I just want to know how you find out about new merchandise? Like the your new Taeyang Photobook? I’ve been a fan for like 5 year now and I still don’t ever know when mercy comes out (besides new albums)
The Taeyang photobook isn't mine, I reblogged it from the owner, but since we're both collectors our process is probably the same.*Understand the cycle.*Follow social media and websites*Check up online shops.
Cycle:
From stanning BigBang, to me it seems like YG has a cycle to how the release items.
Album --> merch --> concert --> merch --> seasonal releases --> concert recorded merch
Albums are usually followed by merch releases a couple weeks after. Concerts have a bunch of merch including photobooks and YG announces the goods online. There's seasonal releases such as the calendars and Lucky Boxes; for Korea these start happening around December. Months after the concert they will release the dvd and cd of the concert and more photobooks. Korean releases are slower and more spaced throughout the year. Japan releases are more often... it's almost constant releases month after month.
Korea Social Media & sites:
In order to know your Korean releases you should follow the Notice and News sections of YGfamily website since they regularly update about new release dates. Track YG Life too. Visiting YG e-shop helps as well.
Japan Social Media & sites:
In order to know your Japanese releases you should follow YGex website. The site is constantly updated with release dates for everything. Follow their Twitter account since they'll constantly update with pictures of new releases and other interesting stuff. Also Japan is constantly pouring out new seasonal merch, unlike Korea. Most of this merch is Krunk related or Lawson goods and it comes with the seasons such as summer goods, halloween goods, christmas items, etc, along with other seasonal items such as the calendars and Lucky Boxes at the end of the year.
Check up on your online shops:
Once you've figured out the cycle and you've seen the updates of what's getting released and when, it's time to do your online shopping and hit every shop available to compare prices and shipping should you actually want to buy an item. Here's the list of shops I rely on:Kpoptown: Korean items only but sometimes they'll go to a concert and buy merch to sell online.Kpopmart: Korean items only.YGeshop: Korean items only.YGeBay: Korean items only.Ktown4u: Korean items but sometimes they'll go to a concert and buy merch to sell online.YesAsia: Korean, Japanese, Taiwan releases.Mumo Shops: Japanese items only. Very limited options.Yahoo Japan: It's Japan's version of Ebay, you can find anything and everything in there including out of stock and out of circulation items. Not cheap though.Ebay: A wide range of items, good for used or opened items.
Hope this helps!