Speed-walking to the action figure aisle...admit it. You've done it.

[enyawd72]

As I pulled into the TRU parking lot last night and got out of my car, I saw my arch-nemesis. Fellow toy collector guy. Like me, he is alone. Wearing a comic themed shirt. We both approach the store calmly. As we enter, we glance at each other, sizing each other up, each wondering what the other one is here for. He's a much younger man than me, but I have size and experience on my side.

Once inside we both cut through the closed checkouts, heading straight for the action figure aisle. We walk side by side, faster and faster, continuously glancing at each other. As we get closer and closer to the figures, faster and faster we go, breaking into a semi-lurching run as other customers stare at us as if watching some bizarre special olympics event.

We both head down the same aisle, eyes frantically scanning for new figures. I spot them! I quickly snag the latest wave of Marvel Legends as my rival paws crazily through the remaining old stock, muttering some profanity under his breath. HA HA! Success! So long punk!

Victory is mine...this time.

[EMCE Hammer]

The last time this happened to me was when the Creature first hit TRU. I just had this feeling that another guy and I were after them. I felt a little bad that I took two and left him with a peg full of brides. I'd probably share if it was a disappointed kid, otherwise I look at it as payback for all the times I see the SW stuff I need for my own kids on dealer tables at toy shows with the usual markup.

[Sideshow Spock]

Back in the 90s, rare was the week that someone wouldn't write a big story on the RTM boards about getting to TRU or Target at the crack o' dawn, and having to fend off the Hot Wheels or SW collectors. Lots of talk of knocking over children and old ladies in a rush to the toy aisle.. I'm sure most of it was fanboy fiction..

[Earth 2 Chris]

Man, it's been a long time since I experienced anything like this. I did have a few experiences like that in the 90s, when the action figure speculation boom was in full swing. Some friends and I went to a grand opening of a new Wal-Mart a few hours after it opened. This was during the height of POTF figures, and apparently there was an actual melee there that morning, with actual fistfights and one lady sweeping the nearly the entire stock of Star Wars figures into her cart with one arm and running off.

Chris

[Saroyan]

I try not to run to the toy aisle- even if I do see someone else headed there at the same time.

[HardyGirl]

The only times I remember rushing to the action figure aisle is when the 12 inch GIJoes (and whatever knock-offs there were) were popular. I got figures, uniforms and accessory sets. Life was good.

[SeattleEd]

Verbatim. That is what it was like back in the 90's here in Seattle. SW and Hot Wheels dealers. It got to the point that we had groups that would help each other out from the scalpers, which everyone knew in the collectors circle. I was into the Marvels and SW but definitely not Hot Wheels and I've only done it once with the racing to the aisle. Literally running fast but didn't knock run into anyone or knock anything over. Learned my lesson. I went during Xmas Eve to all the TRU and Targets and would score big time. Found a few Treasure Hunts too but didn't buy them. I'd wait and see if the scalpers would show up, which they did. Pretty hilarious looking at them in the eye and smiling.

Back in the 90s, rare was the week that someone wouldn't write a big story on the RTM boards about getting to TRU or Target at the crack o' dawn, and having to fend off the Hot Wheels or SW collectors. Lots of talk of knocking over children and old ladies in a rush to the toy aisle.. I'm sure most of it was fanboy fiction..

[Nostalgiabuff]

i generally walk fast no matter where I am headed, but, at this stage in my life I don't rush for the toy aisle though. very little in the way of modern toys interest me. there are some re-megos of course and round 2Captain Action but they are all readily available at online retailers, sometimes for less than what TRU would charge, so why look like a major nerd running for the toy aisle.

[toys2cool]

I use to do this back in the day with POTF star wars and starting lineup's

[Spawn67]

My mom to this day reminds me of the time she had to fight her way to get a Knight Rider car with action figure in toys r us back when I was a kid.

I had a teacher in college a couple years ago who would tell us the story all the time of when he was 18 and was a manager of the toy department in 83 when they had the Cabbage Patch craze. He had to break up fights with parents and said the store was anarchy and had no control over the situation. That incident made him quit retail forever.

[enyawd72]

It may have something to do with the fact that I live in a mostly toy-free zone. We have no TRU here...no Target. No Spencer Gifts...nothing. The closest stores are 45-50 miles away, so every collector within a 100 mile radius hits them.

[megoapesnut]

Never for action figures, but in the 80's I can remember camping out to be first to go through shipments of baseball cards. Especially when Billy Ripken had his famous 89 Fleer fiasco. I speed walked down many an aisle to get to those boxes first.

[jimsmegos]

I too am in a very toy-poor zone... Still whenever I go to any store that's always my first stop and then the rest of the shopping. The main observation I keep making though is that in most (like 90%) of the time I'm the only one in the department. No other kids or adults. So sad really.