Hey, Fellow Collectors! Thank you for your purchases!

Can I please ask a favor, though? First Class mail seems to be running very slowly lately. So before you nick my seller stars for shipping time, please check your delivery confirmation number. I generally ship the same day I receive payment, if it's before the PO closes, otherwise, it goes out the next morning. If you'll just check your DC#, it will probably tell you when your package was taken in, where it is, and anticipated date of delivery. Usually, but not always, since, technically, all a DC number's supposed to do is confirm delivery, rather than be an official tracking number. Yada Yada.

Remember, Ebay considers a 4.7 or lower star rating in any category to be unacceptable for sellers, and charges those sellers higher fees. That forces me to either raise prices, or think twice about listing those things we both luuurve to put in our collections. If you nick me on shipping time, it can literally take several dozens of five star ratings to get back in "acceptable" range.

All I'm saying is, if I've truly earned your wrath, then I deserve it because nothing's more irritating than a crummy Ebay seller,and if you feel that describes me, then you should have at it, and keep the site safe for everyone. But first just please have a heart and use those opposable digits of yours to check the tracking to make sure it ain't me that scr*wed up, and know that I can't control the US Post Office. If I could, those buggers would not be running at a loss!!!!

Hi! I am Melinda, and I am a rabid Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie memorabilia collector. (Sounds like the beginning of a twelve step program, eh?) Lately, though, I find I am just a rabid collector...period...of anything, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer (mostly the latter!), and though the collections grow, the house does not.

That, coupled with the fact that I recently and unsuccessfully tried to help a friend empty her hoarder mother's home, convinced me it's time for a major house emptying of my own.

In case you are wondering, Springlering is a dance beloved by Hobbits.

First off, if you have a problem with something you've gotten from me, all I ask is that you please email me and explain the problem. I can generally work something out, but only if I am aware there is a problem. In other words, I am not an Orc, and assume you aren't, either. I am a very reasonable person, and just ask that you be reasonable in return.

Secondly, here's something every eBayer should know. eBay has instituted a "rolling feedback" system, which doesn't make sense. An unscrupulous seller can reactivate a dormant account with terrible feedback, and you won't know it unless you check the entire history. Do your wallet and your collector's heart a favor and check your seller out!

www.toolhaus.org is a free site where you can look up any Ebay user's entire history.

Now, on to the fun stuff.....

In December of 2001, friends dragged me to see a movie. I don't like movies, and, although I am a voracious reader, I had never even heard of Tolkien, much less a Hobbit.

I didn't like the movie I saw. It left me utterly confused. But, my then 11 year old daughter was completely smitten, and begged me to take her back again so she could see "that elf". Damn. That'll be another three hours wasted in a theatre, I thought to myself. But I caved in.

On the second viewing, something in my brain snapped. I got it, and I loved it!!!!!

A couple of days later, I had managed to get a few action figures, and the complete Burger King set. I had also devoured the entire trilogy,and begun rereading it, reading nonstop- at meals, in the tub, in bed, at my desk at work.

I mentioned to my husband, "Gee, I sure would like a poster for this movie". He suggested I try Ebay. He's probably real sorry about that now! The man is an absolute saint. He takes patience to a whole new level. He's still around ... I think ... somewhere ... probably buried under piles of stuff.

My personal collection now includes well over 5,000 movie related items from nearly forty countries, and another 3,000+ clippings. Special treasures include everything from a poster off the side of a Hong Kong bus, to a very rare and very beautiful set of Thai movie banners, baked beans and margarine tubs from the UK, cast brass bells from Russia, executive golf balls, malt balls with nifty little cast metal coins and perfume bottles from Spain..... gosh, everything I look at is special, and a treasure, even more so because I remember the people that went through such efforts to get some of them for me.

Thanks so much to all the people that have put up with me, traded with me, shared tears, happiness, frustrations, photos of the kids and pets, and most of all, their hearts and even their homes. Thanks to Krystyna, Brian C, Adele, Lou, Kat, Nancy, Sue, Shurwitz, Teri, Brad, Jan, Wendy, Toady, Lee, Martina, Vampy, Julie, Sanne, Matthias, Brian & Suzie, Bailo, Felix & Luisa, Karine, Teresa, Theresa, Angie, Alan G, Bailo, Aum, Saksiri, Lilian, Ricardo, Tina, Rafal, and Ken, and everyone else.

Extra special supersized thanks to Kathy, Andre and Julie. I can't thank you three enough.

I am still seeking one of the silver foil Nestle' UK promo posters, and would happily swop a ROTK press book for one of these. I got the rarer gold version years ago, but never got around to getting the silver, and donchaknow, now I can't find one.

Please visit my
Lord of the Rings
collection at my eponymous emporium :
Springlering Lord of the Rings Virtual Museum

I specialize in rare LOTR press material, Eaglemoss Collectors Models, jewelry, ephemera, and rare consumer products.