I hate stupid scalpers that try to cash in on exclusives or htf stuff. But I hate even more that these guys are able to make a lot of money of this stuff on Evil-bay. Why can't people just be patient enuff to search one out or wait until the market settles? It's been this way since I started getting back into tfs in the early 2000s (RiD Jetstorm comes to mind). If the oportunists didn't make any cash on this stuff they would have no motivation to buy up all the figures in the first place, right? I don't understand the logic of the buyer who pays 80 duckets for a friggn 12 dolla toy that can still be found in stores. hmm let me think while I'm typing: It most likely is not going to appreciate in the next 10 years, so I doubt its an investment... It's not soo rare that it won't be available ever again (speculation) ahh I've got it! So they can take pics of it and brag about how lucky they are to have found one... right?
Don't hate scalpers just because they're smart enough to take advantage of stupid people. That's what stupid people are here for.
It's not only collectors buying these figures, keep that in mind. There could be a parent who doesn't know much about this whole scalping thing and are willing to drop $80 for a toy to give to their kid. Some people have the money to spend a 300% mark up on a figure, so why not? There's a lot of reasons people drop that kind of cash for a figure. It's just your own preference not to spend that kind of money, but if you really need that figure some people will spend the money. Shit, if I couldn't find a TFA Rodimus Minor in stores I WOULD spend $80!
Collector mentality. Item X is spotted somewhere in the world. I NEED IT NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! Im sure you all know that not getting Item X instantly would mean the end of the world. Ultimately, its the fault of the people who pay the scalpers, but it is their money.
i have only payed scalper prices ONCE, and that was for an animated arcee at a convention for $25, i did it because it would be my only chance to get one
Pretty much. I once saw an eBay auction for Animated Blitzwing go as high as $300 when the first Animated voyagers came out.
"worth" is defined by each person. No one has any right to say otherwise. scalpers are opportunitist that take hold of this human weakness. I am against scalpers. I am against spending recklessly. But to each fan his/her own, worth system.
And also not to insult, but some people (not I) rather use their brain to earn more money and could care less about spending extra to think less. In this world, we PAY for convienence. It is the golden rule. think about it=)
i love this answer i would also like to add that 99% of the time yes the toy will be out and easily found...its that 1% chance that its not...i think people sometimes jump on.. ie. HA mudflap................luckily i have 2 now and both paid only retail for or a good trade. never found them in stores but i can see how people will pay such a high price for him when he showed up in only limited areas.
Wish my parents loved me that much when I was a brat lol. Why spend money just b/c you can afford it? That's what I don't get. I too could afford to buy a rodimus minor for 80 bucks, but I can't see why anyone would knowing that in a few months they'll be all over ebay for much cheaper. Paying a small mark up for something that is hard for you to get in your area or is in high demand is fine but really these people that pay 600% markups are just plain dumb IMFO
I bought one of these two months ago marked down at Target for $10. I can't imagine any voyager every being worth that much. I agree that the problem is "I want it FIRST and I want it NOW" I'm sure bragging rights plays into it. However I think that a lot of it is that people don't know any better and don't know about boards like this. Ebay sellers are good at adding "HTF" "Very Rare" to things that in about 2-3 weeks will be everywhere. If people would just take 2 seconds and do a google/yahoo search on what they are looking for odds are they will either find it cheaper or find that it just hasn't saturated the market yet. TRNS-01 Valkyrie is a good example of the second point. I feel sorry for the people who bought her for $150+ on Ebay just because the seller lister her in a way that made it sound like it is "custom" or "hard to find" If they would just search a little they would find them on BBTS and now on TF Source. Do the research people or be patient...the choice is yours.
It is a combo of things. OCD runs rampant in this hobby, we all need the new stuff right when it comes available. Couple this with the fact that some people in the hobby either don't like to hunt/don't have time to hunt, but have a decent amount of disposable income. If that money is not a big hit for them, and they need it right now, this is a way for them to get it. It may seem outrageous to most, but if you have the means, and that is what you choose to spend your money on, more power to you. I just don't have that kind of cash, and my OCD has subsided. Edit: Hell, my sister spent $4000 on blinds that I could have purchased and installed for $1000. She earns some damn good money, and said "It is my money, and if I want to spend it on a professional blind service, I will do that". She has more money than time, and that was eaisier for her. Some people choose to spend their money on a gardener, or a maid to clean their place. I am at a point in life where I would rather pick my own weeds and pick up after myself. But if I had more money than time, I would probably do the same.
you know, not to be snobby because I am not in this situation, but I am sure there are people in the world that are saying "hey, does this matter, if I drop 80$ into one when I make 100/hour?"
Ding ding, we have a winnar! Seriously though, even if it was something I was absolutely desperate for, I wouldn't sink to shelling out two-to-three hundred times its original value. I'll wait for it to be in mass circulation or show up used on eBay, kthnx. :|
I'll admit, I'll occasionally overpay for something. As an example, I paid $20 for a Hasbro ROTF Desert Combat Rampage. Yeah, I paid over retail price for it, but I never once saw it listed for sale at any of the regular sites I check out or at any local retail store. Consequently, I don't consider that wasted money, as I've had no other means of acquiring it for less money. Moreover, I fall into the "more money than time" category. I work a full time job. I have hobbies, an active social life, etc. I love collecting Transformers, but I just don't have the time or energy to run around the city when the delivery trucks come in going to all the retail stores hunting down one or two toys. Frankly, I'd rather just hand my money over to a website, pay the shipping, and not worry about it.
I agree with you. I'm not knocking people with lots of diposable income and of course it's fine to spend a billion dollars to have someone kick you in the balls if that's what you're into. Just saying, it's very annoying that people are that stupid. Is she single lol
well there are stupid people out there, yet there are people out there who are smart and decided, after thinking much, that the price is worth it to them, that they'd rather not waste the time and energy to hunt. When you decide that the cost < time and energy required to reduce that cost, then you front up the cost.
