It was quite a day yesterday as the story of the 72-Super TH find in Florida spread like wildfire all over this beloved internet.
When I put the story together the night before, I wondered what the reaction would be. Would it be disdain for supposed theft in Malaysia? Or questioning whether this story was actually true? I figured there would be a strong reaction of some sort.
But once it posted, one element of the story dominated the conversation:
“Why did Zack buy all 72? Would you have done the same?”
As soon as words like “greed” and “scalper” were used, things took off. Some were perturbed that Zack left with all of them, others celebrated it, and others questioned the folks that said they would have left some. Needless to say there were some strong feelings all around.
So, why don’t we ask?
Would you have bought all 72 Supers? And if you did, what would you do with them?
We are not going to do a poll, because frankly the percentages are of little interest to us. We just want to hear what you would do. Do you buy them all? Half? A couple? And of those you buy, what will you do with them? Sell them? Give them away? Keep them?
We want your answers.
But let’s try and keep this a no judge zone. Those that said yesterday that they would leave some? Why not believe them? And those that said they would buy them all? Does it really make you mad that they would do that? It is easy to judge what others would do, and make them out as bad guys or good guys, but does it really matter?
What matters is what you would do.
So to start, and to really test you on the no-judging request, how about I say what I would do? Here is goes:
I would buy them all. Every single one. I have never left a Super behind, and finding 72 of one would not be an exception to that rule. Finding a Super is such a rare occurrence, that every one is an instant memory. I can look at every Super I have and tell you exactly where and what time of day I found it. It is part of the joy of the hunt.
And it gets better. What would I do with all 72? I would keep them. Every. Single. One. In fact, after gathering my thoughts, and after buying all 72, I would put them in my car, and return to the toy section to see if I could find a store employee and try to find the box they came in. If I was successful, I would repack all 72, and make that one box one of the most unique parts of my collection. It would be a conversation starter for sure.
To me, it isn’t about having 72 of the same Super in my possession, it is about the unique story of finding 72 in the same store at the same time. You have heard the stories before. Everyone who gets lucky tells where he or she was, what the circumstances were, and how many they found. Every Super find has a story, and this would be the grandaddy of them all. And I would like to have the actual subject of that cool story.
That is what I would do. Ok guys, try not to judge.
Yeah, I have always promoted the idea of leaving the Regular TH’s behind, and many of you have noticed my one-and-done approach to most models lately. But Supers? That is a different story.
There, I was honest. We hope the rest of you can be too, and we would love to hear what your plans would be. We won’t judge, because we can sympathize with just about every approach. Nothing wrong with making a few dollars for whatever purpose, or making friends by giving them away, or delighting the next collector by leaving some. Just let us know.
Incidentally, the person who it actually happened to, Zack, is now down to 3 Super 8 Crates left. The 69 others were given away as gifts to friends and fellow collectors, or sold for a minimal price to those that inquired about them on Facebook. Zack never put them up for sale, he just answered those that asked. That is pretty cool. So now you know what Zack would have done.
You?
I would have taken 2 and left the rest there. Taking all 72 because you cannot bare the thought of someone else getting one is impulsive and greedy. There is no other reason as to why someone would buy 72 of the same casting.
I am not a chase collector so probably would have bought one and took a few pictures of all 72. The idea of giving them away to friends or members in the community is interesting though.
I would have bought the lot, and sold them vast majority for a small profit to go towards the next batch of models, why not, collecting is not cheap, and if i can find a way of limiting my outlay, then anyone would – i don't feel bad for having them all, in all the years i have only ever found one, so someone gets them, why not me for a rare change.
Would have bought about 22. Open one, keep one carded and trade the rest for other supers.
I would have got them all as well. People need to stop bitching. There are thousands of those so called 'limited' Supers out there.
I do a lot of trading and would use most of those to get Supers I had never found, which of course if almost all of them since the rubber wheeled version started.
Likely would have bought as many as I could afford at that moment. Keep 2 or 3 for myself, give a few away to some collector buddies, then likely trade away the rest.
