Anime Vendors List launched

[sothis]

i am pleased to announce the launching of the Anime Vendors List --- version 1. some of the advanced features arent up yet such as an advanced search, but all the documentation on the right is functional. there are barely any stores in the db because i dont have time to find them all myself. i decided to launch with a bare minimum that i found easily, and then i am hoping you guys can chip in and submit ANY sites you know of using the "submit a site" form found on the page. please tell me ANY stores you know of (which arent on the list yet, please check to save me some time), and i will try to add as many as possible. once there is a decent base, i will advertise the site on huge forums such as suki/anipike (i have permission). please help me out and let me know if there are any bugs as well! comments would also be appreciated ^_^ http://www.anime-planet.com/vendors/

also if you want to see the few stores that are up, click N and A for a few of each.

Looking great. Question, are you going to list only sites that sell dvds? Or are stores that sell anime merchandise only, or cds only in the scope of it as well? Also, is the flag next to the shop where it is based? Animenation for example has a UK flag next to it... and I'm pretty sure they're based in the US. Anyway, thanks for all the hard work again sothis!

Edit: Just thought of another question, do you want us to submit stores that are KNOWN to sell bootlegs as well? I'd imagine your helpers might be keeping a list of stores that sell bootlegs so that they don't have to look it up everytime a person submits the site, which may happen a lot.

[sothis]

i obviously must be doing something wrong because so far EVERYONE has been confused abou t the first flag... but if you click "instructions" on how to use the tool, it has a picture image of what that flag is ;)

maybe on the front page ill put a huge bold that you need to read that first.

as far as stores that sell merchandise, im not sure, what do you guys think? at first i was set on just dvds, but im thinking all anime merchandise might be helpful.. and would make it maybe more interesting than every other dvd store list out there? im thinking the comments could be more specific for each one that says if they only sell merchandise vs dvds, etc

for right now, the stores are all going directly to me... then im going to have it hooked up to freakzilla but i need to find out if hes ready to take care of the stores really quickly. so for right now, probably just send me legit stores but eventaully, bootleg ones are good too to make the list.

[Rar]

I wasn't! Just means website in english right? Maybe having flags for language and country is a little confusing...

So should we submit vendors through the 'Submit a store' popup now then? Having "The purpose of the form is to inquire about whether or not a particular store or auction seller is selling bootlegged material" at the bottom of the form is a little confusing...

Rar

[sothis]

i just updated the submit a store form to be as follows:

The purpose of the form is to either submit a store to be added to the vendor list, or to inquire about whether or not a particular store in general is selling bootlegged material (asking about specific items is reserved for the other "Is this a bootleg?" form).

basically i had used the same disclaimer at the bottom for both forms, but i changed it to be a little more specific. i think i explain it at the top pretty well, but you were right, the disclaimer made it contradictory a bit

and yes rar, you are correct ;)

i do like having flags for language cause it looks nicer, maybe what i should do is put a big "Don't know what the results or flags mean? Read the Instructions page" above the list of stores. though i had hoped people would see it in the right bar and click it ^_^;

eventually i will have to figure out how to list all languages the store has.. usually its just one, but sometimes its two, and others like archonia has FIVE different languages... harrrgh!

Ok ok, my fault, I actually read everything on the instruction page except that explanation of that flag >_< Give me a break, it was like 3am >_< I kind of like the idea of having anime merchandise stores as well, if possible. I think it would be nice to have some of the import book shops for example. Sure you may not see a lot of bootleg mangas/books, but some people might appreciate knowing of a good place to go to where they can order some r2 books.

[Rar]

Originally Posted by Lafrus

...but some people might appreciate knowing of a good place to go to where they can order some r2 books.

Wow, books have region protection too? Do you need r2 glasses to read them? :P

Joking aside, I agree. So many of the DVD retailers carry other merchandise, it would be a shame not to include (perhaps better) specialiast sellers of manga and such.

Rar

[Kamirura]

hmm dunno if it's a good idea but I would like a "list all" option ^^
This looks great so far Sothis ^___^ gambate!!

*thwaps rar with huge r2 glasses* You know what I mean >_< When I tried to find a place to import the saikano manga volumes I had a hell of a time finding a store that had them. That's why I figure the listings might be able to help some people.

[sothis]

lafrus: thats the thing, it wasnt just you :p ive had at least 5 people say "uh, i dont think <this store> is based in england!"

so ill add a bold note when i get home to see if that stops that occurance ^_^

i do think at this point that adding merchandise stores is a good thing. i think i will change the submit a site form to include a few helpful things:

-a short description of what the site sells, especally if the store isnt in english, since the people checking the stores dont necessarily speak anything besides english.

-the shipping locations, or anything useful about the site that is unusual (check archonia.com for an example, niceguy included lots of useful info that i basically just pasted)

list all could be an option for now since its small, but once the database gets huge that would be a really, really big query im sure.

keep the ideas coming, this is only version 1 and all!