Fist fight over figures...nasty!!

[Darth_Growl]

Good morning, guys. It's been a while since I've posted here, but I just wanted to share this story with you. Yesterday, after going from wal mart to wal mart, toys r us to K B Toys, I finally ran into the Ultimate 12" Jango Fett. Oh my god, he is absolutely sweet although the box is all runned over. Why is it runned over do you ask? Well, let me tell you. When I got to Target, I could not believe my eyes. I've read alot about scalpers in these forums, so I know what to look for. This guy fit the description perfectly, he was around 30ish or so, balding, and had a basket filled with five Ultimate 12" Jango Fetts, three mace windus geonosis rescue, and about seven levitating yodas. Absolutely disgusting! I can't believe there are actually people like this here! Anyway, about the time I got there, another guy around 20ish or so showed up also with a face of disbelief over what this guy was doing. I heard the 20ish guy make a comment to the 30ish guy about what he was doing. I was just there watching these two guys because I knew something was going down. All of a sudden, when the 30ish guy turns around to get more figs, the 20ish guy grabs two 12" Ultimate Jangos, well the 30ish guy saw this and grabbed the dudes shirt almost ripping it in the process. Without missing a beat, the 20ish dude swings hitting the 30ish guy straight in the face, causing him to fall on top of some of the toy shelves. All this time, I'm just there backing away in disbelief; I couldn't believe this was happening over a stupid figure. Well, the 30ish dude gets up, picks up a 12" Ultimate Jango Fett from his basket and throws it at the 20ish dude, hitting him in the back-neck area (By the way, that's the jango fett I have with me right now. :p ). To make a long story short, security ended up escorting these two guys out of the store, but guess this! The scalper WAS ALLOWED to pay for his items and leave with them!! hahha! But now without paying a heavy price; he had a huge black eye! I wanted to feel sorry for the scalper, but I know that he deserved that shot to the face. I'm sure he'll think twice before hogging up all the new items. Now tell me; has anybody else experienced anything like this? This is the first time I've seen this ever! Two grown men fighting over a Ultimate 12" Jango Fett? What has this world come to? :rolleyes:

[René_Pronounced_Eh]

Ah. The brilliance of Capitalism at it's best.

One cannot really blame anybody for scalping eh. Think of it this way; If the world we lived in didn't require you, your wife (or husband) work 50+ hours a week, bills coming within dollars of your dreadful salary, and only 2-3 hours a night to spend with your family and friends........people wouldn't have to scalp to stay on top of things and try and get ahead in the rat race of life, or take advatage of a good situation. Right?

I say if you can find a good opprotunity, take it. Because unless you don't deserve it, nobody is going to help you.

That's my 2 Canadian cents.

[Casual George]

I was at my local Wal-Mart the other night. I got there just in time to see the clerk put our three boxes of the Orn Free Ta wave. I was excited because it was the first time I've found them in this area. I'm being pretty frugal these days so I decided just to pick up a Massiff and perhaps come back later for a Endor Trooper or Orn Free Ta. Anyway before I leave the toy section this dude rolls up with a buggy and starts putting EVERY new figure into the cart. The S.O.B took every single figure that had just been put on the shelf moments ago. From the looks of him I know he wasn't a collector. He was a scalper!!!! Why would anyone buy 5 of the new Qui-Gon Jinn?!?!? I felt like punching this guy. No wonder I can't every find any of the new waves. SCALPING SUCKS!!! Please, I'm begging everyone, don't buy from scalpers. We (the true collectors) have the power to cut these guys off at the knees by not supporting there filthy business.

[Darth_Growl]

I believe, the only way to really stop a scalper is to get physical with them. Last night, this 20ish dude almost stopped a scalper by knocking his head off, and if I was a big enough guy, i would have done it, too. We have to show scalpers that they can't get away with hogging up the new items without paying a heavy price. In the case of the 30ish, balding dude, he got a nice black eye that was swelling up pretty fast there. I couldn't help but smile at his misery. :D Sometimes, God works in mysterious ways. Last night, he made a scalper pay for what he was doing. :p

[René_Pronounced_Eh]

LOL - I certainly do not believe physical violence is the answer, though it may be very tempting to.

The only people who can make any dent in an attempt to control the scaling are the retailers themselves. A limit of 2 of each character should be placed by time the next episode comes to life. This would benefit both the "open figure" collector, and the MOMC collector. But detour the scalper, thus making it easier for collectotrs of any type to get what they wanted.

But, look at it realistically. I don't care how much ***-kissing you have witnessed...no Wal Mart, KMart, Targé, TRU, KB Toys, etc, etc...is in the market of retail to make people happy. They are in it to make money, and they certainly are not going to look at a guy with a shopping cart full of figures as a threat, but rather a good sale. That mentality is a product of the world we live in.

"I'm praying for rain. I'm praying for tidal waves...." - MJK

[cjranck]

I'm sorry, but that is hillarious! I have been to hundreds of stores and have never seen anything like that. If I would have been there I think I would have broken a rib laughing so hard.

[brentfett]

"Begun this scalper war has..........."

[gibbspaulus]

I'm sorry - I don't like scalpers but if someone is so petty as to buy it all - let 'em! We're talking about bloody toys here. I'm already hearing nasty thoughts on other boards about wishing cancer on scalpers, or that their cars should blow up. Sad, sick, people (they won't allow me to swear at you)!

Which is the more dubious moral standpoint?

[eliwankenobi]

That's awesome! I would've loved to have seen that. And while those two losers were rolling over each other on the floor, I'd go thru scalper-guy's cart and take everything I wanted. :)

Yes, it's a sad thing that scalpers exist, but that's capitalism - God bless America! As long as there's a want, there will be someone to draw blood for it.
I look at it this way: The smart collector knows that he will find the figures he wants if he is just patient.
I can't believe I'm going to defend Hasbro - because I've certainly done my share of b#tching about them - but Hasbro makes 1000s upon 1000s of these figures. It's not their purpose or in their interest to make any figure "rare". Scalpers are the ones who create the "rare" deception.
In order to guestimate the market's interest, some items may be packed fewer than others initially, but demand (for the most part) dictates distribution. Look at the E1 Darth Maul porblem. DMs couldn't be found for the first few months because scalpers hoarded them all. Hasbro responded by dumping whole cases of DMs to the point that they became peg warmers. This satisfies consumer demand and bites the scalpers in the @ss.

The problem of scalpers lies in the collector that always has to "have it now!". Scalpers are smart in knowing that there's always gonna be peops out there that can be enticed to paying more for something just so they can have it right away, before everyone else, without looking, etc. Yes, scalpers suck, and I believe that to be in that business is a loathsome quality, because they are not only ripping off the collectors, but they are denying the children - and that is just plain repulsive. But to the peops that pay these prices to scalpers, they deserve to be parted with their money.

If I were that guy, I would've simply gotten the store manager and pointed to the guy's cart. Toy stores are fully aware of scalpers and what they do. A reasonable manager might've solved the problem.

Violence only make the situation worse. Patience pays.

[LTBasker]

Originally posted by René_Pronounced_Eh
Ah. The brilliance of Capitalism at it's best.

One cannot really blame anybody for scalping eh. Think of it this way; If the world we lived in didn't require you, your wife (or husband) work 50+ hours a week, bills coming within dollars of your dreadful salary, and only 2-3 hours a night to spend with your family and friends........people wouldn't have to scalp to stay on top of things and try and get ahead in the rat race of life, or take advatage of a good situation. Right?

I say if you can find a good opprotunity, take it. Because unless you don't deserve it, nobody is going to help you.

That's my 2 Canadian cents.

Money = Power = Scalper.

Even if people didn't have to work hard to get the necessities, people would still be scalping for more money for more "power."

Actually I don't see why that scalper was able to get that stuff. He threw the first attack and while the dude did take the Jango's out of the guy's basket, they're just toys, and 3 Jangos was enough for one person.

[Taichi]

The scalper was in the wrong.....

until paid for, those items are NOT his, and therefore, the 20ish guy had every right to take from the other guy's 'basket'

I do it all the time......

if it ****es somebody off, tough......they don't own it yet......the store does......

[Jaina Solo]

Normally I don't take things from other people's baskets, but while the scalper fight was going on, I certainly would've gone through the scalper's basket. Oh, and alerted security that two crazy men were trying to kill each other in Toys as I was on my way to the cash register.

That's really something, though. I'd never heard of an actual FIST FIGHT over SW figures before.

[Beast]

It's not the first time stuff like this has been reported. When the Target Exclusive 12" Collector's Series Luke Skywalker: Hoth Gear and Wampa came out, there were a couple reports of brawls over them. :)

MTFBWY and HH!!

Jar Jar Binks

[Darth Bezelbub]

Too bad we couldn't ban these scalper like in the old West instead of "WANTED" we would have "BANNED" for being such D!<K$.

I will have to agree with several people that if collectors are stupid(and implosive) they should be parted with their $.

But this roller coaster of cases rarity - overabundance has gotten out of hand.

I still don't have, and never saw TC-14 & R2-1B.

[browndroid]

thats crazy, i dont take from others baskets, but if they were fighting like that, hey! no ones watchin! :D j/k

[Jaina Solo]

I'm not kidding, browndroid, I'd have done it. Wouldn't it have been nice if that scalper went home with a black eye and maybe ONE of each toy he wanted? You know, like the rest of us (minus the black eye)?

[TK421BB]

I new a scalper/toy dealer in lakeland fla. who was banned from toys r us for cleanning out the action figures their in that area and who would never give me a good price on star wars figures and was an absolute S.O.B.. So what I did was when the speeder bikes came out in the potf2 series they first came out at Service Merchandise stores in our area. So I bought them all about 20 of them and sold them to him for $17.00 a piece, they were $9.99. "The only reason I bought them all was because my friend worked at walmart and he told me that they had about 10 cases of them in the back and that they were going to put out that night and I knew they would be plentiful in the area for all collectors." The dealer/scalper thought he got a great deal from me and was trying to charge $45.00 a piece for them. He couldn't sell them because everyone found them at walmart the next day...I felt great and all my fellow friends/collectors were laughing because this guy was a jerk and never gave anyone a deal on anything...Sweet justice on a scalper/dealer...

[Yu_]

Scalpers? My god I have to wonder what the world is coming to when I read threads like this…

Lets have a think about it logically for a moment, if there is a demand for an item, who ever supplies it makes the money. People who get in late and don’t get the stuff they want are crying over spilt milk.. get up earlier and get to the shop first. Or shop someplace you can place an order at.

You know what shops hate? People who spend 4 hours arguing with themselves which Amidala has the best pant job and is the card a c10 condition.. they like people who role up and buy a lot of stuff. It’s how they make there money, they are no a public service they are businesses.. your $5.99 is jack to them when you compare it to the money they can make of multiple sales to one or two people.

