How a Girl Figures » Discount

Figure Retailer Review #2 – Anime King

Dancing Queen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:12:10 +0000

Went over to Anime King Last Saturday to do another Figure Retailer Review. Was told about this store by many of my commenters in the Last Figure Retailer Review of Small Wonders. Located in Huntington Beach, CA it’s still a bit a away from me, but relatively close to my brother so I went to my brother’s place to spend time and to get him to take me to Anime King for this review!

Flickr Link

It’s a smaller store but they are mainly focused on figures. Unlike most stores i come across that try and do too much at once and focus on comic books, cartoons and pop culture that end up failing. Seems like Anime King knows what they are doing since they’ve been in business since 2000 and have had this location since 2002.

Flickr Link

Some nice figures in the display case.

Flickr Link

The beautiful GSC 1/8 Rider, i don’t understand why she’d be out of the box and on display really since she’s so rare and being out of the box makes her not Mint and therefor worth less. But then those are just silly details.

Flickr Link

Small section in the back for Gundams, can’t really comment on them since I don’t collect Gundam models. If my Ex were still around he’d be able to tell me, so i could in then tell you, but I’ll just let you look at the pictures instead!

Flickr Link

I have to say what i like about this store is how the merchandise they have is up to date and current.

Flickr Link

Villetta and Kallen figures, the anime store that used to be in my mall didn’t have anything current at all. I would have done a review of them, but they recently closed.

Flickr Link

Some Lovely Max Factory Shining Wind figures, maybe if I have more money I’ll pick them up next time I’m there.

Flickr Link

They have two Shuraki figures, sadly no Char. I would have snatched up Char if they did have her since she’s the only Shuraki i happen to be missing.

Flickr Link

Lovely Alter Kuro No Franco in the corner, have had my eye on her but didn’t snag her since I’m saving up for Anime Expo and hopefully Otakon as well.

Flickr Link

Cute Sega Rin figure, i’ve got my pre-order for the GSC Kagamine Twin set. They’ll go wonderfully with my GSC Miku.

Flickr Link

Lovely Eye up Yoko, they also had a Wave Space Yoko and both versions of the Wave Swimsuit Yoko.

Flickr Link

Look like they’re about to kick some butt.

Flickr Link

Figures everywhere!

Flickr Link

I didn’t even know Max Factory made this Shiranui Mai until i saw her there, still prefer the version i have of her instead.

Flickr Link

Lovely Alter Onee-chan Bara, have been considering picking her up.

Flickr Link

Klan here caught my eye first, but i already own her, She is such a beauty.

Flickr Link

Freeing Emiri Kimidori, she’s a beauty but 1/4 scale is a bit too big and a bit too pricey for my taste. Unless it were a Yoko, then size and price are no object.

Flickr Link

They keep the “Naughty” figures in the display case the the kiddies can’t get to them. I don’t own any “Naughty” figures like that only because there hasn’t been any that i liked. My Cast Off figures tend to be tasteful and look nice with their clothes on.

Flickr Link

Lots of Gashapons and very nice prices on the Manga as well.

Flickr Link

More Gashapons, was never really a fan of them. They seemed more like Toys to me than figures.

Flickr Link

Some dolls, wonder if they’ll get the Yoko Dolfie in stock?

Flickr Link

A couple of plushies, not the biggest selection of plushies. I try not to get many plushies since i already have so many from when i was little that aren’t anime related and that i just can’t bare to get rid of.

Flickr Link

Oh No! Run for your life! It’s GODZILLA!

Flickr Link

Didn’t really check out the anime selection, I’m not the biggest anime buyer. I spend the majority of my money on figures so I don’t buy as much as i should. They had a few Nendos but nothing i didn’t already have or didn’t want.

Flickr Link

While i very much liked the store; no bootlegs, more current selection and newer figures.I would say they are a bit expensive, most figures are priced $5-$15 over Retail value, but then if you consider Shipping with most retailers it’s a good price. If they are in the area it’s a good deal to get figures from Anime King. If not they do have an eBay store where things are priced bit lower. But Mention the eBay store and they’ll give you the price at the store instead. You can also catch them in the exhibit hall at Anime Expo. While personally i have been buying figures in actual stores less and less since I’m tying to avoid impulse buys, it’s hard not to want to come and take a look around when i’m in the area for something that might catch my eye and call me.

–Store Info–

Located – 7188Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA.
View Larger Map

–Special Deal for How a Girl Figures Readers–
Get5% off on your entire purchase when you mention that you found about them from Howagirlfigures.com at the register!

