earl bird still gets shafted sometimes
 

So there are always two scalpers waiting at my local TRU. Every time I make it there by 9:05 am everything worth my time is gone. Last week I had to go into work early so I made it there at 8:40. For once I was the first in line!

The scalpers showed up at 5 of and got into line behind me. The doors opened and I headed to the Marvel universe aisle. There was nothing there but I still felt a small sense of victory that for a chnage I had the first shot at the nothing. And then I went to leave....

...And walked into the shift manager handing the scalpers full cases of Captain America figures. ...all of them. Never having touched the pegs, ignoring the fact I was in fact there first.

I don't hate scalpers I hate scumbag store managers that get cut into the profit. what was the estimate earlier? $6 a figure profit? 2 cases each of 24 at $6 a pop, $250 profit.

wasn't the street date on the Captain America supossed to be the 16th anyways?

Dam..

I think scalpers in the true definition are people who know the toy trends, via sites like this or ebay, and go out of there way to find them by driving to every an all franchises that may sell said product, rape the pegs and shelves dry, and then in return go on ebay and sell them for double or tripple the asking price and inflate the shipping.
A collector can go to a store buy every toy on a peg, but it's acceptable because he plans on opening every 1 for their own collection, or displaying them Moc. Buying multiples is even ok, as long as it's for customizing or army building it, I myself have only been at fault of this once, seen the tru 2packs and snagged 3 of the wolverine/black ninja's because I had ronin and wanted him to have a small army of ninja's only 1 red ninja, 3 black, eventually will get more red *local comic shop has like 4-5 red ninja's and is gonna give me a lil price break if I get them all. To me if your a collector or enthusiast there's no limit to the toys you can buy, no need to feel bad, but when you don't collect/love toys and are only clearing out shelves for $$ purposes, that's being a douche, and being a scalper.

I will admit that if I saw awesome/rare toys for cheap I would probably buy extra for trading purposes only. I think as long as the thought for buying any figure is for your own collections, essentially that's all a trade figure is, something you have to go to someone who doesn't have it, in exchange for something you don't currently pocess or unable to get through local/online vendors. good topic

Since I've started toy collecting over the past months, I've noticed this double standard when it comes to scalpers and the so called "collectors" who say they aren't scalpers and constantly point fingers.
Don't we all attend conventions and toy shows where a majority of the dealers there are basically scalpers? How many people do you see who pay 20-40 for an exclusive comic con or botcon figure, get as many as they can and then go off selling it for hundreds of dollars because it is now considered rare? But that's ok and scalping is not?
If there is only a few marvel universe left on the shelf and you want to buy both to have one moc and open, then a child comes along and now is outta luck because you, a grown man, took away the enjoyment that a kid was going to have with those same toys that you just snatched up not even giving him the chance to have his parents purchase it for them, is that ok while scalping isnt?
Or for you troop builders who buy up all the figures while most of us can't even find one, is that cool while scalping is not?

I can. I never do. And I'm not talking out my ass, either (Not that I care if you believe me or not).
I've always let the kids have first choice, especially if there's not many. I've in fact even guided parents to rarer toys, informing them they may not have a second chance, if they're on the fence over this or that, for their child.
I don't buy doubles "just to have one moc (Why should I need to?), and I don't buy botcon or TCC club toys just to resell. And I had ample opportunity to do so with G2 Ramjet who's now going for over $200, and it's not even released.
And I'm certainly comfortable saying that most of the collectors I know personally are this way exactly.

Seems to me the ones who're squimish and saying everyone in this thread is a hypocrite, are the very ones who're guilty.

+1 I will buy more than one for my collecting benifit. One to open one for MOC display and in some cases to trade for a figure that I can't come by.

i make custom toys for a living and quite a few people assume that that entails me doing some sort of scalping, i'm kinda the opposite of a scalper. i don't want the super hard to find stuff, i want the easiest to find, just in case i need more of that figure.
finding a short packed toy in southern California is ridiculous. it's scalper central. when there is something i absolutely must have i go to hasbro or mattel's site. when you factor in shipping vs gas, online wins.

If we had scalpers here I'd be surprised. Anything we get here is 4 - 5 waves behind. I live in the middle of toy hell. I order from BBTS and -gasp- ebay. I don't have a choice. It sucks but, what can you do.
I do think that all the stories here all have that element of douchebaggery.

I'd kick a four year old and headbutt and old lady for a Sabretooth/Wolverine First Class pack right about now.

I'd admit if I was guilty but I think a lot of people don't have their eyes open to what is actually happening out there and who should really have the finger pointed at and called scalpers.
There are some collectors out there who buy one for their collection and try not to hog what is out there but I feel as though that is actually the minority.
When there are 5-10 active forum members on toyark and 200 guests, how many of those guests do you think are scalpers waiting to hear updates on rare figures or toy sightings?
Personally, I don't care at all who buys what. If you have the money, feel free to do with it what you choose.

