Introduction
1. Watching anime often spawns other related, resource-hungry hobbies such as the purchasing of anime merchandise such as DVDs, artbooks and figurines. This directive codifies the hitherto unarticulated and informal decision-making procedures used by Zyl to regulate anime figurine purchases but does not cover the budgetary aspects directly. The main heuristics covered include no impulse buying, one character only, gatekeeping and no active seeking.
2. Assumptions of this directive are that: (a) Zyl is generally not interested in figurines of anime series that he has not watched or has watched and disliked intensely, regardless of how beautiful the figurine is; (b) Zyl is a character worshipper and is more likely to purchase characters to whom he has offered worship (in the form of dedicated screencaps and anime blog posts e.g. Lunamaria Hawke for GSD, Asa Shigure for SHUFFLE!, Yuki Nagato for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya etc).
No Impulse Buying
3. There shall be no Purchase/Pre-Order on first contact. “Buy and regret” is often the result of impulse buying which is highly detrimental to personal, financial and planning discipline. The minimum time period for reconsidering at the point of purchase shall be the next business day of the vendor.
One Character Only
4. The vote for the purchase of figurines for one character only at any one time. The maximum number of figurines of that one character that can be purchased under this vote is five figurines over a six month period. Joint Zyl Conference has debated whether to adopt the TJHAN system of procurement (one figurine per character, must sell old figurine to purchase new one of same character) but has decided that as Zyl’s interests are much narrower (vide para 2a), an alternative system should be developed.
5. With immediate effect, the Lunamaria Hawke vote has been rescinded and a block grant is being accumulated to fund the Yuki Nagato vote. It is anticipated that the merchandise cycle will start shortly.
Gatekeeping
6. Nothing blinds like love. Therefore a second opinion from a pre-approved gatekeeper shall be required before any purchase can proceed. The main remit of the gatekeeper is to ensure that the figurine purchase is value for money and that the figurine is of a suitably high quality that befits the loveliness of the anime character being worshipped.
7. Gatekeepers appointed for Zyl are: (a) Stripey and (b) morit.
No Active Seeking
8. Surfing anime figurine forums and vendor websites (e.g. HLJ) often lead to impulse buying, due to lapses in discipline often provoked by vendor sales techniques (such as creating deliberate shortages, limited time windows, lower prices etc.) This restriction is a viable one for Zyl as one gatekeeper (vide Para 7a) actively searches and provides a first layer of filter defence. It is also viable as I have also indicated my preference (vide Para 5) to my main Sunshine Plaza vendor.
Conclusion
9. Decisions need to be made to prioritise purchases so as to ensure that purchases meet high standards and that the cost of such purchases are not overly ruinous to financial (wallet am cry) or emotional (guilt) health. Thus these procedures are aimed at ensuring that the hobby of anime figurine collecting can be enjoyed for the medium to long term.
Recommendation
10. It is recommended that Joint Zyl Conference approve this directive particularly Para 5 (change of character priority from Lunamaria Hawke to Yuki Nagato) and reaffirm Para 7 (gatekeepers are Stripey and morit).
11. For your approval please.
Zyl (J4 aspect)
If you can stick to your modus operandi then by all means I’ll put you in for a medal. It seems that your guidelines are more than adequate and reasonable, however I question the wisdom of allowing Mr. Stripey approve transactions. Afterall he recieved three in rapid succession, and I suspect that his wallet has yet to recover, unless I underestimated the deductible that he placed on his paycheck. Also of note is whether his judgement will ever be compromised by memories of 3koma… ;)
Seriously though this is a sound plan and a monument to fiscal responsibility. I hope you can stick to the rules and regulations, however I believe that there is one over sight. You have not stipulated any consequences should you break these rules. Where there are laws there are most certianly punishments.
Caveat emptor
Just buy and regret later. That’s the best part about figure buying. Hahahaha.
Ganbarimasu! :)
Haha, I love that “motivational” poster! Reminds me of the de-motivational posters =D.
