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[D-Maximal_Primal]

Wow that is awesome!

I have a similar but different lego Falcon, it was a joy to build

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Other than MP Tigatron, I did get another pre-order for later in the year...



This guy. SH Figuarts Great Ape Vegeta

[-Kanrabat-]

Recently, before sh!t hit the fan, I received one of my Grail, the lovely Pullip Stica.
Still expensive at Mandarake, but way, way more reasonably priced compared to Ebay.



Now if only my EIGHT other orders could come in already...

[-Kanrabat-]

Another Mandarake haul! They are finally starting to come in.



First, the GOOD SMILE COMPANY character charm collection pyrophosphate Vocaloid Kagamine Rin.



She was pretty cheap and a great box filler. It's very small but cute as a button.
She's hanging in my Kagamine Rin shrine.



Next is the S-Style FREEing Rin Kagamine Swimsuit. The most expensive item of this haul at 2200 yen. Turn out she's not really a prize figure but rather a VERY SMALL "statue". The way she's packaged is very disturbing. Why dey do dis?



Also, the box is way too big for nothing. Check out all the wasted space!



Once assembled, she's very cute but oh, so small!



Being a 1/12 figure, that Rin is of the prefect size to go with my Figma.



Next is Taito Precious figure REM Original overalls Swimsuit.
Cute Rem (who is best girl, screw you, Emilia!) is sexiute (sexy and cute) in her swimsuit and overall combo. I always loved that combo since ever. This figure is around the same size as the standard Sega Premium figure and the quality is as good as the modern ones.



She have a very cute face.



And yes, she have two eyes.



That is very sexy and her overalls are loose on her and are made of semi-soft rubber. Theoretically, her overalls are removable. But I will not risk it.
Also, Rem have a bit of pudge! :3



I'm very happy with her.



Finally, the best figure of the lot:
Taito figure Original Normal clothes Ver. Hatsune Miku Normal color



Simple to assemble, this Miku is cute with a bit of sexiness. But most of all, she feel COMFY.



Just looking at her soothe the soul. She's there, looking at you, telling you not to worry, relax, and come over for a nice coffee.
I adore her!



She's the perfect centerpiece of my kitchen, where I make my coffee and breakfast every morning.



She'll be there every mornings for me!
Man, in these quarantine times, this Miku is the perfect example for what to do.



I have some other things coming in but it will take a while, as usual.

[-Kanrabat-]

Well, despite the Corona pandemic, my Mandarake boxes are still coming in steadily. Instead of putting the packing slip in my mailbox so that I take my box at the post office, they now leave it at my doorstep. Luckily, I live in a very small apartment building and the neighbors are honest and nice people.

First of I got a box with only one figure because the box was Pullip sized.
The 1/6 Super Sonico, Tokonatsu version from Wing. I wont post the pictures here because they are for Men (and women) of culture only.

Then some days later I got another box. Not much, but still.



[size=small]Banpresto figures Hatsune Miku Racing Racing Miku 2014[/size], [color=#555555][size=small]Taito figure Live Winter Rin Kagamine[/size], A Sailor Moon Luna plushie from Banpresto, and a random Kagamine Len music CD at 2$.[/color]

The Luna plushie and the CD are B-Day gifts for my niece. Len is her favorite Vocaloid and she love Luna basically since she was born. Glad those came some months before her B-Day!

As for the figures, they are way smaller than Sega Premium or EX-Q figures. Miku is basically 1/8 while Rin is of an unsure scale. Rin was cheap at 1K yen, but Miku was relatively expensive at 2K yen. However, that Miku have way more paint and details than I expected. Rin too!



Miku is missing her small "underboob window cleavage" unfortunately, but to have that accurate detail, I'd have to pay 100$ to 200$ more to get either the Figma or the big 1/7 figure. All the other details are spot on and she's absolutely cool. So, a win!



Look pretty bad-ass and perfect in front of the Miku Bot, the two sexiest Mikus cheering her on:



As for Rin, I adore her. Very detailed and painted, plus a mischievous face that tell she's up to no good with that trumpet of hers.


(Horrible picture is horrible.)

The Shrine keep growing!



There's many more Rins that I'd like to add to this shrine, but many are NOPE priced. So I may never have those. There's still one more Rin upcoming. A Nendoroid.

Well, two more boxes from Mandarake are still coming in, an envelope from Europe, and a box from the Canadian store AGE 3 AND UP are coming.


Then after that, who know when I'll be able to give myself a gift?

[-Kanrabat-]

Another Mandarake box, sooner than expected.
The one containing my Nendo grail:



KUROKI TOMOKO from WATAMOTE!

I adore this manga and it was about time that I'd support it at least indirectly. So here's the main protagonist, Kuroki Tomoko. A loner, a pervert, and filthy geek. She only have one friend that no longer go to her school. All she want to do is to be left alone and do her own thing.
However, as the story progress and she get older, she gradually and naturally mature and make many friends. To the point when she become a queen bee without being aware of it!
She's also buried deep in the Gay Closet.


