by iserlohn » Thu Sep 05, 2002 7:32 pm
Save yourself the money. Seriously. DVDs are almost always cheaper online (except for Sunday at the Media Blasters table when they do $20 discs and some specials at the ADV/Suncoast table), and if you're getting CDs you are almost always better off making a big CDJapan or AMOTokyo order with some friends and paying S&H than the markup that most CD retailers will charge you (especially when you consider the exchange rate and getting 15% off because of it...suddenly that $37 CD doesn't sound so hot when you see it for 3000 yen along with 5 other CDs...) Manga can be bought from amazon or any comics store, unless it's japanese. Then you should get it imported direct or find a friend near a BookOff! or Mandrake or Kinukuniya. Paying $9-10 per volume of Berserk untranslated is high but standard at most cons.
Plushies, scrolls, etc. should be purchased in person so you can see the image up close. Just make sure the scroll is legit (it should have either a GE on it for Great Eastern and the US copyright info or a price in yen, japanese company sticker, and japanese copyright).
At my last con I bought:
1 used manga brick - $3
1 One Piece PenciL Board - $4
1 12" DoReMi DX Plushie - $6
2 One Piece 6" Plushies - $6 each
1 Talking Lupin and Zenigata - $8
2 Keychains - $3 each, both now broken, don't buy character chains they all break.
Not a bad haul IMHO. Just watch what you spend and ALWAYS scour the entire room before you buy and keep track of who has what cheapest. You can save a LOT of money, especially on toys by doing this. Waiting for Sunday is also hit or miss, depends on how far the store is coming. The smaller guys will be more likely to cut you a deal, too, as they don't want to have to carry stuff back. The big places will get someone else's money instead of yours if you choose not to haggle usually. It all depends...
"I'm recording an album tonight. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later."
--Bill Hicks