Scalpers for Hot Toys @ Ani-Com ACGHK 2011

"Scalpers" is a common slang (in the toy community, and beyond) for folks who amass toys and sell them at marked up values in the secondary markets. Purely "profit"-driven, shown above in this images (from Paul Chin of Hot Toys Community) are non-local workers in Hong Kong apparently paid to stand in queue overnight, to score themselves a box figure from Hot Toys, for the "Scalpers" - seen from the mini-mountain of tote-bags filled with 1/6th goodness - destined to go online or via Ebay for eventual profit. Pretty much blatant, isn't this?

This is what folks pay for, and is not a situation unique alone to Hong Kong. And why do they thrive? Because people need to get their hands on the toys, and this unfortunately becomes one of the avenues to lay your hands on such items (before the stores have them). I might not condone such practices, but seems YOU do, but how can I blame you when it's just the toys you want too?