Scalping?

Before I get into the meat of this, I want to say that I'm not starting this thread with the intention of flame-baiting or anything of the sort. I think highly of this community, and would like to have a serious, civil discussion as to what people think on the matter.

 

With recent posts, the release of the Sabers, and now with another highly sought after ToHeart2 character up in the lottery, I thought this would be a good time to broach the subject of scalping. From what I've read, it's not that well thought of by collectors. However, some hold to the mantra of "if you own it, you can do whatever you want with it". What are your thoughts?

 

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This is my opinion, and isn't meant to influence the thread other than to open the discussion:

 

I believe that if you purchase a doll solely with the intent to immediately sell it on for a good sized profit, that it's scalping. I also believe that if you yank up a good amount of an item, in an attempt to raise it's market value, that it's also scalping. I feel that scalping is unfair to collectors or those that enjoy the item for what it is, and the item's value should be allowed to rise or fall at a more natural rate.

 

I do feel that if you purchase a doll/outfit/etc, and after a while (say, 6 months or more) decide to sell it on, that there's no harm in selling it for the current market value. I also believe that if you get the doll/item home and out of the box, and it doesn't click or bond or what-have-you, that quickly selling it on for roughly the same amount that it cost (while recouping shipping, etc) isn't a bad thing.

 

So, what do you think? Is it good, is it bad? Neutral? Necessity? I'd love to hear your opinions. I just ask that you please keep it civil (I'd rather not incur the wrath of the mods ;^_^).

I agree with your opinion, vhdangel.

You mention a large markup, what about those only jacking the price by $200-$300 above what they paid?

 

This is such a touchy subject, but I really only consider it scalping if you're overly ripping people off. I don't really see people putting a 30% markup on rare outfits as a scalp.

 

I can see why people can sometimes try to capitalize off the DD - personally I think if you're selling your stuff for a better rate than YJA then you're just trying to do your thing. The value of an item varies by person. Would I pay $2,000+ for DD's like Tamaki and Sasara? No way! But I know there are people here on the forum that certainly have paid a pretty penny for those DD's and parted with the money gladly. (so to speak)

I'm not sure if too many people will like what I say.

 

I think it's great that someone is able to put an item, be it a doll or any other item, up for sale at any price they want to. If you want to call it "scalping" I guess that's fine.

 

The value of an item is basically set by what someone is willing to pay for it. If someone is going to pay $5,000 for an original Saber then that's fine. It doesn't mean that person isn't crazy or wasting his money. But if the seller gets his 5 grand, more power to him. Of course, if the seller has his Saber sit there and never sell then they never make any money so they shut themselves down.

 

Maybe I'm just saying this as I've recently considered, for a few moments, selling my girls. Not that I am going to do that but it has crossed my mind. Of course I'd like to get the most I could if I ever did that. I'm also not stupid enough to put them up for sale at double their going value.

 

(P.S. Don't bother asking me how much for one of my girls - I'm not selling. Just thought about it. haha)

Ahhh scalping... a fun subject in any hobby that has items of monetary value.

 

I used to see it ALL the time when I was collecting Star Wars items. And it basically boiled down to a few concepts.

 

Scalping in the collecting world is *generally* seen as when someone buys an item AT RETAIL and then turns around and sells it for WAY more than its retail price in order to make a profit from collectors.

 

Flipping is when someone buys an item AT RETAIL and then sells that item for MARKET VALUE to further their collection.

 

Now the line can get blurry between these two things quickly. But.... it is normally seen that if something is no longer available at retail, you can't really scalp it. It's only when things are at retail that scalping as a definition can be done. I know that's playing unfairly on words but hear me out.

 

Vintage Star Wars toys were sold at retail from 1978-1985 or so. The secondary market for these toys didn't really pick up until the early to mid 90's. And since NONE of those toys were available at retail anymore, you couldn't really SCALP them.

 

When the newer movies came out and Lucas redid the originals in 1995, new SW toys came out. THIS is when scalping took hold as a collecting term. People would wait until restocking times at stores that were open 24 hours and then go in and cherry pick the newest figures out of new cartons. The next day, they were on message boards and online chatrooms like RASSCV selling $2.99 figures for $20 each because no one else had them yet. And people bought them. Exclusivity is a strong pull on a collector.

