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Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Revenge of the Sith => Topic started by: CHEWIE on August 28, 2005, 10:13 PM

Title: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on August 28, 2005, 10:13 PM
Just wondering, with that terrible Hurrican Katrina getting ready to hit, Fox News just said that gas prices are expected to go up to around $3.00 a gallon.

How does this affect your toy runs?  I think it's going to start effecting me now some... I decided to quit wasting gas and time looking for the Clone Evolution set, so I ordered it online.

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Ben on August 28, 2005, 10:17 PM
I was going to go for a late-night run to the local WMs last night, but in the interest of conserving gas, I didn't go. That and I knew the hunt would be fruitless. I'm only missing four figures (plus the repainted Clones) and the Evolutions sets, which I really can't afford right now anyway.
It's not like the Tarkin wave was going to magically appear now anyway.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: DoctorPadawan on August 28, 2005, 10:25 PM
The gas prices have affected my toy runs in that I don't make as many "special" trips for toys these days.  There was a time when I would do a 40 mile round trip nearly every single day to look for SW stuff, but the rising gas prices occurring at the same time as my rising frustration at coming home empty handed put a stop to that.

Now that I'm making the toy runs more of an incidental thing (just stopping by if I'm going in that direction), I've actually found more stuff than if I had been going specifically to look for toys.  Go figure.  :-\
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on August 28, 2005, 11:16 PM
Two items. First, I know my stores patterns so I hit 2 local Walmarts at night or early a.m. and that seems to help conserve my runs. Also, we have a very good network here in Utah so people can put things on layaway at Wally, or hide at Target or TRU. That is how I scored my Sith Evolutions over the weekend. If gas goes to $3 a gallon, then I won't be hunting as much, just Friday, Saturday's and days when I know TRU gets a shipment.

On a side note, as gas prices go up, eventually figure prices will increase as well as cost for shipping and development increase. Man, I wish we would develop another fuel source!
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Darby on August 28, 2005, 11:27 PM
I take the bus, but since we're not getting in anything new at all anyway... still I would hate to have to own a car in this situation, and I feel for everybody.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: jokabofe on August 28, 2005, 11:30 PM
Just wondering, with that terrible Hurrican Katrina getting ready to hit, Fox News just said that gas prices are expected to go up to around $3.00 a gallon.

You mean it's not in that price range in your area already? It's been near the $3 mark for a while here... most gas stations have it at $2.79/$2.89/$2.99 for Reg/Plus/Super.

But yeah, it's affected me for alot more than just toy runs. I've actually been thinking about either walking or riding the bike to work lately. My only issue is that I have a bad back, and it's about a 20 minute walk. Wouldn't be bad walking to work, but after being on my feet for 6 - 8 hours, I don't know if I could walk back home  :-\
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: bobafett14 on August 28, 2005, 11:35 PM
Haven;t affected me one bit.

I haven't been doing too many dedicated toy runs lately.  I've just been hitting the stores on my normal times I'm out and about, so I;m not going out of my way to begin with, besides, a few cents increase is still minimal when compared to all my normal daily,weekly, monthly expenses.

Too much of a big deal is made out of gas prices.

Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jesse James on August 29, 2005, 12:10 AM
I can't say it hasn't affected me.  I know my trips have decreased, but I'm not sure that it was a conscious decision on my part or just that I'm more busy than I have been for a while.  If I was making as many trips as I had been, it probably would impact me more, but I'm lucky to get one a week in right now, maybe two, and often I try to tie it to other things (home items or whanot...  I know I'm doing some house work right now as far as improvements go and so I try to tie it to a trip to the Lowe's store to save some).

My gf had to pick up her dishwear lay-away at WM the other night so I tied a toy run onto that. :)

I know when I am filling up though I tend to NOT fill all the way.  I put a set ammount in that gets me above 3/4 tank or so.  I can usually put in $17 once I'm around 1/4 tank and that gets me above 3/4 tank.  It's not that I do any better though obviously, it just is a help in my own mind that I'm not putting $25 in to fill it to the brim like I would need to.  I also think I subconciously base my trips on how much gasoline I have.

