You're not going to be able to prevent "flipping" or "scalping"... ever. It's a free market driven society, and I'm glad it is. I've done it myself plenty of times to help finance this hobby.
Since Dave (the mod) specified the rules (no selling or pre-orders at inflated prices), it's gotten a lot better. There used to be one member here, with the mcluvin avatar, that would sell his stuff immediately after it sold out and months before actual item is delivered. He wasn't very popular and eventually got banned. But there is nothing wrong with taken a limited item and selling it on Ebay for double what you paid for, if you decide to do that. Like I said, I've done that with a PZ Int PF, some 3A stuff, and others. Or you can decide to help out fellow board members, for cost plus shipping plus fees. I've also done that for a few members, whenever I could, and had the favor returned by a few members. Items that I knew I could have sold for a profit but decided to help some members out instead. I also consider the reward points from SS payment enough.
I think some members are just advertising it to rub it in blackthornone's face because he's so obsessed with anti-scalping that that's all he talks about. I have no problem with that and find it funny. I know I behaved similarly when I was able to get a PZ Ex.
If you think about it, when you sell your Doom PF here on the board for $1500-$2000, isn't that scalping, just waiting a little bit longer to do it? There may be a certain loose etiquette to follow to make it more acceptable.
my problem is when a board member, one you've had past successful transactions with, tells you that "yup we definitely have a deal" for a trade of a white Elektra for a Donatello, and then doesn't contact you when he decides to sell it on Ebay rather than keep his word. Real ____ move in my opinion. I realize I was probably getting the better end of the deal, but I thought a favor was being offered, and I gladly took it up, and stopped looking for another White Elektra. Now that they have gone to a price that I wont pay, I'm okay with knowing that I never will own one, and after the missed pre-order, I never was expecting to. The whole experience was valuable however, as I now know that this member's word is worth about $250 and greed rather than helping another member out is what motivates them.
and ex. AH mystique. both people i've had dealings with in the past and have helped out one of them with the making of a General Grevious cape. (no biggy just some measurements and pics.) but bother members treated me quite fairly imo and over all i'm pleased with the way 95% of my transactions on this board have gone down.
