Buying Doujinshi

I'm not going to completely say whether this is a good idea or not, but, when browsers see a "Buy Now" button near the mangas, they might think that this is some sort of pay site. I'm sure I would feel that way; just an opinion, though.

This is a worry of mine as well, but I think it is a cool idea for users who are fans of a particular manga. The reason I came up with this idea is while I was at Anime Boston I met several dealers selling stuff that we have on the site, and I bought some of my favorite titles. And I have to say it is very cool to have the paper form of the doujinshi.

The other thing I want to do is implement a "translation bounty" for each manga title. This is the first time I have mentioned this so I will explain. Users will be able to donate any amount of money they want towards a specific manga translation they would like to see. The money will go to me and I will post how much money has accumulated for each title, as more people donate towards specific titles the "bounty" will increase. A trusted group of translators will be able to view the bounty on each title and choose to translate it for half of the bounty.

What do you think?

Interesting. Generates revenue for us, gives people a monetary reward for efforts, and gives the community more of what they want.

I think that it could work, but one problem. If there is a "buy now" next to a button that says "free download" well ya like azumax said most people would say "free download" or think it was a pay only sight. Plus some people still don't feel safe going around giving out credit information ect... If there was like exclusive content to buy that could work or like an buy this option with a few pages of preview. Also I like the idea of a reward for translating manga. I'm sure if we get that info out there more people will come and help translate.
For the record I would consider buying the paper version if the quality was good.

Again, I support the translator commissioning. It could prove awesome for us.

if you are going to install a buy now button try this:

order hardcopy

hardcopy available for sale

hardcopies

and just have an explanation that the button links to a seller. this way you dont scare viewers from site, and you generate business for those who want to provide a service to those who want to have sticky pages rather than sticky keyboards.

i think "hardcopy available for sale" is better :roll:

I think it's a fantastic idea, though I have to admit that, all things considered (shipping, waiting time, etc.) I personally would not buy doujinshi UNLESS I could grab stuff that's new and not easily available scanned and for free on sites like this one.

For example, I'd definitely pay moneys for volumes by my favorite artists that haven't popped up online yet, like Digital Lover's early Rough Sketch volumes or Taka Tony's 3rd volume of Kaburimono.

Overall, that's the only way I think you're gonna get people to bite, if you can offer them stuff that won't easily pop up on Rapidsearch, 4chan, or in a Bloodfer update, or reliably source their favorite artists and providers (I'd frankly kill for a reliable source of Lapis Lazuli corporation).

You might have more success with stuff like H-Manga and H-games rather than doujinshi. Fans of those are much more likely to pay since H-manga is sold in volumes, tends to have more consistent quality (face it, a lot of doujinshi sucks), and torrents are slow (for me at least).

But the most fantastic idea stemming from this is translator commissioning. It could even become a community project, with donations going to the commissioning of pro translators or translation groups to do volumes of popular manga and doujinshi. Again, it would have to be cheap. It makes the site not look like "just another H-site" and doesn't send off as many "HentaiKey" Paysite vibes as, say, Masterbloodfer's GT site or D-W's "IRC" only policy that most everyone thumbs their nose at.

I wouldnt buy any Manga / Doijin which i can get free.. even if its a hardcopy.. i think ^^

Using 'buy hardcopy' instead of 'buy now' is a good idea, it should at least lessen the confusion.



^^^^ I like the option of buying even if it is free to view/download anyway IMO. Slow torrents are annoying so buying H- manga is more convenient.

Lets fund some translators people! I'm all for it, but what is a reasonable price to pay a translator?

since i'm waiting for my xbox to update i want to comment on the idea of buying the manga. I think it is actually a good idea. i know if i had the extra cash then i would buy some of my favorites. tho i dunno what my gf might say if one day she opens my closset n tons of doushin fall on her. O.o For the most part i have to agrewe with this guy. If you put up some exclusive art it would bring in more fans. i would deff [ay to see more of taka tony's work and own some of it. so i say go for it. if it works it works.

Maybe fit another tab on the page somewhere between the main to contribute section saying ''About'' like most sites summarizing the possible confusions the guests may have or what you''ll get/expect out of this site or a frequent questions section to explain why is there a buy hard copy avaliable button and download/view online button ect

I was thinking of adding a completely different section for buying manga, but the "Buy Hardcopy" idea sounds pretty good, too.

I really like the "Translation Bounty" idea. No complaints for that one. :wink:

Alright so I think I am going to drop buying hard copies of the manga for now, but translation bounty is looking awesome.

Since you guys are going to be the ones using it, what would you like to see? and how would you like to see it?

does it have to be big 'n bold, buy hardcopy? cant you use a image or something neat and tiny under the download icon.

the ones who will be buying it are more likely hardcore readers, avid fans etc, so they spend the time lookin at the other details on the page rather than just the view online and download options.
in short, maybe a nice lil symbol to relink to the online store aint a bad idea

Hmm to come to think of it buying hardcopies is not a bad idea and about that translation bounty thats a definite idea as well but some guys like me from malaysia and 18 years old how am i gonna pay or donate ? Seriously i really wanna contribute to this fantastic site .( by the way i support hadrcopies if they hv shipment as well cuz i m like in malaysia)

I'm in the Philippines. Paypal recently opened support for credit cards from my country for the purposes of paying (not receiving), so Visa/Mastercard cardholders in my country can now pay to PayPal accounts.

For those out of luck with credit cards, in my country there are many middleman services that can mediate purchases from eBay, Amazon, and PayPal for you using local payment methods, i.e. you pay them cash and they use their cards to buy something for you, then ship it to you once it arrives. I'm fairly confident that local analogues exist in Malaysia as well.




Start small. Call a vote or a nomination for a manga/doujinshi to be translated, preferably NOT something too short or simple (we're going to be paying to commission it) and not already being done by veterans (Doujin-World) or for free (4chan).

Once a shortlist is selected, post the raws (or samples) and call a vote using the site poll or a forum thread. The winner gets the raws posted as a translation bounty.

2 things can happen from there. Either a bounty is posted and we wait for an amateur group or user to translate it and claim the bounty (after which it is paid from a pool donated by the community), or a pro translator is hired with the pool once it is full.

The former is nice because it's cheap (could even be free), but it's not nice because it's unreliable (fans aren't always the best translators), slow, and depends on someone stepping up.

The latter is nice because it's quick (as a pro translator should be), good (hopefully, but there are a lot of shitty TokyoPOP releases), but it's not nice because it's not cheap (pros work for pro fees), and relies entirely on the community trusting us with money (if it falls through the fallout will be horrendous). Further, it doesn't call a lot of confidence ("Why should I have to pay for something I could ask 4chan to do for free? They'll translate anything they can fap to!").

The third way (Third Way!) is to form a community sub group. FAKKU.net finds like-minded Japanese-fluent users and votes on a manga/doujinshi to translate, and does it, posting it on the website and everywhere else once finished. It's cheap, could be quick, and could be awesome. The problem with that is the 3 reasons why fansub groups can suck: Time, Drama, and Skill. Skill is variable, the best translators rarely have the most time, and nerds like us are prone to childish drama. To be melodramatic about it, IT COULD TEAR US APART (dun dun DUUUN!).

That said, I'd gladly volunteer to help translate. I'm a professional writer, have limited skill in translating (did a few chapters of House of Karsea's "Pretty Neighbor!&") and own a big useful Kanji dictionary. But I'm slow and lazy.

O.O; everytime you post something it's like a page long. I never get to read it reminds me of a essay. :(

:wink: