Toy Buying Experience From Taobao

Disclaimer alert: I am not sponsored by any toy company, shopping website or shipping service. Like any other consumer, I bear the risks of my purchase in buying and shipping things from another country. Ample research is necessary for a pleasant transaction and this entry is written in goodwill, especially for Singaporean toy collectors so that we can explore cheaper alternatives to get hold of toys. Please apply discretion when shopping online and the writer of this blog is not responsible for any of your transaction. 

 

I started my shopping research with a few objectives in mind. The first is to find lower prices than those that were already available on the toy market in Singapore, both at retail and online retail, without compromising on the quality of toys. The second is to assess the reliability of the sellers I have encountered and the shipping services discussed on other blogs. Last but not least, I wanted to know if I can get hold of toys due for release before they hit the shelves and if I can get hold of highly exclusive products at reasonable prices.               

To start off, why visit Taobao? By now you should know my love for Transformers! Most of the official and non-official Transformers products that I have purchased were made in China, where Taobao, a online shopping website, was founded. Logic dictates that the prices of these products are way cheaper at the country where these toys were manufactured. If you have ever travelled to China and Hong Kong to visit streets where toys were sold, you know this to be true. A quick look at Taobao has proven this to be true as well. Unfortunately, shipping cost has always been a big deterrent as it adds to the amount you pay for the toys, making them close to the retail prices. Lo and behold, because of Taobao's appointed forwarding companies, you can save on direct shipping costs and choose these forwarding services to consolidate your purchases and ship to Singapore at a much cheaper price than direct shipping.   

               

Quick example from Taobao          

I bought a set like this off the site and used 4PX (forwarding service). All in all, with local shipping (waived for my first purchase!), forwarding cost, Aliwangwang's transaction charge (the site's equivalent of PayPal), I paid less than SGD $98 for this set when it can cost SGD $174.50 off retail! The toy is of the same quality as those bought off retail! The joints were tight, no paint smudges, and they pegged well in alt-mode. I was fortunate that the seller I have dealt with for the Bruticus Maximus was efficient in packing the toy well and he shipped the item fast, allowing me to get the toy in just 4 days! Another seller took slightly longer to ship (Skylynx combiner set!) and I messaged him to find out more as he took 24 hours longer than the previous seller. I know. I was being unreasonable but I was really excited! He offered immediate refund if I did not want to wait as he just wanted both of us to have a pleasant transaction. How's that for customer service? I used to think I need to go through shopping agents like Daigou for such good services but I was wrong. I can save on the shopping agent fee and make specific requests directly with the sellers. The sellers are really out to please with very prompt response in the in-app/site messaging service.

As of today, I have found test shots, prototypes and TFCC/botcon/takara shopping mall exclusive items. It's just a search away! I would strongly recommend that you select sellers based on reputation and not attempt pricey purchases until you are familiar with the site. Always check the shipping selected and don't pay until you are clear of the total cost. Otherwise, it's a shopping heaven for Transformers fan!

Let me know if you would like me to do up a shopping and shipping guide! :) 

How It All Began... Part 2

Previously you mentioned that you moved on from Marvel figures to...   

Unlike the collection showcased on my Instagram (@Sgtoydude), a big part of my childhood was not Marvel or Transformers. It was actually anime like Dragon Ball as I was not from an English speaking-family. So when I was trying to find a part of my childhood in my toy collecting journey, I got into display figures from Dragon Ball and later One Piece. Super Sentai came into the picture when I also found mechas from Power Rangers. Imagine the joy of owning the Megazord again!

 

The original Black & Gold Megazord!!!

 

What about the struggles you had with collecting vinyl figures?

 

Oh! That! I had the vinyl Marvel figures displayed on my workstation and over time I didn't like the smell! They just don't smell good on display! I mean after you have accumulated quite a fair bit on display, the smell just grew. I also had problem storing them as they usually came in blister packs. Once opened, you either display them or you pack them into ziplock bags and boxes. It was not easy to display them as most of these figures topple easily. Paintwear was a common pain too. Over time, many of these figures become sticky, which is also a problem when you are purchasing these figures, as some of the older and sought-after figures have the same problems even though they were sold mint in box. It was just more pain than gain. In the end, I decided enough was enough for me.

 

With my G1 design and Matrix, I shall lead your collection!

 

And you moved on to Transformers?

