[WingZero]

I'm kind of afraid to actually post this thread since there is so much vehement dislike against scalpers. As a relative noob in the toy collecting world, I want to define what they are and I want to know what you think they are.

As a former shoe collector, resellers/scalpers were a necessary evil, especially when a shoe is rare and you want it. I mean, a pair of Air Jordans that were released exclusively in Chicago...well I have no hope of getting that. Getting a plane ticket and sitting 3 days in the snow....well...I'd rather shell out the $1500 that people were charging at the time.

So what defines 'scalping?

My understanding initially is that it is hoarding rare figures and putting them up on ebay or for sale. But don't a few board members buy up multiples and put them up FS/FT on this board? In theory isn't that scalping? Taking rare figures out of the marketplace and offering them up for trade for other rare items? Does it make a difference what price you charge or whether you want FMV (see next paragraph). Full Disclosure: I am guilty of buying multiples, but one to open and one to keep. I guess it would be scalping in theory if I decided to sell them down the line?

Also, the debate between fair market value (FMV) and retail. If you have something that you purchased at retail, but is rare or out of production, you would want FMV for it...but isn't that 'scalping' in theory?

IMO, I think scalping is a necessary evil. I paid some guy on ebay $15.00 for Helix, shipped and it was a load off my mind because I didn't have to go hunting after work every other day. I would happily do the same for Resolute Snake Eyes when his wave releases in stores.

Discuss. I'd like some opinions on what this is.

[bigdaddyblue73]

Whoa there is a big difference between scalping and trading figs on here. One thing you will notice is that most of the guys on here trade/sell figures for pretty much what they paid for them, and a lot of guys buy multiple cases then trade or sell their extras.

Scalpers buy up all the exclusive hard to find stuff than jack it up to ridiculous prices.

I have an extra Helix in my b/s/t and an extra PP Snake Eyes with black timber. I bought them because I realize many tankers are having trouble finding them. At the same time they are finding or have stuff I want. I make trades/deals that are mutually beneficial for both.

[Python_Puckman]

Definition: "To engage in the reselling of something, such as tickets, at a price higher than the established value."

So, by definition, you could call them scalpers. However, there is a gray area. The ones referred to on this site are the guys who are on the far end of the resell spectrum.

[Texasdoom]

If you don't want to pay a ridiculous price for it, then don't buy it. If you want the item, get it first.

[Hijinx28]

IMO, I can't stand scalpers! The big difference in scalpers and the guys on this site is that they buy multiples of a certain character with their fellow tankers/collectors interest. Scalpers on the other hand buy up all the rare items and make a killing on selling them, making a profit off of it. So, I can't really call guys on this site scalpers because if they sell or trade their items, they don't usually make a profit off of it.

[strike-hard]

Scalping toys is so 2003.

Nothing really out at the moment that would actually justify going out looking for toys to resell. Waste of time in my opinion.

But back in the day, I used to buy and resell hardcore. I would wake up early and hit up 2-3 Walmart's before I went to work, and clean them out of whatever they had worth hoarding, or reselling. I remember this one time at Walmart, there was another scalper there with me in the morning before the doors opened, as soon as they did we both jolted to the toy section in search of what treasures were hanging on the pegs. Alas, we were both delighted to see they just received the new wave of LOTR figures in, and well at the time, the Elven Prologue Warrior was fetching about $35 - $40 due to it being packed one per case. There was one in plain sight, I grabbed, then kinda backed off to let him have his turn, there was only one. At that point I looked up, and there was a plethora of figures on the top shelf, I didn't even think about it, I just climbed up and grabbed everything I could find. I walked out of there with 5 Prologue Elven Warriors, one for every case they put out that morning and left him with nothing except for the common garbage. Didn't really feel bad about it or anything.

This was pretty common practice for me. But like I said, as a lot of the toy lines died down, so did my desire to go out looking for toys to hoard and resell. I just collect purely for fun now, but if I saw something worth picking up and reselling I wouldn't hesitate for a second to do so.

Ask yourself this, would you pass up a $20 bill on the floor?

Didn't think so, well that's the way I look at buying to resell.