Last updated 2010-08-17The online shop section and shopping service section are now both online. The guide is generally complete!

Link to the UNDER CODE shopping guide: under-code.livejournal.com/214610.html

This was created as a guide for shopping for UNDER CODE and other visual kei releases. The first section contains online stores, with notes as to whether or not they ship overseas. Each store listing has a pros&cons section, personal testimony, and a detailed guide on how to purchase.

For stores that don't ship internationally, a shopping service must be used (a third party that buys items for you in return for a service fee). The second half of this guide is a shopping service guide which details the three major services. Again, pros&cons, detailed instructions on how to order, and personal testimonies are listed for each.

This guide was created by http://inartistic" .livejournal.com, but anyone is free and encouraged to give their own experiences/tips in the comment section. The more testimonials, the more useful this guide is!

*Online shops- Pure Sound Japan

Pure Sound: overview

• www.puresound.co.jp
• International shipping — Yes (EMS only)
• Privileges — Often
• Freebies — None / only flyers

PureSound: pros & cons

• Pros
• ✓ Fast shipping
• ✓ Good privileges for most new items
• ✓ Some really rare secondhand items

Cons

• ✗ Almost everything is secondhand (though items are always in excellent condition)
• ✗ Customer support in Japanese (you'll have to translate their messages yourself)
• ✗ Shipping option for overseas is EMS only (expensive)
• ✗ Payment can only be done using credit card (no PayPal)

Pure Sound: how to order

1. Go to http://www.puresound.co.jp/mailorder_english.html and read the information carefully.

2. Mail PureSound (pureweb@puresound.co.jp) with the following information:

• Name
• e-mail
• Re e-mail
• Country
• Address
• Phone number
• Order
• Product code Price Amount
• Product code Price Amount
• Product code Price Amount
• Product code Price Amount
• Please note that items most of times have two prices. 新品 means 'new' / 中古 means 'used' / 在庫無し means 'item currently not available'.
• If the item you're looking for is not listed or appears to be not available, you can always try to mail them and ask for it. They don't list/update everything they've got.

3. Wait for their invoice. After placing your order, PureSound will look for the items in their physical shops, and this can take a few days. Just be patient until you get an email from them with a total invoice including shipping fee. I've got messages from them in English and Japanese as well, so that's why I warned that you may have to translate some messages yourself.

4. Pay for the invoice. When you receive the mail from a payment service web called NICOS HP, just click the link and it will take you to a payment page, to enter your credit card number. Everything is in Japanese but very intuitive.

5. Tracking number. Wait for PureSound to send a confirmation mail and tell you the tracking number for your package. For European customers it will take around 5 days if it doesn't get stuck in customs. If it does, you'll have to pay customs by yourself as usual.

Personal testimony: I've used PureSound twice and had really great experiences. I got tradingcards with CDs and even signed CDs (which I didn't know were signed!). You can find secondhand stuff at a very good price, but if you're looking for a real rare release, you'll have to understand how some stuff is \really\ expensive. Shipping via EMS is 2000yen and up depending on the package weight, so I would recommend group orders for saving money. I myself haven't got packages from them stuck in customs but you never know, so be prepared for an extra fee (I know people who've got PureSound packages stuck in customs).

Brand X

Online shops

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Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

Brand XBrand X: overviewbrand-x.jp

• International shipping — Yes
• Privileges — Often
• Freebies — None

Brand X: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Fast shipping

• ✓ PayPal or international money order accepted
• ✓ Good privileges for most new items
• ✓ Some really cool older items and occasional rare items
• ✓ Decent English customer support

*Cons- ✗ A few people have had really bad experiences

Brand X: how to order 1. Place an order. Simply email webmaster@brand-x.jp with the following information:Your name

• Your mailing address (including country)
• Your phone numeber
• The names and URLs of the items you wish to order
• Whether you plan to pay with PayPal or money order 2. Pay for your order. After placing your order, Brand X will reply with an estimate or PayPal invoice. Either pay the PayPal invoice or send your international money order to the address listed at the bottom of this page.

Personal testimony: I've used Brand X many many times and have never had a problem, and it seems to be the most popular web shop after CDJapan. However, a few people have had terrible experiences and swear against Brand X. Personally, it's worth the risk in my eyes for the [usually] good privileges.

