Just don't buy from them. I've gotten everything that I've wanted through regular or online retailers (EE, Smalljoes, etc). (aside from black timber, but I rather have my fixed crotch V2 than a black imobile wolf)
I've always viewed the secondary market as a last resort for things long out of production. Or for stuff not available domestically, like most Micromen.
But stuff that's just come out, there's really no reason to buy from these guys. Like others have said, these guys are driving hype to make you feel desperate about not being able to get the guy you want. But if you're patient you'll find everything. Stocking is getting better, and early figs are coming in re-release later this summer as part of revision waves. And hopefully they'll be fixed!

This reminds me of the story how I lost all my Joes - - because my "friend" told me that he was giving them to his younger brother, but was instead giving them to his older brother, the comic book store employee who was no doubt turning them around for what they were worth (and far more than I gave them away for, because I thought they were going to a kid that would get play from them and was willing to make a personal sacrifice by doing a nice thing...)


Long story short - when I found out what really happened I felt betrayed because my friend basically lied to me and ripped me off and I think that's what's going on in this story. (I never would have given the Joes away for what I did had I known the truth.) There was obviously a personal connection between these people before XMLR-3A felt taken advantage of by learning that stores were being looted so his "Friend" could mark up the prices on him (profiting off knowledge of what the friend desired) - he took revenge and now they are not friends. That's the thing about this hobby that sucks. People sometimes put selfish accumulation of things or wealth over the well-being of actual people that mistakenly believe in the strength of the personal relationship. My two cents on what's "really" going on behind this all this scalper rage.

Aren't the guys from Small joes scalpers?

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No, Corey does charge higher than others for troop builders, but his reason is so that scalpers can't buy them up and make money off of them. He tries to push the full set which generally breaks down to not too much higher than retail. He does have to charge more though since he's paying more. Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, etc. can charge less and even lower than they do due to the amount they get at one time.

Even Brian's Toys isn't a scalper. They charge a little more too and will charge yet even higher if you ask for "perfect packaging". But they're still not hitting stores and buying stock plus have an account too. Scalpers try and buy up everything from every outlet thinking they'll be the only source to get stuff from. Plus while doing that they charge way too high of a price.

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Well that may have been scalpers working at the store. That happens. As a worker, you CAN NOT buy items with the idea of reselling them on Ebay. You can be fired for that. Now they can be open about the popularity of something with managers, but they have to stock the shelf. If they can keep that figure from being sold, then no matter how popular they say it is, the manager ends up not worrying what they do with the figure when they bring it up to buy it. Then of course they can do as you said and just keep the figures they want in the box, but you can't do that right in front of customers. Customers are always suppose to have first pick.

The best way to handle these types of situations is to just report it. KB corporate doesn't take to kindly to associates that cost the company a sale. They'd get questioned by the DM and taken care of.

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Finally, somebody got what I was saying. Thanks Stalker. I realize in my initial post I didn't mention that I knew these folks at the shop. It bugged me one time, when I told the owner I was having a hard time finding a certain figure at the stores. He told me if he comes across one, he'll grab it for me. I said, "Thanks!" A few weeks later, He had it, an item that retails for $9.99 (and that's exactly where he got it, at a big retail place,) & he was gonna sell it to me for $20!!! The dude made it seem like he'd grab it as he was getting is own stuff & I'd just pay him back, just like I'd do for ANY of you guys here on this forum. There went my false sense of friendship with that guy.

There are a few here who understand the rage of this hobby. Scalpers, unavailability of product, gas prices, lack of stores, etc.

There are others here that have made a few assumptions.
There are those folks who are defending this scalper with all they've got.



Where else do I go, when I can't find the product at Toys R Us or Target or Wal-Mart? I DON'T go anywhere else. I can't afford it. Why CAN'T I find the product at the above mentioned stores, a combination of factors. Other collectors, little Timmy who wants to play with good ol' American GI JOE & SCALPERS. If the scalpers left the figures on the rack, I could get them, The other guys could get them, we wouldn't have such a hard time with our hobby. The big retailers are my source for these figures. Diamond is his source. He doesn't need to buy them out from under me just to make an extra buck.




No kidding bro. Sheesh.

Y'see, what I need to do, is convince the owner that all those Buzzers are all the rage, that way HE can clear them off the shelf & make room for new product for me & him to fight over.

