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

[Shockwave]

There needs to be more songs about sodomy. Sodomy doesn't get enough love.

Shockwave
-Y'know, just to COMPLETELY derail and degenerate the thread.

[BWprowl]

And, the RID Optimus Prime that I just got from Prowl has some pretty heavy chrome wear on the cab bot's chest.

Eh, yeah, been meaning to apologize about that. Sorry, I didn't notice until I had gotten it out of my parents' shed and brought it over to my place a day or two before I sent it to you (I remember Prime's torso having some rub-off, but I didn't recall that chipping on Omega Prime's chest chrome). You want something else, to make up for it?

Dom, if stuff in your area sells through, why not just buy from legit online retailers like BBTS and the like, or even the online versions of Wal-Mart and Target's stores, and stuff? You won't be paying rape-prices, and you won't be feeding the scalpers that inconvenience the rest of us.

The thing about kids buying toys is, you really should let them. I mean, where are the fans of tomorrow going to come from if you don't let today's TF-lovin' kids check out everything there is to offer? If kids don't keep liking and becoming fans of Transformers, then the fandom's just going to keep skewing older and staying/becoming more backwards and set in their ways, and I *know* you don't want that, Dom.

Think about it this way: One thing you routinely accuse less-desirable portions of the fandom of is being insular. Well it's pretty damn insular to tell kids that they can't play with the toys that would bring them into the fandom in the first place!

[Ursus mellifera]

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

I have a four year old. You think I don't already do that?

[Shockwave]

And, the RID Optimus Prime that I just got from Prowl has some pretty heavy chrome wear on the cab bot's chest.

Eh, yeah, been meaning to apologize about that. Sorry, I didn't notice until I had gotten it out of my parents' shed and brought it over to my place a day or two before I sent it to you (I remember Prime's torso having some rub-off, but I didn't recall that chipping on Omega Prime's chest chrome). You want something else, to make up for it?

Nah, if it were that big a deal, you'd have heard from me by now. Omega Prime's chest may have a few minor chips but it's generally in good condition and I have it in Omega Prime mode and probably will most of the time so the little Prime chest won't be seen that much anyway. Besides, I could probably find a parts bot to swap it with if I really wanna.

[Dominic]

Well, this morning, I checked my voice mail. Honeybear called (while I was heading out to work) and left a song about my rectum.

Okay, back to the regular topic....

Dom, if stuff in your area sells through, why not just buy from legit online retailers like BBTS and the like, or even the online versions of Wal-Mart and Target's stores, and stuff? You won't be paying rape-prices, and you won't be feeding the scalpers that inconvenience the rest of us.

I am willing to do that. But, in some cases, stuff sells out on pre-order before I can get to it. I do not like pre-ordering in large part because I do not like to use my credit card for buying toys. (I have a low limit, and only use the card for the most dire of circumstances.) Digital-Toys, which does not require a credit card for pre-orders, has been less reliable about getting new stuff at all.

The thing about kids buying toys is, you really should let them. I mean, where are the fans of tomorrow going to come from if you don't let today's TF-lovin' kids check out everything there is to offer? If kids don't keep liking and becoming fans of Transformers, then the fandom's just going to keep skewing older and staying/becoming more backwards and set in their ways, and I *know* you don't want that, Dom.

I agree with you in principle. I do not want to keep kids or new fans out. But, one of the main reasons to keep the hobby accessible is to keep it viable so that I can continue to enjoy it. If I end up skipping figures that I want in the name of perpetuating the hobby, I am essentially leaving the hobby (and would have less reason to see it remain viable).

I have nothing against the idea of a kid getting and playing with a Prowl figure, so long as I have my Prowl figure.

Think about it this way: One thing you routinely accuse less-desirable portions of the fandom of is being insular. Well it's pretty damn insular to tell kids that they can't play with the toys that would bring them into the fandom in the first place!

Again though, I am fine with the hobby being accessible. But, i would blame what inaccessibility there is on Hasbro and retailers for not making product available. Do you think that I like picking through Marshall's, and sometimes hiding TFs in with the girl toys, hoping that I hear back from people before the toys disappear? Okay, granted, it is pretty funny. But, that is not what the hobby should be about.

I should not have to hide a Grapple and Lugnut (I was unable to pick them up at that moment) behind a little girl's backyard tent while waiting to see if Scourge and Shockwave need those figures. Hell, I should not have to pick up either figure for them. By the same token, Scourge and I should not have felt the need to order a case of friggin' "Generations" toys that we *correctly* predicted would be rare.

That fact that I am now regularly building shipping costs into the price of my hobby is a problem. Luring kids or other new fans in is going to be problematic when the damned figures are rare. Blame for that rests on Hasbro, not collectors.


Dom
-hopes Windchager has not fallen into the hands of child.

[Ursus mellifera]

Well, this morning, I checked my voice mail. Honeybear called (while I was heading out to work) and left a song about my rectum.

You got another one this morning. I am ON A ROLL.

[Dominic]

You will get yours next week.

[Shockwave]

I'd be more concerned about a toy like Punch/Counterpunch getting into the hands of a destructive kid. Granted, that is extremely unlikely. But you get my point. It's like that scene in "Unbreakable". When the guy goes into the comic shop with his kid and wants buy the $10,000 comic for his kid and Samuel L Jackson tells him to "You don't buy a comic book that rare and then give it to your kid to destroy, now get the fuck out of my store!"

Dom, you're right. You shouldn't have to hide stuff like that. But, they main difference here is that you're not scalping. You're selling at cost which means that you are providing a service to other fans who don't have these toys readily available to them. Now, if you were charging Scourge and I 3 times the cost for them, THEN you would be scalping.

I really think the hatred toward scalping basically comes down to the total avarice involved and displayed. I really think most of us tolerate scalping in small doses or at a slight markup, but when it's just over the top that's when the torches and pitchforks come out. For example, when the G1 Soundwave reissue was at Toys 'R Us, I saw 4 sitting on the shelf. Knowing these were rare, I grabbed three. Kept on for myself, and sold the other two on ebay for profit (actually by underselling the other scalpers on ebay). I've also scalped Classics Jetfire. I think the main reason my attitude towards this has changed is because back then, I wasn't active with the fandom. The rest of the TF fanbase was a nameless faceless resource that I could exploit for my own gain. Now, I interact with the fandom. I know you guys, I like you guys and I don't wanna screw you guys out of your hard earned money. So now, instead of scalping rare toys I offer them at cost to other fans.

[Onslaught Six]

I have less problem with people with day jobs (i.e. you and me) scalping than I do people who make it their living. Get a real job.

[Dominic]

I was also answering the "kids first" arguments.

Still, I have a hard time holding somebody's livelihood against them when it does not actually hurt anyone.


Dom
-would have thrown the guy out of the store as well.