 

Yes! Like many, my first Transformers love was OPTIMUS PRIME! But remember I said earlier that I did not watch much English cartoon or read much English comics? It is embarrassing but true about my relationship with Transformers! I only had vague memory of a few episodes of Transformers aired over Channel 5 and I always remembered the deep booming voice of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, leading the Autobots to foil the destructive plans of the Decepticons. I also picked up an Optimus Prime toy as I remembered reading about its collector's value somewhere.

 

It ain't no Optimus collection till it's two shelves!

 

Much has changed since then?

 

I have gone on to watch the entire Transformers: Animated and Transformers Prime. They both got me curious enough to read the entire Generation One comics and the entire IDW series (much are available free for loan from the National Library!). They were enough to get me on track though I still can't bring myself to sit down and watch the old G1 cartoons. Just can't find that sort of patience. I grew to appreciate the design concept behind the Transformers toys. It just fascinates me that the toys can have alt modes and the transformation just baffles me. The plastic used on official products are usually of relatively good quality and I find them durable for handling and great on display! Aside from the older toys, it is usually fun to pose Transformers toys as they have more articulation. 

 

As good as a customized Transformers toy gets!

 

Stay tune for Part 3 as this geek shares more on his Transfomers collection and what he is up to!)

 

 

 

Review- Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Set 2015 75097 so far...

My first Lego toy review! In the first place, I do not have many entries. Need to remind myself to do this more often and not succumb to the lazy habit of just posting toy pictures over Instagram (@sgtoydude). Anyway, before I beat myself up over my laziness, we are looking at the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar Set 2015. From my understanding, Lego has been releasing Star Wars Advent Calendar since 2011. The draw of the set lies in the individual toys sealed in 24 compartments that you can open each day leading to Christmas. Not forgetting the set's exclusive figure!

               

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2015 Box Art                                  

The box art showcases a Star Wars battle scene with as much Christmas festivities as you can get in snow. While the box art has accomplished what it is supposed to do, which is to attract children and adults alike who love Star Wars and Lego, I think they have given away too much of what to expect from the box set. It may have killed the surprise element of the advent calendar. Sighs. But let's be honest, you can probably spoil your own suprise by typing the name of the box set in your search engine.

 

Day 1- The Khetanna/ Jabba's Sail Barge (after you use your imagination)

 

Day 2- The Great Pit of Sarlacc (not so great in size. But really cute!)                            

Day 3- LIN Demolitionmech Autonomous Minelayer (I think)                               

Day 4- Jawa (they were much cuter in the movie)          

Day 5- The Sandcrawler (my favourite so far)

The biggest gimmick of the set lies in the surprise that one gets from revealing the sealed toy. So far, we have gotten microbuilds, location build and a minifigure. From my understanding of the previous releases, we should be getting weapon racks and stud-shooting weapon builds too. 

The set felt lackluster as Day 1's build requires a lot of my imagination to see it as Jabba's sail barge. As the days gone by, I began to appreciate the set more. No, I am not just appreciating the set because I eventually got to the minifigure. The point of the set is really for children (or anyone) who can use their imagination to enjoy the microbuilds and what they represent in the Star Wars universe. Granted, you need to have SOME knowledge of Star Wars to fully enjoy the builds. The flap with the landscape design allows you to have the microbuild and minifigures interact with one another for display or simulate the battle scenes in your head. 

I paid SGD $40 for the set and it comes up to about SGD $1.67 per build. If you ask me, the set has already paid for itself with its exclusive Christmas minifigures that can go up to almost SGD $40 on the secondary market. The set does what it is supposed to do. For its price point, it allows a parent to bring 24 days of Christmas surprises to a Star Wars or Lego fan-child (then unveil a giant Star Wars lego set on Christmas. Or not. Let's not get all consumer about the occasion!) The building visuals on the inside of the compartment's flap left much to be desired but they are simple enough for a parent to enjoy the process of building with the child. It is also at a low entry price level for those of us venturing into the Star Wars Lego universe or people who simply do not have enough space to house or display the bigger sets. Please head over to my Instagram as I continue to share the daily builds from this set as we count down to Christmas! 

           

   

10 Tips From An Amateur Toy Collector

This post stemmed from an earlier Instagram post (@sgtoydude). The caption limit also spurred me to create this blog where I can yak to my heart's content!

