Well boys and girls, lately it has been real and it has been fun but it ain't been real fun. There is this neat store with the red circle in Torrance, CA.  I try to stop in when I go through there. Well the other morning I happened to be going thru at 0745 so I stopped.  There were maybe 6 to 8 people there.  None of them bothered to return my "howdy".  One was a tall loud mouth I will simply call Fool.  Well this Fool was lecturing everyone about our little hobby and what is coming and what the manufacturer does and why and all that. As it turns out Fool has ben collecting for 2 years.  It only takes a year or two to get a masters so it is possible Fool has some knowledge.
Well Fool makes a fool out of himself but I didn't say anything.  The others were obviously involved in some sort of pagan idol worship.  Well anyway the door opens.  A mad rush ensues.  The group breaks into maybe 3 smaller groups.  Each group taking a different route to the racks.  Grown men running.  Well as it works out, a friend of mine works there who also collects.  Well this friend was called into the managers office and notified that an investigation would be started because he had been accused of cherry picking (see definitions on this site) cars and action figures and the like.  And guess who filed the complaint...yep FOOL.  As it turns out, this friend is a major force in the hobby and is as honest as the day is long.  He DOES NOT even look at the stock in this store.  He has no need to.  He has forgotten more than Fool will ever know. Sad when a toy drives grown men to
this isn't it?

Now on to another of the same store, this time the next morning in Manhattan Beach, CA.  A crowd of maybe 10 are there.  Several of them bemoaning the fact that they only have doubles of the new stuff and need triples....for tradin stock don't ya know.  Except one guy who said he already had his triples....UH OH a clue!!!  Well the door opens and the clerk actually screams and runs.  No Foolin I saw it (remember Fool?).  Well the group splits into sub groups and they take off.  Well these guys are no rocket scientists.  The shortest distance between two points is, after all, a straight line.  So me and this other guy walk. The rack is full.  I find two cars immediately.  I reach out to pluck the little treasures off the rack.  Halfway to Pappa, some fool knocks them out of my hand.  On purpose.  I simply turn and walk off.  I overhear the guy I walked in with say "hey give him back the cars".  I hear the reply...."he dropped em". I decide to return the next morning.  Same crew.  I admonish the perpetrators.  Doors open.  Clerk screams...really.  This time tho I walk not intending to get involved.  Full racks.  Pushing and shoving...I mean shoving. Two clerks, George and I watch in abject horror.  A peg is cleaned all at once.  The good cars gleaned and the rest discarded to the floor.
Surrealistic.  Somebody is going to get hurt.

Well it apparent that Fool has to be the first on the block...and that he
needs  attention......like he needs it he is over 6 feet 6 inches ..... something defined that primal urge way back in Psych 101.  Triples
must give one a feeling of power or is it like a squirrel storing nuts.
Squirrel, fool, nuts...get it.  Have you ever noticed that there are no
dealers present when there is a chance that a clerk might bring out a box IF no one is a dealer.  The dealers only show up at the check out stand paying for the little treasures.  There is a crying need and many valiant attempts to assure that the little treasures are distributed correctly....remember my friend and Fool?  Can one become wealthy or even nationally recognized as an expert in this hobby because they have a certain number of sales on an auction thing..... it's that Psych 101 thing again.

HAVE FUN

MOSES

Mosey:
Too bad you weren't wearing your CB's Staff t-shirt with the "Official Die Cast Expert" embroidered over the front pocket.  I love running into these guys because they all automatically assume I am stupid as far as the cars are concerned because I am a woman.  That's when it becomes time to kick some over inflated egos.   Trish