Post by TheChamp617 on Jul 21, 2013 2:09:48 GMT -5
My dad and I normally go to the States during the Summer. I wanted to go on a specific date to meet George "The Animal" Steele. After days of trying to convince my dad, he finally gave in and so we went!
We stayed at Michigan from July 18th to the 20th.
July 18, 2013
I know this is a Mattel board, which is why I'm not showing any close up pics of these Jakks figures. Got them all at a Thrift Store in Canada on the way to Michigan:
Now in the US...
Target on Plymouth Road
First Mattel pick-up was Daniel Bryan. This store (and others) didn't have that much:
Big Lots on Plymouth Road
I wanted to get two of each of the Rumblers since they're only $2. One to open, and one to keep sealed. Got two Punks, a Cena and an Orton:
Toys R Us.. forgot which one lol
I could never find any Ryback figures in Canada, so I picked the two-pack up. Since prices are too high in Canada, decided to get Christian and the Ziggler/Guerrero two pack:
Wal-Mart on 7 Mile Road
Was about to leave the store empty handed until I saw this Rumblers playset hidden in the middle of the clearance shelf. The box isn't in that good of a shape which is why I almost didn't buy it, but I thought that since I wouldn't be able to find it again, I might as well pick it up:
Barnes and Noble Royal Oak
Here's where I meet George "The Animal" Steele. The line up at the last Wal-Mart we went to was really long, so we thought we were going to be late. Also missed a few turns (oops), which made us thought we were going to be even later. We arrived at 6:50, which was about 10 minutes before the signing starts. We had to look for parking.. and we had to pay for parking too lol. The whole parking lot was full. We were about to leave, but we saw someone leaving. Bingo. We parked and went to put some change in the meter. One problem. We didn't have any change. Ugh. We asked a person for change who said that she doesn't have any, but she checked in her bag and exchanged our dollar bill for four quarters. Finally! Now we can go get in line and meet George. The parking lot is about a 3 minute walk to the bookstore. We had just finished putting change in the meter and was leaving the parking lot until I saw someone walking with a cane. It was The Animal himself! We approached him since we were going to the same place anyways. We said hi to him and told him that we came from Toronto to meet him. He shook our hands and asked for our names. We walked together to the bookstore. When we got in, George was brought to the second floor of the bookstore and the signing was on the first floor. I bought my book and at the same time the Q and A started, which I never knew was going to be first. We stood and listened. After a while, George said out loud to everyone "I have to speak about those two over there!" [pointing to my dad and I]. My dad and I didn't know at first he was referring to us so we were looking around to see who he was talking about. He said "yeah you, the guy looking around!" We smiled as he continued "These two came all the way from Toronto to be here!" Everyone there unexpectedly applauded lol. The signing started. They were calling up people by groups. I was in group 3. When I got to his table he was really nice and signed what I had for him. He signed my encyclopedia, his book, the back of the Wrestling Album CD and a page in a magazine. When I presented it to him to get signed, he laughed a bit and said "oh nice!". George interacted with every single fan and posed for unique photos... you got to put your hands around him as if you were choking him! After he signed my stuff and posed for a picture, he shook my hands and we were off...
Here are my autographs:
July 19, 2013
First stop on this day was a Thrift Store..
Value World on Ford Rd.
I actually didn't see this Ken Shamrock framed 8 by 10 at first. My dad told me he saw someone looking at it. He was watching the person and the guy put it down. He went over there and got it to show it to me. I picked it up for only 80 cents!
Dollar General on Warren Avenue
Wanted to get at least one Dollar General figure since I don't think we have these in Canada. Picked up CM Punk:
K-Mart on Wayne Road
Picked the two of these up on clearance. Will open the John Morrison playset because I already have it. Picked it up because it was only $1.99. I also already have the Cena, but may resell it (don't hate.. I'm not a scalper lol. We don't have K-Marts in Canada, so I can give someone the opportunity to buy it
If not, I'll open it up for myself.
Taylor Town Trade Center
Picked up a bunch of stuff from a few vendors. Since they're not Mattels, I won't post any close-ups or go in depth with them.
