As with everything, there are questions that get asked very frequently. Here's a selection that get asked about once a day, along with some of the answers. You can (and should) still call if your question isn't on here, though ... our friendly staff will love to hear from you.

Ratings System
To benefit our customers, we have implemented a rating system for many of our products based on our staff's knowledge of each title's content, as well as input from the various anime suppliers.

ALL
Generally acceptable for children. No Nudity. Possible mild violence.

12+, 13+
May contain violence, brief nudity, and/or mild language. May suggest sexual situations, but no situations are shown. Parental discretion advised.

15+, 16+, 17+
Strong violence and strong language. Prevalent Nudity may be contained within the picture. Mild sexual situations may be shown.

18+
Extreme violence, Explicit Nudity, and/or Extreme Language may be contained in the picture. May contain sexually explicit material. Absolutely not for anyone under 18 years of age.

Please note: Ratings used within our system are oftentimes provided by the manufacturer of the product. Because of the differences in ratings used by these companies, we have combined their systems, with the descriptions of the ratings listed above. STUF does not set ratings (except for its own products) and is not responsible for errors, omissions, or inaccurate ratings. These ratings are guidelines only, and are subject to change.

Running Time / Video Length
Next to the age rating of each item, you will see the approximate running time listed for each video. Depending on the manufacturer, running times may or may not include extra bonus features such as previews.

Edited and Uncut
Although many fans screech in horror at the very thought of altering the original Japanese version of a show, for a series to make it to American TV (or even into some retail stores) they must often be edited. This means that scenes containing nudity, excessive violence, blood, and foul language are altered or even totally removed. Anime purists may want the original in all its glory, but parents of young TV viewers do not. Manufacturers recognized this and often release both the Edited (TV Version) and the Uncut (Original Version) of the show.

Release Dates
If an item has not yet been released at the time of this catalog's printing, you may see a release date listed for the item. However, manufacturers can (and often do) change these release dates due to production delays. If you are ordering an item with a release date and are concerned whether this item is on schedule, please feel free to check the item's release date through its online listing, contact customer service at 1-800-338-6827, or even email customer service at info@rightstuf.com.

If a product in our Online Store has a Date Available as Dec 12, 2012, it's because the systems we use internally and for the website require a date to be entered. Because of the number of places it appears, and because it is in some places that we cannot easily customize its appearance, we try to be consistent and display 12/12/12, or Dec 12, 2012.

Mosaic
The digital "mosaic" effect is sometimes placed over the relevant bits during a particularly adult sequence prior to the title being exported from Japan. When we are aware that a particular volume or title has this effect, we'll mark it as Mosaic in the volume listing.

Why do you charge for your catalog?
Unfortunately, paper does cost money. In order to keep producing a printed catalog, this means that we have to charge a small fee for it (but don't you think it's worth it?) However, you can get your money right back by using the $4 off coupon that is included!

Will I get your next catalog?
If you've ordered something from us in the last year, you will automatically receive the new catalog when it is shipped. If not, you may find that you'll stop receiving catalogs (and you will have to send us the current catalog fee to reactivate your catalog status).

When does your next catalog come out?
Why, every spring and fall!

What's this "Got Anime" thing?
An easy way to get an additional discount on your favorite anime items. For a small yearly membership fee you get additional discounts on great products, the latest catalog, newsletters and members only specials! Click Here to find more about the Got Anime Purchasing Club or to sign up. Please note that international members of the Club will no longer receive mailings, due to postage cost.

I keep hearing about affiliate programs - what are they and do you have one?
Quite simply, an affiliate program is a way for you to make money when people come to a commercial site from your web page. Let's say you put one of our banners on your web page and link it to us. If someone buys something from us, then you get a fixed percentage of their total order. Of course to get the money, you first have to sign up to be one of our affiliates. For more information, check out our Affiliate Information page.

Why don't you carry that many imports?
Limited availability of imports and lack of timely distribution of such overseas items make it difficult to provide quality imports on a timely basis. We are continuously scouring the market to find a stable way to bring imports to our customers and hope to do so in the future. Please check our homepage for the latest news on imports.

Why don't you have <Title Here> Audio Soundtrack CD from Japan?
Um...I know I'm getting bad at geography, but I'm pretty sure that's an import - see above question regarding imports. You also might want to check our Soundtracks section because a number of titles are now being released domestically.

I really want to learn Japanese... What resources do you have?
There are a couple of books in the catalog and on the website, which might be of interest - particularly "Basic Japanese Through Comics" and "The Anime Companion." The Internet is also an excellent resource and you might check with local school districts and community colleges to see if they have any courses available.

