Maybe done with Pops, due to what happened today.

[Njtree_82]

So today at Hot Topic I went to see if they got the new Ratatouille set in. Unfortunately somebody was at the register with the Remy Chase. But he was also returning 6 cases of the Punisher pop. So he ordered a bunch of punishers trying to get the Chase and then just return the regular ones.

I asked if you like the Ratatouille movie, then he said he never even saw it.

I'm just not going to waste my time trying to find certain pops now anymore due to people like this.

I work from 8 to 6 everyday so it's pretty much impossible for me to get any chases.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[emcee]

Lol sometimes when I see people posting so many pops from like every single TV show and every single movie, I wonder "do they really watch every single thing?"

I saw an instagram post from a nearby HT that just posted a new policy that any pops with chase variants are final sale. I'm not sure if that's just the single store or every HT now.

[RoboFist]

Well, for starters, Hot Topic is not allowed to take returns of Pops that have Chase variants. This rule was put into place last week, and is enforced by corporate. So the days of seeing flippers get their money back for cases and cases of Pops should be over now. The employee who handled the return will no doubt be reprimanded, or even fired. Hot Topic is seriously cracking down on this sort of thing.

Unfortunately, flippers will ALWAYS be an enormous part of this community, just as they are with every collectible community. It sucks. It sucks a lot. And people are trying to put an end to it, but there's no real way to. The only definitive way to stop flippers would be to get rid of Chase figures altogether. Some Funatics would love that, others would be furious. It's a lose-lose situation, you know?

Trust me when I say that I feel your pain, and no one would fault you for giving up on this hobby. As incredible as Funko is as a company, it becomes hard to enjoy something when it feels like bad people keep cheating their way to the top for selfish reasons.

I've had to make a mental shift in how I collect Pops to avoid this sort of defeated feeling. I force myself to see things like Chases and even con exclusives as 100% unobtainable. If I manage to snag one, it's an ENORMOUS treat, but if/when I don't, I feel better because I didn't think I would anyway. It's a weird zen sort of mentality that I never thought I'd need to have when collecting vinyl figures, but that's what it's come to, you know?

(This is, of course, an extremely difficult mindset to keep sometimes, especially when the exclusives are characters I deeply care about, like Hatbox Ghost or Indiana Jones)

I've only ever found one Chase in the wild (I was extraordinarily lucky, and I'm thankful for that one lucky moment every single day), but if I do happen to stumble upon Chase Remy, he's yours.

[VANKENpop]

That stinks for sure. I'm pretty new to this and I know I probably won't find any chase pops unless I pay for it but if I do it will be an awesome day. Keep looking and maybe you will get lucky. I found a Weapon X yesterday at a Target over an hour from my house that I just stopped at to waste time before my wife and I went to dinner. so it can happen

[a99kitten]

It is frustrating. I can attest to this in both Funko collecting but also Star Wars collecting. But you can't let it get you down - think of the happiness the POPs bring you Chases and exclusives are super fun - I always want them! But I refuse to let jerks (flippers) ruin my fun and love of collecting. And it has come close at SDCC - the flippers there (not just for Funko but Mattel, Hasbro Lego, etc as well) are a special breed of the worst.

And I really do hope all stores follow Hot Topic and not allow returning of cases. They should be non-returnable unless the actual toy is damaged IMO.

[maythefunkobewithyou]

Well, for starters, Hot Topic is not allowed to take returns of Pops that have Chase variants. This rule was put into place last week, and is enforced by corporate. So the days of seeing flippers get their money back for cases and cases of Pops should be over now. The employee who handled the return will no doubt be reprimanded, or even fired. Hot Topic is seriously cracking down on this sort of thing.

^That. Plus they had a policy for "bulk" orders for over a year or more. That being said, not everyone enforces it unfortunately.

Don't give up and just ignore the flippers. There will always be collectors willing to help out. I can't tell you how many exclusive and limited POPs I have received for retail and how many I have given in return. Just gotta find the right people in this community to keep a positive outlook on things.

[MasterSplyntr]

Just follow them to their car and push them in a puddle

[lunarembrace]

I'd still hold out some hope. This hobby has for sure grown so much. There's so much more negativity, too. Like a lot of it. . I've never been a collector before this, as serious as this. It's really a downer, though, when you really do want something, but it seems impossible to find. I've resorted to flipper prices before.

