The Energon Pub

Starscream227 wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:Ok, none of you have replied to Seibertron about this question:

DO YOU USE THE SIGHTINGS FORUM LOCATED HERE:

http://www.seibertron.com/forums/viewfo ... ?f=57&sid=

Yes. Illinois Thread.

To make this post more meaningful;
I've noticed the 'Sightings' Drop-down menu doesn't have a
link to the sightings forum (only to the Toys Forum). I
can't say adding a link to it would be helpful, but at
least it would be right in front of people, if they only
take the time to look.

On the topic as a whole;

When I go out to do my huntung for the day, week, month whatever, I do so for the surprise (or disappointment). I
don't call ahead, though I will glance through the sightings here on Seibertron. I do this because I enjoy the hard work involved. The disappointment factor drives me to continue looking and the thrill of the find drives me equally.

Scalpers are businessmen, really. They see and take an
opportunity in providing a service to you, even if it's at higher prices. I see nothing wrong here. If you demand it, they will be there.

Yep, true. I emailed Ryan about this last week. It'd make things a little easier. I had to save the GA post in a separate location.

I guess that people/collectors buying the figures for inflated prices makes us the enablers. No market, no scalpers. OMG-IT'S OUR FAULT!!!

Oh well, back to the therapist.

DevastaTTor wrote:I guess that people/collectors buying the figures for inflated prices makes us the enablers. No market, no scalpers. OMG-IT'S OUR FAULT!!!

Oh well, back to the therapist.

therapy not needed...you finally caught on

Gutter Bunny wrote:

DevastaTTor wrote:I guess that people/collectors buying the figures for inflated prices makes us the enablers. No market, no scalpers. OMG-IT'S OUR FAULT!!!

Oh well, back to the therapist.

therapy not needed...you finally caught on

NO! Listen to use DevastaTTor! You don't need TheRapist!

You have worth as a person and no amount of rape is going to change that!

I have added the Toy Sightings forum to the primary navigation of the site. I have also added the Sightings sidebar menu to the Toy Sightings forum. Hopefully that will help you guys out a little bit.

http://seibertron.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=57
http://seibertron.com/sightings/index.php

Counterpunch wrote:

Gutter Bunny wrote:

DevastaTTor wrote:I guess that people/collectors buying the figures for inflated prices makes us the enablers. No market, no scalpers. OMG-IT'S OUR FAULT!!!

Oh well, back to the therapist.

therapy not needed...you finally caught on

NO! Listen to use DevastaTTor! You don't need TheRapist!

You have worth as a person and no amount of rape is going to change that!

Hey guys,

Let's not derail this thread. Please keep it on topic, especially now that I've added it to the homepage of the site.

Thanks!

Scalper. Plain and simple. Ruining it for others who are looking for these items. Opportunists trying to make a buck off their popularity and rarity. No excuse for it.

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

I like opportunist better.

I dun think all this complaining scalpers is gonna help. Its a fact of life n its not gonna stop anytime soon, so u might as well live with it. I'm from Singapore and I've seen the Leaderclass OP a grand total of none! So be thankful with whatever u have... btw I really dun think its unethical to sell off extra toys at a slight markup, its just simple economics and it makes the world go round. Its incredibly silly to think otherwise.

Regards
Kevin

I don't really care too much in the politics of collectors versus scalpers, but I do have to say a few things about it as a collector.

I could care less whether the stock of a collectible has been bought up by a majority of scalpers or avid collectors, because in the end, it all goes into the supply vs. demand of the product itself. If a scalper's intent is to make a profit out of a desired product, by them charging a premium, they are doing us collectors a service by boosting the value of the collectibles we so possess ourselves.

This isn't anything new at all, and we can relate it to so many other products, and even services that have existed for as long as media has. Collectors need to look at the overall big picture and understand that collectors actually would want scalpers, and scalpers vice versa. I cannot tell you how happy I am for scalpers and resellers of products on sites such as eBay that has granted me the opportunity of purchasing collectibles I never would have been able to before.




