The Energon Pub

These guys take scalping to a whole new level! Well, ok, not new, but they sure were successful at it!

http://news.yahoo.com/deputies-fla-woman-adult-son-stole-2m-toys-162810129.html

These guys got caught. I wonder how many others like them are out there, going unnoticed. Considering this mother-son team knew what products were hot ticket items I think we can wager they stole highly sought after Transformers too. The article seems to imply they were after toys that were far more expensive but who knows. If a $10 toy can fetch $40-90 on ebay, I think it's safe to say they probably stole them too. Glad they were caught. Took long enough. $2 million worth of toy thefts, just from two people! That a crap ton of toys!



Theft-scalpering, because scalping isn't bad enough >.<

Toy-swapping + Scalping, holy cow. Good job on finding this, I may have a use for this.

http://news.yahoo.com/deputies-fla-woman-adult-son-stole-2m-toys-162810129.html

wow..

possible they've been Stealing all the Vehicons?

mooncake623 wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/deputies-fla-woman-adult-son-stole-2m-toys-162810129.html

wow..

possible they've been Stealing all the Vehicons?

Probably all the Vehicons and Shockwaves both.

Discussion already ongoing in the Non-Transformer Toys Forum

Ah didn't see that. Article might not mention transformers but I believe this is TF toy related. discussion about why we can't find anything at TRU!

Erailea wrote:If a $10 toy can fetch $40-90 on ebay, I think it's safe to say they probably stole them too.

If a $10 toy can fetch upwards of $50, there's no need to do the scam they were pulling as they could do it legally. What these people were doing was basically stealing product (more or less) and then selling it, presumably for less than MRSP, but still for far more than they were scam purchasing it for.

mooncake623 wrote:Ah didn't see that. Article might not mention transformers but I believe this is TF toy related. discussion about why we can't find anything at TRU!

Now you're just being silly.

Although scalping can be attributed as a cause, I think a more likely reason is TRU simply neglecting to buy new stock.

Kibble wrote:

Erailea wrote:If a $10 toy can fetch $40-90 on ebay, I think it's safe to say they probably stole them too.

If a $10 toy can fetch upwards of $50, there's no need to do the scam they were pulling as they could do it legally. What these people were doing was basically stealing product (more or less) and then selling it, presumably for less than MRSP, but still for far more than they were scam purchasing it for.

You need to think like a criminal.
If you could stick 5-10+ items with better-awesome resale value than retail in a large children's item box and pay $40 or less for the whole lot(and get away with it hundreds/thousands of times? ) you would see opportunity staring you in the face. Toys like LPS are small and have a good fan base, prime targets.

Working with a small team, 2 or more, things can be coordinated for organized criminal activities. Gathering information, staging of products, the guy on the inside. Done by more than one person creates confusion for any Loss Prevention watching cameras.
To be able to pull off such a huge value of cash is amazing.
I don't condone this activity by the way, but have had "conversations" about this very subject though.

if only they'd stolen all the bumblebees.

Nemesis Destron wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/deputies-fla-woman-adult-son-stole-2m-toys-162810129.html

wow..

possible they've been Stealing all the Vehicons?

Probably all the Vehicons and Shockwaves both.

Seriously? I highly doubt it. In all likelihood, they were stealing small-but-expensive items like cameras. A kid might steal a Transformer. Professional shoplifters wouldn't waste their time with $10-$15 toys in over-sized packaging. Also, do you really think those two would know which Transformers are more in-demand? I highly doubt that as well.

The reason you're not finding Vehicon and Shockwave is that the retailers aren't stocking much of them. It's as simple as that.

I was kind of half Joking.

Just felt like blaming someone for not being able to find a vehicon. so since they we finally got them after 2MM in stolen toys. I believe we'll finally see that vehicon in stores!! (one can hope)

GuyIncognito wrote:

Nemesis Destron wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/deputies-fla-woman-adult-son-stole-2m-toys-162810129.html

wow..

possible they've been Stealing all the Vehicons?

Probably all the Vehicons and Shockwaves both.

Seriously? I highly doubt it. In all likelihood, they were stealing small-but-expensive items like cameras. A kid might steal a Transformer. Professional shoplifters wouldn't waste their time with $10-$15 toys in over-sized packaging. Also, do you really think those two would know which Transformers are more in-demand? I highly doubt that as well.

The reason you're not finding Vehicon and Shockwave is that the retailers aren't stocking much of them. It's as simple as that.

Oh c'mon man I was only rolling with the joke, a bit of sarcasm! I too doubt the persons involved would be going down the action-figure section when there is so much more expensive hardware and electronics to be made off with.

Yeah the culprits shoulda taken any and all BB's and dumped them in a garbage bin on the way out....

DISCHARGE wrote:You need to think like a criminal.
If you could stick 5-10+ items with better-awesome resale value than retail in a large children's item box and pay $40 or less for the whole lot(and get away with it hundreds/thousands of times? ) you would see opportunity staring you in the face. Toys like LPS are small and have a good fan base, prime targets.

Working with a small team, 2 or more, things can be coordinated for organized criminal activities. Gathering information, staging of products, the guy on the inside. Done by more than one person creates confusion for any Loss Prevention watching cameras.
To be able to pull off such a huge value of cash is amazing.
I don't condone this activity by the way, but have had "conversations" about this very subject though.

The thing is, though, the figs that retail for $10 yet sell for $50...they're hard to find. If you could easily grab 5 or 10 at a time, they probably wouldn't be going for $50 a pop with a $10 retail price. From what I gather, this dude was selling toys at regular prices or less, but he was only paying a fraction of what they were worth.