1. Are the Anime titles listed on the store uncut or edited?

   This is a very common question. The answer is that unless it states specifically otherwise in the item description, all the Anime that we carry is completely uncut and unedited. Generally, the studios include all the content on the DVD version that have to be edited out of the version shown on TV.  Any edited versions will be clearly marked 'edited' or 'TV Edit' in the item description, and when there are two versions available, we always carry the uncut version.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

2. Do your Anime DVD's have the same English voice actors as the version that I have seen on TV?

   Yes indeed. Because we only sell the official licensed release, we carry only the DVD or VHS versions produced by the same studios that put the Anime on TV.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

3. What exactly does 'dubbed' mean? What does 'Bi-Lingual' mean?

   'Dubbed': Most of the people that still ask this question are probably really trying to make sure we are not carrying some Hong Kong dubbed bootleg, which of course, we don't. :-) 'Dubbed' simply mean that the original Japanese language dialog has been redone in English language dialog by professional voice actors. Keep in mind though, that not all dubs are created equal.

   'Bi-Lingual' is the best of both worlds, and means that the DVD contains BOTH an English Language track, and also the original Japanese Language track with professional English text subtitles, and you get to choose to watch it in either or both languages. This is the great thing about releasing anime on DVD in that you can have multiple spoken language tracks on the same disk. A few disks even come with Spanish and French language tracks, in addition to English and Japanese, which is awesome!

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

4. What do you mean when you say that an item is an 'import' vs. a 'domestic' item?

   Most of the items that we carry in the store are the licensed domestically produced (made in the USA) versions, however, to fill in the gaps of what is not available here in the US we import many items directly from Japan. This is especially true with Anime Toys, Music, Art Books, and a few DVD's which simply are not produced here in the US.

   In the case of Anime music, the majority of our items listed are direct Japanese imports (we bring them in from suppliers in Tokyo and Osaka), and the few licensed domestic CD releases that exist are sprinkled in among them. Sometimes there will be both an import and a domestic release of the same CD, and we carry them both ways so you can choose (some collectors only want the Japanese import version, even though they are more expensive).

   Some stores carry illegal bootlegs from Taiwan, China, or Korea and call them 'imported' items (to make them sound more legitimate, or to confuse people into thinking they are real Japanese produced items). You won't find anything like that at the Anime Corner. When we say an item is 'imported' we mean it is the real thing brought over directly from Japan.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

5. What does region encoding mean for your DVDs? Will they work on my player?

   Unless otherwise stated in the item description, all of our DVD's are encoded for play in at least Region 1 (sometimes 2 & 4 also), which is the North American DVD region. We do have a few Japanese import DVD's that are encoded for Region 2, which is Japan and Europe. Also, all of our DVD's are NTSC video format, as opposed to PAL format commonly used in Europe.

   

   If you are in the US, all of our DVD's will work just fine in your DVD player except for those few imports that are region 2. To play them, you will need a multi-region, or region free DVD player. The same applies to our customers outside of the US and Canada, who will need a multi-region or region free DVD player to play our Region 1 DVD's. Customers in Europe will also need a DVD player capable of playing the NTSC format, however, most new DVD players sold in Europe are now capable of playing both NTSC and PAL formats.

   Complete information about region encoding and the DVD format can be found on our DVD Primer Page.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

6. Do you carry Japanese language Import Manga?

   We used to, however, so many Manga titles have now been licensed in the US and printed in English that demand for imports fell to nearly zero a couple years ago and we no longer carry them. Rest assured that if you are looking for a manga series that is not out in English yet, it will be soon and we will have it!

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

7. What is the difference between a Japanese Import Music CD and a Domestic Music CD? Are the songs on a domestic CD in English? Can I play Japanese CD's in my CD player?

   Here's a question that we get a lot, and I always get a chuckle when I answer it! :-)

   Japanese Import Music CD's are produced in Japan, and we import them directly from Japan. Domestic music CD's are produced under license in the US, and are the US released versions of the original Japanese CD. This does not mean that the music on a domestic CD is in English, on the contrary, usually the domestic version is the exact same as the Japanese version, and contains the original Japanese music content, except with English labeling and usually a lower price due to the CD being produced locally.

