Sharkchild's Gravescab plushes
FFXIII-2 Lightning Play Arts Kai
DC Comics Bishoujo Poison Ivy
Marvel x Bishoujo Mystique
S.H. Figuarts Super Saiyan Vegeta
Alter's 1/7-scale Black Hanekawa
Good Smile Company's 1/8 Nadeko
Max Factory's 1/7-scale Azusa Nakano
Alter's 1/8-scale Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke
DX Gojyujin by Bandai
Max Factory's Hirasawa Yui (Santa ver.)
FREEing's 1/8-scale Ryouko Ookami
CM's Corporation's Arale Norimaki
Toy'sworks Niitengo Key Memorial set
Cospa's Resinya! 1/8-scale Kirino
Medicom's Kyubey plush
Kotobukiya's 1/8-scale Melty
Sega Prize Kirino Kousaka, Irony ver.
Sega's Panty & Stocking prize figures
figma Append Miku by Max Factory
Sharkchild's Gravescab plushes
Tomocast 34: Dragon Ball Z records tonight
7:00 AM on 07.31.2010
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I think that's the problem with a lot of people who collect- I was looking at ToysLogic earlier, and I felt so sorry for anyone who paid the prices they did for the figures on there! Black Rock Shooter's December re-release for $199? She's half the price on other sites! She isn't even that much on eBay- even though THERE you can never be 100% assured on the authenticity of what you're buying. I honestly don't know whether to feel sorry for them for being ripped off like that, or disappointed that they didn't do their research. (I have a friend who doesn't do her research- and while she has the money to blow and I don't, it still bums me out that she buys things without thinking it through, comparison shopping or following releases- it's half the fun, to me!)
Granted, before I started coming here, I didn't know about places like HobbySearch or AmiAmi, so, I was buying figures mostly from sellers on eBay or on Livejournal, but even I could tell, back then, when something was overpiced. Most things are still outside my budget, but you guys have really given me the insight on where to look and how much a figure SHOULD cost, as opposed to what it sells for in the after-market. I've luckily never overpaid to the point of where I feel like an idiot- because I also did my research. You guys just made it easier, and you made my hobby more accessible!
I do think a part of the reason why people overpay at cons though, is because it is part of the experience- why else would you buy a $30 shirt that says "Medics Do it From Behind?" It's something you can take away, and say, "oh, I got that at Otakon!" It's part of the memory. That said, you could probably associate your memories with something reasonably priced and save the money left over for two figures for the price of one, but...
Well, when the PVC lust hits, sometimes it's just HARD to resist.
Granted, before I started coming here, I didn't know about places like HobbySearch or AmiAmi, so, I was buying figures mostly from sellers on eBay or on Livejournal, but even I could tell, back then, when something was overpiced. Most things are still outside my budget, but you guys have really given me the insight on where to look and how much a figure SHOULD cost, as opposed to what it sells for in the after-market. I've luckily never overpaid to the point of where I feel like an idiot- because I also did my research. You guys just made it easier, and you made my hobby more accessible!
I do think a part of the reason why people overpay at cons though, is because it is part of the experience- why else would you buy a $30 shirt that says "Medics Do it From Behind?" It's something you can take away, and say, "oh, I got that at Otakon!" It's part of the memory. That said, you could probably associate your memories with something reasonably priced and save the money left over for two figures for the price of one, but...
Well, when the PVC lust hits, sometimes it's just HARD to resist.
While I agree on the part of the consumer being weary of the prices of goods, I also know that booth space in conventions like Otakon are usually not free and costs quite a bit. From a business perspective, it's true that otakon brings in the targeted crowds, but for a business to find it remotely viable to even consider exhausting manpower money and time in setting up shop at Otakon, they must actually be able to turn in enough revenue at the end of the con to offset the costs of rental/day and/or the hiring of extra manpower for this endevour (Since this is an event they could technically pass up on if they so choose to to save on the above extra costs). So in a way, I can see the justification of some of their price hike, although they'd be smart to try and balance their price point with conscientious consumers.
