Scalper Leaves a Card?
Over on the G.I. Joe collecting message board Hisstank.com, there was a bit of a hubbub over a business card. The person who started the thread found a business card for a toy seller at his local Wal-Mart in the toy section. Jumping to conclusions, the poster thought the guy was a scalper who left his card there in order to sell the items he just purchased to a poor, unfortunate toy collector.
There are a couple of possibilities here, the least likely being that the scalper left the card so whoever found it would buy the items he just purchased from Wal-Mart at his place with a crazy mark up. Another, more likely possibility, is that a dealer thought it would be good advertising so he left his card around where potential customers would frequent. Clever? Yes. A bad idea? Looks like it was. Yet another possibility is that the card was dropped by mistake.
I think the third scenario is more likely, but the second possibility is a good guess too. Hell, I once left a card next to a dead hooker. It didn’t meant that I killed her, but it certainly gave me some publicity.
So congrats to you, toy store owner guy of Turbo Toast Comics, for your free advertising, since it was mentioned on HissTank and now on my prestigious blog.. I hope this makes up for all the douschebagery you have suffered in the last 24 hours. (Note: I blacked out some of the card info. If you want to call this guy or something use the yellow pages.)
But if you really are a scalper, watch out for those raving internet hordes…
October 8th, 2008 at 9:24 am
lol, wouldn’t it be funny if it were the first option? Then it would be kind of like the people you hear about robbing a store and leaving their license. Great stuff!
Sam
October 8th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Read the entire thread, which BTW is a prime example of the fandom in action. (1.) Someone announces something. (2.) The majority has their knee-jerk reaction to it. (3.) A voice of reason shows up (Derek). (4.) A voice of ego must challenge, to get as much attention as #3. (5.) Someone finally takes action, to actually confirm the facts. (6.) The myth is busted/reinforced. <– In this case, the latter.
Conclusion? This is amazing. Retail outlets need to be informed of this form of ballsy in-store spamming.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Correction. Meant to say, “I read the entire thread.” My bad.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Sorry…We dont sell GI Joe items at our store and that could have been found out easily by simply calling.
We have a very respectable distributor for our store and dont need to hunt through Wal*Mart for items to sell.
Again, I hate that you didnt get the items that you wanted but it was by no fault of ours.
Perhaps when you called and was terse with me…and could tell that I had NO CLUE what you were talking about, you could have simply explained the situation instead of wanting more hits for your blog.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
“you could have simply explained the situation instead of wanting more hits for your blog.”
Nichole: What? I never talked to you. I wrote this post with more of a positive spin put towards you, or at least I thought it treated you in a more positive manner than the lynch mob in the thread did. (example: “I hope this makes up for all the douschebagery you have suffered in the last 24 hours.”) I didn’t find the card nor did I call your store to harass you like others might have, I just found the thread and thought I’d write about it. I don’t think you actually read the post…
October 8th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Also, I defended your store in the thread itself: “There’s no proof that this guy is a scalper yet. Just because he owns a store that sells things does not mean he screwed you out of Joes.”
October 8th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Hey, I can admit when I’m wrong and if you’re not the person that called me this morning and was quite the douche then I apologize…The poster on that site never spoke to myself OR my husband like he claimed he did on the thread.
I received a somewhat hostile phone call this morning that just made me do a general search online, admittedly I made it as far as the link to the actual thread.
We’re just a up and coming small business trying to stay afloat and arent in any way looking to screw anyone over. We’re collectors ourselves and have had to deal with jerks who do strip large department stores bare and then jack the prices up on ebay.
I apologize, sincerely, I’m just very passionate about this store since this is what we’ve always wanted to do.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Okay. I’ll give Nichole the benefit of the doubt about the conclusions made on the tank.
But then that leaves us with. . .
(a.) An collector just got it from Turbo Toast, carried it to Wal-Mart, and then put it there on purpose/accidentally; dropping it right there on a multipack.
(b.) An owner/employee of Turbo Toast just accidentally “dropped it” and wasn’t spamming their business on the property of another retailer.
Uhm. Does that pretty much cover it? Am I missing anything?
October 8th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Nicole, I can understand. Props to you and best of luck to your business.
