Comments Looking back at the first half of 2023 collector's poll

So far the buy/sell stat of 2023 stands at 5 to 7. I have another expensive statue to pay off by late 2024 so I need to sell perhaps another 10 figures in the space of a year and half. An even 10 items are on PO although I will likely part with 1 of those after it arrives. My next big addition is coming Q3 of 2024 so I don't want to overhype it too much...

Overall 2023 should be less as I am only getting two statues compared to last year's three statues. Although I am considering (trying to) sell off two of my DC statues to possibly buy one new DC statue releasing this year. :)

Inflation is preventing me from buying more and more Japanese (or now Chinese!) figures. I mean 10,000 yen shipping for a 24,500 yen figure? Not worth it.

1. I've added 5 figures to my collection this year: Dialga & Palkia, Kyo Sohma, Aiba, Byleth, and Zagreus.

2. I haven't sold or gotten rid of any figures.

3. Just one, and it's the Reading Steiner Kurisu.

4. Kyo Sohma, no contest. He was my one true grail and I can't believe I was able to find him for a somewhat decent price!

5. Though I haven't pre-ordered her, I'm hoping that I can grab Digital Stars 2022 Miku when she releases in December. (I'm also hoping that she bins, as I love the design but can't justify such an absurd MSRP).

6. I've significantly curtailed my spending habits - both in general and on figures specifically - due to losing my job and moving to a new apartment unexpectedly. And though I'm slowly getting back on my feet financially, I don't forsee myself collecting many more figures in the future.

7. I'm definitely pre-ordering less, due to a combination of inflated prices and MANY figures binning on release. I'd rather take my chances on the aftermarket than purchase something that I can't really afford at the moment.

8. Not much has changed, but I plan on upgrading my display case once I move into a new place!

1. How many figures did you add to your collection in this year?

14

2. How many figures left your collection this year (whether sold, trying to sell, gave away, etc)?

0

3. How many figures do you have on preorder or in transit?

18, although two of the figures I am a bit uncertain if I am gonna keep the pre-order or not. Specifically these two ITEM #846053 and ITEM #1605249 .

4. What was your favorite addition(s) to your collection this year thus far (whether it was released in 2023, or you acquired in 2023)?

Think it is the Xenoblade Nia ITEM #1143590 . This Guren ITEM #1143590 from Code Geass would have been close to winning if it wasn't for the terrible connection to the base.

5. What figure(s) are you currently most excited about getting? Same as last year, this

Enma Ai by HobbyMax ITEM #1460252 and this resin statue for Code Geass ITEM #1048417 . Although compared to last year, there is cause to be less excited for the latter one.

6. Compared to '22, are you buying more or less this year versus last year?

I think I am buying about the same, but less from pre-orders and more from getting it in stock or pre-owned.

7. Inflation is a hot topic. Are you spending more or less on figures than last year? Are they taking a bigger bite out of your budget?

Might be spending a bit less on figures, and a bit more on other types of merchandises.
Also doesn't help that my currency took quite a bit of a beating, but on the bright side it recovered a decent amount against the Yen.

8. Has anything else collecting related changed for you this first half of '23?

- Pre-ordering less. Most things I have pre-ordered have been well in stock, so I have started to not partially binding myself to pre-order something. Of course I might get burned by doing so, but for now it feels like the better thing to do.

- Buying replica like items like this ITEM #1452428 or Proplicas. Was thinking of doing it last year, but I was a bit undecided about it until I finally decided to take the plunge this month.

1. 16

2. 0

3. 30

4. It's a toss up between these three for me ITEM #1314912, ITEM #1570920, and ITEM #102386. I really love them all, so I just can't pick.

5. ITEM #1347698, he completes my Vocaloid/Piapro Dollfie collection.

6. About the same

7. Not really

8. Nope, everything is prety much unchanged.

(Doujinshi & figure focus)
1. How many Doujins did you add to your collection in this year?
So far, I have added approximately 129 new doujinshi to my collection and 8 new figures.

