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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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Just a bunch of crybaby bitches on this post. You are all fucking scalpers. Just cause you can't find shit want to blame it on the people that put in the work. Fuck y'all @diecast_hunter keep up the great work brother!
hahahahahha! Awesome scalpers are a disgrace to their families
It's the only solution. We get rid of theese scalpars way back, before they even could touch diecast collecting back in 1942. But then this great American president said “Mister Gorbatchov, tear down this wall.”. And so they took our freedom, because all theese eastern germans took our groceries so we had to limit them. It's all Reagan's fault.
the cocksucker takes all of them and sells them on ebay like the asshole he is
Oh damn it is Reagan's fault! He let the scalpers in and now they are scalping his presidential limo green machine! What goes around comes around Ronald!!!
Online raffles are illegal in most US states, they are a form of tax evasion and could be used to finance illegal activities such as drug trafficking and terrorism.
Oh damn it is Reagan's fault! He let the scalpers in and now they are scalping his presidential limo green machine! What goes around comes around Ronald!!!
Oh damn it is Reagan's fault! He let the scalpers in and now they are scalping his presidential limo green machine! What goes around comes around Ronald!!!
The issue in my local area is a few “scalpers” that I have seen in action at KDay and when the holiday series came out.
On KDay I brought my 1 year old son and got one ticket. One particular guy (probably 45-50 years old) wanted every one of a certain car, had his family (5 people) all get tickets to get more cars, this caused young kids from getting tickets. He refused to trade one of those fake Fiat THs even though he had baskets full of them and other cars, including 2 of the only Supers of the day. I gave my box of unwanted cars to a few young boys; this guy went over and stole it from them. A few minutes later, one of the boys came over to me as I was leaving and gave me a Fiat TH and thanked me for the box of cars. Crazy how that guy can see this is a “hobby” instead of a business. Furthermore, he was Canadian so most of these cars are all going across the border to be hoarded or sold.
Another scalper was filling his cart with every car on the pegs from the holiday series. I just wanted one of the Volkswagens. One car! that's it. He refused to give me one. I sarcastically asked if he was a collector….he told me he sends these to his friend in some overseas country because they don't get them there.
I've yet to find a Super in the wild, but that doesn't bother me. I just look for what I like and hope that on my random trips I find one or two (one for my sons basket).
Its crazy to me how certain scalpers go all night collecting toy cars as grown men and don't admit its a business. Couldn't imagine looking my wife in the eyes and telling her “yup, sorry I wasn't home last night, was out for 7 hours finding 1000 toy cars.”
Apparently my thoughts hit a nerve Diecast Hunter, 3 posts and you deleted them all? lmao
Kyle Lang, I have 2x more “extra” Cool Classics than what was released in the series sitting in a bin. I bought all I could from Targets locally. I know I have at least 6 extra of the Toyota truck sitting in that bin right now. I also picked up whatever I could of the last two mixes in stores when they showed up, including the 510, 240 and BRAT (but others as well).
Now without knowing anything else, do you feel I'm just a reseller?
“Furthermore, he was Canadian so most of these cars are all going across the border to be hoarded or sold.”
You do realize that as a US collector you have easy access to a numerous amount of US exclusive series, the lowest retail prices and shipping fees in the world, the most retail point of sales and a huge community of collectors, right? Damn Canadians, I dare them coming to OUR stores and buying OUR Hot Wheels.
Yes, I'm sure he had alzheimer before he started to let all theese scalpers back. I hope Trump doesn't make the same mistakes as Reagen. I'm very sad to hear from all you american fellows not finding the LaFerraris and the 180NXs. I will send them to you, and no I'm not a scalper I just don't have facebook or hashtagsocialmedia. It's just because you hyped theese models so much, although they are ugly. (I scalped the cadillac one, ill paint one green so it can be scalped
Sounds like good collector shit to me.
Dont whine if you don't put in the time.