   Of course, there is no region encoding for CD's (thank goodness!), and any CD will play in any CD player, no matter where it was produced.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

8. Some of your items have age ratings, some do not? How do I know what age an Anime is appropriate for?

   Age ratings are actually a recent phenomenon in the Anime industry, and are long over due. Unfortunately, there is no standard age rating system used by the US Anime studios. Some studios use a home video version of the Motion Picture Association content rating system, and other studios have chosen to use a version of the system currently in use for video game content. Some studios do not provide age ratings at all. We are currently building in suggested age ratings on all new titles, and are working back through our catalog to provide age ratings that we feel are appropriate to our older titles. Occasionally, if we have seen that Anime, we may set the age rating a bit higher than the studio if we feel that the content is not appropriate to that particular age group. Personally, I've always felt that the MPAA, ESRB, and other organizations tasked with rating content set a minimum standard at best, so we won't always agree with them.

   Also keep in mind that these ratings are just suggestions, and we recommend that parents who are concerned about what their children are watching (that should be all of you!) should preview the title first to ensure that they feel the content is appropriate. Some titles that are fine for a 15 year old, may not be suitable for a 13 year old. Also, remember that many of the titles that are shown on TV are heavily edited, and the DVD releases often are original uncut versions and include content that may not be suitable for the same age group watching the TV version. For instance, there are no swear words on the TV version of DragonBall Z, but there are plenty in the uncut version released on DVD.

   If you are a parent of an Otaku, here is an excellent database maintained at Anime Cafe's site called 'A Parent's Guide to Anime'. It's worth a look if your not sure if the content of a particular anime might be suitable for your son or daughter.

   If you do have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us and we'll help you as best we can with this.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

9. What does OVA mean? What is the difference between an OVA, a Movie, and a TV Series?

   In Japan, there is a very large direct to video market (more so than here in the US, though that is slowly changing). Many Anime series start life as an OVA, or Original Video Animation, and are released directly to the home video market. Sometimes it works the other way when a popular TV series will be followed on or continued by a shorter OVA release.

   Tenchi Muyo is a great example of a series that has seen production in every format. It started off as a 36 episodes OVA series (but only 13 episodes were ever made), released directly to video and not shown on TV, then 2 complete TV series where produced (another one is coming), and finally 3 high quality theatrical productions that appeared in Japanese movie theaters.

   As a rule of thumb, an OVA is usually a higher quality production with better animation and music (since it is not produced to the rigorous time constraints that TV products are), but will be shorter than a TV series, usually from 2 to 6 episodes (sometimes more). This is not to be confused with the popular 13 episodes TV series shorts that are popular in the later time blocks in Japan. Movies, of course, are generally to highest quality, but shortest productions.

   Note: Some people have Americanized the term OVA as OAV (Original Animated Video), but we prefer to use the original Japanese terminology at the Anime Corner Store. :-)

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

10. Can you recommend some Anime titles to me? What would you consider the Anime 'A' list of must see titles?

    I have to admit, that the answer to that is much bigger than the question. If you ask 10 Anime fans this question, you'll get 11 different answers. There are so many different Anime titles, and there are so many diverse tastes that it's almost impossible to recommend titles to someone, but we've gotten together and compiled a short list of our favorite titles that might help you out.

    This is NOT a comprehensive list by any means, it is listed in NO particular order (on purpose), and many of MY personal favorites (like Orguss 02 for instance) were left off. In order to be included on this list EVERYONE here had to agree that it was a title they would recommend, so we hope this list is helpful to you - it's a good place to get started anyway:
    
    

    Tenchi Muyo Ranma 1/2 Escaflowne Full Metal Panic Love Hina Samurai X / Rurouni Kenshin Now and Then, Here and There Slayers TV and Slayers Next Saber Marionette J El Hazard Macross Plus Ai Yori Aoshi Street Fighter II-V GTO Animation Runner Kuromi

    Princess Mononoke My Neighbor Totoro Spirited Away Ninja Scroll (Movie) Vampire Princess Miyu Berserk Initial D Ex-Driver Gundam Wings of Honneamise Akira Vampire Hunter D Ghost in the Shell Cowboy Bebop Trigun

    Fruits Basket Lain Key the Metal Idol Kimagure Orange Road Record of Lodoss War OVA Oh My Goddess OVA You're Under Arrest Video Girl Ai Inu Yasha Neon Genesis Evangelion FLCL (Fooly Cooly) YuYu Hakusho Excel Saga Macross TV Series Noir

~ Back to Top ~

1. I heard that you allow trade ins of used DVD's, CD's, and Manga. Is that correct?

   We will happily take your use Anime DVD's, Domestic CD's, Japanese CD's, or Manga in trade for store credit. See #2 below for instructions.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

2. How can I trade in my used Anime for store credit?

   Trading in your excellent condition previously viewed Anime DVD's, CD's, or Manga for store credit is now very easy.

