Someone Kindly Told Me That You Collected…
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Today’s Hunter’s Helper is an amalgam of tips that I have combined to create my Hunter’s Survival Kit, which every guy who does toy runs should keep in his car for those big toy-crazed binges that we all go on from time to time.
- Plastic Crate — The storage-sized boxes with flip-top lids fit nicely in most trunks. They keep toys from being crushed, which is generally a "not good".
- Sturdy Envelope — Slipping your receipt into an envelope in that trunk will save you frustration.
- Map — Don’t rely on your phone/PDA if you’re venturing into the unknown. Signals die, things lose power, and a paper map is a priceless tool when the chips are down. (The locals in Atlanta know this one.)
- Flashlight — Some of those Stupor Center parking lots are unsafe. I recommend a Mag Lite for extra protective value. They are bright and heavy, so it’s a twofer.
- Pad/Pen(cil) — Keep those DCPI numbers handy for Targets, and a list of stuff that you’re looking for and what’s out. It’s easy to become confused in large late-night crowds of shoplifters and the living dead.
- Keys/Sharp Item — If the pallets are out, I say help yourself, tidy up the pegs, and make collectors look good.
- Hand Sanitizer — Some stores are just gross, and I’m OCD.
- Want Lists — Keep your homies in mind, and they’ll keep you in mind down the road. It never hurts to pick up something for a friend, even if you have to return it the next time you’re out. It’s the thought that counts.
Please add your suggestions/comments to the mix. If you’ve got some good tips and tricks, we’ll do a compendium at some point.
Hunter’s Heloise — It’s been a while, but here’s a nifty site that I found via a link at RTM that specializes in cool little accessories (war themed) for 3¾" action figures. A few of them can easily be used to flesh out your Star Wars dioramas. If enough readers write to them with suggestions, maybe they could make some handy little ladders for our pilots or other generic space-themed props?
While we’re on the subject of fleshing out displays, Chap Mei Toys, a Chinese manufacturer that sells really cheese-adelic action figures to stores like Big Lots and dollar stores, has a lot of cool accessories and space themed figures (i.e. background monsters). They’re cheap and fun, but they’re no replacement for good quality Hasbro accessories. (Hint! We need more accessories, Hasbro! And Gargan!)
August 24th, 2006 at 9:18 am
One thing I’d really have to add to the list is you have to have "People skills".Anyone who goes out hunting and is a collector has to be able to talk to the management and employees at the stores.If you can’t find what you’re after on the shelves then you will have to ask for assistance.
Acting and carrying yourself off as a jerk will only cause you more issues down the road.Yeah,you’re going to be upset b/c there’s nothing new–it either hasn’t come yet,a scalper or some other collector beat you– but taking it out on the employees isn’t going to help you.Calling around town every morning to see if anything came in really is a waste of time especially for the employee you’re talking to on the other end.In most cases they really aren’t much help especially if they don’t care.Sorry but you’re going to have to lose time,gas money, and in most cases patience.
Its best you form "work" relationships with the employees and be courteous with them.Employees know I’m a Star Wars collector b/c they see me almost everyday or every other day.Others know me personally either from friends,family,or past jobs.Neither I or the employee may know each other well but we have to interact.Over time you may get to know one another on a first name basis and he or she will go the extra mile for you.Flirting a little with the females also goes a long way.Put the Jedi mind trick on them if you have to.
Not all employees or managers are informed as you are.You may know what you want but you’re probably speaking in Huttese to them.Bring the information to them.Pictures are extremely helpful as is presenting good points as to why something they don’t have should be on the shelves.
There are going to be those employees and managers who are absolutely no help.If so then you have to deal with them accordingly.Find someone else or get someone higher up to help you.In some cases you could even get Corporate involved–if its worth it.In one case I just quit shopping all together at one store b/c there were too many employees getting stuff for themselves.Didn’t hurt me too bad b/c I just focused on hitting the other stores even harder.
I work for a retailer and the same with past retailers they all preach to you that you’re there for the customer.Everyone has their bad days–I may be the one or its the employee but I put that aside (most of the time) when I’m after something I want.
Hunting is much like having another job as it is collecting and a hobby for me.I don’t get paid for it but I do alot of work.
August 24th, 2006 at 11:38 am
I will add that one should always keep some toys in the trunk to give away to a fellow collector’s son/daughter…or especially someone you hardly know. It doesnt have to be much, but the thought counts a lot. I know because I have been a recipient of such generosity. And you do much to reciprocate…and that helps to make collecting beyond just plastics and cards. It adds friendship and comaraderie…
August 24th, 2006 at 11:52 am
I just go to the store, if they don’t have what I want, then I leave. It’s good idea to have a map in your car regardless.
August 24th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
I never venture very far from a hundred mile radius of my house, so I dont think I really need a map for anything. My attitude is if they dont have it at my local retailers then I will wait until they do have it, or my local comicbook shop gets one in. As far as dealing with employees goes, I dont. I mostly shop at Wal-Mart and I find that they really dont care if they help you or not. The toy department manager at my local Wal-Mart is a little troll of a woman who speaks in mono-syllables and she is as unfriendly and unhelpful as she can be. I dont talk to any of them any more than is absolutely neccasary. When they remodel and move things around then I ask them where its at and that helps occasionaly, but usually I just look for myself and if they dont have it, then I just check back later. In the past I have had store employees tell me that what they have on the shelf is all they have, which I know isnt true because I used to work for a Wal-Mart and when the shelves are full, excess cases are stored in the backroom. The employees dont want to help anyone though, or else they could use their tell’s on scanners and find out and go in the back and see. So I say there is no recon like the recon you can do for yourself. As far as lists go, thats easy for me because I know what I want and what I have and dont have. I keep lists for freinds who need things that I dont normally look for, like one of my friends makes a list for me when they need to find those new G. I. Joe Sigma Six action figures, otherwise I would never remember the names of the figures they want. All I care about is finding Star Wars figures.
August 25th, 2006 at 7:16 am
Be nice, be nice, and smile a lot when asking for employees to help you out. And if you can’t get an employee to help you at one store, if you really want it, go cross county to another store and they will help you there. (I scored the VTSC at Target, but had to go to a couple of different stores to get the employees to go in the back, and I was pleasant to them each time). I used to work retail, and it does suck.
August 28th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
I’ve mostly given up on finding stuff at retail. My collecting tips are "internet access and a credit card." Hasbro Toy Shop had almost everything I wanted in stock and eToys/KBKids had Momaw Nadon which I couldn’t find anywhere else. Occasionally the prices are higher online (Toy Shop is $6.99 while others are $7.99 to $8.99) and there is the shipping cost, but with Hasbro, eToys, and TRU.com (Amazon continues to be a mess and finding anything is nigh impossible) I was able to get all of the individual figures I wanted and I didn’t have to drive to the store repeatedly. I figure the savings in time and/or gasoline makes the few extra bucks worth it.