Spielberg gets it.

My local store put out the same 4-sided display mentioned by DoctorPadawan above. I saw it on Thursday originally and found the newest wave of CW figures (updated Rex, snowtime Kit, etc) including a lone shirtless Savage but I stupidly passed on everything due to the ridiculous $9 prices. Of course when I went back yesterday for the sale they were all gone.

I hate to say it, but you are probably SOL on those new CW figures for that store at least. I spoke to a TRU manager yesterday who indicated that they got 2 new TCW cases along with the 4-way display, sort of as a package deal. (It's not like they got that sweet new 4 way and coincedentally got 2 new cases of Wave 11 to throw up there) This sucks, because once those 2 cases sell through, which generally happens in a matter of HOURS, they really are unable to restock with any more new figures after that.

I've been to 4/5 TRU's within 75 miles of here, and it's the same story every place. They put out 2 cases of Wave 11 for the 4-way, and then nothing. No restocks. The fifth TRU, which ironically is the closest one, is the only one which inexplicably has failed to put up their 4-way display. This is literally my last hope for finding Shirtless Savage and Seripas. Because I know those guys are never showing back up at the 4 TRU's where I already missed them.

I've yet to see a single online store report from anyone who went back and found MORE of these figures at TRU after they initially were stocked. If you blinked, you missed them. 

Our stores put out nothing for the new sale because they just do not want people's money apparently. All this stuff about "Stores have held back stock for this special event" is a load of BS, IMO. It's a wasteland.

Our TRU restocked with another craptacular repack wave of TCW figures that came out last YEAR. 

Because we all really still need that Flamethrower Clone and Jungle ARF Trooper. 

Oh, they also got a fresh box of Rapid Strike REPACKS. Thank God, it's not like I could go out and find that Naboo skiff everywhere for the past eight months.

We've still NEVER gotten the mini Y-Wing here. Never.

The frustration mounts...

It's a great question and something I have thought about myself several times. I frequently come across rare/HTF figures in my hunts and have occasionally bought them and put them up for bid on eBay. Some people would call this scalping but I prefer to think of it as simply relocating the figures from a dusty peg to someone's hands that actually wants it.

In those situations I always try to let the marketplace determine the price. So I would set the starting price at the MSRP and then let the bidding determine the ultimate value. That way you are offering the item for more or less exactly what you paid for it, and if the price goes up it is not your fault, it is simply a function of collector demand.

Where it gets a little tricky is when you start factoring in things like shipping and handling, sales tax, etc. That stuff can vary from state to state, and it can be hard to find just the right balance.

When you think about it, there HAS to be some sort of premium put on the item to cover things like: the cost of the actual shipping package, fuel costs driving to the post office, etc. You can roll that all up under shipping but it does start to add up.

That's pretty much my take. Sometimes eBay restricts how much you can charge for shipping and you are FORCED to jack up the list price just to avoid losing money. I have run into this problem several times shipping records.

Awesome, this is part of my ongoing Vintage focus as well. I have all the EWOKS carded and am steadily working my way through the DROIDS lot, although those are way more expensive.

I still need a carded Sise Fromm, C-3PO, A-Wing Pilot, and Boba Fett. And the ATL Interceptor, than I'm done.

There's a decent auction on eBay right now for a loose Sise Fromm, Sidious, if you're interested. Might be worth checking out.

I'm good, finally beat that bastage last night.