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Holiday pet peeve: People scalping Children's toys at Christmas.

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  • MIB41
    Eloquent Member
    • Sep 25, 2005
    • 15633

    #31
    I certainly agree with the distain by which the secondary market dominates store shelves during the holidays. But in many ways it's no different from alot of new product in the action figure domain. Look at the Dark Knight Joker figure when it first came out. Initial demand was low when an unconfirmed report came out that Mattel had pulled this figure from shelves due to a safety issue. Turns out it was little more than a package change and it took a while for Walmart stores to start stocking them again. This miscommunication developed a false sense that the figure was suddenly in "demand" and "hard to find". Part time stock boys became full time Ebayers buying these figures before they ever hit store shelves and driving demand higher due to the lack of availability. It was nothing to see diehards paying over $100.00 for ONE of these figures. You can now find this figure in huge volumes discounted at TRU and even Big Lots. Where's the value? Do these people who paid $100 get their money back later? Not likely. So while I understand and completely agree, it's really an ongoing problem that is only underscored during the holidays.
    Last edited by MIB41; Nov 23, '09, 6:57 AM.

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    • toys2cool
      Ultimate Mego Warrior
      • Nov 27, 2006
      • 28605

      #32
      I gotta admit i've done this twice in my life, both times I was really broke so it saved my ***..

      I did it with the tickle me elmo's, i bought a couple for $25 each and resold them for $100 in the streets

      and with the PS3 a couple years back, I made a $100 on each one
      "Time to nut up or shut up" -Tallahassee

      http://ultimatewarriorcollection.webs.com/
      My stuff on facebook Incompatible Browser | Facebook

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      • jwyblejr
        galactic yo-yo
        • Apr 6, 2006
        • 11147

        #33
        Originally posted by toys2cool
        what the hell is a zhu zhu toy ?
        Fake hamsters. You don't have to worry about your cat eating them or dropping dead in about two years. Just have to worry when the batteries croak.

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        • SlipperyLilSuckers
          MeGoing
          • May 14, 2003
          • 9031

          #34
          Originally posted by jwyblejr
          Fake hamsters. You don't have to worry about your cat eating them or dropping dead in about two years. Just have to worry when the batteries croak.
          Damien you're going to have to learn about all these things real fast

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          • Earth 2 Chris
            Verbose Member
            • Mar 7, 2004
            • 32977

            #35
            Oddly enough, our Wal-Mart had tons of Zhu-Zhu Pets when word first hit that they were hot. I commented to my wife that they must not be all that popular. Little did I know the wave had yet to make it here, and soon they were nowhere to be found. Luckily, my daughter is too young for them, and my son is a bit too old

            I have a hard time with scalping period. There were a few times in the past I tried to make a profit off a "hot" item, but nowadays, I just leave what I don't want behind.

            Chris
            sigpic

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            • Meule
              Verbose Member
              • Nov 14, 2004
              • 28720

              #36
              Originally posted by toys2cool
              I gotta admit i've done this twice in my life, both times I was really broke so it saved my ***..

              I did it with the tickle me elmo's, i bought a couple for $25 each and resold them for $100 in the streets

              and with the PS3 a couple years back, I made a $100 on each one

              "...The agony of my soul found vent in one loud, long and final scream of despair..." - Edgar Allan Poe

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              • Bizarro Amy
                Formerly known as Del
                • Dec 12, 2004
                • 3336

                #37
                I can't read those hot toys list without singing, "My horn can pierce the sky..."

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JdkloDrrZY

                I tried to post the video, but it wasn't showing...
                Last edited by Bizarro Amy; Nov 23, '09, 7:59 AM.
                Hey! Where's the waiter with the water for my daughter?

                Check out my customs!
                https://www.facebook.com/BizarroAmy
                http://www.tumblr.com/blog/bizarroamy

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                • palitoy
                  live. laugh. lisa needs braces
                  • Jun 16, 2001
                  • 59794

                  #38
                  My next 30 days will be spent insuring my daughter doesn't learn of these zhu-zhu pets.
                  Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions

                  Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
                  http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

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                  • Mikey
                    Verbose Member
                    • Aug 9, 2001
                    • 47258

                    #39
                    I dabbled in scalping in the early-mid 90's but it didn't pan out.

                    Since I wasn't on the internet and didn't have collecting "friends" the only people I ever delbt with was dealers ... and they would pay me barely what I paid for the stuff.

                    So I gave up

                    Comment

                    • 4NDR01D
                      Alpha Centauri....OR DIE!
                      • Jan 22, 2008
                      • 3266

                      #40
                      I'm surprised that nobodies mentioned this perspective yet, people that are paying double or triple the price for toys at Christmas are typically well off and are "spoiling" their kids.
                      I'm sure it makes it easier for a would be scalper (I feel scumbag is a little harsh, they're not scalping h1n1 vaccine) to ask double the price of something like the ps3 etc. I remember when people were paying $1000 a couple years ago at xmas.
                      It wasn't typically middle class families that were buying them, but people who could afford to pay double.
                      I do understand what is being said, and I agree to a certain exstent. it's unfortunate that some kids don't get that particular toy/item that they have their hearts set on on Christmas day. I remeber this happening to me as a kid, and my mom telling me how upset she was that she couldnt find what I wanted. She simply told me that when they were available (usually within a month) she would get me one. That was good enough for me.
                      why not, instead of paying double, tell your kids that if they still want it when it becomes available, they can have twice as much?

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                      • toys2cool
                        Ultimate Mego Warrior
                        • Nov 27, 2006
                        • 28605

                        #41
                        lol
                        "Time to nut up or shut up" -Tallahassee

                        http://ultimatewarriorcollection.webs.com/
                        My stuff on facebook Incompatible Browser | Facebook

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                        • toys2cool
                          Ultimate Mego Warrior
                          • Nov 27, 2006
                          • 28605

                          #42
                          Originally posted by SlipperyLilSuckers
                          Damien you're going to have to learn about all these things real fast
                          lol i'm sure i will
                          "Time to nut up or shut up" -Tallahassee

                          http://ultimatewarriorcollection.webs.com/
                          My stuff on facebook Incompatible Browser | Facebook

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                          • Duncan
                            Museum focus-groupie
                            • Jun 27, 2009
                            • 1542

                            #43
                            I dunno...on the one hand, I agree that scalping the hot X-mas toy is distasteful. On the other hand, how else do you allocate something scarce? The issue here is that the wrong people are making the profit. Really, the toy companies , Target, T-R-U & WalMart should jack up their prices on hot items until they stop selling out of them. Obviously, that also wouldn't be a popular idea.

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                            • Hector
                              el Hombre de Acero
                              • May 19, 2003
                              • 31852

                              #44
                              Originally posted by Meule
                              Same goes for the Hotwheels 66 Batmobile, Batcycle and Batboat. Ever since they were released I keep hearing stories of people not being able to find them, but they're all over eBay.
                              I bought these yesterday at Toys R Us...



                              sigpic

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                              • Hector
                                el Hombre de Acero
                                • May 19, 2003
                                • 31852

                                #45
                                Originally posted by toys2cool
                                what the hell is a zhu zhu toy ?
                                I didn't know what the hell that was either...until I read this thread...and google the bloody thing...lol...

                                sigpic

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