You scalpers ruined celebration 2 for many of us...

I waited in line Friday for about an hour and a half for the free book give-away. Durring that time, a guy cut in front of my son and myself with a HUGE bag of fig's. He said, 'Look, I kept skipping in line and got all these', and in his bag was at least 30 figures. 'E-bay is selling them for 85.00 opening bids', he says. 'I can't wait to put mine on.'Then I saw people taking loads of the books, like they would be worth something to sell. Most of them were not even in english!!!!! What a trip, is all I can say. Hey, didn't Lucas talk about being greedy in his interview with Connie Chung? And what does being greedy get you......? A trip down the dark path.

 

America...America...

Capitalism is such a bitch, sometimes. First the figures were supposed to be free. Then someone in advertising probably said "we might as well clean up". Wallah !!! $10.00 each. If all someone wanted was a figure from C2, they should have had a game plan. Like showing up 3 hours early to get in line. All of the lines were great to stand in. So where's the downside? You meet people and it's fun. I do feel the fans as a whole got screwed, but some of them got kissed first.

Laugh....It'll do ya good. words to live by.

 

Has it occured to anyone that there is indeed a median here?

I wanted to pick up 4 figures: One for me, one for my stepdad, and one for a friend. Without terribly much thought, I presold one on ebay they day after they were announced.

*Ducks tomatoes, lettuce, and thermal detonators*

Before ya'll go off on me, let me explain something.

I waited in line 2 hours to get my figures on Friday. I waited again saturday and sunday, but they were both sold out. Legal line meathods, and I did NOT jump lines to buy more than 2 on friday. (Tempting as it was.)

As to WHY I presold one on ebay: I'm a freelance artist in college. For anyone that thinks being an artist is an awesome job that pays for stupid scribbles, let me correct you. It does NOT pay well. You wait and wait on a publisher, only to bust ass at the last minute to get what they want done, and then redo it according to their revisions. Then you wait forever for a purchase order to be sent to you, when you can return the invoices. Then you hope they get payment to you within a month. This is not usually the case.

Student + freelance artist = broke.

To put it simply, I sold one of the figs from Cel II so that I could pay for some autographs. Do I do this often? Obviously not. I don't think that selling ONE of the TWO figures that I LEGALLY obtained makes me some kind of sharker scum.

Yes, I'm irked by the folks that walked out with 10-30 figures. But calm down a bit guys.

~Caleigh

 

you don't have to justify selling a figure to anybody. half the people whining they didn't get a figure are probably pissed they can't sell one like everyone else on Ebay is. one sold for $117 just a couple hours ago...

 

Well, I'm a tad irked with myself b/c I could have just gone w/out the other stuff, and gotten one for my stepdad, who's done a lot for me... but then I didn't realize it'd be so blasted hard after friday.

~Caleigh

 

For the last couple of people who are speaking about this figure/eBay thing not being such a bad thing:

No, it's not a deadly to sin to hawk your wares on eBay. What's a total crock is the group of people who constantly skirt the system to make some fast bucks. I didn't wait in the maddening line for the store since I really didn't care about the dolls. But I feel horrible about the ton of people who missed out because of these bastards. They're not "whining" about not making "$117", twonabomber, they're upset because they weren't able to purchase a neat collectable to bring home from a great weekend. Hell, I'm upset I couldn't get a blasted T-shirt without paying 15% for shipping! But I'm not letting that get in the way of the fantastic time I had otherwise.

It didn't have to be that way if some common sense could have prevailed at the store. Punch cards, vouchers, hand stamps; any of that could have been better than what happened.
MG

 

I agree with Fiorcara, my wife and I went and got our figures. I'll keep one and sell the others. The way I figure it is that we are on a fixed budget and we paid the money for our trip. This will reimburse us for our travels. In addition, how many of you bitching have ever bought two or three of the same figure at your local Walmart or TRU. I'm one of those who never does this and walks in after you and miss out. That's life. You got yours I missed out. Same way here. Deal with it. If you want to bitch effectivly, write an email to WOTC and have them change the situation next time. They had various ways to stop the guys cutting back in line but chose not to. Bitch at them not me.

 

I don't think anyone realized how fast everything would sell out. Heck, they sold out of L and XL shirts the FIRST DAY. It's obvious they weren't well prepared, it was broadcasted on the news that they expected 25,000 a day. From what I hear, it was 30,000 friday, my estimate is at least 40,000 saturday, and probably the target of 25,000 sunday.

