I Give Up !!!

[Jinx723]

Today is the offical last day for me.
As of this day I will no longer go hunting for 25th Anniversary Joes. I will no longer have an action figure control my life. This past week I have gone hunting four times, not including today. I live in the San Fernando Valley, in SoCal and my trips consist of five Wal-Marts, thirteen Targets, and six TRUs. During the holidays I was on a roll finding Wave 3 & Wave 4 and Comic Packs 1 & 2. The last three weeks I've been coming home empty handed and I am gettting tired of it, mentally and physically. I love these figures but for a 35 year old to go around hunting for "dolls" is not worth it for me anymore. Wave 5 has been my dream wave since I saw the list on a Wal-Mart thread late last summer, and with the upcoming waves getting better... Today I actually found myself useing profanity out loud in the aisles of stores when I found empty pegs or figures I already have had for months. One of my New Years Resolutions was to start attending church again (must be the getting old thing), I have yet to attend because I wake up and decided to check out Wal-Marts on a Sunday my day off, just because they open at 7:00 am and I want to try and bet any scalpers. Like I said this weeks four trips, have cost me $70.00 in gas, while adding unnecessary mileage to my car. We've been having rain storms all week, and for some reason native Los Angelenos can't drive for $#!+ when it rains (accidents everywhere). To top it off when I left one of the Targets today I found that someone had hit the right rear quarter panel on my 07 Honda Civic Si. Hit and Run F***!!! I have been late to work twice for checking Wal-Marts in the morning that are out of my way to work. My supervisior has already talked to me about it, since I'm always the first one at the store because I live walking distance from work. I even lost my wallet with all my credit cards, checks, and driver's license. Luckily some good soul turned it in at the Target that I went back to, after returning five figures that I bought out of impulse. I am planning on buying a house this summer and I should be focusing on that, then my beloved Joes I can't even get. Later on I will be going through all my stuff and pull what I don't need so I can return them. I never collected mint on card Joes before and with all the variants going around with this line...I'm just gonna return them. I have no receipts since I've been buying from last summer, but I'm sure Target can give it back to me in a gift card, that I can use for the exclusives and other necessities. I'm still going to buy the 25th Joes, I love my Joes, but I'm not gonna stress over them. If I find something I want when I stop in a store I'll buy it. But as of today I will no longer hunt for 25th figures, either I get'em down the line or never get'em. I refuse to pay outragoues E-Bay prices, and I hate on-line shopping when I can't see what I'm buying. So I wish you all the best and congrates on your future finds while I curse you all while reading your threads on "I found... "

JINX723, 'retired hunter'

[gunslingercbr]

it can be tough and aggravating. there are a lot of good guys in the LA area that can help you out with what you can't find. just frequent the SoCal thread and give a hollar, and then relax and enjoy your Joes.

[Texasdoom]

Listen,since I'm a genius I'm going to go ahead and solve all of your problems now. Preorder by the case at Bigbadtoystore. They already have all the waves out and they are so easy to get,plus you get duplicated of the badass ones. The plus to this is that is basically doesn't ruin your life and gives you closure on your collection addiction because you never have to worry about it. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'll buy all of the 25th figures that you don't want via Paypal TOMORROW. I got dibbs. Called it.

[darthZartan]

At least you got wave 4 (still just a myth to me) and some peg warmers! Its been over a month since I have seen wave 3 last hit the shelves, since then every target I have visited here in san jose has had zero carded figures. Its beyond frustrating. I feel you brother.

[VIPER 48]

I feel your pain man, i really do. I have not had that hard a time but i can understand what you are going through...

[Reznor]

I can attest to what Viper 48 says. This area sucks too. I dont even think there are that many collectors in our area, but it seems like the pegs are always empty at the stores I go to. I actually bought a couple of figures from Ebay for the first time the other day. Seems like a lot of the stores are totally hit or miss, my area seems to mainly be miss. Now where your from, I can imagine their being more collectors, so I can imagine how much more irritating thats gotta be. Sorry for your luck, but hopefully things will start to pick up.

[CG76]

Listen,since I'm a genius I'm going to go ahead and solve all of your problems now. Preorder by the case at Bigbadtoystore. They already have all the waves out and they are so easy to get,plus you get duplicated of the badass ones. The plus to this is that is basically doesn't ruin your life and gives you closure on your collection addiction because you never have to worry about it. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'll buy all of the 25th figures that you don't want via Paypal TOMORROW. I got dibbs. Called it.

If you spend enough too, you'll save by not paying taxes which should cover the cost of shipping.