I guess that’s a problem you run into when it comes to selling toys to adults. I mean, I feel like I’m a normal person, but seriously there’s some emotionally retarded people who collect.
They say any press is good press, so I hope it works out in your favor.
PJ: There’s no such thing as spam in real life. There’s good advertising and bad advertising. If it was left intentionally, I’d mark it up to creative idea, but not a good one in the long run. I wouldn’t say they deserved all the negative ranting for having a bad idea.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
well, you guys did get alot of free publicity…
October 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Considering that we’re always in Wal*Mart because we have two kids, a store, a home and a billion and one things to get at that horrible huge retailer, lol, we either passed the card to someone we know, my husband chatted someone up and handed off a card, or it came from one of our MANY friends who are thankfully helping us advertise…
Truth be known, yes, we pass out cards…that’s the whole point of having a store. Running your business…trying to get customers, and honestly, I think it’s safe to assume that our small store is by no way going to ever put a dent on their business, I dont feel bad about handing out cards.
I really dont care if people want to get their knickers in a snit if we’re passing out cards…because we’re not out buying stores dry and then leaving our cards so people can come get them at jacked up prices, which is basically what we were getting strung up for.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Granted, “spam” was a poor choice of words.
And I’m not for a second going to accuse her of being like, a Kevin Smith or anything. If they don’t carry Joes, that’s good enough for me.
Either way. Paul’s found a niche subject that other sites are too scared to broach. Awesome report. You deserve the hits.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
For the record, I never get my knickers in a snit. That wasn’t directed to anyone, I just want to set the record straight.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I’ve learned in past experiences that getting your knickers in a twist can be very frustrating. Heh.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
lol Jumper.
And so I figure that ToyBender readers should get some kind of discount, hey Nicole? heh
And I just Googled your store, yeah the blurb that google cached when you get the search results def make this post look like it’s going to be a super negative article.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I think though, in regards to what PJ was saying about “spam” in the store, that this would be considered soliciting…which is a big no-no in other stores. It’s also kind of tacky. Not saying this is what’s going on, just saying that to leave your business card in a competitor’s store is tacky and also could be seen as a small misdemeanor in some areas.
Sam
October 8th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Yes, I was thinking it was probably an ol’ “hand off and discard” scenario. I do that with business cards and email addresses and phone numbers that are handed to me without being prompted.
So I can see that happening.
…
Story time:
What irks me is I found a Force Unleashed Rancor boxed set on clearance at Target.
No price.
Hit up employee, employee tells me I can’t have it because its out of the system and was left on clearance by mistake. WHOOPSIE!
I ask for a manager.
Manager shows up after 15 minutes because the employee kept on telling me the “manager is gonna tell me the same thing”. I do not care.
Manager shows up while the employee takes two steps away from me to bitch to a fellow employee that I’m a douche because the only manager on duty is the bitchy one she doesn’t like.
Manager gives a blind ear to the convo to our left and tells me that Hasbro is going to destroy the Rancor Boxed set.
I say, doesn’t the unsold product end up at the goodwill store a few blocks away? (because the clearance clothing and toys usually ends up there and I buy alot of toys there).
She says no, that hasbro is going to destroy it…
BUT!!!!!!!!
I can go to the Mall where “Frank” the ass-hat scalper piece of crap that constantly hogs the front of the scalper line up in the mornings to get the good MLs/Wrestling figures/Joes/Star Wars, has bought out the ENTIRE CLEARANCE STOCK of the exact boxed sets. And I can go buy it from him… and THIS ONE, is going to be destoryed by Hasbro.
I was pissed, I was gonna burn that mother down. I wrote complaint emails and called corporate afterwards that their own fricken manager is pimping a dirty scalper instead of selling me product they left on the shelf that HASBRO WAS GOING TO DESTROY WITH FORCE LIGHTING!
As you can see I’m still pissed about this.
Anywho, Frank’s been a thorn in my side for the past few years he’s the reason I do not have a Giant Man. This man has made small boys cry because he took fricken Rey Mysterios’ out of their hands.
He’s a bastard.
