[cidman911]

I figure it's better to post all of our Hasbro frustrations in one thread instead of clogging up or derailing the Legends or 3.75" Appreciation threads.

We see this stuff all the time on Facebook or Instagram. I mean I like the new packaging on the Legends because it makes it easy to remove the Build a Figure pieces and restore the figure back in its box for storage, but look at how people are taking advantage of it. It just flat out sucks.

Pretty humorous but it's sad.

[fosterlager]

That's so ghetto

[Phantomcrow]

People who do this shit should be banned from stores like the criminals they are. And the employee at the returns counter should be taught how check that the item being returned is what is in the package. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO COLLECT TOYS THEN STOP COLLECTING TOYS AND HURTING TOY COLLECTING FOR THE REST OF US. I might not like paying what toys cost now a days , but I DON'T need to Lie , Cheat, Steal, Deceive, and Manipulate people to save a few dollars.

[kylactus]

A.I.M Ninja! that's way more intimidating than a scientist in a yellow iso-suit.

[cidman911]

I'm still ticked off I saw a bunch of people happily pay $80 for this thing.

[glane21]

Saw a Terrax wave Thor at Ross today, some jack hole had returned it after taking out the BAF piece. I was about to buy it before I noticed. Then a TJ Max down the road had 3 Scarlet Spider-Man from the Raccoon wave. Each was ripped open with the BAF piece gone. Didn't think to take pictures.

[Black Arbor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by glane21

Saw a Terrax wave Thor at Ross today, some jack hole had returned it after taking out the BAF piece. I was about to buy it before I noticed. Then a TJ Max down the road had 3 Scarlet Spider-Man from the Raccoon wave. Each was ripped open with the BAF piece gone. Didn't think to take pictures.

Um, neither of those particular ML's came with BAF pieces. Thor because he was originally a SDCC exclusive, and Scarlet Spider 'cause no one wants to have to buy a Spidey variant for a BAF piece.

[ukmu]

I think 're-packs are pretty funny. I never have or would, but I appreciate the punk rock philosophy behind it. Why buy when you can steal. It is the anarchist code!!! I am old, fat and grey now... but I applaud them. I know it's wrong and it hurts the collector and if it carries on manufacturers and retailers may stop all together... I get it. That said... I still think they are funny. I know it isn't popular and I will get criticized for even saying it, but I did so go ahead.



And to my boy cidman911.... if your tired of seeing people happily pay 80 for her, I bet you may be glad that idiot only gave 79.95.... what a savings!!! Much respect to cidman, he is a great guy, just thought too was funny!!

[ultraman zoffy]

This thread is a great idea... honestly, there should probably also be a thread for "Marvel Figure Shopping Trials and Tribulations" too, just so the appreciation threads can be left alone for actual appreciation of the figures (meaning pics highlighting design, sculpt, paint, articulation, even customs and mods). It's getting old reading about everyone's hunting expeditions and shopping habits in that thread (my own past posts on the subject included... haha).

[glane21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Arbor

Um, neither of those particular ML's came with BAF pieces. Thor because he was originally a SDCC exclusive, and Scarlet Spider 'cause no one wants to have to buy a Spidey variant for a BAF piece.

I wasn't aware of that...I guess neither was the goober that tore open each scarlet spider package. Ha!

[Serious Lee]

Just to derail for a second...

Hasbro has nothing to do with any of this.

Thieves do.

Also, if any employee of a store accepts a return that clearly has missing parts in the package, then maybe they aren't the right person for the job. If we, as collectors continue to rely on retail for our figures, we will constantly run into these situations. Of course, if we're searching out army builders, then we take our chances on what we'll find.

I can't say the trend of buying online is because of the crap shoot that is retail, but you almost always get what you ordered.

What is a scalper? If I sell the next guy a figure for what I paid for it, and that's more than retail - Am I a scalper? Is the guy who sells his McFarlane Spider-Man for huge money a scalper? Is my LCS a scalper because he charges me often $10 more than retail per figure? I bought the X-Force box set for $110, only a month after SDCC, from a guy on another site, was he a scalper? I mean, what if he only had two of them and had to have them shipped to Canada? Do his costs come into play? What's a fair price for any figure off the top of your head? Is the MU Vision worth retail? Double? Triple? More?

What does a collector value his collection at? If I sold my 400+ ML collection am I going to break even? Is that even possible?

I really wanted that X-Force set and paid what I thought was fair at the time, would I do it again? I think I would. Scalpers will continue to exist, but it's really up to the buyer and what that person is willing to spend. I have never owned a McFarlane Spidey, or a Dragon Man, or a Spider-Hulk and I haven't completed Ares and likely won't for a long time, but I bet I'll spend about $350 for the last figures I need to build him.

So. Am I the problem?

[ukmu]

Well said Lee.... I brought up a fact of once paying 70 for a MU Maria Hill... selling for 50 and because it is at 50 does that make me a scalper? I was just helping someone out. I have since had three more of her, I stuck to trades and let the members make the offers.