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What is an OVA (OAV)?
This means Original Video Animation. In normal terms, this means a direct to video release.

What is the difference between the ‘Edited' TV episodes and the regular ones that are listed?
One was shown on TV! Duh!! Seriously, this varies depending on the show. Many times the TV episodes are censored. (The TV execs hate doing it as much as you hate them doing it) Censoring is done to coincide with the regulations that TV broadcasters must abide by. This can involve the removal of Nudity, Excessive Violence, Blood (sometimes just a change from red to green makes a difference), and the naughty words. The non-TV versions often times have the episodes in their original form and you get to see the show as the producers intended. You can note this by "TV version," "Toonami," or "Edited" in the item listing.

Is <insert title> CC or Closed-Captioned?
While the standard answer would be yes for most titles, not all shows are given the CC treatment. If we know that a title is CC, we have tried to mark it as such. If you're still unsure of a particular title, please feel free to give us a call or drop an email in our box.

What are some products listed as (D), (S) or (Hyb)?
Although DVDs allow for the possibility of dual language anime, it is not always possible to license a title for dual language release in the States. So, you end up with manufacturers releasing Subtitle Only (S) or Dubbed Only (D) DVDs. Subtitled DVDs display the dialogue on the bottom of the screen while the actual voices are still in Japanese. Dubbed means the music (probably) is intact, but the voices have been redone in English. You might also see (Hyb) which means that both the subtitled and dubbed versions are available on the same DVD.

I saw this show that I think might have been Japanese Animation. Do you have it?
We get questions like this all the time in the company email box. If you can give us enough information, someone can usually identify the program. Please understand, though, that if you ask us about something where "there's a girl who's like a magic user, a guy with a sword who has big hair, and a villain who wants to take over the universe, and I think there are some cat girls in it" there's a problem. This describes about half the films ever made. Also, knowing what a series or movie is doesn't mean that it's available in the US as a licensed product, but it's likely that it is.

Why isn't <insert title here> available in the US?
You might be surprised to find out how much of anime is available in the US. Of the few titles that remain unlicensed, some titles have their rights disputed, or licensors want more money than a title can possibly generate in this market, and, of course, some are currently in negotiation. With the exception of a few TV series (which are a different matter entirely, due to their length), this just about covers it. We do not sell fan subs of non-licensed products, or pirated copies of licensed programs.

Can we special order series not on the website?
Simply put. If it isn't on our website, we can't get it.

What are some good shows for young children?
Although this is truly a matter of personal preference, we recommend Totoro, Kiki's, Pokemon, Kimba, Flint: Time Detective, and Astro Boy for young anime fans. You might also consider the Sanrio titles like Hello Kitty. Look for the "ALL" age rating in item listings for child-friendly titles.

What's the most horrible, tasteless video you offer?
That really depends largely on the person you ask. If you ask the catalog designers, they would say Cool Devices, Bible Black, Urotsukidoji, and Magic Woman M. Don't let the title fool you. Magic Woman M actually has induced dry heaves. It's that intense. These titles are certainly not for the squeamish, and are most definitely only for adults. Look for them in the Adult catalog.

I saw some titles are listed REALLY low - like just $5!! - Are these prices right?
Yes, they are. Occasionally, we are able to get an incredible buy on some products. When we do, we pass those savings along to you. This is called our Bargain Bin. Many times, super-specials such as these are available in limited quantities only, but they do have the same guarantees as any other tapes. Also, we do post weekly specials and bargains on our website. Check them out!

Why do DVD's always seem to be late?
There are a number of reasons for this, but most revolve around the comparative newness of the format. Mastering is still difficult (although more readily accessible than a year ago).

What is Region Coding?
Region coding is a geographical restriction for DVDs and players that allow for licensing of specific materials within different areas, or Regions, of the world. Since DVD players are region specific, you need to make sure that the DVD you purchase is coded for the same region as your player.

What region is your DVD player?
If you purchased your player from a retail outlet in the US, it should be Region 1. You can check the Region coding on your DVD by looking for the Region Code symbol on either the silkscreen or the packaging.

Region Coding List:

1. United States of America, Canada
2. Europe, including France, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, Japan and South Africa
3. Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo and Indonesia
4. Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America
5. India, Africa, Russia and former USSR countries
6. People's Republic of China

What Region are your DVDs?
We primarily carry Region 1 Discs. However, we do have a small handful of DVD titles that are multi-region and even Region-free. We've tried to mark them where possible.