I know I'm taking advantage of fuel perks as much as I possibly can locally.  When I have them saved up I have a couple gas cans I fill along with my car (which I usuallly run to E before the fill-up).  That way I figure I'm maximizing my dollar.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on August 29, 2005, 12:30 AM
I agree that people do make too big of a deal of gas prices.  They really haven't "changed my life" - I'm just spending an extra $40.00 or so a month now.  But it does seem to make a difference if I'm going to make big 40-50 mile round trips now.  Those are starting to cut down now.

Right now, gas is about $2.49 and has stayed about that for a bit.  We did get down to $2.19 a couple weeks ago though...

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jediknight760071 on August 29, 2005, 04:00 AM
I drive 2 minutes to get to work (Michaels) which is conveniently located next to Target and Walmart is a minute away (lunch break aisle check) down the plaza, so no. I got lucky though. If I were still living in an apt 1 city over, I wouldn't be able to check for figures on a regular basis.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: DarthAcroyear on August 29, 2005, 04:37 AM
I have several stores close by so I can hit all of them while using a small amount of petro.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: evenflow on August 29, 2005, 10:06 AM
It has affected me, i only stop when i am going in that direction already. Damn SUVs!
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Pete_Fett on August 29, 2005, 11:42 AM
My gas consumption is definitely hurting my toy runs.

Before I would try to hit at least three Targets, four WalMarts and two Toys R Us stores at least 1 - 3 times a week.

Now I've boiled my hunting down only to stores that are slightly off the beaten path of where I NEED to go. So the only TRU I go to is the one right around the corner from my job. I also hit a WalMart and Target that is right off the highway on my way to work. So basically it's M-F morning and/or night when hitting these three stores.

The only stores I will go out specifically to go on a toy run to are the KMart and WalMart that are right around the corner from my house - less than 5 minutes away. Thankfully the news just came out that we are getting a Target within a year so I could probably reduce my toy shopping to those three local stores every night before they close and only hitting TRU during my lunchbreak at work.

- Peter
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Mister Skeezler on August 29, 2005, 02:36 PM
Well, I take the subway to and from work, and most of the time I go out. I drive my car when I'm heading out of the city, but I have a Jetta, so it doesn't suck down much gas at all...except when I run the AC, but even then its not bad.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jeff on August 29, 2005, 05:35 PM
It wasn't something I really used to consider, but nowadays, it's becoming more of a thought in my mind.  Why should I bother wasting gas/time to find figures for $6.50 (with tax) at Target, when I can order a case of 12 for $7.50 each (with shipping) from EE.

Sure, it's $12 over retail, but that's only like 4-5 gallons of gas or about 80-100 miles of toy shopping (which is probably about my average in a week).

The only wrinkle to on-line ordering though is you still have to go to the stores to hunt the damn exclusives (exclusives = the bitching target of the day I guess  ;)).

Jeff
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on August 29, 2005, 06:17 PM
Yep, Jeff, I have to agree with you. I quit actively hunting LOTR about 2 years ago and found I saved more time and gas by not hunting and having them ship either from EE or BBTS.
I am thinking about doing the same with SW now. Buy the case online and then sell any extra's I may not want for a later customizing.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Pete_Fett on August 29, 2005, 10:19 PM
It wasn't something I really used to consider, but nowadays, it's becoming more of a thought in my mind.  Why should I bother wasting gas/time to find figures for $6.50 (with tax) at Target, when I can order a case of 12 for $7.50 each (with shipping) from EE.

Sure, it's $12 over retail, but that's only like 4-5 gallons of gas or about 80-100 miles of toy shopping (which is probably about my average in a week).

The only wrinkle to on-line ordering though is you still have to go to the stores to hunt the damn exclusives (exclusives = the bitching target of the day I guess  ;)).