And to answer your question... Yes Lee, you are the problem! I blame it all on you!!! That must be why I too, don't own an Ares.

[Iceman]

Like some jerk that was stealing army building a while back.

[Spyne98]

There was a dude in my area (I'm in NY) who was doing this. Every time I spotted his handy work, I would bring it to customer service. This dude was doing this with Marvel figures, Transformers and G.I.Joes. I kept making a stink to the customer service people. Then, I caught him red handed (I wasn't trying to stalk him, I just was in the right place at the right time). Since then, I haven't seen this happen at all. My best advice, tell store management. It could make a difference. Either way, the people who do this are freaking d-bags.

[Serious Lee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

Like some jerk that was stealing army building a while back.

I am completely puzzled how a person has the time and space to do this in a retail store

[cidman911]

I like to stick to trading instead of selling when I can. More often than not I'll find someone with something we both mutually have and the exchange didn't cost either of us double/triple "eBay value" prices.

The bottom line is if you don't like a price, you shouldn't pay for it. I got irritated when people had Black Widow on eBay with a $60-75 tag and an "Or Best Offer" option and NOBODY....N.O.B.O.D.Y. wanted anything less than $55 as a counteroffer. Two sellers gave me the "LOL...You have to do better than that!" in the message box when I offered someone $40-45 shipped. I eventually got it for retail but dealing with people like that sucks.

I grew up in a flea market 'haggle em down' sports memorabilia environment so I'm never one to pay crazy prices when there's someone, somewhere selling it for cheaper or willing to trade for it.

I currently went through a situation where some one wanted a rare figure I had, and I wanted his Spider-Hulk. We didn't come to agreement because he saw his toy going for $200 on eBay and my toy going for $100. I made my case for the dude because he showed sincere interest in it and I offered him extra things on top of the figure but in the end the 'eBay value' mentality kicks in with a lot of people. It's irritating but there's not much I can do to convince you your item weighs in as much imaginary gold as mine.

There's certain items I'm willing to pay a nice chunk of change for like Spider-Hulk, Build A Figure Sentinels, Sinister 6 Pack Spidey set and when I check online it seems that prices always just keep going up, up, up.

I'm just here to collect the figures I love and not get ripped off in the process. $80 is a lot of money TO ME...if it's not a big deal to those people who payed $80, well then good for them but it makes for that nasty, greedy domino effect where one sold for $80 on eBay and sellers cling on to the hope they'll sell another for that much and it stayed that way for weeks until recently. I hope everyone that gets what they want eventually.

The beauty in collecting is keeping your eyes open and asking people is something for trade or for sale. I have a buddy on Twitter and I saw him tweet pictures of his shoe collection...I had no ides he had Michael Jordan Upper Deck Pro Shots figures just collecting dust. I made him an offer and we worked something out. If I had stuck to eBay prices I would have paid out the @#$#%& for them.

[cidman911]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

Like some jerk that was stealing army building a while back.

The Invisible Hydra Agent variant.

Lucky!

[kylactus]

Marvel Legends Spiderhulk Spider Man Incredible Hulk Action Figure 2006 7 1 2" | eBay

Toy Biz Spider Hulk Spider Man Figure | eBay

remember what there asking on E-bay is not necessarily what there getting... a lot of people ask top of market value and relist the item indefinitely, it's just a marketing strategy, if you have say 1000 of something you put them out at top dollar in hopes of selling say 2 a week, but for top dollar, instead of standard retail stagey of volume selling where by you sell an ass load of items for a small profit. it's "make a hundred dollars off of one sale" Vs "make one dollar off of a hundred sales" but when your ebayer is not a manufacturer they don't have access to volume so they must maximize there profits per item. Call em assholes but at the end of the day there probably just trying to make a living.

[Iceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serious Lee

I am completely puzzled how a person has the time and space to do this in a retail store

The fact that Hasbro put tape on the side of the ASM legends and not on the Cap ones probably helps. At least half a dozen were stolen that I saw. I'm assuming these guys just know where the cameras aren't looking and do it when the place is empty. The confusing part is that nearly all of them were placed back on the pegs in plain sight. Why go to the trouble of doing that instead of hiding the evidence in a clearance aisle or something?

[cidman911]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

Marvel Legends Spiderhulk Spider Man Incredible Hulk Action Figure 2006 7 1 2" | eBay

Toy Biz Spider Hulk Spider Man Figure | eBay

remember what there asking on E-bay is not necessarily what there getting... a lot of people ask top of market value and relist the item indefinitely, it's just a marketing strategy, if you have say 1000 of something you put them out at top dollar in hopes of selling say 2 a week, but for top dollar, instead of standard retail stagey of volume selling where by you sell an ass load of items for a small profit. it's "make a hundred dollars off of one sale" Vs "make one dollar off of a hundred sales" but when your ebayer is not a manufacturer they don't have access to volume so they must maximize there profits per item. Call em assholes but at the end of the day there probably just trying to make a living.

