Hello!

Sui Kune · Post by **Sui Kune** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:57 am

Hello! :3

I'm a newbie too, I've only been collecting since April, and I'm just floored at how kind and helpful cel collectors are towards each other! My collection has grown a lot from the one cel that started it all, thanks to a lot of those people! I also love working towards goals; while I do collect other merchandise, working towards each and every cel is so invigorating and satisfying, and I get so excited with each new addition. It might be expensive, but collecting cel art is unbelievably fun and rewarding!

Yeah, I'm a huge optimist, aren't I? XD; But I really hope you'll have as much fun as I've been!

kathpatty · Post by **kathpatty** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:26 am

Welcome

Just keep looking toward a goal and truly enjoy the lovely images you can collect.... Best of luck !!
I have learned alot in the short time I have been here

duotrouble · Post by **duotrouble** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:47 pm

Welcome to beta!

I currently have cels from all the series you mentioned up for offers. Just click my www to see what I have available.

It's a long debate we cel collectors have - save to buy that dream cel you may never find or buy other "lesser" cels that you like to build your collection. I did both. In the beginning, I never planned to have a large collection. So I bought a piece here and there that meant something to me. And then I really started to learn how to use deputies, etc. I went crazy buying a ton of cels. Now, I'm in the cel stage of fine tuning. Other "older" collectors were fine tuning when I began, which is how I found dream cels.

My experience says buy what you like, stay within your means and save up for that surprising dream cel that might just be around the corner for you as "older" collectors move on to other addictions.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:54 pm

Avoid the desire to buy artwork just because you haven't bought anything for awhile. Avoid the desire to buy artwork in order to make yourself feel better.

I'm going to have to get used to collecting differently from how I was before. It's going to be difficult, but there's not much I can do about it. It's a weakness of mine and I didn't realize it until recently. Collecting without any feedback is a drag, but I must endure.

As the Tick said:

"Must....go on....must....go....on."

trinitycubed · Post by **trinitycubed** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:05 pm

This is turning out to be a very expensive hobby! Especially when everything around you seems to be a wish list item

At first I thought I knew what I wanted for my collection, but now not so much. It seems like every nice cel that pops up is "the" cel that you must have. How long does everyone here usually wait to purchase a second wishlist cel after recently purchasing one? What happens when two of your wishlist cels pop up at the same time?

Ah-- Hopefully I can put together a gallery soon

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:03 pm

It took me more than year and a half before I could finally control my spending. I've known several collectors who quit collecting in less time than that because they said the hobby was costing them too much.

My problem was trying to collect from too many shows. I spread my money too thin between them. It was easy to overspend initially because I didn't have a collection to back up my willpower. How could I stop when I hardly had anything yet?

After I had acquired a number of pieces that I liked, it became easier to stop. But some collectors keep going and get themselves into trouble. Something has to give at some point.

It can be a very addicting hobby. It has always been that way.

kira · Post by **kira** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:01 am

well you can always keep your eye on the for sale page here, some one might have something you want for sale.

you could always look on mandarake, yahoo japan, or evil bay(ebay).

Post by **sensei** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:09 am

trinitycubed wrote:How long does everyone here usually wait to purchase a second wishlist cel after recently purchasing one? What happens when two of your wishlist cels pop up at the same time?

It is tempting to go over budget, when you get something you like and then something else comes up very quickly. My attitude is to keep the money primary and the cels secondary. In other words, I buy the best cels (or art) I can with the money I have at the moment.

If I've maxed out my budget, I don't browse auctions. When I have extra money, I do. I still recall the most expensive auction that I ever won: at one point I actually took out an envelope of cash that I had under my keyboard and counted it to make sure that I had in hand the amount I was about to bid. I did, and I bid, and I won. But winning an auction without having the money first is no win.

cutiebunny · Post by **cutiebunny** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:52 pm

trinitycubed wrote:How long does everyone here usually wait to purchase a second wishlist cel after recently purchasing one? What happens when two of your wishlist cels pop up at the same time?

I've always operated on a quantifier system whereby I have items I'd like and I rate them on a scale of 1-5 as to how badly I really want it.