You know - for a majority of the Saga line, I got my stuff directly from EE. It worked out well enough, especially in non-movie years when the stuff wasn't hitting the pegs as much as it should.

I will probably be going back to EE for my figures when the Saga 2 line comes out.

The one thing that stopped me from buying from EE was the fact that I knew in a movie year (and with the OTC) that the product would be readily available PLUS I would be regularly hitting stores looking for the vehicles and exclusives. (I never buy the vehicles from EE, the mark-up on those is just too much)

With the high number of exclusives in the last five months, I'm mostly hitting stores with the goal of finding exclusives and picking up the mass-market/open-stock items along the way.

Like right now the only open-stock item I need is the Jedi vs. Separatists Battle Pack - everything else I need is an exclusive - Wave 3 Target Cups, Target TIE Fighter, Hoth Assault Battle Pack, and TRU Millenium Falcon.

And again, even in the fall, the number of exclusives will greatly out-weigh the open-stock items:
Open-stock:
Figures #57-68
Rebels vs. Empire Battle Pack
Gray Repaint of Clones Evo set

Exclusive:
Target Night-ops Clone
Target Lava Reflection Anakin & Obi-Wan
Target Plo Koon Jedi Starfighter
Target Clones on Coruscant Battle Pack
SWS Remote Control R2-D2
SWS Wedge Antilles
SWS Stealth Ops Clonetrooper
TRU Holo Emperor
EE Astromech pack 1 & 2
Diamond Bounty Hunter 7 pack
KB-Toys Silver Vader 9 pack
anything else?

(I've already ordered the online shope stuff, but it will actually ship in the months of September - December)

So my point is that in the end, when all is send and done, between now and Saga 2, most of my SW money will be spent on exclusives which is just insane. Eventually I will reach a breaking point and at that point, I don't know what I will do cause for me collecting SW goes hand-in-hand with having a complete 3.75" collection. In my f**ked up mind, you can' t have one w/o the other.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jediknight760071 on August 30, 2005, 03:59 AM
It has affected me, i only stop when i am going in that direction already. Damn SUVs!
You know, they say by 2008 the SUV will be more fuel efficient. :-\ :-*
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on August 30, 2005, 05:17 PM
Supposedly gas prices are gonna hit $3.00 a gallon in St. Louis tomorrow.

They've already hit $2.75 today.

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Kill_Solo on August 31, 2005, 12:46 AM
Yep, gas prices have definitely affected my toy runs. I only make specific "toy runs" to the Target and Walmart that are about 5 minutes away. And the only time I visit any other stores are when I am already out somewhere and I happen to drive past a place that I can go hunt. Stupid gas prices.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: MetalJedi on August 31, 2005, 04:03 AM
Last night gas was at 2.81. While I only went to 3 stores and my doctors appointment it felt like the gas was just slipping out of my car and I have a "fuel economy" type car. So if it does reach 3.00 or more my runs are going to be real limited. Hopefully this means limited for the money grubbing scalps in my area as well.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: proudfather2 on August 31, 2005, 10:05 AM
It already has effected me. I live in a remotely small town that has a K Mart and a Wal*Mart but both stores stock new items few and far between. The Wal*Mart literally restocks three or four times a year (on the off year five or six times) while the K Mart does only two or three times. Unfortunately the rest of the stores in the bigger towns/cities are at least thirty minutes away from me and for me to make a sweep of all stores takes the better part of five hours. Gas here in Mid-Michigan was at $2.65 for a few weeks then yesterday morning (Tuesday) most chains made the jump to $2.99.

Now I know a lot of things factor into the price of gasoline (Holiday weekend, the war, Katrina, etc), but a thirty four cent jump over nite for all of central lower Michigan is just ****** up! Fortunately I pay attention  and new it was coming and was able to fill both vehicles before the rise. It also helps that my wife and I work locally so the work-driving time is at a minimum.  Sadly, I think the days of random, long-haul, toy runs are over for me.

Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jediknight760071 on August 31, 2005, 07:41 PM
Nevermind what I said before. Today I spent $30 at the gas station and decided not to make toy runs as frequent, as this tank only lasted me half a week, while it would usually be around 3 weeks.

Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on September 1, 2005, 12:52 AM
I have to agree now. I know it is Labor Day weekend and the speculation of the impact of Katrina, but gas is now at $2.80 and rising. The news ran a local report tonight that here in Utah we should see gas at $3.00 before long. I have to say now that I am not hunting until the final 12 come out, and then it will be only smart hunting. I will hunt on Friday night when I usually find new stuff at a local Walmart. In addition, I will only hunt 2 Walmarts and have to wait until I find them at one of the two stores. If I miss some, oh well, I've missed figures before. 
I continue to wonder how much longer we can go before retailers raise the price of the figures at Wally, Target etc to compensate for the higher costs to get the product to market. I really think that is coming and will impact collecting for some also. Imagine going back to an average retail price of $6.99 a figure. Would you still buy it combined with the price of gas?
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: zachmoe on September 1, 2005, 02:23 AM
When I left this morning to drive to the Bay Area (CA) gas was $2.79...on the way home, same gas station was $3.01.  Tonight on the news, I saw a BP Station in Atlanta that had regular unleaded at $5.97 per gallon  :o  With prices like that, my SW runs are going to be severely impacted if gas prices exceed $3 a gallon for any length of time.  The thing that pisses me off is that all of our gas on the west coast comes from the Alaska pipeline, and not from anywhere impacted by the storm.  That is just a bunch of bull****.  Damn gas companies rising the prices just because they can rape people and for no other reason.  Though the biggest way gas price increases affect store runs is more money spent on gas = less money to spend on figures. 

 


 
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Brian on September 1, 2005, 08:53 AM
It usually hasn't affected me too much, but I'm not someone who really drives too far off just to check the SW aisles.  I do that maybe once a week, but otherwise I just try to check while we're out picking up something else.  Gas prices hit $3.19 (for the cheapest) in town yesterday, with reports that we'll be close to $4 by the end of next week.  If that's the case, I might start to consider ordering online as well.  $2+ gas is one thing, but when its going to cost $60 or more to fill up the tank, then it might be time to make a change.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Paul on September 1, 2005, 09:21 AM
The price hasn't affected my runs too much, I have the advantage of a Target and 2 Wal Marts that are on my way to the office.  The fact that I can't FIND anything new or anything that I want has made me less willing to take some time for a multiple store run though.  Its one thing to pay for gas and get the reward of a hard to find or eagerly awaited figure/vehicle...it is totally disheartening to fill the tank up and drive all over creation and find nothing.

Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on September 1, 2005, 04:28 PM
I've heard some people saying that this is the government's fault, and blaming Mr. Bush and that the oil reserves here are being purposely being held back by the current administration... But I think it's because of policies that have been in place for the past 25+ years.

You also have to think of what it's all relative to.

50 years ago, a gallon of regular gas was about 30 cents. Now it's around $2.50. But are today's gas prices high compared to 1950?

To answer that, you have to take into account inflation that has occurred over the last 50 or so years. By calculating inflation, what cost 30 cents in 1950 costs $2.33 today.

With just a bit of analysis, that means gas prices today are only about 8% higher than they were in 1950.

I've seen a lot of folks complaining that the government do something about the prices... bad idea folks! Why do some people always want the government to run EVERYTHING?

Look back to '79 when the government did intervene. Jimmy Carter decided to control price. The result was longer gasoline lines, and many gas stations running out of gas. When this happened, Americans used about 150,000 barrels of oil per day idling their cars while waiting in line at gas stations.

Today's administration has chosen not to pursue stupid policies such as this. As a result, we haven't seen shortages... we haven't seen ridiculous lines, fights at gas stations, etc., because price has been allowed to follow the fundamental rules of demand with supply.

