Yeah, to me that sounds like its based on presumed popularity.

So items that they think they'll meet the threshold on won't have the "Pay Later" option. With Ultron being from a big franchise like Marvel he seems a given.

Then any items they're unsure about will, but by the looks of it even if they do you'll still have to pay up just before Tamashii stop taking preorders themselves, which is 3 months or so before release.

At least that's how I interpret it. But I completely agree with everyone - the way they're handling it is absolute BS.

That sucks, I hope this doesn't affect my January and February items because I really want them and don't know when I'll have the money exactly.

I'd be prepared then, because odds are you're going to have to pay for them in October and November respectively.

Had the day off today, so took the chance to open up some newer Figuarts from the past couple months and rearrange the display.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pskqje3jvi.jpg

I don't know how many others got Doras, but he looks GREAT...I just wish the tail on mine could actually plug into the ball joint in its ass.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps5x6kvzoz.jpg

Additionally, opening almost all the Drive Figuarts all at once (already had Type Speed & Mashin Chaser), they look realllllly good. I'm more impressed by Type Technique & Wild than I was expecting to.

EDIT: One thing I forgot about - Heart Roidmude's hips are kinda loose out of the box. He can stay upright fine, but it's not hard to knock him down if I shake whatever surface its standing on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psrmtv02qr.jpg

Again, doesn't seem to be the case if the Precure Figuarts are having to be payed for immediately. The western fanbase for that show is pretty small and the few releases we get every year are mostly exclusives. There's no way they're hitting or even expecting to hit the cap with those.

Well this is kinda weird. I was looking through a couple of Type Technic reviews (oh how I want him) and I noticed something weird. This reviewer's Type Technic's Max Flare is actually a Midnight Shadow.

But this other review has the right mold. so it does not appear to be a Thing for Technic. Must be a one off thing.

Still, it's kinda weird, but sorta funny, that stuff like this can happen.

What an odd error. Kinda neat, actually. It's like a chase variant for an accessory of a figure. :lol They don't even have the same assortement of shift cars. The error has funky spike instead of a real max flare, and the normal one has max flare and midnight shadow in their proper colours, and both have... the fire truck. (forget the name)

Actually, Type Technic comes with all three (flare, spike, shadow) already in the holder, but it also comes with a Fire Braver you can use instead. The different reviewers just chose to replace different cars to highlight the fact that you can do this.

I'm talking about when you PLACE the order, not whether or not you'll eventually have to pay. As far as I can see there haven't been any Precures put up for preorder since this was implemented.

As long as I have money by then I'll be fine. If not well that is going to suck.

Just how recent does it have to be? Echo only went up for order at the end of July.

Anything due for release January onwards. So that was anything that went up from...August I think?

But there could be no pattern to this at all, this is just the only way I can make sense out of the whole thing.

What are your experiences buying apparently "pre-owned" Figuarts on AmiAmi? For example, I'm looking for a Blade with all of the cards and the sticker sheet, but none of the stickers applied. There is one listed and its condition rank is:

ITEM: "A" (Like New - Item is sealed and is unopened or appears to be unopened.)
BOX: "B" (Some damage to the box is visible.)

Is it likely that this listing is accurate and that the figure will truthfully be sealed? How reliable are these descriptions and who exactly are selling these "pre-owned" figures? Is it like Amazon or eBay where you never actually know exactly what the seller's definition of "Like New" is before you receive it?

I've had good experiences with them. Generally if there's something off/wrong with the figure it's marked "C" along with whatever's wrong with it (paint scratches, missing accessories, etc.)

If I was ordering a figure without a stickers and tiny cards hidden behind the silver insert, I'd be far less hesitant. I mean, I certainly don't think it would get an "A" if the stickers had been applied, because you can see that from outside the package. But if by chance the package was opened, I just want to be confident that the stickers/cards are in there. The tricky part is that even when new, while the Rouze cards are listed in the contents list, the sticker sheet is not.

I've bought something like 30 things from AmiAmi preowned. A/B basically means it's literally new. Sealed, everything as it should be. Basically new. Even B/B figures usually come close to new with minimal wear or use (usually, I once got a B/B figma that came with stickers and those weren't applied either). If it actually was altered they would make a note of it (and not list it as an A). If something was outright missing they'd list it as a C. I'd say you're pretty safe with an A/B.

Exactly the kind of confidence I was looking for. Thanks, man!