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CDJapan

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

CDJapanCDJapan: overviewbrand-x.jp

• International shipping — Yes
• Privileges — Occasionally
• Freebies — None

CDJapan: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Completely in English, with easy shopping cart purchasing

• ✓ Points system used for free CDs
• ✓ Wide range of Japanese CDs, clothes, etc.

*Cons- ✗ Can be hard to find artists (ex. シンディケイト is misromanized "Sindigate")

• ✗ Doesn't have super indie bands (but does have all UNDER CODE!)
• ✗ Few privileges, except for major artists

CDJapan: how to order 1. Add items to your cart.

2. Check out and pay with PayPal, credit card, or debit card.

Personal testimony: I've only used CDJapan once, but they are by far the easiest and most popular shop, simply because of their shopping cart/checkout system. So if you want to be safe and just want common releases, go for CDJapan. (If you're like me, though, you may find it more logical to try one of the stores that gives privileges, since you'll be spending the same amount of money regardless.)

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closet child

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

closet childcloset child: overviewclosetchild.jp

• International shipping — Yes
• Privileges — Rarely
• Freebies — Flyers

closet child: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Super fast shipping

• ✓ Really rare and special items
• ✓ Selection of pamphlets photosets

*Cons- ✗ Expensive

• ✗ Small selection of new releases

closet child: how to order 1. Place an order. Simply email _inter_cd@closet-child.com_ with the following information:Your name

• Your mailing address (including country)
• Your phone numeber
• The payment method (either PayPal, VISA, or MasterCard)
• The shipping method (EMS, Air, or Registered Air; EMS recommended)
• The URLs of the items you wish to order 2. Pay for your order. After placing your order, closet child will reply with an invoice. As soon as you pay, they'll ship your items.

Personal testimony: closet child has many strengths. Their main draw is that they sell one-of-a-kind, rare items such as distributed DVDs. You'll often find releases that you didn't even know existed. They also have a selection of live pamphlets and photosets. The one thing they don't have much of is upcoming releases; for those, it's better to go with another store! They are nice enough to include flyers with packages, and I've found that their shipping is super fast (many times I've ordered on Wednesday and received the item by Saturday!). The downside is that, since the items are rare, you'll be paying a premium; the rarer the item, the more expensive it is!

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GURUGURU

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

GURUGURUGURUGURU: overviewguruguru-net.jp

• International shipping — Yes
• Privileges — Rarely
• Freebies — ?

GURUGURU: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Some unique artists

*Cons- ✗ Limited selection in some areas

GURUGURU: how to order 1. Place an order. Simply email order@guruguru.co.jp with the following information:Your name

• Your mailing address (including country)
• Your phone numeber
• The payment method (either PayPal or yen sent through Registered Mail)
• The names and URLs of the items you wish to order 2. Pay for your order. After placing your order, you should receive an invoice. If you chose to send actual yen through Registered Mail (to the address listed here), you'll have two weeks before they cancel the order.

Personal testimony: I've never ordered from them, but there's never been a reason to, since their privileges aren't that great (if you don't care about privileges, use CDJapan instead). The main point of GURUGURU is that they have releases from certain artists that can't be found anywhere else (such as shouD). They also have a small selection of tour goods, etc.

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Jishuban Club

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

自主盤倶楽部 (Jishuban Club)Jishuban Club: overviewjishubanclub.com

• International shipping — No
• Privileges — Yes
• Freebies — None

Jishuban Club: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Good privileges

• ✓ Many unique artists

*Cons- ✗ Must use a shopping service

Jishuban Club: how to orderUnfortunately, since Jishuban Club doesn't ship overseas, you'll have to use a shopping service to order from them. (Scroll down for the section on shopping services!)

Personal testimony: I've ordered through Jishuban Club (through a service) many times. Along with Brand X, they generally have the best privileges for a wide range of releases. They have a huge selection of new and old releases, including many artists which can't be found anywhere else (ex. MANDRAGORA). They also show the weekly sales charts, which is kind of neat!

