The crowds at San Diego Comic-con and pretty much all "Cons" are enormous! And the purpose & goals of every attendee is different. Every person's experience and memories are tailored to what their interests are & it's absolutely fabulous and exciting. The perks to being an attendee is the assortment of free swag and exclusives that different companies and genres offer their fans. For instance, for my brood, Lego is tops! Every year has the potential to change, but typically, Lego offers Brickhead exclusives that one can hope to buy via a lottery ticket system AND exclusive Lego Minifigures. In order to score any of these "prizes", one must wait in line & cross your fingers that the tides are in your favor & you hit the "awesome" button which means that, yes, you got it!! And the lines are long. The wait is long. And more often than not, the wait is uncomfortable---in the hot sun squeezed in between people.
There are times when we question our sanity. But I believe a true fan finds the payoff absolutely worth it. For my guys, the acquiring of an exclusive Minifigure to add to their collection makes up for any hardships along the way. It's kind of like giving birth....the labor is painful and sometimes the would-be mother questions why she consented to do it. Then that baby comes out & the whys are answered. It's all worth it. As a Mom, I can completely relate to this analogy.
 |
| My happy guys scored the first Lego Minifigure exclusive: Deadpool Duck! |
Thrown into the mix, unfortunately, are what we call "flippers" or scalpers. They are mixed in with the genuine fans & collectors, acquire the prizes and then turn around & sell them at exorbitant prices--I mean, literally 400X what they paid for it. In fairness to them, memorabilia retail is a true business. And since they suffered and waited in the long lines, they earned the right to do whatever they want to do with what they acquired (as long as they do everything legally). And frankly, sellers can't sell without willing buyers. So, if you're willing to pay $400 for a Lego Minifigure, that is your insanity (or not) to live with. I can judge all day, but what is will continue to be what is. And it could be argued that these buyers who are willing to pay car payments & mortgages for these items are also true collectors themselves who just couldn't be at these events. I'm just sorry that you have to pay so much (unreasonable, in my opinion) for things that you value & love.
 |
| Congratulations to my guys for acquiring the second Lego Minifigure exclusive: Vixen! She's awesome looking! |
I celebrate the true fans! I applaud the true collectors--the ones that appreciate & love the freebies and memorabilia that are given in the spirit of true geek fandom! For these geeksters, it's not about the money--each piece of merchandise is priceless. It's part of a collection showcasing their love of their genre. I proudly live with three of them! They are what make Comic-con a place of excitement and wonder! My wish is that these amazing conventions and events are filled with more authentic true fans than flippers. There. I put it out into the Universe. XO
No comments:
Post a Comment