[VandalSavage]

I guess the good news is you have 24 stores to check...I have 2...But the bad news is you have found next to nothing at those 24, while I have found all the waves at least twice at my 2 stores...I'm sure it has a lot to do with area and the amount of collectors/scalpers you are against for the same thing.

Mr. Savage

[Echo7Solo]

There are over 1400 members of the tank. I'm sure you can find more than one who is willing to work with you or help you find what your looking for. Also I think it is safe to say that it would be cheaper than the 70 in gas you are spending for nothing at all. Just check the stores on your way too and from work. Don't make special trips and if you find something of interest to somebody else then get it for a trade. There are other ways to get what you want but you might not have it in had by the end of the day. Oh yeah and they are not "Dolls" they are ACTION FIGURES!

[Blackdragon]

I honestly feel your pain. All i ever see are wave 1 comic packs. I gave up myself and bought 2 sets of wave 5 off ebay for 90 bucks. I figured i'd save on gas in the long run.

[Scoop]

I know someone already said that they have dibbs if you are selling your figures. I wouldn't mind getting in on that if you have extras of figures from Waves 1, 2, & 3. I live on the East Coast in NYC and we don't even have peg warmers. I would love anyone's peg warmers of figures I'm missing like Firefly, Stalker, Lady Jaye, Shipwreck and Storm Shadow V2 (the one from Wave 1).

[DaViper]

Being a Socal resident, I know exactly how you feel. It's hard to get a piece of the pie when the distribution is not enough to satisfy all the collectors, scalpers and would be collectors. My advice to you is just be patient. Owning wave 5 right now is not the end of the world. Hasbro will be making more of the figures and before you know it, we will be drowning in them. Plus, like the other members mentioned you should find someone in your area that can help you hunt. It has helped me out a lot and you don't have to make that unnecessary trip to walmart. God knows how much I get tired of seeing the same greeters everytime. :D

[bvance74]

I was going through the same thing here in Michigan, so I decided to buy, or pre-order mine from BBTS. It saves me the hassle of wasting my time and gas hunting all over town, and coming up empty handed. Ordering online IMO is a very good alternative, and will save your sanity as well. The plus side you get what you want anyway. Yo Joe!!!

[Echo7Solo]

I was going through the same thing here in Michigan, so I decided to buy, or pre-order mine from BBTS. It saves me the hassle of wasting my time and gas hunting all over town, and coming up empty handed. Ordering online IMO is a very good alternative, and will save your sanity as well. The plus side you get what you want anyway. Yo Joe!!!


yeah so now instead of going nuts going from store to store and finding nothing you will just be looking out the window for the mail man like Al Bundy waiting on the pizza that Peg "ordered" Just kidding. Regardless of how you look at it the first thing you need is patience.

[Ewokhunter92]

I'm just going to have to say WAHHHHH!

I live in a small town in bumfuck Il. I have A walmart that does not carry Joes as they are too small to carry them. The nearest Walmart is 15 miles one way and they carry them but never get anything.

the NEXT closest walmart is 18 miles the opposite way.

If I want to go to Target and a different walmart, I have to drive 38 miles straight up the opposite way.

If I want to drive 50 miles to TRU, Target and walmart, I can but on that day I may not find anything.

However, I do find things when I go, sometimes. I have wasted more gas than that, and that is only on the actual driving to get to A store, not between stores.

No one said you had to collect these, but if you want them and hate wasting gas, buy online or get some friends to help. it is the only way to do it without wasting gas.

I'm sorry to sound negative, but I choose to collect these, so I'll have to put up with the challenges of the hobby. No one gets what they want in life the first chance out.

[FadetoBlack2880]

I agree. My girlfriend and I argue daily about them. We've been together more than 5 years and my toys are causing major problems. Sadly, I preorder the figures from BBTS and then turn around and pay twice what I should for the same figures via Ebay. I'll check the Wal-Marts and Targets when I'm in the store, but thats it.

[VIPER 48]

I agree. My girlfriend and I argue daily about them. We've been together more than 5 years and my toys are causing major problems. Sadly, I preorder the figures from BBTS and then turn around and pay twice what I should for the same figures via Ebay. I'll check the Wal-Marts and Targets when I'm in the store, but thats it.


My wife didn't understand what the fuss was all about when i started collecting them again either. But after a while she seemed to get used to the idea and sometimes even helps me. I just tried to make it appealing to her in some way. In this case, she loves to look at the figure's faces and make fun of the goofy expressions. It makes for a good laugh...

[Gentleman]

You folks would know true pain if you lived in Argentina :D

Among many other countries...

[mckeesportpaguy]

Pittsburgh, PA is pretty dead too, once have me and my friend found wave 4 and 5, and that was between 20 or so different stores we hit quite regularly. I have also started pre ordering from bigbadtoystore and the last 2 weeks my hunting has been cut by 3/4, only looking if im in the area or riding past a store instead of burning up 25 a day not finding anything...

