My Top 3 KPOP stores

   A couple of friends asked me where I buy my kpop stuff. So I'll list my top 3, and discuss the 'pros' and 'cons' of each. ^^

   I've been collecting albums, official goods and some unofficial merch since the last quarter of 2011. During this time, I buy most of it from various local online shops on facebook. On summer of 2012, I started to purchase my collection from a korean supplier my friend knows and have it ship to the PH via balikbayan box (cheap albums and no tax). So note that most of the things that I buy from the following stores that I will discuss are just signed CDs and Japan releases. So far, I think I have around 150 CDs and counting ^^ 

          1. Yesasia

• Pros

• I love YesAsia's shipping! ♥ Because it is fast & FREE (for orders $25 and above). Based on their website, I live in Zone 1, I always choose the standard shipping so I can save on the shipping fee, the estimate delivery period is 6-14 days. But I always receive mine within 5 days, sometimes it comes the next day. Great, right? Oh! I forgot, they deliver it directly to my doorstep, so I don't have to go the post office. Perfect!
• Door-to-door delivery = NO TAX. For Japan releases, I order from cdjapan or yesasia. CDJapan may seem cheaper at first but when you add the shipping fee, the price is almost the same with Yesasia's price. So when their price is almost similar, I prefer ordering from YA. Why? Because I don't have to worry about customs tax when ordering from Yesasia, unlike whenever I order from CDJapan, everything has to be claimed from the post office. Aside from the hassle of going, the employees at our local post office are not so friendly. I know, we all have our own nightmare experiences with our local post office XD (There's this one time they asked my brother to buy KFC for them instead of paying for tax.)
• They have Specials & Exclusives, cheaper signed albums compared to the ones available on eBay. Plus, you're sure that Yesasia sells authentic ones, most sellers from eBay sell fake signed CDs. :( 

                          

                                    

• Their customer service is quick to respond. And they answer in English *ehem, gmarket*
• From time to time, they have Clearance Sales.

• Cons

• Their prices are pricier than most of the websites based in Korea. (Note: Yesasia is based in HK)
• There is no folded poster option. To get a poster, you will have to pay $5 more.
• There's a possibility you won't get all the freebies that you should get. There was this one time I pre-ordered 9 CDs (Japan released). I paid for it early so I can secure having the official bonus cards that comes with the CD, but when the CDs arrived, they only gave me 2 of the cards. ~.~ I never got a clear answer as to why they did not gave me 9.

          2. Soompi Shop

• Pros


• Soompi Specials! ♥ Cheap signed albums (even cheaper than Yesasia, and they offer more groups)

                 

• Cheap shipping fee~ they always charge me $3.99 if my order doesn't reach the $38 total to qualify for free shipping. Plus, they will give you a tracking number always so you know where your package is.
• Their customer service is great. Cecile is really nice and very accommodating.
• Cons 
• The available albums for the specials are veryyyy limited so you have to check their facebook page ALWAYS, especially when your bias group has or will have a comeback. ^^ (Tip: They usually post their specials between 1pm-4pm KST.)
• It takes some time for the specials to be shipped out. Mainly because the artists need some time to sign the CDs. Imagine, they have full-packed schedules promoting here and there, and there are hundreds of CDs waiting for their signature. So sometimes you have to wait 2-4 weeks depending on how busy the group is.
• They don't have posters.
• Their regular albums are pricier than other shops based in KR.

          3. Mwave Shop

• Pros
• They offer the cheapest signed albums and the shipping is free! Rest assured, their offers are legit. For some specials, the artists will even do a Meet & Greet LIVE and you can win some special gifts :) And, well... they're mnet you know XD
• They announce their specials a day before they open the pre-order (or sometimes hours before). 
• Their regular albums are cheaper than Soompi and YA.
• Free shipping for orders $25 and above.
• $1 Credit - Just earn gems and you can exchange 30 gems for a $1. Post more, save more ;) (CON-You may only use 1 credit per order :( )
• Cons
• They just opened the shop. So there's still a few reviews about their service. When you google them, there's more complaints (about their giveaways) more than the positive reviews. 
• They don't have an option for a registered airmail when you order the M&G special. (Boo!) I wonder what they'll do if my album gets lost in the mail. :(
• They rarely reply to emails. Or they don't reply at all. -_-

(Other sites I've used - Gmarket, eBay, kpoptown) ^^