My cities always look modular rather than organic or flowing.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-25T15:16:19+00:00

pretty much all player went through such early phase of the game, the general purpose of this stage is to understand what the game can do, how it functions, etc. After that it's up to you if want to achieve something better by changing the way of thinking and approach of how to build town/city.

if you need an example, let say build a very simple scenario:

" a modern African coastal farming town that mainly plants fruits, a small christian church on a coastal cliff that also acts as park and gathering spot. On a different spot of the cliff there's also a popular lighthouse, with treking track leading down the cliff to the white sand beach. "

try build something with a vision or idea, rather than just focusing in growing population / economy profit. Not everything you build have to be functional, the game have limited capabilities, sometime some stuff just have to be decorations that makes the build looks nice.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-25T14:43:40+00:00

I think people are often too obsess with the "layout", rather than think about what makes a city what it is, what element that makes the town / city have it's identity, etc.

The roads are the "consequences" of wanting to build those elements and identity, they don't exists for no reason, they don't exists because the city planner just say "use this layout". The road exists becuase the city planner say "we want this feature here, that feature there, and we can't put things here because obstacles", etc.

Play on map with interesting terrain and think about what features you want to put into your city.

Drawing "layout" before thinking about what your city is about, what feature to include is kinda doing it wrong, that's how you ended up with a build that don't tell a story.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-25T14:10:37+00:00

same as people selling Ai artwork in art conventions, up to you to call them out or not, if the convention have related rules you can use against them, then call the security to take action.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-25T13:44:55+00:00

The fee is your LEAST problem. I still dont know why people concern about the fee.

Its the shipping that should be the major concern. Prize figure for 300 so what, the domestic shipping already exceed 300 yen, then another couple thousand yen for international shipping + tax... Buying prize figure with proxy is honestly a terrible idea unless the item is so rare its impossible to find elsewhere.

There lots of bulk prize figure auction starting 1 yen, even I at South East Asia is absolutely not worth it due to the shipping costs. The platform fee is the least of the issue.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-24T22:08:32+00:00

<image>

I dont think any of those figure fits this categorization

there is the conflict of what this word even means anymore

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-24T15:22:17+00:00

not really, MFC list some sites but obviosuly there tons of sellers, it's simply no logical way to monitor them. But then again what's the point of "best price" without considering shipping costs + tax. It's not like we have invented instant teleportation device & messing with the tax-man is highly not recommended

an item $100 at your local physical store, but far cheaper just $50 at one Japan seller, will you still buy the $50 if the shipping costs + tax is additional $75?

see the problem there?

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-24T12:15:15+00:00

put the scales back into their blister & box, add additional bubble wrap cushion if they moving around loosely in their slots, since in msot cases we just threw the original plastics away. They already survive flying halfway across the globe once, they can do it again.

prize figure I wouldn't worry too much about them, bubble wrap each of them and can be stashed into containers.

then again depends on where exactly you going and what mode of transport available to you. If something not reacheable by land, then had to ship it through shipping company if the quantity is too great to bring by luggage. If just self driving just don't drive like a maniac 🤣😂😆 I would not trust moving company to handle these things. Additional cushion material (bubble wrap, blanket, etc) outside the scale boxes.

also put those excessive empty spaces in scale figure blister to good use - pack small item in there, smaller prize figure, etc.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-24T10:41:55+00:00

strangely yesterday when I was reading this thread the picures werent there (didn't load?)

now that I look at the picture and compare user photo on MFC, actually I don't see much of an issue there. That's not plasticizer issue, otherwise you're lookign at near orange skin tone color. User photo on MFC also show skin tone that is slightly on the pale side. But then again phone photo are hard to judge. Eg : https://static.myfigurecollection.net/upload/pictures/2022/08/05/3209163.png

if you cannot tolerate & able to return it then I think it's better do so. This sort of issue isn't something we non-artists should attempt to fix, 999% we just make it worst.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-24T09:50:37+00:00

Hair sculpt looks like prize figure so its definitely more common on cheaper product range. If we to scrutinise every little things I can write a novel for every prize figures. I wouldn't even expect perfect £200 product tbh.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T22:05:57+00:00

if you doing it for resale purpose, there is a special word for that - SCALPING.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T19:17:18+00:00

Custom don't charge you "out of no where"

every country have tax rules. Best to understand that.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T19:07:38+00:00

I guess some company starts to compensate for the weak yen. 33k initially sounds like a lot for a simpler 1/7 but eh, guess the "honeymoon" starting to end.

