MDA
I was pretty excited today when my doorbell rang and the postman is holding a box with Amazon.co.jp box
Excited with the remaining of my haruhi dvds, excited to watch the full dancing version of hare hare yukai, excited to watch code geass on its dvdglory, excited to finally see deredere louise on dvd. Anyway here’s the full details of my order which is inside da box!
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 4
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 5
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 6
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 7
Zero no Tsukaima 3
Zero no Tsukaima 4
Code Geass ~ Hangyaku no Lelouch ~ 1
But fate MDA likes to make fun of my weekend. Take a look at whats inside the box when I opened it up
WTF?!?!?! WHERE’S MY DVD??? All thats inside the box is: Code Geass 1 postcard, and haruhi’s promo info which is used to cover the side of the DVDs. Based on my sherlock-like deduction, those culprit most probably’ve raped the shrink wrap, opened up the DVD and is going to send them to MDA for interrogation just like what happened to my Zero no Tsukaima 4. Look at the invoice evidence recovered by the CSI.
I wonder is Singapore the only country who is so protective of what media its citizens watched that it had to intercept every single videos?
“Videos brought into Singapore by individuals will be intercepted at the Singapore Customs Checkpoints and directed to our office even though it is meant for personal viewing.”
There are 3 classifications under the MDA which is G (General), PG (Parental Guidance), NC16 (No Children under 16) and M18 (Mature 18). What happened if you happen to purchase a DVD with a rating higher than the highest classification like Jackass The Movie? Tough luck here’s the rule
“As videos are only classified up to M18 rating, a title that is banned should not be imported and is required to be re-exported through a forwarding agent or destroyed by the board”
And thats not all the rules yet! Lucky I didnt try to import hahiru LA or I would be fined $1,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months or both. I find it ridiculous that in a democracy ruled Singapore, there has to be a baby sitter which watch through every single ENTERTAINMENT videos that is going to enter Singapore. I am a huge fan otaku and its really hard for me to receive my brand new items like a 2nd hand item. Feeling really frustrated at the moment due to my inability to do anything even though I am a paying customer.
Hmm making me think twice on importing dvds. I wonder if its from EBAY, what will happen? Actually if your dvds were damaged in the process, what can you do?
I dont know about ebay or other retailer such as cdjapan.co.jp. IIRC there’s no such thing going on last time. If the dvds are damaged…I dont think there’s anything you can do. Complain at most but I believe they wont do anything anyway.
I am really relooking at all my options atm. So much for their campaign “support creativity, buy original”.
i think its more like support creativity, buy original, and get ripped off from local suppliers(aka O**X)…
[...] the rating, delaying your shipment and extra $1.90 for each DVD. You can see me bitch about this here and [...]
You got served? To even check what Singapore citizens buy… postal service is seriose business!
Yup got my ass served a few times but no more since I switched to CDJapan. Seems like this, as far as I know, only happens with DHL Express.
I also got wtfpwned by the MDA back in February this year.I imported black lagoon. My disc covers were all scratched pretty badly.
I totally understand man..I had about 7 DVDs wtfpwned altogether. The worst thing is the bloody sticker is hard to take off and it fkn ruined the DVDs T_T You imported from Amazon too I suppose?
Sorry for the double post,but did you send the package as a gift?
Actually I tried a lot of things with Amazon like sending as gift, ship separately or ship in bulk. Then I realise its all random(Confirmed by the DHL delivery man I chatted with. The good man shares my woe). At that time I cant import from CDJapan as Amazon’s 25% discount is too powerful but now total switch lol.
Mint DVDs FTW!
Heh… the MDA is seriously screwed up. Too bad this is Singapore…
owned + more good years ahead
This is one of the many, many reasons why MDA is probably the most f**king redundant state institution in Singapore, along with the damn censorship board.
ps. What makes you think Singapore is a democracy in the first place?
do any guys know whether or not importing anime dvds from the states will suffer the same fate?
i’m getting some anime boxsets from cduniverse.com
thanks in advance
@gamerz
More good years ahead!
@dancing caveman
Agreed. The MDA is just wasting taxpayer’s money. I know SG is democracy….yeah we all know…..
@asx
I think it depends on the courier rather than the origin. As far as I know only DHL express delivers your goods to be raped first. So far if you used Airmail, EMS etc. its all safe.
what the? did u get your discs back in the end?
@jamie
Yup got it back but there are scratches and some of the box edges are dented…damn furious!
Fuck man… That sucks big time!
Dude, you gotta call them back and screw them for all those shit they did to your brand new products…
I mean, even if they want to check, they should make better effort in protecting the stuff!! Bunch of fuckers doing shitty services…
Amid the current fucking Odex saga, this is also another point to show that consumers here are really limited in a hell lot of fuck ways in getting anime… Talk about damages done…
Damn… How I “love” this “wonderland” we’re in…
I have no ground to screw them at all man, it’s the law T_T
[...] ordered some DVDs from Amazon recently - Superman: TAS. They have been shipped and I found these two accounts of MDA messing with DVDs imported from overseas! I really hope they don’t ruin my [...]
How long does it takes to get the approved DVDs back from MDA?
Collect back personally or via post or via DHL?