Picked up this lot of figures from a vendor. All for $20:
This next vendor was desperate for a sale! He saw me with a CM Punk shirt on and was kept an on me when I was buying the stuff in the pic above. Picked up the four cups for $5, the Beefcake bendie for $5 and the license plate was $5, so this lot was $15:
This Trade Centre also had glass cabinets that people can put their items for sale into. I saw these cards and thought that I'd get the set because they would be cool to get signed in the future:
Inside that plastic case is a 75 card set.
The trade center was located in the same plaza as a Thrift Store, so I went in of course!
Value World on Ecorse Road
Found DX Triple H and John Cena Mattels. Paid about $3 each for them:
Wal-Mart on Dix Toledo
I noticed that Brodus Clay Elites were shelfwarming at this particular Wal-Mart. I did some of you guys a favor and bought one of them
Also picked up the PTP two pack:
Big Lots on Eureka Rd.
Picked up another Cena and another Orton. Also picked up a Henry:
Toys R Us in Dearborn
July 20, 2013
Toys R Us in Southfield
Basic 29 wasn't released in Canada, so I picked up CM Punk:
Target on John R Road
If I'm not mistaken, Santino will be signing autographs near where I live in Sepetember. I bought this figure in case I could get it signed:
Big Lots on John R Road
Picked up another Mark Henry Rumbler at this location:
FYE on Woodward Ave.
Picked them all up except the Marine 3 from FYE. I picked up The Marine 3 from Family Video the previous day for $5. I made two separate transactions to get a better deal (BOGO 50% off used). Both totals went over $25, so I got two free WWE coolers!
The Macomb Mall in Roseville, MI
Saw an ad on Craigslist that there's a store with wrestling figures. The store is called Hodge Podge and this is what I picked up there:
Back in Canada
That would be my last stop in the US. We crossed back into Canada. We ate dinner.. and in that plaza there was a Thrift Store lol. Went in and found these two shirts:
I don't like buying shirts used at all. I don't like buying used clothes in general actually, but I bought them. I'm not going to wear them though. They're just for the collection
Finally..... take a breath guys, you've made it through my long post..
Here's one last shot of everything I got, minus the Shamrock frame, the autographs and the shirts
Thanks for looking and reading!
We stayed at Michigan from July 18th to the 20th.
July 18, 2013
I know this is a Mattel board, which is why I'm not showing any close up pics of these Jakks figures. Got them all at a Thrift Store in Canada on the way to Michigan:
Now in the US...
Target on Plymouth Road
First Mattel pick-up was Daniel Bryan. This store (and others) didn't have that much:
Big Lots on Plymouth Road
I wanted to get two of each of the Rumblers since they're only $2. One to open, and one to keep sealed. Got two Punks, a Cena and an Orton:
Toys R Us.. forgot which one lol
I could never find any Ryback figures in Canada, so I picked the two-pack up. Since prices are too high in Canada, decided to get Christian and the Ziggler/Guerrero two pack:
Wal-Mart on 7 Mile Road
Was about to leave the store empty handed until I saw this Rumblers playset hidden in the middle of the clearance shelf. The box isn't in that good of a shape which is why I almost didn't buy it, but I thought that since I wouldn't be able to find it again, I might as well pick it up:
Barnes and Noble Royal Oak
Here's where I meet George "The Animal" Steele. The line up at the last Wal-Mart we went to was really long, so we thought we were going to be late. Also missed a few turns (oops), which made us thought we were going to be even later. We arrived at 6:50, which was about 10 minutes before the signing starts. We had to look for parking.. and we had to pay for parking too lol. The whole parking lot was full. We were about to leave, but we saw someone leaving. Bingo. We parked and went to put some change in the meter. One problem. We didn't have any change. Ugh. We asked a person for change who said that she doesn't have any, but she checked in her bag and exchanged our dollar bill for four quarters. Finally! Now we can go get in line and meet George. The parking lot is about a 3 minute walk to the bookstore. We had just finished putting change in the meter and was leaving the parking lot until I saw someone walking with a cane. It was The Animal himself! We approached him since we were going to the same place anyways. We said hi to him and told him that we came from Toronto to meet him. He shook our hands and asked for our names. We walked together to the bookstore. When we got in, George was brought to the second floor of the bookstore and the signing was on the first floor. I bought my book and at the same time the Q and A started, which I never knew was going to be first. We stood and listened. After a while, George said out loud to everyone "I have to speak about those two over there!" [pointing to my dad and I]. My dad and I didn't know at first he was referring to us so we were looking around to see who he was talking about. He said "yeah you, the guy looking around!" We smiled as he continued "These two came all the way from Toronto to be here!" Everyone there unexpectedly applauded lol. The signing started. They were calling up people by groups. I was in group 3. When I got to his table he was really nice and signed what I had for him. He signed my encyclopedia, his book, the back of the Wrestling Album CD and a page in a magazine. When I presented it to him to get signed, he laughed a bit and said "oh nice!". George interacted with every single fan and posed for unique photos... you got to put your hands around him as if you were choking him! After he signed my stuff and posed for a picture, he shook my hands and we were off...