The manga is still ongoing and I strongly recommend a read:

https://mangabat.com/chapter-serie/1088907774/chap_1
(Skipping chapter Zero because it's an end of volume thing)

There was even a anime. Only 12 episodes that only go over the first volume or so. There was never a second season. At least the manga is still going strong!

Anyway, like all Nendoroids, she come with lots of parts:



Her default pose:



"I'm listening to the eroge yandere boy while using a personal massager and a boy-love otome game" pose:



And finally, her most infamous face, the "Y did I bought dose sexy pantsu" pose:



She's quite fun and I'm glad to finally have her. Only my wallet is not happy. She costed me around 110$CAN shipped. She was also used at that price! Well, if one want to buy a brand new Nendo locally, they are around 80$CAN plus 15% taxes so...

I'll change her face and pose from times to times.



------------

Now, only one Mandarake box, the European envelope, and that big metal bot remain to get!

[wilcosu35]

It's a big box this time

[-Kanrabat-]

This look like one HELL of a cool set!
Hope you have similar pirate themed sets to make one kick-ass display!

[wilcosu35]

#i've got a big box

[no-one]

I'm not sure if this counts as a toy, but I'm collecting the mini systems.



Nabbed it for $30 from the 'Zon last week. Now only the TG16 mini is left.

[-Kanrabat-]

30$!
That's a steal!

[no-one]

30$!
That's a steal!

Yeah, I couldn't even say no. The next day they were sold out and more than 3x that amount.

Now the hard decision; do I get came pads at probably the same price (each) as the console?

[-Kanrabat-]

30$!
That's a steal!

Yeah, I couldn't even say no. The next day they were sold out and more than 3x that amount.

Now the hard decision; do I get came pads at probably the same price (each) as the console?

Yes you will get gamepads. Because most of these Neogeo games are two players. So you should get a pair of gamepads for efficient two players gameplay. Just tell yourself that those gamepads were basically free because of the price you paid for the console.

[no-one]

30$!
That's a steal!

Yeah, I couldn't even say no. The next day they were sold out and more than 3x that amount. Now the hard decision; do I get came pads at probably the same price (each) as the console?

Yes you will get gamepads. Because most of these Neogeo games are two players. So you should get a pair of gamepads for efficient two players gameplay. Just tell yourself that those gamepads were basically free because of the price you paid for the console.

I'll keep an eye out for a good price on single pad for when I hook it to a tv.

[-Kanrabat-]

And now, finally, after ages, I got a Mandarake box!
Vocaloid stuff of course.
Nendoroid Kagamine Rin, Family Mart version,
plus Taito Sakura Miku 2020!



Once assembled, Sakura Miku is simply adorable. I love all the transparency effects.






Too bad for that gray spot on her right leg though...

She's a bit smaller than Sega Premium figures and she's at the same price range. Not the best spot for her. This should be another Sega Premium because she's too small. I'll find a better spot for her soon enough.



Nendo Convenience store clerk Kagamine Rin came with a lot of stuff... that shall remain in the box.



Just having her in "welcomethankyouverymuch" pose is good enough!



And the shrine keep growing...………………..

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Uh oh, That can't be good...

[-Kanrabat-]

This can't be denied. The guy have balls.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Raging

As previously mentioned, another line I've started collecting is Storm Collectibles Mortal Kombat. Now, I have no interest in getting everyone. I want the robots and monsters. So far I have Baraka and the initial three Cyborgs - Cyrax, Sektor and Smoke. I missed the boat on Goro, due to a bizarre error with Kapow Toys. So he is another one I was on the hunt for.

I recently found him for a reasonable reduction in a BBTS sale, while I was sourcing other things. Now I have avoided BBTS for many years. I bought the Seacon boxset from them upon first visiting their site, for a really good price. Only to pay that price back in customs. So I swore them off and only bought from other sellers, that are more open and flexible about such things.

I thought, it's been a few years, maybe they have learned and adapted either their shipping pricing or actively encourage you to request their value declaration to be beneath the UK customs charge threshold ($15, for those who didn't know). Nope. I just got a bill for an extra £25.

Con Artists! Now, I'm definitely never using BBTS again

[-Kanrabat-]

Con Artists! Now, I'm definitely never using BBTS again

Had the same problem with BBTS and many other Japanese and American stores that will not charge the taxes upfront. If they don't and customs hit, customs charge you full taxes PLUS an extra handling fee (10$CAN here.) Hell, I even paid full custom fees when buying from a PRIVATE US citizen!

Some stores, like Mandarake are completely invisible to customs for some reason (at least for me). Even if they don't charge taxes, you never ever pay customs.

