texchan: aya with his bazooka, from WK OP #2 (Yohji Manga Prayer)
texchan ([personal profile] texchan) wrote2006-12-08 06:08 pm
Entry tags:

Celgasm ...

Is there any feeling in the universe more sublime than that giddy rush of landing a much-coveted, much-desired cel for way less than you were willing to pay?

...

Uh, nope. I don't think so. *ebil grin*

This very thing happened to me today, and I am so thrilled ... well, I'm practically giddy. I just can't believe it. It's a cel of Yohji, from the Weiss Kreuz Velvet Underworld opening -- the shot that shows him jumping forward, into action, tossing his wire out in front of him. I have wanted a cel from this sequence for ... well, probably over a year now. I have seen a few come up -- three, actually. (This is not counting the one that resides in a dear friend's gallery, which is the cel that made me fall in love with this particular sequence, from the start.) So, yeah ... three times, I have tried for cels from this particular sequence. And, three times, I have lost. Painfully. The first time, I missed out on it at either a dealer update or a private sale (can't remember which). Then, the second and third time, I got outbid on Yahoo Japan. I think the second one I went after ended up going for right at $300 or $350 (something in that area) ... and the third one ended at about that price, too. Not that I didn't desperately want a cel from this sequence. Because I did. But, there have to be some kind of spending limits, you know? So, I had set, in my mind, what I thought was a reasonable value for a cel from this sequence. And, those two auctions just happened to edge a bit over that "line in the sand".

So, a day or so ago, I was cruising YJ -- something I have not been doing very frequently lately. And, I happen to see yet another cel from this Yohji sequence. I have to go for it. I mean, I'm still slobbering after wanting one of them, after all. So, late last night, when the auction had about 10 hours to go, I put in my bid. My maximum, "line in the sand" bid, just as I had every other time. Keep in mind, every other time, I got outbid -- way out bid, by like about a hundred bucks. I figured the same would occur this time, but, even if I lost, I knew I had tried for it.

Well, you could color me purple and knock me over with a feather right now, because, when I went to my inbox this AM, there was a notice from Rinkya. A won bid notice!! Finally, I have one of these (for me) much sought after cels. I am so, so excited, because it means I was also able to get the cel for the price I wanted to pay.

Well, that, folks, is where I was wrong. Because, I open up the won bid email and discover I had landed the cel for the opening bid. Forty bucks and some change (including the deputy fees) for a cel I had, previously, lost out on for much higher amounts ... and a cel I was willing to spend considerably more on. I mean, how in the world did this happen? How did I get so freaking lucky? I keep wondering if the cel has some kind of damage I wasn't able to see, or didn't notice in the description. But, I read the translation through several times ... and the cel comes from a dealer I have purchased from before -- many times -- so I trust him. I guess everyone else who wanted one from this sequence already had one ... or, maybe people were busy with Christmas shopping or something. I have no idea, but, let me tell you, I am a happy, happy little plastik junkie right now.

Oh, yeah ... it's gonna be a beautiful day. *happeh grin*

[identity profile] ladybuggington.livejournal.com 2006-12-09 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Congrats! I'm betting getting it for such a low price is probably just a matter of everyone not looking right now which made it all good for you! The Christmas season is a terrible time to sell cels as most people don't buy cels as gifts and have spent most of their money on presents already. Which means there are great deals to be had this time of year if you've got the budget for it. I look forward to seeing him gracing your gallery. :)

[identity profile] tex-chan.livejournal.com 2006-12-11 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much!!

I think you're probably right on the reasoning behind getting it for such a great price. I still can't believe it, honestly. I've been pinching myself till I'm black and blue, just trying to remember it really happened! O.O I think it's one of the most incredible scores, money-wise, that I've made. I do have a VHDB Grove cel that I paid about 9 cents for ... but I still consider this one a better deal, as I was looking for one from this sequence for so long. *nervous laugh* ^.^

It will be a while before it comes to me. Right now, it's the only thing I have waiting from YJ, so I have to decide if I pay for shipping for just it, or do I wait till I have a few more things piled up. I just haven't been cruising YJ that much lately (trying to "be good" because I have one paymnet plan still going), so I'm not sure what to do. I hate to pay the shipping for just one cel. Kinda silly, I know. =P