End of story.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
And I’m not saying he bought all the Rey Mysterio’s leaving children with out them… I’m talking taking candy from a baby style.
ASS!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
“He’s got a taste for the theatrics, like you. Leaves a calling card”. I watch that movie far too much.
I’d say it’s him accidentally dropping it. That happens a lot at the McD’s I work at (typing on that same laptop right now).
October 9th, 2008 at 5:49 am
This is amusing… though I’m sure Nichole was not amused to recieve that rude phone call.
I just read the thread, at least the Mod had the good sense to close it. Talk about Mob mentality…
I get pissed off when I visit a store and they don’t have what I want. Its easy to blame scalpers, but what about other fans? What about… gasp… the toys ending up in the hands of a child? What would the world be coming to if a ten year old actually got a Cobra BAT or whatever the hottest new Joe is that some twenty/thirty-year-old has to have for his super collection? You win some and you lose some. If I walk into a store and find what I want, I’m gonna git it, not worry about some other collector who might want the same thing. Thats why its called the thrill of the hunt. And if you’re that anal/obsessed about finding your shit, order from CSC or BBTS or something and quit complaining.
-x
October 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Isn’t this just more proof that most of the people on “the tank” are scumbags them self? I find it funny the Op is somewhat of a Scalper himself.
I used to enjoy reading the Posts on Hisstank, but there is too many people that are clearly retarded.
If I’m ever in the area I’m going to hit up the store and purchase something.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Also I do have to give Paul props for not being a douche, and blacking out some of the info on the card.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I have been going to Turbo Toast since they opened and have never seen any G.I. Joes for sale inside. How many of us have been given a business card just to lay it down somewhere? The guy on the other blog needs to get a life.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Kent, tell them you’re a toybender reader and you are there to get your discount.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I will be sure to do just that.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Awesome! Let me know if you get anything from it other than a dirty look.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Say you’re PAUL when you go!
October 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I think Nichole here is a big time Scalper. That is the only reasonable way to explain the entire thing. I mean think about this…why would someone even need to go and create a brand new account at the tank to try to defend their actions or lack thereof? Then what about being here on this site also trying to defend her precious little comic shop. Yeah Nichole I’ll bet you have a supplier for Joes and, the name is Wally World!! Oh btw your other supplier(s) are probably named Target,K-Mart and TRU…along with any other place you can try to cheat the actual collecting community out of as many Joes or other collectibles as possible!!! Talk about shady. That my friends is the essence of shadiness pure and simple. Oh wait I must be mistaken!! That business card must have magically floated out of your purse on your last trip there right? Lol
October 18th, 2008 at 2:07 am
That sounds crazy. If people were attacking me for no reason, I’d be trying to defend myself too. Wouldn’t you? Please, try to use some common sense.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Are dist are Southerhobby , Diamond Comics Dist. Ummm other then that i cant think of any others unless you need some game wholesalers.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Oh and for any one looking there is a Cobra 25th anniversary BAT in the little toy section at Krogers 507 in Columbia. That would be the one on the south side of town on James Campbell. I just wanna say I appreciate the people that did and do come to my defense. Would also like to say that yes i do pass out cards like they are candy. I also stood at the movie (with permission) on the opening weekend of Batman i do drop cards close to the batman items and super hero items cause we have DC direct toys (wal-mart cant get)you know the spiffy toys that creators like Jim Lee design and Frank Quietly. So it is my fault that the Hisstank deal happened.But i will still continue to do it there and near the isle where the MTG cards are. It take an average of 3 years to get a good steady business in a new store and to be locally recognized. I plan on being well known in less this 6 months. So i drop cards ,sponsor game nights at the movies ask to put flyers out at Game Stop (btw they are very helpful and i thank them) and Checkouts. I have had some results with dropping cards people from other towns find them and come here and they usually say “wow i would have never known we had a comics store close by if i hadn’t seen that!!!” So it has its ups and downs.
I would like to say if that bradforj or how ever you spell his name. From what i can tell from all my own looking on that site is that he is more then likely upset because someone beat him to something that he himself wanted to sell.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I had a scalper leave a poorly written note on notebook paper on the Bakugan peg at Target this week. Don, 603 852 6909 if you’re interested.