Hello, this is Plain Archive again.
Regarding the *After Sun* 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Souvenir Edition, we have been working tirelessly from yesterday through today to respond to inquiries about additional stock as well as the various reactions and opinions surrounding this pre-order. At the same time, our team has engaged in intense discussions on the best way to address our disappointed customers. We are delivering this announcement after carefully selecting every word.
Let me start with the conclusion.
We decided to produce an additional 1,100 units with the same configuration and specifications.
This product is not the simplified second edition mentioned in response to some customer inquiries, but is exactly the same as the first limited edition.
However, as the existing production run of 1,100 units has already entered the manufacturing stage and it is impossible to increase the quantity of that production volume, this additional run will be processed as a separate new order rather than an increase in the same line.
Due to current war-related logistics, Scanavo has announced increases in steelbook production costs and shipping fees, which account for a significant portion of expenses. Additionally, the production cost of the mini embroidered carpet coasters, which were completed late last year, has also risen considerably. While these changes will apply immediately starting with this additional shipment, we will maintain the sales price at the existing level.
We intend to act quickly to encompass not only the long-awaiting fans but also those who have newly discovered and become interested in <After Sun> through this issue.
After Sun 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Souvenir Edition
Additional 1,100 copies - 2nd Pre-order
800 Domestic | 300 Overseas (Final confirmed distribution / No change in ratio)
April 2 (Thu) 4:00 PM | Naver Smart Store Exclusive Sale |
First and foremost, we sincerely ask for the understanding of those who went through the trouble of successfully completing the initial pre-order. We are fully aware that adding the previously announced limited edition quantity after the fact may disappoint Blu-ray collectors who value the collectible value based on rarity. Nevertheless, we ask for your understanding with a broad mind, as this was an unavoidable decision made to share this title, which we have poured our special love and care into, with more fans.
In fact, *After Sun* was planned as a small-scale limited edition from the very beginning. While the affection of the staff and collaborators added to the planning and design process, ultimately resulting in the current Premium Edition, we believe it was our shortcoming that we failed to recognize in time that the number of people deeply moved by the film's lingering impact and the word-of-mouth generated had grown far beyond our imagination.
We also apologize for some shortcomings in the operation of this pre-order.
The reason we provided an urgent notice via Instagram Stories and X (formerly Twitter) only during the process of converting 100 units from overseas sales to domestic sales during the first pre-order was due to the structural limitations of Naver Smart Store pop-up announcements. Since there was a delay of approximately 5 minutes between the pop-up registration and actual exposure, it was not a realistic option given the constant stream of inquiries and the race against time.
Due to the sudden influx of inquiries, we have urgently diverted a portion of our overseas allocation to allow as many people as possible to make a purchase. We were also concerned that delaying the resumption of sales to display the announcement would increase fatigue and confusion for those waiting indefinitely, and that a surge in users during the waiting period could lead to secondary issues such as payment errors.
We determined that providing the announcement just before the launch was the best option at the time, as it allows for immediate broadcasting via Instagram Stories and X, where fandom activity is vibrant. However, we sympathize with concerns that access to information may be skewed towards users of specific channels, and we will continue to improve our system to ensure that we can provide guidance evenly to a wider audience, even in the event of urgent announcements in the future.
I will arrange a separate opportunity to explain the background behind how it is possible to produce in units of 1,100 copies based on exclusive artwork in a steelbook market where the MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) is typically 3,000 copies, and why we adhere to a limited quantity approach rather than a limited time offer, along with an introduction to other steelbook titles scheduled for release in the same quantity.
Finally, let me make one thing clear.
This decision is an extremely exceptional case, and we will adhere even more strictly to our operating principles for limited editions in the future.
We apologize for causing you fatigue in many ways, and we were grateful for the very fact that we were able to share such passionate opinions out of love for movies and physical media.
We will be more careful with demand forecasting and quantity allocation when releasing future titles.
Once again, I would like to express my gratitude and apologies to everyone who cherishes Plain Archive.
thank you