Danny

-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.

zatara1701 wrote:You're just assuming that all of us DONT have plans...

No, but I get the distinct impression that a lot of people aren't using the Sightings tools that websites like Seibertron, TFW and Unicron put together to help you guys find these figures. These tools really do help!

zatara1701 wrote:Honestly, 9 times out of 10 Target, Walmart and TRU dont have employees that are near as knowledgable of the products as we FANS are, so getting them to check??? Come on, Im in retail and I KNOW not to expect that kind of service, so youre lucky OR theyve gotten use to you calling.

Considering that I've called two stores in the past year or so, I'd say that they're not used to me calling. I called the Target on Addison on Chicago last fall to see if they had the just-released Classics figures. I gave them the DCPI number instead of asking if they had something in stock. Sure enough, they had them in the back and said they'd hold them for me. Last Friday, my buddy Paul and I called the Target on Clark and Roosevelt here in the South Loop of Chicago ... gave them the DCPI for Starscream, lo and behold they had them in the back and the nice lady said she'd put them on hold for me if I gave her my name.

zatara1701 wrote:Personally, I know what days my local stores "toy" trucks come in, so that's when I go shop, hunt, etc, IF I dont have to work because someone has to pay for my hobby.

If you havent noticed, the majority of your patrons to this site disagree what this guy has done... He hasnt "planned" out a hunt to go get a G1 Movie Jazz, he has used the system to deprive other consumers of it then benefit from it... that is what a SCALPER is. Why you're taking up for this guy (even complimented him as being smart), who is OBVIOUSLY NOT a Transformers fan, is beyond me???

Because he's doing the same thing that any of you can do. He's finding out how to get figures before you get them. I don't understand why you think what he's doing is so wrong. It's not like the guy hijacked a truck or something illegal to get his hands on those figures. What I'm trying to drive home to you guys is how to find these figures early just like the so-called scalpers do. Rather than complaining about scalpers, how about figuring out how to get to the figures before these "scalpers" get to them? I think people blame scalpers when they shouldn't. I guess the person that frustrates me the most who complains about scalpers is the guy who sees on this site that a new figure has been spotted but doesn't go to look for the figure until a few days later (usually pay day) and by that time the figure is long gone. The user then cries "omigod ... it's all the scalpers fault!" when it wasn't the "scalpers" fault at all, the buyer simply didn't get to the store in time. Not to mention, what if actual regular fans got there first before the buyer? How would the buyer know if it was a scalper or simply fans that had bought out the new stock before they got there? That's what drives me nuts the most about people complaining about "scalpers".

We're all entitled to our opinions and points of view, but what the other fans here are pointing out is merely facts...this guy isnt "smart" as you said, he is a parasite thatis taking advantage of a situation. I enjoy this site, as I am sure all that posts here do, but I am surprised 1) by your callous nature towards the fans that support this site and 2) insulting us by bascially saying we're stupid for not "planning" out hunts/shopping out.

I dont know about you, but I dont make a habit of insulting my customers that pay my paycheck. Just a thought....[/quote]

ding,ding,ding!!! we have an A-hole on the run!!!

-Z- G1 Snarl Rules wrote:

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

I like opportunist better.

And? I still don't understand what's so wrong with grabbing opportunity by the balls and running with it.

upther wrote:

-Z- G1 Snarl Rules wrote:

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

I like opportunist better.

And? I still don't understand what's so wrong with grabbing opportunity by the balls and running with it.

I don't either. Of course, GetterDragun, who lives near NY city, and myself (Chicago), have kind of different stories with our toy hunting because we have so many stores within our area. I think there's around 100 Walmarts, Kmarts, TRUs, KBs, Targets and Meijer stores within a 30 mile radius of where I live. It's a different story for toy hunting when you're in a big city than when you live out in BFE.

Scalpers are a fact of life. It sucks for some people, yeah, but what can you do?

