So, toys and stuff., Also money. Options

[BlackMax]

Greetings, comrades. I'll try to be brief.

So I'm slated for TFCon in July, and I'm looking forward to it like a hungry wolf to a heaping plate of double cheeseburgers, because it's going to be the first actual TF convention I've ever attended. I'm hoping to meet lots of awesome people.

I'm also looking to come home with all the new plastic mass my spine can possibly support. I'll have a respectable amount of 'liquid capital' with me, but there's an issue I face leading ~up~ to the con. See, I want every single TF toy that's ever existed bar none, and I'm having a very hard tme telling myself ~not~ to grab the PRiD cases, AM dudes, and various others because I'm not sure what all I'll be finding at the con itself and every quid I spend ~now~ will be one less for ~then~.

So I come to all of you - perhaps those with experience can tell me what I can expect to find and not find when I get there? What are your thoughts?

-Max

[Shattered]

Let's see, there will be the guy with semi-recent Takara-Tomy releases, the guy with bins and bins of parts that are too expensive, the guy with complete G1 figures that are too expensive, a couple of tables of loose AEC figures for cheap, a couple of tables of more recent stuff that's reasonable, and a couple of tables of other 80's toys. Every other year or so I find a diamond in the rough, like the really cheap complete Bludgeon or Ironfist.

I think I usually take $100 to $150 and rarely need it all. There is an ATM conveniently on site.

[NightViper]

Yeah, you can usually find some great treasures sprinkled around here and there. *Embraces his Diaclone Powered Convoy that he got at TFCon for $50*

Last year was a bit of a disappointment because there were a lot more vendors just selling new items. Whether they were Hasbro or Takara Tomy toys. There were still some awesome bins of old toys though. Like the $15 G1 Overlord body randomly tossed in a bin under a table.

Anyway, I think this is TFCon-specific enough that I'm moving the thread to Conventions and Meet-Ups.

[BlackMax]

Anyway, I think this is TFCon-specific enough that I'm moving the thread to Conventions and Meet-Ups.

Fair enough.


Who else might I run across when there?

[MrBlud]

Me and my Girlfriend are making the trip.

This will be my first time going up there for TFCon.

[NightViper]

Me and my Girlfriend are making the trip.

This will be my first time going up there for TFCon.

Well damn! I'll look forward to seeing you there then.

[BlackMax]

Alrighty, so we're what, a day or two away from the big day(s)? I've got another question or two, because y'know, first-timer and all.

1. How does one go about getting the exclusive toys? Do you line up at a place and time? Are they on the table of one dealer or another?

2. The American and Canadian dollars are ~just about~ equal according to the exchange rates I've seen- is it better to have one versus the other? I'd ~figure~ since people are coming from all over the hugging place dealers will take both, but you tell me.

3. Where will most of us Sparkers be huddled? I'll probably be getting there on Saturday around the middle of the day and I don't want to miss saying hi to everyone.

[MrBlud]

1. How does one go about getting the exclusive toys? Do you line up at a place and time? Are they on the table of one dealer or another?

I know Shafter is available to order from the TFCon website. Not sure about Garrison.

2. The American and Canadian dollars are ~just about~ equal according to the exchange rates I've seen- is it better to have one versus the other? I'd ~figure~ since people are coming from all over the hugging place dealers will take both, but you tell me.

No clue but the Hotel apparently has a currency exchange so you should be covered.

3. Where will most of us Sparkers be huddled? I'll probably be getting there on Saturday around the middle of the day and I don't want to miss saying hi to everyone.

No idea.

I'm just about to leave so see everyone when they get there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

This post has been edited by MrBlud: Jul 26 2012, 04:21 AM

[NightViper]

I will seek out Blud, since I know what he looks like (that sounded creepier than I had intended!) I wish I had more time to look around the new hotel last year, but I was only at the convention for like 20 minutes before I had to move on. There's a nice sized lobby right next to the convention space. Us Allsparkers can gather there at some point during the weekend.

As for the exclusives, if you're buying your admission tickets at the convention (like I am), you can just pick the exclusives up along with the tickets. They will have a sizable table right in the entrance of the convention space where the TFcon group is selling... everything. So just find a line for that table and wait.

[NightViper]

Oh, and as for #2, get Canadian funds. Obviously the US guys (some of the artists, TFsource, etc) will take US money, but it's just courtesy to pay the Canadian dealers in Canadian.

And there's an ATM in the lobby. The international ATM fees are usually around $3, but ATMs almost always give better currency exchange rates than banks or exchange places. So depending on how much you're withdrawing, you'll have to do the math and see if the ATM works out in your favor or not.

[BlackMax]

Words of wisdom. Danke, gentlemen.