"I ordered a PS3 and several games from play-asia a few months ago. The PS3 broke after a week and play-asia helped me through the entire process of getting it repaired with Sony. I cannot believe how helpful and understanding they were, it was well outside their responsibility to guide me through the repair process. Thanks again play-asia!
Their shipping is very fast and cheap, their software descriptions are accurate, their site and shopping cart are easy to use. I will definitely buy from them again."
"Play-Asia is a excellent store! It was my first experience with them and i´m very satisfied! They are fast and give you atention. I'm from Brazil and the game arrived in 7 days and perfect! I recomend this store very much!"
"I am sorry to hear about the troubles of the past posters here, as my experience with Play-Asia has been nothing short of flawless. I have ordered from them before and I will continue to do so, as Play-Asia has met and exceeded my expectations. My purchases have reached me on the other side of the planet in 2 days, in perfect condition and without any complications whatsoever. I would recommend Play-Asia to anyone looking for a reputable and professional online specialty store. If Play-Asia can deliver the same quality service that they extended to me in the past, then I will continue to be a loyal customer for years to come."
"This has been my first bad experience in online shopping. The game never came and they just screwed me around for 6 weeks saying they were checking with the post office. They never got back to me and when I contacted them and asked what was going on, they said, "We checked with the post office and couldn't get any information." They then said I could have store credit or have the order re-shipped. I asked for it reshipped and then they tell me it was out of stock so I would have to wait a few weeks. Unbelievable. I didn't have any trouble finding other negative reviews for this place so it seems it's a very half-assed business. If you like to gamble, then order from play asia. Otherwise find a more reliable retailer. I've lost money and more importantly, time.
Update: After seeing the review I posted here, Play-Asia scrambled and miraculously found the game that was "out-of-stock" and it arrived a couple of days later. A friend had already finished the game and gave me his copy the day before I got mine so I now had two copies.
I would imagine Play-Asia won't screw up this badly again so I might give them another chance. It's a handy way for me to get games."
"I have an Xbox 360 and my Xbox Live Gold membership was expiring, so I was looking for a good way to buy another year membership.
On Play-Asia, I found 'Xbox Live 12-Month Messenger Gold Card with Project Gotham Racing' which Play-Asia.com website said it is 'No Region
Protection' and has a green check for 'NTSC-J'.
I receive the box and game and head phones and messenger pad work with no problem, but the
12 Month Gold Subscription Card does not work. When I type in the code, it says '12 Month Gold', but it will not let me use it. This problems seems to be that I have a Japanese account and not US account.
On Saturday I wrote to Play-Asia to say that I cannot use code with my Xbox because of region issue, even though their site says 'No Region
Protection' and has a green check for 'NTSC-J'.
On Monday I still have no answer, so I write again to ask if they receive my message.
Tuesday I receive answer that 'I am very sorry to hear about that in such cases we are unable to exchange
any codes for as we do not have any Japanese version of this Gold card.
Also the information provided on the website is mainly concerns the game
that it is region free but the whole package is US version so all
accessories comes with it is also US based.'
I think it is bad service. It says it is not region protected, but I cannot use in my region so the item is no good to me.
On Wednesday I receive answer to my second message that:
'For normal airmails, the shipping time usually takes about 1-4 weeks.
Please kindly wait for a few days more. The order should arrive soon.'
I think is it bad service. It does not answer my question.
Now I am frustrated because the membership is the reason I buy the item but it is not possible to use and Play-Asia does not provide service to satisfy customer.
UPDATE:
After my first two e-mail, I was contacted by General Manager at Play-Asia. He offers to give me a refund because of my situation. I sent him Xbox Live code and he gave me store credit refund. This service makes me satisfied, but I am still little frustrated over original problem and first two people I contacted with."
"Unfortunately, my experience with Play-Asia has been gradually downhill over the last year.
I believe that Play-Asia.com was quite a good store when they competed actively with LikSang.com. However, Sony's lawsuits put LikSang.com out of business two years ago (October 26), and since then, Play-Asia.com has slowly ratched up their prices, increased their automated/canned responses, and stopped showing any extra effort in satisfying their customers.
Two years ago, an order would show up with a printed invoice, a "Play-Asia.com" sticker, a $5 of $50 coupon that lasted for months and whatever I ordered. These days, I get a hastily cut coupon that lasts for six weeks and a game, not even an invoice.
It's strange that they've been able to go from an average selling price of $39.90 to $59.90 for the Asian version of a AAA game over the last two years, and yet their service and effort have declined greatly.
The last issue I had with Play-Asia was regarding their affiliate system (I have generated over $2000 in sales for Play-Asia over the last two years, a large chunk of that because I'd highly recommended them to my friends after LikSang.com was gone.) A friend/coworker actually had me place the order for her to make sure I got credit, and bizarrely enough, I did not. After e-mailed Play-Asia, I received the following reply:
"Thank you for contacting Play-Asia.com.
