Chasing the chase, tell me your secrets

[Ilovefunko]

So ya, I’m not having any luck in receiving any Funko chases. I buy most of my Funkos online and have never been mailed a chase. I probably own 30 Funkos with chase variants. How is it possible if my odds are 1 in 6 to never receive a chase. I’ve ordered from Amazon, fye, hot topic, ee with no luck. I’m starting to get discouraged and thinking I’m making some kind of rookie mistake, so let me in on the secret. What online retailer can I order from and have a true 1 and six chance of getting a chase?

[Classier]

All of them have a "true" 1/6 chance. You just aren't having great luck.

[Kyvinylzjohnson]

Luck of the draw. Have someone else purchase for you and try their luck. Worked for me. I had my wife purchase and bingo she had the chase on the first try

[lastmidnight]

The only tip I know is that if you are purchasing from Amazon, make sure you are purchasing directly from Amazon and not a 3rd party seller. Usually the third parties will sell the chases seperately. But if you buy from Amazon directly, it's 1 in 6. Gotten a couple chases that way. Also got a couple from Hot Topic online. It's luck of the draw, really.

[runtodere]

The only tip I know is that if you are purchasing from Amazon, make sure you are purchasing directly from Amazon and not a 3rd party seller. Usually the third parties will sell the chases seperately. But if you buy from Amazon directly, it's 1 in 6. Gotten a couple chases that way. Also got a couple from Hot Topic online. It's luck of the draw, really.

Surprised you got them from Hot Topic - good to know that it happens. I have been ordering a bunch of Zero's from Box Lunch to try to get the GITD chase for my kid - I gave up after about 8 and just broke down and bought from Ebay (which made me sad but I could only find so many people to give the commons to as gifts!). I was sure they were picking out the chases but maybe just bad luck

[Kwik_One]

The older the Pop the less likely you are to get a chase, in my experience. You could always order 6 from certain retailers and be guaranteed a chase, EE will send you a box of 6 chase included but then you’d have to trade or sell the ones you don’t want. That’s how I got my Jack Torrance chase

[[llO_oll]7]

Subscribe to your local Boxlunch/Hot Topic Instagrams and turn on their post notification. Some HT/Boxlunch will post their chase and some wont. If they post and I really want it I will go wait for it before opening. Try learning when your Targets/TRUs/Walmarts receive their trucks and go early on the days they do. The only time I received a chase from online was from Amazon when I ordered the Blue Eyed Pennywise with boat and ordered 3, I got a chase. Check Amazon often searching (chase pop) honestly sometime they got some good deals, it beats waiting outside a store for more than two hours to pay the extra $10. If your hunting at target, knowing the dpci helps alot. If your hunting always ask if they got any chases, doesn't hurt to ask. Some stores keep them under the cabinet and give them out only when ask. Never happened to me, but I know people who gotten their chases this way.

[JoshChaos]

I'm quite lucky with Chases, both online and in the wild.

I placed 2 orders on Amazon a few weeks back and added on 3 Finn Balors to each order (6 total), and 5 of the 6 were Chases. Luckily, had some friends that were looking for him too and was able to trade the other one. Also ordered 1 Razor Ramon from Hot Topic and got the nWo Chase. I've had a few other Chases from online orders too.

Just this weekend, I found 3 different Chases in the wild (Heffer and Weaponized Rick at FYE and Bombshells Catwoman at BAM).

If I include the ones I've found for friends or ones I've traded for other Pops that I wanted, I've found a total of 38 Chase Pops (Both "in the wild" and "online" orders are in that total). Some of them were even the old school 1:36 ones.

Please keep in mind that very rarely do I go out and just look for Pops, nor do I have any employees at any stores tipping me off. I might hit a few stores maybe one day per week, two if I have extra time. I've just been extremely lucky lately. In fact, I seem to have better luck if I just go in somewhere to kill a few minutes of time instead of setting out to actually go "Pop hunting".

[nascar246788]

I honestly think it is luck. I got lucky with entertainment earth for a bit, then my streak ran cold. For amazon, I would double check it is from amazon directly.

I have had more luck just walking into a store and seeing they have a damaged box of the common. I would ask if they have more in stock, and they would pull them from the back with a chase in it. I got lucky with dopey chase as I was just looking for diamond mickey and they got a whole shipment of dopey.

[TriFeckTa]

Buying online is a gamble, i think amazon would be the easiest to score from.

[Battastic]

Like others have stated, buying online is a big gamble.
Getting close to store managers/employees helps as they will hold some back for you if they can.

[Gofunkoyourself]

Like others have stated, buying online is a big gamble.
Getting close to store managers/employees helps as they will hold some back for you if they can.

100% this, it's easy to be nice to employees and not mess up their shelves and be jerks. It goes a long, long way!

[dishsnthings]

Like others have stated, buying online is a big gamble.
Getting close to store managers/employees helps as they will hold some back for you if they can.

