Hot Wheels collectors are a unique bunch of individuals. I wonder why we act the way we do. Often, I go into a store to hunt these little treasures, and more often than not, I am not the only one hunting. There have been times that I have sparked a conversation with these other hunters; there have been times that I have purposely avoided a conversation. I find more and more that the aisles seem to be the court on which we play our game. 

Everyone wants to go into a store and find a Treasure Hunt, or rare variation. When I am looking through the pegs and there is another hunter present, I notice that one, or both of us, begins to act a little differently than before the other showed up. We lean the other way so as not to invade any personal space; we look at the cars the other pulls from the pegs in a sly manner, so the other doesn’t know; we even turn our cards over so the other can’t see what we found. Is this our man-to-man, or zone defense? Are we setting up a play for the game-winning shot? No, we are buying toys. Some people seem to take this hobby too seriously. By that, I am referring to the extremes people go to just to get cars. We all know the stories that have been told over and over about this jerk, or that stocker. Are these people “sore winners,” or are we “sore losers?” The teams are not evenly matched. We, the average collector, seem to be double-teamed by re-sellers, dealers, or stockers.

I have discovered a way to beat the odds, while remaining in the game: 

This news is not new, or groundbreaking. However, I think that there are a lot of collectors that do not know how to give up the slam-dunk, in favor of the assist. I learned this lesson when I chose to take an active role in web-site message boards and online chats, where the ratio of hunter to online collector is about 50:1, in favor of the online collector.

 Here lies the solution to the problem; trading. Trading Hot Wheels with online collectors has many advantages over hoping to find something in a store. By trading, you can; locate a specific car; unload any extras you may have; fill holes in your collection; and most importantly, build friendships. These friendships are what make this hobby so great. I no longer have to show up at a store when they open to have a chance at a Treasure Hunt. I no longer have to compete against the impenetrable defenses found in the retail world. Now, I can go into a store and pick up those new repaints and First Editions. If I need something, I can usually find it for a fair trade. 

I have had phone and e-mail conversations with some of the folks I have traded with. Some have become really good friends. Sometimes, I talk on the phone for an hour or more with one of my new pals and the topic of Hot Wheels never comes up. Sometimes I will mail a car to a friend because I know they need it. Sometimes I get a car back that I need. I never would have thought that the people behind the screens would be nicer and easier to deal with than the people I see in the stores, face to face. Is it because the Internet lends itself to anonymity, or is it because all of the users I’ve met are, like me, fed up with the retail game? Have we finally found a vehicle to deliver our cars without the headaches? I think not. The vehicle has always been here; some of us are just a little late. 

You know, I can’t help but think that too many people miss the fun because they get too wrapped up in the game.

---John Shrader