   We will pay the following for Anime trade ins:

   • Previously Viewed Anime DVD's in Excellent Condition:                        $3.00 per disc

   • Previously Viewed Anime DVD Boxed Sets in Excellent Condition:        $3.00 per disc
         (Example: Boxed Set of 8 DVDs - $3 x 8 discs = $24)

   • New Factory Sealed Anime DVD's in Brand New Condition:                   $4.00 per disc

   • New Factory Sealed Anime DVD Boxed Sets in Brand New Condition:   $4.00 per disc
         (Example: Boxed Set of 8 DVDs - $4 x 8 discs = $32)

   • New or Used English Language Manga in Excellent Condition:               $1.00 per book
         (English Language Graphic Novels Only - No 32 Page Monthly Comics Please)

   • Used Domestic Anime CD's in Excellent Condition:                               $1.50 per CD
         (Licensed US Releases only - no SonMay, Alion, or other Bootlegs Please)

   • Used Japanese Anime or J-Pop CD's in Excellent Condition:                  $2.00 per CD
         (Licensed Japanese Releases only - no SonMay, Alion, or other Bootlegs Please)

   You can trade in any number or combination of the above items, from 1 item to 100 or more at a time. We will take trade in of a single item or an entire collection. When you are ready to trade in your items, there is no need to contact us first or obtain an authorization number, simply pack-up your items and ship them via regular mail to:

       Robert's Anime Corner
       Attn: ANIME TRADE INS
       P.O. Box 932
       Ranson, WV  25438-0932
       USA

   Or ship them via UPS or FedEx directly to our warehouse at:

       Robert's Anime Corner
       Attn: ANIME TRADE INS
       308 South Buchannan Street
       Ranson, WV  25438
       USA

   Please include the following information when you ship us your trade ins:

       - Full Name
       - Address
       - Phone
       - E-Mail Address
       - List of the items you are trading in

   Make sure to write 'Anime Trade Ins' on the outside of your box.

   Once your trade in arrives in our warehouse, we will inventory and inspect them, tally up your trade in credit, and e-mail you a store coupon for the amount of the trade in credit that you can apply towards your next order here at the Anime Corner. Please allow 7-10 working days from the time your trade in arrives in our warehouse for your coupon to be issued.

   Trade In Terms & Conditions:
   We will only accept items that are in excellent condition for trade ins. That means that all items must be in their original packaging, and contain all sleeves and/or inserts that original came with them. DVD's and CD's will be tested, and those with scratches, defects, broken cases, or play-back problems will be rejected. All trade in DVD's must be Region 1 (North American) releases. Books must be in excellent condition and cannot have bent corners, missing pages, torn spines, etc. We do not currently accept Japanese Language manga for trade in. Items that are shipped to us that are not in excellent condition will be rejected and returned to you without credit. We will not accept non-licensed anime releases or bootlegs for trade in credit, and will return them to you at your expense. If you are not sure if your DVD or CD is a bootleg or eligible for trade in, just check the store to see if we carry it. If we carry it, it's legit and we will accept it for trade in credit. We recommend using a trackable shipping method when sending us your trade in item, and for you to consider insuring your shipment. We cannot be responsible for any items shipped to us that are lost or damaged in transit before they reach our warehouse.

   Please be sure to e-mail us if you have any questions regarding trading in your used Anime.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

3. Do you sell used DVD's and CD's on the store? What do you do with items that are traded in?

   Many times we are asked "Once you buy my used DVD's, what do you do with them?". Currently, we do not resell used or traded in DVD's or CD's at the Anime Corner Store. We dispose of your used anime through secondary market channels (though I must admit, a few of them end up in the personal collections of some Anime Corner employees, who will remain nameless.....-_^). We provide this as a service to you, rather than some additional means to make money.

   ~ Back to Top ~

1. How do I search for an item on the store?

   That's easy! Just click here. You can search the store by any keyword, by format, even by genre.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

2. How do I get coupons and special offers?

   We currently do offer some great coupons and special offers from time to time, but only to our Newsletter subscribers. If you'd like access to these offers, make sure to sign up here. We send it out about once every 2 weeks, and it's chock full of news, new release info, reviews, and lots of other good stuff.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

3. Do you offer Gift Certificates?

   Absolutely, they are delivered via e-mail and they make the perfect gift! <Click Here>

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

4. How do I know if an item I want to order is currently in stock?

   Rather than have an incredibly expensive web integration with our inventory system, we simply strive to keep every item listed on the store in stock and ready to ship at all times. This is what it means when an items says "Stocking Item" - unless that item is currently backordered from the manufacturer, we should have it in stock and ready to ship in our warehouse.