Vote for Trump, he can send all theese canadians to Mexico. The only solution for this problem is, if Mattel wouldn't send their products in cases with 72 models in it. Instead they should make an online platform where everyone can order as much models as they want. Most of theese collectors/traitors are only interested in 5 or 6 different castings as you can see below. So everyone is happy and John could still do his kind of collecting and nobody gets mad.
resale value will shut her up
#diecast_hunter lamleygroup does not follow you 🙁
Same thing is happening to my post. Every time I try to post it posts 3x and then I have to delete them cuz it's repeating all over their blog. It's an error in the blog or phone app or google or whatever
I think we should monitor all people and allow them only one car to keep on card and one to crack. We should all submit to the mark of the beast
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16,17
Yeah it's all good, he don't follow everyone
Pretty bad if your gone that long. I spend maybe 2-3 hours at most. I use to spend alot of time but not anymore. I don't do every store but I have my route. I'm content. But Hey #HappyHuntin
Possible but not probable Frank…his posts were at 11:09, 11:11, and 11:16 am. He apparently said something he shouldn't have and decided to delete them all
Wow Kyle, Talk about a dirty mouth
Wow Kyle, Talk about a dirty mouth
One of them somehow was a double, but I figured on these type of comments it's best for me nit to reply because the wolves will hound that section
One of them somehow was a double, but I figured on these type of comments it's best for me nit to reply because the wolves will hound that section
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The answer to this is really simple. Patience. If a new cast comes out today, don't buy it today. Just wait a bit and if you don't find it on the pegs at least you'll be able to get it at a much better price. We've all seen certain Ebay sellers who will sell a brand new casting for $10 and up but if you can wait a bit you can get the same casting from the same seller for under $3. Same goes for Super T-Hunts. A $30 car today, in 6 months, can sometimes go for as low as $8 – $9. No one NEEDS to collect these. You won't die if you don't get the newest casting right away. Remember this is a hobby. It shouldn't be an addiction.
A lot of people are going off on the scalpers, but who here has come across multiple Supers or one that you already had and left them behind? I very much doubt any of you would. That makes you all scalpers too in my opinion, even if you don't profit from it.
But no you didn't hit a nerve, just wanted to let you know you were wrong, I has kicked out of two groups over a year ago hell almost two cause they couldn't take it. I left a couple cause the admin are crybabys. And I'm still in what like 50? Lol. Then ur stating I'm telling people friends and family? I made an announcement a long while back that it was select purchase cause someone tried to screw me over. You must not be looking at the correct wall or your mixing me up with someone else. You should really investigate before you talk shyt that is untrue. That's all I had to say. Anyways have a great night and #HappyHuntin
One thing must be said for collecting on this level: chicks don't dig it. No they don't…
Me done it lots of times because i am not a seller
being selfish and making sure you rid the bin 1st Sounds like good collector shit to you?
Yes you said so “I bought all I could from Targets locally”
Not as lucky as Diecast_Hunter, but, eventually I find what I desire. No hate, no extreme envy, just hopes to find his good luck eventually.
Side note, living in a big city means people tear into these Hot Wheels like mad.
Better be glad that Hagar the Horrible never got into diecast collecting. We'd all be fucked.
that is called hoarding. explain why you NEED 125 OF THE SAME CAR.
i found 7 at a supermarket once. you know how many i bought? two. That is what a respectful collector does.
This isnt collecting, this is called hoarding. Who needs 125 of the same car? It is unfair that people have to buy things for 20x the price because one person left none behind. That is greedy and unneccesary.
Archonoclast – Please do not judge others by your own low standards – just trying to find these things is a bloody nightmare, without greedy people taking everything, and leaving nothing for the rest of us – it is getting very close to the point i am going to dump Hot Wheels and Matchbox, because they just are not available anywhere near me – when you contact Mattel to buy direct, they want you to spend £30,000 a year – now thats pathetic and downright greedy – surely they would sell more if they offered the opportunity to buy direct, no middle man to pay out for, but no, Mattel only care about the USA, and believe me, the USA is only one small country in the world, and by negating the rest, they make themselves look stupid.
anyone that is that greedy, and cares nothing for anyone else, is not a collector in my book, and regardless of whether they are in the limelight or not, it definitely is not for the right reason. when other countries have issues getting models, people that THAT, hoard them all, when a friend could help out by getting models for us, but because THAT person has been greedy and totally ignorant, the rest of us have to go away and have nothing.
