Time to start limiting sticker purchases

dfishberg

I heard that people were buying up to 50 stickers in Cincy. I think a 10 sticker limit pre show needs to be imposed. If there are stickers left over during the show or after the show, people should be able to buy as many as you like. The allure of the stickers was that it was a cheap keepsake of a show you attended, but it is crazy that people who show up hours before the show can't purchase one because they are sold out due to people hoarding them to flip. If they don't want to limit purchases at the show, perhaps Ten Club can start selling stickers after the tour (same as posters) with a limit on the number of stickers for purchase. Just a thought.

2-feign-reluctance

I think the word is out. Pearl Jam fans are freaks about 'stuff'

Blood Red Mosquito

Some people are buying enough to trade with other members too. 50 is a ton though. I'm probably buying around 25-30 to cover a ton of trades. Don't assume people are flipping them.

AndySlash

wait, how is buying 25-30 of them for trades not flipping? you're still doing it for personal gain.

2-feign-reluctance

What if I only want to buy 2? If you're in front of me and I see you buying 30, I'm gonna be a tad annoyed man. Especially if I get up there and they tell me you just bought the last of them. Just saying! Hahaha!

dfishberg

I understand the trading aspect of stickers and find it to be really fun. I have no problem with people buying lots of stickers after the show for trades if they are left over. My problem is when they are sold out hours before the show, or within minutes of opening the doors because people are buying so many. Nothing worse than waiting on line and then being told the item has sold out, and then seeing people with tons of stickers. I would think a 10 sticker limit pre show should allow people to get some stickers for friends and for trading, while hopefully also allowing people who actually attended the show a shot at getting a keepsake for themselves.

rustneversleeps

2-feign-reluctance said:

What if I only want to buy 2? If you're in front of me and I see you buying 30, I'm gonna be a tad annoyed man. Especially if I get up there and they tell me you just bought the last of them. Just saying! Hahaha!

early bird gets the worm

ryanjp2323

they should just print a huge amount to satisfy demand. i'd guess they cost pennies per to print?

njnancy

I can't believe that the merchandise people would actually sell that many of one item to a single person. 30 or 50 of an item is a bulk purchase, not something that's normally allowed at any other show I've been too. 10 stickers is plenty - it's still a lot if everyone on line buys 10. Buying some for people who can't go and one for yourself and then a couple (like 2 or 3) to trade is okay I guess, but 30 stickers is an awful lot and I feel the same as 2-feign-reluctance - if I was waiting to buy 2 stickers and maybe a t-shirt and everyone in front of me was buying 30 stickers and 10 t-shirts, I would be pretty annoyed by the time I got up to the counter and was told that they were out of stuff.

Stickers are great because people who can't afford the poster and t-shirts can get a souvenir for a cheap price - that's the whole idea of having them. Buying a shitload to use for trades ruins the idea of having a lower priced merchandise item. When the person with 10.00 gets up to the counter and the stickers are cleaned out - they are screwed. Just something people might want to consider when they are making their merchandise choices.

dfishberg

Agreed -- any leftovers they could sell in the store or provide in Mystery Boxes. With the uptick in sticker collectors, especially for fans looking for complete sets of stickers, Ten Club could sell a ton. With that said, the hoarding and flipping of merch has gotten out of control. Are we so far removed from the band that risked everything to fight corporations to keep ticket prices down -- some would say yes.
On the "flip side" (get it) I have met many amazing members of the PJ community who are extremely generous.

PJ-Cubs

I agree with the OP - there needs to be a limit (unless the 10C starts to print more).

given2fly23

1. PRINT MORE

2. Sell leftovers in the store as add-on items

3. For the next tour, post the design of the city specific stuff and let any member attending the show (not just 10C tix) pre-order the shirt/sticker/pin and pick up a packet at the show.

deadendp

I saw people at will call walking around with a full bag of buttons. (Think sandwich bag size.) Now, you are telling me that they aren't going to flip those? For all those in need of Cincy buttons, I'm thinking that a whole heap will land on eBay shortly.

NeilJam

I don't remember seeing stickers of any kind (tour or show specific) last night, and I looked at a few stands.

dmbkc

How much does the average sticker and button cost?