   Of course, we deal directly with over 40 major manufacturers, studios, and Anime producers, plus over a hundred minor manufacturers, vendors, importers, and sales agents for the over 7,000 items we carry. They all have different policies and procedures, and some of them can get a little quirky at times, which is why we frequently see Bob in his office doing a juggling act on the phone when something doesn't come when it's supposed to.... -_^

   The nature of some items also makes this a little harder to always keep them in stock, like Import CD's which have long lead times (usually a few weeks). Some domestic Manga also comes to mind, because in the US comic book business many publishers are tiny little companies with limited resources, which is why some titles can go into 'reprint' statues for weeks or months at a time. Other items like apparel or toys which are only subject to one production run and then discontinued. Items like that will be listed as in stock while we have them, and then changed to 'Backordered' (if we think we can obtain more at some point) or 'Sold Out' (if it's gone forever and we're probably SOL) status once they are gone. While we update the status on these items every 24 hours, it is inevitable that 2 people will occasionally order the same item in a 24 hours period when there was only 1 left. In that case, the item is first come, first served, and the item will be marked as backordered or sold-out on the other customer's pick ticket.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

5. What currency are your prices listed in? How can I tell how much an item will cost in my own currency?

   Our prices are always in US Dollars. If you'd like to know how much something costs in your home currency, you can use this currency converter.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

6. Why can't I place more than one item in my shopping cart at a time?

   You may be blocking or have disabled the "Cookies" function on your browser or you have a software program (like a personal firewall program from Mcafee or Norton) that is blocking the shopping cart cookie, and you must have cookies enabled for our shopping cart to function properly. This is actually safer and more private than if our software stored your shopping cart on our side. We use Yahoo's ultra secure server side solution to host our store, and the shopping carts of all 120,000 Yahoo stores on the web work this same way.

   If you don't know how to enable "Cookies" in your browser, please do the following:

   How to enable cookies:

   • For Microsoft Internet Explorer, choose "Tools," then "Internet Options," then " Security Tab," then "Internet," and finally choose "Default Level".
   • For Netscape browsers, choose "Edit," then "Preferences," then "Advanced," and finally choose "Accept All Cookies".
   • If your are using AOL's or Apple's browser, please contact their customer support to find out how to enable cookies for your particular version.
     
   If this does not resolve the issue, you might still have your browser security settings set too high. You can solve this problem without altering your security level settings by setting our store are a 'trusted' site in your browser software and/or in your firewall software so the software will allow the store to set our shopping cart cookie within your browser.

   If you still need help, please feel free to contact us at <customercare@animecorner.com>.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

7. Why don't you guys show the retail price of the items on the store? If you did, people would better understand how good your prices are!

   This is a subject that Robert is particularly vocal on! :-)

   The vast majority of the items in our store are priced at a 20-40% discount to the retail price, with some being priced even lower. We believe that Anime consumers are some of the most .Net savvy consumers around. You know what things sell for, and you know a good deal when you see it without being having to be told. The 'Retail' price of an item is mostly irrelevant, because no one pays that price anyway (unless you're standing in a  Suncoast... -_^), however, many stores base their overall pricing structure on an 'X' discount off retail, and then like to promote how much you are saving:

       For example: Retail Price $29.98, Our Price $26.98 - You Save 10% (hmmmm, not really though.....)

   This is the type of pricing structure you'll see at stores like AnimeNation and RightStuf (even Amazon!), but those prices are misleading in that while they want you to believe you are saving 10%, you may actually be paying 15-25% MORE than you would if you bought the same item here at the Anime Corner. We've always felt that Anime consumers are too smart for that kind of approach, and we don't use that methodology.

   For import items, posting the retail price is also not very relevant, since the original Japanese price would be in in Yen, and the dollar price would vary widely depending on the currency conversion at the time. Still, we do post the retail Yen price for Japanese import CD's to give customers a frame of reference when shopping around, they can see that many other sites charge MUCH MORE than the converted Japanese retail for import CD's, again taking advantage of the fact that consumers may not know how much these items actually cost in Japan.

   Finally, retail price is not very important at the Anime Corner Store because we price our products based on our cost instead of a discount off retail. This is why prices in our catalog vary from studio to studio, and it allows us to keep our pricing as low and, more importantly, as fair as possible. Other stores will cut a little in one place, and make huge profits in another place because they know the consumer doesn't know that they pay far less for some products than others. We've always felt that this was a rather dishonest and gimmicky way to price products, and we don't do it. We hate gimmicks!

