How far would you go to purchase an object of your desire?

A couple of weeks back, when I collected my pre-ordered volume 1 and 2 of the manga "Hatsukoi Limited" from the local bookstore, I realized that it wasn't the first print, without the "kira kira" cover nor the limited edition bookmarks. On my way home, I was feeling unsatisfied; the otaku part of me wanted the entire collection since I had managed to purchase volume 3 and 4 at an earlier date.

In an attempt to get what I wanted, I called up various manga stores over the weekend to inquire about the first print edition. Fortunately for me, the sixth store which I called still had a couple of copies left and I immediately rushed down to purchase them. Although I had to pay more for volume 1 and 2, combined with a travelling time of an hour or so, I felt content.

No, this thread isn't about how hardcore an otaku I am (or so I think). How far would you go to purchase an object or item of your desire? It could be a limited edition figurine, CD, book, gadget... anything. Share your stories and experiences right here!

P.S. Not forgetting the always related hentai, this time being pages from a Hatsukoi Limited doujin:

I once hunted down a specific translation of a book I really wanted (I love to read originals and translations of a good book side-by-side). I finally found it after two years, in a polish used-book store (probably the most unlikely of places for that book), and it cost me 2 quid. The first offer I had found for it had demanded over 400.

As you would say, lesson learned: don't let the first joint you see rip you off :eng101:

Another time I wanted a copy of A.J. Vyshinsky's Courtroom speeches. A friend found it by random chance for me in the abandoned library of a beer brewing kombinat and shipped it to me.

Generally, books are the only luxury item I spend money on, and I'm willing to invest some effort to get what I want. I'm not very willing to expend huge sums, though.

The area where I live doesn't have a wide variety of figures or Gunpla that I want. Once in awhile I will ride the Chinatown bus from Va Beach just to go shopping in the NYC area.

I once raced all over town to find Empire Total War, I ended up calling 4 stores after already visiting 2 and found the last copy was about 25 minutes away and closed in 15, so I broke every traffic law you can think of (yes i had a baby in my arms while on a cell phone and fighting off ninjas with the other arm) to get there in time. It was epic if it wasn't for the fact that i am slightly ashamed for the lengths I went to for it. It wasn't even that great a game.

I'm not the most avid shopper, I think I missed that somewhere in my genes.
But once before I was driving I wanted to go to Philadelphia for a college tour, and I convinced my friends to take me with the notion that it's real close to China Town. (I still paid for gas and such)

Now, this isn't really a story like Gamblers, but when we got there, our dreams were like shattered. The whole town smelt like rotting fish, and it was just a real ugly part of town with a lot of shops not in English. (though we weren't expecting them to be in English - just.. less ._. scary.)

We decided we at least weren't going to eat there, but I really wanted to get some stuff from China Town and haggle like my Grandpa told me to.

I ended up getting some nice things (and I was surprised with the Japanese merchandise they had). I was more or less expecting oriental decorations since I had that theme going on in my bedroom/now apartment.

But it was really uncomfortable. We got nasty glares because I have a biggish purse, and sometimes we'd walk into a store and just leave. My friend was asian (Korean) with a white boyfriend, so she got a lot of nasty stares - and so did he.

But, in the end I got some really nice things I'm really proud to have.
Probably my favorite thing that I bought I ended up giving to my grandpa. It was a lucky cat, but not the traditional sitting with it's paw up - it was laying on it's side with that smile on it's face and closed eyes with his paws up. It was a piggy bank.

Inorite? Not that exciting. But I'm not one of those people who 'have to have the latest, most awesome' type of thing. I settle with what I can get, and wait for prices to go down on overpriced items and then just buy it online.

The only thing I'm willing to pay a lot of money for is clothes. I'd rather look nice in clothes rather than frumpy, so I'm willing to pay the dollar.

Especially with underwear. I probably spend $36-$40 per bra, no lie. But you guys really wouldn't know the difference of a bra cut and shaped to really look nice on you versus a cheap one where the sides can pinch/underwire uncomfortable etc. I have some bras that feel very comfortable to wear, and also support very nicely. So to me that's worth it. Especially when you could sometimes consider them to be torture devices.