As for the TF shortage, that didn't stop me from actually getting a Deluxe Arcee for under 10$ on eBay a few nights ago. I was the only one who bid on it, that tells me that there isn't that much of a shortage of movie toys right now, or else I never would have got the thing so cheap.

I only have one question to ask. Would you consider a person selling a G1 Optimus Prime at $100 plus shipping on eBay a scalper? I mean that's way above MSRP, it may even go higher than that when bids go up. Isn't that the same case with the Jazz figure??

Scalpers do what they do because it works. Clearly someone is buying them. That seller is providing a service, if people must have G1 style jazz now, he has it ready for them. Clearly no one is getting hurt, The people that would have bought that figure anyways didn't mind paying extra and that man sold his item. You're creating victims that don't exsist.

Thanatos Prime wrote:I only have one question to ask. Would you consider a person selling a G1 Optimus Prime at $100 plus shipping on eBay a scalper? I mean that's way above MSRP, it may even go higher than that when bids go up. Isn't that the same case with the Jazz figure??

Scalpers do what they do because it works. Clearly someone is buying them. That seller is providing a service, if people must have G1 style jazz now, he has it ready for them. Clearly no one is getting hurt, The peolpe that would have bought that figure anyways didn't mind paying extra and that man sold his item. You're creating victims that don't exsist.

Yea, you bring up an interesting point. At what time do they become collectables. I would say 90% of the people on here would agree that it's cool that if you bought an original G1 Prime at a yard sale for $50 MIB that it is worth $300 plus, even if they don't want to sell it. Even figures like Energon Grimlck and Swoop that are out of production demand a premium on e-bay because they are now "collectables". It's an intersting concept to figure out why something is a collectable, is time a factor, quantity, popularity?

He also has another bid, with a pic of 18 Gi voyager starscreams!

Counterpunch wrote:

Gutter Bunny wrote:

DevastaTTor wrote:I guess that people/collectors buying the figures for inflated prices makes us the enablers. No market, no scalpers. OMG-IT'S OUR FAULT!!!

Oh well, back to the therapist.

therapy not needed...you finally caught on :P

NO! Listen to use DevastaTTor! You don't need TheRapist!

You have worth as a person and no amount of rape is going to change that!

I'll take the rapists for $200 Alex...

(Done derailing thread... and now back to the debate)

Seibertron wrote:I have added the Toy Sightings forum to the primary navigation of the site. I have also added the Sightings sidebar menu to the Toy Sightings forum. Hopefully that will help you guys out a little bit.

http://seibertron.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=57
http://seibertron.com/sightings/index.php

And the crowd goes wild!!!

IMO, this guy is a scalper since he bought the figures legally and is trying to make a profit off of it. But I have to give him credit for being resourceful and managing to get 18 of them.

OK let's look at what this guy is doing, he is selling a G1 deco Jazz. Store price: $10. (I'm ignoring tax since it varies from state to state and so we have better whole numbers) The current bid on the auction is $18 and has a buy it now of $27.50

Now let's do some math: 18x$10=$180.

Now let's say he sells all 18 of them for $18. 18x$18=$324. Almost double what he paid for the toys themselves.

Now let's say they all sell for the buy it now price: 18x$27.50=$495

His profit margin drops slightly with shipping but either way he IS very likely to make a profit. Worst case scenario for him is not making back what he paid, which is what's going to happen if he sells them for $18 and spends $9 shipping which brings the amount he makes to $162. If they are all bought for the buy it now price, he makes $333.

In fact, looking at his feedback he has sold several G1 deco Jazz toys already. He has made approximately $123.56 in profit. His shipping cost has varied from auction to auction so the actual profit number could be higher. I just used the $9.00 prices from the auction listed in the OP as a baseline. He also has several other had to find movie toys listed.

Although I will admit, although I believe him to be a scalper, he could be trying to help his fellow collectors while trying to make a few bucks while he's at it. He could have seen the toys and knowing people were having trouble finding them and decided to sell them on eBay to sell them to those who want them and are willing to pay more than retail price for them. We have no way of knowing.