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

8. Do you offer discounts or free items to Anime Clubs, libraries, and other non-profit organizations?

   We try to keep our everyday prices as low as possible for everyone, however, we can offer discounts for large purchases made by libraries, non-profit organizations, and legitimate established Anime Clubs sanctioned by an accredited College or University. We sometimes can also provide promotional items to Anime Clubs in exchange for endorsement of our store to their membership. E-mail Robert with your request, information, and description of your organization to see if you qualify.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

9. Do you offer a price matching policy if I find an item selling for a lower price at another store?

   Currently we do not offer a price matching policy with other stores, and there are two primary reasons for this....

   You can always count on the Anime Corner to have some of the best pricing on popular items, however, it not in our best interest, nor in our customers best interest, for us to always try to be the 'cheapest' or have the 'lowest prices' as this would dampen our commitment to service, and would not be a fair or ethical way to do business. Some companies will sell certain items or product lines at low or no margin as promotions or devices to attract customers into the store, when overall their pricing structure may be quite a bit higher than ours. Instead of using these sorts of pricing strategies, we try to price fairly for ALL of our Anime items across the store.

   A price matching policy is also unfair in that if we were able to offer an item for a lower price to one customer, then ethically we should offer that item at that price to ALL of our customers ALL of the time. This is what drives our currently pricing policy - to make sure that we offer the very best prices possible to ALL of our customers in the most fair and ethical manner possible. Regardless of whether you agree with this or not, Robert simply won't have it any other way. Our commitment has never been to be the 'cheapest', it has always been to offer the best possible everyday prices and selection without compromising the great service you have come to expect from the Anime Corner Store! :-)

   ~ Back to Top ~

   
   

1. What shipping methods do you use, and what choices do I have?

   We offer several different shipping methods so that you can choose how quickly you want your order delivered, and how much you want to pay for shipping. Currently for US domestic orders we offer 2-3 day Priority Mail service as well as UPS or FedEx Ground (each have their own advantages). We also offer FedEx 2nd Day Air, and FedEx Next Day Air shipping for those of you that need your anime in a hurry. International customers can choose from economical Air Mail / Global Priority mail, faster EMS or FedEx International Priority, and ultra fast DHL International Priority to have your order shipped. Please see our ordering and shipping page for more information on the shipping methods we offer.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

2. How do I take advantage of your Free Shipping offer?

   All orders over $99 do not necessarily ship for free. In order to take advantage of our free shipping offer, make sure to read our Super Saver Shipping terms and restrictions, and make sure to select the Super Saver Shipping option when you checkout! Remember that super saver order may not ship immediately and take longer to be delivered, but we know the savings is probably worth the wait. :-)

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

3. I am an International Customer, and when I placed an order, the store did not calculate the shipping charge. Why? How do I know how much my shipping charge will be?

   Because of the complexity of international shipping, the variety of services available, and the broad range of product types that we carry, our store does not calculate shipping on most international orders (except for orders going to Canada). We will add and bill actual shipping costs (based on the method you choose) to your order after it is placed, and you can request a quote via e-mail prior to placing your order. See our shipping and ordering page for the international shipping methods available. Your final total including your freight charge will appear on the invoice included with your order.

   Rest assured we are experts at shipping orders overseas, and have shipped thousands of orders to customers in nearly every country in the world. Here is a little more information regarding overseas shipping:

   Calculating international shipping costs depends on the following factors in this order:
   

   • Destination Country or Worldwide Zone (some freight companies refer to them as 'lanes')
   • Shipping Method
   • Weight
   • Physical Size of the Parcel (known as the 'DIM' factor or dimensional Weight)
   • Value

   Weight is very important in the calculation. Orders for manga will inevitably be more expensive to ship across all service classes than orders for DVD's, since manga are books and will be heavier, even though the value of a DVD order might be much higher than the value of a book order. Size is also very important. Certain shipping classes have size and weight limits. For example, we can use air letter post class for Airmail up to 4lbs, however, orders over 4lbs have to ship air parcel post, which is usually more expensive per pound. Global Priority Mail also suffers from weight and size restrictions.

   For commercial services, like DHL or FedEx, shipping rates are often calculated by the volume of the parcel. There is a flat rate for shipping in one of the 4 or 5 standard sized boxed that they provide, but all other shipping carton are rated by volume (DIM), which means that if we are shipping DHL and your order will fit in a flat DHL box, the rate would be determined by actual weight, but if your order needs to be shipping in a larger brown box, the rate would be calculated by the volume of the box. A great example of this would be if you were to order 8 individual DVDs, it would ship in a flat box and would ship for the 4lb rate. If you ordered 8 DVD's in a  boxed set, it would still physically weight only 4 lbs, but would have to ship in a 12 x 12 x 8 box, which would ship at the 7lb rate because of the volume of the box.

