Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

well......atleast we now know who NOT to buy from(--->points at deathy). seriously deathy.....you need a new hobby(or atleast a new way of making money lol). put it this way. i flip cars on the side. the last car I sold will be able to get me ALL the TFC hercules figures(2 of each if i so choose). collecting TFs is a hobby for me. theres really no SHORT term way to make a good amount of money.(unless fansproject makes more add-ons for that ugly toy that no one wanted but you bought anyways*bruticus im lookin at you*) youre spending all that time scalping just to be able to pay for ONE MP rodimus? i just dont get scalpers sometimes....

donnie_707 wrote:well......atleast we now know who NOT to buy from(--->points at deathy). seriously deathy.....you need a new hobby(or atleast a new way of making money lol). put it this way. i flip cars on the side. the last car I sold will be able to get me ALL the TFC hercules figures(2 of each if i so choose). collecting TFs is a hobby for me. theres really no SHORT term way to make a good amount of money.(unless fansproject makes more add-ons for that ugly toy that no one wanted but you bought anyways*bruticus im lookin at you*) youre spending all that time scalping just to be able to pay for ONE MP rodimus? i just dont get scalpers sometimes....

So your against toy scalpers because they buy low & sell high.

but it's okay for you to buy cars low & sell them high?

please mind your own business of what I & others do in our personal lives.

I'm here to discuss the TF related topics. not go off-topic & delve into our private lives.

please stop attacking & insulting me based of what you think I do in my private life. you don't even know me & your making assumptions & gueeses on what I do in my personal life. then your taking it a step further by belieiving all your guesses/assumptions & mocking/insulting me in my private/personal life.

I don't care you flip cars on the side for profit. as this is off topic & i'm here on a transformers message board to discuss transformers related discussion.

please,stop the insults,I haven't insulted you & never will. because I read the seibertron.com board rules & I will try my hardest to obey all the rules. I will also try my hardest to treat every seibertron member with 100% respect.

Okay, first of all this has gotten out of hand and if anyone knows deathy tell him I DON'T KNOW ANY WHO DONNIE IS! I know he's blocked me, but I'm going to write this in case a friend of his talks to him and let's him know I'm not this Donnie person. Knighted Feline is who I am and that's it. Just check out me DA site http://knighted-feline.deviantart.com

To me this is and has been a friendly discussion. I looked at this as a bunch of pals getting together and discussing something. I don't look at this as a meeting of professional collectors being a bunch of a-holes and elitists. Tell him also, to read more closely to what people write and stop projecting what he thinks others are saying on to what is actually said.

deathy wrote:

knightedfeline wrote:First I never said anything about Anti-Scalping laws. I said, "Contact Businesses." All I'm looking for is a little customer Service.

You clearly said via your replies in this thread. you wanted the stores & goverment to enact scalper laws. that would make it harder for scalpers or people to buy more than one item per day. then you gave a snarky comment about scalpers having to do more work like keep comming back day after day to stock up on the item. these are clearly anti scalper laws & anti-scalper comments you wrote.

Government has no business in this. I never said anything of the sort. Read thoroughly and don't skim the page.

deathy wrote:

knightedfeline wrote:
Secondly, I said that scalping *may be* illegal depending on the state. If I'm not mistaken on this, my business allows that only 25 units be sold per month or a certain amount of money to be transacted to be classified as a business. It changes depending on the state.
.

But why should scalping be illegial at ALL?? why should others be treated inferior or less of a person. all because you & others don't like what they do or who they are.

Because it's operating a business without a licence. It's also known as tax fraud. I was trying to look out for the people who scalp.

deathy wrote:

knightedfeline wrote:The worst example of scalping I have seen was in '93 at a convention. Dealers were given 20 comics of a pre-release as part of their admission cost. There were about 1000 comics that were going to be sold to fans. When time came to sell to the fans, they were sold out in about 2hrs. The line had been up since 6AM and about 12 people bought the vast majority of the comics. Working as with a dealer at the time, I found out quickly that those twelve people had been hired by dealers to get the comics. The fans found out before the convention was over and it created a huge mess.

These dealers did no wrong,they were given 20 comics for free by the convention organizers. since their was no limit put in place by the convention owners. the 12 buyers did nothing wrong,nor did they do anything illegial.

Actually it was wrong, because the dealers were asked to not get any more of the comics. (sorry I left out that detail, but I thought that it was implied with the fact that the dealers were already given some that they weren't allowed to sell at the convention.) Please don't confuse morals and ethics.

deathy wrote:

knightedfeline wrote:Also people put aside money for the conventions, so their money is available and accessible to make these big purchases. Basically they're not out any money, they've put into it.