This could easily be changed though if it weren't for certain policies that are in place. There are very large amounts of oil below the 20 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but environmentalists have opposed drilling here for years... they think we can somehow create some magical alternative to the fuel issue... It has been proposed that this area be used for oil drilling but extremists and democrats in Congress have opposted it, even though it is less than 2,000 acres, less than one-half of 1 percent of the wildlife preserve.

These extremists have also been successfu in restricting drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shore of California. Another part of our energy problem has to do with refining capacity. Again, because of environmentalists' successful efforts, it's been 30 years since we've built a new oil refinery.

As for toy runs being effected, yes it's putting a bit of a damper on it for me too... I just wish that we had more supply being refined.

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Dressel Rebel on September 1, 2005, 07:05 PM
Some of you mentioned that not finding anything at retailers is more of a deterrent than the price of gas.  My Target, as well, has not had a new figure on the pegs since June.  Not a damn thing.  Either there is a load of **** sitting in the stockroom that never gets put out, or cases are leaving through the back door.

Walmart on the other hand has been great lately.  I don't know why, but in the past month I've been able to walk into my Walmart, and more often than not, find sealed cases on pallets on the sales floor.  I've basically gotten anything I wanted, it's been unusually stellar.

Yay Walmart, boo Target.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Darth_Anton on September 1, 2005, 09:24 PM

You also have to think of what it's all relative to.

50 years ago, a gallon of regular gas was about 30 cents. Now it's around $2.50. But are today's gas prices high compared to 1950?

To answer that, you have to take into account inflation that has occurred over the last 50 or so years. By calculating inflation, what cost 30 cents in 1950 costs $2.33 today.

With just a bit of analysis, that means gas prices today are only about 8% higher than they were in 1950.

I heard an Oil company spokes person slip durring an interview (about two years ago) and say specifically that the higher prices have nothing to do with actual rises in cost or inflation. They're just charging more to get more proffit. Much like Target is doing with their exclusives.  :P

I've seen a lot of folks complaining that the government do something about the prices... bad idea folks! Why do some people always want the government to run EVERYTHING?

If the corporations wouldn't rape us (i.e, pharmasutical, health ins, energy companies) we wouldn't have to ask for help.

Greed is human nature.

But that's starting to get political...  ::)

I've been asking myself if I really need to go out, so I've been incorporating any toy runs into other erands.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on September 1, 2005, 10:32 PM
Yeah, we probably shouldn't get political.   Sorry if I started to go down that road.  :)

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jediknight760071 on September 1, 2005, 10:55 PM
That's right, you dirty, dirty boy. >:( :-*
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Darth_Anton on September 2, 2005, 10:09 AM
Yeah, we probably shouldn't get political.   Sorry if I started to go down that road.  :)

 :P

Were you listening to Rush that day? I was flipping back and forth between him and Al Frankin to hear the extreems on the hurricane coverage, sounds like you were quoteing Rush almost word for word. ;) :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on September 2, 2005, 11:25 AM
Yeah, we probably shouldn't get political.   Sorry if I started to go down that road.  :)

 :P

Were you listening to Rush that day? I was flipping back and forth between him and Al Frankin to hear the extreems on the hurricane coverage, sounds like you were quoteing Rush almost word for word. ;) :P

I try to listen to Rush every day for a few minutes on my lunch break if I can.  I don't always agree with him, but I think that he's dead on the money with his analysis of what's going on lately.

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Diddly on September 6, 2005, 06:52 PM
I had to cancel my toy run this weekend because of gas. I can't balance the two anymore. :(
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: CHEWIE on September 6, 2005, 09:20 PM
I had to cancel my toy run this weekend because of gas. I can't balance the two anymore. :(

I feel the same way.  Looks like I'm going to be ordering more stuff online.

 :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Phrubruh on September 7, 2005, 11:11 AM
As prices rise, it affects the poor much more than the rich. Gas prices would have to go up to $10-12 a gallon before it starts to put dents into medium income households. Since I'm not poor, its doesn't affect my toy runs in the least.