 

Now with flipping an item, I've done this. I would check on ebay for auctions that were worded poorly or ended at stupid times like 2:30am and see if they got any bids or went high or low. When things aren't spelled right or listed in the wrong category, not as many people see them and bargains can be had. I bought like 10 vinatge carded figures one morning at 2am and only spent about $150. Within 2 days of getting the figures in hand, I had already sold them all off at a nice profit. But I sold them at MARKET value. Meaning, one figure I paid $25 for, I sold for $50 because thats what they sold for in the collecting market all day long. I wasn't out to rob people, just sell at what was a reasonable price as dictated by that market so I could get money to fund a larger purchase.

 

People still do this today with all sorts of hobbies. People buy cars and redo them and flip them for a profit so they can do it all over again. Comic collectors do it too. Hell, if I didn't love the DD clothes I've gotten at stupid low prices, I'd be selling those off to get another DD! But when I buy DD stuff, it's usually for keeps.

 

 

So, in relation to THIS hobby, you can and can't really scalp stuff. Let's take the new Saber Alter for instance. Volks had an open call for these girls and there was no limit on how many you could order. This of course opened the door for people to make some money. Someone was bound to buy 4 Saber Alters, keep one and then resell the others. It's smart to turn some cash if you can, especially if it goes right back into the hobby. But like PlasticFantastic said, if you do it within reason ( fair market value ) it's not really scalping since these Sabers aren't available at retail anymore. That's smart buying and basically flipping the items. Since these cost around $700 each retail , re-selling them at $800 or thereabouts to cover time and shipping is very reasonable and within market pricing.

 

Now if you buy 4 Alters and don't keep any of them and turn around and post them all on Ebay for $1200 each, THAT is scalping. The purchase was done with the sole intent to make money off people at a huge markup that is way over market value. Now given that none of us really know how many of each of the Sabers was made, worldwide we could be talking 2000 of each of them and that's all. Or it may be 500 of each. Whatever the number, it's a limited amount. So there will always be someone out there looking out for his wallet and not looking out for his fellow collectors.

 

One thing I notice about this hobby that's vastly different from most other hobbies I have been in is the helpfulness and overall kindness people show towards each other. I see people routinely go out of their way to help a fellow DD parent with something. I love this aspect of the hobby. But that doesn't mean that EVERYONE is like that in this hobby. We see LOADS of nutcases on Ebay that try and sell Volks outfits for 3 times what they should be selling for. We also see Yoko's listed at $4999 and Sabers at $10,000. Some people have no clue and will never sell those items. But the ones who strike the iron while its hot ( selling stuff when it's just been made available and at only slightly raised prices ) will always make money because people are impatient and wasteful and lazy.

 

What I mean is this....

 

There are some people who don't do anything to try and help themselves or others out. They are in it to amass a collection and that's it. And they also pay big money on stuff in order to get it first. This mentality is what keeps scalpers alive. The whole Pokemon sense of "Gotta catch'em all!" And I don't mean getting things thru Volks International either, I mean people who buy off YJA at inflated prices because they are too lazy to try and find a deal elsewhere. Which leads me to....

 

The other way to do things is to search for those deals, do your homework and put in the time to make friends and contacts and build relationships so that when something pops up that you want, SOMEONE will see it and tell you. This can take time tho and time is something most of us don't have tons of.

 

I know it's hard to wait for things, I'm terrible at it, but buying into the scalper market sucks. I've done it tho and I know friends here who have too. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying we all keep it alive by feeding it.

 

I hope I'm not rambling too much here so I'll wrap things up.

 

Basically, I don't condone scalping things for stupid amounts of money by taking advantage of people. I do condone flipping items tho when you aren't out to rape peoples bank accounts with stuff. Selling off things you paid less for than you are asking is a part of the hobby and we all know this because most Volks items are limited and gain value over time. But as long as it's sold at market value, I see nothing wrong with that.

 

 

 

Billy

vhdangel, I'm with you and mitsuki on this too.

 

 

You mention a large markup, what about those only jacking the price by $200-$300 above what they paid?

 

Also, a lot of countries (most of Europe, Canada, etc) get slammed customs taxes for big ticket items like DD's when they are imported in the country. Just from other members stories, I think that the UK gets hit the worst of all.

 

So in order for a UK-based DD collector to sell a doll at the price they paid for it (after shipping, 20% VAT tax, possible brokerage fees if they used a shopping service, etc.) it may already be $200-$400 more than what the doll retailed for.

 

Also US-based collectors are extremely lucky since they can order from Volks Int'l, Volks USA, and the authorized resellers like Kerby Lane.

 

Since most US-based collectors don't realize this, they immediately assume that people are trying to turn a profit, when someone that's not US-based may be trying to recoup the money they spent in the first place.