Slightly higher prices at a con to me doesn't really bug me and it's a good reason.
If a figure that is normally 80$ is 20-30$ more at a con I consider that a good deal. Why? Because if bought from a site like Amiami or Hobbysearch you would have to pay that extra amount in shipping to get it from Japan to your shelf. (EMS isn't cheap and I don't ship any other way for obvious reasons). It's that reason I would think most of the figures at a con are marked up and if they weren't I would be suspicious as to how the seller got that or why they were willing to take a hit by selling it cheaper.
I know at anime boston I saw some pretty shifty dealers that I was pretty sure was selling boot legs simply based on the low prices of around 60-70$ each and when I went and looked closing sure enough they were fake. However every single I found priced around 90-120$ was the real deal and it didn't see like they were ripping anyone off they just were trying to make a bit of profit after having to buy and ship the figure themselves.
If a figure that is normally 80$ is 20-30$ more at a con I consider that a good deal. Why? Because if bought from a site like Amiami or Hobbysearch you would have to pay that extra amount in shipping to get it from Japan to your shelf. (EMS isn't cheap and I don't ship any other way for obvious reasons). It's that reason I would think most of the figures at a con are marked up and if they weren't I would be suspicious as to how the seller got that or why they were willing to take a hit by selling it cheaper.
I know at anime boston I saw some pretty shifty dealers that I was pretty sure was selling boot legs simply based on the low prices of around 60-70$ each and when I went and looked closing sure enough they were fake. However every single I found priced around 90-120$ was the real deal and it didn't see like they were ripping anyone off they just were trying to make a bit of profit after having to buy and ship the figure themselves.
Seeing prices a little higher at a con is expected but when I see items like the most recent BRS blade version being sold at 150.00 it makes me turn my head like my dog does when she hears a noises she doesn't understand. I came back from AX having a lot of those head turn experiences there. Since I mostly get my figures from AmiAmi and Hobby search I do know what they are selling for and what the final price would be including shipping. That said you do find some good figures (that are ligit). At AX I manage to finally get my hands on the megahouse Toushirou Hitsugaya for 70.00 when I know that he was retailing at AmiAMi for 5,320 yen (about 61.53).
Since I became a figure collector I started doing my research and such to know when you see a good deal and when it's too good of a deal that you know it's a bootleg.
Since I became a figure collector I started doing my research and such to know when you see a good deal and when it's too good of a deal that you know it's a bootleg.
[quote]Slightly higher prices at a con to me doesn't really bug me and it's a good reason.
If a figure that is normally 80$ is 20-30$ more at a con I consider that a good deal. Why? Because if bought from a site like Amiami or Hobbysearch you would have to pay that extra amount in shipping to get it from Japan to your shelf. (EMS isn't cheap and I don't ship any other way for obvious reasons). It's that reason I would think most of the figures at a con are marked up and if they weren't I would be suspicious as to how the seller got that or why they were willing to take a hit by selling it cheaper.
I know at anime boston I saw some pretty shifty dealers that I was pretty sure was selling boot legs simply based on the low prices of around 60-70$ each and when I went and looked closing sure enough they were fake. However every single I found priced around 90-120$ was the real deal and it didn't see like they were ripping anyone off they just were trying to make a bit of profit after having to buy and ship the figure themselves.[/quote]
You should have turned said dealer's in for selling bootlegs. It's illegal and Anime Boston would have shut their booth down and kicked them out. I was at Anime Boston as well, and I didn't particularly notice any bootleg figurine dealers, but pretty much all the ones I really took a close look at were charging way insane prices. There was only one booth that I saw (can't remember the name of it) that were selling nendies for a reasonable price. Basically selling them for about $10-$15 over the price I could get them off Hobby Search for, and they were legit figures so it can be done. They may not be making astounding profits off each figure, but I'd imagine that they made up for it on volume sold provided people were smart and shopped around a little.