What is the difference between PAL and NTSC?
These are both connected with regional displays. The US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan utilize the NTSC television standard. Western Europe, Australia, Great Britain, and much of the rest of the world use a different standard called PAL. In Russia and former satellite countries, they use another broadcast standard called SECAM. These three standards are incompatible with each other (unless of course you have a multi-standard video equipment which allows you to play all of these - expensive). All of our programming is in NTSC; We do not sell PAL or SECAM videos.

Why does THIS DVD look so much nicer than THAT DVD?
Like many things, it's the talent of the people who did the mastering. Although the format supports a very high quality image, the preparation of the material determines how good the final will actually look. This can also be seen in many non-anime DVD's that came out the door first.

Can my DVD play in a Playstation 2 or computer DVD-Rom drive?
It depends on the DVD. There have been instances of some DVDs having difficulty playing. While the vast majority will work just fine, we cannot guarantee all anime DVDs will play correctly on a PS2 or in a computer's DVD-Rom drive.

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Bargain Bin Deals: What Are They? How Are They Possible?
Right Stuf's Bargain Bin includes items sold at drastically reduced prices to slim down excess inventory. These items are new and have never been previously owned.

In most cases, these great deals are passed on to you, the customer, because publishers have been left with a surplus quantity of a particular product. This may be caused by producing too many copies to match current demand, the need to make room for newer merchandise, or from inventory other retailers have returned to the publisher for credit. Therefore, some items have been handled a few times previously, but they are still in great condition.

What Does "Previously Handled" Mean?
As mentioned above, some items in the Bargain Bin have been returned to the publisher by other retailers. Even though they are new, previously unowned items, some may have been lightly scratched and/or scuffed during the return process. Below is a list of some of the possible flaws an item may have:

• scratched case or cover
• a wrinkle in the cover
• a dented case corner
• the item may be a single volume from a multi-volume set

Item listings in the Bargain Bin are not specifically noted with every possible handling issue. Structurally, each item is in excellent condition prior to shipping, with no loose discs, for example. Collectors should be warned that, due to these extreme price cuts, "mint condition" cannot be guaranteed for Bargain Bin items.

Some items may have stickers from other retailers on the outer protective film. (For example, a sticker over the barcode on a DVD's packaging.) Stickers are never stuck on the actual item and may be shipped to you still on the outer protective film. In almost all cases, they can be easily removed upon receipt of your order.

Our Bargain Bin Guarantee
We stand behind our Bargain Bin products with the hope these great savings will help you expand your collection. These discounted products are structurally sound and good for everyday playing/reading.

Please Note: Sales from the Bargain Bin are final with no returns accepted for the cosmetic conditions listed above. If you feel you have received an item that is damaged beyond the above conditions, please see our Returning Merchandise Policy.

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Why are the DBZ videos numbered out of order?
When we are notified of new DBZ volume, we attach a volume number to it so people would know what tapes were new. However, this is our system and not FUNimation's. It worked out just great at first, but then FUNimation started simultaneous saga releases. (ie: Frieza saga, Garlic Jr. Saga) This, of course, caused a huge conflict in our numbering system. To help resolve the resulting confusion, we've added episode numbers to all of the titles to help make sure that you are getting right tape. If you're missing some episodes, chances are that it hasn't yet been released.

What's the difference between Urotsukidoji Perfect Collection, Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, and Vol 4?
You had to ask a complex one, didn't you? Here's the deal. The original five-installment set (now known as the Perfect Collection, and available subtitled only) was cut together to form Volume 1 (dub DUB) and Volume 2 (DUB). Urotsukidoji 3: Return of the Overfiend and Urotsukidoji IV are totally new series and are available dubbed only. Now if you want to simplify you life, just get the "Hell On Earth" DVD Collection which contains all of series (that's Vol 1, 2, 3, 4) in one box set. I know - it's like trying to figure out the sequences of the VIZ Ranma series sometimes.

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What are your hours?
If the President had his way, we would be chained to our desks 24 hours a day. Luckily, (for us at least) this is not so. We answer the phones from 8am to 5pm CST Monday through Friday. You can FAX your order 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (515) 986-1129, or you can also place an order online on our main website using your web browser. Please don't email your order, it's very unsecure and someone could steal your credit card number.

