From A Figure Collector to a Figure Seller

It’s been a long time since I write regarding on anime and figures here in read.cash, from the past days and previous article it was basically about my trip in different places locally here in the Philippines. Now what I want to talk about now was a story regarding on my journey on anime figure collecting. We all know that it’s been a year since the pandemic striked us and for all pinoy out there know’s especially from Metro Manila that experienced the lockdown that the government ordered to lessen the cases of COVID-19 spreading. What does figure collecting related to pandemic? I am anime figure collector for almost 3 years up to present, now this pandemic become a hindrance on my work and our company don’t have a choice but to halt all its operation due to COVID-19 and lockdown. From 3rd week of March up to May I don’t have a work and just staying at home with my family, my hobby collecting figures was stopped since I don’t have a source of income anymore and that’s when I decided I need to let go of some of my toys that I owned and that’s the start why I become a toy seller.

I am working as an inhouse IT Specialist in my company but unfortunately work from home setup was not applicable for us since we do support onsite. For almost 3 months I don’t know where to get funds for the expenses at home, in bills and food, it was a big problem but I’m still thankful that our company find ways so they compensate us that was good for a month. The city government also provides help in food but despite the help that we got from my company and city government it was still lacking. Pandemic really brought our survival instinct that’s why I think of other way on how to supply our needs, that’s where I began to be a seller in toy community.I didn’t expect that the time will come where I let go of my figure collection, I was hesitant at first but eventually I decided to sell my figures. I didn’t sell all of my figures I just choose some of my least favorite, then photoshoot them and posted it in social media. I joined a lot of toy community group where I can post, share and showcase the figures that I am selling. It was a funny thing despite we were encoutering pandemic my fellow collectors still continue to collect and hunt for toys that they want for their collection. My first post and my first try on posting was not that successful, other people told me that my price on that specific figure was too overpriced, others call it fake and others just bashing me for whatever reason and I don’t know why but that didn’t stop me, I continue posting until I get a customer, I’m still happy that there’s still a lot of collectors that defending me in this case.

A lot of customer were inquiring on the figures I posted but after that, they just left and seen my message. After a long time of patiently waiting and perseverance answering inquiries I got my first customer. I sold my Gear 4th Luffy to him that heights around 50 cm and weighs about 3-5 KG, at first I was unsure of this customer cause he wants to meet up, my condition was payment first then after payment we will book it with delivery courier and he can received it within the day but the customer insist that we could meet up for he is a sure buyer and also being careful that I might scammed him since it is payment first. The buyer was also being cautious about transacting online since a lot of scammer scattered online, so to be sure we both show our Valid ID with our selfie just in case our transaction was not legit. Lockdown was still implemented at this time but since I have a quarantine pass I was able to go outside to transact with my customer. Fast forward I meet up my customer and give the figures that he bought to me, I sell my figures for P4,300 pesos and I gain a profit of P400 pesos since the original price of that figure was P3,900. After my first transaction I still posted other figures that I can sell and luckily I got other customers and sold my figures.

I continue doing this until I get back to work, my other buyer advised to me that I should create a page so that other people that want to have a transaction and buy figures to me will easily reached me out. This small business of mine help me supply the needs that lacks during this pandemic, it’s just sad to let go of my other figures but there’s a saying, “when someone leaves someone will come that is much better” and now I have new figures and there’s a lot more coming. Since our work resume I was slowly lie low in this small business of mine because I cannot handle it anymore due to my work but if ever there’s an old customer or a new one I will still entertain them but will be transparent that they cannot get the figures immediately, they will just have to wait. From being a figure collector becomes a figure seller, I thought selling was not for me but this small business of mine gave me opportunity even for a short time. In some other time if I am not busy with work maybe I will continue this because I already started it. Hope you like my article, thank you for your time reading.