Jessica | 23 | UK
I've been buying figures since 2016 and I collect mainly idolm@ster cinderella girls merch! my hobbies include anime, gacha games and figure-hunting.
favourites
girls • ranko, shin, yoshino
anime • detective conan
manga • my dress-up darling
music • fromis_9, stayc
idols • irene, hyejoo
food • yorkshire puddings
Where do you buy your figures/merch?
• amiami
• mandarake
• goodsrepublic
• solarisjapan
• ebay
Which bookshelf/glass case do you have?
I have two Detolfs that are on top of single Kallax boxes, and a Billy bookcase! - All are from Ikea
Where do you get your risers?
I buy my risers for both my nendoroid display and detolf displays from ebay. I search for 'acrylic risers' and then find the size I'm in need of! They are also sold on Amazon.
How do you keep track of your collection?
I use the website Myfigurecollection.net to log my owned, wished and ordered merch items!
How do you afford collecting?
This has been my hobby for a very long time and therefore I have been able to pick things up gradually along the way! My main tip for collecting is to buy secondhand items as it will extend your budget.
How do I start collecting as well?
I would recommend searching for figures from an anime series that you enjoy or a certain character that you love. Looking at other people's collections will give you inspiration and help you find new figures that you would like to purchase. I think Nendoroids are a good place to start as they are more affordable than scale figures and there is a wide range of characters available, but everyone collects differently and at their own pace!
How do you edit your instagram photos?
I use the app SNOW to take and edit my pictures!
Where is the best place to order from? (For UK collectors)
I would highly recommend SolarisJapan or Amiami. If you would prefer a UK based retailer, Gamersheek is the best place (imo). For harder to find figures or older figures for a bargain, Mandarake is the best place.
I would advise against preordering from UK websites as most stores massively overprice new releases. In my personal opinion it's a better and much cheaper experience ordering from Japan directly. I would highly recommend comparing the prices of preorders on Japanese sites with UK ones to see the difference!
Can you explain UK import fees/customs?
In my experience packages imported to the UK are not subjected to custom fees unless they are over £135 in total value.
What about buying figures from Ebay?
I do this myself, but I would recommend to be very wary and suspicious of ebay sellers to avoid buying a bootleg by mistake. Things do happen, and genuine figures do get listed for amazing prices (my Alter Melty scale was £20 on an auction), but I have also mistakenly bought bootlegs as well. I think it comes with experience, but the best advice I can give is if it looks too good to be true, it probably isn't, and also if you're not completely sure, then don't risk it! There are a lot of guides on bootlegs out there to help you learn the signs. Another tip is not to always trust the box if the figure itself looks like a bootleg (I have bought bootlegs that came in a box that looks very authentic).