Disclaimer alert: I am not an expert on collecting toys. These are wisdom shared by fellow toy collectors in our community based in Singapore. Often, these are lessons learnt the hard way too. Here we go:

1. It is almost always more expensive at EBAY. Or at least where I am situated. I started collecting by buying toys off EBAY. It is true that you can find most of what you are looking for quickly. This even applies to rare and old toys. But the difference in prices will shock you once you realise that you can get the same toy cheaper and in a better condition. You can get it cheaper at Carousell and even lower in dedicated Facebook groups where collectors sell their toys. This is because some collectors want to let go of their toys quickly and you can be the one to gain from such situation. A little patience and research go a long way! 

2. Always meet up when selling or buying loose toys. This prevents misunderstanding between buyers and sellers. I have once bought a Transformers Generations Drift off a seller at a relatively good price. The photo of the toy posted on Carousell was not clear but I went ahead as the toy looked like it was still in its blister pack. I was so wrong! The seller had taped a dusty old loose toy back to the card backing, posing it as a mint toy! I am sure you will hear of many other horror stories where buyers have purchased knockoffs and damaged toys at a price intended for a brand new authentic toy. You can't always trust the photos and descriptions. 

3. Wait for clearance sale. Some toys are considered rare because of the limited quantity that survived over the passage of time. New releases are seriously not that difficult to find in departmental clearance sales (depends on your location). Look, impulse buys are real. We thought we may never get a toy that is popular. But is that true? Is it the nagging collector voice in your head speaking to you again? I have walked into departmental store clearance sales and chided that voice off! Wait till you see the stock available at Hasbro toy clearance sale. You will probaly want to murder that collector voice. 

4. Consider trading or selling the toys for ones that you really like. Let's face it, we all have limited space and money. What? It is a reality. There is no shame in trading or selling the toy that you have forgotten about. I have met sellers who can afford the space and cash but sold the toys that they no longer value in their collection. It is logical and practical. If your hobby can fund itself, why not? 

5. Connect with other toy collectors. They can almost always point you to a toy you are looking for and provide good advice on purchasing or handling the toys. Do your research and ask around! A friend of your friend may just be trying to sell the toy you are looking for. Some toys have flaws, are difficult to handle or require some fix. Collectors share such knowledge to benefit one another. May the power of collective knowledge and wisdom guide your toy hunt and collection!

6. The toy you are buying or selling is only as valuable as one perceives. Try earning a profit from a 'rare' toy that you have purchased priced for its rarity. You may find it difficult to do so quickly as the right buyer who values the toy in a similar fashion must come your way. In short, don't pay too much for something impulsively. 

7. Scalpers are always going to exist because of adult collectors. Most kids buy their toys off the rack at departmental stores. Adult collectors are different. They are known to scour the Internet for toys. Some are more obliging and impulsive than others to buy the toys that are 'rare' as they are no longer on the shelves. And really, it is because adult collectors have the income and purchasing power. That is why we need the support of the toy community to safeguard the prices and stock availability. 

8. If you are saving for a purchase or you are on a tight budget, avoid toy reviews. They are basically visual and audio cues to kickstart the spending habit. How many toys have you bought after going through a toy review? 'Nuff said. 

9. Keep a close watch on the toys that you have preordered. They can leave you broke when the toys arrive within the same short period. This is true and understandable as some 3rd party toy companies struggle to meet the estimated completion date from their lack of experience in design and production. The store you have placed your preorder may not be so understanding. Your spouse may even be less understanding... 

 10. Please have fun with the toys! They are not supposed to make you feel miserable. :)

Review- The Unofficial Transformers Masterpiece 10 Gold Optimus Prime

When I first saw the preorder listing for this figure, I had my reservations. I have already owned not one, but two Transformers Masterpiece 10 Optimus Prime. One is the original mold and colour from Takara Tomy's release. The other was from Hasbro's Year of the Horse series. I was not too keen to go all completist and get the Bathing Ape and Evangelion variants as they cost a bomb.  

The hesitation also came from my understanding of unofficial products after my personal encounter with a few of them. The quality control is lacking and you don't always get what you have paid for. Granted, you don't always pay a lot for these toys but that cannot be said about your expectations that balloon from the moment you have made a preorder. I knew I was most probaly going to get a figure that has scratches on the chome and chrome bits that flake off with the slightest contact.  

 

The MP-10s flanked my MP-01. Takara's release on the left and YOTH's release on the right.

