A few question about "A BEST"

[lastminute]

I bought my copy of A BEST off of eBay a few years ago. It came with the sleeve case and alternate cover so, I obviously assumed it was a first press copy, which is great. However, I have a few questions I hope you guys can help me figure out.

1. I noticed my copy also included a set of stickers along with a DOME TOUR flyer. The tour flyer makes sense, it is supposed to be included, but... I just realized I didn't know the album included stickers, which leads us to my first question, is the set of stickers supposed to be in there or the eBay seller just kindly added it? lol

2. I also noticed that next to the release date printed in both the sleeve case and the CD's back cover, there's a second date: 03.3.27 (actually, it says "03.3.27まで"). What does it mean? I really have no idea lmao I'm wondering, is it a 2003 pressing of the album? and, If so, did they still made copies with sleeve cases and alternate covers 2 years after the album's release?

Photos:

Spoiler:

[Isicio]

I don't know about the stickers, maybe the seller added it. About the other date is not a 2003 pressing is when the album "expires". Maybe I'm wrong but I think this date is something related with that.

[aliceshields]

I found this explanation on the date ("date" まで)

Spoiler:

CD Rental stores are common in Japan and they also sell blank, recordable media. Copying CDs has been legal in Japan since 1985 and the cost of recordable media includes a payment to the Mechanical Rights organisation JASRAC to compensate copyright holders.

Prices:

CD prices are set by the record companies and they can’t be sold below the price declared on the rear inlay and/or OBI. Many CDs add a deletion or expiry date when they can be rented or sold below the fixed price.

This Outside CD was released on 23rd September 1995 and the price and rental restrictions expire on 22nd September 1997.

http://www.illustrated-db-discograph...php?f=3&t=4283

Is interesting to learn how to read the label =)

[Isicio]

^so this date is when the cd expires and can be rented and sell it with another price, great thank you for posting.

[lastminute]

Oh, I see! Thanks for clarifying it! It is indeed interesting

[Bigtop]

Looks like I just learned something new in the Japanese music CD selling business... (I've been scratching my head all these years...what's with that date six months forward, typically?)

[Party_King]

Originally Posted by Bigtop

Looks like I just learned something new in the Japanese music CD selling business... (I've been scratching my head all these years...what's with that date six months forward, typically?)

I think it changed over the years...
when I've a look on older ayu Singles it says 2 years how it's months...

[ExodusUK]

Those stickers look like they belong with the H-single..this is the first time I'm reading or hearing about stickers being included with any sort of A BEST pressing.

[lastminute]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

Those stickers look like they belong with the H-single..this is the first time I'm reading or hearing about stickers being included with any sort of A BEST pressing.

I see, I've been wondering where they came from! Well, I really like them and have used a couple of them so, I'm glad the eBay seller included them lol

[Delirium-Zer0]

The stickers are definitely Concert Tour 2000/Duty era logos. Maybe Shinseido stores included them with A BEST when you bought it? Pretty cool find, I've never actually seen them before.