Also businesses that go own brick and mortar stores that are basically self paying permanent storage facilities. These business also there to give credibility, and brand recognition for the owner. A smart businessman makes far more at a convention than he ever spends out. There are also a few tricks that stores have started doing, like getting their employees to get individual ebay or whatever accounts and have them say stuff like, "I'm getting rid of my collection," and "I don't know anything about these toys," and then sell the merchandise that way. .

I don't understand what your trying to say here in these 2 paragraphs.so well just move on along to other paragraphs in your reply.

I'm saying that businesses are easy as most people seem to think. There's more going on that most pay attention to. Again, I'm just trying to make people more aware.

deathy wrote:

knightedfeline wrote:Okay, now no longer playing Devil's Advocate for anti-scalpers I've got to clarify something on a personal note. You actually bought 6 RPs and sold them to cover the price for one? Are you nuts? Not only that but you did research to find out this stuff? Are you kidding me?

Please don't insult me by calling me "NUTS". I don't mind debatting with on-line TF fans as long as things are kept civial,respectful & polite.

To me this isn't an insult. In my area of the country this is the same as asking "What are you thinking?"

deathy wrote:I needed to do the research anyways because I was interested in getting one Hasbro TRU Rodimus Prime for my personal collection to keep.

what's wrong with doing research like checking out sightings threads. calling the TRU store each week to find out if the item was in stock & asking what day the trucks arrive. I was prepared & it paid off as I got my item before others beat me to the punch.

you clearly didn't do any research & thus you don't own a TRU Hasbro MP Rodimus Prime toy yet.

Nor do I have plans to get one. To me it's a non-issue. I don't care if I ever see one, because it means very little to me in the big scheme of things. If I wanted one, I would have bought one, but I DON'T CARE! Why do people think everyone else is just like them?

deathy wrote:What I did with the profits of the multiples of toys I sell is none of your business. as long as it paid for my gas & Paid for my free rodimus,I'm satisfied.

You're the one that brought it up. That makes it open for discussion. And no, you did not get a "free" Rodimus. You paid for it. Just like you paid for the others, but instead actually saving for it and putting aside the money for it, you bought extras so you could convince yourself you got it for free. When it comes down to the finances you covered the initial cost, that's not the same as free, because you didn't get paid for the research (even if it was research you did for yourself), you didn't get paid for the posting to e-sites and you didn't get paid for the advertising if you did any. This is what I'm trying to point out. You Lost Money. If you're looking at this as a "business" then look at it that way and not as a hobby.

deathy wrote:I only bought 5 TF toys this year within a 10 month time frame. Since it's not illegial to scalp toys in order to get yourself a free toy with the profits. I did no wrong nor did others who do the same thing.

And think of the free time you could have had if you just bought the toy for yourself?
But who are you trying to convince, yourself or others.

deathy wrote:

knightedfeline wrote:I'm even the kind that doesn't mind spending time to rebuild a figure. I've spent 19 years doing that for just one. To me that's what makes this such a fun hobby..

I'm only 27 years old & lack the patience & desire to do this. I would have had to start when I was 8 years old to do this.

I've been doing it since I was twelve. Age has nothing to do with it. It's just an excuse.

deathy wrote:I had to do the research anyways to get the one figure for my personal collection. I got the other 6 Because I was in the store anyways.

un-like yourself you did no research thus you still don't own a Hasbro TRU Rodimus Prime toy. instead your using your valuable spare time replying to threads complaining that scalpers & others cleaned out your stores of the item you were looking for.

It would have been far more efficent to spend 5 hours of your valuable spare time to do the research before the toy hit your stores. INSTEAD YOUR NOW using THAT 5+ HOURS RESEARCH TIME replying in threads about why you dis-like scalpers & you want anti-scalpers laws in place. so the scalpers don't clean out your stores of a item you like.

Again, if you actually read what I was saying, it doesn't phase me. You could sit there and burn it in a fire and I wouldn't care. I'm not obsessive over my toys like you seem to be. I happen to be writer who's trying to get back in the habit of writing and building his speed up again.

deathy wrote:Do you realize you spent hours/days/weeks,complaining about scalpers cleaning out your store on the internet. you could have transferred that time into research instead of complaining.

I work a 50+hours work week at UPS. When I do toy hunts its either before work or after work or on my lunch hour or my two 15 minute breaks. I have plenty of time to spend with my family & friends as I do toy hunts on my free time at work.

