Protecting Your Source

Thanks for mentioning me Drakonia! You're such a sweet heart *_*

I agree Mahoro, you articulated my feelings perfectly. As did SME. I will give a warning if a warning is due. I did recently on JACML about a seller who was taking pictures from Anime Link's website and using them in his RS gallery. I honestly don't believe he owned that cel and was attempting fraud. This was a while back and my "warning" was artfully done, as I didn't want to out right accuse him of anything.

Anyway, warning everyone about a bad seller or talking about a fan cel posing as a production cel really isn't the same as advertising where we bought a cel. As a community, we all stick together and exchange this crucial information. There's nothing we love better as a community than exposing a cheat, a liar and a scam artist. It's the biggest benefit of being social among cel collectors.

This is not the same as telling everyone where you shop. To be frank, I keep my sources out of public sight to keep prices down. Just as Mahoro said, fly by night collectors jack up the prices for those of us who have been at it longer. I've also experienced situations where a "rival" does not have a particular dealer's URL. As soon as they do, cels that have been sitting on the site for years suddenly disappear (and then end up in the "rival's" gallery). So, yes, it's safe to assume we all have the same very public resources, but that's not always true. To play it safe, I remain tight lipped.

I'll point out items of interest to my friends and exchange all kinds of info. We do favors for one another and enjoy the fruits of our mutual friendship. But I don't really go out of my way for people I don't know unless there's a fairly good reason.

A lot of the stuff I find are in the usual places, so I don?t think it?s such a big deal teaching someone where to buy and what to check in these usual places. Now for those things that I got via searching, at one point I have searched over 300 places in one night I don?t tend to tell for two things, one I do think if you really want something you need to put some work into it, the second is because these are private individuals who have not advertised, then there?s no reason having them bothered after I already bothered them in the first place. I?ve gotten more ?sorry but no? than when I first started looking for a job. XD Anyway now if they have advertised recently, and I got it from their sale then I?ll probably mention it in my description or be more open if someone asks me about it. To me it?s really not the competition I?m afraid off. It?s just that I think part of the fun of the hobby is the hunt for good cels at decent prices (or not! LOL). I do share my sources to a couple of good friends but only because I know what they are looking for and I can trust them to take care in their business dealings.

Now with regards to prices, I have during the first few months of my collecting asked people like kittens and baakay how much something goes for. The only reason for this is because it?s hard to find ending prices even on auction or other dealer sites because, either they are rare or those cels are overpriced in the dealer places. As to what I pay, I don?t specify the amounts just something more general like how much it hurt my wallet or how satisfied I am with the purchase. One thing to note is just because I?m satisfied doesn?t mean it was cheap, although people seem to make the connection somehow. LOL. Well that?s it for me.

I don't have much to add to the discussion regarding protecting/revealing sources. I wanted to post a reply to thank Drakonia for the very kind comment. *hugs*

Typically, if I purchased through one of the "regular" avenues, such as YJ or one of the well-known dealers, I will post the source for my purchases as part of my cel description on my main website, although that might change in the future. If I purchased from another collector or a dealer who wishes to remain anonymous, I won't post the source. Likewise, if it was a bad transaction, I will not post the source.

I don't think it serves as a big help to many people, though, as I don't have any super-sekrit sources. (sadly ... T.T)

I couldn't have said it much better than birdie did. If you're rude about asking, I will just delete your email. If you're nice enough, I might tell you. It does depend on where I got the cel though.

I've had lots of requests for sites to go to. I send people to the typical YJ, ebay, asylum and museum. They are good places to start and get your feet wet. And afterall if you're asking me where to go, you're probably a newbie.

I've been able to point some Rubbersluggers to sources for shows (and even to other art from the same shot) as material I have on my site (the sources being limited internet sellers; I know their stock from seeing it in person). I think that type of thing makes it worthwhile to ask questions, and doesn't necessarily mean someone is lazy (unless it's a vague question about a series that's easily available).

There's personal risk in giving up a non obvious source to someone who collects the things you do; you are increasing competition. On the plus side, you encourage that person to share their sources with you, and you help support sources who provide material you like. And then there's non dealer sources; unlike regular dealers, people from studios (or private collectors) don't necessarily want lots of publicity or virtual foot traffic, and you certainly don't want to burn that kind of source.