Fig hunting: wheres line between fun hobby and over the top

[zen411]

So I've noticed lately that I'm probably not the only one feeling anxiety over trying to score that one magical case of Monday night wars elites or ultimates from all walmarts in my area. Or trying to be there when a shipper shows up before it is picked through. I've seen comments from others here using a lot of emotions...stress, pressure, frustration that a box could be available at any given walmart on a random day or time...

My wife who has been really cool about my collecting habits has called me out this week in my attempts to find a summerslam shipper. I came home later than usual to trek to an out of the way Walmart after work and left an hour early to hit a different walmart the opposite direction of work. She feels I've gone overboard trying to stumble upon figures. And it does make you realize the craziness when you hear it from someone who is not on this board.

So where's the line between fun healthy hobby and something causing unhealthy anxiety or frustration that is eating up too much of your time or money?

[mikedanger]

I think that line is different for everyone. Personally, I am at the point of my life where I am able to hunt on my lunch break and weekends when I have free time. I try to time my weekend hunts where they will not interfere with any family activities, usually early mornings. I kind of have an internal alarm that goes off and tells me to give up the hunt and buy online if I can, but with WM exclusives that can be very expensive. It also helps to have a collector buddies network that all look out for each other.

[AxelSmackdown]

i mean i want to find the shipper but i ain’t leaving work early or regularly going out of my way to go to a store lol

[zen411]

Jul 10, 2024 11:13:14 GMT -5 AxelSmackdown said:

i mean i want to find the shipper but i ain’t leaving work early or regularly going out of my way to go to a store lol

Clarification: didn't leave work early. I left earlier than i normally leave for work so I could hit a Walmart beforehand.

[Sting]

ive set goals that keep me in check, otherwise id prob try buy everything.
for instance i dont really like shawn michaels' hairstyle or attire outside of 1995-2003 so i dont usually buy outside of those time frames.
that keeps the size of my collection in check. if im buying outside of my goals i know i have a problem.
as for habits i make use of buying in store, online from retailers and on the secondary market (usually ebay) to make sure i dont have to go out of my way to buy a figure.
if i'm going to a store when its not during my break at work i know i have a problem.

[neptuneandtheblues]

I think arguing with store workers is over the top. I get the frustration: some employees are more helpful than others but that doesn't make it okay to be rude with them. If I deal with a rude employee, I simply thank them for their time. If I get a super-helpful employee (which is most often the case), I'll tell a manager how awesome they were, or even leave positive feedback on the store's website.

I try not to stress about not finding stuff. If I'm on the hunt for something, and it should be showing up in my area, I give it about a month. If I don't find it after that, I hit the 'bay.

[Flair Forever]

I'm questioning this in my own life surrounding this Monday Night Wars debacle;

It's rewarding when you do find that unicorn figure that you've been looking for.... kind of makes "the hunt" worthwhile.... but this MNW Series has resulted in 50+ Walmart trips with zero Unicorns to show for it..... so I decided enough was enough and it's time to stop. No use searching for something that isn't there.

I work 8-10 hours per day, so to go figure-hunting for another 3-4 hours after work (or even on my day off) might feel worth it if I was actually FINDING anything, but I'm not - and it's starting to feel like a tremendous pain in the rear & a huge waste of time, that I could (SHOULD) be spending doing other things.

Unfortunately, Walmart holds all the cards here - and they have made it very clear that they do not care and nothing will ever change. For whatever reason, they are perfectly fine leaving money on the table and leaving customers very, very frustrated. It's a shame that two big companies like Walmart and Mattel - can't do better than this for their biggest supporters.

So I'm consciously scaling back the hunt. Can't keep doing this for several hours every day. If I need some other supplies, or I'm driving by and have some time, I'll check.... otherwise I'm going to sit and HOPE.... that my Series 3 pre-orders actually come in the mail like they're supposed to.

FOMO is a serious problem for me - - - but I'm afraid I'm going to have to miss out on some of these Monday Night Wars (and whatever Walmart's next series is) because it's no longer worth it to me to keep doing this.

[mrh]

Jul 10, 2024 16:40:53 GMT -5 Flair Forever said:

I'm questioning this in my own life surrounding this Monday Night Wars debacle;

It's rewarding when you do find that unicorn figure that you've been looking for.... kind of makes "the hunt" worthwhile.... but this MNW Series has resulted in 50+ Walmart trips with zero Unicorns to show for it..... so I decided enough was enough and it's time to stop. No use searching for something that isn't there.

I work 8-10 hours per day, so to go figure-hunting for another 3-4 hours after work (or even on my day off) might feel worth it if I was actually FINDING anything, but I'm not - and it's starting to feel like a tremendous pain in the rear & a huge waste of time, that I could (SHOULD) be spending doing other things.

Unfortunately, Walmart holds all the cards here - and they have made it very clear that they do not care and nothing will ever change. For whatever reason, they are perfectly fine leaving money on the table and leaving customers very, very frustrated. It's a shame that two big companies like Walmart and Mattel - can't do better than this for their biggest supporters.