I'm usually a fan of leave behinds, but as ridiculous as Supers are to find, I would buy all of them and trade to get other Supers. I still only have one, and I spend more time than I should looking for toy cars. I wouldn't feel bad.
I would have bought all 72, kept 3. One to open, one to keep carded and the other to customize. The other 69 (hehe) I would have sold for around $20 each (cheaper than average) and used the money for car parts
I would buy all to resell so I can fund this expensive hobby. Who knew $1 hot wheels could do so much damage on the wallet.
I am a mega collector but would have took about ten because there is no need for 72 of them in my possession.. I hate when people take ALL of the same ones at the store and leave none for anyone else
I would buy all to resell so I can fund this expensive hobby. Who knew $1 hot wheels could do so much damage on the wallet.
Actually, I would take all but leave behind one….,,to restore the natural balance.
This is certainly a sticky situation. It is pretty much the equivalent of seeing 72 $20 bills sitting on the ground. Would you pick them up? Would you walk on by? Me, I would buy them all and use them as trade bait for other cars for my collection. some would probably become RAOKs and some become ebay straight sales too.
And it would be interesting if this find leads to some discoveries like that supers ARE supposed to be packed to 1 a box, but due to some person in the factory hoarding, they have become nuch rarer than they are supposed to really be.
As I mentioned on Facebook, I would grab a couple. This is a collector's Unicorn Find. But as an adult with a mortgage, two kids to feed, and other bills with responsibilities….I can't absorb the $78 Bill associated with this incredible find. I'd be one of the first ones to bust up the lot on the pegs.
This is a cool story though. We will talk about it for years like we discuss with awe the $40,000 unopened box of 45 year old redlines that surfaced last year.
Zach is a lucky guy. And something of a benefactor as well. Kudos to him.
I would buy them all because capitalism.
Well, i believe that the fun of hunting and the joy of the find only happens when there are hunts to be found.
If someone take that possibility away, well, i don't see how that can be considered as a lucky guy having his historic day. With that many hunts available, it's more decent to get, say two or three (one for the collection, 2 for trade) and make the word spread among friends.
Thats' the real fun of collecting Hot Wheels. The. Fucking. Hunt. When you take that away from others simply by scalping (whatever the kind of it), you're not respecting this basic point.
It's frustrating to know that the chance to find a treasure hunt is even lower nowadays, when people want to get rich by exploring other's simplest desires. That's poor thinking and lack of self confidence. Plus, it's an uncontious confession that “i am a fucking scalper because if people had my privileges, they would be too”. I call it greed.
Oh, and by the way, back in 2008, when i started collecting, in the first weeks of collections i found a Qombee, a Cadillac 16 and a Rockster. All of them paired with regular and super. I left the Rockster behind. I regret it? Yeah. Cause if i knew that things would turn out the way it did and i would never have a scenario like that again, i would, for sure. But that's only me wanting my fun back.
*unconscious
This honesty, sir, is uncompatible with capitalism. My brain is BSOD'ing.
Just kidding haha. I admire your sincerity.
This is a historic find. While I don't think my budget would have allowed me to buy every single one, I would have bought at least half the stock there. I would have definitely sold a few, but most I would have used as trade bait, being that I'm a new collector and mostly interested in collecting cool cars versus making money off selling cars. I have been collecting for about six months now and only recently found my first Super(which I will never give up). It was such a thrill and such an accomplishment, because I had been so dilligent checking stores whenever I could. Do I wish I could find more and not be searching through already picked through cars? Sure, but stop wasting your breath on these scalpers and unscrupulous Super collectors/hoarders. Bottom line is they got there first and latecomers are late. Part of the excitement and fun is going through the pegs and the dumpbins and seeing what you come up with. I'm happy Zack was generous with his find and did what he did. Not many people in his situation would have gave them away like he did.
i would have bought all of them.sell about 50 of them to my friends at a minimal profit.would keep the rest
I would buy all, give away some, but sell the rest to buy HTFs like 714 Talbot Lago, Silver Cuda Hunt, etc.
