Getting Ripped off at Toy Shows

[joshvox]

I went to this great antique show yesterday, bought some cool stuff, had a good time--until I got home anyway. I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to mego prices and alot of other more common vintage stuff, but when it comes to the unusual, the stuff I am drawn to, I'm a complete sucker. There was this guy there who had a huge stand of toys, many of which I had either never seen before, or never seen in person. Great stuff, fantastic to look at. The usual serious show over-pricing--evidenced by a $60 mego spidey. So I know just from that that the guy is overpriced--should have walked away. But no, I had some money in my pocket, and nothing else to spend it on, so I saw this really cool knock-off bendy batman that I had never seen before, and let the guy talk me into buying it. Now the figure is very nice--and close to minty, but I dropped $50 on it. There is a newer one on ebay right now for something like $10. While I'm hoping that mine is from say the 60's and the ebay ones are newer knock-offs from the 80's or something using the same mold (much like was done with the mego batman bendy) I'm still pretty sure I was an idiot. I also bought this little blue batman that I think must have been from a bubble gum machine or something, a argentinian plastic joker missing a hand, and a dinky fastback mustang with no front seat backs or grill, all of which I overpaid a bit for--and pretty much knew I was. But this bendy batman irks me--looks like a complete rookie mistake. Anyway, I knew you guys and gals would understand, and to make me feel better--please tell me the story about the time you got screwed at a toy show

[toys2cool]

wow I'm sorry to hear that bro,It does happen a lot though...Look at me,I paid $25 for Ponch's autograph j/k that was well worth it. I don't think i've ever been ripped off too bad,but my friends have.

[grayhank]

One always gets ripped off at toy shows because basically you're there to look for things that you wouldn't normally find. The item was obviously worth something to you because you paid that much for it. You shouldn't beat yourself over the head because after you spent the money you found it for less. Does that suddenly make the item any less valuable to you. If you hadn't seen it on Ebay would you still be happy with the item is the question you need to ask yourself.

I do get where you're coming from though. I often buy things on Ebay right away because I am a very impatient person. I'll spend days looking for something, then when I find it I buy it immediately. An hour later there will be three more listings of the same item for a fraction of what I paid. There's always a better deal around the corner but never when you need it. It's a Murphy's Law kind of thing.

[Grendel]

My story:

I had set up at a show yesterday, and saw this guy looking at a bendy Batman... when he wasn't looking I whipped out my Sharpie and increased the price from $5 to $50!

I kid, I kid!!!

That stinks, I haven't been to a toy show in a long time but always understood the feeling of needing to buy at least something to make the time spent worthwhile.

[Marvelmania]

While I'm pretty good at not getting taken on toys I usually make impulse buys on comics that I don't need or get a less than desirable condition.

[BlackKnight]

wow I'm sorry to hear that bro,It does happen a lot though...Look at me,I paid $25 for Ponch's autograph j/k

Seriously,.. that memory paid INFULL for itself. I wish I had it.


When I buy Toys,.. I buy stuff I like. I don't ever care just how much I paid for something, as it is truly valued for. I find whenever I try to buy toys as an investment, *ahem* .. the Simpson Playmate Toys, I always get burned. But this theory only works in a certain price bracket for me.

[Brue]

Don't worry - you only paid $10 for the toy.

The rest was for the fun, experience, and story.

[Bo8a_Fett]

These things have a way of balancing themselves out...you may have overpaid for something one day on an impulse but on another day you'll get that "lucky I was passing and had the money" buy...

[English Paul]

The worst one for me was an old Starsky & Hutch jigsaw. The seller confirmed it was complete........


....well, it had three pieces missing. Now that was annoying.

[Bo8a_Fett]

The worst one for me was an old Starsky & Hutch jigsaw. The seller confirmed it was complete........


....well, it had three pieces missing. Now that was annoying.

Maybe Huggy Bear has the other 3 pieces Paul?

[4NDR01D]

I would imagine that this happens to all of at some point mainly when we don't want to leave somewhere "empty handed". I'll hit up a bunch of thrift/antique/flea market type spots and if I haven't found anything worthwhile I'll actually get kinda depressed (my wife would say sulky). This is when I'm most likely to overspend on the next cool thing I see that's worth owning as "at least I got SOMETHING!!" mode kicks in. For the record the most I ever spent on a toy was $1500.00 as I thought I would never see one again, just watched one (a japanese stretch monster/ stretch andro) end for $500 w/ no bids.

[Hotfoot]

Something is worth only what someone is willing to pay. You were willing to pay 50$ so that is what it was worth to the seller and you. Someone else may have the item for sale for less or more but if no buyer comes along than it is basically worthless to the seller!

Enjoy your purchase and don't feel bad. Deals are always great but if you are willing to pay someone their price than it must have been worth it to you!

I bought a new Johnny Lightning for $5.00 plus $5 shipping because I had not seen them in the store. A week after I got it I saw it at another store (one i don't get by very often ) for $3.99. Was I upset? a little but I went ahead and bought it now I have 2. One to play with and one to keep! I'm not upset (but my wife is!)

[jessica]

It wasn't a toy. It was for some expensive pair of chairs and small loveseat set that are beautiful to look at, uncomfortable to sit on for too long. To me they look beautiful. It has an Indonesian feel to them. I couldn't afford it at the time and I plunked maybe $1200 for it on my credit card. It caused a ruckus because I was rooming with my sister. Eventually we moved to our own small 3-BR house where the chairs kind of hung around and then eventually we outgrew the house. So there they stayed, the pair of chairs collecting dust in the garage and the tiny loveseat in my bedroom holding up folded laundry. My husband threatened to get rid of them. My claws came out. We eventually moved to a bigger place and nobody uses the chairs or loveseat, but I love to look at them still.

[HardyGirl]

I couldn't really think of a reply to this until I was babysitting little Niani (age 5) on Thursday. We were in my toy room, and she spotted the 1970 Barbie Colorforms on the shelf. Now I bought this at a toy show a few years ago. It was "sealed" and the seller told me it was mint and had never been opened. I was thrilled 'cos I had one was a was little. I got it home and almost half the pieces were missing! So basically, the guy sealed it, and LIED! I was really Pi$$ed!