Starscream227 wrote:Scalpers are businessmen, really. They see and take an
opportunity in providing a service to you, even if it's at higher prices. I see nothing wrong here. If you demand it, they will be there.

While I dislike those that buy multiple copies of a toy and sell them for profit, I agree with the rest of this statement. They are businessmen that see an opportunity and take it. Like it or not, whenever an item is in demand, there will be those who will buy multiple versions and sell them for large profits. We don't have to like it but we do have to live with it.

For the people in the San Francisco area, I called two stores. I was on hold too long with the Colma, CA store so I hung up (i.e. a minute or two, didn't have time to wait that long while on break). I also called the Daly City, CA store and talked with a real nice woman in the toy department. She was more than helpful. I gave her the DCPI for Starscream (087-06-0006) and she said that they were already sold out of that item. I then gave her the number for 087-06-0826. She said the figure was on clearance already, which didn't really make sense. I clarified and asked if that was for a Transformers item, and she said, yes it was. She offered to see if there were any on the shelves still, but I declined and told her I'd just stop by after work. Thanked her for her assistance and that was that. Both stores spoke remarkable english.

That kind of brings me to another point ... I know it's the summer right now, so there are all age groups working at the store during the day, so this advice might not help. But I would advise calling during the morning hours and not at night. The store regulars work there during the day (i.e. Moms, etc). I think you would have much better luck talking to someone who works there during the day and has probably worked there for the past few years rather than calling at night and getting the high school who could give less than two shits about his or her job. At least, that was my experience back in Michigan. Here in Chicago, it seems that there are people of all ages working at all times of the day and on weekends so that theory doesn't necessarily apply here.

I'll call some of the other San Francisco area stores later in the day. Obviously, Jazz and Starscream have made it to the West Coast based on this phone call.

GetterDragun wrote:

Thanatos Prime wrote:I only have one question to ask. Would you consider a person selling a G1 Optimus Prime at $100 plus shipping on eBay a scalper? I mean that's way above MSRP, it may even go higher than that when bids go up. Isn't that the same case with the Jazz figure??

Scalpers do what they do because it works. Clearly someone is buying them. That seller is providing a service, if people must have G1 style jazz now, he has it ready for them. Clearly no one is getting hurt, The peolpe that would have bought that figure anyways didn't mind paying extra and that man sold his item. You're creating victims that don't exsist.

Yea, you bring up an interesting point. At what time do they become collectables. I would say 90% of the people on here would agree that it's cool that if you bought an original G1 Prime at a yard sale for $50 MIB that it is worth $300 plus, even if they don't want to sell it. Even figures like Energon Grimlck and Swoop that are out of production demand a premium on e-bay because they are now "collectables". It's an intersting concept to figure out why something is a collectable, is time a factor, quantity, popularity?

I'd say the moment Hasbro or Takara isn't making them any more, it's a collectable.

Well, I never buy on eBay; mainly because I loathe paying shipping. And I have every gotten every TF (Armada - Classics) that I've wanted except one just by being patient. (Still need Cyb. Wingsaber if you find one! ) I think that if you live in the U.S. you rarely have an excuse other than impatience. But there are exceptions to every rule...

I also think there is a major difference between +$6 for expenses and *modest* profit and outright price gouging (i.e. 2x MSRP. Your time is worth something - that's why you get paid to go to work!

Some folks have brought the children into this ("won't somebody think of the children?!"). And yes, if you can get a figure it sucks - but when I was little I didn't have OP, Megs, OS, Soundwave, any jets, etc. In fact I only had 2 dinobots (Snarl FTW!) and some minibots until I finally got PM OP and DoubleDealer after they became sale/clearance material (quite a time gap in there!). And you know what? I *did not* ruin my childhood! In the end their just toys. I actually think that not having some of those figures is what got me into TF collecting later...

However this "debate" turns out I'm officially siding with Seibertron, Getter, etc on this one. Some folks here (on both sides) need to calm down and remember that we are all friends here; and in the end they are just toys, no matter how much we love them....

My $0.02, thanks,
S.P.