  

I waited on the toy and I did not bother to make a preorder. I knew that I was going to regret my decision. When the toy has finally arrived with the preorder store that I frequent, I sent an enquiry on the quality of the product. You see, the store owner is also a collector and he was gracious enough to give his personal thoughts of the toy. I took his comments for it and gave it a go! I did not regret the decision at all. The box was an unassuming brown box and a sticker warning you not to transform the toy. Erm. Noted with thanks. They also stated that it was a limited run with 1000 pieces produced. I am not too sure about that part though.

No photo on a brown box. It's just a brown box without box art. Use your imagination!

My first thoughts: This figure is really well-chromed. I scrutinsed the toy to find very minimal scratches and some parts with tiny bits flaked off. For an unofficial factory-chromed toy, you will find that it is above expectations. Don't get me wrong, it is not perfect. I know of collectors who condemn this toy for its tiny flaws.

 

His Chromy Glory and Matrix of Leadership

 

Other than the knees and feet, almost every other bit of this figure is chromed in gold! The eyes, insignia and headlights are in translucent plastic. Let's get to the point, this toy will flake even when you don't transform him! Going in to this pose has already flaked some parts. It is blinding to handle this toy under your LED lightings and you can't really find the bits that have flaked unless you scrutinise it under various angles. He is also a fingerprint magnet but don't expect me to put on gloves when handling him. He is unofficial and he is a toy. Period.

 

He is #171 of #1000. Really?        

The toy comes with a solid piece of glittery plastic card and the MP-10 toy art on it. The serial number is evident but I am quite sure more were produced. Or maybe not. One reason for not producing more could be a small release to test the quality of the production and the market's response. From my understanding of the previous unofficial MP10 production, people usually flock to order one for themselves after toy reviewers on Youtube compare the quality with the original toy. I am really too lazy to pull out my MPs from the shelf you see earlier.

 

 

On display with his ion blaster. PEW PEW PEW!        

The unofficial MP-10 Gold comes with the ion blaster, energon axe and Matrix of Leadership. I have put the Matrix into the chest cavity and adjusted the fingers to hold the ion blaster on his left hand. I am left-handed and so are my toys! Muahahaha! Moving on, I did away with the energon axe as it was too sharp and I can't afford for it to drop on my little tot at home. Not that she can reach this toy at all. The chrome parts of the fist will also come off if I stuff it into the energon axe. Simply not worth it at all. 

  

Displayed with other Optimus Prime goodness!

He is no fool to lose what he cannot keep. There is no way I can keep him in optimal condition even if he is kept mint in box. I have no exact idea on the quality of the chrome and I am quite sure the gold parts will still flake off when kept untouched in box. Why store something and lose out on its aesthetic value? Fingerprint magnet or not, it looks fantastic on display! I know you think I am silly to display it in the open instead of having him in the covered glass cabinet. He is unofficial and he can't replace my official toys! Never! The chrome parts will dull over time so I just have to enjoy him as long as he lasts.  

As I mentioned in my Instagram post earlier, please do not get this figure if it is the first or only Masterpiece Optimus Prime that you are getting. The official releases are still of better quality for handling. The joints are extremely stiff because of the chrome and you need to be able to handle this toy with a lot of care when getting him to get into the poses you enjoy. As the warning label mentioned, you simply cannot transform this toy both because of the tight joints and chromed parts. Lots of patience is needed when handling this toy but I am sure it is rewarding when displayed, especially for most of us who have not won official chromed toys from contests.      

Review- The Official Transformers Collectors' Club Exclusive: Drift

Archetypal or not, Drift has wormed his way into my heart when he abandoned his Deadlock Decepticon way and switched to the Autobot faction. Heck, he even lent his blade to Kup and wound up as a Wrecker for a short stint. While I do not really appreciate Empire of Stone for its story and art, I went headlong into the series because that was the only way I could still follow Drift in his exploits after leaving the Lost Light.  

I nearly wanted to say that the Shattered Glass Drift is my FIRST bot from the Shattered Glass collection and then I remembered Optimus Prime. Shattered Glass Optimus Prime. The appeal of the collection lies in the look into a mirror universe where your Autobots are the bad guys and the Decepticons are the good guys. Enough about things that you can wiki on your own. The draw of the series lies in the recolouring of the original toy to create an alternate persona. There is just that draw to the nemesis version of a heroic bot. See what I did there? Just look at the number of Nemesis Primes!   