And keep one for myself.
What I don't understand are the guys who say they don't have the budget to buy all of them. Just buy them all, sell 4 at $20 and the leftovers are practically free…and now you have plenty of good HW for trade to get the ones you really want or sell them at a lower price since you've already made back your money.
What I don't understand are the guys who say they don't have the budget to buy all of them. Just buy them all, sell 4 at $20 and the leftovers are practically free…and now you have plenty of good HW for trade to get the ones you really want or sell them at a lower price since you've already made back your money.
Im not a scalper but I would have bought at least 71. 1$ for those wheels would be enough for me since I custom. Bonus would be trades. I mean this is a collector/customizers dream. I have thought about how cool it would be to open a box and BAM 72 supers! Has never happened to me, but hey this guy got the golden ticket.
You have to remember people customize. I take all cars of a new casting I find until Im satisfied I wont run out, or may not run out. I would take all 72 of these for 1$ as the wheels alone are worth it. Like the recent escorts, I take all I can find until I have around 20 then Ill stop buying them.
There is a great reason why someone would buy all 72 for 1$. That reason is the wheels. If your a customizer this is a dream. OH5sp for a $1….cant beat that. Cheapest you can find RR cars most of the time is 3$+. This is not greedy its practical.
What's with the “minimal profit” crap? Don't want the 2 or 3 People who have never found a super to think you're greedy?
Bottom line, if you wouldn't buy them then what are you doing? Isn't that what you are hunting for? I mean come on! The reason we are at the pegs and dump bins is to find collectable cars! Supers to highly sought after mainlines to other chase pieces… That's why we are on Lamley right now!
So any chance you get you stop by a store and look for these, but then instead of finding 1 you find 72, all of a sudden there's an issue? And I'm a greedy bastard for buying them? That makes no sense!
Like another post stated, so you “take the high road” and just buy 2, the very next collector walks in 5 minutes later and buys 70. You have done nothing to help yourself or anyone else with the exception of 1 “greedy bastard” lol
I'm sure that any of the few on here saying that they wouldn't buy them all had never been in a store and found two supers right? Maybe three? What then? Is it okay to buy them all then? Exactly… Either you have or you will because that's what you're there for!
Like I said yesterday the two or three people calling everyone “greedy” are probably the ones who have never found a super (you know who you are) so they say these things to seem… noble? LoL… Idk, bottom line, don't take your “Can't Find a Treasure Hunting Aggression” out on the rest of us!
For the record hell yes buy them all! Sell or trade high as you can! I find a lot of supers but not every super, If I didn't find (and buy) extras of them I wouldn't have anything to trade for the ones I need. Common Sense…
However the original post got me thinking, that would be pretty cool to find the box and keep them all together in the collection! I'm headed out right now to find a fresh case of supers!
I only buy models if I really dig the casting and/or deco, like the Datsuns or the Matchbox Foxbody squadcar (found three at a Kroger, bought all three, and haven't seen any since). I'm not into searching for Hunts. I probably wouldn't even recognize most Hunts from a few feet away. Most of my collection is Nascar related anyway, which is pretty rare around here, though you can clearly see the Lamley influence on my blog: http://www.amodestdiecast.blogspot.com/. I don't love this particular casting with this particular deco, and while it may be hard to believe, I'd probably pass this one up all together.
No one has said anything about not being able to “bare the thought” of someone else getting them…
Everyone is pretty much saying, this is why we are at the hot wheels display in the first place so why wouldn't you buy them? Has nothing to do with the next guy.
As you can see there are several reasons to buy them all, like having one of the most rare items anyone has seen ever!!! (Meaning a whole case of supers not just “A” super) or selling them for profit, so you can put the money back into your collection or help cover some of the gas used for hunting or even buy supers (or other higher end pieces) you couldn't find! Or trade for supers you need! Or give them to friends and/or other collectors (that's a pretty cool thing to do since you are all about peace and love and helping out the next guy)
Zach seems like he was okay with the “thought” of SEVERAL other people having one since he has already went through most of them. That's impulsive and greedy?
