Web Showcase:
Shopping for Anime Online
The third installation of the Web Showcase introduces you to some great places to shop for anime online!
The internet is better than any shopping mall or department store. Whatever you're looking for, you're sure to find it somewhere online. eBay is always a good place to start, but if you're looking for anime and manga related items, there are numerous specialty sites worth a visit. I looked through lists of sites to bring you the best ones to spend ALL your money at, or just find that perfect little figurine you've been wanting.
I picked these sites based on selection, how easy it is to find what you're looking for, how well designed they are, how well they use graphics etc, general price range and discount (based off of retail price and compared to other sites) and shipping costs. I was also looking for sites that aren't just anime or manga, but have a good selection of both.
Japanese Snacks
http://www.japanesesnacks.com/
Mmmm. Pocky.
All the snacks you could ever want to sample are listed here. You can't actually buy the snacks on this site, so it’s not so much a store, but there are links to the places you can buy the items. This site is there to inform you about the different kinds of snacks by having reviews and articles available.
The site design is a little weird and a bit too busy, but once you get past that, this site has some awesome stuff. It is easy to get around and I felt like the product listings were pretty logical.
Interestingly enough, I'm eating Pocky as I write this!
AnimeInternational
http://www.store.animeinternational.com/
This site is definitely worth a look. As well as lots of manga and anime, it has fun things like car shades, jewelry, kitchenware and stationery. It has action figures galore! The navigation is split into logical sections, and it’s very easy to get around. Plus, their selection is incredible.
Japanimation
http://www.japanimation.com/
Yet another site that offers many things other than anime and manga, Jstore is a great place to just look around for fun. Their shipping charges are reasonable and they offer discounts on most items. Everything is easy to find, and they have great items featured on the front page.
Lots of different kinds of clothes and accessories are available, including cosplay items! If you’re interested in swords, they have those too.
Robert's Anime Corner Store
http://www.animecornerstore.com/
The navigation buttons on the front page are so cute! Each section contains a lot of different products, so you're pretty much guaranteed to find what you're looking for. The navigation system itself could be a little more centralized; it's annoying to have to go back a couple times to choose a different category. However, the prices are great, so this is a good site to check out as well.
PowerAnime
http://www.poweranime.com/
"Everything Else Just Sucks" is their slogan. They do have a good site, but that might be a little too much of a bold statement.
There seems to be a theme for the color schemes of these sites; a lot of them are red and pink! But of course that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
This site features a Cel Seller that allows you to search through the good amount of cels that the members of the site are selling. The site also offers a good selection of other anime and manga items, so check it out.
Fast Food Anime
http://www.fastfoodanime.com/
Last but not least, we have Fast Food Anime. Their slogan is "Get nourishment for mind and body at one place, at a great price, and fast!"
The selection is good, as well as the prices, and the feel is very unique. Everything is easy to find, and they emphasize the fact that they have great customer service.
Two other sites to check out are The Right Stuf (www.rightstuf.com) and AnimeNation (www.animenation.com). Both have a great selection and awesome prices.
So now you know where to look when you want to buy something online! Even when you factor in shipping, chances are you will find that buying stuff online is much cheaper than at actual stores. Good luck in your shopping adventures!