The Energon Pub

Loki41872 wrote:I caught a guy hiding Marvel Legends figs in Wal-Mart, so i waited and after he moved on I took them all and bought them. And I don't even collect Marvel Legends. I gave them to my 5 year old nephew to chew the heads off!

LOL! Classic. We should have a thread on how to "Take Back the Night from the Scalpers!"

08Bumblebee_Scalper wrote:

nacho wrote::sad:

Ok.

I'm sure many of us are desperately searching for the new Bumblebee. I feel like I've checked with all the stores around my town and I've called everyday and visited all of them at least twice each. Are they holding all the new BBs for the fall, or is Hasbro just not shipping them out yet? I got an e-mail from them about 2 weeks ago that they had recently shipped all of the Bumblebees to stores. If anyone has a clue about what's going on, please tell me!

Thanks!

What you mean



THIS BUMBLEBEE?!?!?!?!?


Shot at 2007-07-30

yes, i'm pretty sure he's panicking for THAT bumblebee.

I have noticed a lot of panicing lately especially from people new to the hobby or those coming back to it. When the first reported sighting of a figure comes you may have to wait over a month before it shows up in your area. This is due to stock and which stores get which boxes and of course holiday resets. Just remain patient, Hasbro usually does a great job with distribution in the US so it will turn up eventually. No need to panic, just keep checking.

Some of these scalpers actually had the audacity to sell the 08 BB at their Comic-Con booths for $45.

In addition, I saw a Voyager Starscream selling for $60. Whenever I make the rounds that's pretty much the only Voyager I see in stock.

g1transformers wrote:

twee wrote:And why would collectors come into a store and hide the toy without buying it? Even for me, if I spotted something I hadn't come across and was truly prized, I would snatch it up ASAP, even if I didn't have money. That's what credit cards are for.

Yeah I know. I came across a 'grown up' doing this some time ago at a local TRU. We have storage areas above the shelf display at the TRU stores here in CANADA and I normally open those doors to check what is stored up there. This guy was putting items on the shelf displays up there (Ultra Magnus Energon Repaint). He told me that he was putting them away for his 'friend' to swing by later and get them. Obvious scalpers helping scalpers. The things I have seen will make you want to wish for some cruel and unusual punishment to come down from the heavens.

I don't work in retail business, but from what I read, TRU has strict policies againist their employess (from doing such things), but we know there will always be many exceptions.

My experience is that, there is a better chance to find an item (that you want) at a TRU store for FULL price, while it is more likely to find an item (that you may or may not want) on sale at Wal-Mart.

I have purchased Transformers (that I actually wanted) for less than half of the regular price from Wal-Mart, but every TF figure in TRU always seem to be at least the full price, sometimes even more than regular retail.

It's somewhat ironic, but if I want to buy toys, TRU is the last store on my list. Their selection is just terrible, regardless of whether they're stocked or not.

Hotrod wrote:Just remain patient, Hasbro usually does a great job with distribution in the US so it will turn up eventually. No need to panic, just keep checking.

With the exception of certain Alternators, I would agree with you.

twee wrote:Some of these scalpers actually had the audacity to sell the 08 BB at their Comic-Con booths for $45.

In addition, I saw a Voyager Starscream selling for $60. Whenever I make the rounds that's pretty much the only Voyager I see in stock.

If people buy it don't blame the scalpers. Same thing happens on Ebay. If more people were patient they could get one much cheaper at the store instead of paying more money. What drives scalpers is a lot of people have the to I have it now mentality. Look at some of the crazy ebay auctions with figures first come out. This is nothing new. It seems bigger then what it is because there are so many new people getting into the hobby. Just relax Bumblebee will be showing up.

Yeah, I don't know what's worse: the scalpers, or the people that buy the stuff from scalpers.

twee wrote:It's somewhat ironic, but if I want to buy toys, TRU is the last store on my list. Their selection is just terrible, regardless of whether they're stocked or not.

I understand. I'm not a TRU fan either, but TRU have all the G1-reissue exclusives (so far) so people have to go there. However, it seems that Target is getting more TF movie exclusives so things are changing.

Overall, it is harder to buy all the figures from one place - too many exclusives!!!

muswp1 wrote:

Hotrod wrote:Just remain patient, Hasbro usually does a great job with distribution in the US so it will turn up eventually. No need to panic, just keep checking.

With the exception of certain Alternators, I would agree with you.

True Alts had many problems. I think it had more to do with the release numbers since the line was geared to collectors. Rule I learned late in the game with Alts was if you see it you better grab it before it is gone.

Scalpers, scalpers

Someone did say in one of the sightings thread that there are too many of them around our area.

Yes I'm talking about the Camaro Concept BB, 08BB_scalper (unique username...).

I tried asking politely if the employees at Wal-Mart and TRU could hold on for me, but they said calling the store every day was easier.

I can only make so many calls. I end up looking too desperate to the people who take my calls everyday...

nacho wrote:Scalpers, scalpers

Someone did say in one of the sightings thread that there are too many of them around our area.

Yes I'm talking about the Camaro Concept BB, 08BB_scalper (unique username...).

I tried asking politely if the employees at Wal-Mart and TRU could hold on for me, but they said calling the store every day was easier.

I can only make so many calls. I end up looking too desperate to the people who take my calls everyday...

just a thought...have you ever tried leaving your phone number to them and request them to at least give you a buzz whenever a new shipment comes around? because here in our locality the local retail toy stores accept this kind of arrangement, as long as you have no intention of SCALPING their merchandise.

just try it, it might work.