I was at walmart tonight to buy liquid drano, and casually walked to the toy aisle, not a single figure.......but i breathed a sigh of relief because i actually had to buy something there today :)

[General Hawk59]

hey if you want the best prices anywere join gijoeclub.com its cheap and worth it and they do pre orders on all 25th waves.. only thing is you have to pre order them cause once there out you cant order them again from them unless they have some deal going on or somthing.. but they dont jip you like bigbadtoystore or toywiz or the one and only retards at brians toys.

[Stygian]

As others have said, I feel your pain- truly. It's probably best if you just give up the search for awhile (maybe not for good though), let the batteries recharge, and then give it another go at some later point. Also, if it's a choice between employment and figures, go with employment. Don't deliberately make yourself late for work for action figures, dude. It's not worth the hassle if your boss gives you the boot and you're left unemployed and disgruntled. Improperly blaming the search for getting you fired, when in reality it was your inability to prioritize.

Please understand that I'm on your side here, and that me mentioning priorities is merely to help you focus on putting figures in their proper in the grander scheme with the rest of life.

Yes, focus on buying a new house. Once you have that under control you may be ready to tackle the 'search' again. Either that or, as another member suggested, simply pre-order through BBTS and leave the searching to them.

[Texasdoom]

I would like to say that I will in fact, pay what you paid for those figures that you would like to sell,plus the shipping and stuff. I will help you with your house payment dude....I'm your friend.

[WildWeasel]

I'm just going to have to say WAHHHHH!

I live in a small town in bumfuck Il. I have A walmart that does not carry Joes as they are too small to carry them. The nearest Walmart is 15 miles one way and they carry them but never get anything.

the NEXT closest walmart is 18 miles the opposite way.

If I want to go to Target and a different walmart, I have to drive 38 miles straight up the opposite way.

If I want to drive 50 miles to TRU, Target and walmart, I can but on that day I may not find anything.

However, I do find things when I go, sometimes. I have wasted more gas than that, and that is only on the actual driving to get to A store, not between stores.

No one said you had to collect these, but if you want them and hate wasting gas, buy online or get some friends to help. it is the only way to do it without wasting gas.

I'm sorry to sound negative, but I choose to collect these, so I'll have to put up with the challenges of the hobby. No one gets what they want in life the first chance out.

LOL. I have to agree with Ewokhunter92 on this one. Nobody is forcing you to drive all around. You are making it worse on yourself by refusing to order anything online which would save you tons in gas money and virtually eliminate the stress. Unless/until Hasbro finally steps up with the distribution, these "droughts" are going to continue. So you can continue to "hunt" or get smart and order online. But to start blaming the fact that you can't get to church or work on time because you are hunting for Joes says you have deeper issues than getting stressed out over not finding figures in the stores. Though I am sorry to hear about your car. That does suck.

[lookinglasself]

Welcome to the club.

This is why it's worth it to pay a few extra bucks online. I know this scenario all too well.

[Hellion42]

I, for one, will never understand how ordering a case from BBTS at $6 a figure is in any way shape or form a ripoff.[/offtopic]

On-topic, it sounds like Jinx has a compulsivity problem. Hell, most collectors have one to some degree. Dude, you just need to find that gray area in between having to have everything right now and shutting yourself out. None of these things are going anywhere. And if a fig does happen to slip through the cracks, as folks have pointed out, someone here can help, or you can rationalize the ebay surcharge by remembering all the gas money you saved by not making insane hunting trips every day/week/whatever. Happy medium my friend, it exists, and it's waiting for you to find it. :)

[tuan_tran73]

I know how frustrated you are, but you should continue to pursuit what you love and joy. I know it is fustrating when you're reading a lot of posts that people found Wave 5 carded and wave 2 comics, and on the other hand, I am strugling to find Wave 5 and Wave 2 comics in my Area. My place have at least 3 Walmarts, 5 targets and 2 TRUs, and still very difficult to find. Not only that, store employees are not really friendly. Everytimes, I try to ask them question, it seems like I am a criminal not a buyer. We need to address this to Hasbro, but I cannot find comments or complains web site. Maybe, our fellows here can help us address the issue to Hasbro during Q&A session. I think the major issue here is "Scalpers." They are wipe out the stores before you have a chance, unless you can be at Walmarts at 7:00AM and Target at 8:00 AM everyday. For me its really difficult since I have to drop off my kid at school everyday.

