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Originally Posted by Rasen Yeaaah....I decided to err on the side of US sellers, sometimes with used stock. Costs quite a bit more than the really affordable models where the sellers are based in China. Also had to confirm the packaging had the hologram stickers on them. Any other factors I should consider?

US seller and hologram on box are good things to look for. Note that not all authentic boxes necessarily have a hologram (I have a few that don't).

The best way to spot a bootleg figure is to look at the quality. Look closely at its face. Details like eyes and hair are hard to bootleg properly. Compare the figure with the Tsuki-board official images. If you think "this figure looks kinda off", it's fake.

China and HK eBay figure sellers are usually selling bootlegs. If something like "Chinese version" appears anywhere in the listing, it is a fake. Japanese sellers are usually legit. A good trick is to check the seller's other items and quantities. If there are many iffy looking items, and each item has numerous stock, they are probably all fake.

Always check the Tsuki-board page for a figure before purchasing to see if a counterfeit exists (it will say so in red in the Details area, like on this page:http://myfigurecollection.net/item/42032).

-Edit-
Btw, Mandarake items are always legit, just like the sites in op.

Sorry to be such a constant bother, I'm trying to learn more, and for whatever reason, I trust information from people on CAG over anywhere else...

For Mandrake, what would you suggest in terms of shipping methods? I know you seem to prefer SAL over EMS, but what about DHL? Mandrake claims DHL has a special low rate for them, but...how low?

Also, for the 2nd hand stores, do their prices ever drop for an item no longer in production, or if there's a specific price point I'm hoping for, I'd have better luck keeping an eye on eBay for some collector getting rid of their collection at a good price?

Originally Posted by Rasen For Mandrake, what would you suggest in terms of shipping methods? I know you seem to prefer SAL over EMS, but what about DHL? Mandrake claims DHL has a special low rate for them, but...how low?

I don't know DHL prices. Should be a little less than EMS but still noticeably more than SAL. I like saving money more than getting my items fast, so I almost always go SAL.

Originally Posted by Rasen Also, for the 2nd hand stores, do their prices ever drop for an item no longer in production, or if there's a specific price point I'm hoping for, I'd have better luck keeping an eye on eBay for some collector getting rid of their collection at a good price?

The price doesn't drop once it has been posted, but there can be varying prices of the same item if they have multiple stock. Pricing may reflect box or item condition, or it's just whatever they think is good at the time of posting (since market prices vary over time).

I've got a few good deals through eBay. It's good to look around to determine the current market price, and also know the original msrp (you can find that on Tsuki-board). If a figure is very rare and heavily sought, you will probably pay a premium no matter where you shop. The most I've paid for a figure was around $220 from eBay US seller for http://myfigurecollection.net/item/388. I simply could not find that one cheaper anywhere. The cheapest I can find it for now is 16k yen (~$204) on Mandarake.

Please feel free to ask me any questions. I've been collecting figures for a while and know how hard it is to get started.

For the CAGs still interested in the Samus Aran Figma, it's now back in stock on Amiami, don't know how long will last though.

Hey I recently got this Final Fantasy X-2 Yuna Vynal statue. I'm looking to sell it and it would go great with any Final Fantasy collector. It is a very rare statue and it is in the box brand new

Taking offers thanks pm me if any questions

ZSS for those who missed out.

http://www.hlj.com/product/MAX04142


Got mine finally.

Originally Posted by whoknows ZSS for those who missed out. http://www.hlj.com/product/MAX04142 Got mine finally.

Gone already.

Does anyone know if Amiami will ship videogames over to the States? I know Amazon.co.jp will not, and I'm curious if this is a policy that varies from company to company, or if it's a rule they all have to follow.

Also, does anyone have any experience paying Mandrake with Paypal? I got the confirmation email for my order, but the link only leads to a page that wants my credit card info. (I did send a question to Mandrake, but as I'm now on a clock to make my payment, I'm a little neurotic right now....)

Originally Posted by Rasen Gone already. Does anyone know if Amiami will ship videogames over to the States? I know Amazon.co.jp will not, and I'm curious if this is a policy that varies from company to company, or if it's a rule they all have to follow. Also, does anyone have any experience paying Mandrake with Paypal? I got the confirmation email for my order, but the link only leads to a page that wants my credit card info. (I did send a question to Mandrake, but as I'm now on a clock to make my payment, I'm a little neurotic right now....)

Im pretty sure they do ship games to the US as I know people that buy some games for the nendo/figma exclusive(ex. the Nanoha's PSP or the BRS game).

I have paid with paypal before with mandarake and the process was quite easy and hassle free.