Lost In Ohio

given2fly23 said:

1. PRINT MORE

2. Sell leftovers in the store as add-on items

3. For the next tour, post the design of the city specific stuff and let any member attending the show (not just 10C tix) pre-order the shirt/sticker/pin and pick up a packet at the show.

I'd take #3 so far as to be able to pre-order stuff and have it shipped to your address AFTER the show. That way, the merch line would be a lot shorter and having it shipped after just might...maybe...curb the flippers.

50 stickers in one purchase is insane though.

dmbkc

And are poster purchases limited?

dfishberg

Stickers and buttons are $2 each, which is very reasonable, but are being flipped on other sites for a lot more. I thought poster purchases were limited to 2, but not sure how strictly vendors are enforcing that.

Blood Red Mosquito

AndySlash said:

wait, how is buying 25-30 of them for trades not flipping? you're still doing it for personal gain.

Flipping=making a profit. Turning a $2 sticker into a $20 sale. Just look at the boards. Tons and tons of people are trading stickers

rustneversleeps

everyone laughed at grandpa when he went fishing at 5 am... but no one laughed when he came home with the town prostitute....

apirk72

There is only what 15 shows this tour so if you are just buying to trade they only need to buy 15 if you are just buying them to trade. The problem is a lot of people are just greedy, especially people with a collector's mentality.

whofeelslikeadrank

AndySlash said:

wait, how is buying 25-30 of them for trades not flipping? you're still doing it for personal gain.

buying them to trade is flipping?

ComeToTX

I just don't know why you would want a sticker from a show you weren't at.

jamburger

rustneversleeps said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

What if I only want to buy 2? If you're in front of me and I see you buying 30, I'm gonna be a tad annoyed man. Especially if I get up there and they tell me you just bought the last of them. Just saying! Hahaha!

early bird gets the worm

Gluttonous birds should choke on their feed

AndySlash

Blood Red Mosquito said:

Flipping=making a profit. Turning a $2 sticker into a $20 sale. Just look at the boards. Tons and tons of people are trading stickers

whofeelslikeadrank said:

buying them to trade is flipping?

buying 25-30 stickers solely to trade is flipping, in my view. the currency is just other stickers or items instead of cash. the motivations are exactly the same- buying something, often in excess, with the sole intention of getting something of value from it. it doesn't have to be a profit, necessarily, but when you're buying 25-30 stickers you're hoarding a bunch of items for your own personal gain.

i don't agree with it, but that's only my opinion. obviously plenty of other don't feel that way. it's certainly a culture that has been cultivated. just look at the boards, indeed.

Tim Simmons

The sticker and button craze is a great example of how the collecting mentality has gotten out of hand.

tempo_n_groove

Tim Simmons said:

The sticker and button craze is a great example of how the collecting mentality has gotten out of hand.

^Yes it has and I am guilty of it too.

I wish 10C would offer a sticker run in the shop. How cool would that be? The whole tour. Have like 3000 of them bagged and ready. 1 per member.

I'll tell you this, they shouldn't be selling week 2 of ACL right now.

I'll also tell you this, there is a frenzy for stickers and what not.

bootlegger10

As a collector and trader who has bought a lot of stickers in the past (to trade), I think a limit should be placed on the stickers at least before the show starts. It just isn't fair to the rest of the fans coming to the show.

Blood Red Mosquito

10C should sell a set of stickers from each tour once the tour is over. Probably costs a nickel to make a sticker. Wouldn't be that hard

Blood Red Mosquito

ComeToTX said:

I just don't know why you would want a sticker from a show you weren't at.

Same reason people buy bootlegs from shows they never attended. They enjoy listening to other shows. Or buying posters from shows they don't attend. They enjoy the artwork. Stickers are pretty cool IMO. Very well designed. If the 10C is not going to offer them in the shop, you find trades from people who are attended other shows.

I can buy the bootlegs and the posters in the shop if I want them. I can't buy the stickers. I'm forced to trade for them.

ComeToTX

You really think listening to live pj shows you weren't at is anything like buying a sticker????