Lol as a proponent of the TJ HAN system of figurine purchase, I currently own 3 Rei figurines with more on the way.
But I always thought career-powered adults could easily fork out the 60 or so dollars? Since these are the same people who go to restaurants serving pieces of cow flesh for 100.
Crusader, it’s true that it’s hard to stick to rules and that penalties should be imposed if they are breached. Stripey will probably want the penalty to be buying him a figurine of his choice if I break my own rules. LOL btw, he’s excellent at recommending as well as critiquing a prospective purchase - it’s always easier to enforce discipline on another than to impose it on oneself!
Tsubaki, buy and don’t regret is optimal. keke
Stripey, iro iro tanomuzo!
Kabitzin, Yuki IS motivation. RAWR RAWR YUKI LOVE!
tjhan, ah - Rei Ayanami is The Exception. I understand perfectly. re: career-powered adults - I’m currently a postgrad student so it’s back to the scrimping on food in order to pay for anime merchandise!!
It helps to have a strong will, Zyl.
My wallet’s healthy, and I’m a poly student.
Maybe it’s because I put more emphasis on eating well, but I rarely buy figurines (if any), and apart from my Saber & Shirou Palm Scenery (which I won in a contest), the only one I have is a GSC Archer TF. He guards my computer from icky enemies.
>>Stripey will probably want the penalty to be buying him a figurine of his choice if I break my own rules
Bro, you ARE psychic! I was thinking EXACTLY that when reading Crusader’s comment. It’s a fabulous idea methinks. :)
You’ve missed the optimum method - Buy and never regret!
I have yet to regret that I paid the equivalent of a really good dinner out for two for a rare doujinshi, or an exceptioally shiny Haruka x Michiru card. (The latter was one of the single most expensive per-item purchases I’ve ever made.)
In fact, as soon as I get home, I’m going to dust all my figurines, read all my Jesus Drug doujinshi and take that shiny card out and enjoy the hell out of it all. :-)
All I have for anime figurine is Totoro that my wife gave me because people said I resembled one when wearing the gray robe for my former gregorian chant choir. It didn’t help that it rained in one of the chant mass I did and they saw me with an umbrella.
Well, I’m happy someone in the anime blogging community who buys figurines can keep to a certain degree of spending. My method of limiting spending went out the window once summer came, unfortunately. I may have to start to follow a variation of the Zyl Finanace Directive (TM) in a few months if I want to have a penny in my accounts left.
… maybe start as a New Years’ resolution though. Yea… maybe then…
DrmChrs0, sheer willpower alone might not always work as all of us have chinks in our armour that marketing/sales can get through to. :P
Stripey, how about we reciprocate on this? i.e. the penalty will also apply to you? Heheh.
Erica, ah that only works for you because you’ve a good eye for a good buy in the first place! Now that’s a talent worth having. And treasure needs to be admired ever so often.
wontaek, Totoro gets all the ladies, man. I am green with envy…
moyism, I think perhaps the TJHAN system might work better for you. Or the Erica Doctrine. ;)
LOL. I forsee we’ll be buying each other figures ‘outlawed’ by our very own directives.
Erica Doctrine seems to be the closest my spending style is like. I don’t think I can ever use the TJHAN system, though I do see the financial benefits in it.
Oh well, as long as I don’t go to the poor house its all good… right?
well, since we’re not in jap or korea, if its not online purchases, we should ask politely to inspect and scrutinize and maybe hug heart feel on the figurines first and see if its the one. Yeah, unlike traditional marriage, its gotta be a try b4 u buy thing :P
hmm lunamaria i can judge impartially but nagato-san… is a little bit more difficult. ack. this had better not induce stripey to get me to buy figurines of nagato too…
need….to buy…more figurines….
*hands start to shake*
just kidding.i don’t really buy figurines…apart from my Chobits figurine collection…i bought the whole set…and regretted when i found out later i don’t have enough money to last me for the rest of the month…what can a guy do with $10 to last him for 30 days?