Very well said Billy

If someone is buying up lots of DD's with intent to resell and no personal passion for the hobby, that's what I find distasteful. Although, you could say 'don't hate the player, hate the game' since it's Volks that determines the production numbers and lottery system for sales.

 

I've considered flipping dolls to fund my hobby, but it seems risky. If you're selling a low number of high-value items, it only takes one or two bad transactions to make a big setup. For someone making a living on reselling collectibles, that would have to factor into the price and could contribute to the large price tag of resold dolls. In particular sellers on auction sites don't have much choice in their buyers, and so the risk cost is factored into prices. Eh, now I'm defending the scalpers ^_^;

Billy you make an excellent point and I agree with almost everything you said. However, when it comes to lotteries scalping just MAKES ME SO MAD T.T the people who win a $600 DD and then sell it an hour after it arrives for $1500..

Billy you make an excellent point and I agree with almost everything you said. However, when it comes to lotteries scalping just MAKES ME SO MAD T.T the people who win a $600 DD and then sell it an hour after it arrives for $1500..

 

 

First off, I'm glad you and Jadepixel agree with me for the most part. I was really worried my long winded reply would be a bit much.

 

And I agree with you Pumpkins.... I hate it when people do that too on lotteries. I can see people getting outfits/dolls/shoes and not wanting to keep them, but just wanting to "flip" them for some quick cash. But if they keep that extra amount to a minimum it's no issue. It's when people try and do that and charge WAY above the fair market value that isn't right and makes everyone lose out.

 

The only way to keep this from happening is to not buy stuff at those crazy high prices. The only reason scalpers do it is because there are people out there paying that high price for them. If there weren't buyers, the prices would come down..... well, in theory they would.

 

But yes, I'm with you on the whole "buy it for retail and flip it for 3 times that". It's nuts and it sucks and it kills the hobby for newer people wanting in.

 

 

 

Billy

But yes, I'm with you on the whole "buy it for retail and flip it for 3 times that". It's nuts and it sucks and it kills the hobby for newer people wanting in.

 

I guess this is where I don't agree with you guys. I believe the market is self regulating. If someone who missed out on a lottery for a DD is willing to pay $1500 for that DD, then that is what she is worth. At least to that person. She may not be worth that much to everybody but for that one sale, that's what she is worth. Does it matter if that sale happens a day after the lottery ends or 2 years?

 

One thing I am curious about though: what is it about someone doing this "scalping", or whatever you want to call it, upsets you all?

 

Is it that people feel it's turning the hobby they love into a business? Or that the dolls (or whatever it is being collected) are only for those that love that hobby? These dolls are only intended for people who will love them and not to make money off of?

 

If they price being asked is too much for the doll then nobody will buy it. If someone does buy it, then the price wasn't really too high. It was just too high for you. I also think it pays to remember that not everybody is in the same financial situation and for some people $1500 or $2000 for a DD, especially one they really want, may not be a big deal.

I am just referring to the lotteries, where scalpers join in just to sell it for an outrageous price when someone who genuinely wants the item is stuck out. Tickets for a popular concert works the same way and I hate that. If someone doesn't mind, more power to them. But, the fact that it happens this way at all is where it grates, not the thought of lost money.

 

 

One thing I am curious about though: what is it about someone doing this "scalping", or whatever you want to call it, upsets you all?

 

Is it that people feel it's turning the hobby they love into a business?[\quote]

I'm not bothered by people that love the hobby eaqrning some money off of it. People making ans selling clothes and accessories, for example, or doing custom face-ups, or repairs. But people who seem to care little for the hobby itself, and are just trying to make a quick buck off of those who do, just feels unethical to me.

 

Or that the dolls (or whatever it is being collected) are only for those that love that hobby? These dolls are only intended for people who will love them and not to make money off of?

 

I don't mind the creators making money off of them, what bothers me are people increasing the cost, solely for their own greed, without adding anything of value. Now, if they were adding something, like bringing the dolls to a market that previously had no access to them, I could see that justifying some added cost. Also, as others have mentioned, buying something, then realizing that it's just not what you really wanted, and selling for a small markup isn;t unreasonable, especially since the original intent was due to love of the hobby.

 

If they price being asked is too much for the doll then nobody will buy it. If someone does buy it, then the price wasn't really too high. It was just too high for you. I also think it pays to remember that not everybody is in the same financial situation and for some people $1500 or $2000 for a DD, especially one they really want, may not be a big deal.