So I'm consciously scaling back the hunt. Can't keep doing this for several hours every day. If I need some other supplies, or I'm driving by and have some time, I'll check.... otherwise I'm going to sit and HOPE.... that my Series 3 pre-orders actually come in the mail like they're supposed to.

FOMO is a serious problem for me - - - but I'm afraid I'm going to have to miss out on some of these Monday Night Wars (and whatever Walmart's next series is) because it's no longer worth it to me to keep doing this.

Legit question -- with the amount of driving you're doing looking for these, it would probably be the same amount of money to buy decently priced ones on eBay.

I know it's not as exciting as the thrill of the chase (and I wouldn't order figures like that unless I really wanted them) -- is that the reason you don't do that? Or more a principle thing?

[Scotty Flamingo]

It has been frustrating trying to find the MNW figures so far and to then have them always put very few on each display. The worst for me was to find a display the other day and to be told that it was street dated so I would miss out on a chance to get some of the figures I have been searching everyday for weeks to find.

Why is there less MNW figures on the display and never restocked in store if everything else on the display is available everywhere?

[Flair Forever]

Jul 10, 2024 17:45:16 GMT -5 mrh said:

Jul 10, 2024 16:40:53 GMT -5 Flair Forever said:

I'm questioning this in my own life surrounding this Monday Night Wars debacle;

It's rewarding when you do find that unicorn figure that you've been looking for.... kind of makes "the hunt" worthwhile.... but this MNW Series has resulted in 50+ Walmart trips with zero Unicorns to show for it..... so I decided enough was enough and it's time to stop. No use searching for something that isn't there.

I work 8-10 hours per day, so to go figure-hunting for another 3-4 hours after work (or even on my day off) might feel worth it if I was actually FINDING anything, but I'm not - and it's starting to feel like a tremendous pain in the rear & a huge waste of time, that I could (SHOULD) be spending doing other things.

Unfortunately, Walmart holds all the cards here - and they have made it very clear that they do not care and nothing will ever change. For whatever reason, they are perfectly fine leaving money on the table and leaving customers very, very frustrated. It's a shame that two big companies like Walmart and Mattel - can't do better than this for their biggest supporters.

So I'm consciously scaling back the hunt. Can't keep doing this for several hours every day. If I need some other supplies, or I'm driving by and have some time, I'll check.... otherwise I'm going to sit and HOPE.... that my Series 3 pre-orders actually come in the mail like they're supposed to.

FOMO is a serious problem for me - - - but I'm afraid I'm going to have to miss out on some of these Monday Night Wars (and whatever Walmart's next series is) because it's no longer worth it to me to keep doing this.

Legit question -- with the amount of driving you're doing looking for these, it would probably be the same amount of money to buy decently priced ones on eBay.

I know it's not as exciting as the thrill of the chase (and I wouldn't order figures like that unless I really wanted them) -- is that the reason you don't do that? Or more a principle thing?

It's a huge principal thing. I think scalping is highly immoral and not an honest way of making money. And that goes for everything, from concert tickets, to Hot Wheels, to collectibles, etc.

I've proudly always had a full-time job for the last 30 years, I've never sold a figure for profit, and I've never bought anything with the intent to sell it. I buy the figures because I love the hobby and I think those guys are ruining it. I only buy two of something when I either think I might want to get it signed - - - or if it has unique, cool packaging that I might want to display.

And honestly? I don't think these things are going to be worth much in the long run. I cringe when people on here crow about "holding value" and such. If you really want to make money, get into investing, stock market, etc. These are mass-produced plastic action figures. I truly have no interest in paying anything more than retail price for them. And I am willing to drive to the store to get them. But it's becoming so.... damn.... hard.

I was divorced three years ago and money is tight. I stopped collecting for almost two years because of that. Money is still tight for me and I probably buy more figures than I should - but I can't justify spending $50 for figures that should cost $20 at retail. I buy them because they bring me joy, and this is a time in my life when I need that joy.

But these empty pegs, and the corresponding social-media photos of people with two of each MNW figure putting them up for sale from the parking lot is sucking the joy out of this for me. And like the Original Poster here - - - I'm really questioning whether all this time I'm spending driving around to Walmart(s) is worth it. Maybe these little figures - - - aren't so important?

I wish they just did it like Target and we could guarantee a way to just get our hands on these at retail price. Is that too much to ask?

[Keck Collects]

Solution: the stores need to make it easier to purchase items, whether it's through online service, or in store. Buying wrestling figures should not be this difficult.

[Keck Collects]

Jul 10, 2024 17:45:16 GMT -5 mrh said:

Jul 10, 2024 16:40:53 GMT -5 Flair Forever said:

I'm questioning this in my own life surrounding this Monday Night Wars debacle;

It's rewarding when you do find that unicorn figure that you've been looking for.... kind of makes "the hunt" worthwhile.... but this MNW Series has resulted in 50+ Walmart trips with zero Unicorns to show for it..... so I decided enough was enough and it's time to stop. No use searching for something that isn't there.

