First off, I think your method of contacting the 
seller prior to bidding is a very good idea. I 
might have to try that one. ^_^

I have a YJ id, but only use it to check up on 
closed auctions. For the most part, I figure if 
the cel is really that great, I'm willing to 
spend the extra cash on the middle man. I don't 
really use YJ as a cheap source of cels, just a 
source of some really nice ones. 

Secondly, if I understood correctly, you said 
that a seller backed out because you couldn't 
send the payment in Japanese currency. Now you 
said that you speak Spanish, so maybe you're not 
in the US. But since you said that you were going 
to pay in US dollars, I'm going to *assume* that 
you live in America. (If this is wrong, I 
aplogize)

If you are going to make a habit out of ordering 
from japan directly, whether it be a dealer, 
auction, private collector etc, you might want to 
become familiar with the IPMO. (International 
Postal Money Order). This is a popular form of 
payment when sending money to Japan. I don't 
pretend to know all the particulars, but 
bascially it comes down to the fact that Japanese 
banks are not like banks in the US. They CHARGE 
people to cash checks, money orders, etc...quite 
a bit from what I gather. You can get an IPMO 
from your local post office. It costs a couple 
bucks extra, (which is less than an international 
money order from a bank), and it doesn't cost the 
seller much (if anything???) to cash. 

This whole payment thing caught me by surprise as 
well when I first started collecting. I sent a 
money order through the bank, mistankingly, and 
the seller would not accept it. Thank goodness 
they were very patient and we worked it all out. 
It's been a little over a year since that 
transaction, and let me tell ya, I've learned to 
love the IPMO! 

If you'd like more of an explanation, you should 
check out the ordering information section on 
anime-cel.com. (URL above) They spell out a lot 
of the specifics I've forgotten, and also have a 
picture of the IPMO just so you know you've asked 
for the right thing at the post office.  

Of course, if you're not in the states, then this 
is all pretty much pointless. Well, I hope I 
helped anyway!

MeganD.
-who's going home tomorrow and hopes to find a 
few cels waiting for her!!!!