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Like an Edison

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

Like an EdisonLike an Edison: overviewlike-an-edison.com

• International shipping — No
• Privileges — Yes
• Freebies — None

Like an Edison: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Sometimes awesome privileges

• ✓ Exclusive releases

*Cons- ✗ Online selection not great

Like an Edison: how to orderUnfortunately, since Like an Edison doesn't ship overseas, you'll have to use a shopping service to order from them. (Scroll down for the section on shopping services!)

Personal testimony: Like an Edison sometimes has the best privileges, but often they have none. They are also pretty inconsistent with listing releases and privilege information at their web shop. On the plus side, they often have exclusive releases (such as from Lycaon), but these may only be available in store. The whole shop is hit or miss, so there's rarely a reason to order from them (and even then, a shopping service is necessary!).

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UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOPUNDER CODE OFFICIAL WEB SHOP: overviewunder-code.shop-pro.jp

• International shipping — No
• Privileges — Yes
• Freebies — None

UNDER CODE OFFICIAL WEB SHOP: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Many exclusive releases

• ✓ Awesome privileges
• ✓ Releases are generally sent out a week before releases

*Cons- ✗ Doesn't offer selection of older releases

UNDER CODE OFFICIAL WEB SHOP: how to orderUnfortunately, since the OFFICIAL WEB SHOP doesn't ship overseas, you'll have to use a shopping service to order from them. (Scroll down for the section on shopping services!)

Personal testimony: The official shop has tons of exclusive releases (live DVDs, signed polaroids, photosets, lucky bags) and great privileges (live DVDs, instrumental CDs, special movie DVDs). Additionally, items are often sent a week before their official release, so they tend to arrive on the release date. The downside is that you have to use a shopping service, but it's always been well worth it for me. And it's the best way to show UNDER CODE direct support!

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UNDER GROUND MUSIC

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

UNDER GROUND MUSICUNDER GROUND MUSIC: overviewunder-code.shop-pro.jp

• International shipping — N/A
• Privileges — N/A
• Freebies — N/A

UNDER GROUND MUSIC: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Immediate digital delivery

• ✓ Some rare and exclusive releases
• ✓ Some Matina releases

*Cons- ✗ No longer updated :(

• ✗ Completely in Japanese

UNDER GROUND MUSIC: how to orderSince the site is completely in Japanese, the ordering process takes a while to explain. Please use the extensive guide that I posted here.

Personal testimony: This is a digital download site that was created by UNDER CODE PRODUCTION. It's really cool and has some exclusive releases (Phantasmagoria live audio, NEGA's Nameless alice single). It also has releases from several Matina bands and a few non-UCP, non-Matina bands like BarKiraca. Unfortunately, it was abandoned over a year ago :( For now, it's still functional though; follow the guide if you'd like to check out what it offers.

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Shopping services Celga

Shopping services

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Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

CelgaCelga: overviewcelga.com

• Web shop bidding — Yes
• Auction bidding — Yes, Yahoo!Japan and mbok
• Manual bidding — Only with paid Celga Gold account
• Service fees — $5 up to 1,000 yen, $10 up to 10,000 yen, $20 up to 20,000, etc.

Celga: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Can bid on Y!J and mbok, order from web shops, subscribe to fanclubs & magazines, and buy tickets

• ✓ Lower service fees than most other services
• ✓ Professional website, with simple overview of all bids/items available for shipping
• ✓ Manual bidding with personal account if Celga Gold (paid) member
• ✓ Can sell items through Y!J and mbok for a 20% fee

*Cons- ✗ Deposit of half-price required before any bids made

• ✗ Manual bidding (Celga Gold) requires being a trusted member and subscription fee
• ✗ Polite but impersonal

Celga: how to order 1. Create an account. Go to this page and sign up for an account. Be sure to use your real name and birth date, as well as a valid phone number and address. Also be sure to agree to the user agreement at the bottom.

2. Place a bid. (Note: this guide is written for auctions, but the web shop order works exactly the same; just use the web shop form instead.) After logging in, you can access the bid page.2a. Enter the number of auctions you want to bid on in the “number of bids” box, and then click “set item count.”

2b. For each item, enter the URL and your max bid, in yen. If the auction has a “buy it now” option, you can check the “pay it now” box to instantly win the auction. Note that you will be required to deposit the full price any time you use that option.