 

What bothers me most about this argument, is that for people who make large amounts of money, the amounts that scalpers can charge are just pocket change, amounts that they can just throw away on dolls they may not even care much about, but this prices them completely out of range for many people who may be makingh far less, yet may care far more for the dolls. I suppose this is why I tend to hate most collectibles type markets. Weird intangibles, like rarity, inflate values to far more than the physical value of the item itself, and it could often be easily fixed, just by continuing production, rather than intentionally limiting things, for no reason I can see other than to allow some people to feel superior by being able to say "Ha ha I have one and you don't". I know that most collectors aren't like that, and nobody I've read from on this forum has given off that vibe, but there are always enough who are that it makes it much more difficult for everybody else.

 

Anyways, sorry for the long rant, TLDR version, People who buy or collect things because they love them=YAY, People who add tangible value to things and get rewarded for that=YAY! people who buy or collect things just for the monetary value, especially when it comes at the cost of those who love those things=BOO, HISS! I guess I'm just not a good capitalist.

What bothers me most about this argument, is that for people who make large amounts of money, the amounts that scalpers can charge are just pocket change, amounts that they can just throw away on dolls they may not even care much about, but this prices them completely out of range for many people who may be makingh far less, yet may care far more for the dolls.

 

I totally agree that some people may not have a problem spending a few grand on a doll but for most of us that's a tough thing to do. But isn't everything in life like this? I can't afford a nice cool car but I don't think it's unfair that nice cars cost as much as they do.

 

I guess the only point I'm getting at is just because someone may love and care for a DD more than someone else, that doesn't mean they deserve it more and the price should be lower so they can afford it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not "pro scalping" or anything, I just don't see a problem with someone buying a doll with the intention of selling it later for a profit. They are taking a risk that they will be able to make more money off the resale.

 

If people are upset at the high price some DDs are selling for they should really blame the buyer, not the seller. If someone wants too much money for a DD don't buy it. There are others out there and if the seller can't get the price they first wanted they will eventually start to ask less.

 

I guess I'm too much of a capitalist. To me it's a black and white issue dealing with supply and demand and the sale of a DD doesn't really involve the love of the hobby. (This doesn't count when friends sell DDs to each other - I'm just talking about online sales between strangers.)

 

I'm also not trying to be controversial; I just find it interesting that so many people seem to be against it on an emotional level. Plus, I seem to have a different opinion on this subject than just about everybody else so it's interesting to me.

For me, it's totally an issue of intent and community contribution, and has very little to do with market prices.

 

If you buy a limited item with the sole intention of turning around and selling it for $1 more, $100 more, or $1,000, and you really don't care about the item itself, you're a scalper. The actual profit doesn't matter to me.

 

If you're a hobbyist who buys an item because you actually like that item, and you end up selling it later (maybe on arrival, when you open the box and it's not what you imagined, or two months later because you have financial issues, or five years later because you're quitting the hobby), and you make $1,000 or more in profit, you're not a scalper.

 

The price doesn't matter; the intent does. At least, for me.

 

And why does intent matter? Because I think it makes scalpers very un-authentic.

 

When a hobbyist joins a community, they usually join because they care about the hobby: they ask and answer questions, chat with other hobbyists, learn new things, post and comment on photos, locate hard-to-find items or information, or and generally support, help, and cheer on their fellow hobbyists. They provide value to their community, even if it's not a monetary value, and they value their community. Now, I'm not putting down on hobbyists who don't join communities, or "lurkers" who post infrequently (I personally lurk a LOT), I'm just saying a hobbyist who joins a forum generally joins because they actually care about the hobby.

 

When a scalper joins a community, they do it for only one reason: to sell stuff. It feels really un-authentic to me when someone pretends to like an item or a hobby that they don't actually care about, all because they want money. Scalpers don't value the hobby community. They don't see hobbyists, they see dollar signs, and ick! I don't want anyone to think of me only in terms of how much money they can make off me. And I guess that's really why I don't like scalpers.

Thank you, Cauldroness, this really says a lot of what I was intending to say. Most everything comes down to intent and motivation. If the motivation is love of the hobby, or at least love of the specific item in question, that's at least understandable, since they are then more likely to be a contributor to the overall community, and at least care enough about the doll or whatever to deserve it. If the person is creating something or adding actual value, that's fine too, they deserve to earn something for their efforts. If greed or selfishness is the only motive, however, I simply can't feel like that's ok.

