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No topic seems to spur more conversation among Hot Wheels collectors than that of the “scalper”. It has always been an iffy term among collectors, but has been used as long as I can remember.
The “scalper”, at least from what I can tell, is the collector who combs through store after store, night after night, looking for Hot Wheels that he or she can sell for a profit the next day. At least that is what I think the most simple definition is. That is what a ticket scalper does, so that term fits for a Hot Wheels collector that does the same.
Of course “scalper” has many more uses in our hobby. Among them, my favorite is the assumption that the guy who got to the pegs or bin before you is “clearly a scalper”. Only someone with evil intent could rob you of the Supers that were meant to be yours. Scalper seems to be the most widely used term whenever someone goes on a “what’s wrong with the hobby” diatribe.
I am not too fond of the word. It is too easy to call someone a scalper. Sure, someone taking every desirable model from a bin before I get a chance at one is frustrating, but I have found that eventually I am able to find what I am looking for – minus the Supers of course. But calling everyone a scalper is too easy. It is too easy to justify our own behavior by vilifying everyone else.
Yes, the person first to a bin will more-than-likely grab every Super they find, and that is the prize. I don’t think anyone can fault another for doing that, even when someone finds a whole case of them. But grabbing everything even remotely desirable? Zamacs, New Models, anything these days with the words “Skyline”, “Datsun”, or “Japan” on them? That makes the folks fume, many times me included.
Well, the topic of scalpers has taken a turn. With social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, so-called scalpers can let the world know of their bounties, much to the scorn of some, and amazement of others.
And no one gets the folks going more than Instagram member Joe, aka @diecast_hunter, a Las Vegas resident who has made overnight Hot Wheels hunting a science. It seems that everyday, collectors can wake up to new posts of the Hunter’s finds. And it isn’t just a handful of Hunts. Many of his photos look like this:
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or this:
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or even this:
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What does Joe do with most of these? He sells them.
My guess is if you haven’t seen these pics, or are not following Joe’s IG feed, you are forming an opinion about him right this second. Las Vegas collectors have opinions of Joe, some good – “he allows me to stay home and still get what I want” – and bad – here is a reddit post for your entertainment.
Now I am not here to torch Joe, nor am I here to defend him. (My guess is the comments section here and elsewhere will do plenty of that.) But I did want to ask him why he does what he does.
Me? I much prefer the random find hunting method. Essentially, when you have a minute, almost always during the day, hit a store and see what you find. Sometimes you find the model you have been looking for, or maybe a cool error that was hard to detect, and on that very rare occasion, a Super that someone missed or was just put out.
To me, finding a Super would not be nearly as fun if I EXPECTED to find one. I don’t check to see what is en route, I don’t hit stores at opening, or hunt overnight. Random store, random time, random find.
Because it doesn’t happen that often, each find is special. So I keep all the Supers I find stashed away, carded and all. It isn’t enough to fill one Hot Wheels case, and because each of them was random, I can tell the story of each find. Where, when, and what the circumstances were. I have had some good years – I think one year I found 10 of the 15 released – and some bad. Like this year. I just found my first 2016 Super 4 days ago:
And finding that Daytona was awesome! It was as exciting as it always is, because it was completely unexpected. Totally random, at a rural Utah Walmart, at about 2:30 in the afternoon. Into the Super stash it goes. And yeah, I fully understand that I have been luckier then most. I credit that to the rural stops. Here is the whole “found in the wild” stash:
If I was out all night, trying to accumulate as many as I could, to sell or just keep, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun.
But that is just me. There are plenty of door warmers and pallet raiders out there, giving up their nights for the hunt. And that is fine. If someone wants to dedicate that much time to finding Super Treasure Hunts, then let them enjoy their spoils. It might piss you off, but you know the solution. Get out there and join them.
So what about Joe? What drives him? Is it the hunt? Is it a financial need? Is he just pure evil, a la Ramsey Bolton? Does he get a thrill watching everyone else squirm when he posts his finds?
I asked him, and his answer:
To me it’s a full on Hobby, Collecting is just part of it, the rush is from the hunt. I get the cars that I want and I help others get the cars that they want and not have to pay them ebay rates. Alot of people don’t understand when there’s like 20 walmarts within an hour you don’t have to get all your cars from one bin. I’m a collector as well so I do leave at least one of each model I grab but you know I ain’t bout to leave a $uper. Hahaha.
Damn, it’s the thrill of the hunt as well. I was hoping I was the only noble one.