I used to manage a toy shop in the UK and I’ll tell you the worst part about it was dealing with Hasbro, they were the most unreliable pointless pricks in the universe to deal with, no relies dates no case breakdowns, and in the end they wouldn’t sell to us unless we bought 10 cases (without knowing what was in them).

So I went on line and contacted someone who sells figs on Ebay. I managed to get anything I wanted, yes the prices were a bit higher, but every thing I bought I sold, and people were happy to pay a bit extra because we could get what ever they wanted. There used to be 2 guys who would come in and clear my shelves of S/W stuff, and I’d let them, hell I happy to get the money.. if a collector came in and asked for something specific even better, because if it wasn’t on the shelf I new I could get it and so they didn’t care, they didn’t have to run around all over. I would order stuff for people and keep it for weeks at a time while they saved enough money to buy it, kept behind the counter in a bag with there name on it, they new they were going to get the stuff, when they had the money, and they were happy.. I had lots of customers like that. Independent toy shops give a much better service, yes sometimes the price is a bit higher, but you pay for the service.

“Scalpers” only make money because people will buy from them, actually fighting with someone over a toy is one of the sadist things I have ever herd of, if you get there to late how is it the fault of the person who showed up first and made the effort? First come first serve. The more of this stuff that is bought the more Hasbro will make, so in the end no one is losing out. the people who buy stuff from these guys are not held at gun point, they have a choice.. Hasbro gets more money and makes more toys.. offering a better selection to everyone, and people who are patient get what they want in the end. If your lazy and miss something tough try harder next time. I may not like it when people buy every fig on the shelves, but hell it’s a toy and it’ll be back sooner or later.. I certainly don’t blame the guy he’s making money. (for all you geeks out there making money is not a crime) and I wouldn’t condone violence towards anyone over something so trivial. It’s a doll for gods sake… Collectables are worth what ever someone is willing to pay for them, so if people are willing to pay over the odds, then that’s there problem, get over it. You want something make sure your first in line instead of whining when you show up late.


Perhaps this sounds harsh but people fighting in the toy isle is harsh.. there’s no need for it.. two adults in the children’s section of a shop fighting over Jango Fett? Take a step back and think about how dumb that sounds…
:crazed:

[Darth Detori]

Bah. there are A-holes everywhere in every aspect that need to be locked in a basement and forced to listen to cher. We're talking about the kind of people who don't use their blinker, who don't give you service with a smile, who suck the living fun out of any expidition by being insulted by everything. Scalpers though............ we'll they're just mean. That's like having someone behind you in a lunch line who hasn't eaten in a day, and there are two club sandwiches left. You feel just a little extra hungry, so you take them both. It's JUST PLAIN RUDE. Screw commerce- FIVE Jango's??? Rediculous. I think that guy deserved everything he got, and I'm NOT talking about the figures.

[Darth_Growl]

I think scalpers should be banned from any toy store. Because of them, I was never able to get a TC-14 or R2-B1. I was never able to get a Holo Sidious or a Sio Bibble, and now they are keeping me from getting Yoda, Count Dooku and those other impossible to find figures. These guys are what makes star wars collecting a very frustrating experience. I mean, how many people here have woken up early in the morning, gone to their local wal mart or local toys r us only to find that a scalper has emptied out the shelves of all the hard to find figures? I know that's happened to me far to many times, and in my opinion, we the collectors have to form some kind of Collectors Alliance or Collectors Guild and stop these scalpers from getting away with this!! They have to pay for what they've done to star wars collecting and they have to pay for all the suffering they have caused to the rest of us honest, hard working collectors. Somebody has to make them pay! Yesterday, I was just so happy to witness a scalper get a taste of pain because that is what I go through everyday when I try to get a hold of those hard to get figures. I believe that 20ish dude was right on when he landed that crashing right hand to the face of that scalper scum!! And I believe that's not the last we'll see or hear of that. :mad: :frus:

[DarthBrandon]

Look yu,

I agree with you to an extent, but common that's a business you were running and if people want to pay more for something let them. I just can't agree with people snatching up 5 Jangos or Ten Dookus just to get them on E-bay and sell them to the guy that was standing behind him when he bought them. Look I've been out plenty of times and had the opportunity to snatch up all the Dookus and Yodas etc,,but I only took one to open and one to display. I could have taken all Ten Dookus, but is that fair to the guys or kids that came in two minutes later, I think not. This boils down to one thing GREED. I am happy to leave these figures behind for others to enjoy because that's the real sport in this, help your fellow collectors out. You know it to be true, search your
true feelings boy.

[JEDIpartner]

Jedi Drew and I had a good laugh about this thread earlier this afternoon. Good job!

[Darth Bezelbub]

I'm with you fellow Sith Lord Growl;) . At the time I looked EVERYWHERE for TC-14 & R2-1B. And I don't believe people :mad: who say I should get up earlier... What should I be in 2 places at one time... That's what those Vultures/Jackels are counting on.

And yes I say people SHOULD be able to get what they want, but i agree with other fellow Sith Lord Darth Detori on the 5 count is way too excessive. Rarely if a friend needs one will I pick up 2, and thats is usually after they have been out for a month or two.

But that guy from Darth Growls story was probably going to come back the next day OR latter that day and try to get more. And I'm sure that if their were more than 5 he would pulled some carts in a train kind of fashion.

[bigbarada]

So now it's degenerated to a first come/first served rat race? Not everyone has the ability to get up and rush to a store at 6 in morning. Some people have jobs and families to take care of. Are you saying that those people deserve to be punished for having their priorities straight?

I could care less if I'm annoying a store manager by inspecting each and every toy closely because I want a good paint job. They're not here to make me happy, as you stated, so why should I worry about making them happy? They (the toy store employees) are there to provide a service, and I'm there to utilize that service. As long as you get your $5.88 what do you care how long I spend in the aisle looking at the toys?

[HAK]

Originally posted by Taichi
The scalper was in the wrong.....

until paid for, those items are NOT his, and therefore, the 20ish guy had every right to take from the other guy's 'basket'

I do it all the time......

if it ****es somebody off, tough......they don't own it yet......the store does......

im a collector not a scalper and i can honestly say if i caught you taking anything out of my basket i would kick your *** no questions asked. other people out there look and work hard to get the figures they can hoping a scalper doesnt beat them to it- a person stealing suff out of my cart is not helping to ease my frustration...

[bigbarada]

Taking toys out of someone's cart is just something you don't do. It's one of the unwritten rules of toy collecting. I don't see how you can proudly admit to this practice, Taichi. Dispicable, really.:mad:

[JetsAndHeels]

I agree with BigB on this one. Sorry Taichi but even if they are scalpers you are stooping to their level or even lower if you just take something from their cart. What if you had gone in to buy some toys and you had a cart full, just for you and someone decided to take one or two while you werent looking? That is wrong, no way around it.

[Beast]

I concur. The best thing you can do in this case is complain to the store. Most stores are very anti scalper, and they actually may help you out. I have had people try to take stuff from my cart before, and they majorly regretted it afterwards. I would watch yourself next time Taichi, after all some citys do have collector's groups that people watch for stuff for others. Never just assume someone is a scalper. :)

MTFBWY and HH!!

Jar Jar Binks

[Dryanta]

Sigh,
well how long dd some of you think it woyld be before I smell an arguement? ;)
Too lazy?strong words my friend Very strong words.Not harsh just uneducated.I live in Maine.ever been here?I have two stores to choose from.Same with the few scalpers around here.So how early should I get up to make you feel like I'm not a whine ***$ for not finding what I'd like?
I used to drive truck all over the lower 48 and most of Canada.Guess what?While I'm out feeding my family and yours BTW,Some scalper scum bag is going into the same stores I have to drive by.AT ALL HOURS.why can't I park a truck in a shopping center.Illegal in most palces.WAH WAH WAH right?Yep.But when I get home some of the same shallow end of the gene pool species has been all over the toy aisle that I helped stock!!Nice real nice.
Now I have no problem not dealing with scalpers in Magazines or the web.And we all should.
Can I tell you that the 20ish guy was justified?No.Would I have done it?Yep.The difference being the scalper wouldn't have been able to get up to throw anything at me.I wouldn't be a big man or hero of the collector world.Just a big jerk with a rotten temper.But hey,Dollars to donuts he'd always step into a toy aisle wondering if I was around some where.And Maybe it would give a decent collector a chance.
And I hate to get to personal here but Taichi,I wouldn't make a habit of reaching into any ones cart.You might end up worse off then the fore mentioned scalper.I wouldn't see the humor in it if it were my cart.

[vulcantouch]

-not really, cuz usually when scalpers & antiscalpers throw down it's not in close quarters like kb but wider aisles like tru, walmart etc ;)

eli: "I would've simply gotten the store manager and pointed to the guy's cart"
-that's not much of a solution, cuz there's no guarantee the manager would make the right call. and since scalperboy was able to buy his stuff in the end, i'd wager the opposite.

"The smart collector knows that he will find the figures he wants if he is just patient"
-that's not the issue, and it isn't always true besides. and it's the activities of scalpers make it less true.

yu: "sometimes the price is a bit higher, but you pay for the service"
-you're missing the point, which is that the need for such "services" is self-created. said need would not exist if not for scalper activities.
i wonder who does more to give capitalism a bad name: scalpers, or people who makes Excuses for them (yu, rene, etc.) if this kind of parasitism doesn't offend them sufficiently to stop making excuses, then maybe antiscalper's violence doesn't offend me enough for me to condemn him :p
those apologists can Cry Me A River about that scalper gettin what was comin to him :evil: thanks in part to adVocaTes like me (http://sirstevesguide.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=5761&pagenumber=1), this kinda thing is happnin more & more. thinking is changing; scalpers' ability to operate with impunity is no longer a certainty. word is spreading among them that if they continue, they're taking their chances :D:D:D in plying his parasitic trade, scalperboy took the chance that some outraged hothead was gonna take the fight straight to him.
tactical analysis:
would i have taken the same approach as hothead? likely not; a la garak or tk421bb, i prefer a shrewder, stealthier tack, such as pretending to be scalpers' friends. that way, i can screw them repeatedly over the course of several years without their knowledge :evil: but what if my instinct & the facts left me with no doubt that this guy standing before me was definitely a scalper?
my role as a karmic agent mandates that i deliver what's comin whenever possible. so, if i couldn't remove them from his possession without his knowledge, instead i might let him See me remove one or two and put them back on the shelf. this would not only pizz him off (returning the feeling he gives to collectors, and possibly spoilin his whole day :evil: ), it would place him in an uncomfortable position without jeopardizing my own position in any way. after all, what's he gonna do? tattle to the manager that some guy took one of his toys and put em back on the shelf? think how stupid he would sound (and would Feel :happy: ) if he did that :p meanwhile, the manager would at most give me a warning, cuz scalperboy's story would sound so dumb :D:D:D
if he Didn't tattle, his only choice would be to let me get away with it or throw down with me. in the latter case he'd either be taking a risk or i'd let him get a shot in, at which point the store would throw him out, & possibly ban him :D

gibbs: "Which is the more dubious moral standpoint?"
-you ask this as though the answer were obvious.
which is worse, unchecked parasitism vs. a harmless fistfight? hmm. let's just say violence hardly strikes me as the worst thing in the world :)

eli: "Violence only make the situation worse"
-please explain for me exactly how this blanket assumption is true, cuz i can think of plenty of examples of violence making things 100% better.
violence may not be pretty, but sometimes it's the lesser of two evils :)
vt

[BobaFett]

Originally posted by bigbarada
So now it's degenerated to a first come/first served rat race? Not everyone has the ability to get up and rush to a store at 6 in morning. Some people have jobs and families to take care of. Are you saying that those people deserve to be punished for having their priorities straight?