There is really nothing to panick about. For me, I will get it when I see it. If I couldn't get it, I will just forget about it. I refuse to pay inflated prices for it and that is my principle because in the end, it is only a plastic toy.
It is not as if it will change my life if I have it anyway.

I don't live for toys.

I hate scalpers. When I was at SDCC, I saw folks buying Rodiumus by the box full. Most likely many of them are now on ebay selling for $50+. It really ticked me off.

I am also beginning to panic. After SDCC, I went to 3 Targets, and the shelves were BARE, except for a few Scorpunoks, and a ton of Optimash Primes. I originally wanted to get two, one to paint to make more accurate, the other on card. Now I'd be simply happy to have one.

The biggest losers in all of this are the kids, and that makes me very sad. Kids come first, scalpers come dead last.

Sportimus Prime wrote:I hate scalpers. When I was at SDCC, I saw folks buying Rodiumus by the box full. Most likely many of them are now on ebay selling for $50+. It really ticked me off.

I am also beginning to panic. After SDCC, I went to 3 Targets, and the shelves were BARE, except for a few Scorpunoks, and a ton of Optimash Primes. I originally wanted to get two, one to paint to make more accurate, the other on card. Now I'd be simply happy to have one.

The biggest losers in all of this are the kids, and that makes me very sad. Kids come first, scalpers come dead last.

Scalpers, not at all, would preferable.

Sportimus Prime wrote:The biggest losers in all of this are the kids, and that makes me very sad. Kids come first, scalpers come dead last.

Well said.

zemper wrote:just a thought...have you ever tried leaving your phone number to them and request them to at least give you a buzz whenever a new shipment comes around? because here in our locality the local retail toy stores accept this kind of arrangement, as long as you have no intention of SCALPING their merchandise.

just try it, it might work.

Yep I've tried this at both Wal-Mart and TRU and they said it would be best for me to call them everyday. So...no luck.

nacho wrote:

zemper wrote:just a thought...have you ever tried leaving your phone number to them and request them to at least give you a buzz whenever a new shipment comes around? because here in our locality the local retail toy stores accept this kind of arrangement, as long as you have no intention of SCALPING their merchandise.

just try it, it might work.

Yep I've tried this at both Wal-Mart and TRU and they said it would be best for me to call them everyday. So...no luck.

i'm sorry to hear that. i guess you'll have to be patient and do call them everyday then if that is the best thing for you to do. but remember, you still have a life out there. hehe. just take everyone's sensible advice: don't panic.

Sportimus Prime wrote:I hate scalpers. When I was at SDCC, I saw folks buying Rodiumus by the box full. Most likely many of them are now on ebay selling for $50+. It really ticked me off.

I am also beginning to panic. After SDCC, I went to 3 Targets, and the shelves were BARE, except for a few Scorpunoks, and a ton of Optimash Primes. I originally wanted to get two, one to paint to make more accurate, the other on card. Now I'd be simply happy to have one.

The biggest losers in all of this are the kids, and that makes me very sad. Kids come first, scalpers come dead last.

That's misleading; one box only contained 3 Rodimus', and that was the limit per attendee for the whole con (over the weekend it was decreased to 1). I bought 3, one for myself and two for my friends, and I'm willing to bet that a lot of people did the exact same thing.

Regardless, I agree with you about the kids thing. I hate that it's common to see a kid and his dad staring at a completely empty shelf, dad scratching his head as to wtf happened.

g1transformers wrote:

twee wrote:If I saw that happening I would just buy the damned toy and return it a few weeks later or something.

Funny you should say that. To finish the story off I waited for him to leave and went back and took the items from the storage area, bought them and dropped them off at the local 'Xmas Toy Drive in the mall. Cruel and unusual punishment came down from the heaven's as his friend searched in vain for something that mysteriously vanished.

Scalpers are bottom feeders in my books that ruin it for all of us. Even kids now with the movie being so popular.

You, my friend, are awesome.

I believe the scalpers got all the BBs here, I haven't seen a single one...

We haven't even had any in the area for scalpers to get here. One store got 6 BB's, and since my gf was there checking her Walmart emails she saw him and got two, one for each of us. But the others were gone shortly, saw one really nerdy fellow carrying one and taking a picture of the last one on the shelf.

Since then, TRU, Target, Meijer, that same Walmart and the Walmart my gf works at haven't gotten any new transformers in. I guess those 6 were a fluke. But you'd figure Ohio would be desolite anyway. When he is in stock in good numbers, I'm buying another one, maybe two. Love him so much.

kirbenvost wrote:I believe the scalpers got all the BBs here, I haven't seen a single one...

I feel your pain and sympathize. Keep watching the CDN sightings thread as only Zellers and some Walmarts have gotten '08 BB. TRU still has not got him from what I have seen so there still will be a chance to grab him before the scalpers get him.

Salpers are still taking the few 08 Bumblebees that are getting released, and posted them on ebay.au for $50 or thereabouts. Thankfully most are not getting bids, and the ones that are are only paying $30, which is only a few dollars more than the shelf price.

Scalpers know what is popular, and what they can sell for much inflated prices. They may be scum, but they are scum that know what they are doing.

i_amtrunks wrote:Scalpers know what is popular, and what they can sell for much inflated prices. They may be scum, but they are scum that know what they are doing.

True with regards to 'knowing what they are doing' but at least they could do is leave a few on the peg for collectors/kids. They go in and take every single one. Worse than a vacuum cleaner or Unicron on Moonbase 1 and 2.