I work 8-10 hours per day, so to go figure-hunting for another 3-4 hours after work (or even on my day off) might feel worth it if I was actually FINDING anything, but I'm not - and it's starting to feel like a tremendous pain in the rear & a huge waste of time, that I could (SHOULD) be spending doing other things.

Unfortunately, Walmart holds all the cards here - and they have made it very clear that they do not care and nothing will ever change. For whatever reason, they are perfectly fine leaving money on the table and leaving customers very, very frustrated. It's a shame that two big companies like Walmart and Mattel - can't do better than this for their biggest supporters.

So I'm consciously scaling back the hunt. Can't keep doing this for several hours every day. If I need some other supplies, or I'm driving by and have some time, I'll check.... otherwise I'm going to sit and HOPE.... that my Series 3 pre-orders actually come in the mail like they're supposed to.

FOMO is a serious problem for me - - - but I'm afraid I'm going to have to miss out on some of these Monday Night Wars (and whatever Walmart's next series is) because it's no longer worth it to me to keep doing this.

Legit question -- with the amount of driving you're doing looking for these, it would probably be the same amount of money to buy decently priced ones on eBay.

I know it's not as exciting as the thrill of the chase (and I wouldn't order figures like that unless I really wanted them) -- is that the reason you don't do that? Or more a principle thing?

I would gladly order these if they were reasonably priced. The aftermarket on these has gone sideways.

[rkmo: Autonomous Meat Shield]

Whatever it is, I've hit it. The purpose there was for me to get back into collecting has long passed. I cannot open a box anymore without instant regret. Joy isn't there, and I'm having to tap.

[Rock-Is-King]

I check my nearest Walmart for figures when I go there for other reasons like grocery shopping or to pick up something else but I don’t stalk the aisles constantly looking for them … i agree with the part of it being very frustrating when you can’t find the figures you want but as far as having anxiety & stress because I can’t find something, No … there’s much more important things to feel stressed & anxious about in the adult world

[crippler160]

I’m at the point where I’m thinking of selling everything. It would save time, money, space and frustration. It’s just not fun especially when customer feedback is repeatedly ignored.

[captncharisma19]

@actionfigureattack Ya reading this thread man, people are questioning life decisions over here!

[Back to the Codyverse]

I feel like the line in the sand is different for everyone.

I can go to three Walmarts a day and it's not much time out of my way. I've left a bit early for work. I've stopped on the way home. I've been at a Walmart at 6am on a Saturday. I often leave empty handed but I always find what I'm looking for eventually and that does keep me coming back.

My wife doesn't mind a bit. We used to travel for work so we've been to more Target and Walmart stores than we'd care to count but she doesn't judge.

I have these Walmart stores around here figured out so I know the ones to avoid. Checking first thing or as early as possible is usually my winning ticket so within a week or so of things hitting I'm covered. I'm not driving around for 6 weeks looking for a MNW elite

[arossi417]

Eh, I think it's more an issue with retail being putrid to collectors in general. There's no real competition to keep these places honest (not even a K-Mart or something trying as a third option) so we get empty pegs and exclusives to lure us in to inspect said empty pegs. It's much more frustrating seeing Target at least try and get their exclusives to collectors while Walmart has spawned god knows how many threads about how they couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat at this point.

I go visit my dad a ton and make a habit of leaving early enough to hit everything on the way, but I certainly find myself questioning that when I leave multiple stores with empty hands in the same day/week. I think it's driving me more insane that I swear I never see an item leave the LEGO aisle as I'm trekking down the empty wrestling figure aisle.

To the eBay question, the quick math in my head with the MNW figures is that $80 for five elites is a great deal, and $200-300 for five elites is a terrible deal. If I don't find it, I just wait and maybe pick it up down the line when the current offerings stink

[thep1]

I am a teacher in the real world so I have the time.
With that said, I have 2x WMs within 3 miles of my house (1 to the east and the other to the west) and I am back home within 30 minutes. I have checked those at least twice a day since June 30th. I have also checked other random WMs in my city as well if I am out and I pass one. I strike out often, but I enjoy everything about hunting. Hitting the open road, listening to music, the anticipation, and even the striking out (because when I do hit then it's such a wonderful feeling and makes the striking out worth it). My 3 year old enjoys going so I am thrilled to the moon when he asks to come along! But if I never hit, that's okay too.
It's a hobby and it gives me something to do. Again, I am a teacher so I am off and will never miss something family-related. Luckily I have a bad ace wife that doesn't mind me checking!
At the end of the day, I keep in mind that they are just plastic toys and there are far worse problems than if I missed out on a figure or that my WMs may never get these in. I have never been frustrated or negative because it's not the least bit serious.

[neptuneandtheblues]

Walmart is horrendous with WWE exclusives. I found MNW Elite 1 with ease. I had to resort to eBay MNW Ultimates 1 as well as MNW 2 Elite Nash and Diesel. I am not pulling the trigger yet, but I am willing to bet I'll have to resort to eBay for MNW Ultimate 2 as well.

I am not a fan of supporting scalpers, but at the end of the day, if I want a figure, I have to resort to it. I have no idea why Mattel and Walmart can't work out a better system to meet the demand.