Would you fight a kid for a toy?

[Gorn Captain]

Years ago, I was at a flea market, and spotted a little kid running around with a rare vintage Godzilla figure.
Whoever gave it to him, didn't know the value.

And this was my dilemma: what do you do?
"Hey, kid, that's a nice looking toy. Wanna see mine?"
Chase the kid, hoping he'll lead you to Mom, and do some negotiating (and hopefully not get arrested)?

I didn't know what to do. I kept my eye on him, but he disappeared in the crowd.
Still don't have that Godzilla figure....

[palitoy]

About 20 years ago I met a nine year old collector who wanted to know if I'd do some trades. I said sure and met him and his dad in their scary van.

We drove around the block and the kids trade fodder was two MIB Captain Action Robin suits that his Dad found in a variety store. He wanted a Tomland Fly and a loose Mego Thor but I think I gave him everything I brought with me.

[megoapesnut]

Depends on what they had. If I saw a kid walking around with a CIPSA Ape figure in his hand, I would stick to him/her like a fly on fly paper until he/she met up with a parent, and then do some serious negotiating.

[Mikey]

Depends on what they had. If I saw a kid walking around with a CIPSA Ape figure in his hand, I would stick to him/her like a fly on fly paper until he/she met up with a parent, and then do some serious negotiating.

The only problem with that is 9 parents out of 10 would think their kid's figure is a goldmine and want way too much.

I can picture if it was worth $100.00 and you told them that they would ask for at least $300.00 from you.

Sometimes (many times) informing a non collector of the value of their item (or even that it does have a value) will totally destroy a deal.

There is a way to do this properly .....
Hire the local school bully to get the figure from him.
Local bullies are a lot cheaper than collectibles

[MIB41]

Years ago, I was at a flea market, and spotted a little kid running around with a rare vintage Godzilla figure.
Whoever gave it to him, didn't know the value.

And this was my dilemma: what do you do?
"Hey, kid, that's a nice looking toy. Wanna see mine?"
Chase the kid, hoping he'll lead you to Mom, and do some negotiating (and hopefully not get arrested)?

I didn't know what to do. I kept my eye on him, but he disappeared in the crowd.
Still don't have that Godzilla figure....

WOW... A toy stalker.

[toystalker]

you rang


id sell my socks to a kid if it meant getting the toy

when we used to do toy fairs and exibits i used to ask just about everyone who went by or stopped at our stall what they had in the bag! next thing i know we are busting deals

some of the best goods come from just being cheeky and forward

i once asked a guy whats in the bag and he opened it and said he was desperate to offload these 200 loose smurfs... i look inside and say wel you come to the right place we are dealers who are buying, he said he was glad i asked as he didnt have enough courage to ask a dealer what they would give him... he then tells me he will take like £20 for the lot ... i look inside and there looking up and me as im running my fingers through the many smurfs is a black smurf very nice condition. i give him the money and he was happy as larry.

i sold the black smurf on its own for around £20 and the rest is history LOL

but yeah id chase a kid up a ladder to get that turboman doll

[LonnieFisher]

Wow! I'd beat him up right on the spot and take his precious toy. And wait around for his dad, so I can get the rest when I make him drive me to his house with threats of daily beatings for the whole family if I didn't get some good toys! Then I'd give the toys to some rich spoiled bratty kid that nobody likes because he has everything and won't share. Justice at last....

[megocrazy]

I'd kick the crap out of a 5 year old for a naked Kirk figure with a busted leg.

[LonnieFisher]

Then I'd beat his little brother up for the broken leg!

[Gorn Captain]

Boy, you guys sure love kids!

[Adam West]

I don't see an issue with as long as you aren't aggressive about it and talk to the parents (not the kid).

If you watch American Pickers, those guys just drive into the countryside and if they see a house with a lot of barns, etc., they pull up to the house unexpected and simply tell the owner who they are and if they have anything they want to sell. Sometimes, the owner yells at them and tells them to get off his property. Others welcome them in and they hit a gold mine.

[starsky]

great stories!!

[vulcan2074]

I was once at a TRU and I just pickd up a Star Trek figure from the peg that I wanted. Next thing I hear is a kid running with his mom saying thats the one I want. So I gave it up! I'm a softie when it comes to kids
Sammy

[LadyZod]

I once had an experience in Toys R Us in the Star Wars aisle as I watched a father and son...

The kid kept asking if he could have this figure or this other figure. His dad kept saying no, that they were there for some TRU exclusive X Wing. Then the kid asks if he can see it, and the dad says it's a toy for looking and not playing.

Right.

A Toy for looking and not for playing.

I bet that X Wing was totally worth a kid's disappointment.

Would I fight a kid for a toy?

No.

Toys are meant to amuse children.

We as adults collect them, but we're adults not barbarians.

Let the kid have the toy. The toy may not survive the ordeal, and it may be worth a ton of cash to us, but I bet it's worth much more to that kid that got to drag it behind his bike or strap it to a rocket, or play with it in the bathtub.

[BlackKnight]

Depends on What it is I suppose ...

... My Mom Fought Some Rather Large B/O Infested Women for Star War's Figures for me and my Brother Back in the Day.