I think the scarer thing is the rise in housing prices. Around here in California its gone up 400-500% in a few years. Good for me that owns property. Bad for you that rent. Most new families are being majorly sqeezed out of the housing market.

Real estate is a far better investment than star wars toys. We should all stop buying star wars stuff, pay off debt and save to buy property. We would all be better off in the end and also save lots of gas from not doing toy runs.

Believe me, if you care any kind of debt and you still buy every star wars item in multiples you will wind up dirt poor for the rest of your life no matter how much you make. Pay off all your credit cards, car and student loans and buy a house instead.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Darth Slothus on September 7, 2005, 02:15 PM
Thanks EXPERT-geez somebody plug the professor into the hyperdrive ::) ;)

Then sometimes you have folks who think they're all in the knowing and think they're 'good' advice is for anybody/everybody.....

Sigh* how shallow is that?- yeah I'm saving up to buy a house one day.... why I don't have one yet? My working for the government and possibilty/likeliness of relocation exists for 9 more years-until then there's no point to buy a home (like I've seen several others do) only to have to sell all they're hopes and dreams when they were forced to move.

Sometimes IMO comments non-SW related like real estate should be left for those real estating Infomercials on late night TV (wow, some of those folks are portayed as egotistical knowitalls-I bet some folks would fit right in)

This IS a SW collecting site primarily; Duh*, NO, I won't stop buying SW and I won't buy a house yet -as the situation doesn't apply to me.

tell-you-how-to-live-your-life know-it-all warlords are better suited for TV infomercials   
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: SpudTrooper on September 7, 2005, 02:31 PM
As prices rise, it affects the poor much more than the rich. Gas prices would have to go up to $10-12 a gallon before it starts to put dents into medium income households. Since I'm not poor, its doesn't affect my toy runs in the least.

I think the scarer thing is the rise in housing prices. Around here in California its gone up 400-500% in a few years. Good for me that owns property. Bad for you that rent. Most new families are being majorly sqeezed out of the housing market.

Real estate is a far better investment than star wars toys. We should all stop buying star wars stuff, pay off debt and save to buy property. We would all be better off in the end and also save lots of gas from not doing toy runs.

Believe me, if you care any kind of debt and you still buy every star wars item in multiples you will wind up dirt poor for the rest of your life no matter how much you make. Pay off all your credit cards, car and student loans and buy a house instead.

kinda harsh there paul  :-\ collecting SW is not a investment i believe, its just our hobby, like women with their numerous bags and makeup. but i do agree with paul that real estates is the way to go now, esp in cali  8) BUT you shouldnt compare property to toys in terms of investment  in the first place, thats ridiculous.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Phrubruh on September 7, 2005, 04:32 PM
You missed my point entirely. Your were probably too busy playing the lottery. >:(

Going into debt for something that ultimately wont matter  (ie star wars toys) for sort term happyness is stupid.  Saving for things that do matter like houses is important. With the equity in my house I can afford to buy figures and buy gas without a second though.

If the price of gas is distribing to you, you probably shouldn't be buying $6+ plastic men that will have no value in the future. But as long as your immediately happy thats all that count.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Darth Slothus on September 7, 2005, 05:17 PM
You assume too much...and when you do, you make an ASS out of you/NOT me. Several things are clear here.......
-I have no trouble paying the gas, I just don't like the rate :(
-Don't need to play the lotto...do You? :o
-I AM using a card to purchase SW goods- yeah, that would be my bank account check card you dolt 8)
-I collect for long term- as in 10-20+ years

Why even come to this site, and buy 'cheap plastic men'(that are worthless)and to talk about how you think you know every thing about how/what peolpe should do with their life? Because you don't have one? Well I have one and I choose to respect others until they try to tell other people what to like/how to live-when that happens then ..I guess one good insult deserves another.