I could care less if I'm annoying a store manager by inspecting each and every toy closely because I want a good paint job. They're not here to make me happy, as you stated, so why should I worry about making them happy? They (the toy store employees) are there to provide a service, and I'm there to utilize that service. As long as you get your $5.88 what do you care how long I spend in the aisle looking at the toys?

If you can't be there in the morning call, and ask if yo can hold the figures. Places like Wal-Mart and Zellers hold the figures till 9:00pm. They'll put in the lay-a-way department or something.

[bigbarada]

Originally posted by BobaFett


If you can't be there in the morning call, and ask if yo can hold the figures. Places like Wal-Mart and Zellers hold the figures till 9:00pm. They'll put in the lay-a-way department or something.

Tried that once with my local Wal-Mart. After explaining what I wanted to one person they put me on hold for like twenty minutes then someone else picked up and had no clue what I was talking about so they put me on hold for another fifteen minutes. Finally someone from the toy section picked up and said that he thought they were in and if they were he would put them on hold at the layaway department. Well I arrived a few hours later to find that the wave of figures I wanted had been put on the pegs and bought up already. When I checked the layaway department there was nothing there for me.:mad: Total waste of time!

The best way to remedy this situation is to find a group of people who you can trust (friends, people here on SSG, family) who will keep their eyes open for stuff you want. Whatever system the group agrees on is fine (trades, cash, etc) as long as everyone works together to stick it to the scalpers. IMO, Star Wars collecting shouldn't be about one-upping everyone around you and hoarding everything for yourself; it should be about friends getting together to talk, trade, and basically have a good time. Scalpers feed off the "I must have it, now!" instinct that all collectors feel at one point or another.

And if you find yourself in a fistfight over toys in the aisles, then at least make sure you give the scalper something to remember you by. Maybe he/she won't be hasty the next time they get a chance to clean off the pegs.;)

[Dryanta]

I agree with BigB,This site and other venues are the key.Find or create a group you can trust.Whatever your criteria is find them.
If we all can do this we can all spare our selves empty collections,and bruised knuckles :)

[Jason B]

kinda OT, today in Shaw's i saw a kid looking at a heavy metal mag. he procedes to rip out a poster, fold it in his pocket, and calmly walk away. if i knew that i could take the prick I would have said, "What the hell are you doing?" but I'm not going to get my *** handed to me over a stupid poster that wasnt even mine. stupid crap like that ticks me off.
if someone reached into my cart, (or my Uncle's ;)) he would pay for it.

:-|

[Jedi_Master_Guyute]

hahahhaha i just like it that i'm not the only one who pronounces "Target" like "Targe' " anyway, i haven't seen any fights and the places i head to in cols, there actually aren't many scalpers. I usually go with my friend who is also a collector and we've never bumped into a scalper...excpet on 4/23 when when i was asking if anybody saw an extra Plo Kloon and some wench her b/f were like "yeah, 20 bucks dude" I immediately looked at them all weird and told them to "pi-- off" I found Plo Kloon for 5.88 at the next WM store....sheesh!! some people!!! All the collectors and stuff in cols are pretty good (at least the ones i've bumped into)...they attempt to make sure everybody finds what they need....and yeah, if i saw a scalper fight, i would sure as hell go through their cart and run for the checkout!! hehehehe

[LTBasker]

Originally posted by bigbarada
So now it's degenerated to a first come/first served rat race? Not everyone has the ability to get up and rush to a store at 6 in morning. Some people have jobs and families to take care of. Are you saying that those people deserve to be punished for having their priorities straight?

There's also people with school, college or just flat-out don't have any possible transportation to a store 16+ miles away that MIGHT have the figures they're looking for only to discover that scalpers were able to get there first and nab everything.

Ever tried being a minor and asking your parents to drive you around after they get off from work to hunt down painted plastic on cardboard that doesn't even have a 50/50 chance of being there? :eek:

[Darth Sidious]

I wish I could have seen that...He THREW Jango at him?!? That was my first laugh of the day. Fights do suck though, all the collectors here are very nice. One tried to help me find Dooku (We didnt find it but I got it later), and he accidentally found the only Luminara which he let me have.

[lurk_shady]

You know, if jail weren't a consequence, I would've popped the guy too, if he would have grabbed my shirt. Screw that, I wouldn't let anyone walk off with 5 Jangos, but I defintely would've ASKED him for one first...

I can't say much in this respect...I walked into 4 Dookus two days ago and picked them all up. However, not in the interest to Ebay or scalp, but to trade them for things I need in my collection.

Die, scalpers, die...they are selfish and capitalize on others' joy of the product to make a quick buck.

[tagmac]

Originally posted by eliwankenobi
If I were that guy, I would've simply gotten the store manager and pointed to the guy's cart. Toy stores are fully aware of scalpers and what they do. A reasonable manager might've solved the problem.

Of course it all depends on the store. The TRU in East Brunswick, NJ is the worst place to go to the managers, cuz they always refuse to help you. And why is this - rumor has it the women in charge there (who all have attitude problems) take all the good stuff themselves and sell it to a friend of theirs who is a local dealer. And considering I have rarely found anything new in there, I believe this may be true.

Speaking of fighting, I happened to go to this TRU for Midnight Madness. They said they had more cases, so as stuff sold out, they'd bring more out. Problem is, after 40 minutes, they brought out ONE case of the Dooku wave, and dumped it into a bin. About 10 guys dove for them, and suddenly I saw this one loser get in a guys face, claiming this kid elbowed him on purpose and knocked the figures out of his hand. Mind you, the loser is buddies with a local dealer, and already had these figures in a cart. As a result of his trying to threaten the kid, the managers refused to bring out any more cases, screwing the rest of us who weren't involved. Since that day, I have not seen anything new in that TRU, still the same bins that look unchanged since 4/23 (nothing on pegs, making it that much tougher). Guaranteed those figs they didn't put out were sold to the managers' friends. What a disgusting business practice.

To lighten the mood, I prefer going to another nearby TRU, in Woodbridge, NJ. Over there, I was looking through the pegs, and the guy asked me which figs I was looking for. They hadn't gotten in the Qui-Gon wave yet, so he couldn't help me, but a woman asked for one Yoda, and since there were none left out, the guy got her one from the back. I got the same wonderful treatment last week when I went back in there. If more stores were like this, collecting would be much less of a hassle.

[Lowly Bantha Cleaner]

After reading the story of the incident I had to cower my head in shame. I'd get upset about two little kids squabbling over toys like that, let alone adults.

I don't understand resorting to violence over an incident like this. If I were in that young man's position, I would have made a remark that would have caused much reflecting on the horrible deed that he was doing. Perhaps he would feel really guilty on his car ride home. Maybe at night he would be tormenting over the outrageous act he committed and who knows, the next day he might return to the store and take back all those extra figures . This is tactic is similar to the nonviolent tactics straight from the Civil Rights movment of the early 60's.

Chances are the above wouldn't work, so plan B would be to kick him in the shins and snatch the figures from his cart.

[Amanamike]

I love Star Wars figure collecting and I hate scalpers too. And If I saw that I wuld have a hard time not putting him on his *** as well. I mean man I know we would be just as bad as he if we did something like that, but it would feel good. But if someone took something out of my basket, that woud be a guaranteed foot in the @$$ and then some.

[jjreason]

I can honestly say that Ive never, ever seen anything even close to this. The hypest group I saw was over PS2's last year, by far. Long line, few boxes. Much grumbling and criminal looks coming from the denied as I tangoed out the door with my fresh purple box. It does sound like justice to hear about the scalper getting jacked up, but who is the 20 year old? What were his intentions? Do we know for sure he wasn't an ebay slut? Get an e-friend in a big center that loves to shop. Best thing I ever did, because all I do now is report what I can't find and wait for an email telling me his cost. We can have all we want, you just need the right connections. Scalping is bad, but I think nearly everyone has resorted to something resembling it at one time or another.

[lurk_shady]

I believe that your Toys R Us' aren't the only ones involved in that practice...the managers at the Wal-Mart in Indiana, PA used to be involved in a scalper scandal back in like 1998...when Collectors Series 12" dolls were tough to find. Don't these corporations have some kind of policy against in-house purchases while on-the-clock or something?

[OriginalBryGuy]

That sucks! That 30ish guy should have been beaten down. It's ok though. If he's buying that much stuff, it's obvious he doesn't have a woman to keep him from buying that much SW stuff.

The guy has no life. He may sell Ultimate Jangos and gain money in the short term, but obviously the guy has issues if he's fighting. Plastic and cardboard means more to him. He'll die alone, the state will divide any SW he still has left and they'll be given proper homes to kids who really deserve them.

What goes around, always comes around.

[BillyJAck]

None of these stories can touch the two i have to tell

Now i hate wating for boxes of figures to come out and standing around(i've done it like 6 times in my life) in the toy department at 11:00 at night. I always feel the employees look at me as a person with NO LIFE and LOSER cause i'm 20 years old waiting a hour or two while they roll out figures and I run to grab a box to get my one of each.

heres the stories

first time i ever go to buy figures at the store and wait it was at a Wal Mart..Well we waited and waited then out came the cart. Its all wave 10 figures from episode 1. Sio Bibble wave. There were two cases. It was me and 4 other people. I went to grab my case so i could get my tc-14 r2-b1 and sio bibble . Well anyways this guy ran in front of me and grabbed up the box and opened it then another guy runs over and starts jerking on the box and they start arguing. one saying to the other "you don't need more than one of each!" well anyway the second guy grabbed the box and then shoved the other guy on the ground. aThen he got up tackled the guy then they wrestled on the floor and the guy that got shoved bit the other guy on the thigh till the point of severe bleeding. The police came and he was arrested for assult and battery. The other guy was given a trespassing warrant for that wal mart as he was recieving medical attention I was told. All the while as watching I didn't get one darn figure and I still don't have them to this day. sigh... all this for a painted plastic men on cardboard...I question this sometimes and so does my gf, family, and the rest of the universe.lol

second story

I saw two guys get into a all out brawl slugfest over one guy haveing 6 count dooku's in his arms. Police had to come and all the dooku's destroyed in the fight. And I still didn't get one.