Do you have an anime store in Southern California and want your store to be featured on How A Girl Figures Retailer Reviews? Know of a store in the So-cal that deserves a review? Contact me at Dancingqueen [at] Howagirlfigures.com

You can now follow me on Twitter!

Figure Retailer Review #1 – Small Wonders

Dancing Queen — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:44:54 +0000

As long as I have been collecting figures and blogging, I’ve been planning on doing a store review. Not just for online retailers since we all know we tend to buy from the major online stores than others, but instead focus on the smaller local shops. Well, I decided the other day when I went to Newport Beach to visit my brother that it was the best time to start!

My brother brought me to this shop a while back to see if the store was good, to check out their selection and to mainly see if the figures were real or not. He still doesn’t know how to check for authenticity so he relies on me to let him know what to look for in figures.

I was surprised at their selection! They had some really good figures and some rare ones that I haven’t seen in a while. Oh and yes, no bootlegs.

Just an entire wall of figures, that just speaks paradise to me!

And unlike most anime stores I’ve come across, there are newer figures as well. Not just old ones they got cheap.

Not into just Anime figures? Small Wonders has an amazing selection of Marvel, DC, Star Wars and other figures!

An awesome selection of Bags and purses. I’ve got my eyes on the the pink Yoshi bag,

Some very cute plushies as well.

The selection of Anime shirts is astounding. Most places I’ve been to have only a small rack or shelf for anime shirts.

Also an awesome Precious Moments selection that would make any series Collector go bonkers!

I was impressed with the Art book and Magazine selection.

I was able to get a copy of Replicant last time I was there, and for a good price too!

I might have to pick up that Kenshin wall scroll on the top right corner.

To give an example of the variety of their selection, Winnie the Pooh, Garfield, Charlie Brown and more.

Some great deals on the Gundam Kits. I got 1/100 Gundam Dynames, cause you know how much I <3 Lockon. I got it for a great price!

Very, very nice selection of Gundams.

Love that Chobits wall scroll on the top right as well. If only I had more wall space.

A doll collectors paradise, a wall of dolls.

Fan of Gashapons? They’ve got tons! Some good ones too!

Pocky, don’t we just love our pocky? I’m kinda over it but will admit i used to eat it all the time.

More Gashapons, really a good selection, almost had me buying some and I dont’ even like Gashapons!

Swords, hats, good items for cosplay.

Aspiring artist? Display your art in the shop!

Those Kinomoto Sakura ones are pretty good.

A very nice selection of manga and they are always up to date with the newest releases.

While taking pictures, a customer, AlexielVIII, approached me and was raving about the store.

“I like Nina, who runs it. She’s very nice and treats people fairly and she’s always there to help us out. I like the selection here, as well. There’s a lot great stuff you can’t find anywhere else, and there is a lot of variety too; anime, fairies, Star Wars, costume pieces and more, it’s a really good store.

Spotted some figures I’ve had my eye on, but didn’t buy at the moment. I might have to go back and get these lovely ladies.

Nice sale on plushies going on as well. A good selection too!

I spoke to Nina, the store owner, to see what she felt made her store special compared to other anime stores.

“Within the mall we’re considered a specialty store. One of the reasons we’re considered a specialty store and not just an anime store is because of the fact that we carry a lot of the other gift items. We do carry the precious moment’s line, which is one of our tops sellers besides anime. One thing we’re really big on is fairies, different licensed products, Betty Boop is another one of our top sellers, Garfield, and Snoppy.”

When asked about whether they have an website,

“We are not planning on getting a website anytime soon, since it would be dealing with two things at one time. Plus the competition, I wouldn’t be able to keep prices down enough. Within the mall, we are considered a neighborhood shop. Although we will have a wide range of customers who come in, about 90% of the customers are neighborhood people; we see the same faces over and over again.”

Small wonders is a shop that has been in business for 11 years and in this location for 8 years. They don’t plan on moving any time soon so you won’t miss them when you go and check them out!

–Store Info–

Located – 2028 Westminster Mall Westminster, CA 92683
View Larger Map

–Special Deal for How a Girl Figures Readers–
Get 10% off on your entire purchase excluding sale items when you give the promotional code SW2009 at the register! (always check back as the code changes from time to time!)

Check them out, they’ve got some amazing merchandise and you might even catch me shopping there.

You can now follow me on Twitter!