I would say that the bulk of my purchases probably occured within the first few years of collecting. Once you get a few from the sequence you want or of the character you want, you're less likely to go for everything you see and more likely to just wait it out until something really special comes.

My experience has been than, every year, there is one dream cel that pops up and that's always the one that I buy.

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:48 pm

Like everyone else has said, budgeting is very important. For example: I recently got back from vacation when this set appeared (http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e90056404) on Yahoo!Japan, and although it is one of my top wishlist items, I did not bid because I had just spent so much money. Although I doubt that it will ever appear again for sale, I knew better than to over-stretch my budget for this month. I nearly cried when I saw how cheaply it had sold, but I will never let myself get into any sort of debt for this hobby (which some people have). Maybe in 5-10 years it or its sister cel will appear for auction...

ginga123 · Post by **ginga123** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:12 pm

Your welcome.

When I first opened my gallery, I had 1 expensive cel and at least 2 very inexpensive ones. My gallery grew pretty quickly within the first year or two-- but I always pursued what I wanted and still do. I do the same rating thing Cutie does. I ask myself a few ?'s too! lol

I think it first year or two of expanding my collection helped me realize what I mainly wanted to focus on and I stuck to it. I also knew I wanted to add CG series into my collection around 2006 because I don't think I saw much of it back then. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough? But, I'm happy to see a lot of it now and have some of my favorite CG shows' sketches.

I don't buy as much nowadays as I used to back then, but I'll splurge here and there every once in a while. I mainly stick to the budget. If you don't have the funds, don't overextend yourself b/c taking care of yourself first is more important than a piece of acetate.

As for purchasing wishlist cels, I think it depends on the person and time. I had lots of wishes granted over the years and a couple of dreams too; but, it's taken a lot of waiting and patience.

For example, and not to nag or brag, I got a dream cel last year. But, this year-- who knows if that will occur. I had another dream wish come up this year, but I missed out on it b/c I was outbid by 2,000 yen. I was disappointed, but you can give me credit for trying.

I get at least 1 dream wish pop up and 2-3 wishes granted every year. Nothing substantial, quantity wise; but, I am more focused on finding something that I know I'll enjoy for a long time.

Belldandy16 · Post by **Belldandy16** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:00 pm

kira wrote:well you can always keep your eye on the for sale page here, some one might have something you want for sale.

anyone know if Midori ever has a sale...

i adore her cels but the prices are steep!

a good tip,
like what Sensei said, NEVER go to any auctions or for sale pages when youre trying to save b/c there's ALWAYS something coming up that you say you cant live w/out. lol

just really learn to pace yourself. its a killer to wait but itll save your conscience and your wallet in the long run.

good luck!

beatrush · Post by **beatrush** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:15 am

Belldandy16 wrote: anyone know if Midori ever has a sale...
i adore her cels but the prices are steep!

Yes but a Midori sale is as rare as seeing Bigfoot.

Sometimes Midori liquidates things on YJ under the user, if I remember correctly, Howdy_Com.

Belldandy16 · Post by **Belldandy16** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:41 pm

thanks for the info, Beatrush!

Post by **sensei** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:01 pm

ReiTheJelly wrote:Like everyone else has said, budgeting is very important. For example: I recently got back from vacation when this set appeared (http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e90056404) on Yahoo!Japan, and although it is one of my top wishlist items, I did not bid because I had just spent so much money. Although I doubt that it will ever appear again for sale, I knew better than to over-stretch my budget for this month. I nearly cried when I saw how cheaply it had sold, but I will never let myself get into any sort of debt for this hobby (which some people have). Maybe in 5-10 years it or its sister cel will appear for auction...

I saw that one, and, yes, it's a once-a-series item of immense importance. No, I didn't bid either, as I'm keeping a tight budget now, but I was hoping you were the Rinkya bidder who kept the winner honest. 20,800 yen isn't cheap for a sketch set, though I'm sure there are those who would gladly have bid up to 50,000 for bragging rights for this image. Still, there's always hope that something similar will crop up, and at a time when you have the funds. At a time like this, it's good to look at the once-in-a-lifetime wins you did win (like those Miyuki-chan storyboards ... wow....)

trinitycubed, your "once in a lifetime" day will come, too.