12 replies to this topic

[RubzOne]

So I'm sure you're all sick of hearing me complain about Transformer PVC's... but it's just getting plain ridiculous now. You guys thought MUSCLES were expensive? Go take a look at some of the auctions running for PVC's right now. You guys thought people were trying to take advantage of MUSCLE collectors? Well it looks like PVC's have become scalper bait now as well.

For instance. Some guy lists a figure for 99 cents. It was not a popular figure, but it is one that I am missing in my collection. If you guys aren't aware of the size of a PVC transformer, they are about 2.5 inches tall, with a few exceptions, and could weigh no more than an ounce. Please tell me why the shipping on this item is listed at $6.95? I was assuming the guy was gonna be cool at the end of the auction so I was planning on asking him to ship it without the box and stand, which I was thinking would drag the price down a couple bucks. The guy refused to bend, and insisted that the shipping was going to be a fixed 6.95. So is this his way of breaking even in case his auction ends at a low price? I believe so. Now I am lookin through his other auctions and I see the most common figures listed very strangely. Some are 15 dollars, others 30, none are the same price. This guy is clearly trying to dupe new collectors into thinking certain figures are rare.

This is really pissing me off. I have about 40 PVC's to sell of which I have brought back from Japan and I do not expect to make my money back on them. Instead, I have chosen to list all of my auctions with extremely low Buy It Now prices so all the new collectors can get started and/or get the figures they need. No tricks, no smokescreen. Just one collector helping another collector out. In my auctions I will call out all the PVC scalpers and request people boycott their auctions, in an attempt to drive their prices down.

I am sure you have all faced similar situations, what have any of you done to combat toy scalpers? Is there any way you can really screw em? It makes me sick to see these people doing this... It's like, come on, I know they collect too, they obviously know enough about these things to know which are valuable. Sorry I'm not making sense now, I'm just typing out of anger and I am pretty tired. Vent off for now

[Tortle]

I just did a search for Transformers PVCs on Ebay, and you're right... the situation is way out of hand. I personally can't believe that people would pay that much money for a small, 2.5 inch figure. I mean, I'd love to get a few of these figures, like that Brain Grimlock, but $35?! That's insane... But please let us know when you post those figures on Ebay. I'd love to get a few, and I've never seen them in the stores.

Anyway, I personally do three things to discourage toy scalping:

1) I never, EVER buy toys from scalpers. Every single newly released toy being auctioned on Ebay was bought in the store by somebody who only wanted to resell it for a profit. If these bung-monkeys didn't buy up all the figures in the first place, I'd be able to walk in TRU and pick them up.

2) When I sell toys on Ebay, I place an extremely low first bid on them, and always less than what I paid for them. I know that trying to make money on toys is not only futile, but also very "scalper-like", so I realize that whenever I want to sell a toy, I will always take a loss. I'm proud to say that I have never made money off of an Ebay auction. Um... besides the time I sold a big bag full of Transformers parts. I made a good couple hundred bucks off that one... but I still had a very low starting bid, like $5.

Frankly, I actually enjoy being a good seller and helping out other collectors instead of reaming them. Sure I lose money, but I know that no collectible will retain its value and I'll lose the money anyway.

3) I actively encourage others not to buy from scalpers, and remind them that scalping simply would not exist if we (the collectors) didn't pay their prices. I do this by putting a commentary on my site, explaining scalping on my About Me page on Ebay, and, as you AKIA members will know, ranting and raving here about scalping pretty much on a weekly basis.

-Nathan

[jkaris]

There is always the option of an eBay user winning every auction and not paying for them, forcing the scalper to relist the items........but I personally would never do this...

On a side note, not everyone selling current items on eBay is a scalper. I would guess that at least 25% are wholesalers who's only storefront is on eBay and the net.

[Tortle]

I would guess that at least 25% are wholesalers who's only storefront is on eBay and the net.

By "wholesaler", do you mean the companies that, for example, buy Star Wars figures directly from Hasbro and sell them by the case? If so, then maybe you're right in that not every Ebay auction with new figures are from scalpers. However, I don't think I've ever actually seen one of these companies on Ebay... do you have examples? Still, I stand by my assertion that every newly released toy on Ebay is from a toy scalper. And, of course, comic shops and hobby stores don't count as wholesalers... besides, I consider them scalpers anyway, since they mark up their prices so friggin' much.

-Nathan

[jkaris]

In fact, I don't think I've ever actually seen one of these sellers on Ebay... do you have examples?

Not off hand, but I see them all the time. You can tell them when you are looking at new items on eBay and you scroll down to see an advertisement for their internet store, and when you click the link they are selling a vast majority of items at their storefront too. eBay is a great advertisement tool for these small businesses. They would definitely NOT be classified as a scalper.
If we stick with the definition that a scalper is one who buys at retail to sell at an inflated price, then they are not. Most of them get their toys from a wholesaler or factory direct, and sell them at or around MSRP. To classify them as scalpers is incorrect.
Comic book shops that get their toys wholesale would also be misclassified as scalpers (over priced as they are, I know).

