If you're anything like me, you've probably spent a lot of time scrolling with the ive starship shop looking for that certain specific photocard or limited edition album to accomplish your own collection. It's the bit of a good obsession, isn't it? Being a DIVE means your shelf room is always at the premium, and Starship Entertainment definitely knows how to keep us coming back again to get more. Whether you're a day-one enthusiast from your "Eleven" period or perhaps you just hopped within the bandwagon during "LOVE DIVE" or even "After LIKE, " the state shop will be the primary center for everything that can make being an enthusiast fun.
I recall the first period I tried to navigate the site. It could be a little mind-boggling at first, especially whenever a new comeback is announced plus everyone is hurrying to obtain their pre-orders in. But there's something genuinely exciting about knowing you're getting the real deal directly from the origin. It's not just regarding the music; it's in regards to the whole knowledge of buying an item of the group's journey.
The reason why the official shop is a DIVE's best friend
Presently there are a million places to buy K-pop merch these types of days, but sticking with the ive starship shop (often referred to as Starship Square) has some pretty obvious perks. The greatest one, obviously, is usually authenticity. We've just about all seen those sketchy listings on third-party sites where the lightstick looks simply a little too plastic or even the photocard shades are a bit washed out. When you buy directly from Starship, a person don't have in order to worry about whether Wonyoung's face is going to look blurry.
Another huge reason to shop this is actually the Pre-order Benefits, or POBs. If you're into collecting, you know that POBs are usually basically the gold standard. These are exclusive items—usually additional photocards—that you simply get if you purchase the album before it officially falls. The ive starship shop often has its own exclusive group of these, and they could be incredibly hard to find after the pre-order period ends. I've seen some of these cards go for over the price associated with the actual record on the secondary market. It's wild, but that's the particular game we perform.
What you'll find while searching the aisles
It's not just collections, though those are definitely the loaf of bread and butter of the store. When you dive into the ive starship shop , you're looking at the pretty wide variety of goods.
The Essential Albums
Obviously, you've got the typical collections. Starship usually places out a several different versions for each release. You've got your photobooks, which are generally gorgeous and substantial, and then you've got the smaller "digipack" versions or even the "PLVE" variations if you're seeking to save space. I personally love the cosmetic of the "I'VE MINE" era—the different cover designs looked therefore good sitting next to each other on a shelf.
The state Lightstick (I-TING)
If you're planning on going to a concert, you basically need the particular lightstick. It's known as the I-TING, and it's one of the prettier types out there, in my humble opinion. Purchasing it from the particular ive starship shop ensures that will it will really sync up along with the Bluetooth at the venue. There's nothing more uncomfortable than being the one person within the crowd whose lightstick isn't changing shades with the music because it's a knockoff.
In season Goods and Attire
Every season, they release "Season's Greetings, " which usually is basically a giant box of letter head, calendars, and more photocards to help you start the new year. They also occasionally drop clothing products like hoodies or even shirts during tour seasons. The product quality is usually surprisingly decent—not that "one-wash and it's ruined" kind of fabric you get a few merch stands.
The struggle associated with international shipping
Okay, let's come on for a 2nd. The greatest hurdle along with the ive starship shop —and really any official K-pop shop based in Korea—is the shipping. When you live beyond Asia, those shipping fees can sometimes cost more than the particular actual items you're buying. It's the particular one thing that makes me be reluctant every time I hit the peruse button.
I've found that the particular best way to deal with this is usually to visit in on a "group order" with other fans. If you may find a trustworthy group order manager (GOM) on Twitter or Instagram, you can split the delivery costs with ten or twenty others. It takes a lot longer towards your stuff because it has to be shipped to the manager very first and then categorized, but it saves a ton of money. When you're impatient like me, though, occasionally you just have to bite the topic and pay that DHL fee to get your IVE fix as quickly as possible.
Tips with regard to scoring limited products
Things market out fast. Like, "blink and also you missed it" fast. This particular is especially genuine for new edition vinyls or special collaboration merch. If you want to create sure you obtain what you need from the particular ive starship shop , here are a couple of things I've discovered the hard way:
- Create an account beforehand: Don't wait around until the drop occurs to place in your own shipping address and credit card info. You want to be able to simply click "buy" and go.
- Follow their social events: Starship usually announces drop times a few days in progress. Set an security alarm for five mins before.
- Check the "Square" version: Sometimes the global site and the particular Korean site have different stock levels. It's worth examining both if you're desperate.
- Don't panic purchase: Occasionally things that "sell out" actually come back in stock a few hours later when buggies expire or orders are cancelled. Maintain refreshing for a bit before you provide up hope.
Why we keep coming back
All in all, shopping at the ive starship shop is about supporting the girls. We know that a portion of the money (hopefully a fair one) goes back towards the members and helps fund the next high-budget songs video or globe tour. There's a sense of community in it, too. When you see someone otherwise with this specific keychain or wearing that tour hoodie, a person immediately know you've found a fellow DIVE.
It's funny how the simple web store can become such the big part of the fan encounter. It's the location where we enjoy comebacks, mourn the bank accounts, and obtain excited when that will "out for delivery" notification finally pops up on our mobile phones. There's honestly nothing quite like the feeling of carefully peeling the plastic away a brand-new record and seeing whose photocard you drawn. It's like a tiny, expensive lottery to always kind of win since, let's face it, all the users are icons.
Anyway, if a person haven't checked out the ive starship shop recently, you might need to take a peek—just maybe don't appear at your standard bank balance right after that. Whether you're looking for a gift for the friend or simply treating yourself with regard to surviving another 7 days, there's always something there that'll create you smile. Simply keep an attention on those pre-order dates, because as soon as they're gone, they're usually gone for good!