2c. Click submit and you will be taken to a page to pay a deposit through PayPal. This is required. The deposit is 50% of the total max bids. So, for example, if the current price of the item is 500 yen, but you bid 8,000 yen, you will have to deposit 4,000 yen. However, if the auction ends at a price lower than your deposit, you can use the remaining deposit toward shipping or you can request a refund through the My Celga page. 3. Pay for the auctions. You can track the status of your bid through the My Celga page, but I recommend watching the auction yourself, as Celga is slow to update. If you win the auctions, you will receive an invoice by email. (The invoice is through Quickbooks, not PayPal, so you'll need a credit card or a Intuit Payment Network account.)

4. Ship your items. You will be notified by email when Celga receives your items. At this point, it's up to you to request shipping to your house. It will take a few days after you put in the request, so be patient! (Note that you will have to pay a shipping fee separate from the invoice you paid earlier.) I highly recommend selecting EMS as your shipping method!

Personal testimony: Celga is good for a really simple, professional experience. Their service fees are good, and they even throw in freebies (such as demotapes or small plushies) with auctions/first time orders! On the downside, it takes longer for items to be shipped out than with other services, and the staff isn't nearly as personable as Muku. If you don't care to make friends with anybody and just want cheap, professional service, Celga is the one to choose.

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Mukunoki JP

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

Mukunoki JPMukunoki JP: overviewmukunoki-jp.net

• Web shop bidding — Yes
• Auction bidding — Yes, Yahoo!Japan and mbok
• Manual bidding — No
• Service fees — 23% of total for deposit plan, varies for flat fee plan (2,600 yen or lower if total is below 10,000 yen)

Mukunoki JP: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Can bid on Y!J and mbok, order from web shops, subscribe to fanclubs, buy tickets, and take special orders

• ✓ Run by one person, so super personal, helpful, and friendly
• ✓ Flat fee or discounted deposit plan okay, with additional coupon plans available
• ✓ Often mails postcards or coupons to keep in touch
• ✓ Items packed super well, includes goodies (flyers, candies)
• ✓ No deposit required, so can bid without Jelly→

*Cons- ✗ Higher service fees

• ✗ No manual bidding
• ✗ Language barrier
• ✗ Run by one person, so can be affected when he goes on vacations, etc.

Mukunoki JP: how to order 1. Create an account. Go to this page and sign up for an account. Be sure to use your real name, address, country, birth date, as well as a valid phone number and email address. (Note that there are two signup forms on that page; the second form is for people signing up for fanclubs, so just ignore it.)

2. Place a bid. After logging in, you can access the order page.2a. Enter the item name(s) and URL(s) in their respective boxes. The form works for auctions, web shop orders, or any combination of both, so don't worry that you're doing something wrong here.

2b. For both shipping methods, I suggest choosing EMS. However, you can choose “no idea yet” and Muku will help you DECIDE later.

2c. DECIDE whether or not you want an estimation. If you're pressed for time (trying to bid on an auction that's ending soon), I suggest “no.” However, if this is your first time ordering from Muku, it might be a good idea to ask for an estimation so you'll have an idea of the total cost including service fees.

2d. For “auction plan,” I suggest choosing “simple plan.” As you become more comfortable with Muku, you can start looking into the discounts he gives for making deposits. For the “shopping ticket” section, choose “no” unless you've purchased coupons from Muku (again, they can save you money, but it's better to wait until you're really experienced).

2e. If you're bidding on auctions, state your max bids in the “any questions” box. Be sure to specify which max bid goes with which item! 3. Pay for the items. You will have to track the auctions yourself, as Muku does not offer any automated service. If you win the auctions, you'll receive a PayPal invoice for the initial cost of the items + shipping from seller to Muku + bank fee + service fee + PayPal fee. You must pay this invoice within 4 days.

4. Ship your items. After Muku receives your items (this could take a few days), and after you've paid the initial invoice, you will automatically receive another invoice for shipping to you. If you didn't choose a shipping method in the initial order, I highly recommend selecting EMS. As soon as you've paid this new invoice, Muku will email you with your EMS tracking number.

