You guys realize it's not that scalpers suddenly set prices, right? These figures become more and more unavailable once they sell out, and collectors who see "SOLD OUT" at all the retail stores go to ebay, where they bid against each other in a panic to get one on ebay, which shoots the price up. Once one or two auctions end at $150-200, it's at that point that people with one to sell or collectors who weren't plan on selling see the dollar signs and put theirs up for sale, often at buy it now that reflect the prices that people bid up to in normal $0.99 auctions.