In general I'd do everything I can think of to get what I want (especially if it's Shana related stuff <3 :D).

As far as personal experiences go I do the same stuff as mentioned before like visiting countless shops in order to gain the desired object.
And if there's no place that sells it here I just go somewhere else.

ziggy i enjoyed your story and it also reminded me of New York, thought it sounds as if New York China Town is cleaner than Philli. Oh yeah just so you know, some of us do know a bit about bras and the difference between them, we have had girlfriends and ample time to examine that area.

Never too much. I usually only purchase something from the internet when it is a rare or collector's item, and even at that I've only ever done that a few times in my life. I'd like to start collecting such objects, but I'm really not sure if it is worth the hassle.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I drive about an hour to do manga shopping, ones a month.and I'm wanting to get an iPhone 3G(the older ones not the 3GS) and I'll drive to Lexington(about an hour away) to get it if I have to.

Edit:

I've ordered stuff online straight out of Japan before.

This. Although I'm close to a mall and a bookstore, there's really nothing that rare that I've ever seen. The mall has the occasional rare anime DVD, but at $30 a pop there's no reason to bother. Then again, people bitch at me for buying anime when I could easily download it.

I like to own. So sue me. Hell, I'd buy Lucky Star if I could find it. I've seen it ONCE at the stupid mall, and it's never been there again. Fucking FYE ...

But to answer the topic's question: It depends on the item. Let's say America got something Ashley or Penny related (from the WarioWare games,) I'd beat someone senseless in front of their own momma for whatever it is. Even if it's a tiny keychain or something, I wouldn't give a damn. I need it. I <3 Ashley & Penny too much to pass that shit up.

Joe You should talk to the people that work there at FYE you can Special Order it.

Just so you know, that's bullshit marketing lingo.

Super faggot rare must have awesome bitch ass first edition give me your fucking money collectors item.

I did that before with a CD, so that's something I should probably do - Only problem is Lucky Star is fucking expensive; I see it online for $30-$40, and that's the DVD itself, without the boxset/CD. I fear what FYE would charge me.

Well I don't really buy that much since I'm poor atm due to college but if there was something that I absolutely must have I'd kill a guy just to have it lol.

I don't do much either. The most i've done was order a figure from hong kong once.

I used to know a guy who ordered Japanese magazines on ebay or some site like it, just so he could get the extra stuff that came with them. He couldn't read a bit of Japanese.

I don't have a really good personal story. Once, I called up a couple of different Gamestops and eventually drove a good 45 minutes away to get Gundam vs Zeta Gundam for the PS2. That's the best I got.

I remember 2 years ago when I tried pre-ordering Excel Saga Volume 1-3 at the local PlanetX comic store. They told me they were able to get and import the order straight from the US and I'll just have to pay an additional $1.25 for each volume (each volume was $9.90), the only problem is that four others have ordered parts of it (one ordered the same quantity as mine, one ordered volumes 1 and 3, others wanted 2 and 3 or 1 and 2) and they only have gotten 3 copies each from VizMedia US.

From my experience buying manga in RP, the hardest volumes to buy are always 1-5, or if not the hardest, it ends up being hard to get through pre-orders. If I buy it online, it would cost more and I'll have to anticipate the risk of my parents getting wind of my financial splurges for manga.

I haggled and the owner acquiesced that "first come first served" will be the new rule.

So before the mall opened at 10AM, I was near the opening gates by 9:55AM. I waited for the shop owner to open his stall, bought the manga instantly (I had the exact amount in my wallet already) and get the hell out before the other ones who pre-ordered the same stuff see me with my haul.

It was worth it despite cutting classes at college and missing 2 exams. I mean, taking the exam retakes are easier compared to waiting another indefinite amount of time before my preorder gets procured. Screw the other 4 guys, I'm grabbing 3 out of the 9 available. I'm ruthless when it comes to these ^_^