Please do not worry it is because we are enhancing our website so there
maybe some problem. It should be fine later.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask."
Later follow-up e-mails would tell me that the order was placed through another link (which I know to be untrue), and despite seven e-mails back and forth (4 from me, 3 from them) there has been no effort on their part to give anything other than a canned response.
Two years ago, Play-Asia was cheap and great service, now they're neither."
"Excellent online shop and very good and fast communication!"
"MY NAME IS MAGGIE FROM ISRAEL
I ORDER THE JAPANESE CD OF YAE FUJIMOTO THAT I COULDN'T FIND HERE AND COULDNWT EVEN ORDER.
WHEN I SEARCH THIS ITEM ON THE NET I REACH TO PLAY ASIA AND I CONTACTED WITH THEM HOW CAN I PAY FOR THE ITEM...THE PAYEMENT WAS EASY TO ME AND SOON THE MONEY TRANSFERED THEY MADE BIG EFFORT TO SEND THE CD SOON AS POSSIBLE ...
THE CD ARRIVED SAFETLY AND I AM VERY HAPPY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PLAY ASIA
YOU ARE THE BEST
FROM MAGGIE COHEN - ISRAEL"
"I live in Indonesia & made Play-Asia.com order #10114994 with total value US$ 91.80, shipped on Mar 19, 2008
Order arrived damaged so I claim them,
on April 15, 2008 Play-Asia (Bryan) write to me:
No worry, we could refund the product value and shipment cost once received your returning.
If you accept this offer, please return the faulty item for exchange to
Play-Asia.com
Attn: Exchanges & Returns
P.O. Box 661
Texaco Road Post Office
Tsuen Wan, NT
Hong Kong
[PACS-690192] Questions regarding an order - Ref: 10114994
On April 19, 2008 I shipped back this order by EMS EE126068246ID and it arrived at Play-Asia on April 22, 2008
http://ems.posindonesia.co.id/index.php?param=inq
On July 3, 2008 they emailed:
Sorry for the delay reply. We regret that we can only compensate 10.00USD store credit for this case. Please feel to provide us one of the coupon
code to add the compensated store credit for your next purchase.
I lost my temper and demand them to keep their words (I mean, how can they only offer USD 10 comparing to order value US$ 91.80 + returning shipping cost)
But I still haven't received my refund or replacement untill now, Play-Asia also never reply my emails since then."
"I´m Buy 2 hori pro 3 from Brazil and +
An excellent shop, an excellent service to the consumer, the store is available at any time with their consumers, and that is what makes the difference.
I love the playasia.
All my products came to Brazil without problems and everything correct.
The only store outside of that I feel comfortable and to buy.
playasia ever ...."
"AMAZING SITE!!!! I have ordered 4 games till today (almost one every month) and I receive it below 15 days!!! well the previous one took some time because of my country's customs office no fault of Play-Asia...
and I'm from India so I recommend anyone from India to buy genuine console games from this site. You wont be disappointed by them. AWESOME!!
i preordered littlebigplanet on the same day so waiting for the release of the game to get it..."
"Excellent customer service. My item was the only one left, but was damaged, so they took off an additional $10 and upgraded my shipping. Very pleased."
"I ordered quite a bit of items from Play-Asia and I am very satisfied with their service and products. A few of the items (which I knew when I ordered) were out of stock so they decided to ship it partially without any additional charge. I sent a message wondering when the other items will be in stock and they replied really fast and prompt with their answer. For the delivery option, I chose air economy box (which is the slowest) took exactly 2 weeks to arrive which is within the estimated times. So far I am still waiting for my other packages to come but am confident they will fulfill.
-All packages received as of 9/2/08"
"I am highly dissapointed. I ordered a black giratina silicon skin for my ds, and pre-ordered a Venusaur battle scene figure. The figure was to be released at the end of the month. I waited, only to find it had been pushed forward another month. I waited one more month. The figures were popping up on ebay all over the place, yet on Play Asia it was still set to "to be released in June" It was baffling. I waited to the end of June, only to get an email saying it was to be released in July! The figure is already out and has been for many months! I emailed them, asking if this was just a mistake, only to get "sorry, we do not know the final release date of this item" I don't understand. Not only did I pay double what it's worth, but I could have bought it on ebay for a fraction of the price with shipping. I would use Play Asia as a last resort for an item, but I would NEVER pre order from there again!"
"My partner ordered an XFPS keyboard and mouse converter for my XBOX 360 and paid for UPS delivery. UPS didn't even knock or ring the bell but just put through a "we tried to deliver" note while I was in the house, and we've just been informed we are being hit for customs charges to the value of an additional 50% of the original order!
Play Asia do say this, buried at the bottom of their terms and conditions, but I think it is extremely cynical not to make buyers clearly aware there will be significant additional costs to pay on delivery. With the customs charges it would have been cheaper to have bought fom a domestic reseller. I find the lack of transparency totally unacceptable and would not recommend Play Asia to anyone, as you have no idea what the final cost of your purchase will be."