 

I guess the only point I'm getting at is just because someone may love and care for a DD more than someone else, that doesn't mean they deserve it more and the price should be lower so they can afford it.

 

For me, even though I know that technically in the real world it CAN'T work this way, it doesn't stop me from believing that it SHOULD. I also can't accept the fact that a person who spends 8-10 hours a day sweating and breaking their back to produce something can earn 1/50th or less than someone who sits at a desk shuffling papers all day, but that's a whole different argument for another forum.

 

I guess the point is, I do feel that those who care the most for something do deserve it more than those who don't and can't wait for Star Trek style replicators to fix all the problems created by the inherent inequalities of supply and demand.

 

By the way, Otakudepot, I really appreciate your being such a good sport about this. It's rare to be able to find a place to have a fun argument like this, on such a sensitive and emotionally charged topic, where it can stay civil and not devolve into name-calling or a flame war.

It's rare to be able to find a place to have a fun argument like this, on such a sensitive and emotionally charged topic, where it can stay civil and not devolve into name-calling or a flame war.

 

I totally agree. One of the things I love most about this forum is so many people act mature and respect each other's opinions.

 

I have always found the subject of resale in the DD world interesting since the money involved is usually very large. When I first got into DDs I saw how the price went up for resale and the business side of my brain said:

 

"Hey!!! There is a large profit margin that can be made here. Forget being happy about a 10% profit on your stocks - how about doubling your money in a few weeks or months?"

 

I never really said anything about it back then as it became clear to me from some people on Figure.fm and twitter that they really disliked the idea of buying only to resell. I even remember some people going out of their way to try to disrupt the sellers auctions/sales. I decided not to say something and rock the boat back then but I guess I care less now? haha

 

The only part I felt unsure about was if I won a lottery spot it would prevent someone else from winning. It's a total game of luck so everybody has pretty much the same chance of winning.

 

The idea of selling the girl later at a higher price doesn't seem bad to me at all as long as it's the going rate for the girl. It seems that Cauldroness put it best, it seems many people are bugged by the intent of the seller.

 

For instance, if they buy Saber Alter intending to keep her but some emergency happens it's cool if the person sells her at the going rate then, which may even be double what they paid for her.

 

But if someone buys Saber Alter only intending to sell her from the start and then later sells her at that same price that's not cool with you.

 

I guess to me it doesn't make a difference. No more than if the seller listens to country or rap music. If I'm about to lay down $1200 or so for a DD I don't have time to think or care about the intent of the seller. I'm more concerned about the price, shipping, the condition of the doll, time till she gets here... I guess others feel different which I find interesting, even if I don't understand it.

I guess it just boils down to the fact that, for me, some things matter much more than money, and one of those is intent/authenticity.

 

And, seriously, I don't want this post to sound like I'm judging to attacking other people, so I want to make it clear that is 100% about myself and no one else. Everyone has to decide what's important to them, and I can only decide what's important to me. I also realize I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I can put other things before money, and not everyone is in that same position, and it would be beyond horrible to judge them for that.

 

That said, if a company engages in business practices that bother me, I just don't buy from them, no matter how much more it costs elsewhere. I actually keep a list of companies I will not buy from, no matter how good the sale or how low the prices. I even ask my friends and family not to buy me stuff from those companies.

 

And I don't buy from scalpers, even if their prices are lower, for kind of the same reasons. Their practices bother me, I find them un-authentic, and I don't give my money to un-authentic people and companies.

 

So personally, I'd rather spend $1,400 buying a doll from another hobbyist than $1,200 buying a doll from a scalper. And if buying from a scalper is my only option, then I just won't buy. I am NOT judging people who do buy from scalpers, what each person does with their own money is most definitely not my business, but I would feel like I'd broken my personal code and been un-authentic to myself if I bought from a scalper.

 

(Note: Edited like a million times to be nicer & clearer.)

I think the reason that I really don't like scalping, is that I feel it falsely inflates the market, making us pay more for this hobby than we could be paying. For example, when they throw a newly purchased doll up for twice what they paid at retail, and enough of them do it, then it inflates the price. People get desperate and feel they HAVE to pay that to own the doll.

 

Also, I can't count the number of new people that I've seen come into this hobby, having seen the super crazy prices on eBay, who think that those prices are realistic (before they do their research). They might buy a doll there, which encourages the scalpers (who might raise their prices in the future), and it can help to raise the overall market price of a doll in a community where sales data tends to run the market.