Here are my autographs:
July 19, 2013
First stop on this day was a Thrift Store..
Value World on Ford Rd.
I actually didn't see this Ken Shamrock framed 8 by 10 at first. My dad told me he saw someone looking at it. He was watching the person and the guy put it down. He went over there and got it to show it to me. I picked it up for only 80 cents!
Dollar General on Warren Avenue
Wanted to get at least one Dollar General figure since I don't think we have these in Canada. Picked up CM Punk:
K-Mart on Wayne Road
Picked the two of these up on clearance. Will open the John Morrison playset because I already have it. Picked it up because it was only $1.99. I also already have the Cena, but may resell it (don't hate.. I'm not a scalper lol. We don't have K-Marts in Canada, so I can give someone the opportunity to buy it
If not, I'll open it up for myself.Taylor Town Trade Center
Picked up a bunch of stuff from a few vendors. Since they're not Mattels, I won't post any close-ups or go in depth with them.
Picked up this lot of figures from a vendor. All for $20:
This next vendor was desperate for a sale! He saw me with a CM Punk shirt on and was kept an on me when I was buying the stuff in the pic above. Picked up the four cups for $5, the Beefcake bendie for $5 and the license plate was $5, so this lot was $15:
This Trade Centre also had glass cabinets that people can put their items for sale into. I saw these cards and thought that I'd get the set because they would be cool to get signed in the future:
Inside that plastic case is a 75 card set.
The trade center was located in the same plaza as a Thrift Store, so I went in of course!
Value World on Ecorse Road
Found DX Triple H and John Cena Mattels. Paid about $3 each for them:
Wal-Mart on Dix Toledo
I noticed that Brodus Clay Elites were shelfwarming at this particular Wal-Mart. I did some of you guys a favor and bought one of them
Also picked up the PTP two pack:Big Lots on Eureka Rd.
Picked up another Cena and another Orton. Also picked up a Henry:
Toys R Us in Dearborn
July 20, 2013
Toys R Us in Southfield
Basic 29 wasn't released in Canada, so I picked up CM Punk:
Target on John R Road
If I'm not mistaken, Santino will be signing autographs near where I live in Sepetember. I bought this figure in case I could get it signed:
Big Lots on John R Road
Picked up another Mark Henry Rumbler at this location:
FYE on Woodward Ave.
Picked them all up except the Marine 3 from FYE. I picked up The Marine 3 from Family Video the previous day for $5. I made two separate transactions to get a better deal (BOGO 50% off used). Both totals went over $25, so I got two free WWE coolers!
The Macomb Mall in Roseville, MI
Saw an ad on Craigslist that there's a store with wrestling figures. The store is called Hodge Podge and this is what I picked up there:
Back in Canada
That would be my last stop in the US. We crossed back into Canada. We ate dinner.. and in that plaza there was a Thrift Store lol. Went in and found these two shirts:
I don't like buying shirts used at all. I don't like buying used clothes in general actually, but I bought them. I'm not going to wear them though. They're just for the collection
Finally..... take a breath guys, you've made it through my long post..
Here's one last shot of everything I got, minus the Shamrock frame, the autographs and the shirts
Thanks for looking and reading!