Obviously you've read way too many anti-scalping pages. I started this page to look at both sides. I tried to make suggestions for both and I've tried to give scalpers something to think about, that I know a couple I've talked to, in person, and in the stores never thought of themselves.
BTW if you do an internet search, even on your 15min break, that's using company time and money. You can and I have seen people get in trouble for that. Just so you're aware. Being professional means leaving such things at home and for home.

deathy wrote:AGAIN,Your making fun of me wasting 5 hours of my spare time doing the research to get my Hasbro TRU Rodimus toy. we'll guess what at least I bought the toy & have it.

You basically chose the oppossite to do no research,get no toy. complain for hours on the internet afterwards that the scalpers cleaned out your stores. at the very least my wasted time got me the toy.

If you actually read and understood what I was saying, I wasn't making fun. At this point, again I point this out in a friendly manner, you are acting like a child. This is the third time you've essentially said, "Neener, neener I've got one and you don't."

deathy wrote:So now your making fun of me & others for not being full fledged 100% scalpers? so now it's wrong to be low level & we need to be higher level. please mind your own business what others do in their private lives.

Again, you misinterpret. You seem to think I'm making fun of you. I've never made fun of you. I was trying get you to look at the big picture. I was trying to point out the failing in your logic and the logic of a few others, and pointing out that it would make more sense to be an actual business person instead of a hobbyist, but if you can't see this, then obviously you shouldn't run your own business.

deathy wrote:AGAIN,I needed to do the research & waste time+gas going to the store buying the one MP Rodimus,I needed for my collection. So while I was their,I bought 6 more to make the profits help pay for my gas & get my toy for free.

I made $120 in profits from selling all 6 Hasbro TRU Rosimus prime toys. because I also went to the TRU.com facebook page & printed out 6 20% off coupons. The $120 paid for my free toy,my gas & all my sales taxes,ebay fees & paypal fees. I also got some money left over.

Well, then in this instance, you might actually have made money.

deathy wrote:If given the option,I'd chose option #1. I'd rather do the 5+hours of research & get the item before others beat me to the punch. Rather than chosing the 2nd option you've clearly chosen,do no research,get no item & waste 5+hours of your valuable time complaining all over the internet scalpers beat you to the punch & you want anti-scalpers laws created by either the goverment,states or created by stores.
At some point you clearly wasted gas & time driving to the store also. only to find out that the scalpers cleaned out the stores of the item you wanted.
At the very least all my wasted gas+time,got me the toy. as I did the research & kept calling the store & knew the item was in stock before I drove to the store.

This is the fourth time you've pulled the "Neener Card."

deathy wrote:I make over $25 per hours being a UPS package car driver. I don't know what your trying to imply but I'm not un-employed.please lets try to discuss the topics in the thread. without going off topic & trying to discuss or insult people's personal lives.

You're the one that's talking about getting a toy for "free." What I've tried to point out is that you're not getting it for for free and you're not covering all of your costs. You're not even seeing the additional costs you're giving yourself. I'm not insulting anyone's personal life. What I'm trying to point out is that if you're that worried about money for a figure, then I was trying to suggest a way that might prove more beneficial for you because you've said repeatedly, "I got my figure for free," which as I've said many times you haven't.

deathy wrote:AGAIN,ME & YOU,chose to do two totally different options with our 5+hours worth of spare casual time. I chose option one,which was doing the research,calling the stores to find out what day the trucks arrived. calling the stores everyday to find out if the item was in stock. using the sightings section to guess when the item would arrive at my store. my research paid off as I went to the store & got a hasbro TRU MP Rodimus toy in my personal collection.

You chose option two,which involved no research & then complaining for 5+hours of your spare valuable time on the internet. that scalpers cleaned out your store & wanting anti-scalpers laws put in place by the goverment,states or by the stores. this 2nd option has no toy as others who did the research got the toys.

And again, read don't skim, I'm not the same as you, this is the fifth time for the "Neener Card," and for me this is about writing, not about complaining.

As I said in addressing you personally. I generally get the figures I want. SCALPERS RARELY EVER EFFECT ME. I was playing Devil's Advocate. The time I'm spending on here is me trying to make friends. I don't consider talking over something I don't understand until I do understand it a waste.

