How do you get your ponies?

[Shutin]

As a UK collector, I often get frustrated by how slowly new ponies get released over here - or when we don't get them at all, like the Toys R Us exclusives and such. I feel bad asking American friends to pick up the toys for me, but I figured "hey, a my little pony collector forum probably has threads for people asking to get stuff sent to them, right?" I haven't seen any though!

Anyway, this made me curious how other non-American collectors get their ponies! Do you ask friends to pick them up? Do you trawl eBay for ponies? Have you negotiated the maze that is ordering from Taobao? Or do you check actual stores, hoping for some to have made it to your local shelves? Or maybe something else!! 

This is my first time making a thread, so I hope one like this is ok!!

[Ice Crystal]

If it's G4, I try to buy in-stores. Unfortunately, we have one of the world's worst Targets so it doesn't always work out. At least our TRU is decent! If it's an international exclusive, I try to buy them through the Arena if I can. I still need Star Swirl. :''(

For older ponies, I buy them through the Arena, or eBay as a last resort.

[ravengusty]

Ebay and on here mostly for me, but I have bought a TRU exclusive off anyone.

[hathorcat]

Have you tried the Wanted Forum? I know a lot of people tend to keep their wish lists over there and often members will help one another out by tracking down the items people are looking for.

If its exclusive items I am looking for, I tend to depend on pony friends to be kind enough to help me out. Its turn and turn about - if you can help someone to get something which they can not get in their country then often that person will be kind enough to help you out again in the future.

[Lady Starflower]

I don't mind picking up the TRU exclusives once they hit stores here for people.
It's a mixture for me. Although if its a Target exclusive I either have to get an American friend to grab it or me drive over to get it since so far our Targets aren't carrying the exclusives

[Nasaniaru]

I usually go straight to the source but I see that wouldn't answer your question. My advice is that if you have true friends over here in America, I'm sure they would be able to help you out. However, depending on what you are looking for, maybe I can swing by my local ToysRUs and see if I can help you out once or twice.

[liely]

I buy a ponies on Ebay, Etsy, Amazone, Bonanza.
sometimes my Ukrainian friends buy for me. who are working or studying in the U.S.

[achab1984]

I get a lot of older ponies from ebay and here. I do luck out time to time and find some of the hard to find ones. 

[Cool.Breeze]

Here in Canada we sometimes have a long wait ahead of us once some releases hit the US, other times stuff shows up here before the US! It's always uncertain. I generally wait for things to show up locally, though. Shipping is killer I also scope out 2nd hand shops for G3's and G1's frequently

[CupidStrikes]

I had an American friend pick up the NMM set for me, but I'm thinking of directly ordering the Crysalis set, as TRU US ship to the UK very cheaply and let you pay import tax in advance. The rumours of the quality being down are concerning, though, as it's kinda impossible to return it if I get any defective ponies >.< Sure do wish TRU UK would stock 'em. I do email them every so often every time a new TRU exclusive is announced, and have emailed Hasbro UK about US exclusives so hopefully they were aware there is interest here....

For other exclusives? Well...I'm looking to Ebay. With the sheer amount of NA exclusives that have been announced recently I don't feel too generous towards Hasbro directly with my wallet Though, at least US exclusives we have some chance at getting, unlike the "EU" exclusives. Brrr, those are scary prices and despite having many European friends I've yet to have one in a country that actually got ponies like Ploomette ;_;

[Kiwi]

Usually I just wait for whats in the stores, and check thrifts stores for older ponies. Occasionally I'll buy online or through the Arena, particularly for exclusives

[TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

G1, G2, G3, and G3.5: Antique Mall, Goodwill, Value Village, etc.
G4: Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Target, etc.

[mlp4me]

As a g1 collector I try to find them locally or on here. You'd be amazed by what you can find on the arena!

[partypony566]

I do check Asda, Tesco etc but they very rarely have anything new.

I mostly get ponies off eBay.

[shabbychicdee]

a hear ya. i was so disappointed sorting my brushable g4's the other day and found almost a third of them were all those tru and target exclusive and other things that never made it to nz
a third  so  90% of my buys these days are from sellers in china with free post so it is affordable.  in the past i have traded heaps of int' exclusives for things that never made it here but we have had no new exclusive in well over a yr now since skywishes. in fact i have one left i am wanting to trade for stuff. points to under sig. 

although i comb my local toy suppliers every week, i am coming away more and more disappointed. eg we only got blind bag waves 1,3,5and 7  our selection is getting worse so i am not waiting now i will just comb the Chinese sellers instead, its risky what you get at times but its affordable now that USA postal prices have sky-rocked .


when i was collecting g1 it was mainly of ebay and trades on the arena or buy of classified but alas i have pretty much stopped now the postal prices have gone up so much so every now and then i get something from Germany as they have cheaper post. but i am pretty satisfied with my g1 collection now and the only ones i really want are far too pricey. i did get heaps of things in the past from trademe are local auction site but its pretty dry at the moment and has been for ages.