Collecting Hot Wheels is Not Fun Anymore ~ Talking Session

[@stebesplace]

You're not wrong. The pandemic really created avenues for people to pursue making money, and like many "hobbies", Hot Wheels fell into that trap as well for the reseller environment. I'm also into watches, and it's the same over there, though it's cooling off. I don't see this changing anytime soon, as there's a handful of people who go in when a Target or Walmart opens in the morning to look for TH/STH's. So unless you're in that group, forget it, or you're getting VERY lucky. The chase is exhausting, when you go to 8-12 stores and there isn't anything. The other aspect of scalpers - I guess you could spin it where they do the legwork, so you're paying for them to do the work of finding the hot car. But it's a self fulfilling prophecy here, and you could easily enjoy finding them yourself, thus the hunt, which is sucked up by only a handful of people who scour a geography, or worse, have an inside connection with a supermarket or store to just pick up, leaving zero change to the regular person. I agree, it's not fun anymore. I still do it, and I'm not a reseller, but it's not fun.

[@Xtonishing]

This scalper I have experience since 2016. Pandemic is cherry on top. Any JDM car over here at least x3 the price. 1st experience of me is first casting Honda Civic EF followed by Honda FK2R

[@Xtonishing]

Sth/th here still ok unless it not JDM. Chase oh well the first victim was RLC Car Culture Premium Box Set that is unbearable until now followed by Japan Historic 1 & 2

[@ShawnStafford-1978]

The pandemic happened and everyone who isn't a collector buys the Treasure Hunt vehicle's and trendy cars, to up price them for sale online. I buy and collect what I like and can find. I hear you about some stores and not finding them nowadays. Depends on where you live. I don't buy them online.

[@Toyhound09]

Sad part is resellers or scalpers collect or buy everything even though the collector lines like car culture etc are made in plenty of quantities. I rarely collect them, I enjoy mainlines or new castings. I get frustrated by the hobby at times but, in the end of u can't find certain casting wait it out or go onto the next. I remember doing hot wheels customs or hand paint detailing the cars to relief stress in the diecast hobby is slow or I get to point of not collecting. Also, I go look at my collection I already have. Keep your chin up there is still good collectors out there in it for the fun and not the money.

[@Xtonishing]

I agree with you, now I'm achieve that happy of collecting Mini GT the price will never change and the brand is getting bigger towards good way. It may not to collect a lot as hot wheels does but when it release something it always a casting. Hot Wheels was made from my country and so to find the community as a "Collector" was challenging we were bombard by these scalpers even not mention any harsh but it already can occur war between 2 sides. So as a collector in Malaysia we remain silent and to brag any issue upfront on public group/pages

[@Toyhound09]

@@Xtonishing , I been collecting for over 20 years and it's sad that people act that way. The hype of these die cast will slow down. Always remember your hobby should never tarnish your mental health if it does, it's time to slow down take a break. Taking break here and there in this hobby is really good idea,plus shortening your diecast wish list I do that to make it less stressful.

[@chessman-hh6oz]

I have noticed over the years the rarer cars are not present at target or Walmart. I usually purchase about once every week or two nowadays, and I generally go to a local shop around 20 minutes away that no one knows about that gets good stuff in, but sometimes I check the regular stores too! Nowadays cars like the little Mazda for example would not be on the pegs because everyone and their mother goes first thing in the morning to get them! I only see fantasy cars now and am not willing to pay high prices on eBay unless it’s something I really want or it’s out of production and the local guy doesn’t Have it.

[@ceeslee]

Will never buy from a scalper. I feel the same as you lately.

[@Xtonishing]

I already fed up with them I have up this issue on my local hot wheels FB group that time Bugatti Chiron first casting and price was insane and I got backlash by this scalper & the gang more than people that agree on me and that moment I slowly left collecting this brand.

[@michaelharrington223]

New to the channel looking at your cars in the background you got some beautiful cars there man

[@Xtonishing]

Thanks bro, yeah i was collecting Mini GT now price is reasonable with good amount of detail

[@steverobsondiecast]

I would say that the pandemic started a new resale market. Hotwheels are seen as way to make money. For me. I am lucky to have found many of the castings that are hard to find. I also have been collecting for decades off and on. I now have my critical mass of cars so anything new a bonus now. By the way you have some nice collection of cars yourself.

[@Xtonishing]

Thanks, but in Malaysia the market is already skyrocket pre-pandemic. Especially JDM

[@raganx7108]

Now that I have an interest in "hot wheels" maybe in the past month, I have yet to see an actually cool looking "hot wheels" car.

[@bennywoodarts]

Betul sekali .. Bermain ataupun mengkoleksi diecast khisusnya merk hotwheels sekarang sudah sangat membosankan dan tidak menyenangkan . Aalah satunya karena pihak hotwheels sendiri orientasinya kearah bisnis yang mencari untung sebesar2 nya tapi tanpa diimbangi kualitas dan tingkat kedetilan maupun inovasi , padahal merk pesaing sekarang lebih banyak dan lebih bagus dalam hal detil dan kualitas . Dan ini semakin parah karena makin banyaknya para pemodal besar yang menjadika hotwheels ini sebagai ladang bisnis yang menguntungkan dengan cara memborong suatu produk sehingga dipasar sangat sukit ditenukan , dan mereka pun membuat tren sendiri sebagai pancingan , sehungga harga bisa dinaikan setinggi2 nya .

[@Xtonishing]

Betul, Hot wheels dah tidak kreatif seperti dahulu skrg hanya keluarkan Fast & Furious saja berulang kali

[@RochXS1985]

Collecting regular cars is not worth it, even sths.