Of course, Joe might be slightly more addicted to the rush of the hunt than others, and he has found that selling his finds helps support it. We can all relate to a certain extent, or we wouldn’t buy those Supers when we come across them.
We all collect for different reasons. Better, we all collect for a big messy mix of reasons. For some like Joe, it is more about the hunt than anything else. For others, it might be completing full sets. For others, just having cool little replicas of the cars they love. We are all probably a mix of all, or we wouldn’t be so into Hot Wheels.
Ultimately, Joe wants it more than you and me. Or we would make an overnight hunt work. And that is just how it is.
Look at the monsters those bastards over at Mattel have turned us into.
(Special thanks to Joe aka the Diecast Hunter for allowing to write about him. Have at it with your opinions, but please don’t make it personal. Joe buys a lot of cars, that’s it. Share your feelings about that.)
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oh look at this once again the LAME group sides with the dirty scalpers just so they can get in good with them and hoping they will cut them some slack to get discounts on cars to feature on to later sell them off to get top dollar. the LAME group brown noses wheelcollecters, A&J toys, Matchbox just to get shit first. they are no worse then racegroves who only shows stuff off as long as he gets paid before for hand. This fucking group is now just a dirty hype machine to help the greedy ebay sellers get more money off of junk. When a bum like die cast hunter buys every single car out of shipper and turns around and sells it for more he is a scalper. you know i'm surprised you haven't tried kissing KMJ die cast's ass too to get shit for free.
Mr. Unknown has some good points, but I wouldn't use theese words. Of course you don't say your opinion and hope that your reader find the right words, because your'e havind an advantage from theese guys. The last article which I read on the blog without a “Find this and that here and there” was the article about theese ugly TRAP5-wheels.
Theese people don't do it as a hobby, it became a buisness for them. I don't mind this guy but when I read his answer I expect him to sell his finds maybe the one dollar+ 50cent. Atleast that would be fair, but if someone really says he wake up early in the morning, I presume he's doing it for the fast dollar. Back in the days when the dollar was shit worth I ordered models from E-Bay too because the decent stuff never hits Germany. Never paid a price close to the WalMart prices. This guy is like the that kid in school the day after easter who takes all the choclate eggs and then say, well you could give me this and that for that. If someone won't say his opinion on him, or says he is also some kind of noble ….well it speaks for itself. If a hobby becomes a buisness, mostly it gets fucked up. (YouTube for example, and yes as You said, not everything but a lot)
Other story, in germany theres something called maximum daily quantity. I couldn't even buy 100 cars in one shop because the hot wheels pegs only have 30 on them. So yes sometimes when only 4 remain I visit the store to and then it could happen I buy ten or eleven cars because there aren't many stores in my area and then I have to drive far away
Like many things in Life, moderation is key; You find 10 T-Hunts or whatever examples of sought-after / rare model cars? Sure, take a few extra, but leave some for others to enjoy in the discovery. Otherwise you're a selfish jerk.
I don't call them scalpers i call them sellers i understand 1st come 1st serve but if you take every car and say shit like this “To me it's a full on Hobby, Collecting is just part of it, the rush is from the hunt. I get the cars that I want and I help others get the cars that they want and not have to pay them ebay rates.” its pure bullshit you are a seller . I have never sold a car i buy 2 at the most one for the track and one not to open. These people that go around to Walmart at 2 am asking to bring out hot wheels for them they have a job to do go to the shelf if they have what you want buy it if not go away and let them work
you are 100% right
racegroves used to show what he liked now its all what he gets paid to show he's not doing it for the love of diecast like it used to be anymore he has gone down hill
OK, cool, great story. But my burning question is this: Does he still have a red Hot Wheels LaFerrari for sale?
There are scalpers and there are hoarders and there are people who get there first. Many people consider all people who wait in front of Target to get in at 8am as “scalpers”; maybe so and maybe not. The old phrase, “the early bird gets the worm” comes to mind. You put in the time, you get the prize. But I have known more than a few people in my collecting time that buy multiple of certain castings either because they love the car, thought they could retire on them because it was hot at the moment of purchase or just that they were “hoarders”. And YES, some are scalpers; but there is a simple solutions to “scalpers”; don't buy from them. If you know someone who scalps, don't buy from them, encourage your other collector friends to not buy from “scalpers”.
Capitalism is what built the USA, opportunity can be a good thing, but price gougers, unfair opportunists, and scalpers, shouldn't be rewarded with sales! A lot of scalpers I used to know aren't around anymore, you know why, people caught on and didn't buy anymore.