I apall waiting for cases and all. People tend to look down on you. But some of the people who scalp and hoarde figs and wait are truly questionable characters.

billyjack

[mightywhelk]

All these stories of adults fighting over toys makes me laugh and makes me seethe at the same time. What have people come to? If we saw our kids doing it they'd get a telling off straight away!

In my opinion, the only way to punish scalpers for their deeds is to not buy of them. Sure, we all want to have a well rounded collection that include the harder to find figures, but why give scalpers the smug satisfaction (not to mention your hard-earned money) buy paying their over-inflated prices? It was mentioned in this thread earlier on about the Darth Maul situation, sure enough, after a while they appeared leaving the scalpers with a fair amount of 'stock' that they could no longer shift for a profit.

I suppose the moral of the story is to be patient, the major chains or indeed any shop don't really care who they sell figures to or in what quantity as long as they have their sale but as long as they do this, they will continue to re-order and re-stock their shelves so (in theory) you should be able to get what you want in the end.

[mightywhelk]

To reinforce my point, I've just been to my local TRU this lunchtime and saw about 8 Dooku's, umpteen Yoda's, half a dozen Luninara's and loads of Royal guards. Not only that, there was good coverage of most of the other figures.

So be patient, they will appear! :)

[Darth_Growl]

Mightywelk, in theory, what your saying makes sense, but what about the figures like TC-14 and R2-B1. These guys are still going for $40 bucks a pop on Ebay, and it's all because of the scalpers! When are people going to understand that scalpers are what cause some figures to become "scarce". One of these days, enough is going to be enough. Collectors are going to rise up against this and put an end to scalping once and for all. Besides boycotting scalpers, we also need to become a little bit more physical and aggressive with them. If we see a scalper emptying out the shelves, then we need to reach into their basket, whether they like or not, and take some of the figures that would have been ours in the first place. If it becomes confrontational, and you have no choice but to use force, then by all means use it. That 20ish guys taught me something the other day. The only way to get rid of a scalper is to use force against them. Only then will they realize that what they are doing is wrong and they will be punished for it each and every time they do it. It's the only way, guys. Who here agrees with my theory?

[JrJedi]

The best way to stop scalpers is not buy from them. Let the scalper buy every figure in the store. DO NOT BUY from a scalper. After a while, when the scalper can not sell anything, he will stop buying and leave the figures for the collector. Until then, find a good source on-line. There are several good on-line stores that cater to the collector. Some have very good prices. When even bother going to the store (unless you want to see the Friday nite fights). Order on-line and let the figures come to you. Check the sponsors of Sir Steves. Lets give them our business. But even here, please do not pay extra high prices. Find the ones that offer decent prices, good customer service and are trustworthy.:D

[TexasHotshot]

I cannot help but post here. I've bought and sold toys for years and years. You might call me a "scalper" but I look at it as being one who takes advantage of an opportunity. Why should I sit back and let others make money on something when I can do it instead?

For the record: "Scalpers" do not cause ANY toy to become "scarce". A scarce figure is scarce PERIOD. It's all about supply and demand. I've come across probably about 200 Dooku's and Yodas and left them behind because they are not really that hard to find. Haven't been from day one. They are only selling for a lot due to the fact that guys like you are hyping them up and want them.

There is some truth to the fact that if people didn't buy figures on eBay or from dealers, then they wouldn't sell them. But there will always be people who buy them and people who sell them. Simple as that. If someone buys a house or some stock and sells them for a profit, are you going to hate them, too? This is the land of opportunity, and to be honest, if I come across 10 Bloody Lukes in a store and know I can make a huge profit on them, I am going to do just that! You are dumb not to.

The thing that really makes me wonder, though, is that many of you blame the "scalper" for being unable to find figures. Perhaps you should blame yourselves. I have no trouble locating these figures, and I live in a major city. I don't go through cases, or go to WalMart at 3am, or bribe stockboys. I simply drive to a store and shop. I collect, too, and have for longer than I have bought and sold. Never have had trouble locating something for more than 5 or 7 days. Perhaps you need to actually try and look for these figures rather than log online and gripe about others having them.

Oh, and next time you gripe that a "scalper" just bought tons and tons of figures, may I point out that ANY retailer goes by this: The more that sell, the more that they get back in. In this day and age of computerized in stock programs at retailers, the computers will automatically order more right away to replace what was sold. All you need to do is get up and look.

Besides, I doubt each and every one of you has NEVER sold a figure for more than they paid for it. Give me a break.

[Darth_Growl]

In my opinion, scalpers ARE responsible for making some figures "scarce". In fact, you just said it yourself. If you ran into 10 bloody lukes, you'd buy them all because you know you can make a huge profit out of reselling them. That in fact, my little friend, is making a figure scare for other collectors. Notice that I said collectors and not scalpers because not all people who buy star wars figures are in fact collectors. Some people, like yourself, are only collecting star wars figures because they know they can make a huge profit on reselling them, leaving us COLLECTORS hunting endlessly for figures that would normally be available in large amounts if not for scalpers. TexasHotShot, if I were in your shoes, I'd rethink what I was doing. Just think about us COLLECTORS. I just can't help it. When I think of a scalpers this is what I see right here.....>:Pirate: No offense.

[Jason B]

ok. I don't collect figures. my uncle does though. I went with him to the local WM on the twenty-third. there was a scalper there. he took a cart FULL, FULL of figures. thats all he had. he was going to sell them on eBay. i hate people like that, but, if you're going to buy a few, and sell them on eBay, (no reserve) i dont see a problem. however, if you take all of the Dooku's you can find, and set a reserve of $10 on them, then you're scum. i wouldnt mind in the least buying a few figures and selling them for a little higher than i bought them for. he's right, what do you think the stock market is?
you are very wrong on the last staement though, not everyone does it.
and, scalpers can, and will, cause figs to become scarce. if they buy all of them, (which some people do), then how are other people going to get them? :rolleyes:

[TexasHotshot]

No...you miss my point altogether.

A figure is rare or it isn't. Nothing "makes" it rare. If I bought all of a figure that was in one store, that might make it rare in that store but not nationwide. I know for a fact that most Target stores in the US (over 1100 of them) got multiple cases of the Bespin wave about a week ago, almost all of which had the bloody Luke in it. I was at one of them.

I read the other day where a "collector" on another post stated that he bought 20 of them at a Target so that he could "keep them from scalpers". WTF? He did exactly what a "scalper" would do. What about the other collectors that came in right behind him?

Oh, and you assume too much. I said I collect as well. I am a very big Star Wars fan. And just for your information, last Monday me and a collector were the first two people at a Target store. There were 11 Bloody Lukes. I let him have one, which was all he wanted, before I picked the rest.

Moments later, the Hot Wheels guys came in, looking for the very same figures. Had I not gotten them, they would have. I took my OPPORTUNITY.

You'd do the same and you know it.

[Jason B]

BS we would. i take back what i said before. YOU are scum. you said before that you dont go in early or anything. then, you JUST said that you were one of the first there. you bought 10 lukes to sell on eBay, when noone can find them. like it or not, you are scalper scum.

[TexasHotshot]

Jason B:

I know of few to nobody that sells stuff with minimum reserves on such piddy amounts. If they are, they are the ones shooting themselves in the foot with fees.

You blame the eBay sellers, eh? The BIDDERS decide what to pay, NOT the seller. I had listed a Dooku starting at 1 cent with no reserve and a Buy It Now of $25 on release day. They killed the Buy It Now option and bid it up to $35 at the end. Am I to blame?

Take a look on eBay right now. Tell me Dooku is "scarce". Never has been. Just been popular, but not "scarce". I passed one up just this morning. You ask if I buy all of them how is anyone else going to find them? The same way I do: Look somewhere else.

If I can find Bloody Lukes at noon or 10 Dookus on an off highway store on release day, etc, then anyone else can as well. There is a high volume Target over here that has had Dooku's hanging on the pegs for 5 days now.

People that want them just gotta go find them. There are just not enough "scalpers" to "make" a figure scarce. It either is or it isn't.

[billfremore]

I've never actually witnessed a scalper buying stuff but I have to say that my philosophy towrds this hobby has changed dramatically over the years.

I used to buy everything off e-bay, Naboo Anakin, TC-14, even a Darth Vader with removable helmet for $38 after shipping.

It's very easy to become obsessed with this hobby and try to get everything you want but I've begun to question why?

Why did I have to have an R2-B1?

It's not really an impressive figure. It's actually kind of sub-standard if you really look at it.

I have learned to accept the fact that I will not be able to get every figure.

I will never lay my hands on a ToyFair vader,
I will never get a Jorg Sacul,
and I'm sure as hell not going to pay $150 to get one.

I may never get a R4-M9 but I will continue to look but I won't spend a small fortune to get one.

So what does this have to do with scalpers you ask?

As far as I'm concerned they can buy as much as they want and attempt to overcharge everybody for it...

...but not me, I'm on the wagon, so to speak :)

[TexasHotshot]

I was at a Target at 8:45. They had been open for 45 minutes. I let the collector have his. Anyone else that wanted this figure should have beaten me there. Once the doors are open it's all fair game.

Perhaps if you got up early you'd have yours. Instead you call someone names. Unreal.

[Jason B]

Originally posted by TexasHotshot
You blame the eBay sellers, eh? The BIDDERS decide what to pay, NOT the seller. I had listed a Dooku starting at 1 cent with no reserve and a Buy It Now of $25 on release day. They killed the Buy It Now option and bid it up to $35 at the end. Am I to blame?


i agree with you there. they are idiots if they pass that one up. but, you should take the responsiblitity to shut off the auction. my opinion though. :-/

[TexasHotshot]

Are you saying that if someone was willing to give you $35 instead of $25 that you would tell them to keep $10? Please....

I hope you find 2 dozen Bloody Lukes tomorrow afternoon. Tell me you wouldn't buy them all. Again, opportunity knocks at times, and when it does you need to open the door.

Was I supposed to leave that stash of Bloody Lukes there? The Hot Wheels freaks of this area would have gotten them instead and made money off of them. It's not like there were 10 collectors there, there was one. I let him have his. He deserved it for getting there early and shopping for it.

Are you saying I should have just gone "Well, I could make some money here, but I will just turn a blind eye to it" and then let someone else make it? They wouldn't have ended up in collectors hands one way or another. It was either I make some money or they do.

Face it, as long as people are paying, people will be buying them to sell. And as long as that is going on, I am not just going to watch it happen.

[Jason B]

Originally posted by TexasHotshot
Are you saying that if someone was willing to give you $35 instead of $25 that you would tell them to keep $10? Please....

I hope you find 2 dozen Bloody Lukes tomorrow afternoon. Tell me you wouldn't buy them all. Again, opportunity knocks at times, and when it does you need to open the door.


first statement: yes, i would be a decent and kind person, and tell them to keep the 10 bucks.

second statement: i would buy three. i would keep one, because i like the figure, and i would give to others to other forumites, who have been desperately looking for this figure.