The people that line jumped to get 12 action figures are extremely selfish. I could never justify that to myself--taking away someone's chance at happiness.

I bought the action figure the last day, and they sold out 5 minutes after. The thing is, they were actually checking bags and asking people to leave if they had 2 figures. WTH? They figured out a system on the LAST day?!


Where were the signs for a cash line or a store line? Hell, any sign for any lines?

Remember, we weren't allowed to form lines. That's what infuriated me the most; every where you went security came and scattered you, saying lines weren't allowed. What do you expect at a star wars convention? Patient people that will rationally wait until the right time to get in line? HAH! The Concert ticket line was supposed to form at 12:30. Yeah, sure, it formed as soon as the doors opened. Same goes with everything else.

 

I was on that concert line bright and early friday actually, and it's a good thing too! I explained, patiently to the security there, that the 20 or so of us that were there were willing to move aside to make room for people to pass, but for everyone in my group, that concert was priority for the whole weekend. Everyone who waited in that line missed something or other that wasn't an option at another point. For me, I missed out on the Women who Kick chat, which to my dismay, was only at 11am.
As for the figures, I saw flat out that our best bet was to get it anywhere BUT the Store. As for selling on eBay, I'll admit, the second figure was solely for profit. I hardly think it makes me less of a fan because of it. Last I checked, no one in my group was a millionare, and all of us busted hump trying to save the cash to get to and have fun in Indy. If this helps get me back in budget, so be it.

 

Here's a way to get back at those Ebay Wh*res. Register at Ebay with a fake account and make ridiculously high bids on all the Jorg Sacul figures. If one person does it, they might get caught, but if hundreds do it...

I saw one dealer who was selling CD-R "bootleg" film scores. He also had two boxes of the figures on the floor behind his stand. I asked him where he got all of those figures, and he said he bought them for 30 dollars a piece from people at the show. I think he had 40 or more figures. He wouldn't sell me one. He said most were shipping to Asian markets, but if I wanted one, to check the online auctions and they'd be on there as well...

Pixarboy

 

Vergere:

Just like Celebration I. They finally figured out how to do everything on the last day. Admittedly it was run by different people, but it was the same situation. Actually, the lines at C1 were more organized on the last day than the lines at C2.

 

I hate the way Scalpers work. My brother and I spent all weekend trying to get a George, but NO, I say next Celecration all scaplers must have special tags. So we can see them.

 

Next celebration they had better enforce some kind of limit or allow the fan club members to preorder the stuff. Give us a voucher or punch our passes. I think a voucher would be better because it could be made really nice (like the C2 concert ticket) and become another collectible. I personally wouldn't want my pass to have a hole punched in it, but if they truly enforced it, I'd get over it fast . Another idea could be to have a voucher system similar to the concert tickets (the one area I believe that was done correctly). Give everyone a collectible voucher and a piece of paper to go with it. You would need both things to get a figure, except the piece of paper would be taken at the time of purchase. So you only get one slip of paper the whole weekend. This way, we get to keep our passes in pristine condition and we get our figures too.

Of course, the best way would be to just punch passes (the slips of paper could probably be easily duplicated, allowing anyone to get at least 2 figures per day). Any true fans aren't going to mind having their passes punched (they'd probably be worth more since that would signify that you actually went to the celebration).

 

we got in line around 8am on friday, got to the store around 10:30am since we got in line for that immediatly. when we got to the counter the woman tells us that they're not holding figures back for saturday and sunday. this information we later learned was false, but someone else comes up and informs us that if you go over to the end of the table there's a cash only line for figures and you can get all you want, just keep getting in line. now i had friends back home who wanted figures so i got two more. giving me a total of four for the weekend. so far i've given one of those away. the other guy is insisting on giving me the $10 i payed for it. i'm definately keeping one and i might even open the other. as for carrie fisher, my group was in line at 3:30am sunday morning for that autograph and the two i got are not going anywhere. the fact that she personalized one made my day. by getting the figures we did sacrifice the opening ceremonies. you win some, you lose some. why is it i feel guilty for getting the figures i got? because i read threads like this.

 

I frankly dont see what all the fuss is about. My wife and I got 2 figures each on Friday and Saturday. I bought one more on Sunday. Yes we had to wait in line. Yes we missed on other stuff. There were also people who waited in line to get autographs and didnt get them (and not just Carrie's).

I have all 7 of the figures stored away. One opened and one on my shelf next to my TWO toy fair vaders.....am I a BAD person. I dont think so and personally dont care if others think i AM.