And now.. back to the topic at hand... looks like my local gas prices have dropped .10 cents a gallon in my area- whoo-hoo that's a whole $2.30 a tank fill up less for me! :D For a moment there it was almost cheaper to buy alcohol to drink then for your car. Then unfortunately if you go to a bar that's far your costly double dipping. I say drink at home or use a friend to drive! ;)
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: SpudTrooper on September 7, 2005, 06:19 PM
whew..thank goodness i didnt get gas yesterday..lol  8)

and i dont play lotto either
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Dressel Rebel on September 8, 2005, 02:38 AM


Believe me, if you care any kind of debt and you still buy every star wars item in multiples you will wind up dirt poor for the rest of your life no matter how much you make.

There's no income level that can support buying every star wars item in multiples? 
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: MetalJedi on September 8, 2005, 03:06 AM
You assume too much...and when you do, you make an ASS out of you/NOT me. Several things are clear here.......
-I have no trouble paying the gas, I just don't like the rate :(
-Don't need to play the lotto...do You? :o
-I AM using a card to purchase SW goods- yeah, that would be my bank account check card you dolt 8)
-I collect for long term- as in 10-20+ years

Why even come to this site, and buy 'cheap plastic men'(that are worthless)and to talk about how you think you know every thing about how/what peolpe should do with their life? Because you don't have one? Well I have one and I choose to respect others until they try to tell other people what to like/how to live-when that happens then ..I guess one good insult deserves another.

I think its funny that you have to resort to name calling in order to get your point across. What is this the 3rd grade or did I stumble across RS again? Did Paul really get you that pissed off to do that? He was stating his opinion on the subject. Not everyone's on this forum.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Jesse James on September 8, 2005, 03:39 AM
I'm going to hop in and first say that namecalling isn't tolerated so nobody do it...  I don't care how much anyone disagrees here right now.

I'm going to also say though, that there is the walking of a fine line of being terribly offensive with some opinions.  I partly agree and respect opinions on both sides I'm seeing, but I'm also "poor" and buy Star Wars figures, as are many others I know, and I don't know anyone who doesn't manage a balance in the hobby right now...  And no, I don't own a home.  So, I'm going to ask that when we discuss the behaviors of collectors, we try to respect them all and remember that poor, rich, and in-between are all entitled to happiness in life so long as they can manage their lives themselves.

In this world, if you drive and pay for gas you have a right to an opinion on it irregardless of your income level and other spending habits, and we need to remember that.  There's a lot of varying factors around gas prices and this whole situation.  It's a touchy one in the world obviously.  There's no need to "add fuel to the fire" by arguing about the issue and what some people maybe "should" be doing in one's opinion.  Nobody here knows the other person intimately enough to judge them like that, so let us drop it at that please, on both sides.

Thank you, please drive through.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Rob on September 8, 2005, 10:42 AM
Even if you may have to move, there is almost always great financial incentive to buy a house vs. renting someplace.  Every time you send in a rent check, you've pissed it down the drain - every time I pay my mortgage, it's like putting a bunch of money into savings.  When I sell, I get an awful lot of it back.

Meanwhile, property values (If you pick your spot carefully) almost always go up.

They are currently building a very large restaraunt/retail/loft/movie theater type complex across the street from my loft.  I expect to make roughly a $75,000-$80,000 profit on my place after 3 years total of living in it.

While Phruby is off base suggesting that you will always be poor if you buy multiples of plastic men (I've got thousands and am doing just freaking fine), he was absolutely correct in asserting that you're better off buying a place than renting - even if you end up selling it in a year or two.
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Darth Slothus on September 8, 2005, 01:32 PM
well, he wasn't talking to me either since I don't rent OR own-(my housing is free) ::)
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: Gatillo on September 8, 2005, 03:08 PM
I get gassy talking about gas prices. :P
Title: Re: Toy Runs affected by Gas Prices?
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on September 8, 2005, 09:18 PM
Actually, I have always been told that if you sell a house under 4 or 5 years, the amount of ROI is not enough to equal the loss to interest and down payment, and closing costs etc.  Guess I need to research that myself and see if that is true. Having said that, I will say that buying anytime is better then renting because if your in the right location, equity will go up.