13 23:48:00 UTC Reply

Sure. It's called "America". by Sedri on 2009-01-08 22:09:00 UTC Reply

Happens all the time. Amercian companies (except Amazon.com) seem to forget that there's a world beyond their borders, and that the internet allows us to look, drool, and then pay twice the item's price on shipping because we have to route it through a proxy, which half the time is impossible.

Bah; sorry. Grumbling. Any reason you ask?

Re: Sure. It's called "America". by Ansela on 2009-01-08 22:17:00 UTC Reply

There's something I want from Japan, but amazon.jp doesn't ship toys outside of the country. I can afford it, and it's something I really want, but the UK is not, no matter how much I want it to be sometimes, Japan.

My sympathies. by Sedri on 2009-01-09 04:37:00 UTC Reply

Any chance there's anyone over there who'd be willing to mail it for you?