In this day and age there are many reputable online dealers who accept pre-orders for cases or new figure sets. If you really have the availability issues you claim (reality check: in a modern toy line you can't go to one or two stores once every few weeks and expect to find everything you want) then this is the best option. A scalper can't get affect you then since you've satisfied your personal demand.

Complaining about the problem is one thing. Doing something about it is something else all together.

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That's the thing bro, I check these big retail stores out all the time. I never once said I look for the figures "once every few weeks." Assumptions like that don't need to be made. The TRU I saw the owner at is in walking distance from that comic shop. Both are in my area.

I used to buy from smalljoes. I couldn't afford his prices & shipping. I used to buy stuff online all the time, (not just from smalljoes,) but I ran into too many problems. I guess no matter how I slice it, this hobby has too many problems.

My own problem is, I'm stuck in a time where we could go to the store & grab whatever figure we wanted without much difficulty.

NOW, ya go to the store & the shelves are either empty or packed full of Buzzer & there's a bunch of guys running around trying to sell you figures out of their trench coats, (figuratively speaking that is.) Essentially, the comic shop, online or anyplace that scalpers sell their plunder is that trench coat.

What online stores can you recommend that have decent prices & affordable shipping?

Again, I'm not trying to start online arguments, I'm not sitting here with steam shooting out of my ears as I'm typing. I'm cool.

I don't collect the new line (And, if I did, Joe figures have always been easy to find at all the stores in my area. Thus, my skepticism about the widespread availability problems.) However, I'm sure that many other collectors who do buy the new stuff will gladly offer their experiences with online retailers. However, your comment about not affording shipping from SmallJoes.com suggests to me that you might have unrealistic expectations of online shipping charges.

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You are fortunate that the Joe figures have been easy to find in your area.

As for my smalljoes comment, I said I couldn't afford the PRICES AND shipping.
What is going on here? "you might have unrealistic expectations of online shipping charges." What is with this type of stuff being thrown at me?

Big Bad Toystore. Reasonable shipping (especially if you use the pile of loot option), no sales tax, lots of preorder options and reasonable prices - unless you buy the figures individually.

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Cool man. Thanks for the info. I like that "no sales tax" action.

So how much cash in fuel charges do you think you're spending driving to these retail outlets several times a week? I bet it's a heck of a lot more than you'd pay in shipping.

I live in the boondocks. I have ONE local Wal-Mart which has not even carried a G.I. Joe line in 4 years. You know what? I'm totally current on all of the figures I need or want because I shop online and I make friends with folks in bigger areas who are willing to help me out.

I keep hearing about "distribution" problems... but it's more of a "popularity" problem that us Joe collectors aren't necessarily used to. There's a fine line between production and over-production...between filling shelves and over-saturation, and it takes Hasbro (and the retailers) time to find that line. Don't forget, Joe has sold pretty minorly at retail for the past decade, so the success of the Anniversary line took everyone by surprise. Yet, at every forum I see multiple people with armies (or at least squads) of Vipers (a figure that's only been at retail for a month) yet everyone is complaining about distribution. It doesn't match up.

Yes the Joe line has been under-produced (and under-ordered by retailers), but it has been catching up. If someone like me, who literally has ZERO places brick & mortar to buy this stuff can somehow keep a happy, complete collection without any rage or frustration, anyone can. If you think there are really serious distribution problems, do a search for 25th Anniversary Joes on eBay. There are 2400 current auctions for various 25th Anniversary items, and many of those auctions are for multiple figures. The toys are being distributed, someone is just getting there first.

Start adding up that mileage...find out just how much $4/gallon gas you're putting in your tank to drive to all those stores, then check out SmallJoes, BigBadToyStore, or DNS Toys and see what they charge in shipping. You might be really surprised, and you might save yourself a lot of mental anguish.

Justin

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Justin, my GI JOE bro, I don't make special trips, just for the JOEs. As I pass these places, I take the time to stop & check 'em out, often wondering why I even bothered, because there's nothing on the shelf. TRU is on my way home from the gym, where I go 4 days out of the week. I shop at Target for MANY things. It is also close.

Listen to me people. Stop making these assumptions. It seems you some of you folks are trying to make me out to be something I'm not.

I will check out BigBadToyStore like good ol' Lance suggested.

Not assuming anything, not trying to cast aspersions on your character, just trying to ease that "rage"...

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