YOURTURN

Not a problem. I should add that I might be busy trying to get any updated info in regards to getting legal help starting my business there. But I also do know my way around Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, and -- to a lesser degree -- Nipponbashi. So if I can find this, my guess is it will pop up in any of Mandarake's shops. Otherwise, I am going to hope that my game hunting does not end like it did in 2017.

I kid you not, but I have to go with... Willow. The game turned out to be one of my favorites when it comes to the NES. Plus it made me forget the fact that I missed out on playing Dragon Warrior II to IV.

Deleted. Sorry for the mess.

So this is the final story to my attempts to build a graded Star Wars action figure collection. Which was not going to be big since I wanted to get back into collecting Dragon Quest related merchandise again. Between early October to some point last week I ended up ordering three figures from three eBay sellers. The first one was a 2011 (I think) figure on a grading worthy European cardback. The second was a more recent figure on a "case fresh" European cardback, with the third just being one I felt would compliment the second one. Lets just say that they are irrelevant at this point. The first seller used eBay's GSP which means that Pitney Bowes would be involved. This was fine until the tracking stopped at Bloomington, California. At this point on, the relevant need for them to fix their piece of shit service was obvious. In the end it took me a few days and two (out of three) competent CSRs to find out that package was lost. The second used Royal Mail. Which is funny because it cost less and offered a faster service. However... That arrived some time after my spat with a third seller. And what arrived was a partially smashed box, with the contents not looking 'case fresh'. Lets just say that the bubble was heavily scuffed and the cardback did not look any better. The last used eBay's GSP with a signature service added. I politely requested that my order be cancelled since he did not ship it off yet. If he said that it would be shipped that day, I would have understand. But instead he talked about how he already paid for the shipping, why it was delayed, and capped it off by making a few condescending comments. In this case he claimed that I was "contractually obligated" to keep my order, and claimed I was "confused" because I was an "eBay newbie". The shipping part alone was enough for me to concede on the request, the other was not. In the end I asked that it be returned because I disagreed with this attitude. And he rejected my request. After that I got a message from the first seller about the lost package. Before Pitney Bowes emailed me, as I had concluded that it was lost. They ended up commending me on my professional behavior and granted me a refund. With the upside being the compliment. The bad being that the refund was a few dollars short of what I spent. In the end I am sticking with what I have collected before this happened.

If you still need it by the time I revisit portions of Tokyo, I'll gladly pick one up for you. My fees are fair and I don't require Reed's soul as a down payment.

The thing about VGA is that as long as CGA, Inc. is doing business they will be around. That is pretty much it. I mean flaws aside, they will always be that small toy department at a 1980's department store or grocery market. As for the way both companies grade, lets use @Gulag Joe's regraded game as an example. 1. A VGA 95Q can also be seen as a VGA 95+Q. It all depends on the grader. 2. A VGA 95+ can be downgraded to a 95 if either the box or seal look to be a 90 to 95. 3. A Wata A++ means that the seal is 'box fresh' (VGA 85+ to 100). 4. A Wata 9.6 is a VGA 95Q, with a Wata 9.8 being a being a 95+Q. Again, see #1. In the case of said game, it sounds like the box could be disputed as a 95+Q (or 9.8) but the VGA grader was stingy enough to downgrade it to a 95Q (or 9.6). It could be that any light reflected on the seal makes the box look like a 95. And since the seal is graded a A++ (case fresh or better), it would have graded anywhere from a 85+ to 100. My guess that if VGA used AFA's standard system, the seal would come back as either an 90 (90+ between the two) or a 90+ (with that being the deciding factor for the final grade). I am going with the latter of the two. Either way, AFA is competing with CAS. And I would have worried about VGA if CAS did a better job promoting their video game division. Maybe not as much since many here like seeing the grades on top of the case (which is not CAS's forte). Either way... If CGA, Inc. stops grading altogether all I can say is that it's more on them more than anything else.