   As you can see by this simple example, it can get quite complicated to correctly calculate international shipping rates, and it is very difficult to setup a matrix that will tell our website server exactly what sort of shipping carton a particular combination of products would best ship in, unless we wanted to setup a matrix that will overcharge customers 20-40% of the time for international freight, and we won't do that.

   So, bottom line, if you want to know the shipping rate for a certain order, just e-mail us and we'll run a calculation for you. :-)

   ~ Back to Top ~

    
4. How can I obtain a status on my order?

   The order confirmation e-mail that you received when you placed your order contains a status link that you can use to check the status of an order. Of course, you can also e-mail us directly and we will provide your current order status. Please include your full name and/or order number when e-mailing us to help us get back to you as quickly as possible.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

5. How can I track my order?

   If you have received a shipping confirmation and tracking number from us via e-mail, you can track your order at one of these sites:
   

   • Orders shipped via US Postal Priority Mail and EMS can be tracked here:
         http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm
   • Orders shipped via UPS Ground can be tracked here:
         http://www.ups.com/WebTracking/track
   • Orders shipped via FedEx Ground, Air, or International service can be tracked here:
         http://www.fedex.com/us/tracking/
   • Orders shipped via DHL International Express can be tracked here:
         http://www.dhl.com

   Please note that Airmail, Global Priority Mail, and most APO/FPO shipments are not trackable, and we cannot obtain a delivery status on them once they leave our warehouse.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

6. I tried to track my order on the US Postal Service site, and it says that they only been 'notified electronically'. If the package has been sent, why hasn't the tracking been updated?

   This is actually normal. You see, USPS does not have a real tracking system like UPS or FedEx that tells you the scan location of the package as it moves along the system. USPS only has 'delivery confirmation'. When we upload our tracking ID's to USPS the day the parcels are shipped out, that update is usually all the tracking will say until it is delivered a few days later. So don't worry, your parcel is on the way, even though USPS may not say that exactly on their tracking site! :-)

    ~ Back to Top ~

    

7. I just placed an order, how long will it take for it to arrive?

   We get this question a lot, and the answer is not as easy as many people think. Delivery time will depend on what you order, how you select to have it shipped, and where you live in proximity to our warehouse. Please see our shipping and ordering page for more information.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

8. I'm in the Military stationed overseas. Do you ship to Military APO/FPO addresses?

   Yes indeed! Everyday. We pride ourselves in serving the Anime fans in all of our military services.
   
   For orders shipping to APO or FPO addresses, enter your shipping address exactly as it has been assigned to you by your overseas duty station. The shipping country you should choose is the United States, regardless of where your actual duty station is overseas or aboard ship. APO & FPO orders always ship via Priority Mail to the designated Army Post office (AP) or Foreign Post office (FP) here in the US, and then they will forward the package to you at your duty station overseas. For our part we treat these orders just like a regular orders shipping inside the US, even though the AP will be sending the parcel to you at your overseas duty station. Mail to US soldiers serving abroad, no matter where you are, is considered domestic US mail.
   
   And don't worry, we will package your order very well to ensure that it arrives safely wherever you are, even if you are deployed to a forward area or on a ship at sea. Unfortunately we can't track APO or FPO shipments once they have arrived at the Army or Foreign post office, but these orders are usually delivered in a timely manner. Depending on where you are, we usually expect APO or FPO shipments to be delivered to you within about 2 weeks. Please allow more time if you are deployed to a forward area and are moving around a lot as it can take the mail longer to catch up with you. If you've been in for awhile, you already know how 'snail-mail' is.... :-)
   
   If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail us!

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

9. OK, Priority Mail shipping only costs $3.85, yet your minimum shipping charge is $6.00. What is up with that?!

   This is a question we get occasionally via e-mail, and it always makes us chuckle a bit, but I wanted to spend some time and explain in detail how we come about our shipping charges.

   First - Priority Mail is not $3.85 except for shipments less than 16 ounces. Over 16 ounces, Priority Mail rates are determined by zones, and can vary quite a bit from one place to another. Our rates are fixed so that someone in Alaska does not pay any higher shipping charges than someone living 10 miles from our warehouse. Robert believes that this is a very fair and simple way to deal with shipping charges, and we get a great deal of positive feedback from customers who appreciate it since most of our, even small, order shipments weigh over 16 ounces.