Can I get a new order form / Do I need an order form / I ran out of order forms!?
You can give us the information on the form or on any scrap of paper. As long as we can read it, you are fine (hieroglyphics just wasn't our specialty in any life). Actually, there probably are SOME kinds of paper that would be a poor choice for making orders on ... If you'd like to have something pretty to print back out, you can also download a new order form (PDF).

How can I check on my order?
The best way to check on your order is to log into the system.  An option will take you to a list of all of your orders, current and past, and you can obtain tracking numbers and the status of any open orders.  Please note that at present, only orders placed through the website are shown here (thus, if you ordered by phone, status will not show in this section.)  You can always contact customer service at 1-800-338-6827 or email us at info@rightstuf.com if you have any questions.

How long is a typical item "out of stock" for?
With a few exceptions, DVD delays can be measured in days. There are some freak delays, but 2-4 weeks is a usually safe figure, and is what we'll likely tell you if you ask. However, please keep in mind that some items are directly imported from Japan, and may be in short supply even there, and should the vendor be out of stock at the time of our resupply order with them, it may be a bit longer. We keep thousands of items in stock, and our computer system automatically adjusts stock levels based on demand.

Can I use my catalog coupons for an online order?
Yes, you can. Simply use the Coupon Code that is on your coupon when you place your online order. You can only use one coupon per order and only one catalog coupon per customer.

Can I order online Daily Deals or Special Pre-Order Discounted items through the mail or over the phone?
Sorry, but these special offers are only available through our online store at RightStuf.com and if you check in often enough, you might find some amazing deals online!

I ordered something in your catalog and you told me that it was discontinued / why did you list it as being available for sale?
Since we only print our catalog twice a year, some products that are listed do sell out during the lifetime of the catalog. It might be that the product is a Limited Edition or an Import that is only available for a short time. Other times, an item, such as a graphic novel, can go out of print and will no longer be produced. Unfortunately, we don't always know this until after the catalog has been printed. If you do select a discontinued item, we'll do our very best to work with you to select a different one or simply return your payment.

How many coupons can I use with my order?
You can only use one coupon per order (Yes, that means no paying using all of your friends' $4 rebate coupons.)

Do you ship COD?
No. In fact, few companies do it any more because of the large prominence of fraud. Sorry.

Do I add sales tax?
Only if you happen to live in Iowa.

If I move, should I inform you?
Certainly a good idea (Right Stuf would be the FIRST notice I'd send if I were you), especially if you want to keep getting stuff from us. Just drop us a quick note, giving us your old address, and your new address, so that we can update our records.

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Do you take Discover / VISA / MasterCard / American Express?
Yes to all. About the only plastic that we don't take are standard ATM and gasoline cards.

If I order using a credit/debit card, when do you charge it?
Credit cards (by law in our state, actually) get charged only when the product actually ships, unless there's some freaky deposit problem. Please keep this in mind when placing orders with your debit card because shipments occasionally arrive at our facility earlier than expected. When this happens, your order may ship to you before the official availability date of an item in our online store.

I'm an international customer. What's with this extra data you need?
With international mail and credit card fraud becoming a growing problem, we felt it was better to ask you for additional information rather than charge everyone outside the country a lot more for their stuff. For first time orders only, we require a copy of some form of ID (can be a utility bill, credit card statement, driver's license, passport, etc.) which shows your address along with a photocopy of BOTH the FRONT AND BACK side of your credit card. For security purposes, please black out one set of digits and your signature. We request this information to help keep credit card fraud down and make sure that you are the person using your card - this allows us to better protect you by making sure you are receiving the product. Right Stuf will provide a secure website location for our international customers to submit this information, please email us for more information. Please note that this policy only affects first-time international buyers; once your data has been received, we mark your account as verified and the submissions are destroyed. Sorry, we can only ship to your billing address.

To securely submit copies of your ID or billing statement and credit card through the Right Stuf website:

1. First, you will need to log into the Right Stuf website. Go to RightStuf.com and click on the online store.

a. If you have been logged in recently, click on "Your Account" in the upper right corner, just under the "Shawne's Deal of the Day" banner. You may need to enter your email address and password again. Go to step 2.

b. If the name in the upper right hand corner under the "Shawne's Deal of the Day" banner is not yours, click on the "If this is not you, please click here" link. Enter your email address and password at the login screen. Go to step 2.

c. If it says "Already a customer or associate?" under the "Shawne's Deal of the Day" banner, please click on "Please sign in". Enter your email address and password at the login screen. Go to step 2.

