Messages

Ah, the 1/6 figures by Hot Toys? I would think Cards and Comic might have them. Some other dealers might also carry them.

Cards and Comics usually bring a wide variety of cards. I think they will also be bringing Pokemon cards.

Just a quick poke into this thread,
for the attendees, please remember to be careful with flash photography.
In all honesty, you will get BETTER results without it.

Bit late now, but maybe people who want to bring their laptops could get together to play.

Don't remember exactly, but if the same gunpla dealer is going to be there, you can bet that you can haggle the price down a bit.  :D

Many groups and organizations do coverage on Fanime. Most of them would be more than willing to allow Fanime to use their work if asked.

Finished uploading the Masquerade photos:
http://t-ono.net/gallery/index.php?cat=18

Report for the Masquerade here:
http://www.t-ono.net/cons/fanime/07/masquerade.php

hm... I agree that for attendees that want them they should be able to get them.
They did pay the full ticket price and it's only fair that they do get them.

Whoa, Tony isn't the webmaster anymore? I think I am getting old...

http://t-ono.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1

Finished uploading the pics from 3 cameras. We have 2 left >.<

Also working on the Masquerade photos, should be done by tomorrow.

As for a report, we've been working it for a while, it should be ready by Tuesday.
http://www.t-ono.net/cons/fanime/07/

http://t-ono.net/gallery/index.php?cat=4
For those who are impatient, I've only been able to resize and edit all the cosplay photos from 2 cameras, we had 5 running around.
Should have the rest including general photos done by the end of this month.

http://t-ono.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=0

http://t-ono.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=3

I've sent you a message about the dealer in question frumpy.

I have been asked by several people on this board to apply for a fan panel next year about figures particularly spotting bootlegs, I might consider that.

Just like to add I saw a few counterfeit figures at this year's Fanime, I won't point fingers at who for now, simply because the dealers may not have known about it themselves.
They were quite easy to spot, as the quality of the box was inferior, and most of them were missing a manufacturer sticker.

Please be careful for next year.

Usually it's not that bad on Fridays, it's Saturdays that's hell...

To keep it short,
The original line was an emergency escape hazard, it had to be moved.
During the line move there was a lack of communication due to being understaffed, people in the front and in the back got the general information while people in the middle were lost.
We had to get all the "sellers" to the front of the line so they could register, this may have caused some confusion for some appearing that people were cutting in line.
The Swap Meet Staff were unprepared to accommodate that many sellers.
Many sellers who did not get in were furious after waiting for so long.
Those who did not get in, attempted to sell outside the hallways in protest urging others to do so, again this is also an emergency escape hazard.
The Swap Meet was delayed 2 hours from its scheduled time. (I believe it was to open at 6? ended up opening around 8 )

I am not sure about people cutting in line during the move. We had Rovers stationed at every corner when we did it. We also did it in sections so we could monitor it, plus we roped off the area at the time to prevent new people from coming into the line.
There was also no way for people who were first in line to become last as the predominant line control was being directed at the front.

A fiasco in 05?

In 2005 the swap meet was held in a specific room and when people started to line-up, they were instructed to line up on one side of the room. About 5 minutes before the swap meet opened, other Rovers came and told us that the line was supposed to go the other way.
Instead of cutting people off from going into that line and starting a secondary line, they told everyone who had been waiting 1 hour+ to start a new line. A lot of people that were supposed to be the first in line became the last and vice versa. Quite a few people were upset over the lack of instruction and direction.

I would not really recommend using hobbysearch, HLJ (Hobby Link Japan) or Animaxis for beginning collectors; I've used all 3 in the past, and still do.
The main way people use those 3 is for preorders. Things to note, all 3 of those online retailers are based in Japan so you will have to deal with international shipping, SAL (Surface Airlift) or EMS (Express Mail Service).
Also Animaxis generally does not offer combined shipping.

I won't go into further detail, as this board is for topics relating to Fanime "Dealers Room" not online figure shops. If you want to know more either PM me or visit my new web project listed and post there. I've been working on a complete guide recently, and it will take some time to finish.

The bottom line is generally you can get your figures cheaper at a convention, i.e. Fanime. :p
I do recommend though that you inspect all the figures you want to buy before purchasing even at Fanime. The Dealer's Room Staff has done a wonderful job in the past in rooting out counterfeit merchandise, but with the sheer volume of products, some do slip by.
Again, if you want a crash course including how to tell apart counterfeit figures at Fanime, feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to arrange something at the Con.  :D  

as well as some recommendations for good online figurine dealers.

I personally use Hobby Search for my PVCs and potentially cold casts.  I hear plenty of good things about Hobby Link Japan too, but I haven't ordered from them.  Animaxis stocks newer PVCs often.  Make sure you buy them with other stuff cause shipping is an arm and a leg.

That's because I am actually working on something related to this, simply because I found that there really isn't any good online resource for this sort of thing. I am actually looking for people who may interested in helping with this, PM for more info. :wink:

Anyways for figure vendors at Fanime there's a lot, just off the top of my head can think of a few:
Anime Jungle
Anime Palace
Cards and Comic Central

I am also offering a full crash course on figures merchandising such as how to buy, identifying, that sort of stuff, at the Con. If you're interested, please PM me so we can arrange something.

Yeah good suggestion, but hey, do remember it's not really Fanime giving out the glow sticks. A lot of random big hearted people are giving them out.

They will be there.
I think Anime Palace may carry the full set for around $50+ or so, and there will be misc. dealers selling them as individual boxed items.
If you need more info. feel free to PM me.

Sure, I can give you as much info. as you need. I am working a separate side project I brought up a couple years ago here on the forum.
Sent you a PM.