The Energon Pub

Hey Guys and Gals,

The whole "Scalper" thread inspired me to start this one. If you read all 19-ish pages I am sure you saw my name a few times. In between all the hooplah and emotion, I thought sharing stories of "hunts," good and bad, would make us remember why WE ( by "WE" I mean true fans and collectors) come out here and get so emotional about guys like G1 Jazz guy...

I LOVE getting out on the road on my days off to find some figure I want. Let's share some stories about the adventures we have, and I think we can learn from each other what works... As much as the site might not like to hear it, it doesnt involve the "sighting forum," it's about 60% planning and 40% luck

Here's my story I'll kick it all off with...

I took my 7 year old nephew out for the day, pizza, video games, etc. Stopped by the local Walmart near my parents to pick up some hamburger buns (wrap your mind around this when you think Houston is easy to shop... my parents live in Houston too, but I drive almost an hour to go see them!!). We stopped by the toy department, because thats what I do. Immediately I find the FAB Bumblebee and I snag it. I see a grandma looking in the toys, she picks up Voyager Ratchet after asking some kids stuff. Out of curiousity I asked her who she was buying for and she said her 4 year old nephew. Voyager Rachet?? Bad call, so I suggested the FAB's. She said he wanted a "yellow one," with a heavy heart I handed her my FAB Bumblebee.

Feeling like a decent human being, but kicking myself as a Transformer collector, I started wot walk out when I ran right into a Deluxe Transformers display. It's there that I acquired Arcee and Concept Bumblebee... SOOooo, whenever I go to a store I try and help people that look lost, HOPING the toy gods shall smile upon me again

There were two brothers around my age (24) waiting already 10 mins before TRU was going to open, along with some middle-aged white guy. I thought to myself, "They couldn't be here for Transformers. Could they?" As soon as the doors opened, one of the brothers hurriedly went in and I ran close to him. I saw him head for the Transformers section, and I thought to myself.. "CRAP!" and ran faster. Apparently, that guy went off too far and missed the newly stocked Deluxe sized TFs. I smiled and thought, "Yes. They're mine for the pickings! I'm closer than he is!"

So I turn around, and I see the middle-aged white guy was already grabbing as many as he could! So I approach his area, and I'm about to grab one on the racks (but the one I touched wasn't a character in the movie.) He was like, "You can have that one." I thought to myself, "hell no!" And asked him, "Let me see who you got?" Lo' and behold, he had a Barricade in his hands! So I yoinked it, and he had no problem with me yoinking him as he was busy grabbing other characters NOT in the movie! I ran the hell out of there, and paid $9.99 plus tax for him! The two brothers my age looked pretty miffed and annoyed, as the rest of the Deluxe sized toys were characters not in the movie. (It was a battle in there!)