We've got Hall of Fame voting going on up there

[Shockwave]

Skywarp actually makes the perfect example because out of like, 6 Target stores in my area, I never even saw one of these anywhere. That's how bad scalping is in my area.

[Dominic]

A toy bought by a collector is no more guaranteed to stay in decent shape than one bought by a kid, especially in the case of customizing because then the original toy is effectively destroyed.

True, customizing destroys a toy. (That is why I tend to avoid customizing rare toys.)

But, a collector's toy is more likely to stay in good condition than a kid's toy.

Besides, parents make their kids purge their collections all the time (which is why I don't still have my G1 bots) so those are gonna be just as likely to end up back on the market at some point as well.

Most of those toys are simply thrown away. And, even if they are not, they are not necessarily going to be worth buying.

Dom seems to think that scalpers just magically come into the big cases of rare toys that they sell back to the fans for a tidy profit. Honestly, it's not the selling that pisses me off about scalpers, it's the buying every desirable toy in the tri-county area that upsets me.

I live in a densely populated area where stuff just sells through. If not for dealers and scalpers, there are plenty of things I would never find. I occassionally see other adults in the toy aisle. But, it is mostly kids.

He's not really "rare," it's just that everybody who actually wanted him has him (except me, because I'm a fucking idiot in 2006)

I was also stupid in 2006. If not for dealers and scalpers, I would have almost no "Classics" figures.

But if you have that level of income, then sure, you can get him. He's out there; it's not like he's impossible to find.

I never said that I could afford to meet every scalper price.


Dom
-kids keeping toys in good shape is rare.

[Shockwave]

A toy bought by a collector is no more guaranteed to stay in decent shape than one bought by a kid, especially in the case of customizing because then the original toy is effectively destroyed.

True, customizing destroys a toy. (That is why I tend to avoid customizing rare toys.)

But, a collector's toy is more likely to stay in good condition than a kid's toy.

Besides, parents make their kids purge their collections all the time (which is why I don't still have my G1 bots) so those are gonna be just as likely to end up back on the market at some point as well.

Most of those toys are simply thrown away. And, even if they are not, they are not necessarily going to be worth buying.

Dom seems to think that scalpers just magically come into the big cases of rare toys that they sell back to the fans for a tidy profit. Honestly, it's not the selling that pisses me off about scalpers, it's the buying every desirable toy in the tri-county area that upsets me.

I live in a densely populated area where stuff just sells through. If not for dealers and scalpers, there are plenty of things I would never find. I occassionally see other adults in the toy aisle. But, it is mostly kids.

He's not really "rare," it's just that everybody who actually wanted him has him (except me, because I'm a fucking idiot in 2006)

I was also stupid in 2006. If not for dealers and scalpers, I would have almost no "Classics" figures.

But if you have that level of income, then sure, you can get him. He's out there; it's not like he's impossible to find.

I never said that I could afford to meet every scalper price.


Dom
-kids keeping toys in good shape is rare.

AHA!! NOW we come to the real reason Dom thinks scalpers provide a service. Because you're in a situation where, through expenses associated with toy hunting and availability of toys in your area means that finding the toys you want a retail would cost you as much as you would be paying the scalper on ebay. Got it. In that case, yes, it is a service since you're getting a toy that you would otherwise not be able to find locally for a price that you would likely have to spend to find it anyway. That's different. The rest of us don't have that scenario and in our cases, scalpers are creating a problem, not solving it.

I still disagree with the comments about kids and their toys. One of two things USUALLY happens with kids toys: They get stuck in an attic/garage for several years or they get sold at a garage/yard sale. Very rarely are parents going to simply throw away perfectly good toys that they spent money on. I would also argue that most kids don't necessarily destroy their toys. I mean, if you're a kid and wanna continue playing with your toys it doesn't make sense to destroy them. Most of my friends didn't destroy their toys when they were kids and neither did I. Now, obviously some kids do wear heavily on their toys (losing missiles, paint wear, etc...), but collectors are not going to be better at this than kids are (with the exception that we might not lose the missiles). Two cases in point: My classics Bluestreak has severe paint wear on the door. I have not been overly rough with this toy, but it suffered the paint wear nonetheless. And, the RID Optimus Prime that I just got from Prowl has some pretty heavy chrome wear on the cab bot's chest.

Shockwave
-Usually sees adults in the toy aisle

[Dominic]

I certainly do not see scalpers as humanitarians. But, I am utilitarian enough to see how they can be helpful.

I took care of my toys, but most of them still broke.

Paint wear on modern toys is a question of Hasbro's quality control.


Dom
-let the kids have their movie toys.

[Shockwave]

Well in your case yeah, they do have their uses. Not so much for the rest of us.

Most of my toys didn't break, but there were exceptions. Megatron would often have one of the arms break off and have to be glued.

Yeah, Hasbro's paint wore off more than my custom (course, I put sealer on my custom so that probably helped).

Granted, most kids aren't probably going to be looking for the classics/CHUG/RTS what have you line and are probably most likely to be on the hunt for either Animated or movie. But, if a kid want's the classics style figs I say let them have them. I always got annoyed when I couldn't find the toys I wanted when I was a kid and I'd hate to inflict that on a kid now.

[Dominic]

I gave a kid's mom first crack at the Legends I found a few weeks ago. I then went to the bathroom. After retreating to a restroom and cleaning myself up, (hahahahahah), I came back and she had left without buying anything.

So, I feel no guilt for wiping out the supply, evne if I ended up with extra Prowl figures.


Dom
-actually did empty his bladder, but into a toilet as is proper.

[Ursus mellifera]

Dom
-let the kids have their movie toys.

I see how it is with you. "I'm not against the kids having toys as long as they have the toys I think they should have."

Do you also think kids should have separate water fountains?

How about separate entrances to buildings?

God, you make me SICK.

[Dominic]

It is more a question of not wanting kids to have the toys that I want.


Dom
-and if Hasbro met demand....

[Ursus mellifera]

It is more a question of not wanting kids to have the toys that I want.


Dom
-and if Hasbro met demand....

You're so getting another song.

[Dominic]

If you think kids are so great, maybe you should sing a song for them.

Dom
-well, considering how this year's Hall of Fame went, this thread is going comparitvely well.