You say there “is no other reason as to why someone would buy 72 of the same casting”. I just named several reasons, without even getting into customs, RAOK's, Club Cars, etc…
The funny thing is you didn't name even 1 reason why you wouldn't buy them all. Please, name a few! Please enlighten us “greedy folk”
So basically you're saying you left behind a super and a regular (the rockster) rather than buying them, (like you're saying people should do so you have a “fair” chance) but you are saying you regret it and if you could do it again you would buy them up…
Gotcha
Also a scalper would be someone buying them all up, who doesn't give a crap about collecting, and then resells them at top dollar.
No one here has said that. We have all named a number of reasons to buy them all and none are JUST for profit.
It's a hobby, we are collectors. If you don't have extras to trade or sell then u have to dig into UR own pocket to get the HTF pieces that u don't find on the pegs. I mean if you would rather spend your hard earned money on them then be my guest.
I feel like the majority of us are speaking a different language… LoL
I mean who actually says,
“hey I know I could get 72 cars that I really want if I bought these here supers for $1 each and then trade or sell em, BUT NAW MAN, I think I'd rather just buy those other cars I want at $15-$20+ each… Imma leave all these one dollar supers for dem greedy folks… Who needs money anyway, being the root of all evil and such”… (Sorry that was actually all said in a cartoon voice with a strong southern draw in my head)
lmao
It's funny to me…
I'd buy them all. Give a few away. But for the most part the rest would be trade bait and the next few shows/conventions. What's 72 x $20 each = $1440. I don't feel bad for guys that make $10/hour and cannot affort to buy the whole box. I on the other hand can afford to turn $72 into $1400 in trade bait. That's a damn nice turnaround.
I'm American, and work in sales and my paycheck in 100% commission. I don't treat HWs any differently when it come time to flip the extras. Flip them while they're still hot, and dump that money back into a Toy Fair, MEA, Employee or Japanese Convention car….or a new TV or couch…or get that 6″ lift I've been wanting on my FJ. Stuff that I wouldn't have spent paycheck money on.
Stew
This comment has been removed by the author.
I am glad he is like that.
I think a picture is worth 1000 words, so having the actual box and having all of them is kinda lame. I would have taken 65 of the 72, and the the other 7 would be hidden throughout the store and I would post the picture of all 72 and make a super treasure hunt scavenger hunt in the store for ig followers and stuff like that.
The others, with the exception of about 10 would be given away. I would take one in the store with me, and when I find a fellow collector or a child looking for a super ( if they said they have never found a super in the wild) I would just give it to them. You want to impact peoples lives or care about memories? What better way, to share something you are passionate and be part of someones story of their first super.
I think this incident says a lot about this scene/hobbie/culture these days. So many of the people that read this blog or go to stores, want to defend greed and hording as, buying for groups, or with excuses such as, the next guy would take them all, are all absolutely absurd. Almost every time I go to the store, I am lucky to find anything that I am looking for, so many people don't leave any meat on the bone so to speak. I don't know a single person with a Cosworth escort, but I see greedy people on instagram posting lots of 30-60 of them. Buying all model when your the first one there, especially when there is more than 3 is just greed. Then some people are so audacious as to post it on instagram and brag about it. God for the guy that gave most of these away. Most of my friends that are into cars have started collecting because I would give them cars, I have given away super t hunts, even a super bluebird wagon, I only had one other one and really wanted to open it, but I know how much this other person wanted to find one. I have given supers to kids who are looking for cool cars. It's more like pay it forward and not Pokemon. You dont have to catch them all.
I see people saying things like I would sell some to friends at a minimal profit. Wow, am I glad I am NOT YOUR FRIEND! I would laugh if I gave one of my friends a super thunt that cost me $1 ( esp if I just found 72 of the damn things) and they tried to give me $1 for it. If you profit off your friends, then you don't have any friends.
