TheSpiderX

I got my spideys sets today. Very happy!

I think one of the best way to deter these scalpers is to not give into them. I realize that we all want the figures as soon as they come out, but it often doesn't work that way. If people weren't willing to pay 50 bucks for a bullseye pack, then like they said in the article, these items would get returned because there is no profit to be made. Unless it's an item that was made in extremely limited numbers, then eventually we will all get the one we want. It's just a matter of being patient. I personally was prepared to pay 50 or 60 bucks for the BTTF series 1 because they are no longer making it. I ended up getting it from a friend here, for half of that almost a year later. I've said it before, patience and a little bit of luck are key here.

Here's an open question to those on the board: Are Minimates the first and only toy line you have collected? The practice of tiered case lots has been going on forever. The very least it probably kicked off with TRU coming into the game. It has been this way with Marvel Legends forever, dating back to the first toybiz figures. I believe there are three reasons why toy companies pack like this: 1. Characters like Bullseye/Moonstone are definitely considered lesser characters. It was pointed out a few posts earlier. DST/TRU are gambling with on what will sell. It's safe to say a Mom with little knowledge of comics will end up taking home a spidey or wolverine first, because that is what she knows. She may pick up a bullseye and put it back because she has no idea who he is. Same with the kid who is with that mom. Unless he knows comics, he probably doesn't know or care who bullseye is. 2. TRU knows that there are collectors like us out there. They want us to come back in search of the elusive chase set. They are banking that during one of our repeat visits we will end up buying something else while we were there, even though we didn't find what we were looking for. I liken it to Door Crashers/ Loss Leaders at stores. They are pulling you in with a great deal/great hope of finding a chase set and want to see you walk out with more product, preferably those that have higher margins. 3. What you need to know about retail, especially if you sell videogames, is that you try to order product to intentionally sell out of it. Take videogames for instance, the best opportunity to sell a new game is usually within 2 weeks of it's release date. Most of the time it's within 1 week of it's release date. Sure you'll sell 1 here or 2 there after that, but if you go and buy too many, you are forced to sit on that product until you mark it down to get rid of it. I'm sure toys are the exact same as videogames. There are no returns to the suppliers. If I buy 100 boxes of Ghostbusters mates, and I sell 1 box, I'm stuck with those. It's not like other sectors of retail like cd/dvds where the suppliers will let you return what you don't sell. You're stuck with them. There's a good reason why I can walk into my local TRU and still find Marvel Legends Series 1 from a few years ago on the shelves. I'm sure by now it's obvious I work in retail (a Canadian cd/dvd/games retailer), but that doesn't mean I like this practice. I absolutely hate having someone come into my shop a few days after a release and walking away empty handed. All the buying is done by people at head office, so we have very little control these days of what quantity comes into my store. Sorry this was long winded, I just wanted to maybe add a little insight into the retail practices. While the buyers at TRU seem to be incompetent, I don't think we can really blame DST either. They are trying to ensure they don't over produce figures as well. I think the best thing we can do is be patient, most times we will eventually get what we want. It just may take a little longer than anticipated.

My TRU(Johnstown, PA got in a case), alas I'm very short on $$$ to pick up extras for anyone who needs them. Does anyone have access to all 5 packs and would be willing to grab me them? I have paypal in hand so you don't have to front the cash yourself. The TRU's in Canada just aren't carrying minimates. Which sucks. Thanks for any help.

I'm more apt to blame TRU for the mess rather than DST/AA. The fact I'm in Canada and will likely never see the minimates in the TRUs here chaps my ass. I know on the ASK DST they mentioned that TRU Canada has different buyers and they have to choose to bring them in. I won't hold my breath on it though, for the largest Toy chain in North America, they really only stock the same old stuff. Now I understand why, there is a smaller market for MM than Barbie, so they are catering to their clientele. It's the first rule of retail. But what I don't understand is at least taking a minor risk and introducing new lines. Here in Canada I never saw anything new. We got the first 2 hasbro Marvel Legend waves. That's it. I've been collecting figures for 10 years now and I think I've maybe picked up Marvel products twice or 3 times at TRU. It's that pathetic. Hell, the one in the mall we most frequent, which is once a month, has had an empty shelf in the marvel section for the past month! A freaking month. I run a retail shop, I would be shot if I let my store get like that for a day let alone a month.

A voice of sanity!

There is no good or evil: only power and those too weak to seek it. Voldemort to Harry ?? SpiderX

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and relatively new to the Minimate collecting scene. I've always been a huge Spidey fan and have tons of 6" figures. I have had a few Spidey Minimates for a few months now, but haven't spent much time collecting them up until a few weeks ago. Then I lost my mind. I have a friend whom you know as MiniJeff who has been encouraging me by helping me complete the whole Spidey run of minimates. Since then I've branched off into a bunch of other lines and I am loving every minute of it! I'm looking forward to making some (hopefully) cool dioramas for my lines. So I just wanted to pop in and say Hi. TheSpiderX