[Tortle]

You can tell them when you are looking at new items on eBay and you scroll down to see an advertisement for their internet store, and when you click the link they are selling a vast majority of items at their storefront too.

...Most of them get their toys from a wholesaler or factory direct, and sell them at or around MSRP.

I think I edited my comment while you were writing your response... Anyway, I think I know what you're talking about. I would classify these as hobby shops, not really wholesalers. But you're right, I guess they wouldn't be scalpers... However, I've NEVER seen them sell toys for MSRP. They put items up on Ebay so that it will sell for more than that, which is why I hate their guts, too. I'll just put them in the "toy dealer maggot" category along with comic shops and toy convention delears.

So, perhaps I should restate my previous comment: "Every single newly released toy being auctioned on Ebay was either bought in the store by somebody who only wanted to resell it for a profit, or by a toy dealer maggot who wants to rape collectors."

I think that's about right...

-Nathan

[jkaris]

I'll just put them in the "toy dealer maggot" category along with comic shops and toy convention delears.

Okay, I can agree with that partially. I'd change the toy dealer maggot line to entrepreneurial toy dealer. Do remember that if it wasn't for the scumbag scalpers who buy retail and mark them up, then these wholesaling toy dealers would only be getting retail in most cases. It is the scalpers who drive up the prices, not the small business owners (in most cases).
Example:
Kinnikuman Jujubee is a one per case chase item. His MSRP is $9.99

Scalper buys at retail for $10.76, has to sell with an opening bid of $12.99 to make any profit, and because this is replicated nationally, the toys has a high demand and sells for $20 average.

Small business owner (A) buys at wholesale for $5.35. Lists a few on eBay at $9.99 to generate business to his store, ends up selling alot of them around $20 (scalper inflated average) sells a few on his site for $9.99 because of the traffice generated from the eBay exposure. Also sells numerous other items that he has online, without having to pay eBay fees.

Small business owner ( buys at wholesale for $5.35. Lists all of them on eBay for $9.99 and sells them all for $20 or so.

Who is scum? The scalper!
Why? He artificially jacked up the price to make a profit by creating a false shortage.

Who is not? Small business owners A+B
Yes they made great profits from the inflated price (this in itself is not wrong, although some will differ) but they listed at retail and bought wholesale.

I hate scalpers. I LOVE capitalism!
Scalpers are Capitalism at it's worst
Small business owners are capitalism at it's best!

[Tortle]

Yeah, in this scenario, the scalper is definitely the bad guy. But in my experience with toy shops (both online and bricks-and-mortar), they seem overjoyed that certain items sell for more on Ebay, and actually gauge their prices based on the scalper-inflated prices. For example, if they ordered a case of SW Ep1 figures back in the day and got their fat, sweaty, hamburger-greasy hands on a Swimming JarJar (a short-packed figure), they would charge MUCH more than the MSRP, regardless if it was being sold on Ebay, in their bricks-and-mortar store, or on their online store. It's not technically scalping, but it's still raping the collector.

So, no offense, but I think I'll collectively call them toy dealer maggots until I actually have a pleasant toy-buying experience from one. Thank you, drive through.

-Nathan

[jkaris]

But in my experience with toy shops (both online and bricks-and-mortar), they seem overjoyed that certain items sell for more on Ebay, and actually gauge their prices based on the scalper-inflated prices..... It's not technically scalping, but it's still raping the collector.

I agree 100%

[RubzOne]

Hot topic eh? Glad there are a few people here that can share my anger, I will definitely let you guys know when I decide to list them up. I have mostly figures from ACT 8 though, figures from previous acts are getting harder to come by, which would explain the price on that Grimlock you saw Nathan. The metallic Grimlock is a chase figure, they regular one is from Act 3, which is also kind of hard to get now.

[doc_moore_j]

I share your anger my brother, just like I share my sister.

[Ridureyu]

I've only sold two toys on E-bay, both MIP and both not still produced.


One packaged Scream from theVebnom: planet of the Symbiotes line.


4.99 starting bid, 6.99 shipping. This is an average e-bay price for it, and a lot lower than the normal toy dealer price ($15)

packaged SBC Majin Buu figure- starting price, $14.99, shipping, 6.99. These toys are danged rare (The Super Battle COllection), and worth a lot. I could easily have made the starting bid $30, and still sold it. I didn' want to charge that much, though.


Other than that, my account's been used by some of my really close friends (I. e. I input everything, they provide the item) to sell one turkish rug (worth $4,000) and one wedding ring (worth $2,000).

I plan on selling some random comic books that ended up in my possesion during Free Comics Day (About $1-5, really), and a bunch of Monster in my Pocvket Sports Star figures (I have no idea- I might divide them into different lots).

[csmhoff]

trust me it can get a lot worse, postage to me is $25 at cheap rate!! for one small 50g toy, according to one current ebay seller this is due to packing materials? as if, although the best one i got was for $49 for a 400g toy once! i now always ask for postage rates prior to bidding. some ebay sellers seem to have $$$$on the brain- try checking their feedback- if they buy and sell -more likely they wont rip u off on the postage- but those purley selling - ask.