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Post by jrjumpshot on Feb 10, 2013 21:14:36 GMT -5
Here is the thought that has been running through my head for years now and I just feel I need to say it out loud.....Ok, so there seems to be a bit of a double-standard around here. Everyone seems to hate it when someone beats them to the store and buys up all of the hot figures first. But, yet no one says anything when someone does the same thing, only to break or re-paint the figure to make something different with it. Why is that? Why is "Scalping" so frowned apon, but we praise customizers?
Personally, I have had very good success finding figures at retail for my collection. Other than a handful of figures (Alicia Fox, basic Warrior, etc) I have pretty much found every figure retail. So, neither scalpers or customizers have been a problem for me. So personally, neither of them bother me at all.
But, at least in my mind, buying a figure just to customize it falls under the same category as scalping. If you are buying a figure with no intention of keeping that figure in your collection, to me, it feels no different than buying them all up to turn a profit.
I mean, really....I've saw fellow board members make 10 different AJ Lee customs. That figure has been pretty tough to come by at retail for most collectors, but everyone is ok with that? Like I said, I too am ok with it because I've been able to find what I am looking for. Just curious is all why the people who are complaining about scalpers are not complaining about customizers as well.
Your thoughts?
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Joejitsu22
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Post by Joejitsu22 on Feb 10, 2013 21:17:06 GMT -5
scalping is to prey upon those you beat out with high demand figs to make a buck.
customizing you are buying for a purpose that doesn't involve trying to screw fellow collectors out of a few bucks. usually customizers arent buying up hot figs for customs, but shelf warmers for parts ie orton for knee pads ect.
terrible comparision.
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Post by JC Motors on Feb 10, 2013 21:23:02 GMT -5
I see what you mean and I agree with you
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Post by jrjumpshot on Feb 10, 2013 21:25:46 GMT -5
scalping is to prey upon those you beat out with high demand figs to make a buck. customizing you are buying for a purpose that doesn't involve trying to screw fellow collectors out of a few bucks. usually customizers arent buying up hot figs for customs, but shelf warmers for parts ie orton for knee pads ect. terrible comparision. I wouldn't use the word "screw" to describe a scalper. Anything someone can do to make a dollar, I'm all for as long as it is legal. Buying a figure to flip for a profit is no different than someone buying a property to flip for a profit or someone buying a storage unit to turn around and sell for a profit. At least when someone buys a figure for the sole purpose of flipping for a profit, that figure still exists to buy, though be it at an inflated price..... If someone buys a figure to customize it, that original figure can no longer be purchased, even at an inflated price because someone customized it. It's no longer the same figure.....
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Post by Joe/Smurf on Feb 10, 2013 21:26:42 GMT -5
Well, there's two trains of thought here:
If you're buying them to repaint and sell, you could make an argument that you're basically "scalping."
BUT... I would say that, while some might buy to play or display -- that's their hobby -- others enjoy the hobby of painting and sculpting and whatever else they put into a custom. They're having their fun with it, and when they're done with it... they sell it. Just like if you had sold off a figure you were done with. They're not guaranteed to make money off a custom (unless they're good). So, I'd say no.. it's not on the same level as scalping.
There's also the fact that some people might buy multiples to make customs for their personal collection -- I bought two basic AJs for this reason and considered a third when I found her at retail. Then, they're DEFINITELY not scalping.
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Joejitsu22
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Post by Joejitsu22 on Feb 10, 2013 21:27:50 GMT -5
scalping is to prey upon those you beat out with high demand figs to make a buck. customizing you are buying for a purpose that doesn't involve trying to screw fellow collectors out of a few bucks. usually customizers arent buying up hot figs for customs, but shelf warmers for parts ie orton for knee pads ect. terrible comparision. I wouldn't use the word "screw" to describe a scalper. Anything someone can do to make a dollar, I'm all for as long as it is legal. Buying a figure to flip for a profit is no different than someone buying a property to flip for a profit or someone buying a storage unit to turn around and sell for a profit. At least when someone buys a figure for the sole purpose of flipping for a profit, that figure still exists to buy, though be it at an inflated price..... If someone buys a figure to customize it, that original figure can no longer be purchased, even at an inflated price because someone customized it. It's no longer the same figure..... still disagree with you. but hey we all have opinions right
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Post by jrjumpshot on Feb 10, 2013 21:42:42 GMT -5
I wouldn't use the word "screw" to describe a scalper. Anything someone can do to make a dollar, I'm all for as long as it is legal. Buying a figure to flip for a profit is no different than someone buying a property to flip for a profit or someone buying a storage unit to turn around and sell for a profit. At least when someone buys a figure for the sole purpose of flipping for a profit, that figure still exists to buy, though be it at an inflated price..... If someone buys a figure to customize it, that original figure can no longer be purchased, even at an inflated price because someone customized it. It's no longer the same figure..... still disagree with you. but hey we all have opinions right Absolutely. Not trying to start a fight, just thought this would make a good discussion. I'd also like to say that I mean no disrespect to any of the customizers on these boards. Deepfreeze, Dean, East Coast, etc....Some excellent work I've seen. Someone please explain to me how destroying a figure to customize it is any different than those kids who destroyed all of those 1960 Topps Mickey Mantle cards in their bike spokes? They customized that card to what they wanted at the time. It was mass-produced, but over the years there became less and less of them to the point where they are just about extinct. There might just become a time, all be it years down the road, that if we keep using those Terry Funk bodies to make other figures, that Terry Funk figure could be going for prices higher than any scalper ever dreamed of because there are no more to be found. Just a thought.....
