The Energon Pub

Xgamer wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

--B-- wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Priority mail starts at 7.00+, .

No it doesn't.

It starts at abouot $4.60 and you can ship a whole carded figure without the cost increasing.

and about the shipping rates?

$5 for USPS
$1 for PayPal
$1 to go to the Post Office (gas)
$1 for time

$1 for taxes if his state has them

sounds about right to me.

Not exactly -add sig confirmation $1-2 (delivery confirmation doesnt satisfy Paypal requirements), insurance $1-2 , 1% goes to Paypal, cost of packaging... some people like to use real boxes $1-2 Then Priority mail is higher than say Parcel Post; and now rates depend on the distance....gotta love the new USPS policies.

The thing is, no one would pay an extra $4 for insurance and delivery confirmation for such a cheap figure.

Interesting thread.

Hopefully the waves coming up soon will provide enough for the rest of us.

Is he doing wrong? No. He saw a way to make a little extra money and did it. Does it piss me off? Moderately, but I see his pov. Is he raping kids or killing people or most recently, dogs, to do it? I hope not. There are worse things out there...

I would have picked up the whole set of bbs at kohl's, but decided not to deal with shipping and people whining to me about shipping...

If we were all good to each other there wouldn't be bigger problems out there to worry about in the world other than a few toys we can't find. Accept it, and leave it at that; it's an exercise in futility and hypocrisy otherwise.

As it was stressed earlier, just don't buy it or make a petition to those larger chains/hasbro for them to only sell two at a time of each certain figure.

I see no reason to get pissed at anyone other than the crew at the large department stores who didn't realize the demand for these or the deciding crew that doesn't forcefully imply a limit of two of each type of toy per person (display and misb .

Do we have a section for SKU #s and DCPI #s here? I think those would be helpful in addition to the toy sighting page.


parts

Cyber-Kun wrote:I myself don't mind if someone grabbed an extra one or two to try to sell, but hell, don't grab a dozen of them, that's just unfair to the rest of us who want one.

I personally dont condone the raping of B&M (Brick & Mortar) stores and their toy aisles, but some people are going to do it, and I dont think it is my place to judge them. You can easily call TRU and actually order a large shipment of whatever you want- A guy I knew did that and even got discounted b/c he bought so much (it wasnt TFs, but some other hot item).

allisonaxe wrote:

Snarlus Prime wrote:Some folks here (on both sides) need to calm down and remember that we are all friends here;

yeah, its just a hobby, but as far as friends go? it always hurts the most to find out your friend is doing something sleazy that you don't approve of.

Yeah, scalping is the equivalent of Arcee posing in Playboy.

publicvisage wrote:Although you make a valid point, my problem with Scalpers doesn't derive from their "skill" in obtaining the toys. Rather it's that they take advantage of people who are willing to pay exorbitant prices for a 10 dollar child's toy.

??? It seems like you should have a problem with the people who are too "weak-willed to control themselves", not the scalper who is just providing a means to an end. I am one of those "weak-willed" people who just has to have the figure ASAP because the older I get, the less I enjoy hunting for figures.

Wubot wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

--B-- wrote:Priority mail starts at 7.00+, .

No it doesn't.

It starts at abouot $4.60 and you can ship a whole carded figure without the cost increasing.

But the Deluxe and Voyager figures - I don't think you can ship them for $4.60 Priority, due to size. Those packages are pretty big.

But you make a good point - the cost of shipping isn't just the cost of the postage. Most people don't think of that.

When it comes to small parcels (most TFs fit that bill), it's not the size that matters, it's the weight range.

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

Funny how I had the much heavier and bigger G2 Megatron shipped for $4.40 in a huge box and received in about 5 days. As for delivery confirmation, like I said, you'd have to be stupid to waste extra money for a $10 toy that's going to be delivered anyway. And gas money? Gimme a break. He's more than likely going to drop the parcels at the post office while doing errands for himself.

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

I really hate when ebayers ship me something in a huge maxi pad stock box, and then it is duct taped and has a huge dent in it, b/c the side wall have a piss poor crush test measurement.

megatroptimus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

Funny how I had the much heavier and bigger G2 Megatron shipped for $4.40 in a huge box and received in about 5 days.

How much was he though??

megatroptimus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

Funny how I had the much heavier and bigger G2 Megatron shipped for $4.40 in a huge box and received in about 5 days. As for delivery confirmation, like I said, you'd have to be stupid to waste extra money for a $10 toy that's going to be delivered anyway. And gas money? Gimme a break. He's more than likely going to drop the parcels at the post office while doing errands for himself.

Ummm...thats not priority mail, thats Parcel Post. Its also not stupid to spend $2 to reinsure that someone says they never received it. You obviously know nothing about Paypal or even the difference between Priority and Parcel Post. Paypal requires signature on hot items if you want to satisfy the seller ins. requirements. Yes, they make new rules all the time too- sometimes they want proof of inventory.

GetterDragun wrote:

-Z- G1 Snarl Rules wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:maybe we should call this person an "enabler".

I like opportunist better.

Ok, so what does that make you?

You say you have 4,000 Transformers. Which means you should own at least 2 of every single one ever made. Do you have the Japanese DinoCassettes? Do you have all the LuckyDraws, do you have all the headmaster heads in colored version and white? If not, that means you have maybe even 3 of some figures, so according to people in this thread you are greedy, and since you probably keep them all MIB, you are hoping for them to appreciate in value, and then sell them one day...making you an opportunist.