   Second - Even a parcel less than 16 ounces shipped Priority Mail costs us quite a bit more to send to you than just the $3.85 shipping fee. The order has to be processed, pulled, written up, boxed, labeled, and confirmed. Shipping and packing materials have to be used. We actually make very little or no profit at all on a small $10 order, due to the backend costs involved with processing that order (which is about the same as processing a $100 or $200 or $500 order), yet we have set the minimum order on our store at only $5 because we want to serve ALL Anime customers, not just the ones that can afford to spend $100 or more every time they shop here.

   Like everything else at the Anime Corner, we try to keep our shipping and handling charges as low as possible, while still providing you the best and fastest shipping services possible. This is why we don't use cheaper less reliable services (like cheap but unreliable media mail). Unlike other stores, we also try to give you many different shipping options so you can choose how and when you get your order. We think this is very important, and spend a great deal of time working to give you the best possible value for your shipping dollars.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

10. I selected Super Saver Shipping on the order form, however, when my pre-ordered item shipped later, I was charged shipping. Why is this, I thought shipping was free?

    Super Saver Shipping only applies to your in-stock items. Pre-order items have to ship separately at a later time and are considered a separate order, therefore, we have to charge shipping for pre-order items. Please see our Super Saver Shipping rules for complete information.

    ~ Back to Top ~

     

11. I selected Super Saver Shipping, however, when my order came I found out that I was charged for shipping anyway. Why did I have to pay for shipping, I thought all orders over $99 shipped for free?

    Not all orders currently qualify for Super Saver Shipping. In order to offer you the best possible service, but not loose too much money on our free shipping offer, we had to implement a few restrictions.

    Orders shipping to AK, HI, PR, PO Boxes, or the APO/FPO addresses are not eligible for free shipping because we have to use USPS Priority mail to ship to these addresses. To qualify for free shipping, please make certain to give us a street address within the continental United States so that we can ship your order via a ground delivery service like UPS or FedEx ground.

    Pre-Order items do not count in the calculation for Super Saver Shipping because pre-orders are not yet available from the manufacturer and must ship separately. To illustrate this, lets say a customer places a $200 order for in-stock items, and selects free shipping. Our cost to ship that might be $8-$10. Lets say another customer places a $200 that contains eight pre-order items. Our cost to make 8 separate shipments on this one order might be $40 or more. So you can see that because we already try to keep our prices a s low as possible, but still offer you the best possible service, we had to exclude pre-orders from our Super Saver Shipping offer. As a rule of thumb, pre-order items are handled on this end as separate orders. You can request that we hold your order until it can ship complete, or you can order your pre-order items on a separate order, but your shippable total for any one shipment must be over $100 for your order to qualify for free shipping, so please keep this in mind when you place an order that contains pre-order items. If you still have questions about this, please e-mail us!

    Please see our Super Saver Shipping Rules for complete information.

    ~ Back to Top ~

     

12. I ordered a Wall Scroll and another item - why I was charged two separate shipping charges?

    In most cases, wall scrolls, posters, rolled Japanese calendars, and a few other type of items have to ship in a separate mailing tube due to their odd size, unless of course you request that we saw them in half prior to shipment..... -_^ When you order one of these items we will automatically recalculate shipping and add a small additional shipping fee to cover sending 2 parcels.

    ~ Back to Top ~

     

13. For FedEx 2nd Day and Overnight Air shipping where the shipping charge is based partly on the number of items I order, does a 6 DVD bundle count as one item or six items?

    For shipping calculations bundles and boxed sets count as 1 item. This is a good thing. :-)

    ~ Back to Top ~

1. If I pre-order an item, when would my credit card be charged?

   You will not be charged for the item until it actually ships out to you.

   ~ Back to Top ~
   
   

2. I want to pre-order an item, but I do not have a credit card. What other payment methods do you accept, and when would I have to make payment?

   You can pre-pay for a pre-order item, however, we will not reserve a copy for you until your payment actually arrives. For this reason, you need to send us your payment as soon as possible after you place your order, just like you would for an in stock item. This is especially important if your ordering a special or limited edition item. If you place an order with multiple pre-order items shipping on different dates, we will e-mail you and let you know how much additional shipping we will need to cover all the separate shipments, and give you the option to perhaps batch some items together to save shipping charges.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

3. I received my order, but one of my items was marked "Backordered". When will I get it? Will I have to pay additional shipping when it is sent?