Scalper exists why suckers buy it.
With the quantities he's buying, I don't know why he doesn't just find a way to get them wholesale from Mattel. Seems like he's doing it the hard way.
I don't really consider the guys who wait at the doors trying to get the one super to be scalpers, though they DO sell them at overly inflated prices. But since Supers are a limited quantity anyway, the likelihood of them sticking around is pretty low, so it's just a matter of who gets there first.
I think the term “scalper” is more appropriate for the guy who shows up first and grabs every one of the Kool Kombis from the Beatles bin and leaves all the rest. Or all the bluebird wagons from the Japan Historics set. I think that's a scummier move than snapping up supers.
First off, it's fine to buy whatever someone wants. I never left a McLaren P1 in orange that I saw and I now have 125. For @diecast_hunter, he is in the city of walmarts, there are like 25+ in the city. Even if he takes %50 of every bin, that's a couple thousand cars. Point being, he also can't be at every Walmart at once. People have the opportunity. The only part I don't agree with is having managers old items, but hey, I do it too ��…. (Target is really nice about that). People can do what they want and I'm personally sick of people chastising them for buying. It's not their fault they can afford it. If someone locally wants the item, just sell it at a fair price. For me, I would much rather pay $1.50 for a car that is mint than $1 for one in a bin that was mangled by children
You snooze, you lose.
First off Hot Wheels are outrageous on resale, your talking a $0.98 car selling for $20.00 (STH) INSTANTLY! Thats huge profit, but look at your time your spending….a waste! This guy is a business and could or could not be making good money. I will never pay more than $5.00 for a hot wheels, people are insane spending that kind of money on a $0.98 piece… Long story short, leave some for the next guy as we all like the rush for the hunt…
The only way to take down the scalpers and hoarders is to not buy their stuffs. If you take your entire life just to finds desirable 1$ cars and resell them as a ganster will do pricetag, like double or triple of the original value just to make $$, you clearly fail in life. And this is how all hobbies in the planet will end if this shit keep going. Just for exemple, When you can't find desirable hot wheels cars in your area, because somes people take every singles mclaren, datsun, camaros, corvettes, skylines, supras, and specials items like the hot wheels calendar chevelle, you know that everithing can't be fucking worst… Same with Matchbox, and this doesn't help with all the fantasys stuffs…
You're part of the problem Elite Auto Showcase.
Just admit it, you've already admitted to having managers hold items, and even complimenting Target on how easy they are to manipulate for that.
Thank you Tony! Elite Auto Showcase why do you need 125 of the same car explain that to me please thank you.
hoarders that's bullshit they are sellers
wheelcollecters is the same way they sell cars for 2$
See, when I see pictures like this, I have no choice but to cringe a little bit inside, even if the person means good intentions. When you purposely buy various sets of the same cars and not leave anything behind, and then go flip it on eBay or TheToyPeddler for quick investment, I think it's just pure greed. All they really want is the attention on social media and especially the money. It's not fair to raid a store to get first dibs on cars that you don't really want, spend hundreds of dollars on every trip, and then double your investment online. That's not the way of a TRUE collector.
True collectors buy what their heart desires, appreciate everything they have, and keep it for themselves. I mean a true collector may buy multiples of the same car if they see it, but it's not in the same meaning as the collector mentioned in the post. Some true collectors buy multiples because they really like the casting or want to buy extra for others who can't access it. That's fine. They won't go and flip it for a quick buck! I understand that I may come off as hypocritical but it just infuriates me when I see a person who is supposed to mean good intentions when really they come off as greedy collector nannies who don't make it fair to other collectors who deserve to find what they really want.
By the way, I was fascinated by your first Super find for the year. That's crazy! I haven't even found one the entire year! It seems as if Hot Wheels is making Supers harder to find or it may have something to do with scalpers paying more attention. I don't know. But honestly, I think they're limiting the number of Supers they make to make it more of a hunt. That's just me.
