Just wanted to give everyone a quick heads up about a rather "interesting" fellow on ebay.
I was lucky enough to score a TRU Masterpiece Soundwave when they went up on their website. I mainly just collect the Classics type figures, and mainly just wanted to get the Soundwave for the cassettes, as they display very well with the Classics/Universe/Generations figures.
I decided to put the Soundwave up on ebay, rather than have it sitting somewhere doing nothing in my house.
Four hours after the auction ended, I get this message from "mrsithninja":
mrsithninja wrote:
Why would you remove the cassettes? It makes the piece completely useless to collectors who are looking to buy it. Such a waste.
To which I replied:
Quote:
Not "useless" for collectors only looking for this specific variant of Soundwave. Especially if they already have the Takara cassettes.
Obviously there is very much a market for this figure by itself. The listing had over 260 views, 15 watchers, received over 20 best offers (over my minimum limit, many more under that), and sold at the full "buy it now" price, all in less than 24 hours of being listed on ebay.
As a collector, I did not want the Soundwave JUST the cassettes. As a collector, someone else wanted JUST the Soundwave. I'd hardly call that a "waste" when two collectors get exactly what they wanted without the extras that were packed with it.
For any collector looking for the entire package there are plenty to chose from on ebay, and it will eventually end up back in stock at Toys R Us stores.
While I completely disagree with you, I still thank you for the question, and wish you all the best!
Thinking this was done.
But he wasn't finished yet. This morning I get this response from him.
mrsithninja wrote:
You Sir, are no collector. No self-respecting collector would ever break up a set to part it out. The only thing you care about collecting is cash. What you and the others are doing is shamefull. Thankfully this is a new piece and still be easily gotten elsewhere.
Once people start throwing around the "true collector" mentality, I'm finished with them, so he will not be getting a respose back to that assanine message. I mean seriously, if all I was interested in was "collecting cash" wouldn't I just scalp the figure in complete condition, instead of selling extra parts for a reduced price, and keeping the parts I want? I mean all total, after getting paid, paypal taking their fee, paying ebay their fee, and shipping charges that I paid for, I got back like a whopping $60 from a $120 figure. Not exactly profitable.
I consider it a win, since I got all 5 cassette characters that I wanted for my display, and made just enough back from Soundwave to cover the 3.75" Dr Who figures I just bought.
Plus another collector was able to get the Soundwave they wanted, at a reduced price. Win - Win in my book.
I haven't dealt with him on a buyer/seller level, just some dude sending messages through ebay.
Just wanted to let people know what they were dealing with if they ever get a message from this guy.
_________________
"Now I am somewhere I am not supposed to be,
and I can see things I never really should've seen,
and now I know why, and now I know why...
things aren't as pretty... on the inside"