Speaking of Anime Boston, I find J-List's response to your tweet somewhat confusing Pedro. J-List was at Anime Boston, an east coast convention with less attendees than Otakon. I can only think of one of two reasons. First, perhaps AB charges less fees for the dealers to set up shop, so it was worth it. Second, perhaps it's because AB was in April and wasn't coming right off the heels of Anime Expo like Otakon is. Well, AB hasn't gotten Mangagamer, so I'd consider getting Mangagamer instead of J-List to be a fair trade.
If a figure that is normally 80$ is 20-30$ more at a con I consider that a good deal. Why? Because if bought from a site like Amiami or Hobbysearch you would have to pay that extra amount in shipping to get it from Japan to your shelf. (EMS isn't cheap and I don't ship any other way for obvious reasons). It's that reason I would think most of the figures at a con are marked up and if they weren't I would be suspicious as to how the seller got that or why they were willing to take a hit by selling it cheaper.
I know at anime boston I saw some pretty shifty dealers that I was pretty sure was selling boot legs simply based on the low prices of around 60-70$ each and when I went and looked closing sure enough they were fake. However every single I found priced around 90-120$ was the real deal and it didn't see like they were ripping anyone off they just were trying to make a bit of profit after having to buy and ship the figure themselves.[/quote]
You should have turned said dealer's in for selling bootlegs. It's illegal and Anime Boston would have shut their booth down and kicked them out. I was at Anime Boston as well, and I didn't particularly notice any bootleg figurine dealers, but pretty much all the ones I really took a close look at were charging way insane prices. There was only one booth that I saw (can't remember the name of it) that were selling nendies for a reasonable price. Basically selling them for about $10-$15 over the price I could get them off Hobby Search for, and they were legit figures so it can be done. They may not be making astounding profits off each figure, but I'd imagine that they made up for it on volume sold provided people were smart and shopped around a little.
Speaking of Anime Boston, I find J-List's response to your tweet somewhat confusing Pedro. J-List was at Anime Boston, an east coast convention with less attendees than Otakon. I can only think of one of two reasons. First, perhaps AB charges less fees for the dealers to set up shop, so it was worth it. Second, perhaps it's because AB was in April and wasn't coming right off the heels of Anime Expo like Otakon is. Well, AB hasn't gotten Mangagamer, so I'd consider getting Mangagamer instead of J-List to be a fair trade.
Lately anime conventions are selling way too overpriced items. In AX, cups I get for 10 bucks cost 35, figures that cost less than 20 are sold for 60. I don't entirely blame sellers since they got shafted by the convention too, but if prices had been a bit lower I would've bought twice what I did and still spend more.
Wow that is pretty absurd. At SDCC when it came to anime statues, everything I saw was incredibly reasonable and comparable to online prices. I wonder if the dealers think that the anime conventions are more specified and that they can get away with charging such extreme prices.
If you're wondering as to why prices as cons are generally higher (especially at places like AX), it's to make up for the cost of the booth (already pretty expensive) and the completely mandatory union fees that are associated with the entire venue. These can run into the thousands of dollars, and they need to be absorbed somehow - hence the higher prices. But there's a big difference between an additional $10 above the website price and $100 above MSRP...
Kyrie, you're mistaken about the pricing of B*RS on Toyslogic - we're offering the re-release for a considerably lower price of $122.
http://www.toyslogic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16021&zenid=vuufl2nska1kufeuv6cqrc9dk6&products_type=1
The $199 figure is from the original run, and is priced as such because it cost us a bundle to get in stock, and also because we're offering it as a collector's piece for those who prefer to own first-run editions.
http://www.toyslogic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16021&zenid=vuufl2nska1kufeuv6cqrc9dk6&products_type=1
The $199 figure is from the original run, and is priced as such because it cost us a bundle to get in stock, and also because we're offering it as a collector's piece for those who prefer to own first-run editions.
Amongst all the overpriced stuff, I feel like I found a couple good deals at Anime Expo this year, particularly a 1/8 Exellent Model Sheryl Nome (http://myfigurecollection.net/figure/6426_sheryl_nome) for "only" $125! Sure it's nearly double the original price, but it's a lot less than it's going for around the rest of the internet these days.