 

It also makes a lot of dolls too expensive for those that might have afforded them at retail. It turns the hobby from a fairly level playing field to one where only the lucky few lottery winners and those who have a lot of disposable income can afford to own the limiteds.

 

I don't think I'd have as much problem with scalpers, if Volks didn't have such a limited supply of their items. Yes, I do blame Volks for their part in this mess. I understand their business model, but I'm not sure they quite grasp the scope of growth their consumer market has seen over the past year. A huge indicator is how their standard bodies and heads are almost always sold out (in the US AND on the International site). They're having a hard time keeping up with even their standard stock.

 

I understand they want to keep their products limited and exclusive because that's the cool thing in Japan. However, this is eventually going to backfire on them if enough people are upset by not being able to purchase their items. I hope the Saber pre-orders are a huge wake-up call for them.

 

As for the scalpers... I have to admit that the one good thing they do is make these items available to those that cannot attend the DollPas (even if we have to go through a deputy service to do it). But even though I'm grateful for that, I just wish there was a less price-gouging route to get the dolls into the hands of collectors.

I understand their business model, but I'm not sure they quite grasp the scope of growth their consumer market has seen over the past year.

^^^^^^This.^^^^^^

(voksusa is so sold out nowadays QQ)

 

 

Upon further reflection, I believe I'm with Cauldroness. The intent makes it all different. If you do get a limited doll and you open her up and go "..she is not what i thought she'd be" and then sell her immediately, it is much different from winning the doll JUST to sell it for profit and no appreciation for the actual hobby. If that makes any sense.

I realize scalping is a sensitive issue and though I don't like its practice very much, I feel that you should be able to sell your DD (or any other item) at the price you see fit. If it doesn't sell after a long amount of time something should tell you that the price may not be reasonable. What I don't understand is what will name calling do to solve anything? I was on the DD Flickr group today and the conversation has gotten so childish on a post for a Saber Alter sale it's ridiculous.

 

Here's a link to the drama: http://www.flickr.com/groups/dollfiedream/discuss/72157629119087832/

 

Quick Edit: Name calling seems to be happening a lot more frequently in my opinon. I remember a few months ago I posted a least liked DD poll on a Facebook group and I was called a backstabber and other vulgar names for discussing other DD groups there. Now, I just wanted people's opinions on the groups so I don't see how it was backstabbing if no particular person was singled out. This still bothers me after all this time...

I think there's a huge difference between disliking scalping and resorting to name-calling.

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with identifying scalpers so that people who disagree with the practice can avoid them. I know plenty of communities that keep running lists of scalpers, bad buyers, bad sellers, and bad commissioners.

 

Plus, I strongly believe each individual community has every right to decide what behaviors they will and will not allow, and if scalping is on the "disallowed" list of behaviors... then it's totally fine if to confront sellers about scalping-like behavior. A person should be able to sell their DD at the price they see fit, but that doesn't mean they necessarily have a right to post it to every DD community if the price falls into the "scalping" category.

 

That said, name-calling is really never cool. If scalping is not welcome in a community, there are better ways of confronting the unwanted behavior. I feel so sorry for the mods/admins that have to deal with name-calling, it's just never a pleasant situation.

They are pretty different issues. I just thought that the link I provided was a "good" example of some of the major issues in our community. It is a bad situation for everyone I think and it can sometimes ruin the groups' reputation.

I think scalping is an issue, but I never blame people who do it--does it suck that the after-market prices on some dolls are so high? Yes! Is there anything we can do about it? Uhh no. I collect PVC and vinyl toys as well and this is just an issue in every single area of collecting--I'm sure it happens with things like stamps, collectable plates, everything! I mean seriously, it happens with things like SHOES. Scalping is a fact of life. And while it's fine to be a little annoyed, calling someone a jerk and a loser for trying to turn a profit just descends into strings of name-calling that makes the whole community look bad. I wish issues like this were handled more maturely by everyone involved.

the problem i think with "scalping" is that it is unfair

 

 

they likely have many accounts to enter the lottery with... which is breaching the terms and conditions

 

 

so if i enter the lottery i have a smaller chance of winning simply because i'm not cheating

I do think the Flickr thread regarding scalping got out of control. I understand that people are frustrated, but it's immature to resort to name-calling and insults. And it's the least likely way to get someone to see your point of view.

 

I do, however, strongly disagree with the seller and their reasoning for pricing Alter so high.

 

Talolili, I remember seeing your posts in both the Facebook group and on Flickr before you deleted them. As far as I recall, no one called you a name, much less something vulgar.