[Gaelinic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Superfly

I actually live right there at Parker & Arapahoe, and I know the guys at ePlanet too - they actually don't buy anything from the stores for resell. They used to buy stuff from the scalpers a few years back, but the way the market is, it all comes direct from the manufacturer now. The only Joes they got in was wave 1, and I got my case there. They haven't had any 25th Joes for sale since summer (which sucks!).

I don't mean to disparrage a guy I really don't know, but how would you know he doesn't pick up stuff. Would he actually tell one of his customers that he's cleaning up the competition so he can have a local monopoly on a product? It makes sense for a business to buy stuff cheap and sell it for a mark up. You can't fault a business for thinking that way. However, as a collector, you CAN fault a scalper cleaning up the local stock. Why wouldn't they go to the local stores on their way in? Oh, unless there's some sort of tax penalty or crime problem in them doing this.

As for scalper stories, I got a doozy. I'm walking into a Wal-mart and stroll over to the Toy section. Sitting in the Hot Wheels section is this guy on the ground over a pile of cars. He's opening up a mystery package. He looks up at me as I pass by him on the way to Joe Nirvana. He jumps up, grabs his stuff, and tells me to wait. He then barrels through me and leaps (literally) at the Transformers.

He then yells, "Mine," as he puts his back to all the Transformers. I gingerly walk past him and look at the Joes, miraculously untouched. He sees I'm uninterested and walks back to his Hot Wheels meditation chamber.

I then go back to the Transformers and start to look through them. Every couple of seconds, I'm glancing at him. I have enough sense to know what's valuable there but really don't care. I pick up some of the rarer ones and move them over an isle.

Hot Wheels Troll is still oblivious.

I pick up a Voyager Optimus Prime and start walking around him. I stop over him and look at the Hot Wheels.

He looks up and sees what I have. The freak reaches up and tries to grab the package. I step back, while acting oblivious.

He stands up and demands I return it to his . . .

And he looks back and sees his Transformers section has been rifled through. He runs back there, at the same time, giving off that Rancor whine of defeat you hear in Return of the Jedi.

I salute him and walk away.

I heard him runing towards me and heard this loud crash and boom as the isle wall shook violently. The guy had stumbled and fallen over the entire car section of the aisle.

It's the little things in life that brighten your day.

[OUTBACK]

lol..i don't know if i believe that story.

btw - i still have one set of wave 3 MOC for TRADE only. they are not for sale.

if anyone is interested, because it is killing me that some people have not even found a hint of wave 2, let alone wave 3....PM me and have a trade list prepared.

i'm pretty flexible, but i only collect GI JOE & SIGMA 6.

thanks,
OUTBACK

[The Superfly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaelinic

I don't mean to disparrage a guy I really don't know, but how would you know he doesn't pick up stuff. Would he actually tell one of his customers that he's cleaning up the competition so he can have a local monopoly on a product? It makes sense for a business to buy stuff cheap and sell it for a mark up. You can't fault a business for thinking that way. However, as a collector, you CAN fault a scalper cleaning up the local stock. Why wouldn't they go to the local stores on their way in? Oh, unless there's some sort of tax penalty or crime problem in them doing this.

I totally understand your skepticism; the reason I know they don't buy anything at retail to resell anymore is a few factors - they can't mark anything up enough to make the effort worthwhile, because the hunt is as fruitless for them as it is for me. The manager used to stop and pick things up for me, but he never finds anything anymore so he stopped even looking about a year ago. They only have 2 employees, one of which isn't even a "toy" person, so they don't have much time to spend looking for stuff. They used to actually buy Marvel Legends from scalpers a few years back, but it they stopped that a while back. They have been in the process of closing for the past few months, so they are pretty much just selling off the existing inventory and not really selling new stuff as much.

I know these things because the owners are old friends of mine, and they speak pretty honestly with me. I've worked in that business since HS, so I totally know how it goes. Not to say they they don't markup the hot items, because every shop does that. But as far as buying at retail for resale, they just don't bother with it. Too much hassle. They still get new manufacturer shipments, like DC Direct and Star Wars though.

[slim19722]

Picked up the Cobra Legions pack today. They had 3 left, as of this afternoon.

[SWORNENEMY]

I didn't think I would like the comics two packs, but after seeing them carded I changed my mind. that mail in doc looks pretty cool to. (where did you find the new 5 pack at????) Check out the link!!!!!!!



http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...scaled_100.jpg

[slim19722]

I saw them at the Springs TRU.

[Gaelinic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWORNENEMY

I didn't think I would like the comics two packs, but after seeing them carded I changed my mind. that mail in doc looks pretty cool to. (where did you find the new 5 pack at????) Check out the link!!!!!!!



http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...scaled_100.jpg

Are the Comic packs out yet?

[SWORNENEMY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slim19722

I saw them at the Springs TRU.

thanks for the info, I live in denver so I guess I will get me one when they show up closer to me, on a side note any body that needs wave 3 still, kbtoys got another case in today! they had the whole set as of 3:00pm this afternoon, (no variants) I think the comic 2 packs will hit after the holidays, just in time for the mail away promotion.

[Gaelinic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWORNENEMY

thanks for the info, I live in denver so I guess I will get me one when they show up closer to me, on a side note any body that needs wave 3 still, kbtoys got another case in today! they had the whole set as of 3:00pm this afternoon, (no variants) I think the comic 2 packs will hit after the holidays, just in time for the mail away promotion.

Dude, did you pick out all the Ninjas and Zartan? I got there by like 5:45 and those were gone.

I also saw remnants of Wave threes at three other Targets. So, gentlemen, the horn has blown. Wave 3 is officially in Denver. I just want some more Red Ninjas.

[The Superfly]

the hunt begins!