[Dryanta]

I was wondering when a salper would show up.
FYI I'm Jason B's uncle,and yes there was a scalper there on the 23rd.He did indeed have a cart full of figures.One of each.The Toy dept manager is a friend of mine and he shut him down I didn't have to.And I quote"Go F*&^ your self"So what else could possiblely have to say?I walked out with the only Anakin and Obi Wan 12" and the only Taun We on Laya way.The only time I felt I needed to assert myself was when we only saw one Tie bomber on the shelf.I stood square in the aisle and made it clear to everyone I was walking out with that bomber.Just a collector.I opened it and it's sitting on my shelf.
I have passed up Rare figures alot.I am I liar? Probably you would think so.Understand this,Just because you can twist your self around and justify yourself by saying "some one's going to do it" doesn't mean everyone can.I don't.I don't waste anytime tring to delude myself.If you have the lack of character to leave something behind, whatever,don't tag the same weakness on the rest of us.
You were nice enough to let the other collector have a bloody Luke?You're a real prince!!I am surprised you didn't get awarded the key to the city!! But I guess if you're so selfcentered any good deed no matter how small,gives you a warm fuzzy.
Sorry if I am being to personal,Actually no I'm not!You sit there and insuate that people who don't find the figures are lazy.Get over yourself would you!!Got A WIFE,KIDS,JOB?DOUBT IT.I do and don't have the opportunity to beat scum bags to the store.
If some of you are waiting for another appology,keep waiting ,It ain't happening this time!!
I am tired of these **** ants coming here and running their un informed selfish yaps.NO REAL COLLECTOR takes advantage of another period!!If these ebayers are dumb enough to pay you it is their fault,and it's your too.These people have a real problem with collecting and you and your kind take advantge of it.Don't like it!!??TOO BAD!!
We ALL have a responsibility to others.Take it and be a man.Or take advantage and be a worm.

[Darth Bezelbub]

A figure is rare or it isn't. Nothing "makes" it rare. As stated by "TexasHotshot" is completly untrue:confused:. When Episode I figure were released there was TOO much for every one. We the collectors (All of us) could have been cloned and there still would have been enough for every one. But every wave after (produced by Hasbro) was high or low.

A few collectors have TC-14 & R2-1B, but Scalpers have a lot of them even they have them listed or on the shelfs EVERY ONE KNOWS that even if he sells it and says its the last one, he'll just replace it with one from in back. And if myself or anyone else goes back into the store they say "... Oh I just got another one in."

SCALPERS DO MAKE FIGURES RARE THATS THE ONLY REASON:mad:!

[TexasHotshot]

Sure ya would....

And, again, if I hadn't gotten them, the Hot Wheels people who hit right after me looking for them would have. Why should they have gotten the chance with them instead of me?

Heck, I bet if I wasn't sick today, that I could get in the car, drive around for a while, and find some. It's reaaaaaal hard to "desperately" search for these.

BTW...at least I'm honest and out here. I'm certain that you have bought multiples in the past as well if you knew they were hot. If not, then what other kinds of opportunities in life do you pass up on?

[mrhat]

At Target by me, there is a Comic store/ scalper scum village as i like to call it, all C's collectibles, at check out the other day i was buying some things for someone in Canada for that clonetrooper helmit thing from there, and the guy who was checking me out asked if i saw any yodas or anything, i said i had one but was looking for another, he proceeds to tell me that some guy comes in whenever they get new stuff, and picks out ALL the yodas and Dookus if they are there, leaving the not HTF stuff there, and the story goes on, he buys them all, drives accross the street and sells them for a whopping 50 dollars each! i can only imagine what they sell them for, and what they might give for a dooku... anyway, i hope one day i run into that guy and just chew him out, non-violently of course. i want to find a yoda and rig it with a tracking device and follow him to the slimy lair, now the owners arient half bad people, i personally know them, and they are tolerable, just their profession... anywho i am hoping one day to catch this thief of collectors and take his goods, buy them, and donate them to charity, or give them to anyone for FREE. Just my thoughts

[TexasHotshot]

Dryanta:

Wife? Yes.

Kids? No, not yet. Getting more financially stable first. Only 26 years old ya know.

Job? Yes, a full time job in a supervisory role and another that I do from time to time on weekends.

Yet I can and always have been able to find what I want.

I don't exceed "maximum quantity" rules if they put them into effect. I don't raid cases. I don't camp outside the store. I simply shop, find, and buy if I find them.

I've passed on probably hundreds of Dookus yet people say they can't find them. I say they are not looking.

Let me ask you this: If I was buying and selling, oh, let's say, auto parts in the same fashion, would you be so hateful? Or stocks and bonds?

I used to sit back and do just what you did. Then I'd read all about people who paid for their entire Christmas with what they sold some extra toys for. I read all about people who amassed HUGE collections and more than paid for it by selling extras.

If I, as a collector first, can find these things and almost always have been able to do so, then I am going to take my opportunity. Most of the people who buy from me are not "stupid", but would rather complete their collections now than try later. Honestly, the "stupid" bidders usually get outbid simply because they aren't bright enough to outbid others.

I do laugh, though, at the fact that you guys are the ones calling me names and yelling at me, yet I am the "scum". Interesting.

[mrhat]

TEXASHOTSHOT, I wasn't specifically talking about you, but on these particular people in thier little comic store and their spynet as i call it, i mean selling of excess for marginal profit is okay, i mean i have done it, i mean if you dont need it might as well make a little money off of it.

[Dryanta]

You know you proof my point about being self deluded.You choose to believe everyone is just like you.
We're not.And the FACT of the matter is a large number of people here could step in and tell you how "outthere" and Honest" I am.
You strike me as just another low count wonder that gets a kick from ticking people off from a safe distance.And spare us the tough guy speach,No either wants to here it or would believe you anyway.
You seem to have a bad habit of pinning your lack of character on every one else.
Oh you're sick today?Not working or sleeping between shifts?Like I thought,No real life except for tring to figure out how to scrape out a few bucks at someone elses expense.
Sorry had to come back and add a few things.There were a couple of posts while I was writing this.
Auto parts? If you were to go and buy all of a few hundred parts you could get your hands on and put them up for sale in the paper or whatever you'd just be ticking off a different group of people.The major difference is there are multiple manufacturers for car parts only one for Star Wars toys
I am glad you saw the light from others like you.Good luck with it.
The pint I was tring to make about ebayers is this.Some people saddly are addicted to collecting period.Then scalpers go into the stores clean them out and then try and make a quick buck from tthe same collectors that can't just sit around a the store.Then their flaw kicks in and they get desperate enough to pay these out rageous prices.I am not here to argue with you.I will argue my points though.Sorry but the mindset that you have really bothers me.And I am glad you have grand luck finding Dookus and what not.But alot of folks here have not been blessed that way.They are rare at this point because profiteering people grab them as fast as they can.
The whole idea of stores restocking as soon as things are sold isn't true.They end up with shelves crammed full of peg warmers because they've had to open up way to many cases to supply you with multiple figures of short packed or popular characters.Then they stop ordering all together.
I do not now buy multiples for myself.I have bought multiples to help out friends.At no profit.Sorry if you don't believe that,but it's true.

[TexasHotshot]

Darth Bezelbub:

Again, it's simply called the law of Supply and Demand. If there is more demand than there is supply, then the supply seems rare.

The Amidala with the mole variation is actually pretty rare. But the price is not very high right now. Why? No demand. There's actually been one of these sitting on the shelf at the WalMart across the street for 10 days now.

Yoda and Dooku and Anakin Hangar were never really that hard to find. They didn't show up in mass quantities, but I found several, on the shelves, during busy store hours, in a major city, on release day.

There were several thousand Bloody Lukes made, and many are still in cases waiting to be put on shelves. No amount of "scalpers" are enough to "make" a figure rare. Supply and demand makes it rare (or makes it seem as such). Without demand, supply matters not.

So, in essence, the buyers, NOT the sellers, make a figure rare. If there were no buyers, then people wouldn't be buying them first to sell. DEMAND has to exist first.

By your theory, you make it sound like a bunch of people sit around and go "Ok...we are gonna buy up all of this particular figure and MAKE it rare!" If I went out right now and bought up all of the Zam Wesell figures in town right now and "made" it rare, would anyone care? Nope....no demand.

[JrJedi]

:D I say again, find a good on-line store.
I just received my Yoda vis UPS. Got it from KEBco Toys for around $7.50 or so. Didn't even have to leave my house. It just doesn't get any better or easier than this. :crazed:
Don't pay scalper prices.

[bigbarada]

Hypothetical situation: If I found two dozen bloody Lukes on the shelf I would NOT buy them all up. I would buy two, one for me and one for my friend Dryanta, because I know he wants one. I would then announce my find to my collectors group and see if anyone else needs one and only then would I go to get any extras, if there were any left. And I do trades figure for figure, regardless of what someone says they are worth. If someone offers me $25 for a figure that I paid $6 for then I would NOT take it. Does this make me stupid? By your standards "yes", but it's a good thing I don't hold myself to your standards. I value helping out my friends and having friends over any amount of money in my pocket. If you don't have the same values then I pity your lonesome existence.

[TexasHotshot]

Dryanta:

Lot's of anger in them bones. I'll spare the tough guy speech like you requested, but laugh while doing so, as I can link you to a website that shows you EXACTLY how "cowardly" I am...lol. But then again, it would prove you WRONG....again.

I suppose you have never sold anything in your whole life for more than you bought it for. I suppose you would just GIVE away everything. If you bought a house for half of it's value, I guess you'd just sell it for that too, eh?

You are assuming things about me when you know nothing of me personally. You are calling me names and making up accusations. Yet I am the one with no character? I am the "scum"? I simply came to the board today to give the other side of the story, as this board is full of a bunch of holier-than-thou speechs about how they are so much better than the "scalpers".

You make it sound like I'm ransoming babies or selling drugs here. I'm simply selling toys. That's all. Just because you can't find something doesn't mean you should blame someone who is just doing something legal to make a little extra cash. It's nice to be able to take my wife out to a nice dinner from time to time ya know.

I'm breaking no laws.

I'm doing nothing sneaky.

I'm doing nothing underhanded.

I just walk into the store, find something, and buy it. I guess you hate the people who buy 24 packs of Coca Cola on sale to turn around and resale at the local ballgame, too. They are doing the same thing.

And I fail to see how I am taking advantage of anyone. I put them up for auction at LESS than what I paid for them most of the time. I put no reserves on them. The bidder chooses what to pay.

Not blaming anyone for anything, just pointing it out.

Now resume your blatant assumptions and name calling.