Man, you hit this right on the button. It is free market. If you have money why not buy as many as you want?? Whether for re sell, enhance collection, fund other purchases. I noticed 1 thing. The complainers and whiners are the ones that do not have money to buy or do not have rare figures. It seems the so called " scalpers " have money to buy everything. They must be doing something right. Otherwise, they could not buy entire cases.Then there is a market for it. If people are willing to pay then why not???

*shrug* if thats THEIR hobby fine i guess but its still pretty shitty of them. I mean when the thing that brings you jpy robs another of theirs to me that just isnt right. I would love to go around kicking people in the balls it would be fun i think, i could probably even find a way to make a profit ftom it. Doesnt make me any less of a doucher at the end of the day though.

Oh my god, I feel your pain. All I ever see at my towns walmart is those two Namors that have been there sense last summer... =(

Not true about people complaining about scalpers not having money and/or rare figures. I have a full MOC and loose MU collection. I had money to buy all the figures, because I have a real big-boy job. Because of that, I'm at work when stores like Target and TRU stock and asleep for work when Walmart stocks. By the time I'm out of work, the shelves and pegs are bare.

I've actually taken to buying entire cases of the normal waves at this point, but there's still no way to get around the store exclusives. Take the X-Men Tru pack. Monday night my local TRU put up the tags, but still didn't have the figures. I went back Tuesday after work to check and there weren't any. Apparently, someone bought all four sets immediately in the morning.

How is that not a dick move?

No personal attacks. - Toyark Staff

Hasbro could care less about scalpers. They make a ton of those figures and if the morons that just can't wait would be patient the scalpers might stop. As long as there is a market for them they will continue to do it.

Tiberius: Here like everywhere else we have Iron Man warming the pegs. LOL Namor would be a welcome sight. -sigh-

Yeah it's the same in the UK, if you wanna buy the new figures it just ain't gonna happen, with the curious exception of the 3.75" Spider-Man figures.

It almost seems like scalping is an exclusively American problem - I suppose with lower prices and better distribution it's relatively easy money. Can anyone in SE Asia comment on what it's like there?

Yea, you did go a little far by calling people idiots logain.
I have my opinions on this but its a little childish to start calling people idiots for paying what they chose to pay with their own money.
Now back on to topic...

Fair warning to everyone.

Topics like this can get heated quickly, so think before you post. I don't mind discussing scalpers vs. collectors (IMHO, there is a difference), but no personal attacks. That will not be tolerated. If you have a problem with something someone posted, there's a handy little icon below their avatar for reporting it to us. Or you can PM a Mod or Admin about it.

And if you're not clear on the rules, I suggest a refresher: Board Rules

That said, carry on.

Like.

You are right. If someone wants to buy a toy that costs $7.99 on average for $80 a piece...more power to them.

Oh and I like how the mods are so proactive here. I normally hang out on spawn.com. You got an extraordinary amount of freedom on that board.

My bad, I find it difficult to understand how anyone can pay scalper prices.

I have no problem with scalpers, but I blame the retail stores and even manufacturers for not providing enough supply. Apparently stores and perhaps manufacturers do not understand supply and demand. If there was ample supply such as LEGO, the secondary market wouldn't necessarily exist until after the toy has been retired.

Unfortunately I joined the MU collection late and have been playing catch up, but fortunately for me Hasbro has been kind by releasing revision cases that inlclude many Series 1 and early figures that I still can get close to retail price from BBTS. At first I started by only collecting one MSP, but sometimes the cases that come from BBTS are creased or crushed... those toys give me an excuse to open and give to my son. As a result I have multiples of certain ones.

If I saw 5 normal Visions on pegs, I'd buy 2 (maybe 3).

People that have inside connections do piss me off, because that is unfair to the rest of the collectors in the area. I blame the employees in that case for letting that happen. Also people who work customer service in returns sometimes do not help by accepting bogus or defective items.

I've spent few hundred bucks on a FREE online game (game is League of Legends, not attempting to promote it, but if it's happening either way, it's from the makers of dota and very similar to it and very fun ;)
BUT to stay on topic, this is me saying.. I spend money on a FREE game. Doesn't make me a "scalper". Makes me someone who chooses to spend extra money on something I love. :P

tell me about it mate. we dont have scalping over here because the UK never gets anything in anyway.

to my knowledge there were no prince of persia figures sold anywhere over here.. in shops anyway. maybe the disney shop but i didnt check. bit weird as it was the big summer blockbuster that year (well meant to be until it flopped)

there are no thor or green lantern basic figures on play.com or any other UK based website that i can think of. we will probably never see captain america!

i have to buy from ebay almost everytime. sometimes i do get a good deal though. 3 x movie master figures for £16 sweeet!

£35 for a lobster johnson from belgium = not so sweet