Kozik once said (I paraphrase), I spend fists of KR cash on SB because I can and I want them right now. So the surefire way to get something is to spend what it costs to get it. The counterpoint is dilligence. Dilligent searching of YJA and dilligent watching of Mandarake. Case in point. 1/6 Medicom Brain. $70 from Mandarake when one pops up. I use SMJ which is animechaos or something like that on YJA, bidding against boardmembers I got mine for $152 with fees. If you want S7 to find one for you, add $50 to that. These prices I feel are appropriate because of the work that goes into it. Looking over the options, those that work harder collecting toys spend less. Be flexible and use various channels to get your toy schwag and you won't step on too many toes. And for those who don't play the bid on the same auction, if you had a dim desire to have all SB production fight vinyls, how would you reconcile it with that approach? I mean is there any way to get all the toys without outbidding a few people in the process and spending more than others are willing to?
Despite my preference for sniping, I have never knowingly won something away from somebody who I knew was from this board or any other board. Not to say this hasn't happened by mistake, or because I did not recognize a name. Normally, if I recognize a name, I will either not put in a bid, or try to contact the person. I like sniping too because I can decide what my bottom line is, set it, and forget about it. I don't have to be there when the time runs out, and it keeps me from adding just a little more, a little more, a little more, etc. Most times (8/10) I use "buy it now" anyway.
Okay, well its good to match some names to bids, my auction name is solidzennorspacing. dont worry about me taking the rare toys out of circulation quite yet- there are plenty of cheaper things I like before I go near them! I collect pretty frugaly and, as Living Dead pointed out, there are still some kubricks to be taken care of too.