[TexasHotshot]

bigbarada:

You assuming that i don't have freinds? Wow...how many assumptions can be made towards me today? I am big on helping out people, but you just said yourself that you would use them for trades, etc. That means you are buying multiples of something to get what you want. You are doing the same thing, only you are getting other figures instead of money. It's not really different. Heck, most of the money I make off of figures goes to pay for my other hobby. If I could trade toys straight for early 80s arcade games I would.

I do not, however, sell out friends to make a buck. You, like the others, are assuming.

[Dryanta]

You really are a piece of work aren't you?Holier than thou? You are the one that started throwing out assumptions and calling names.You insuate if you can't find something you aren't trying or are lazy somehow.Then you sarcastically call me a liar with you your Yeah right comment.So yes my friend you are scum and it's a nice try tring to make another delusional switch to eliviate the pressure from yourself.You came here just to bless us with the other side of the coin?Here's one for ya.YEAH Right.You and about a hundred other trouble makers have done.I don't profit of anything because I place more value on my own integrity than money.Have I missed out in life?Hardly.You strike me as condesending and self deluded.And I'm sorry but you are self centered.Please there Junior I could point you to dozens of web sites of big men and tough guys,Doesn't prove a thing.I don't need a web site to justify my self.

[TexasHotshot]

When did I call anyone a name? People are calling me scum, saying I have no character, and no life. When did I make any assumptions? You are calling a 6'4" 255 pound wrestler "junior".

I guess it's ok if you guys bash "scalpers" but it's not ok if they defend themselves? Interesting way of seeing it.

So, again, tell me: How do I have no integrity? You make it sound like I am running over puppies and selling the guts of them to school kids. I have a lack of integrity because I can better my life and the life of my wife? If I could sell spatulas for a profit I'd do it. But guess what? To the best of my knowledge I can't do that.

I suppose WalMart should sell you the figures at cost, eh? After all, they are making profit off of them too. Hell, so is Hasbro.

Geez, why don't we just give them out for free! Yeah, that's it!

It's called capitalism. That is how this country came to power. Yet, for taking opportunity in the land of opportunity, I am scum. Laughable.

[DarthBrandon]

TexasHotshot,

I'm nothing like you, nor will I ever be, my motto is one to open & one to keep carded. This only and I mean only if I like the figure. I personally would never buy ten bloody Lukes or anything that is rare, just to sell the extras on E-bay. I would however buy two and that's it. Call me a liar or whatever, but I just wouldn't do that. Everyone who knows me, I'm the guy who is willing to help the other collectors out. If I can't get the bloody Luke, I'm sure that one of my fellow collectors who has one extra, may trade for one. I just can't agree with your statements.

P.S. I'm always one of the first there and I never would hoard an item, just not me. Justify it anyway you like, but for us collectors it's just collecting and that's it.

[TexasHotshot]

Brandon:

I can't knock ya. You come off as honest about it, simply because you didn't resort to calling me names and assuming things about me. I believe you when you say it.

It's the ones who get all defensive that I don't buy the stories of. You seem like a good guy. You and I have different opinions and that is perfectly fine, as you state your opinion like an adult.

Thanks for giving me something constructive to read. I hope you locate all that you are looking for.

[Dryanta]

Yep I am calling a 6'4" 255 pound wrestler Junior,Junior.Big deal!!Hate to break it you but you aren't that big.
you did start the name calling by insuation period.Don't like being called scum,stop acting like it and then anyone can call you anything and it won't stick.You came here to defend your practices.Here's a little life advice for you junior.Never do anything you think you need to defend.The right actions defend them selves.The whole supply demand Hasbro,walmart deal has been tried before and offers you no excuse.Not the same principle and you know it.
I am out, this converstion is a waste of time and effort.

[TexasHotshot]

You are out because you have gotten your own blood pressure through the roof and I'm sitting here calm as a cucumber.

I don't feel the need to defend it. But the attack on the scalpers was done first. When one is attacked first, it has to be considered a "defense". If I started a string of posts bashing you, and you replied, then YOU would be defending your way of doing things.

And, not that it matters, but I betcha I'm bigger than you are. Never claimed to be Ronnie Coleman (assuming you know who that is) but I'm not a small fry.

I could care less if you call me junior or scum or what have ya. I didn't call anyone a name or "insinuate" name calling either. Perhaps if you and some others replied in the mature manner that Brandon did I wouldn't have constantly shot down every little point you have attempted to make.

You still have yet to tell me what it is I am doing wrong.

[Jason B]

Oh pleeeeeeease. He's out for the same reason I am, you just can't deal with idiots. They just dont get it. If you didnt catch that, I was referring to you.

[bigbarada]

When I buy a figure for a friend of mine or my brother who also collects, then I basically just send them the figure as I know that they would do and have done the same for me. Anything to help them from getting taken advantage of by a scalper. I have bought my brother tons of figures while he was stationed in Saudi Arabia and basically just given them to him, as he shops for me also whenever he gets a chance. Same for my friend Dryanta, he has sent me several figures on the agreement that I will be on the lookout for stuff he wants and buy it for him first chance I get. I would do the same for anyone in my collectors club. It all works out in the end.

If you can justify what you do, then fine. You're the one who has to look yourself in the mirror. Don't assume that we are all the same, wolves waiting for our opportunity to strike. But let me ask this, is a drug dealer justified in what he/she does? The demand exists and the drug dealer is just taking advantage of the opportunity. Where do you draw the line?

Of course, toys are not drugs and are not harmful to people. But using your line of reasoning makes me wonder about someone who will seize any opportunity to make a buck.

As you can see, we are not at all tolerant to your side of the story. We have been burned enough by greedy scalpers to know that your self-justification is just that.

In any case, I've been in enough of these discussions to know that this is a no-win situation. Nobody is convincing anyone of anything here. Hey, Dryanta, I suggest that we just step back and leave this guy with his illusions. It's not worth getting banned over.

[Darth_Growl]

Guys don't even bother arguing with this scum. He doesn't realize that he is greatly outnumbered. What he is doing is absolutely wrong, yet he doesn't realize it. You know, that's another sign that this guy is not a true COLLECTOR but a true SCALPER in every sense of the word. He tries to justify his actions, but he only ends up digging himself into a deeper hole every time. This guy has about as much wits as my dog, but at least my dog knows the difference between right and wrong. 6' 4" 255?! Dude, my brother is 6'6" 290 and he's not even 24 yet. Sorry, but he'd make ground beef out of you in about a second. I believe it's time for this scalper to pack his bags and leave...for good! :mad:

[jw_bryant]

Originally posted by TexasHotshot
And, not that it matters, but I betcha I'm bigger than you are. Never claimed to be Ronnie Coleman (assuming you know who that is) but I'm not a small fry.


in the words of Padme: "You assume too much." ;)
you really need to go away. I for one, HATE scalpers. that BS you spouted off about it not being the scalpers fault that figs are rare is just that: BS. hopefully, you will get banned.

[TexasHotshot]

Now I'm an idiot, too. Again, *I* get called the name.

Where do you draw the line between toys and drugs? Well, drugs are illegal, harmful, and you have to sneak around and hide. I'm buying toys....toys that are for sale publically.

I'm not taking "advantage" of a person. I am taking advantage of an opportunity.

Two examples:

* When K-Mart announced Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, the companies stock dropped to 66 cents a share. Within 3 weeks it was around $1.70. I guess people who bought them at 66 cents and sold them for $1.70 are "scum" right?

* My biggest hobby is buying and restoring old arcade equipment. These games are often in need of maintenence. There is a guy on the net who scours the electronics suppliers, buys the hard to find parts, and sells them to us. By YOUR "standards", this guys is "taking advantage of collectors" by selling us hard to find items at a profit. Yet, this guy is one of the most beloved people in the arcade collecting scene. Why? Because he is providing us with something we want/need for our collections. He is doing the same thing, however, that you are on me for.

There is nothing wrong with taking an opportunity to make money for yourself. If you were offered a job with a raise and took it, that is taking an opportunity to make money for yourself. I suppose if you paid off the mortage to your home and decided to sell it that you would sell it for exactly what you paid for it originally, even if the property is now worth 3 times that amount.

You are correct, Barada, in saying that nobody is convincing anyone else of anything here. Nobody has convinced me yet that there is anything wrong with what I am doing. The only reason that some people have resorted to saying such nasty things to me is because they are too busy crying about being unable to locate a TOY. A piece of plastic! People have made assaults on my character over tiny plastic people that have no real bearing on anything important in life.

To those of you who were mature and professional about it even if your opinion did not mirror mine, thank you. I hope each and every one of you find what you are looking for on store shelves. Believe it or not, there ARE plenty of everything to go around, and the "scalpers" as you call them probably don't even get hold of half of it. Just keep looking and you your patience will be rewarded most of the time.

To those of you who attacked me as a person, called me names, and made assumptions and passed judgement on me over doing something totally legal to make a little extra cash, perhaps if you spent less time bashing "scalpers" and more time just hitting a few stores in your area, perhaps the need for "scalpers" would cease to exist. But then....what on earth would you have to whine about?

I'm off to tend to other matters, as this string of posts, along with some chicken soup, has helped me shake this cold somewhat. Be back soon (?)

[mylow thehutt]

Ok mr.Texas Hot shot this is how I see scrapling:


Ok the prices on the figures are (most of the time) $5.00,
scraplers or buyers and sellers come in and take like 10 to 20 new or good figures and sell them for $20.00. Lets say you wanted somthing I had,just an example, I got it for onley $4.00 but you want it because I got the lasted one,so I say give me $100.00 bucks and it's a deal.Tell me please is that fair? :p

[JetsAndHeels]

TexasHotShot, welcome to the boards. I just wanted to add a little bit to this conversation.
I have been a collector for a few years now. I had all the toys as a child, and I really was excited when they were re-released in 95-96.
When I go and buy my toys, I usually get 1 or 2 of the same figure. It depends on if I like the character or if a friend wants one. I have never, ever bought a figure or a bunch of figures with the intent to make profit.
You must realize that they are upset with you because you have admitted to buying these toys and then selling them off elsewhere. It makes it hard for us, the collectors, to locate and find these toys when someone has cleaned them out before we can get there.
And about us not looking hard enough for them, it also depends on where you live. I live in North Carolina, so we tend to get our toys a little later than everyone else. Sometimes I have to drive an hour or two to find something I really want. Thats just how it is. But we cant all be at Target or Wal Mart at 6 or 7 am. We have school, jobs, etc that require our attention. We can only go out and shop when we have the extra time and money.
So my point here is that you have gotten some people upset here because you clearly arent in this for the hobby. I know you have said you were also a fan, but a true collector buys these because he/she loves the hobby, not the money to be made.