I'm sure you don't feel that you are any of the words described, but based on others comments, you certainly fit the bill.

Hardly. I count the minicon three packs as three separate TFs instead of just one TF as some do.

Owning them for future investment is different than selling them for inflated prices at this time. Also I do not have '18' of the same piece which was the point of this thread. I at most have 2 of the same piece. One to keep MISB/MOSC and another to open. Having 18 is just greedy plain and simple. Furthermore, should a friend want one that I have I will give him my opened one at no charge with the knowledge that I have a MISB/MOSC one available. Not sure if scalper sellers will do that. I stress 'friends' and not just people that PM me on this site wanting to take advantage of this post.

I dont agree, scalpers BLOW period. I went into a Target last week a little after 8am. Guess what? the pedophile looking a$$hole with the shopping cart full of every figure they had was there heading towards the register. This is supposed to be a fun hobby but these people are a black cloud. Then dont start on the backdoor hookups thing. I know someone who used to do this when they were working at KayBee and its good money. Its playing dirty period. Sometimes I feel bad buying two figures so I can open one and save the other.

Thanatos Prime wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

Funny how I had the much heavier and bigger G2 Megatron shipped for $4.40 in a huge box and received in about 5 days.

How much was he though??

Loose/complete for $10.50 (+$4.40 shipping - seller charged me much more than that, as usual, but stamp said $4.40). Perfect condition, working electronics, I still have it.

megatroptimus wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:

Devil Gundam wrote:His profit margin drops slightly with shipping

He's also making a profit on shipping because there's no way it costs $9 to ship that figure.

Wrong. It costs $8.15 Priority Mail with delivery confirmation for a deluxe figure in a nice size box. The $8.15 excludes the cost of the box, gas to get to the Post Office, and the box and packing material to put it in. I also appreciate someone packing a figure correctly instead of some piece fo crap box they got from Sam's Club that they had to bend the card to fit in.

Funny how I had the much heavier and bigger G2 Megatron shipped for $4.40 in a huge box and received in about 5 days.

I shipped a carded deluxe figure in a box that had one inche of space on either size and 2 inches front to back. I also wrapped it in multiple layers of bubble wrap and stuffed the remainder of the box with tissue paper. It weighed 1 lb 7.5 ounces.

Here's what USPS says it should cost (without delivery confirmation):
http://postcalc.usps.gov/MailServices.a ... 1&DZ=90210

By the way, nowhere in the auction seller says the $9 is for priority shipping. You totally made that up. Chances are he will use the cheapest possible method of shipping to maximize his profit.

megatroptimus wrote:By the way, nowhere in the auction seller says the $9 is for priority shipping. You totally made that up. Chances are he will use the cheapest possible method of shipping to maximize his profit.

I never meant "that seller" I said "it costs". I used "it costs" from what I last paid to ship a deluxe figure to somebody. And the feedback I got was "Super fast shipping and awesome packaging!!!!!!!!!!!". So it wa obviously worth it to that person that I charged it exact shipping of aound $8.00 and did not charge for packaging or my time to mail it.

GetterDragun wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:By the way, nowhere in the auction seller says the $9 is for priority shipping. You totally made that up. Chances are he will use the cheapest possible method of shipping to maximize his profit.

I never meant "that seller" I said "it costs". I used "it costs" from what I last paid to ship a deluxe figure to somebody. And the feedback I got was "Super fast shipping and awesome packaging!!!!!!!!!!!". So it wa obviously worth it to that person that I charged it exact shipping of aound $8.00 and did not charge for packaging or my time to mail it.

GD ...give up on this guy- he's hopeless. If the seller values feedback - he will use Priority - either way some people dont know the difference between Parcel Post and Priority.

When comes WW3, that your city is half-destroyed and a scalper is buying all the bread and water he can find to resell for profit to desperate civilians, we'll see if scalping is still acceptable.

megatroptimus wrote:When comes WW3, that your city is half-destroyed and a scalper is buying all the bread and water he can find to resell for profit to desperate civilians, we'll see if scalping is still acceptable.

Actually that is true Price Gouging- since it constitutes an emergency and is deemed illegal. Next.

Xgamer wrote:
GD ...give up on this guy- he's hopeless. If the seller values feedback - he will use Priority - either way some people dont know the difference between Parcel Post and Priority.

I do know the difference, just saying it's stupid to pay for priority, by experience, not worth the extra money at all.

megatroptimus wrote:When comes WW3, that your city is half-destroyed and a scalper is buying all the bread and water he can find to resell for profit to desperate civilians, we'll see if scalping is still acceptable.

Inappropriate comparison.

Transformers are NOT requisite for living.

GetterDragun wrote:
I never meant "that seller" I said "it costs".

We were clearly discussing about that seller.

megatroptimus wrote:When comes WW3, that your city is half-destroyed and a scalper is buying all the bread and water he can find to resell for profit to desperate civilians, we'll see if scalping is still acceptable.

Like i said earlier about gasoline, this is not a valid comparison. G1 deco Jazz is no one's food or water. But if you are going to put a figure on that priority level make it a better figure than movie Jazz.

Counterpunch wrote:

megatroptimus wrote:When comes WW3, that your city is half-destroyed and a scalper is buying all the bread and water he can find to resell for profit to desperate civilians, we'll see if scalping is still acceptable.

Inappropriate comparison.

Transformers are NOT requisite for living.

Very correct... check out the definition of illegal and price gouging.