[bmc]

i had to give up the is it in yet routine because hearing about all these targets, walmarts and trus having these will cause you to go out and look.
richmond has nothing and i will pay the extra in shipping to get them a month late but at least i get them. but dont get me wrong ording from the Internet is as painful as ever "due in January" and you still dont have the order, but you will.

[Stygian]

On-topic, it sounds like Jinx has a compulsivity problem. Hell, most collectors have one to some degree.

Fortunately or unfortunately that compulsivity is the fire that usually requires very little stoaking, but keeps this industry alive. W/out it there would be no SW line. There would be no GI Joe line. You get the picture.

Of course, I guess it remains to be seen if the absence of either one of these lines would mean the end of the world. ;-)

[WildWeasel]

Instead of all this complaining we should be looking for a solution. As a community here, we should be looking to help each other out. If you can afford to pick up an extra figure here and there that is sought after on the boards and offer it to the members (and not using eBay to squeeze more money out of us like some shisters) then do so.

Or even something as simple as making sure you post your latest sightings in the local sightings thread. That way when members who frequent the site or subscribe to the thread get notified and can make an attempt to get to those stores.

All this bitching and moaning does no good and I'm sure a lot of us are tired of hearing it. Yes it's hard to find these figures, but let's do something about it.

[Ewokhunter92]

I say just wait it out. Last year, wave 1 of the 30th Star Wars took almost 3 months before it got to the point people were finding them.

Stores are not ordering full amounts due to inventory time and resets. After February, we should see TONS of stuff sitting around.

Hasbro said they are doubling the production these due to it's demand. I think things will cool down soon enough for everyone to get what they want.

If you can hold off on the anxiety of the gotta have it now mentality, you'll be alright.

[C.I.A.D.]

Never give up! I just completed wave 5 thanks to the help of members here & there. There's definitely more than enough figures to go around, so it's just a matter of looking out for one another, like WW said.

[Wyo]

PM sent.

[C.I.A.D.]

Seriously, BD? You know better than that. Go check in the trade list, quite a few people have'em now :D

[kndy]

Hi Jinx,

It sounds like to me that you have toy hunting addiction (the bad one), that myself and others have had. I've been there before and like yourself, I had to step away and re-evaluate things (and was out of it for a year).

But I know where you're at and the desperation of wanting things and the competitiveness that drives you to wanting to be at the stores before the others get it, it becomes wreckless and now it's affecting your job and your life.

I'm not here to tell you what to do but the best thing I can tell you is that when you know things are going bad (and I'm sure there is more to the story than what you posted), step back and re-evaluate things in your life and know what is important.

As others have said, you can depend on other collectors to help you, you can go online. There are other choices you can make.

But I can tell it may go deeper than that and I've been in your position before. A few of us on here have been there before. So, whatever direction you choose, good luck to you!

[performula]

What figures are you looking for?

[tile_mcgillus]

Hey man.

Keep your head up. When the hunt gets to be no fun, and for me it isnt anymore, use the internet. Preorder from BBTS , which doesnt charge your card until it ships...then shop casually and if you find your figures...cancel the preorder. OR use Ebay. i got a flash, snowjob and 2 CGs for forty bucks. Yeah i paid too much for them big whoop. Id spend that in gas in 3 days looking for joes.So just cut out the HUNT and enjoy the GET.

[Shin Densetsu]

These figures will be readily available in some time. Its not worth being late to work and getting in trouble over them.

I know the feeling of going home empty handed after searching all over the place numerous times. Money that could have been for the latest wave of joes instead goes to gas, and still no joes. Its a terrible feeling. However I've learned to wait it out. In my experience, the stuff I usually look for is found when I don't scramble to look for it. Its not worth the anxiety and stress to get the figures ASAP.

If you crave having these ASAP, I do suggest preordering a case, and selling the figures you don't want. If you want the thrill of the hunt, I would say wait it out, hunt after saturation hits, and don't let it become a priority.
They are wipe out the stores before you have a chance, unless you can be at Walmarts at 7:00AM and Target at 8:00 AM everyday.
Its also kids and parents man. I can't tell you how many times I've overheard a parent telling their kid about the joes, or the kid going up to their parent wanting the gijoe soldier figure. Its usually the case of a kid wanting something, and looking for something that they can afford on their allowance.
I say just wait it out. Last year, wave 1 of the 30th Star Wars took almost 3 months before it got to the point people were finding them.

Stores are not ordering full amounts due to inventory time and resets. After February, we should see TONS of stuff sitting around.

Hasbro said they are doubling the production these due to it's demand. I think things will cool down soon enough for everyone to get what they want.

If you can hold off on the anxiety of the gotta have it now mentality, you'll be alright.
Agreed. Come to think of it, wave 3 of Star Wars from last year is still relatively easy to find now.