   We do our very best to keep all the item listed on our site in stock, but with over 80 major vendors providing items to us from all over the world, it's sometimes not possible to account for manufacturer stock outs, distributor mis-shipments, or items that temporarily go out of production.

   If you have a backordered item on your order, don't worry, we'll do our best to get it out to you as soon as possible. And, of course, backorders at the Anime Corner always ship freight free so you never have to worry about additional shipping charges because an item is out of stock.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

4. I received my order, but one of my items was marked "Sold Out - No Longer Available". What does this mean, and will the item be sent later?

   As is common in the Japanese Anime market, many licensed Anime items (like statues, toys, and t-shirts) or are produced only once, so we are unable to re-order them once we sell out. There are also times when, for instance, and manga or CD may go out of print for longer than we feel comfortable holding a backorder for it. While we update our website every 24 hours, it is inevitable that from time to time an item like this will sell out before we can update it's status.

   If you have an item on your order marked 'Sold Out', it is no longer available and, unfortunately, cannot be backordered. Such are the fortunes of the Anime world.......

   ~ Back to Top ~

1. Can you special order a Japanese CD or DVD for me that is not listed on the store?

   Yes, we can special order any Japanese CD or DVD that is currently in print. Special orders can take 6-12 weeks for delivery, and we require payment in advance for any item that we special order for you. Special orders are not cancelable, and special order items are not returnable. You will be charged for the special order item at the time the order is placed. Please see our special orders page for complete information.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

2. I'm looking for an 'Anime' series, but I do not see it listed on the store. Do you have it or can you get it for me?

   We carry every domestically released Anime and Manga title, so if you don't see it listed on the store more than likely it's not yet released, or is out of print. Even so, please feel free to e-mail us if your looking for a particular title or have a quest and we'll be happy to check into it for you.

   ~ Back to Top ~

1. What is your returns policy?

   We try to keep our costs down by limiting returns and we ask all of our customers to order responsibly so that they will not need to return an item. In exchange for your understanding, we immediately advance replace defective items and in most cases* provide postage paid mailers for the return of the defective items (*U.S. Customers Only). Return of any item to us requires an RA number be issued in advance. If you return an item without an RA number, we will not credit the return and the item will be shipped back to you at your expense. Please see our returns policy for more information.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

2. My order arrived, but one of my items is damaged (or defective). What should I do?

   E-mail us immediately and we will replace the damaged or defective item with a minimum hassle to you. It's as simple as that.

   ~ Back to Top ~

3. I'm having trouble with a DVD. Is my problem a common problem, or is the DVD just defective?

   Most of the time problems playing a DVD indicate a defective disk that we can exchange for you. Occasionally though, DVD's will have a problem from the manufacturer that can effect some or all the DVD's in that production batch. If you are experiencing a strange problem with a DVD you purchased from us, be sure to check our DVD Technical Bulletins Page to see if we have posted info about it, and be sure to inform us of the problem. When we receive reports of the same problem from several customers, we will pass the information along to the manufacturer so that they are aware and (hopefully) take corrective action on the issue.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

4. I'm having trouble playing a DVD on my PS2 Game Console or DVD-Rom drive. Is the disk defective?

   We get reports of this sort of problem from time to time. While your disk may indeed be defective, it may also be experiencing a compatibility problem with your Play Station game console or your computers DVD-Rom drive. Alas, many of the major Anime studios do not test DVD's on game consoles or DVD-Rom drives when they are being authored, and while they will work in those devices most of the time, there is no guarantee of compatibility. Bandai, for instance, generally will not consider a DVD defective if it fails to play on a PS2 machine, but does play OK on a normal DVD player.

   If you do experience a problem with a DVD playing on your game console or DVD-Rom drive, please test it on a normal DVD player (if possible) before you report it to us as a defective disk. If it does not play on a regular DVD player, or has the same problem, it is probably defective. If it plays OK on a regular DVD player, then the disk probably has a compatibility issue with your external device that may require you to upgrade the software or hardware on your game console or DVD-Rom drive. You can also check our DVD Technical Bulletins Page to see if any announcement has been made regarding your particular problem.

   Because of the scope and breadth of DVD player hardware on the market, we cannot accept returns for DVD's that have issues playing on peripheral devices, but will always exchange DVD's that are problematic playing on regular DVD players. If you experience such a problem, please be sure to inform us so we can at least report it back to the manufacturer.

   ~ Back to Top ~

    

5. If I don't like an Anime that I purchased, can I return it for credit?

   No, we cannot accept a return for this reason. Anime, like most other things in life, is somewhat of a gamble.

   ~ Back to Top ~