Author Topic: Defeat the scalpers!  (Read 15805 times)

Offline Darth Slothus

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Defeat the scalpers!
« on: November 8, 2006, 04:10 PM »
I tried a lil' something this year that worked out well for me.

 During the big UGH spring we had this year I not surprisingly noted several greedy scalpers were going straight to SW sections to nabb UGH figs in stores.
Though I got my set, I was trying to get more for not-so fortunate other collectors(not scalpers). I noticed a couple times I had not gone to a store the night before and arrived the next day to find 10-20 cases :o of UGH cases stripped of their 2 UGh per case. When I found out 'through the grapevine' it was the scalpers' doing
- I got pissed and decided I was going to do something about it. I confronted the Scalpers to confirm my suspicions. Instead of doing anything stupid, I devised a plan to USE scalpers greed as my ally. What happened next is what I'm still currently doing...oh, and it's working quite well, too ;).

I studied the scalpers habits and noticed they (as a group) would hustle to the SW section first(since everybody 'knew' each other and they knew I was a SW guy). I guess since they felt I wouldn't go for their HW at all, that they could try to outrace me to my SW section, grab the desirables then rush to their HW section to fight over those Treasure Hunt cars next. I used this knowledge of their tactic to burn them at several stores going crazily to the HW section FIRST and grabbing their cars while they would get my UGHs. This plan worked well enough after a couple of instances that it got them to go back to their old ways and go to their HW section first instead. I was taking their cars- offering up 1 for 1 deals AND THEY COMPLIED!

When the UGh stopped shipping the 'plan' continued to work. Those guys had so many friends with UGH stocked up that I continue to this day to make deals. If I'm at a store alone at night while it's being stocked I take the time to look for my SW as well as HW TH's(because they really come in handy later).  Best thing was, I spend less than 1$ for a car while they spent a full fig price for an UGH. AND..I always do one for one swaps in these deals unless the HW TH is not mint then maybe 2 for one..either way, I still win ;D.

So, give it a try why don't you? Ask around your scalping community to see if you can form a trading relationship with one of these guys..ask him if he can get you UGH 's then ask if they'll do one for one deals (a TH for an UGH). This way you could help out folks that never got them or fill your own collection if need be.
Last I checked the 'aftermarket value' is really close on a new TH versus an UGH figure, so, as long as that holds it's worth a shot ;).

Well it has and continues to work for me still ;D.

The DS     

Offline Clone Commander

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #1 on: November 8, 2006, 10:31 PM »
Well, the scalpers are monsters.
I think that after a while they'll catch on.
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Offline Darth Slothus

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #2 on: November 9, 2006, 06:35 PM »
It's been 5+ months and still working(for me anyway).....
As I earlier mentioned ..as long as the after market prices remain similar My trading of these is likely to continue.

Offline Dressel Rebel

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2006, 02:31 PM »
If I had to fight with people over action figures and hot wheels cars, I'd buy or order my figures somewhere else.
« Last Edit: November 10, 2006, 11:04 PM by Dressel Rebel »
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Offline Jayson

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2006, 02:39 PM »
Actually I use this tactic to my advantage as well from time to time. I couldn't give 2 ***** about HW cars, Treasure Hunts or Mystery Cars what have you. But if I see them when no other HW collector is around, I always snag them to use as trade bait later.  8)
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Offline iFett

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2006, 03:38 PM »
Can you please tell me what a TH Hot Wheel would like like?  I'd love to give this a whirl especially with next year's chase figures.

pic please??
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Offline Jayson

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2006, 05:15 PM »
Sad that I know this but the TH (Treasure Hunt) Hot Wheels are special repaints of previously released cars. The giveaway is the packaging – there is a green bar that runs vertically on the front, right side of the packaging and it will have a little wooden Treasure Chest Icon.



please kill me.....
« Last Edit: November 10, 2006, 05:19 PM by jedijaybird »
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Offline iFett

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2006, 06:31 PM »
Thanks for the pic Jayson!!  I now have a new weapon in which to fight the powers of evil with.
Learn new skills at home that some consider to be.....unnatural.  Easy repayment terms.  555-PLPTN

Offline Jayson

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2006, 06:39 PM »
Knowledge is power.
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Offline Darth_Anton

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2006, 10:27 AM »
I've thought about doing the same thing many times Jon. I'm just too lazy to learn about any of the hot cars beyond the T-Hunts. I know it would work with certain guys, people, scalpers.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2006, 10:27 AM by Darth_Anton »
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Offline Madcow

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2006, 02:52 PM »
I've thought about doing the same thing many times Jon. I'm just too lazy to learn about any of the hot cars beyond the T-Hunts. I know it would work with certain guys, people, scalpers.

I've collected HW off and on for over 10 years and it seems to me that the TH's tend to hold their value quite well. As long as you're happy with the deal then more to you but I would rather have the TH's. An average one when released brings $10-25...
« Last Edit: November 13, 2006, 02:53 PM by Madcow »

Offline Morgbug

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2006, 05:02 PM »
Just to clarify, THs aren't the only hotwheels with a green bar along the side.  There's at least two other subseries that are designated by the color green, though obviously they don't have the treasure chest associated with them.  A minor point of clarification is all. 

Send me your Camaro and Mustang THs please :P

BTW, I've long wanted to do a video involving TH cars.  I've talked to my local TRU manager and he thinks it would be a hoot:

I want to get together a few actors to represent the classical vision of a TH scalper: fat, slovenly, sweat-pant wearing old dudes.  Have these guys walking rapidly through the store and have me or someone else come racing in after them, knock them down and gather up all the TH cars.  I'd then go out to the parking lot and stack up a big pile of TH cars, pour lighter fluid over them and set them on fire, all the while with my 'scalpers' watching and openly weeping. 

To be fair you could do the same thing with UGH figures or McFarlane chase figures, but hot wheels seems most appropriate for some reason (cheaper to set a bunch of them on fire, if nothing else). 
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Offline MetalJedi

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2006, 11:17 AM »
Actually in a rare occurance, the HW guys around my area are actually cool and stick to their own stuff.
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Offline Artoo

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2006, 02:20 AM »
Yeah rare.  ::)
Never here. Of course it's one scalper, I don't think we have others, but the one I know about takes everything like a fat man with a free buffet.
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Offline David

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Re: Defeat the scalpers!
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2006, 11:03 PM »
in SJ, i know of about half a dozen. one has a store and is actually a wee bit friendly; i do trading with him frequently. however i do intensely dislike scalpers as a whole.
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