[Jason B]

Originally posted by TexasHotshot

* When K-Mart announced Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, the companies stock dropped to 66 cents a share. Within 3 weeks it was around $1.70. I guess people who bought them at 66 cents and sold them for $1.70 are "scum" right?


ok, couldnt help it.
look, this is the last time i will explain this to you. there is a limited supply of figs. when scalpers buy them up, and throw them on eBay, then you are taking up a major portion of the supply, which means that real collectors cant get them, short of buying from scumbags.
stock on the other hand, is different. correct me if I'm wrong, but there isnt a "limited supply" of it. it cant be all bought up, so there's enough of it for everyone, and noone complains.
I'm out, honest. ;)

[DrewDewce]

My $0.02

What limited supply? How do any of us know (unless someone posting here is a Hasbro employee) how "limited" these figures will ultimately be?

Was it maddening trying to find a Dooku after the 23rd? You bet it was. I drove all over town, the town across the river and towns about 40 miles away looking for him. I finally found him on the day I found the Orn Free Ta wave at a WM. It just took a little time. I've seen plenty of him since, and I'm sure I'll see plenty more of the Orn Free Ta wave later too. You just have to be patient and persistent.

I've collected comics for many a year and I don't mind the "thrill of the hunt" tho. I've looked for back issues on comics for years before finding them. It's just something I do.

Would I be ****ed if I saw someone buying 10 bloody Lukes and leaving none for me. Sure. Of course, I'd probably ask them politely if I could purchase one, and if they wouldn't let me, then I might consider just grabbing one anyway ;-)

Ultimately, I don't think Hotshot is doing anything wrong. Certainly not any more wrong than the impatient people who pay inflated prices because they don't take the time or make the effort to find them on their own. (Of course, some of these people simply don't have the time to hunt down even the most "common" of figures, and these people provide a "service" for them.) I laugh at the prices at comic shops and flea markets on the new figs that are anywhere from $10-$15 for figs I just saw on pegs the day before. Just be patient, you'll be able to find these figs sooner or later. Hasbro wants to make a LOT of money with this line, and will probably keep pumping the figs out.

The whole thing is really a catch-22. Nobody is totally in the right, and nobody is toally in the wrong in my opinion. I'll still keep looking and ultimately if I can't find what I'm looking for, I'll hit the comic shops and flea markets to find 'em (or maybe even support the sites that are nice enough to support this one).

Found a 300th figure Boba Fett this past weekend at a flea market and paid $20. Just the way it goes sometimes. I didn't feel violated or ****ed off that I never saw one in a store, I just paid my money and am enjoying seeing the fig sitting atop my computer desk.

It's not life or death here, after all.

Again, just my $0.02

[TexasHotshot]

Jango: Very well said. I do have a job, life, etc. and have to make time to hunt for figs just like anyone else, though. But you were nice and mature about it, so I wish you the best of luck.

Jason B: You said this: stock on the other hand, is different. correct me if I'm wrong, but there isnt a "limited supply" of it. it cant be all bought up, so there's enough of it for everyone, and noone complains.

Um....what's the difference. There isn't a "limited supply" of figures, either. If you knew actual production numbers you'd probably be shocked. There are simply not enough "scalpers" to make the supply that much shorter in the big picture. Perhaps in a radius of a couple of miles, but not overall.

It only seems like supply is limited because you are looking in your neighborhood and going "hey...there aren't any of these here". I bet ya today, throughout the US, there were literally thousands of "rare" figures found and purchased by both "scalpers" and collectors alike. Hell, there are probably more Bloody Hand Lukes and Qui Gons out there on the freaking pegs right now that you'd want to admit.

I'm not stealing anything, I'm not forcing anything, and I'm not doing anything illegal or underhanded.

The biggest thing I'd like to point out in all of this is that I am a collector AND a buyer/seller. I've been collecting LONGER than I've sold, too. I can see this from both points of view, and I see nothing wrong with what I do if/when I find what I am searching for.

Nobody else here is looking at it from BOTH sides of the fence.

[Jason B]

Originally posted by TexasHotshot
I see nothing wrong with what I do if/when I find what I am searching for.

THAT is exactly the point, as long as you get the figs you want, then you're set, you dont stop to think about anyone else.

[Jedi Juice]

It feels great to find those hard-to-find figures.

[Herby]

Well, I have to add in my few thoughts. First of all, as a fellow Mainiac, I have to support Dryanta. Texas, you have to realize that not finding something is certainly not just a choice someone makes to not be dedicated to their hobby, it can be the result of many things. With the saga line, it seems to be uneven distribution. Some places (like Auburn, Maine) swam in Dooku, some still haven't seen the guy. It's not laziness, unless you call someone's inability to drive through three states to find one figure lazy. I call it rational behavior.

I will also say this, you are scalping. Even worse than that, you are a speculator. You see SW getting hot again and are taking advantage of it. Yes, the people who bid on them are stupid and will probably be taken advantage of by someone, but I certainly wouldn't advertise that you are the person doing it. You hurt your reputation in this board, and will find noone will answer any serious questions you may have.

Case in point, I post on a few message boards, responsibly and nicely (most of the time). Call it karma, but when I mentioned in passing needing a holo R2, a fellow New Englander offered me a VERY generous swap for one just because he knew I wasn't someone like you who would just throw it up on ebay.

Think before you speak, collectors don't like being taken advantage of. Oh, and I would never resort to intimidation (I'm 7'12" and 320 pounds, yadayadayada)...it just sounds cheap. You can't shock or intimidate me, I teach high school.

[Jedi Drew]

O.K.-now these are only toys-right??? I have two examples of how I COULD of made some extra money but DIDN'T. I was at a K-Mart and seen 4 -12" Jango Fetts but only bought 2 one for myself and one for JEDIpartnr. Now some people would of bought up all 4 and sold them on E-Bay to make some extra cash-but I figured give others a chance. Second example was today at Wal-Mart they had 10 or 12 cases of Bespin, Endor, and Djas Puhr waves. I COULD of taken ALL of the figures and sold them but.....I figured give others a chance. It must be GREED in some people. If you are selling on E-bay I really wouldn't post it here on these boards-you see what happens:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[TexasHotshot]

Mr. Schoolteacher: I never mentioned that to scare anyone, just to prove to the person in general that they were incorrect in assumptions about me.

I also never said anyone was stupid. I actually said most of the stupid bidders DON'T win auctions. I deal with a number of very intelligent people in my transactions.

I suggest you follow what you probably teach, which is to read and understand what you study.

I already found nobody answered any serious questions I had the other day when asking about an error that I'd found. I knew it was an error and simply asked if anyone else had seen one like it. I got a bunch of smart *** answers and laughter instead of a "yes" or "no"

I will return tomorrow.

[TK421BB]

Theirs nothing wrong with making a little money to support your collecting habbit, just as long as you don't Rape the store of all the good figures. If some idiot wants to buy a figure thats rare that you have, well then so be it. Just don't clean out the shelves and deny other collects the chance of a hard to find figure. I've bought, sold and traded figures on the internet. If I see a find some rare figures I'll buy 2 one to keep and 1 to trade or sell. I just can't afford to buy everything on my salary...

[DarthBrandon]

Dear Forums,

Don't you think we are being a little hard on TexasHotshot ?
I mean he is a collector, right ? And even though we don't agree with his points of view doesn't mean with have to resort to name calling on either side right ? He collects like I do. He buys ten other rare figures I don't. Doesn't make him an evil person, just makes him someone who sees an opprtunity to make a quick buck. Does he do it all the time ? Who Knows. I'm not coming to his defense, but on the other hand he does collect and if he see's an opportunity he takes it. His choice, no one elses. I personally just pick up two each, if I like the figure. Bloody Luke is kinda like a variation and we all know sometimes if we spot one, we buy it.
So he bought ten to sell, but were they in our area, maybe no, maybe yes. Bottom line I don't like scalpers, but I won't stoop to a level that resorts to name calling. At least he had the guts to come forward and defend himself. Like it or not.

[browndroid]

though i dont agree with texbigshot, i guess its a way to make a buck...ive seen a few scalper around, but buying ALL the figures is just wrong

[mightywhelk]

I don't agree with scalping but Texas has had the guts to stand up for himself which is admirable. I think it's wrong to resort to name calling as he is, in essence, a collector too, just one who knows he can make a quick buck.

Texas, how about this, next time you see 10 bloody Lukes (or whatever) why not only take half to sell and leave the rest for the collectors?

Just a thought.

[Darth_Growl]

MightyWelk, people like him don't docurteous things like that. Scalpers always think of themselves first and the collectors last. It's just the way things are. Personally, I don't care how big Texas-Whatever-His-Name-is; I know for a fact that my big bro would man handle this guy easily. Hey Texaswhatsyourname, think you can take on 6'6" 290? Didn't think so, my mistaken little friend. My advice to you is this: Stop being a scalper; it's hurt REAL Star Wars fans like us. Next, stop trying to act intelligent; you're not fooling anybody. Lastly, think you can take on my big bro? :mad:

[billfremore]

I see we've now sunk to the, "My big brother can kick your butt" tactics.

TexasHotshot has been very straightforward with his opinons and he is entitled to them.
If he wants to buy 10 Yodas and take the risk of making a profit on them it's his prerogative.

You and I may not like his tactics but I think we can do without the schoolyard name calling and posturing.

[Herby]

I think Texas was the first to pull the "I'm bigger than you think" argument. I was merely responding to that. Quite simply, you decided to throw in useless information trying to impress us...whether or not you meant it that way, you posting that you are so big and tall came across as "I'm bigger than you" and I don't think I'm the only one that read it that way.

I realize that you have said that not all ebayers are stupid, but let's face it, many are (look at the prices they pay for some stuff). I don't have an issue with reselling legimate rare figures if you are lucky enough to have one or two extras, like Theater Luke or a Toyfair Vader or found some EPII stuff early. I do have an issue with people like you who create an artificial shortage of a figure by purchasing, say 10 Yodas, a figure which is being made in huge numbers for retail, and claim it's rare. You are the type making these things seem rare to new collectors. Most of us who have been around for awhile (I've been collecting since 95) know that there are really not many truly rare things but newcomers are not that lucky. They go to the store, see no Yoda (because scalpers like you buy them up), go online and see it on ebay as rare and they overpay. This hurts the hobby by making collectors pay higher prices and limit what they can afford to buy, it leaves pegwarmers that prevents new stock from being put out, and often ends up with a crapload of previously "rare" figures being returned to Walmart later on (again clogging the pegs).

This is certainly not an issue of my brother can beat up your brother mentality, simply an issue of people not realizing the outcomes of their actions. By doing this you are causing damage to the hobby that you enjoy.

[Darth_Growl]

Herby, that's what I've been trying to tell TexasWhatsHisName all this time, but he act like he doesn't know what he's doing. Ultimately, guys like him are what's going to cause the downfall of star wars collecting everywhere. To be quite honest with you, I don't care how tall or big texaswhatshis name is. My bro is into shoot fighting and he will make horse meat out of this scalper.:mad:

[Forhekset]

Well, one day when I was making a run to a few different stores I found 4 bloody Lukes total on that trip. Did I buy every single one of 'em? Yep, I sure did. I opened one for myself, kept one carded for myself, and traded the other two to collectors here on the forums. Sure, I kept them out of the hands of other collectors in my area, but I also made sure I kept them out of the hands of scalpers and got them into the hands of another collector. So by the logic some of you are using, I guess I'm a bad guy for buying all of a HTF fig, even though I was helping out a collector in another area of the country.