2. Once you are logged in, under "Your Previous Orders" click on "Check on an order's status".

3. Click on the "View Order" button that is to the right of your order that is waiting. The status of the order will be "Order has been received; held customer service review". If you have multiple orders in this status, you only need to submit your ID or billing statement and credit card information for one of the orders.

4. On the right hand side of the page under "Did you receive an e-mail message requesting additional information?" click on "send that information to us using a secure form". You will then be taken to a secure form that will allow you to send the copies of your ID or billing statement and credit card to us.

**Important** The copies of your ID and credit card must be saved to your computer in JPEG or GIF format. The form will not accept any other type of file. All of the fields are required.

5. There are three images that you will need to send to us; the front of an ID or billing statement that shows your name and address, the front of your credit card, and the back of your credit card. To add an image, press the "Browse" button and the file upload window will appear. Browse to the image you want to upload and click "Save". Repeat this step for the remaining two files.

6. Click "Send Information". This will send the copies of your ID or billing statement and credit card to our customer service department. Depending on your connection, this may take awhile and your browser may appear to be locked up while the files are being uploaded. Once we have reviewed the copies, your order can be processed.

Why don't you accept PayPal?
When PayPal was bought out by auction giant Ebay, the company began instituting a number of policy changes in hopes of reducing their overhead costs. Unfortunately, in doing so, they've also made it difficult for companies such as ourselves to protect our customers and ourselves from online fraud. Therefore, Right Stuf reached the decision that, as of 4/30/03, Right Stuf no longer accepts PayPal as a form of payment for purchases with our company. However, we do accept the Paypal branded VISA card, which withdraws funds from your Paypal account.  This may be a good option if you are looking to use your Paypal funds.

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RETURN POLICY:
If your merchandise is defective due to a flaw in manufacturing, we are more than happy to replace the product. Unopened DVDs and VHS can be returned for Right Stuf store credit (or in the case of credit cards, refunded to the issuing card.) All returns/refunds must be processed within ninety (90) days of the date on your purchase invoice. If you need to complete a return/refund, please obtain a return authorization number from Customer Service at 800- 338-6827 or visit our Return Authorization Form.

Products returned without a return authorization number, or those more than ninety (90) days after the invoice date, will be returned to the customer.

If the package was damaged while in transit (crushed box): if delivered by UPS, please contact UPS directly at (800) PICK UPS or if delivered by Mail, please contact your local postmaster.

Do I have to pay to ship back a product to STUF?
Unfortunately, Yes. We suggest using the least expensive shipping method available. We will only reimburse shipping for wrong items sent.

Is "I didn't like this DVD" a good enough reason for me to return it?
Sorry, no. However, defective DVDs can be exchanged for another copy of the same tape within ninety (90) days. Please note that DVD player incompatibilities cannot be considered defects without the manufacturer's acknowledgement of the problem.

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I went to your online store and I wanted to order, but I don't have a credit card? What do I do?
Should you prefer to flip through the online store to select items, you can actually use it to place an order in by mail! Simply select all of the items you want and place them in your cart. When you proceed to checkout, make sure to choose the "faxed or mailed order" option. This will generate a printed form with everything already added up for you (no more calculator!) Just print this form off and mail it in with your payment. Although you can use the online store to generate your order, nothing will be recorded by our system so make sure that you don't lose your form or you'll have to re-enter everything all over again!

Why do you hold my order when I pay with a check?
Even with all this cool technology, checks require at least 12 days to clear. In a perfect world, this would not be so. Amazing, isn't it?

What's this NSF charge?
"Non-Sufficient Funds" means, in English, your check bounced. This is bad. We will charge you for this. There is a $25 charge for all returned checks

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In Stock
This item is currently in stock and will usually ship immediately. Depending on the shipping method, you should have this in your hands within a matter of days.

Note: If you place an order for this item along with other items which are not currently in stock, the order will not ship until all items are in stock, or you request that the order be shipped in partial.

On Order From Manufacturer
We don't have this item in stock at the moment, but we have an order in with the manufacturer for the item.

We receive product shipments daily and should have your item back into stock within a short period - say around 10 days; however, if the item is being imported, or if there are delays from the manufacturer, the wait could be longer.

If your item remains on backorder for an extended period, you will receive a notification from us.

Pre-Order
This item has yet to be released for sale by the manufacturer. If you order this item, it will be shipped as it becomes available and your credit card will not be charged until it actually ships.

Release dates for pre-order items are located on their product page under 'Release Date'.

**Note on Product Availability**
We update product availability hourly. Please note that it is possible that an 'in stock' item may have sold out between updates.

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