I wouldn't stop collecting because of a chase. The regular version is just as cute!

You never know when you'll get lucky! It was just released, so hopefully there will be future restocks. I've been seriously considering finding a way to buy a case of ones with chases from someone who is able to purchase at wholesale. Sell the other 4 for $5 and feel less stressed.

I wish you the best of luck!

[willy wonka]

Just follow them to their car and push them in a puddle

[CaseyJones14]

Just follow them to their car and push them in a puddle

This is amazing advice

[Squird]

Just follow them to their car and push them in a puddle

Yup.

[Fawny]

I've had to make a mental shift in how I collect Pops to avoid this sort of defeated feeling. I force myself to see things like Chases and even con exclusives as 100% unobtainable. If I manage to snag one, it's an ENORMOUS treat, but if/when I don't, I feel better because I didn't think I would anyway. It's a weird zen sort of mentality that I never thought I'd need to have when collecting vinyl figures, but that's what it's come to, you know?

This exactly. I've done the same thing. I too work full time and not in the city where our HT is located so I know that I will never beat the flippers in my city. So I just think of chases and exclusives as something nice to have, great if I can get it, but if I don't, I don't feel let down and dejected.

Don't let one a-- make you give up something you love. And dang, I would be embarrassed to return that many to one store. That poor sales associate.

[Squird]

Some people are born without a soul and being a creep doesn't bother them. Or maybe they were dropped on their heads as babies and 'stupid' is as far as they're going to go in life.

Don't let it bug you (too much).

[TheMerchantMan]

I agree with what a lot of other folks are saying here, collecting chases requires a shift in thought and NEVER let scalpers get on your nerves. I had to do that when I had to settle for chase Ren when I wanted chase Stimpy.

But with that said, one thing that might help you out in the future is that some HT employees are willing to put holds for you, all you need to do is call them and they'll pu you on a list. Another issue is that box condition is just as big a selling point for chases as it is for regular POPs (if not more so), so just imagine that guy making a small mistake that'll force him to sell it at a lower price than the most recently sold eBay listing.

[jjwspider]

The fact that many of these are nearly unattainable has made it very easy for me to skip over many of the Chase/Variant/Exclusive versions, unless they are distributed in a way that they are more easily available. There have been a few exceptions (Zur En Arrh Batman for example), but I know I'm going to pay a premium to have these POP's added to my collection. Overall, I'm glad that these figures exists, but there are times I wish they were more easily distributed and easy to find. Unfortunately, that isn't the business model that has been successful for Funko and it's very unlikely to change in the near term.

[solarialunar21]

I'm new to the POP! collecting world and didn't even know what a chase was until a month ago but I can still completely understand your frustration, especially on the workplace front since I'm a teacher. Still it sucks worse when you have someone that picked up a chase and they don't even care about the POP! they either want to flip it or just say they found a chase. I won't lie it would be cool to have something rare like that but I want it to be for something I love then grab one just for the fact it's rare just to own it when someone else could walk in five minutes later that adores that character and miss out on it. I'm also probably over thinking this completely but that seems to be my MO no matter what haha!

[Strending625]

You just have to look past the people that need to be pushed into puddles. I live in a smaller city with only 1 other serious collector that I know of and the only reason I know about him is because of the manager at my HT. We are both in the same Funko FB group, I'm not sure if he knows about me or not, but I've seen him selling recent chases that I've been hunting for myself and a couple of the ECCC pops that were shared with the Funko-shop. The way I think if it is he got to them before I did and I can't really fault him for buying a chase when he sees it. It really comes down to making friends either here in the boards or at the places you shop at. In the almost year and a half I've been collecting I've made friends with the manager at my HT and most of the employees there. With the ECCC pops they held a set in the back for me the day they came out because they knew I would be looking for them and would be stopping by the day they came out. When my wife and I are in there the manager will come over to us if there is no one else around and hint at what is coming up soon or what they have new "wanted" posters for in the back. Don't give up something that brings you joy just because of a few jerks.

[SCF]

I am in the same boat. I work Monday-Friday and sometimes weekends from 7am until 5-530pm. I've been collecting for a few years now and have only found 1 chase Pop and 2 chase Dorbz at a retail store. For the Pops I want that have chases I will usually order 2 of them from Barnes and Noble online and take my chances. Sometimes both come as regular versions, but I have obtained quite a few chases with this method. If I get 2 regular versions I either gift it, trade it or sell it at a loss. I take the loss as the same as throwing a couple $$ into a slot machine.

