The obsessive checking? The 'all over the place' pricing? The 'oh so close' near miss'? The damaged grails? The shipping? Context required
How about the archaic web site design that can't keep track of actions separately in different browser tabs?
The fact that it’s stuck in 1995 web design? I’ve always enjoyed a stroll through the stores when I’ve visited but boy does the website act janky. The worst
It used to be a great site, until like 6 years ago. Have not ordered anything from there in a very long time. Deleted my account around the time they announced they weren't going to undervalue the stuff they ship to Europe anymore.
Yes, I see what you mean. But let’s face its their non stop price increases that’s pricing us all out of it. I know it helps the artists in a way “rising tide” and all that, and collectors like seeing their toys value increase. But the collectors ultimately suffer. And for that I lay blame squarely on Mandarake.
Why Mandarake and not eBay or YJA? Toys are collectibles and the aftermarket for toys functions identically to every other collectible market on the planet.
Because Mandarake is one entity that sets their own prices that YJA sellers use as a model when they list their items.
When they started flipping festival exclusives at ridiculously inflated prices, it really disappointed me. In some ways they're no better than eBay, and I suppose that's the point.
I think it goes both ways. I've seen some figures that were bid up on YJA, and after that, the same figures were priced similarly on Manda.
There are some good deals to be had. Unfortunately things that are priced well often sell in a matter of minutes—hawks are always watching. When stuff sits around long enough prices can and do drop but it seems to be a rare occurrence. I don't think things are priced arbitrarily, it is often based on market value like it or not. When we see an absurdly high price tag it's not typically the effect of an individual sale but a number of auctions consistently ending high. I do suspect some market manipulation but I smell that everywhere (Mercari, Y!JA, and anywhere else people can review recently sold items). One thing to note and be aware of is the current exchange rate. Taking that into account a lot of the inflation we see kind of evens itself out. Of course, YMMV depending on what you collect.
I regularly get bargain non-hyped toys. No customs fees on stuff under 135 quid. One week shipping for 10 quid with Air Small Packet.
I don’t know, it seems like most stuff is under retail and with currency conversion most of the toys on there are like 50 bucks or less. They make their money where they can. But even stuff that used to sell for crazy dollars doesn’t fetch prices like it used to. For a second hands good store, we are extremely lucky to have them and 95% percent of the stuff they sell at a fair price to make sure it moves. Don’t let that last 5% totally poison your perspective.
Mandarake was good to me when I was hunting BxH. Loved that the hype was dead and I was able to get a bunch of figures at bargain prices straight from the motherland. I haven't revisited that site in 4-5 years though, I do recall it being annoying to use
Mandarake is a physical store, aside from SAHRA. Complaining about prices or things being out of stock when it’s the exact same business model as a game stop or a used record store is wild. Sometimes things sell in store and it takes a moment for the inventory to be reflected online. Also- thousands of people shop in person each day. Complaining about a website that allows tons of people (myself included) to get Japanese toys before visiting the country is weird. Who cares in the end? Don’t shop there if it annoys you. Yelling into a void won’t change how a company operates.
The yelling into the void - welcome to skullbrain comments made me chuckle. I know I ain’t change a thing, and I could’ve put this in the complaints thread. And I’m aware of the “service” they provide, and the odd bargain they provide, and even as a direct to the world outlet for Artists. But it ain’t gunna change the fact - they make the market, and are routinely marking up prices. And for that I fart in their general direction
That’s the point though. They don’t set the market. We do. The collectors are the ones bidding things up, buying things second hand for astronomical prices , and b/s/t’ing amongst ourselves using inflated after market valuations. That also informs retail as artists see second hand prices and determine where they feel comfortable setting retail (as they should). So no, mandarake isn’t the problem. We’re the problem. And frankly, I’m okay with it
You're right, this is a two way street, and I'm reconsidering the ire at Mandarake. It may be somewhat misplaced. In the 90s, vintage vinyl kaiju were priced pretty high because you could only get them at a few physical stores in Japan and there weren't many copies of these figures circulating. But then YJA happened, and the gateway to peoples' attics was opened. Twenty years later, those auctions and stores like Mandarake, Jungle, and others are selling to the world. More figures moving, but faster, and to more people. So perhaps: Supply was low, but local demand was also low due to physical barriers. Supply went up, but local demand was still low due to physical barriers. Physical barriers evaporated, opening the supply to much higher non-local demand in addition to local demand. Steal underpants. ... Profit? Mandarake is a publicly traded company. It's dumb not to expect them to act like a pack of Ferengi. I think what we're all really mad about regarding pricing is the result of a global feeding frenzy that isn't going to subside any time soon. And as @gazpacho points out, we are participating in it. The toothpaste is out of the tube. (Also, I tried the thing out that I was pissed at them in my first response, the thing about losing track of searches in multiple tabs, and it seems like they have it fixed now, so I retract that specific criticism.)
Nope. Mandarake are a pack of greedy cunts that manipulate a market and abuse toy buyers weaknesses. ‘We’re all idiots paying too much it’s all our fault’ doesn’t cut it. It’s the victim blaming them self. But you know capitalism and free will. Edit scrub all that akum6n’s the market cornering price manipulating behemoth id forgotten about. That’s sneaky fucker.
Get your ass down to the river and wash your mouth out with soap and water . . . praise be to those astronomical prices!