As an aside, if these people are buying to sell on, and it is proven that they are making profits without declaring the income, then surely someone should report this to the IRS or relevant authority, so that they can then pay correct taxation, and by if, as has been mentioned, they are getting people to circumvent eBay fee's, this is against eBay policy and should also be reported, so it looks like greed from all angles, and they are getting so much negative press, as they should.
Now go look at my Instagram account (@doomus_rlc), and look at a bunch of my early posts on there, probably the first 300 or so pics.
I said I bought all “I” could, meaning whatever I was actually able to afford, not that I bought every single car sitting on the pegs. And it wasn't that I bought them the minute I saw them on the pegs all the time either. There were times I left a few of the Toyota trucks hanging, and they were still there a few days later so I said screw it and bought them for my stash.
Customizers need cars to customize and cars for parts. THAT is why I have a stash of extra Cool Classics sitting in a bin, as well as extra Hot Ones, Flying Customs, Heritage, Cur Culture, etc.
I am going to stir the pot a little bit here and say this:
We as collectors ARE all SCALPERS in one form or another. It doesn't matter how many cars you buy. It doesn't matter how many you leave for the next guy. It all boils down to the same thing. At some point and time while collecting you will either trade or sell a piece of your collection for higher than what you paid for it period. Everyone does it. Some trade to get that missing piece they need to finish off a set. Some will sell because of personal matters to get as much money as possible. Everyone does it.
There isn't anyone who collects that can say they don't know the “value” of a car when making any type of deal. Whether he/she is trading a Super Hunt for a Super Hunt, or selling a hard to find mainline for $5. Everyone does it. Don't pull the wool over your own eyes and deny that you are not a “scalper”.
I write this from experience for being in this hobby for 20 years. Before anyone comments that they are not like this I am putting this trade offer to you.
Before and if anyone who comments that he/she is not a “scalper” then you agree to trade me a Super Hunt of my choice from your collection for a run of the mill mainline from my collection. If you truly are not a “scalper” then I should see some really great offers.
My biggest question about DH is whether:
A. he just happens to be very lucky in being at Walmarts when boxes are being opened
B.has done extensive research as to know when each store will be putting out boxes
C. Has store contacts that let him know when new boxes arrive
D. Has store contacts that hold off on putting items on the floor until he arrives to be able to look through them.
If it's A-B, I have no issue, it's research and time that I don't have patience for and don't want to bother with. But C or D I think is an issue. Not particularly for the “Scalping” aspect, but for the fact that he is NOT letting the other customers in the area have a legitimate chance of getting the cars they're looking for without going through him. Those aren't examples of “You Snooze, you Lose”, that's deliberate market manipulation, and I do have an issue with that.
Well – I'm in the UK and despite all those 'scalpers'; the US still has a far greater range of Hot Wheels on the pegs than here in the UK. I've lived in London and am now on the south coast, and sometimes for months, I can't find what all the good YouTubers show from their latest cases. It seems there is less of a Hot Wheels following in the UK and consequently turnover is lower and it's a common site to see shelves full of dog-eared cards.
Only today I came across the Honda Odyssey – two of them! Great! The VW Square Back, the Porsche Carrera GT in flat black – this one came out what 4 months ago? I've yet to find the rest of the good castings which I saw on YouTube as far back as April. So I think the grass is still greener on the other side of the pond. Happy hunting!
Oh – and we don't even see RealRiders & Metal/Metal- so we're stuck with the basics!
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Whatever. I just ignore the idiots. I'm happy with what I find whenever I find it.
The language here with these responses and comments is sickening. Telling someone to kill themselves? Grow up. F bombs. M fer word. Knock it off. Your ignorance is those who know me from HOTWHEELS collectors.com know I would buy all I found because I raok members, family and friends. These issues are not new. Too bad. Don't vilify someone for this. I have generally found things I wanted eventually. This is a hobby to have fun with. Lamley thanks for publishing my photo pictorial. On the side of this site with all the word links you will find my name. John Falk. Look at those pics and try getting creative with what you have. I would love to see others photography. If it's your man cave or creative work I would love to see it. I miss all of the great photography and sharing on Hotwheels collectors.com. Let go of the negativity and contempt for others. Life's too short.