[Jango_Fresh]

While I agree it's difficult to find a chase for retail on the shelves, think that has almost always been the case. Chases are meant for us to..... chase!

[TriFeckTa]

I just view it as "such is life" and i just get my chases in bundles or separately from other collectors.

[tlaloc666]

Don't stop collect what you like !!
Just because some folks have no shame !

[Sarcasticguy]

Don't stop collect what you like !!
Just because some folks have no shame !

This!

Seriously though, collecting in any fashion is plagued with these issues.

Dont get discouraged, look towards the positives in our community!

[Warren8525]

Don't stop collect what you like !!

^ exactly. Don't despair and do it for the joy of the ones you like that you find.

I've never seen a chase in the wild. I was laughing at the sign at my HT which said limit one chase per customer

[ricflair4ever]

I view chases as just sort of a passive thing. I'm in this hobby for the fun of picking up the various characters or full lines of properties i enjoy, whether they be a common figure thousands of fellow collectors have, or an exclusive a few less have, or a chase that very few people have. Truthfully, most chases aren't that necessary to my collection as many vaulted or store exclusive figures are. So i look at any necessary chases just as i do the vaulted ones i need. If i want it bad enough. I'll save up for it. But 95% of my fun comes from searching out and collecting the widely available commons. Don't let the scalpers and flippers run you off. And if i ever run into that Remy, I'll hit you up. I've got no interest, so he should go to someone who does. As a related story, I've only ever seen one chase on store shelves. The recent Eleven with wig from Stranger Things. I picked it up since i had never found a chase before. Had it for a few weeks when a friend of mine got into the Stanger Things show. She bought all the Pops and got the Eleven and underwater Eleven. Then the Upside Down 2 pack. She commented how she hopes she would find the one with the wig someday but felt she had no chance. I told her it would be hard to pull off and left the room.......i returned a few minutes later and handed her the chase. She didn't know i owned it already,and i am not all that into the show either. The look on her face when i told her it was hers was priceless. Totally worth it to me to see a REAL fan of something get the prize. At least i know it went to a good home and a happy owner.

[POPNOOB24]

The fact that people will buy collectables in bulk just to scalp/flip things to others has always bothered me. From cards to comics, dvds, toys, etc theres nothing jerky scalpers won't take advantage of. Sorry you had to go through that.

[FunkoNewb]

While I agree it's difficult to find a chase for retail on the shelves, think that has almost always been the case. Chases are meant for us to..... chase!

Exactly. While it does suck that people do this. At least chase piece ratios are way better now. I've been collecting since they were 1:36, I've only found one chase since I started collecting. Actually haven't found any since its been 1:6 but I don't look for them anymore.

[Kaljor]

If you really want a chase you'll just have to either get lucky or pay extra for it. Welcome to the world of Pop! collecting.

[homietrav]

Chases are cool but they're no everything. So much amazing stuff out there, without a sticker, that people won't even look at. I definitely feel your frustration though. I'm glad HT and other shops are trying their best to put a stop to it.

[michael]

I just recently posted similar sentiments in these threads:
on Dorbz Faker: viewtopic.php?f=97&t=74669&p=1647798#p1647798
on "culling": viewtopic.php?f=62&t=78376&p=1649726#p1649726

I still grab a few pieces here and there and really enjoy the hobby we share, but it's been frustrating for me personally, which became become somewhat of a deterrent when coupled with the drain of time and cost for me.

[hothzambonidriver]

Dealing with a flipper is always tough. Most people including myself have horror stories involving them. However, for me there is so much to look forward to in collecting. I have been collecting various items since the mid 1990's and have lots of fond memories tied in with collecting. I always enjoy what I have instead of getting disappointed over what I don't, and the positives in this hobby outweigh the negatives. It also helps to have AWESOME massage boards like this one where you can come to vent when needed and get a lot of support from fellow collectors who are always willing to help out. Keep your head up, focus on the fun parts of this hobby and don't let the flippers get to you.