Why only look at Shattered Glass Drift now? The collector in me is waiting eagerly in anticipation of Takara Tomy's release of Deadlock. If you have been following me on Instagram, I have looked at Drift recently and I have finally moved on to the Shattered Glass version. Who knows what might be next in the mould? Teehee! By the way, the real practical reason was because I finally waited out and paid a small amount for this guy. So much for the collector's sentiment.  Enough yakking, let's look at the toy!

  

Box Art

   

The box art is looking... well... all shattered? This is heavy going for a box art! The pistol-wielding, sword-gripping red bot just screams Deadpool! 

Right out of packaging

They weren't kidding when they said this is for adult collectors! The quality of the box feels solid and sturdy. It was so well-packaged that I had a hard time sliding the lower case out of the box. The red caught my eyes immediately and the pistols had me worried for a second. I thought Drift only wields blades? Or at least that were his weapons in the Generations series.

 

Vehicle Mode- Tokyo Drift

The vehicle mode is gorgeous! While the Generations Drift had a quiet Japanese sports car feel, this vehicle simply screams for your attention. The overt-Japanese style can be picked up from the rising sun motif. 

 

Robot Mode- Dual Blade Wielding!

The transformation is the same as Generations Drift. What? Something is wrong if any of us is expecting otherwise. Everything about the robot mode is the same as Generations Drift. At least for the mold. Other than the obvious recolour, I like the purple Autobot insignia and the purple paint apps on the short swords. 

 

Bot with a mouth     

By now, you must be rolling your eyes if I lapse into another Deadpool reference. Sorry but I'm not sorry. Can't help it. How is this not merc with a mouth? It just bugs me that there is no place to store the pistols. This collector is really asking for too much!

 

Round One, Fight!

Who doesn't like a blade which you can wield with two hands? If you are a Star Wars fan, this pose is enough to make you high. The long blade reminds me of a sword from the Hong Kong comic 风云 too. What? I can't enjoy comics from America, Hong Kong and Japan? Not all is perfect with this figure. I had difficulty bending the elbow joints as the shoulders and wheels tend to bump into each other. Without the huge shoulders and scabbards at the waist, this figure is skeletal. The biggest selling point is the close resemblance to the body proportion of Gundam robots and the wide array of weapons that comes with the bot.    

I would highly recommend this figure if you are into blade-wielding bots or bots with Japanese feel. If you are looking for something chunkier, steer clear. For me, I love Drift. I love a Drift from an alternate universe. I love this mold. I am just not too sure about the price you may have to pay for this figure. 

How It All Began... Part 1

So, what piqued your interest in collecting toys? 

 

I wasn't into toy collecting until I started a work attachment in 2012. Instead of just work-related items on my colleague's desk, I noticed many toy figurines displayed. It added a personal touch to his work environment and I was captivated by what I saw. It triggered the idea that I could do the same thing and enjoy the toys displayed at my work station.  

 

Left

And you started with.... 

My collection started with the Iron Man 3 and 3/4 inch figures as they were affordable and easily available. It wasn't too long ago when Iron Man hit the big screen and the merchandise were on the shelves of departmental stores. One thing led to another and I progressed to other Marvel characters and Marvel Legend series as the figures from that series were much bigger and it felt more substantial when you handled the toys.   

Center

Have anyone asked what you see in these toys? 

 

Many people asked me that question. These toys brought me back in time, to my childhood when these figures represent something bigger. These figures represent characters with a story that filled my childhood. Holding these toys meant holding on to my fond childhood memories. Of course, as an adult, I do appreciate the aesthetic quality of these toys. It is very interesting for me to see the 2-D characters becoming 3-D in the toys I hold. One can easily appreciate the sculpting, colour and material that form the toy. Toy packaging is a big part of the toy too as the packaging must include attractive box art to attract collectors.    

   

Right

  

Are you still collecting figures from Marvel?     

Well, I moved on from Marvel to anime series such as One Piece and Dragonball. In the process, I was actually reminiscing my childhood as I explored toys from television cartoons or comics that I have watched/read. I went onto the Super Sentai series as Power Rangers was a big part of my life when I was growing up. I have also moved on from vinyl figures as I struggled with the purchase and storage of vinyl figures (more about that in the next part!). 

This marks the end of Part 1 as this geek recollect on his journey of collecting toys. Stay tuned for Part 2!