Just as side note to anyone else. I started this post with the idea that I could come to understand both sides of the issue better, and I am finding more clarity as well unexpected aspects. One I never new this was such a touchy subject for scalpers. It seems that some even try to convince themselves they're not doing anything wrong because they keep repeating it like a mantra. They even go out of their way to read as many anti-scalping posts as possible so they can defend themselves, when if they really felt that way they wouldn't read them at all. I know that the scalped have hurt feelings about it and it's easier to understand their side of it, than the scalper. It's also good to know that some scalpers know how they effect others. I have tried to be as objectionable as possible and play Devil's Advocate when necessary. It is not my goal to bring disharmony, but to bring greater understanding. I do hope this helps.

Knightedfeline,calling someone "NUTS" is a insult in all the states in America. you appear to be over 20 years old & you know better. stop making weak excuses & sugar coating stuff because it's a further insult to the one you first insulted.

Calling someone "Nuts" is basically making fun of someones mental stability.

I Read the seibertron.com rules on this site. & insults are not tolerated here. they can get you warnings & then banned.

If I & others have to follow the seibertron.com rules then so does everyone else.

knightedfeline wrote:Just as side note to anyone else. I started this post with the idea that I could come to understand both sides of the issue better, and I am finding more clarity as well unexpected aspects. One I never new this was such a touchy subject for scalpers. It seems that some even try to convince themselves they're not doing anything wrong because they keep repeating it like a mantra. They even go out of their way to read as many anti-scalping posts as possible so they can defend themselves, when if they really felt that way they wouldn't read them at all. I know that the scalped have hurt feelings about it and it's easier to understand their side of it, than the scalper. It's also good to know that some scalpers know how they effect others. I have tried to be as objectionable as possible and play Devil's Advocate when necessary. It is not my goal to bring disharmony, but to bring greater understanding. I do hope this helps.

1-You clearly created this thread because you were affected by scalpers in your area.

2-these types of Scalper threads most of the time are fan rage threads with fans venting over hatting on scalpers because they beat them to the store & cleaned it out of a desired item they wanted.

3- nothing in your counter replies was repectful. respecful replies don't go out of their way to delve into people private lives & mock every second of their actions with clever insults & below the below remarks/insults. example: calling someone Nuts or saying they waste their time & barely make over minium wage for their efforts.

4- you want anti scalpers laws passed & put in place buy the stores or states. like having stores watch over buyers & prevent them from buying more than one item per day to defeat the scalpers efforts. then you joked they'd have to return back every day & do more hard work to stock up on the item. that treats scalpers infeior & less of a person than others. we had those discriminative/racist/sexist laws in America decades/centuries ago & we got rid of them because they were wrong. and now your asking for those laws to return for scalpers who are a group of people you clearly don't like.

4a-basically if these anti scalpers laws got put in place. the stores/states won't know the difference between a collector nor scalper. as a collector is sometimes a scalper too. do we as collectors or scalpers deserve to get refused service,denied a item or made un-confortable when we walk into a store because were being watched by the store due to the anti-scalper laws put into place.

5-Scalpers are not doing anything wrong since it's not illegial to buy more than one item at a store & sell it for profit. the whole world works on the buy it low & sell it high thing. like gas companies,corporations,wall street stock brokers,bank,loans,mortage companies,etc..

6- Scalpers already pay tax. scalpers buy the items at stores & pay their fair share of state sales tax at the store they bought the item from. expecting anyone to pay double sales tax is against the laws of this country. scalpers don't ask ebay buyers to pay tax. so scalpers are not getting re-imbursed for their store sales tax. therefor scalpers already paid their share of taxes to uncle sam.

7-Scalpers have feelings too. Their are more collectors who are also scalpers then you realize. everyone deserves to be treated with proper & fair respect. no one deserves to get put thru the wringer,mocked or insulted here on the seibertron.com message boards all because some are affected by scalpers because they beat you to the store & cleaned it out of a item you wanted. insulting or mocking or demeaning anyone here on the seibertron.com message boards is not toelerated for whatever reason & can result in warnings & bans happening.

scalpers have feeling to

so do little kids who will miss out on items they cant find because someone bought all of them up at one store to help pay for one.

i could care less if i cant find an item but it gets under my skin when an grown ass adult takes that opportunity from a friggin kid man! a kid seriously thats just sad.

I'm closing this thread because many of you have taken this personally rather than professionally. May this be a reminder that when threads are creating to ensue opinions on others, there's going to be other opinions from people on the other side. Bottomline, scalpers will always exist simply because we are born into a society that is ruled by how much money one has. If you have a problem with that, then turn the other cheek, and be the better man on the inside. There are far worse things in this world than this.