Well Im not a scalper, but if you leave a fresh bin, then chances are, a scalper is going to get it, (at least in my area) I found a fresh one the other day, and I did give some to another collector that came a few mins. later, I try to buy a good quantity of the “hot” ones, and then I trade them to collectors or sell them for what I paid, if more people did that, then it would help the problem, I wouldn't even mind paying extra if it were a a 20% or even 100% markup, in reality, theres are $1 cars, I know when I use to sell stuff I would only make about a 20% profit, but for a dollar item, you can't make money that way. I suggested to mattel, that they use a lottery system for the “supers” but it fell on deaf ears …. I have been hunting hard for about a year now, and the things i have witnessed are incredible, I never thought it would be like this, another HUGE problem in my area, is the employees, they flat out lie a lot of times, and I know for a fact they are taking the supers and other “good” cars before they hit the shelves … I don't mind paying extra for out of print things, but there are people selling super bat mobiles for over $75 and much more sometimes, that is just ridiculous, but how can you blame the sellers if the stupid buyers keep paying there outrages amounts for new stock ??? but it is, what it is … Good luck to all ..
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CJ, there is only about one super in 10 boxes of hot wheels, (some say one in 15) I don't know what is supposed to be “normal” but they are ripping them off at the factory and selling them on eBay at the rate of about 900 or more per month, this is just a handful of guys from Malaysia, this goes on every month, and I have heard from collectors that have been in this hobby for many years, that this has been going on for quite some time … mattel is aware of this, and says they are going to do something about it, but I think it is all talk. and as I said in another post, the ones that do make it to the cases, and to the store, chances are in my area, that a good percentage is going to be taken before the everyday customer even has a chance, not all of them, but it just makes it that much harder, some stores only get a box in at a time, so even if you hit a sealed box, your chances are slim to get a super, I told mattel that the only way to solve this is to have a mail in lottery type system for the “supers” but they won't do it … your best chance it to find a fresh dump bin, but that is not an easy task in my area … good luck ..
I do agree with most on the comments here.. in puerto rico is the same people get in touch with the managers and employees for them to hold the cars and take about 97% of the good stuff leaving only fantasy models behind.. in almost 4 years i haven't found a single super because of people like this. Heck people were selling the kmart exclusive datsun 510 wagon for $10 a piece and i'm not even gonna start with the supers and cars used for downhill racing..
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If enough people complain to mattel, MAYBE they will do something, I say maybe, because I doubt it, the only way to solve the “super” problem, is to have a lottery type system, at least that way, at least most of the supers will go to collectors, not all, but better than now, and they need to stop that stuff going on at the factory …
I never (and have never) found a 180SX in the wild. An extremely kind redditor helped me out, but that was pretty much the final straw. I really only focus on Matchbox, Auto World and redlines/blackwalls now, no point in hunting hot wheels I'll never find. Hot Wheels is making it easy with the crappy mainline these days, fortunately.
i stuff all the time like yellow submarine found that at toys r us at 12 pm
that diecast hunter guy can stick up all his scalped diecast up his ass and kill himself
dude you are on point
hey elite auto showcase, youre one of the reasons why diecast collecting has become a business and not a hobby, so pleease pleeeaaase drink bleach when you get home to your hoarded cars
You hit the nail on the head! In order to buy from Mattel you have to have a legitimate brick and mortar business. That also involves having a business license wherever you are, insurance, decent credit etc etc and would require that you pay not only income tax but state sales tax on your sales. Even if they were to go to these lengths, they would then have to take the good with the bad like every other business. They would not be able to cherry pick the “hot at the moment” castings and return what they didn't want or couldn't sell. So, in other words being a legitimate business is too much work for these guys, they would rather cheat the system and in the end their actions do hurt legitimate businesses
This ass clown (diecast hunter) can buy as many cars as he wants, i dont live in vegas and im not competing with him. Most collectors have real jobs and better shit to do than go to 8 walmarts every night. And not everybody who sells hot wheels is a scalper, for example i recently found 4 sth bad mudders, i dont need 4 i need 1, what to do with the other 3? I cant trade them on hwc anymore, so i put the other 3 on ebay, sold them and bought 3 more supers i needed. If that make me a scalper ok, i dont care. And like someone else said, this guy can only be at one store at a time, if you dont like it, beat him to it.
Don't for a minute think this guy is a legitimate business. If take a look at his IG you can see that he is avoiding Paypal fee's by requesting payments as gifts, I have no doubt he is not declaring any of this income on his state or federal taxes nor is he charging his customers or paying to the state, sales tax on his sales, yet over and over you read people commenting on this and other forums that this is his business and his only job. How about the numerous pictures or comments about him taking is young children with him on his midnight runs? Bonding time, I think not. This guy has been kicked of just about every FB group there is related to diecast 1) for his shady business practices and 2) because of his personality conflicts with normal people. He loves the limelight and thinks being an a$$ monkey is the way to go.