I tried explaining the figure I had was about as rare and sought after as his but what can you really do when someone doesn't want to budge?

I'm sure I'll find my Spider-Hulk and my Android body Krang will find a good home one day. It's all good. Patience is key with collecting.

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serious Lee

What is a scalper? If I sell the next guy a figure for what I paid for it, and that's more than retail - Am I a scalper? Is the guy who sells his McFarlane Spider-Man for huge money a scalper? Is my LCS a scalper because he charges me often $10 more than retail per figure? I bought the X-Force box set for $110, only a month after SDCC, from a guy on another site, was he a scalper? I mean, what if he only had two of them and had to have them shipped to Canada? Do his costs come into play? What's a fair price for any figure off the top of your head? Is the MU Vision worth retail? Double? Triple? More?

I tend to go with this definition of scalper, since the first time I heard the term was in reference to concert tickets.

Basically "scalper" and "reseller" are two sides of the same coin - just with different connotations. You can be a scalper and be a nice person who helps the consumers within your chosen market/industry. The only ones I have a beef with are the ones who actively practice price gouging. To me, that's the only type of person we should call a scalper (with all its negative connotations).

[Black Arbor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serious Lee

Just to derail for a second...

Hasbro has nothing to do with any of this.

Thieves do.

Also, if any employee of a store accepts a return that clearly has missing parts in the package, then maybe they aren't the right person for the job. If we, as collectors continue to rely on retail for our figures, we will constantly run into these situations. Of course, if we're searching out army builders, then we take our chances on what we'll find.

I can't say the trend of buying online is because of the crap shoot that is retail, but you almost always get what you ordered.

What is a scalper? If I sell the next guy a figure for what I paid for it, and that's more than retail - Am I a scalper? Is the guy who sells his McFarlane Spider-Man for huge money a scalper? Is my LCS a scalper because he charges me often $10 more than retail per figure? I bought the X-Force box set for $110, only a month after SDCC, from a guy on another site, was he a scalper? I mean, what if he only had two of them and had to have them shipped to Canada? Do his costs come into play? What's a fair price for any figure off the top of your head? Is the MU Vision worth retail? Double? Triple? More?

What does a collector value his collection at? If I sold my 400+ ML collection am I going to break even? Is that even possible?

I really wanted that X-Force set and paid what I thought was fair at the time, would I do it again? I think I would. Scalpers will continue to exist, but it's really up to the buyer and what that person is willing to spend. I have never owned a McFarlane Spidey, or a Dragon Man, or a Spider-Hulk and I haven't completed Ares and likely won't for a long time, but I bet I'll spend about $350 for the last figures I need to build him.

So. Am I the problem?

MU Vision shouldn't be worth anything, with how awful he looks. Heh heh heh, zing! But I actually had to deal with this kinda thing recently. I was in Toys R Us, and saw that someone had switched out a ML Winter Soldier for that crummy WW2 Movie Cap. I took it up to a manager, and explained the situation, even showing her how the figure in the box didn't match the one on the package, and she just gave me a "you're crazy" look. Next time I went in, it's back on the shelf, but sans shield this time. I was cheesed, to say the least.

[kylactus]

I don't know, price gouging is a term that applies more to necessities, like water or gas after a hurricane. when it comes to toys anyone can put any ridiculous price on anything and you're not going to die. The whole "scalper" market would disintegrate if we the toy consumers would decide that a certain percentage above retail is the max were willing to spend, It's not like Hasbro is charging more for rare figures, but you have a lot of people that are willing to pay ridiculous prices, so if say 80$ is what someone is willing to pay for a Black Widow they just set the secondary market price, if no one was willing to pay that the price will come down! it's called free market capitalism. If anyone thinks it's a mortal sin I have a crisp 10$ bill that I'd be glad to give you for your MU Vision.

the figure swapping is however a crime, and if I caught someone doing it I'd have to knee cap them in the parking lot.

[ukmu]

Going Heisenberg on them!!!

[ultraman zoffy]

I'd say it's more relevant to think of scalpers in terms of their actions, as opposed to the prices they are charging. Gathering up 15+ Black Widows in an attempt to corner the market is a d*ck move, no matter what you're charging (and you know it won't be retail for all the effort hoarding those figures required).
Everyone on this board has probably sold a figure for at least even a hair above MSRP, and if price is your only measure, than yeah, you just scalped someone. But unless you're systematically hunting out one per case or potentially rare figures and hoarding them with the sole intent of making a profit, you're perfectly entitled to sell a figure at what it's worth to YOU (either due to how much you like that figure or in relation to what you yourself paid for it), just like a buyer is entitled to pay what it's worth to them. That's just the way things work. Someone is charging a price you don't agree with, just pass on it... simple as that.
That swapping sh*t though... that stuff is just baaaad. Worked out in my favor once though when I grabbed an MU FF team set that had a solid Invisible Woman mashed with the clear variant's limbs. Thanks for that cool custom, swapper dude! lol