Amazon is the best in that regard because they charge an "import fee" that is usually lower than the normal taxes rates. Then once you receive your thing, it's 100% customs proof and you get refunded some or all of the import fee many times.

TlDr; Blame your government for those wacky customs policies. The stores are not at fault and it's illegal to undervalue the package for customs. Although some stores could put the effort to charge taxes at check-out, be tankful that they bother to ship internationally at all.

[blackeyedprime]

:evil: Raging

As previously mentioned, another line I've started collecting is Storm Collectibles Mortal Kombat. Now, I have no interest in getting everyone. I want the robots and monsters. So far I have Baraka and the initial three Cyborgs - Cyrax, Sektor and Smoke. I missed the boat on Goro, due to a bizarre error with Kapow Toys. So he is another one I was on the hunt for.

I recently found him for a reasonable reduction in a BBTS sale, while I was sourcing other things. Now I have avoided BBTS for many years. I bought the Seacon boxset from them upon first visiting their site, for a really good price. Only to pay that price back in customs. So I swore them off and only bought from other sellers, that are more open and flexible about such things.

I thought, it's been a few years, maybe they have learned and adapted either their shipping pricing or actively encourage you to request their value declaration to be beneath the UK customs charge threshold ($15, for those who didn't know). Nope. I just got a bill for an extra £25.

Con Artists! Now, I'm definitely never using BBTS again

Also worth mentioning (edit as Kanrabat say, sorry overlooked it) that it is illegal for company's to alter value declaration. EBay seller Joe friendly might do it (if they ain't using shipping through eBay customs charges up front) and Kickstarter are technically gray areas that could do it too. Ive been stung on customs for a few things (tfsource and hlj -customs on car robots maximus was as much as the item) and never ordered from bbts knowing this and I don't really use ebay. Com any more just UK or Chinese (and still gamble) listings.

Plus the $15 limit includes postage costs too not just the items, should really be taught at school really as residents we are expected to know how our customs work, but it's normally my box has arrived, say what!!! And then (in parcel farces case) pay a handling fee because the delivery service has paid it/loaned you the money in effect with out even asking on top of the customs.

Sadly not bbts fault

[-Kanrabat-]

One thing that is completely BUUUUULSHHHHHIT is eBay's Global Shipping program. Sure, you're "customs proof" but not only do they charge all the taxes, there's an hidden extra shipping fee added on top of everything. So you end up saving nothing compared to a normal package that get hit by customs.

As for how the package get handled, I'm lucky so far that my stuff was never downright DESTROYED by the mindless Ebay Global Shipping handlers.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Also worth mentioning (edit as Kanrabat say, sorry overlooked it) that it is illegal for company's to alter value declaration. EBay seller Joe friendly might do it (if they ain't using shipping through eBay customs charges up front) and Kickstarter are technically gray areas that could do it too. Ive been stung on customs for a few things (tfsource and hlj -customs on car robots maximus was as much as the item) and never ordered from bbts knowing this and I don't really use ebay. Com any more just UK or Chinese (and still gamble) listings.

Plus the $15 limit includes postage costs too not just the items, should really be taught at school really as residents we are expected to know how our customs work, but it's normally my box has arrived, say what!!! And then (in parcel farces case) pay a handling fee because the delivery service has paid it/loaned you the money in effect with out even asking on top of the customs.

Sadly not bbts fault

My example of value declaration actually came from official sellers, not eBay ones. Not everyone has that option, but some clearly know how to work around it.. discreetly. Hong Kong sellers are generally the best in my experience for shipping, as their upfront charges seem to fully cover postage. Plus their items tend to get here really quickly. How long that will remain, in light of world events in that region, is hard to say.

I'll also preface this by saying I am a postman myself, who has booked in plenty of customs and knows a bit more of the behind the scenes dealings than the average John Q Public. That said, it is now two for two parcels from BBTS. Even other US sellers I've used, such as 80stees, I haven't been charged for every single thing I've bought from them. Some of their stuff was more expensive than either item from BBTS. It doesn't take much to gain my loyal/frequent custom. But it takes quite a bit to lose it. BBTS definitely has.

[blackeyedprime]

Sometimes ordering from overseas takes a strong heart (and bank balance) I know I learnt the hard way.

[-Kanrabat-]

Sometimes ordering from overseas takes a strong heart (and bank balance) I know I learnt the hard way.

Especially nowadays when I have TWO orders from Mandarake that are still locked in Japan for over a MONTH and show no sign of leaving despite having paid for EMS.

[blackeyedprime]

I couldn't even figure out how to open a mandrake account - fortunately as the amount of times I'd just gawk at pretty things in Nakano Broadway (or stoopid tourists that had paid a guide to take then around lol). I almost got locked in a mandarake in Namba, think I'd have survived the night tho :p definitely a good place to get non Tf toy hauls from.