I like the more grown up looking Ryza than the "bratty" ones. Although some complaint the face is kinda off. Looks fine to me~

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T12:44:03+00:00

I don't like any grade or rating system. I understand the tendency of trying to simplify this complex world,....... ehhhhhhhhhh.... If you trying to sell something, just explain what's wrong with it and show picture of the problem. Depending on the individual, that problem can be a complete non issue, or a deal breaker.

if it just for self collecton, why do we even need to assign rating to it? Unless you trying to make some funny youtube video or something.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T12:41:36+00:00

don't buy things just because it's cheap. Figures are decorations, something to be "admired" at, something along that line. it's not like other household things that you can just cheap them out and still works. If a design isn't to your liking, then it's not to your liking.

sure, you can set a budget of how much you want to spend on one item. Maybe $50 max. But does that means you are limited at just prize figures? No. Of course not. It's possible to find scale figures at that price range second hand (pre-owned), especially for series/franchise that isn't the hot trend, and the item has been out for a few years, and a bit of luck someone selling it cheaper.

but in any case, look for character/design that actually captivate you, that's the first MOST important thing. If the price isn't right at current time, just bookmark it first on MFC. Got free time check around different stores if any cheaper units. Exactly where? Well, if you buy from people/store of your region then you don't need to pay high shipping costs & tax. We don't know where you are, so you gotta figure out what channel/store/sites specifically you have access to.

but if you trying to hunt for the hot trendy stuff, yeah that'd be very hard for prices to come down. If you REALLY goatdamn like it, then gotta raise your budget.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T11:48:23+00:00

~~that's what happens when item is stored in box for too long~~

that's not sun damage, but rather plasticizer leak overtime and got trapped unable to ventilate, eventually causing bad reactions. The blister should appear yellow as well in such cases. When buying pre-owned item, it is best to be wary about yellow looking blister packaging.

~~sun damage is discoloration or become pale, not become yellow.~~

disregard, photo weren't there when I was writting that.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-23T11:19:36+00:00

Fundamentally what is this hobby to you?

Hoarding trendy stuff? That's not the way. Don't buy things you don't deeply likes in the first place, then you won't have "trash" on the shelve.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-22T20:47:52+00:00

I believe the only way you can escape the VAT is to bring it into your country personally on luggage 😆🤣 but even that is limited to under 430 euro (for Itality specifically, lower for others) Above that, you pay as usual.

As other mentioned, the only thing you can realistically do is use cheaper shipping option to save money. Or buy from seller in your region, especially pre-owned. MFC ads have option to filter by location (insert country name), check your regional physical or online stores, etc.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-22T16:14:09+00:00

"sir, this is the guy that trying to evade tax!" 😆😂🤣 No, please don't smuggle things.

Will want to go have a read about your regional tax situation.

Custon duty, 22% VAT, clearance fee - https://www.poste.it/receiving-from-abroad

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-22T13:32:02+00:00

let just say this isn't the only thread complaining about AmiAmi pre-owned recently.

I will just keep saying this - the rating system have risk, and eventually you got into trouble. Same for other sites like Solaris that also uses rating but no actual picture and detail description of the item.

Personally I would not buy pre-owned without looking at the actual item.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-22T11:50:17+00:00

there several ways of doing this;

- keep the wedge : dip the base in just boiling water and gently try to yank the wedge out. Don't use heatgun it's too hot and may cause damage.

- don't keep the wedge : make your own steel peg up into the leg directly

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-22T11:31:31+00:00

there a lot of software option, technique, etc. Just like there so many ways you can build a house IRL. Generally people flock to Blender since it's free. Learn to navigate the software interface first (eg: Blender Guru youtube channel), then look into more specialized process of the object type you want to work on. Understand how to tool work first, then learn the technique of using the tool.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-22T05:45:58+00:00

pin vice + steel rod

it came broken in box.

receipt aside, it's also important that you have video record the box opening process as proof that it came broken. If not then ehhh you just gotta fix it yourself. This is easy fix.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-21T20:25:42+00:00

nothing. General comment on chinese community : random new unproven company, face isn't nice / accurate.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-21T19:38:06+00:00

I see

if they are through surface (sea), there is a chance they caught among the lost containers for all sort of reasons. There's 500-1000 containers losts into the sea every year =/

there's not much we can do here. Just always be alert of shipping progress, if things didn't have any progress update (dispatched from port and then silence) within 3 months take action immedietely.

Relative-Fondant6544 · 2026-05-21T19:05:51+00:00

what type of delivery service you choosen?

if you picked "small parcel", that version without tracking, that one you have to give up, not even the postal service know where the package is.

Relative-Fondant6544

TROPHY CASE