[Snowflakian]

The code to collecting is buy what you want/need for your collection, maybe two for one MIP, but otherwise leave it for other buyers/kids.

This dude sounds like he definitely was a scalper and a douche, so probably had no code of ethics at all other than 'you snooze you lose'.

I'm not saying toy buyers need to justify their purchases, but I could understand it if he was picking up for some friends, or other people who would pay him back, but to just screw over a fellow collector like that to make a quick buck is just sad. If he had more than 2 of whatever figures, he could have spared at least one in your direction. Sadly, there's nothing you can do about it as you found out.

The key here is in how many he was buying and for what ends that many multiples are needed. That's what screams scalper here over fellow collector. As such, scalpers have no code of ethics at all.

Selling an item you've had in your collection for what it's valued at much later is by far different than the intent to buy and reduce availability of a figure to maximize profits of your sales online of that same figure. That's market manipulation.

I'll admit I've fed scalpers too. Ebay is a great service if you're in a different country, impatient, or just don't want to shop yourself, but it's one thing to list a bid or buy it now with a minor markup than it is to list something at buy it now for three times the retail +shipping with 5+ in stock just because it's a new figure.