Also another video game related figure(well nendo) is on preorder:

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/det...-4731&page=top

quite cute xD

Originally Posted by Lightning00 I have paid with paypal before with mandarake and the process was quite easy and hassle free.

Ok, I just got a response from Mandrake and the deal was that you apparently can't buy adult-rated items using Paypal (apparently this was also present on their top page), you have to use a credit card. Huh. Lesson learned but what's up with that? Dealing with dv8 has taught me Paypal doesn't give a rat's about the content of your purchase...

Originally Posted by Rasen Ok, I just got a response from Mandrake and the deal was that you apparently can't buy adult-rated items using Paypal (apparently this was also present on their top page), you have to use a credit card. Huh. Lesson learned but what's up with that? Dealing with dv8 has taught me Paypal doesn't give a rat's about the content of your purchase...

Oh yeah they do have that somewhere on the policy, and I think it's cause in some countries they check inside content of packages. Though also apparently paypal forbid to fund adult item unless bought on ebay(figures).

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2003/03/58208

Looks like Alisa is in stock at Amiami and Hobbysearch (cheaper at Amiami by 740 yen)

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10183562
http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/det...%24pagecnt%3D1

Something's been bothering me about figures. Some of them appear to have varying modes of positions or undress, and while my first thought is that somehow they just have clothes, the more pretty solution is that they just have exchangeable bodyparts. Where does one get the cojones to swap heads, or entire torsos? Are they attached to a metal pole or something, and just slide off?

7th Dragon 2020 - Samurai (Katanako) for preorder. I'm not familiar with the game but I like the details of this figure.

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/det...%24pagecnt%3D1

Originally Posted by Rasen Something's been bothering me about figures. Some of them appear to have varying modes of positions or undress, and while my first thought is that somehow they just have clothes, the more pretty solution is that they just have exchangeable bodyparts. Where does one get the cojones to swap heads, or entire torsos? Are they attached to a metal pole or something, and just slide off?

I haven't come across a figure that uses a metal pole as its core. Parts connect using joints, keyed pegs, or simple circle pegs.

Figma, Nendoroid, and a few other brands use joints that are designed to allow the connected parts to not only rotate/move, but also to disconnect so that you can change between the included faces, hands, etc. The heads themselves split between the face and hair so that you can swap expressions and hair styles. These figures use the same joint sizes across the product line so that you can place one characters head on another's body (that sounds creepy, but it allows you to cosplay your figures).

"Cast-off" means that the clothes themselves can come off (adult figures). Usually this means the clothes are pliable (soft plastic, elastic, or cloth) so that there are no indentations in the underlying skin. I don't have any cast-off figures myself so I don't know the specifics.

Even non-poseable figures can come with parts that can separate (like the torso from the legs) to help prevent paint transfer between parts during shipping. These parts are separated by a thin piece of plastic that you remove after opening the figure.

Has anyone received their Samus (either version) figure from AmiAmi? My figure has been sitting in customs in NYC since the 18th.

The last time this happened, I received a excruciatingly ed up copy of Birth by Sleep Collectors Edition. My mom also had some cloths cut open about 2 years ago by customs. I am officially in panic mode.

thanks for the momohime update. been wanting one forever

Originally Posted by Vinny Has anyone received their Samus (either version) figure from AmiAmi? My figure has been sitting in customs in NYC since the 18th. The last time this happened, I received a excruciatingly ed up copy of Birth by Sleep Collectors Edition. My mom also had some cloths cut open about 2 years ago by customs. I am officially in panic mode.

Mine is in NY too, since July 22 but I got the shipping confirmation 6 days after it was released.

Still waiting for my Samus's (Sami?) too. Shipped SAL registered from AmiAmi 7/13, arrived in US 7/18.

I just received a SAL registered package from Nippon-Yasan that was shipped 7/6, arrived in US 7/10, and I didn't get it until 7/25! 15 days in the US, and they didn't even do a package inspection (I've had that happen once, they open the shipping box and make sure no surprise goodies are inside). I think it usually takes about 7 days once it reaches the US, so hopefully we get ours by the end of this week.

Mine is in NY as well, since the 12th(?) I believe.

Ok, good to hear then. With so many of them stuck there, I'm guessing they won't bother checking them.

Any PAK collectors here? Just got my Solid Snake in yesterday. All nice and posed up with Gray Fox and Sneaking Suit Big Boss.

Dreading the next few months based on PAK alone. Spike, Vicious, Dante, Vergil, freakin half of the cast from MGS and Mass Effect. Gonna be rough.