If anyone wants to restore balance, they would sell the majority to people ( one per person) for no more than 10-15$, there is no reason why any current Super Thunt should cost 30-40. Not even the Bluebird should have cost that much. That is just hype.
Also, this is to lamely. It is not Rare to find Super Thunts( atleast not as rare as you say it is) especially when you see one person finding 5-10 in a matter of 2 days.
It is just proof that GREED is ruining collecting these days. Had those people NOT bought all they could find, then there would be enough for all the collectors to be happy because the odds would be increased.
Last point, is Mattel , should just stop with the super t hunts. Create a line call Super 1:64s, and make them be cars that car enthusiast want to collect, like mustangs,camaros, cool old muscle cars, imports and classic jdm car and supercars, without awful looking tampos, and give companies like M2 and autoworld a run for their money, as to who make the best quality diecast car for under $5 and leave the mainlines and regular t hunts to how they are right now, $1 cars that might be worth more some day ( not the second you walk out the store) and cars that get used on tracks!!!!
You sound a lot like the people that almost drove the american buffalo to extinction for their ( collectable highly desired furs) without any thought other than I want and profit.Just because they are there doesn't mean you need to take as much or more than you can handle.
The purpose of collecting isnt to create a market for cars that already have a market. Cars that are mainlines that cost $1 shouldnt be sold by someone without a resale license to people on fb and instagram for $5-10 or more. That is what is wrong with the majority of ollectors these days. In the 90s people would do the same but atleast you would have to go to meets, or shows to buy them and they would not be that crazy because their was not websites hyoing up what is going to be valuable and there wasnt people posting their finds online.
“Cars that are mainlines that cost $1 shouldnt be sold by someone without a resale license to people on fb and instagram for $5-10 or more.”
Lolwut? Why would anyone need a resale license to sell hot wheels?
“and the the other 7 would be hidden throughout the store and I would post the picture of all 72 and make a super treasure hunt scavenger hunt in the store for ig followers and stuff like that.”
That's pretty childish and immature. This is a store not someplace to play games. Do that at home.
Every last one! Great trading fodder for the stuff I've missed! Nuff said…
why buy them from target anyway? why no just get them direct from mattel? because you would need a resale license, and selling hotwheels that you have hoarded and scalped, that should be a dollar is not a legitimate business.
no what is immature is not comprehending how sharing works, and thinking greed is virtuous.
all i hear is gimme gimme gimme gimme, mine mine mine, anyone with kids will easily agree that that is immature. Most normal people would call grown ass men collecting dollar toy cars, childesh and immature.
What? I don't know why you think that someone who has re-sold a hot wheels would be considered a business. There's a difference between an online eBay store and just one person who decides to sell something online every once in a while.
“there is no reason why any current Super Thunt should cost 30-40.”
Sure there is…it's called when demand exceeds supply. The free market will determine the price.
I've thoroughly enjoyed every comment. Let's face it. T Hunting is a cutthroat business. Every time I find a “fresh” batch, there's not one super to be found. Even the mainlines such as that new escort are allgone. It's been depressing….such bad luck I've had. If you don't buy them all when you're lucky enough to find them, the next guy will….and he'll sell them for $20 each making over $1000. Then guess what? He'll have tons of cash to spend on tons of cars. It'd be great if we lived in a world where everyone is fair and a proper gentleman. I'll open doors for ladies, let people merge when they signal, donate to relief efforts.. But when it comes to these hard to find cars, I'll step over your grandma to get my “greedy” hands all over them.
Walfart is ruining the collecting. Their employees are the ones telling certain ppl when shipments come in and give them priority. They also hide the $THs in the back on in certain places for their friends. I have been a witness to this before.
Also Mattel makes adult models called Retro and Pop Culture atm(too name two lines) that are scalped just as much as supers(at least the popular models). Making a line called Super 1:64s would be worse than it is now and normal collectors like us would have no shot of finding them except on secondary markets like the bay, ttp, fb and ig.
Hahah love it.