Collecting anime is an art in itself. Some items you can find in surplus, while some you can't find at all. Knowing where and when to look is the key to finding what you want, like that pristine action figure NRFB, at a price you can live with.
Learn more about collectible acronyms.
If you've ever wondered how to get your hands on your favorite anime merchandise, wonder no longer. Here's a few tips to collecting all things anime.
Knowing Where To Shop
Sometimes, you can find something the minute it hits the shelves and get it for the sticker price. Speaking from experience, we used to camp out at certain retail locations just waiting for the latest shipments to come off the delivery truck. As a reward for our efforts, we came home with a number of choice action figures and other anime goodies and we didn't have to pay a bundle to do it.
But that isn't always the case and if your local retailers are sold out, you need some alternative places to shop.
eBay - eBay has just about everything, including lots of anime collectibles. The beauty of eBay is that you can sometimes pick up a primo collectible for not a lot of money. The downside is that you could end up in a bidding war or worse, get outbid at the last second by someone else.
Garage sales - When kids outgrow their toys, they can often end up in a box at a garage sale or estate sale. They won't always be mint and it may take you some time to find that perfect piece, but be patient -- good things always come to those who wait.
Flea markets - The thing about flea markets is that you have a 50/50 chance of finding something really cool. You also have a 50/50 chance that the seller thinks it's really cool as well. And when dealing with collectibles, that becomes a problem. Just be sure you know your collectibles before you buy and more importantly, that you know their value and how much you're willing to pay.
Specialty shops - Specialty shops are a great resource for finding those "hard-to-find" anime items, probably because they camp out at stores just like we did! But you'll also pay a pretty penny in the process, so invest in some collectors' guides first to know what the item is truly worth.
Conventions - Conventions are fabulous places to find anime goodies, particularly because so many different vendors exhibit at a single show. The problem is that many of these vendors are those specialty shops we just discussed, so make sure you browse the entire room before you start dropping cash.
Things to Watch Out For
Getting the most for your anime collectible dollars is kind of like a crap shoot. Sometimes you'll win and sometimes you won't. But to help you get the most from your shopping experience, there are a few things that can put the item you're considering into better perspective:
Book vs. Market - It doesn't really matter what a book says an item is worth -- what matters is how much people are actually willing to pay for it. Don't fork over your life savings just because the seller tells you it's rare; instead, do your research and then use your common sense. I can't tell you the number of times that I've heard a hopeful collector complain because they just bought something at a convention only to discover it was considerably cheaper just a few tables down.
Learn more about pricing your anime collectibles.
Fakes, Copies and Bootlegs - Dealing with fakes and bootlegs are just part of buying anime collectibles -- you simply can't avoid running into them at some point and time. But with a little foresight, you can learn to spot the fakes and save your money for the real deal. For example, the packaging on a bootleg DVD is often not as professional as you might expect from FUNimation, Bandai or another big studio. Likewise, after-market action figures often look really similar to the originals, but maybe Goku's face just isn't quite right or the paint on Vash's long red overcoat is spotty and dull. Another giveaway is that the packaging itself is written in another language -- usually Chinese. One caveat though: if it's a Japanese import -- and there are plenty of those out there -- it won't look like the U.S. version, but it will be legit all the same. Just make sure you know what you're buying before you spend.
Learn more about how to spot a bootleg anime DVD.
It's not as rare as you (or the seller) thinks. - It used to be that only a few insiders knew the value of some collectibles, but then the market opened up and boom! everyone wanted in on the game. As a result, there are a number of "semi-collectors" out there that think they've got something rare when, in fact, it's not. Case in point: Barbie dolls have a patent stamp on their behind that reads "1966." All Barbies have this same stamp, even if the doll was manufactured last week. As a result, many would-be collectors think they've got something rare and the price they quote you proves it. A knowledgeable collector can easily tell the difference (it's in the facial features), but someone new to Barbies wouldn't know any better and pay big money for something not worth $9.99.
Another example: the original Star Wars figures used to sell for big bucks, especially if they were mint and "on the card." But then the powers that be realized just what a big market Star Wars collectibles was and decided to "re-release" all the originals. As a result, a Han Solo that once sold for $800 could now be bought at Wal-Mart for $5.99.
The moral of the story? Be sure you know your stuff before you start spending your hard-earned dough.
