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Video Game : How Do Video Game Parallel Imports to China and HK Really Work?

Posted on 2008-02-06 23:35:00  |  by: Daimaou  |  Comments 8 Comments
Category:  MISC   |  Tags: JAPAN, VIDEO GAME, IMPORT, AKIHABARA

How Do Video Game Parallel Imports to China and HK Really Work?

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As you may know, Japan is often the first country to get cool toys when it comes to video games. Strangely, a few days or weeks after the launch of, let’s say a PSP or a Wii FIT, many stores in China and Hong Kong sell these very same products outside proper channels and copyrights. This goes on in spite of most video games and hardware sold in Japan having a “SALE IN JAPAN ONLY” seal on their packages.

Basically it works like this. Some companies in China work with travel agencies who pay their clients to purchase items overseas. They are provided with a shopping list; the more goods the travelers purchase, the more money they receive, and can ultimately travel for free if they buy enough.

It appeared this morning the Wii FIT was the item MOST WANTED by Chinese/HK sellers. You can see in the photo below a yellow bus releasing a horde of Chinese tourists. Some tourists entered a store and purchased Wii FITs. After exiting they dropped their shopping bags in front of accomplices waiting outside, and re-entered to purchase more until the store was completely emptied of Wii FITs. (Technically, most of the time in Japan you're not permitted to purchase two of the same item when it comes to video games).

If you look closer at the photo you'll notice (in the red circle) a microphone held by a man. In fact this couple were TV journalists who wanted interviews and to shoot video of this phenomena which is really beginning to annoy manufacturers here in Japan.



Often when there's a launch of new hardware, PS3s, or whatever, 80% of the people queuing up in front of stores are... Chinese. This reminds me of the PS3 launch when Ken Kutaragi gave the first PS3 to the very first purchaser. The press and Sony reps weren't able to interview him because the gentleman could not speak Japanese.
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Get your own large format printing !


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Posted on Thu Feb 07, 12:14 by MicroDesign, Webdesigner, Den Haag
Home Page: http://www.microdesign.nl/
He wears Vans. _o_



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Posted on Thu Feb 07, 01:26 by Cutkillavince, MI Manager, KR, FR, NL
Home Page: http://cutkillavince.wordpress.com/
Very interesting, thx



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Posted on Thu Feb 07, 06:25 by Ken
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Funny, so they take our video games and give us gyozas.



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Posted on Fri Feb 08, 08:58 by medici, Vp OPs, Shanghai
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Funny, in Paris, bags of LVMH & Hermes are purchased, collected and ... show up in Japan. The video games imported from Japan is not about price but really to fulfill demand.



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Posted on Fri Feb 08, 01:46 by Don, SWE, USA
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Nah ... HK shops has contacts and do not buy from retail prices ..... they mostly has connection with sub urban shops ...

This articles dosen't really tell the whole story. We HK-ers get games before Japan releases sometimes =P.

Don't blame the players , Blame the Game
- E.C.



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Posted on Fri Feb 08, 01:48 by Don, SWE, USA
Home Page:
Oh Crap .... what did I write ... has -> have . articles no s



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Posted on Sat Feb 09, 12:49 by booest, boogineer, Singapore
Home Page: http://www.slsing.com
Well, it is annoying to local customers. But since there is such a demand. Why not the supply? Is selling more a bad thing?

Globalization is vicious



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Posted on Sat Mar 01, 07:43 by stan, Project Engineer, Singapore
Home Page:
Actually this is really common even for many other products like Branded bags.

For those who understand the craze for stuff like LV Bags. They do the same thing when in Milan.



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Posted on Tue Jun 03, 11:32 by GamesEarth, Bounty Hunter, Amsterdam
Home Page: http://www.playawaygames.com
Just get used to it!...



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