2. How many figures left your collection this year (whether sold, trying to sell, gave away, etc)?
Around 6 figures, and two doujinshi.

3. How many figures do you have on preorder or in transit?

I have 1 figure on pre-order and 0 doujinshi. In transit, I have 24 doujinshi and 1 figure.

4. What was your favorite addition(s) to your collection this year thus far (whether it was released in 2023, or you acquired in 2023)?

As for doujinshi, ITEM #1449630 has been a 'grail' of mine for almost two years. I stumbled across it on Suruga-ya. ITEM #1618545 was my favorite figure.

5. What figure(s) are you currently most excited about getting?

I should be getting ITEM #1316757 and ITEM #1449781 in a couple weeks. ITEM #1629394 should be arriving a couple months too!

6. Compared to '22, are you buying more or less this year versus last year?

A LOT less.

7. Inflation is a hot topic. Are you spending more or less on figures than last year? Are they taking a bigger bite out of your budget?

As I am buying less, I am also spending less.

8. Has anything else collecting related changed for you this first half of '23?

My figure focus shifted from collecting many series to mostly collecting Hetalia.

1. How many figures did you add to your collection in this year?
So far 11. If only scales than 3.

2. How many figures left your collection this year (whether sold, trying to sell, gave away, etc)?
six.

3. How many figures do you have on preorder or in transit?
10

4. What was your favorite addition(s) to your collection this year thus far (whether it was released in 2023, or you acquired in 2023)?
ITEM #116883 Aoba from Max Factory

5. What figure(s) are you currently most excited about getting?
The two 10 Count male bunnies from Freeing

6. Compared to '22, are you buying more or less this year versus last year?
Less since I was holding back but mostly because I have a large birthday haul planned for July.

7. Inflation is a hot topic. Are you spending more or less on figures than last year? Are they taking a bigger bite out of your budget?
Less. It's not just inflating but international shipping is just stupid expensive right now.

8. Has anything else collecting related changed for you this first half of '23?
- This year I ventured outside the local market and started buying from Japan directly.
- I was against buying used figures due to the poor condition of the ones I saw locally, this year I got my first B & C grade figures from Amiami Pre-owned and very happy with them.
- I hate dubs so had a rule that each character would get just one figure. This year I somehow ended up with not one but two character shrine, still not sure how!?! Aoba from DRAMAtical Murder & A mini-shrine for the master of diabolism.
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1: As of today, 36
2: 0
3: 31 to the end of 2026, +7 beyond that
4: ITEM #1131751
5: ITEM #1619593 , ITEM #1393842
6: Slightly more by number, but likely less by money since i'm picking up more nendos/prizes/pups + the yen tanking even more
7: See above
8: Not really

View spoilerHide spoiler1)How many figures did you add to your collection in this year?
2) How many figures left your collection this year (whether sold, trying to sell, gave away, etc)?
3) How many figures do you have on preorder or in transit?
4) What was your favorite addition(s) to your collection this year thus far (whether it was released in 2023, or you acquired in 2023)?
5) What figure(s) are you currently most excited about getting?
6) Compared to '22, are you buying more or less this year versus last year?
7) Inflation is a hot topic. Are you spending more or less on figures than last year? Are they taking a bigger bite out of your budget?
8) Has anything else collecting related changed for you this first half of '23?

1) Up til today, 141 Nendoroids.

2) 5 Nendos

3) PO 110 Nendoroids
In transit 24

4) I’ll go with her ITEM #1552655, those faceplates are just...

5) ITEM #1590134 My baby!

6) I’m buying 100 Nendoroid more than last year and we're half a year in, can’t imagine how many more I’ll PO, but might be another 100.

7) According to my Excel file, I’m paying +5€ for each Nendo (shipping and customs included). Found a great store that undervalues packages and has a 21% discount for PO (they also use Yens so the exchange rate is pretty decent and since the yen is going down every now and then I’m just lucky).

8) I switched AmiAmi to Hobby Genki. Best decision ever.