Personal testimony: I really like Muku! His fees are steep, but super shoppers (the kind of people who know how to work power hours at the department store) will find plenty of ways to save money. I'd say use him if you're trying to buy something really important/sensitive, or if you have a special order (ex. he'll help you with those promotions where you have to send in proofs of purchase to obtain a present).

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Shopping Mall Japan

Online shops — Brand X, CDJapan, closet child, GURUGURU, Jishuban Club, Like an Edison, UNDER CODE PRODUCTION OFFICIAL WEB SHOP, UNDER GROUND MUSICShopping services — Celga, Mukunoki JP, Shopping Mall Japan

Shopping Mall JapanShopping Mall Japan: overviewshoppingmalljapan.com

• Web shop bidding — Yes
• Auction bidding — Yahoo!Japan only
• Manual bidding — Yes
• Service fees (auctions) — $5 up to 2,000 yen, $8 up to 4,000 yen, $12 up to 10,000 yen, additional $1 every for 1,000 yen over 10,000 yen
• Service fees (web shop orders) — for web shop orders, $10 base price + $2 for each additional item

Shopping Mall Japan: pros & cons *Pros- ✓ Free, easy manual bidding at Yahoo!Japan

• ✓ Cheapest fees for auctions
• ✓ Can usually ship from America to save money

*Cons- ✗ Deposit (onetime) required (max bid limit = deposit amt. × 5)

• ✗ No support for mbok
• ✗ Web shop fees higher than some
• ✗ Can be slow

Shopping Mall Japan: how to order 1. Create an account. Go to this page and sign up for an account. Be sure to use your real name, address, country, and age, as well as a valid phone number and email address. You'll also need to input your credit card information for your deposit (trust me, it's safe). (I think you can skip the credit card step if you'd rather use PayPal.)

2. Make a deposit. This necessary, onetime deposit will determine the max bid you can make on items. If you filled in your credit card information when registering, it should take you to a deposit page automatically. If not, or if you'd rather use PayPal, send your payment to payments@shoppingmalljapan.com. A minimum deposit of $10 is required. Your max bid is ×5 your deposit. For example, if you deposit $11, your max bid is $55 (or around 5,500 yen).

3. Place a bid.3a. In a separate window, browse to the Yahoo!Japan auction that you wish to bid on. The last part of the URL should be an ID (such as c138433366). If you're unsure of what I'm talking about, just search the page for “オークションID.” Copy the auction ID.

3b. Log in at Shopping Mall Japan, and head to the “place bid” page. Paste the auction ID into the box at the bottom of the screen and your max bid (in yen) in the box beside it.

3c. After clicking “submit,” you'll be shown the auction with your proposed bid. You have not yet bid. Type in your password and confirm to place the bid. 4. Pay for the items. SMJ doesn't track the auctions, so you'll need to watch them yourself. If you win the auctions, SMJ will email you an invoice, which can be paid through PayPal.

5. Ship your items. With Shopping Mall Japan, it's your job to check to see if they've received your items. Once they have, it's also your job to request shipping.5a. On the shipping request page, choose your shipping method. The biggest benefit of SMJ is that they can ship from America. To have your items shipped from America, choose “priority mail.” It usually saves a bunch of money, but also takes longer as they have to first bring the package to the US. If you're more worried about speed, choose EMS.

5b. At the top of the form, put in your user account's password. Also be sure to fill out the address that you want the items shipped to (I find that this is for some reason more reliable than having them ship to the address on your account).

5c. A few days after requesting shipping, you will receive an email with your tracking number and an invoice for the shipping charge. SMJ is really nice and ships your items before you've paid for the shipping, so you may even be surprised with a package before they've even emailed the shipping invoice! Don't forget to pay them though!

Personal testimony: I wouldn't use them for web shop orders (the fees are a little steep) and they don't take mbok orders. However, for Yahoo!Japan, they are the best. Their fees are pretty low, and manual bidding makes life so easy. However, it can take a while to get your items since you have to monitor them and request shipping.

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Please comment if you catch any mistakes or would just like to add your own testimonials/opinions. And if you have any stores/services to add, feel free to do so! There are so many shopping options out there, but I simply haven't used them all!

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