[Mandalorian Candidat]

Man, what a great topic. I just have to throw in my two cents.

While I loathe scalpers and think decent folk should do about anything to thwart them, I really can't justify getting violent. Standing up for your rights is one thing, as well as self-defence, but clocking some scumbag who is just buying stuff is over the line.

Come on. We're in a society here. We have to act like adults and civilized people if we want our kids to grow up to be good people.

In this case, the other guy should have 1) asked the scalper for some of the stuff and 2) in the highly probable case he says no, gotten an employee and point it out that the guy is grabbing all the stuff and ask to have the merchandise split evenly.

Even though the scalper is being evil and selfish, he does have the stuff in his cart and unless store policy dictates otherwise he has the right to buy all that he grabbed.

The best thing anyone can do is just avoid buying from their ilk and be patient and watchful for the next shipment of stuff.

[Dryanta]

Hey all,
I have restrained myself from posting again,but I have continued to read what has been said.
If some one buys multiples to trade even there is no comparison in my opinion.If you trade for unreasonable profit then the shoe fits.
I trade figure for figure.Period.And I have given things away.So what.It's only money.And they are only toys.
In a perfect world the issue of violence in the toy aisle wouldn't exist.But since I've mentioned a perfect world there wouldn't be scalpers.
Texas,Please go back and read your very first post."You are Dumb not to."
You step up to post and you proceed to call hundreds of people here dumb.In your first post.Now that is laughable.Guts enough.Test that little theory.Go post a brand new thread "I am a "scalper"
Instead of showing up on the 4th or 5th page of a thread that's dying down.You'll find if you do that your assumptions about our rough treatment of you have been greatly exagerated.Compared to the feedback you'd get from that one.Now I am out.If you do decide to post a brave new thread.I'll pop in.Now I'm on my way to unsubcribe to this idiocy.

[Herby]

Forhekset: I don't have a problem with that, since what you did was for (as far as we know right now) rare figures. You have not created an artificial shortage. We think that bloody Luke could be rare, so using it to trade isn't a bad idea, especially since many people haven't even seen Luke, let alone bloody Luke. However, Yoda, Dooku, and many others are being scalpt by people like Texas on the false pretense that they are in some way rarer or being made in smaller quantities than the other figures when in reality it is not true. A large part of what is making them rare is people selling them online. No non-variant April 23rd toy will be rare, they are just getting different places at different times. Even if they never show up in your area, they'll warm the pegs in others and should be an easy one to one trade.

[Darth_Growl]

You know, guys, I'm not worried at all. Actually, I've come up with an idea that will help scalpers all but become instinct around this area. A couple of days ago, I sat down with a coupld of my friends and had this same discussion about scalpers, since they've all run into at least one in their search for some of those hard to find figures. My idea was to form a collectors guild that would include all my friends who collect star wars figures. So far, we are only five--not including me. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, we'll have more, but the idea behind building a collectors guild is to keep scalpers like texaswhatshisname from trying to get a hold of any of the newer figures. Once we COLLECTORS do get a hold of the hard to find figures, we distribute them amongst the guild of collectors and if need be help other COLLECTORS as well. In time, scalping will be a thing of the past. Now I'm not saying me and my partners will take all of the newer figures, but we'll take enough to ensure that each member of the guild gets a figure. Sure we'll leave a couple of figures on the pegs for scalpers, but by that time, everybody would own a bloody luke or a count dooku, thus ensuring that a scalper loses money. After a while, scalpers will realize that there's no money making in taking all the figures. Hopefully, this Collectors Guild will grow larger and larger I hope. We don't have a name yet, but I'll be working on that today as well.

[Mandalorian Candidat]

That's about the best thing you can do DG. Collectively buy what you need and share with the group. Everybody wins except for the scalpers.

[DarthBrandon]

Excellent idea, if you can get all the collectors to do the same thing. Instead of letting all the scalpers get them, buy up most amongst your group, leave some for kids, and trade among the other collectors who may have what you need and vise versa. Makes for the demise of scalpers, while keeping the collectors and the kids happy. Let's start the group and make it worldwide.

[Darth_Growl]

Well, I'm glad you two guys like this idea. I was thinking of a name and the first thing that came to mind was Collectors' Guild of America, but that sounds a little to umm...vast. We're not that big yet, but I hope it will continue to grow and grow. I got a call from one of my friends about an hour ago, and he said that so far, he knows three people that would like to join our little guild. Hey, it's a start.:D

[Forhekset]

That is a good idea, Growl. I've thought about trying to do the same thing with collectors in my area but I hardly know anyone from my area who collects. The only people I seem to run into at stores are scalpers, and they're few and far between. I think serious collecting just isn't really a big deal where I live or something.

[Dryanta]

Sorry guys I've got to pipe in.A small group of us have been doing that exact same thing here.In the collector club forum.Go over and start a thread.I hope you get as good a group going as we have.Works great!!!

[Darth Bezelbub]

I have to agree with the rest of you, especially Darth_Growl.

Too bad someone couldn't start a special web site and club to this cause/collecting NATIONALLY. They could send out I.D.s and news letters. The people who organize it could take the money from members and create I.D.s so when we walk into a store (members could hold in their other hand or wallet, their I.D.s and get to know others in their area.)

The website could let us know from the assortments out/coming out which ones people will buy first and if there is a shortage of fiqures made (examples: Ree Yees, Deathstar Trooper, Darth Maul & Darth Vader Two pack,etc.)

And who knows maybe in the future Hasbro will MAKE something special for US!

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

"Dreaming/Wishful Thinking," I doubt it too, but you never know!

[aikman]

Starting a guild is great but what about the collectors that arent in your guild, they get the shaft.
When a guild member goes into TRU and buys 10 new anakin figures to distribute amongst his guild or to trade what does the non member see when he shows 5 minutes later.
An empty shelf with a guy carrying all the figures away.
In my eyes thats almost as bad as scalping.
The only difference is , your inner circle of friends are in good shape,scalpers are juicing everyone.
Everyone else is out of luck though.
How about this, all figs limited to 2 max per fig per day.
That solves it to me.
Hard to enforce, yes, but better than a scant few hoarding everything and distributing themselves...
Am i wrong?

the , right?

[Dryanta]

It it's a good idea in principle but what about scalpers bringing the wife ,kids, friends inlaws ect.It happened at c2 for the Jorj Sacul.
So join the collector guild.Or help start up your own small group for your self?It works very well.

[DarthMaulSithLord]

I have read a few pages of this thread and i have only two things to say.

1. While i don't support violence in ANY situation, that scalper had it coming. And i think the store is a joke! They should've banned that guy from the darn store and hang his photo in the whole friggin' state.

2. As long as people keep buying from scalpers, hoarding of toys will continue. Hasbro is not to blame (they are outside the US), but the stores are. Whenever a guy moves up to the counter with 30 of the same (set of) figs, they should simply say "NO!" and ban that *** from the friggin' store whenever he is caught doing things like damaging toys on purpose. But the main people to blame are the guys and gals that buy from scalpers. I don't want to offend anyone, but if you buy from scalpers, you are very selfish. Think before you act and say "no" to scalping.

Together we can change this.

:)

[Darth_Growl]

Well, guess who I saw last night at my local Toys R US?! Yup, you guessed it. The same dude that got his ***$ handed to him the other night was scrounging around for the chancellor palpatin and Djas Puhr wave. Lucky for us, me and two of my friends were there way before him and managed to beat him to the punch. When we got there, there were about 10 palpatines, 5 djas puhr, and 3 qui gons. Well, needless to say, we got them all for the exception of the 3 qui gons. Today, I'll be giving them out to the rest of the collectors in my guild. Pretty sweet, but we couldn't help and laugh at that stupid 30ish guy with his stupid glasses and balding head. That black eye didn't make him look any prettier.:D

[DarthBrandon]

Bottom line, don't support scalpers. The less we support them, the more likely they are to diminish in rank. We will always find what we are looking for through stores and fellow S.W. collectors if we are patient enough. What that guy did is horrible and he should be punished to the full extent of the law. Think about this, if you break or damage something at a store, you have to buy it right. Well the next time someone sees this, point it out to a manager, I'm sure he'll make him pay for the damage somehow. ( BARRED FROM STORE FOR LIFE) This would be a start, and this is also our playground, so lets keep our eyes and ears open for these types of scum.

[vulcantouch]

. . .cuz bountyhunter vt's got that roadapple in scopelock :evil:
"You might call me a 'scalper'"
-ain't no Might about it :p

"For the record: 'Scalpers' do not cause ANY toy to become 'scarce'"
-for the record: your scalper bs ain't foolin Anyone :p
scalper activites don't exactly make toys become "plentiful". instead they have the opposite result. sounds like they make em become scarce to me :p

"They are only selling for a lot due to the fact that guys like you are hyping them up"
- :rolleyes: they're only selling for a lot for the same reason original mauls did: scalper activities Hyped and Artificially Increased their scarcity.

"You ask if I buy all of them how is anyone else going to find them? The same way I do: Look somewhere else. . . If I bought all of a figure that was in one store, that might make it rare in that store but not nationwide"
-i'm surprised to see an unapologetic scalper resort to such desperate hair-splitting to bolster his argument :rolleyes:

"If I was buying and selling, oh, let's say, auto parts in the same fashion"
-IF? what's this IF crap? If you're gonna front this example, why don't you Actually scalp auto parts? i'll tell you why: Cuz It's Not Comparable.

"If you bought a house for half of it's value, I guess you'd just sell it for that too, eh? If someone buys a house or some stock and sells them for a profit, are you going to hate them, too"
-first of all, hate don't enter into this as far as i'm concerned; i'm perfectly able to subvert scalper activities and call them on their bs dispassionately. if anything, They end up hatin Me cuz they can't distract me by gettin my dander up :) secondly, if you're sayin that good cheap fun toys should be subject to the same hypercommodification as real estate or stock, i'd say your anti-collector, scalper stripes speak for themselves :p

"The BIDDERS decide what to pay, NOT the seller"
-how disingenuous of you: auctions are an arena in which the seller attempts to pit multiple bidders against one another for his own profit. when he does so using a proven-value item, the conclusion (profit for him) is a foregone conclusion. thus, in choosing to sell on ebay, the seller Does determine said outcome.

"I suppose WalMart should sell you the figures at cost, eh? After all, they are making profit off of them too. Hell, so is Hasbro"
-time for you to do a little homework (http://209.197.112.151/thread.html?dom=ss&TID=20&PID=1590) so you'll be a little less self-servingly sloppy with the convenient distinctions & comparisons you draw :rolleyes:

"for taking opportunity in the land of opportunity, I am scum"
-with f