Feeding Tips

In my perpetual hunt for new and interesting doujinshi, I've run across a few common trends that have become helpful in my search. While these hints are not applicable in every case, they can be used as a general rule of thumb.

• Check the cover for first impressions. If you don't like the cover, it's highly likely that you won't like the inside art either. If there are no examples of inner art, you can use the cover as a general representation of what you'll see inside.
  
• Know how many pages there are in the doujinshi, and set your pricing standards accordingly. Unless the art is spectacular, I tend not to go over $15 for a doujinshi of 30 pages or less, $20 up to 70 pages, and $30 for 71 pages or more. Believe me, if the price gets too high, it's truly not worth it unless you're hard-up for that particular circle or art style. In a similar vein, know the size of the doujinshi you're getting as well (B5 is standard, but A5 and A4 -- a.k.a., small and oversized, respectively -- are also out there.).
  
• Try your damndest to get an accurate representation of couples. It's frustrating to spend your money on doujinshi only to realize you're not getting what you paid for or expected.
  
• Trust your instincts. If it looks like a bargain but you're not sure you're going to like the doujinshi, then you probably aren't going to like it in the long run.
  
• Be patient. Not all circles are easy to find, but often they do show up eventually. Also, if you missed out on a particular doujinshi (the retailer sold out, or you lost your auction, etc.), it most likely will show up again somewhere down the line.
  
• Be diligent. Search a number of sites, and don't rely completely on one single source.
• Never hesitate to email the circle. If nothing else, you'll make their day. I haven't had any success in obtaining other doujinshi by the circles I've written to, but those that I have sent off an email to (Zipangu and Ecology Kyoudan) were thrilled that their works had reached the U.S. Many don't realize the lucrative business they can get on places like eBay.
• Remember that there are exceptions to every rule, and that often a good doujinshi find comes through trial and error.

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