Lets forget about the hunt and beating everyone else to the hoard and take a moment to think about what this kind of behavior does to legitimate small businesses. You know, those that actually go to the trouble of setting up wholesale accounts, buying and maintaining inventory, paying taxes, and perhaps even creating a job or two? When faced with class acts like diecast hunter who are doing everything they can to cheat the system to make it work for themselves, how does a legitimate business stay in business?
I certainly don't condone what wheelcollectors do by pricing a new release basic at a much higher price just because it is desirable, and I hate seeing other dealers or resellers picking chases and raising the prices on them (they were never intended to increase the bottome line of the dealer, but to reward the collector) but in the end because of people like this legitimate businesses need to level the playing field somehow. Maybe that is how they are doing it?
What is the solution? No returns of diecast would certainly bring much of this to a screeching halt. How about maximum purchase amounts? (but that in the end would probably hurt true collectors). Staggered stocking times? no dump bins? get rid of supers, hunts and chases? I would rather the energy be spent by this forum in looking for a solution rather than giving the scum the limelight…
This piece has to be an all time low for Lamley
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Complaining to Mattel will solve nothing. They don't care and this doesn't affect them, much like they could care less about the lunchbox specials and factory made customs that come out of Malaysia. The only way to kill the hype is to get rid of supers and hunts. Matchbox does just fine without them
Sums it up well! If you went to a store and found 4 supers then kudos to you. If you sold the extra 3 and put that back into your collection, then you are a true collector. If you then ran to 4 more stores and looked for more, and sold them so you could buy more to sell, then you are nothing but a scalper!
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For one thing you don't go to 8 Walmart every night. That's some beginner BS. You find out when the bins are hitting and go 1-2 times a month. I live in Vegas and have met Joe. The stuff he buys doesn't affect me. I'm not a sheep who eats up every mainline and super Mattell puts out. I still find what I'm looking for. They're toys and shouldn't bother people that much. There's still plenty of ways to get cars your looking for besides retail and eBay. #socialmedia. Your famous Joe!!!! Lol
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What if the next guy is a “scalper”?
Right this is awesome!
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I tend to stay out of this type of drama. Worrying about scalpers has drained me. But I can agree that this is extremely excessive. I usually just have odd hunting hours. Sometimes, weeks take place in between store visits. But still, doing it this way has managed me to net 2 supers from 2016. Just this past Saturday, hit an out of the way Wal-mart, and found a fresh Beatles/K Case bin. The best way to deal with scalpers is just pay no mind to them.
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Vote for Trump! He can build a wall and send all the rapists and scalpers to Mexico. This is a free country! free from scalpers! I say we should limit the amount of cars people can buy and listen to the commenters from Germany! They know about walls and limits. I say we ration the amount of Hotwheels each household gets to have. Let's build a wall in front of target so the door warmers have to climb over it to get to the supers.
find out when the bins are hitting? that's seller shit
so i put the other 3 on ebay, and make 20$ on each one you are a seller unknown i dont need 4 i need 1 then take only one
Ok I do have an issue with Lameley making excuses for this and will explain why. With that said I follow DC Hunter. He is a collector and from what I'VE seen he dose not over charge. Let's remember the USPS went to a flat rate system so there is going to be charge that is more than the HW itself. I go to flea markets on as many weekends as I can and there are sellers if they are selling mainlines for $2 I'll grab what I need Supers I really just don't give a well you know about anymore. My issue with Lamley is simple, them condoning this really hurts their integrity imo. As far as being here for the collector. The plainly cater to sellers advertise for sellers some of whom are over charging. Don't front and be like we are a blog for collectors. Yes you give great info and I love the blog but they should know more than anyone that some of these sellers are not scalpers but poachers. Plain and simple they go out with full intent to make a buck off he backs of true collectors. Now with that said there is a market so as long as there is a market this is the way it will be. Let's not forget some of us have real lives with real jobs or businesses that take much of our time. Some are willing to pay extra for someone else to do their leg work. Me I choose to realize I'm not going to get every piece I want or ever wanted. I will pay $1-$.50 for a wreck and make a one of a kind that no one has but me and I'm happy. Really if ou can not enjoy the hobby why bother and to result to say that someone should kill themselves over a $.99 car is utterly disgusting immature and that should had been taken down immediately with the climate of the world today! Listen I only threatened to leave the group once before and that was over badically the same issue. So as much as it irritates me people have to take advantage of people it pisses me off when someone can suggest someone kill themselves!