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Post by East Coast on Feb 10, 2013 21:48:59 GMT -5
the only time I have been annoyed with a custom.....is when I saw Apoc using Elite 6 Matt Hardy's like they were John cena figs.
That figs not easy to come by. And he only cares about flashbacks so...it made me sad.
I guess it just bums me out when ppl use rarer figs for customs.
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Post by PJ on Feb 10, 2013 21:49:32 GMT -5
Well I can only speak for me, but when I customize a figure it's for my personal collection. Where a scalper tries to buy all the hot figures in an area and then sell them for a profit...which to me is a lazy and scummy way to try and make a dollar.
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Post by cableV on Feb 10, 2013 21:51:15 GMT -5
What about people the buy one to open and one to keep MOC? Why do they need two? Where do you draw the line, one, two, three?
Not being argumentative, but how many figures can I buy to customize before you think I'm as bad as a scalper?
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Joejitsu22
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Post by Joejitsu22 on Feb 10, 2013 21:53:14 GMT -5
the only time I have been annoyed with a custom.....is when I saw Apoc using Elite 6 Matt Hardy's like they were John cena figs. That figs not easy to come by. And he only cares about flashbacks so...it made me sad. I guess it just bums me out when ppl use rarer figs for customs. thats the one in purple tights? ya......i did a custom with him too lol
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Post by East Coast on Feb 10, 2013 21:56:38 GMT -5
maybe I should open my MOC Goldust.....and turn it into a Black Reign custom
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Joejitsu22
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Post by Joejitsu22 on Feb 10, 2013 21:58:34 GMT -5
maybe I should open my MOC Goldust.....and turn it into a Black Reign custom or se7en!!!
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Post by WWE Common Terry on Feb 10, 2013 21:59:16 GMT -5
Good point! If you're selling your customs on eBay, is it just as bad as scalping?
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Post by jrjumpshot on Feb 10, 2013 22:00:00 GMT -5
What about people the buy one to open and one to keep MOC? Why do they need two? Where do you draw the line, one, two, three? Not being argumentative, but how many figures can I buy to customize before you think I'm as bad as a scalper? As stated before, I have absolutely no problems with someone "Scalping" or someone "customizing". I was simply stating that I think there is a double-standard in the collecting world or perception. If someone feels they can make a few bucks on a figure, go for it I say. If someone wants to fix-up or customize a figure to make it better, I again say go for it. If you want to buy 13 of a figure, I say it is your money, spend it how you would like to. I just personally get tired of other board members ragging on someone because they bought 3 Brock Lesnar figures, when in reality, we have all probably done something at one point in time that is frowned apon in the collecting world.
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Post by thehardys4life on Feb 10, 2013 22:02:40 GMT -5
Buying to just resell takes no work. Buying to customize takes skill and time. In other words you earn your money by customizing.
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Joejitsu22
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Post by Joejitsu22 on Feb 10, 2013 22:04:16 GMT -5
Buying to just resell takes no work. Buying to customize takes skill and time. In other words you earn your money by customizing. SCORE! fantastic point!
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Post by cableV on Feb 10, 2013 22:06:36 GMT -5
What if you buy a few figures to customize, but you give those customs to the actual superstar or Diva? Then you're giving them a gift, which I've always been told it's better to give then to receive? I'm so confused. (I'm just having fun with 'ya. I see your point, I just don't agree)
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Post by AlexWestCollects on Feb 10, 2013 22:07:02 GMT -5
This is one of the dumbest threads I've seen in a while. Customizing for ur collection is no where near scalping. To even mention them together is a stretch to say the least. If some wants a 100 of the same fig for their collection more power to them. Ppl who wait outside a store before they open with the intent to buy all the good figs and sell them for double are scumbags.
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Post by Self-Savior on Feb 10, 2013 22:07:11 GMT -5
Well I can only speak for me, but when I customize a figure it's for my personal collection. Where a scalper tries to buy all the hot figures in an area and then sell them for a profit...which to me is a lazy and scummy way to try and make a dollar. I definitely agree with you. I usually get multiples of figures just to customize them for my personal collection. Mostly I try not to grab multiples of a certain fig in one trip unless there are a good amount of them available for others at a store. (Ex. E14 & E16 Rock) Thankfully, in my area I don't see too many scalpers. And if there are, they aren't as rampant as I hear that the spam jerk-offs are.
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