Here is all I can say. 1) You are showing a loose/incomplete niche collectible. With the right buyer its value would be 1.5x to 2x what a North American variant would cost if it was in the very same condition. Maybe more if you found that one buyer who has spent a very long time hunting it down and is willing to pay a premium (~5x). Beyond that since it is super-niche, there is not a strong market out there. And I am somebody that tends to gravitate towards Japanese games. 2) Pokemon does not hold the same levels as it once did in today's market. Which goes back to statement #1. So if you are willing to take what you can get your best bet is eBay, and following that up with an auction. Calculate how much much each game has sold for and divide that by 50% (25% if needed) as your starting bid. 3) Also note that "OP" means "Opening Post" and not what you have your title be. The whole thing has me feel like you are asking people to read the title, not the post below the title. One of the biggest rules in making a sale is the same as running a business, and that requires clear communication with respect on your end. This is one of those things that has me put up my guard when looking for anything on eBay, etc. That is all I will say on that. Overall... I have said what I have said. So if you need to respond, please eat a Snickers before you do.

If I had to keep it simple, and omit non-video game stuff, I have to say the experiences I had in Japan are tied to the best feelings I had in terms of collecting. With the feeling of me getting the first game in my re-planned/reboot collection is also great. Because while I cannot remember when I first seen it, it helps me remember where I saw it and how I felt when it happened. Plus it has also helped me realize that I am definitely a Dragon Quest fanboy when it comes to collecting video games. Which makes my experiences being a fan of both Dragon Warrior and the Dragon Quest franchise that more special. Plus being around you guys is on the list. It's not the same as my time at Luida's Bar or experiencing the Dragon Quest Monsters Super Light event in Akihabara. Or even Dragon Quest the Live, etc. But it's there. Somewhere on the list. I'll let you guys know before the year 2120.

@captmorgandrinkerNot to say anything political, but that blotch is why we need a "Abraham Lincoln rule" here. It was one of those things I read up on since I cannot visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. And he has a few quotes that would help create both a bipartisan and non-partisan in cases like this one. And @Tanooki? I live in California. And from what I am looking at the hardest hitting areas also have a large homeless population issue. Which includes U.S. veterans who were long forgotten. It's one of those remaining reasons why we cannot make Soylent Green here. Along with another reason why I am spending another month being ramen deprived. With that said... I hope those dealing with this will get better.

Sigh... I hate to say this but you have officially became no different with the way you said that. Yes, both examples have been reported. And the difference is that those "Liberals" (as you call them) have been criticized for doing this by their peers. News reporters, politicians, and even scientists have stated that their actions have ramifications. And that if they are to protest, celebrate, etc. they should not do it that way. But with Trump's camp? They follow his example. Forget the fact that the White House is a super-spreader event. But look at the fact his campaign had to include a waiver just to be excused from being sued over this. Biden's rallies ended up looking like a drive-in event, which is better than being less than 6 feet apart even when wearing masks. All I will say is that if you are going to be offended, don't feed those who come off as condescending (or as trolls). Trust me. There are those who will act like your response simply justifies their behavior. Because you are smarter than that.

Just note that my last experience at any video game stores (and Mandarake) was in early 2018. Animate: Not many know that they also sell pre-owned video games. My experiences with this shop in both parts of Osaka and Tokyo had me find a few interesting gems. But that is pretty much it. Mandarake: My favorite among everything I have seen. They grade their CIB content very well, and are willing to re-wrap anything if asked. Their shop in Nakano Broadway is my favorite in terms of looks, but their Akihabara branch is also top notch. Plus their prices tend to be regionally consistent. When shopping, however, I should note that their displays kind of feel like a used book store. Meaning that you will see the spine of the games as opposed to seeing the front. Which is only an issue for those who do not know what to look for. And they do not always grade any bonus items (cards, etc.) as it seems. In one case I found one of the free cards in a CIB game I bought in poor condition. While the rest was in tip-top shape. So things like that have me feel iffy about buying CIB in the long run when it comes to my grading goals. Super Potato: I prefer the one I visited in Nipponbashi (Osaka) versus the others I have been to. This one has personality and do miss their "Santa Snake" statue. But I also have found that the two Osaka stores I did find (in 2016) were inconsistent with their prices. In one case I was hunting down a reproduction Famicom for a friend as part of his belated Christmas gift. The one I got him was priced a few hundred yen less than what I could have paid a few miles away. And the one in Akihabara is fun when it comes to hunting down quirky video game items. All I can say is that I needed a game re-wrapped and they rudely declined. And the game turned out to have dirt on it despite getting a high grade from them. Again, making me feel iffy about future CIB purchases. Every other video game shop: These all vary. The one I found in Osaka had a very impressive SNK collection. Where as others ranged from being colorful to having interesting selections. That is pretty much it. In the end I felt that portions of the 'second hand' selections are top notch when it comes to Mandarake. And that Super Potato feels like a quirky Japanese version of GameStop at times. Other than that I hope my opinion changes in 2021. Among a few other things.