Yeah I've never had any bad experiences with pre-owned stuff from AmiAmi. Every A/B item has been great; at most the box might be a bit scuffed or some corners creased but that's it. They've been as consistently reliable for me as Mandarake or Jungle have been.

So my friend is going to Japan for his anniversary trip and asked me if I wanted anything. I said no, but he isnisted so I mentioned that it would be cool to get another SH Figuarts.

I'm excited, because I have absolutely no idea which Figuarts I'll be getting. As soon as I get it though, I'll post what I got on here if it's Toku related. (Should be since that is the majority of them.lol)

Just found out that I am up for a teaching job in Japan maybe starting in January. If i get this job, I might open my own middle man service or something since I will have access to the usps...but only if sentai gets another SHF...lol

Ugh, I'm sitting on an order for Lemon Energy Baron and Ryugen that'll run me just over $100, due to the cost of EMS, the dog shit dollar conversion and Paypal's ridiculous conversion fee. You guys think that's a fair deal?

If it were Ryugen Yomi is say that price sounds about right. But if you waited it out, you'd probably find a Ryugen for like 1500 like I did. What's the individual price of Lemon Baron?

4500. Ryugen is 2500. Not the best price I've seen for it, which was 2000, but they're in the same store hence combined shipping. But ems shipping is 1860, so it's 8860 altogether, which is like $98, plus whatever Paypal wants.

It just adds up so quickly. If it was even 100 yen to the dollar I'd have bought them no question, but that conversion...

Oh right, you're in Canada, right? Cause I know US conversion is 116 right now

Yeah, the yen is 90 to our dollar I think. 90.7 or something, it fluctuates. It's been this way for a while with no signs of improving. And that's just it, it's in such constant flux, I may pay even more once Mandarake bills me than what I thougth I would once I order, it changes that often.

You can have paypal process the payment in yen and let your bank/cc handle the conversion if it has a better rate. I have a chase credit card which has a 3% fee, which actually makes paypal cheaper. I believe Discover card doesn't have a foreign transaction fee.

I used paypal to pay off an order with AmiAmi on the 11th and the conversion rate was around 87.6 yen per dollar or something. Now whether or not 8860 yen is a good deal for both those figures is probably more dependent on the individual. An average of around $40-50 per figuart is how I gauge its worth. lol

Maybe if you chose registered SAL it would be cheaper? I usually do since I don't mind waiting.

Damn it, that's the exact Baron I planned on ordering next week... ><

*sigh* It's a steal. Go for it.

How much is Kiva-la going for?

I don't think she's even out yet.

I ordered mine for about $40 American. I can't believe she's a mass release!

Yeah, I got them. The way I see it, I've been planning on getting them for weeks, the dollar hasn't budged, and I have extra shifts in October. It's not like a I buy Figuarts everyday. In fact, by purchasing both I've increased my collection by 40%, :lol

I'll just curb my collection spending from now on.

That's balls. SAL would be cheaper, but with the conversion rate, it wouldn't even be that much cheaper. (EMS was 1860, I think SAL was like 1100 or something. WTF?) Besides, I never mind paying for EMS, because unless I order on a Sunday, I always get my packages the following Monday. It's like clockwork.

BTW, the total in Canadian was $100.99. I feel like I just got dumped on. (and I didn't like it?)

There's a Zangetsu Shin on Mandarake for 9000 cheapest I've seen him.

Just paid off Tridoron at NY. Ouch.

Haha did that earlier this month, hoooof it's a real punch to the bank account but it's going to be beautiful in hand. Least I hope it does, I'm super excited for turning on all the LEDs.

Tridoron's really another example of "Bandai's Figuarts really can just do anything, can't they?" So weird that it's exlcusive yet Rideron isn't, though.

Also, it happened a while ago, but Mandarake already shipped my order. I remember when their other stores used to take days just to invoice you.

Rideron probably coast less to make since Tridoron has lights and can separate the cockpit to transform. Making Tridoron more money to produced and giving it a higher price tag.

Oh, I get the price. It's the fact that they made one an exclusive and one mass release.

GUISE. THE DRIVER OPENS. (Or at least includes an open version...)

http://tamashii.jp/special/pickup/20.../img/03_02.jpg

Hype. This guy looks great.

EDIT: A bit late to the punch. Didn't realize there was a news post. :o

pretty its just saying they are all regular releases.