I do know that my brother will be THRILLED on Christmas morning when he opens a long forgotten Celebration 2 figure......as for the rest----who knows what I will do----But I sacrificed time doing other things at the convention to get these---and I apologize to NO ONE for buying them. I was respectful of the limit of 2 per person. And we stuck to that even though it would have been SO EASY to get more. For those of you who didnt get one---I am sorry---but please share with us what you DID get to do while I sat in LINE to get these--

Were you in the line for the Opening Ceremony---were you in line for the Concert tickets---Please SHARE what you did get to do and what wonderful fun you had at the convention. Because if you didnt have fun then I look forward to seeing NONE of you at Celebration 3

Then maybe the lines wont be so damn long...



I love Star Wars and I love the joy of collecting toys!!! God Bless George Lucas

Scott McManigal
Sioux City, IA

 

Possibly a way to avoid all this next time would be to offer the figures only at the time of registration, either online or at the registration tables. No figures would be anywhere else at the convention. Either get them when you register or don't get them at all.

 

I also didnt have any problems getting figs. We got 5, thanks to the cash line. 3 were for co-workers. Heck i waited in line for all the other stuff, the pen,pin, C2 poster, shirt for fiance and a few other things and she went 2 times with $40 cash in a 15 minute time frame. I bought the 5th one when i got up front.

 

I say kick them out when you see them next time. No one will mind.

 

I left INdy with more money than what I arrived. Any souvenirs that I had wanted to purchase were sold out by the time I could get into the shop or the shop was closed, as well as the rest of the Con, by the time I was off-duty.
I saw none of the exhibits.
I also spent most of the weekend doing volunteer time.

Don't get me wrong--I had a most excellent time at CII, but there were some things that could definitely be improved upon.





Number of souvenirs bought by me @ CII = 0

Number of Jorg figures bought by me @ CII = 0







I am poor too, but I am not paying over a hundred dollars for a figure on ebay.

If I had been able to get one, I would have sent it as a birthday present to a friend in England who enjoys Star Wars figures.
I have nothing to send him.
Thanks to you scalpers for being such pigs.

 

All I can say to everyone whining about the scalping issue with the exclusive figures, is to get over it. You all knew the demand that there would be for those figures. If it was really that high of a priority and not getting one ruined your trip, they you should have put getting a figure as number 1 on your list. If you didn't get one, its your own fault. Those people who got more than their two figures are a LOT smarter than you and you deserve to pay $85 per figure for not being smarter.

John

 

Wow, dude you dont need to be a jerk to the people that are upset. I got 5, but 3 were for co-workers.

 

While I won't be as blunt as MrSkinnee, I am inclined to agree with him. Complaining about not getting figures is beating a dead horse. It is now a month since C2, and while no amount of hindsight will change the fact that some people got and some people didn't, perhaps it would be best to focus on the good of C2. Surely there were some redeeming qualities. Perhaps those Jorg Sacul figures are really around to lure all of us to the darkside by using anger, mistrust, and jealousy. If so, damned these people are good!

 

I just hope there's no special figure next time. Con only stuff with SWC logos is one thing. But for some reason action figure collecting is such that almost everyone who does it has been bitten by a bug that causes the "collector" to insist on having (at least) one of EVERYTHING in unopened, strictly-mint condition (including every half-arsed, supposed "variant"), and nothing short of this goal renders their collection completely worthless in their minds. If they have everything ever made Kenner and Hasbro except, say the GL fig and "Toy Fair Vader", they want to quit collecting altogether, and gouge their eyes out. This sure places a lot importance on a one-time-only regional exclusive.

And frankly, I go these "Star Wars Celebrations" to celebrate my enjoyment of SW with fans from all over. Not to fight way through collectors and profiteers to be able to have a good time.

 

I bought 2 Jorg figures early on Saturday at the side stand outside of the store. Then got in line for the Celebration Concert. While I was in line for the concert (right next to the side stand) I was able to buy two more figures because whenever they "sold out", everyone went to the Celebration Store line instead, even though they were waiting for more to be brought over. On one hand, I was in the right place at the right time and on the other I used my time MUCH MORE effeciently then many people who did not get a figure and becasue of that, Jorg Sacul paid for my three-day pass and hotel cost! In the real world it's called capitalism but at the Star Wars Celebration it's called sleezy and greedy.

 

...Jorg Sacul paid for my three-day pass and hotel cost!

See, at this point I wish I had a few to sell.


(Or at least trade for Marmits )