And I don't collect Ratatouille so if I find a chase Remy I'll let you know

[MrBear]

I wish chases would go back to stupid things like metallic versions thus the interest would be diminished. It is a d*** move on Funko's part to put things like ST Eleven in wig as a chase. Just stick to things which mostly appeal to people who like stuff because of rarity and give the rest of us a break.

[ryanc_]

I would have also been upset. There is supposed to be a new policy at HT that should have prevented that return transaction.

[Phunko]

Last week I picked up a weapon X for my buddy, didn't ask him for a dime. That same day a heffalump i ordered through hot topic arrived, and it was a chase, my first chase Basically what goes around comes around.

[NESSNODDER]

I RARELY SEE CHASES IN THE WILD. ONLY HAPPENED TO ME TWICE WITH POPS. FIRST TIME WAS STAR WARS AWAKEN CHASES AT TARGET BUT THE BOXES WERE DAMAGED.

SECOND TIME WAS WEAPON X AT TARGET. THAT ONE I PICKED UP.

DON'T LET THE FLIPPERS GET YOU DOWN. HANG IN THERE.

[Codes]

I feel your pain. I live on a college campus surrounded by nothing within 30 minutes walking. Even if I had transportation, within 20 minutes we only have Target, Gamestop and Wal-Mart. Usually the Target and Walmart don't get anything. So if I do get to go Pop! hunting, I have to wait until I go home on a weekend. Hence why I had to pay $40 for my Chase Starlord and $32 for my pre-order on Chase Dipper Pines. The struggle is real. Even before I lived here, the nearest city with exclusives/chases was Youngstown, OH aka flipper central.

[The Head]

Posts like this sadden me. You should never let someone else's a**hat actions dictate what you do, especially when it comes to things you love. Unfortunately, flippers are part of the game and probably always will be. If you stop collecting you let them win on a whole new level that they shouldn't even be able to sniff. If you're ok with that, fair enough, but I hope you keep collecting.

[willy wonka]

Posts like this sadden me. You should never let someone else's a**hat actions dictate what you do, especially when it comes to things you love. Unfortunately, flippers are part of the game and probably always will be. If you stop collecting you let them win on a whole new level that they shouldn't even be able to sniff. If you're ok with that, fair enough, but I hope you keep collecting.

Well Said!

[Njtree_82]

thank you to everybody that offer to get the Remy Chase for me. Ratatouille is my favorite Pixar movie. I was really excited that they're coming out with the series. That is my main reason for wanting those.

But it's nice to see that I'm not the only one that has those thoughts on the chases.

I'm the only one I know that collects pops within my friends circle. So it's hard to find stuff and trade in person like a lot of people do.

[Jezter]

I think everyone else has more or less said everything that can be said about this. Don't let a few jerks run you out of collecting. Jerks are everywhere, you can't avoid them, so you have to work around them, and sadly, for collectors of all things, that means not getting everything you want, or paying a horrible price for it. Sad but true, but you'll always have this forum and a ton of people who aren't jerks to understand and sympathize.

If flippers are on this forum, this mostly keep quiet knowing that the rest of us aren't fans, so this is the best place for you to hang and 99% of the people on this forum won't steer you wrong, and might even help you get what you are looking for! Good luck!

[treswright]

So today at Hot Topic I went to see if they got the new Ratatouille set in. Unfortunately somebody was at the register with the Remy Chase. But he was also returning 6 cases of the Punisher pop. So he ordered a bunch of punishers trying to get the Chase and then just return the regular ones.

I asked if you like the Ratatouille movie, then he said he never even saw it.

I'm just not going to waste my time trying to find certain pops now anymore due to people like this.

I work from 8 to 6 everyday so it's pretty much impossible for me to get any chases.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I'm not sure I follow your line of reasoning here, you're saying you're going to quit collecting because a flipper got a chase instead of you? Here's a hard truth in Pop collecting- 99% of chases are pulled from stores by employee/flippers or flippers that have inside connections in the stores. Average people like us have a very, very slim chance of finding one. This is how it's been for at least the last couple of years. In 2 years I've only found one myself, and that was only because it was the only time chases ever went to WM and the employees didn't know what they were. Whenever people here ask how to find chases in the wild this is what we tell them- don't go out looking to find a chase, you probably won't. If you want to go shopping because you like to then by all means go, and if you find a chase then count yourself lucky and celebrate it! But don't go out hunting them because it'll just lead to constant disappointment.