How do you all pace yourselves?
 

As we all know, there is a lot of Ayumi Hamasaki merchandise out there so sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed, especially if there is a lot that you want. And when you're new to it all and you're trying to play catch up especially, it seems like your wallet is taking a bigger hit than it needs to sometimes, lol. So anyways, I would just like to know how with all of this merchandise out, how do you pace your buying so you're not going broke buying everything? Do you only spend a certain amount a month? Do you only buy a certain amount of things a month?

Since I usually buy the OS press, I don't really worry that much

But I only buy the singles/albums that I like~ I won't buy everything Ayu releases...
And same thing for concert DVDs

I usually just ignore the really old stuff and buy her new singles/CD's as they come out. If I ever have some extra money and I know she won't be releasing anything for a while I'll buy an old CD or single that I don't have, but buying her new stuff is more important to me and more exciting.

i only buy albums, and OS version :P for other artists i sometimes also buy jewelry(cheap) or tours (also OS, im a cheapass :laugh)

i love to order stuff from the internet so i always try to control myself XD its kinda working now though! i havent bought something in 3 months now!!

That's a wonderful idea to mainly focus on her newer stuff. And then when things have slowed down for awhile, use that time to get her older stuff. Because I feel like I'm in a position where I'm trying to catch up with her older stuff and keep up with her newer stuff at the same time and that is not working for me, lol. I think unless I come across some great deal, I'm going to try to just focus on what's coming out so I don't miss the excitement. And it definetely helps to buy the OS press if you're not one of those people who have to have the Japanese release. I would love to have the Japanese release but my wallet can only handle so much right now, lol.

^ If you really want to collect her past releases, I suggest focusing on the ones with the limited edition....You can always just buy the regular versions another time

Yeah, that's a good idea. How do I differentiate her limited edition albums versus her regular versions? Limited edition ones are first press and usually come with an item such as a photobook right or an alternate cover?

I used to buy Ayu's releases... and I really... just spend all of my salary, since I don't have any expenses yet x.x I try to save up though... but I like so many artists... a lot to buy :D But yeah I mainly focus on limited releases aswell ^-^

Yep~ Those are the limited editions and most comes with a poster too when you preorder

The only album I have of hers in hand is Rock N' Rock Circus and I bought the limited edition version with the photobook. So I would definetely like to keep up the pace of getting all of the limited editions of her older CD only albums and all of the CD+DVDs releases. What album did she start releasing limited editions of?

It took me a while, but I've been caught up for a few years now. I just buy as she releases at this point.

I wish I had the first five singles and the re-released versions of them...that's really all I'm missing.

I only buy concerts DVDs I like, albums and some merchandise I find pretty or usefull, but...

bad thing to admit, I have only one concert DVD was bought at normal store (HMV) and I order merchandise stuff at yesasia.com or buy them at concert, but all other DVDs + all the albums I've got are from Book Off (Japanese second hand store).

I really wanted to buy Rock 'n' Roll Circus this year since I was in Japan, but my return flight was ONE day before the release date, and they didn't sell it during Saitama concerts :(

I buy albums and DVDs when it's possible for me.

I sometimes buy special other stuff like Mirrorcle World single (because it has MW PV, Life and Doy's 10th anni ver.). =D
Also when I can. ^^

for me , I only buy her studio albums & that's enough for me to handle

it has been like that all this while since I began listening to her 4 years back +

I used to buy some of her concert DVDs & her singles but I sold them away xD

I only have Mirrorcle World and Days / GREEN , singles wise . Other than that it's strictly albums , compilations albums for me & everything are OS press cos I don't see the need to spend so much $ on a Japan press where I can wait a few days for the OS press to be available & I save 1/2 if not 2/3 on what I had to pay for a Japan press

BREAKERZ's different on the other end , they're my kids :laugh

I don't know what's your definition of limited edition in this context but anyway ...

MY STORY - 4 different CD + DVD's covers were issued , you obviously will only get 1 cover at the end of the day

(miss)understood - both CD & CD + DVD's have different photobooks being given as 1st press items

GUILTY - a photobook's given for both CD & CD + DVD's , it's the same one unlike (miss)understood's case

NEXT LEVEL - special CD casings ie. green (CD) , blue (CD + DVD) , pink (2CDs + DVD) & yellow (USB thumbdrive)

I know RAINBOW has a first press, but the only bonus is a code that doesn't work anymore, for access to some website where you could preview RAINBOW (song) in the past.

So apart from that...

MY STORY: there are Limited [CD+DVD] releases with alternate covers. Just search eBay, anything that doesn't have the cover like it shows on her official website, is limited. (like her laying on the bed or something).

(miss)understood: First Press [CD] comes with Off My Day photobook, First Press [CD+DVD] comes with On My Way photobook.

GUILTY: First Press (both versions? Or maybe CD+DVD only) comes with limited photobook.

NEXT LEVEL: all first presses have a differently colored jewel case. For example the CD-only version is blue (or green, I forgot). Also the [2CD+DVD] Pink version is completely limited, so there are no regular transparant versions of that. On top of that, they releases a very limited [USB-version], which was yellow and sold out in minutes. There's also a transparant encore press, both versions are rare and expensive.
(if you're confused: Anything that has a colored jewel case is limited, also the USB's are limited)

A BEST: first press comes with a cardboard sleeve, and underneath the cardboard sleeve can be 6 different covers, but I'd just get one :p judging your wallet haha.

A BALLADS: same thing as A BEST, also cardboard sleeve and there are 4 different covers underneath the sleeve.

A BEST 2: First press [CD+DVD] have a cardboard sleeve and a black or white colored jewel case (as opposed to the regular transparant ones).

A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~: First press press [3CD+DVD] comes in a cardboard box with a limited photobook. This is the nicest first press in my opinion, so if you really want one special item, go for this! It's also a very complete collection of hers, so it's a great item.

I think that's all for her studio and compilation albums.. However for many albums there have also been Price Lotteries, where special items were sometimes added to orders. Also I think all of her albums' first presses have come with a poster. But I didn't count those.

There are also lots of remix albums and singles that have special first press editions, I'll list some from the top of my head in the spoiler. There are probably more but these are the ones I can think of right now:

^ for GUILTY's case , both CD & CD + DVD's 1st press were the photobook & it's the same one too unlike (miss)understood :)

my friend ordered the HK press / CD only from YesAsia early & it came with the photobook , so there

I'm more concerned on buying all of her studio albums and complete my album collection.
I own few singles, and I don't want to buy all of them lol.
I'm just interested on first presses, or 'special' singles as A, H and &.

I buy OS press of the CD, and I dont buy single. I think it doesnt worth, since the same stuff is going to appear again in the upcoming CD.

I only get single in a CD clearance sale xD *hide* I got my singles in very low price, and aha! it's more worth to be sold in such a cheap price XD

I just don't buy anything cos ayu merchandise is overpriced
so even if the stuff is awesome the price makes me not want to buy it

I don't buy everything she releases. And I don't buy Ayupans. Normally I'll look and if there is something I want I'll buy it. As far as CDs go I download them first to see if I like them. If I don't then I won't buy them. If I do then I may buy them.

I'm just now starting to buy Ayu merchandise but the opportunity has always been there for me to buy things. I'm buying in bulk now and saving the rest of money and then I won't spend anything else for a little while ^_^