Removed.

I'm rebooting my video game collection and decided to start with this one. It has been on my list since the day I found out it existed. Very happy to finally have it, and even more surprised that the bonus item is an arcade card.

I think I'm in as well. I'll PM my addy and list once I get that together.

The only reason why I will dispute the need for a population report is that it would become inaccurate over time. But even then I do like looking up these things regardless if it is accurate or not. I want to say yes, but my edit says otherwise. Not only does it appear that they dropped it on VGA, but they also have dropped a portion of their population report on AFA as well! Ugh.

Today has me feel for you, dood. This year feels like anybody can just downplay their wrongdoings. And people like you and me have to be "fine" with the outcome. I have an ex-communicated family member that is downplaying what he did to me. And this was one of many issues I had with him. Then came my retirement from a forum because the moderator exonerated a guy who too a jab at those who do not collect like he does, in a topic that had the OP politely asking for advice. And today I resolved one issue with Pitney Bowes, but was later told by a European eBay seller that I was "under contract" to keep my order despite having reasons to cancel before it was shipped. People that I can picture your ex would hire as her lawyers! Ugh. As for the link... All is shown is a pic. And is saying that it has been waiting for you since November 8. So while we wait to see that is there any chance you can give us more details on the size of your collection, atop of any other updates?

I got a free COVID-19 test and the results came back negative. Which is what I had expected since I am an extrovert that is forced to be an introvert. But I was also a bit worried because before this one incident happened I was living with a family member that did whatever he wanted. Which made me felt that he would have gotten me sick. So all is left for me is my ongoing issue with Pitney Bowes.

Agreed. Others (including myself) have chosen to return with new account names. And probably did so as a way to have an anonymous clean slate. So while there was at least one ban that is tied to NA, everybody deserves a new chance.

At this point I am leaning towards Swedish. I have a gut feeling that Canada has enough French citizens to translate what I have to say.

Thank goodness! I was thinking that this was going to be World War Z, which has me be safe since I have Asperger's! But all joking aside, I am 100% glad that October is over. By mid-October I had a spat with a now ex-communicated family member. And by Halloween, I resigned my account at a Star Wars fan-forum. Both were events I had seen coming, with results I should have seen coming. But both, strange enough, were done with ironic twists. With an upside being that I finally got my re-graded R3-BOO17 back from AFA! But that is neither a COVID-19 or video game thing. So all I will say is that it re-graded (standard scale) a 90+ (C: 90, B: 90, F: 95). And that I got help this time because my original birthday gift request was cancelled, atop of not finding any games I wanted as well. Other than that... I kind of missed being in this forum. And hope that I can find a Star Wars version of this one soon.

So... October is a day away from being over. Are there any survivors out there?

Between the two I am looking into going with CAS. They are better known for grading toys, but also grade video games. The downside is that they do not offer top labels. But other than that it is something I am looking into when it comes to me revising my video game collecting plans.

All I can say is that I only feel secure using USPS is when Priority Mail (or better) is involved. I always get my pack on that day, or sooner, with little to no issues at all. Receiving imports is a whole different topic, and will explain why I use DHL. With UPS... The day my AFA re-graded figure was to arrive they sent me a message in the AM stating that it was with the delivery guy. I literally spent the next 12 hours hoping to be there when it arrived. And I do mean 12 hours. That experience has me questioning if I should pay a premium just to have my next order be shipped back via Priority Mail. Which I wonder if still a good option. Because after blowing the dust off their website AFA states that they found UPS to be both a cheaper and a safer choice. Then again, they still use Flash for their portions of their website. Ugh.

Personally, I have been planning to move to Japan since mid-2012. But with the things are going, I am surprised that Trump didn't demand that Japan rename this city to Trump, with claims it would get a whole lot more visitors.

I'm no longer surprised. In the beginning I started to believe that he suffered from histrionic personality disorder. Later questioning if he more than just that. But in the end he is a sociopath. With additional factors that can be tacked onto this, but this is just another string of issues that make me want to leave the country.