100% this, it's easy to be nice to employees and not mess up their shelves and be jerks. It goes a long, long way!

Many of "us" are not though. A while back I shopped and had left. The manager called not 5 min later that she unpacked the days shipment and had to put Maleficent chase on the shelf. I circled right back and got it. But I have actually witnessed terrible, mean behavior from a hand full of people. You cant scream and yell and harass people because you "think" they're holding pops with no proof! I know it does happen, but THIS HT store does not, yet gets harassed near daily.
This is about chases, but it also applies to others, exclusives, con's and such. The one and only time I emailed anyone was Gamestop. They had Glow Kurama come out on Anime Day. Everyone was on here crabbing that there are NONE. I got one from my local GS, later that day there was a dude on ebay with SIXTEEN for sale. The p*** was the picture was of a dude holding one, behind the counter IN Gamestop! Quite easy to trace, nice pic, ebay gives the location. Took a day, but suddenly "item no longer available". LOL
So everyones suggestions here are good. Most of mine have been because of being early. Most chases today are low, $20-30 ish. Also see if you have Pop swaps anywhere. A store at our mall does about every 2 months, Ive gotten a few chases there too! I just got the Grady chase, swapped for NBC Sally and 10" Hulk !!

[NoOtherOptions]

Here I'll help everyone: patience is my secret. There are others but people with "sure fire" things are probably scared to share (reasonable or not).

[kfk302]

it's all about luck really, as many others have said. wish you the best on your chase hunting adventures though!

[lcarus83]

Most Chases are cheap enough now that buying multiples online just to maybe get a Chase and then trying to sell off the extra commons isn't worth it. Too much hassle. If there's a Chase you really want just bite the bullet and spend the $30.

[CaseyJones14]

1. Make friends with employees/managers
2. Figure out when they stock
3. Follow local Hot Topic and Box Lunch on IG for when they post Chases for the following day.
4. Network with others who are willing to help you with Chases

[Gofunkoyourself]

Like others have stated, buying online is a big gamble.
Getting close to store managers/employees helps as they will hold some back for you if they can.

100% this, it's easy to be nice to employees and not mess up their shelves and be jerks. It goes a long, long way!

Many of "us" are not though. A while back I shopped and had left. The manager called not 5 min later that she unpacked the days shipment and had to put Maleficent chase on the shelf. I circled right back and got it. But I have actually witnessed terrible, mean behavior from a hand full of people. You cant scream and yell and harass people because you "think" they're holding pops with no proof! I know it does happen, but THIS HT store does not, yet gets harassed near daily.
This is about chases, but it also applies to others, exclusives, con's and such. The one and only time I emailed anyone was Gamestop. They had Glow Kurama come out on Anime Day. Everyone was on here crabbing that there are NONE. I got one from my local GS, later that day there was a dude on ebay with SIXTEEN for sale. The p*** was the picture was of a dude holding one, behind the counter IN Gamestop! Quite easy to trace, nice pic, ebay gives the location. Took a day, but suddenly "item no longer available". LOL
So everyones suggestions here are good. Most of mine have been because of being early. Most chases today are low, $20-30 ish. Also see if you have Pop swaps anywhere. A store at our mall does about every 2 months, Ive gotten a few chases there too! I just got the Grady chase, swapped for NBC Sally and 10" Hulk !!

I wasnt accusing anyone, sorry if it seemed that way! For every bad collector there are for sure way worse employees.

The prices do drop pretty substantially after a few weeks/months.

[FerrisGuy3]

I'm quite lucky with Chases, both online and in the wild.

I placed 2 orders on Amazon a few weeks back and added on 3 Finn Balors to each order (6 total), and 5 of the 6 were Chases. Luckily, had some friends that were looking for him too and was able to trade the other one. Also ordered 1 Razor Ramon from Hot Topic and got the nWo Chase. I've had a few other Chases from online orders too.

Just this weekend, I found 3 different Chases in the wild (Heffer and Weaponized Rick at FYE and Bombshells Catwoman at BAM).

If I include the ones I've found for friends or ones I've traded for other Pops that I wanted, I've found a total of 38 Chase Pops (Both "in the wild" and "online" orders are in that total). Some of them were even the old school 1:36 ones.

Please keep in mind that very rarely do I go out and just look for Pops, nor do I have any employees at any stores tipping me off. I might hit a few stores maybe one day per week, two if I have extra time. I've just been extremely lucky lately. In fact, I seem to have better luck if I just go in somewhere to kill a few minutes of time instead of setting out to actually go "Pop hunting".

That’s usually what I do from amazon. Order at least three in each order. I have had luck sometime receiving 1 or 2 of them as chases. But sometime 0. So really it’s all luck of the draw

[FerrisGuy3]

Like others have stated, buying online is a big gamble.
Getting close to store managers/employees helps as they will hold some back for you if they can.

100% this, it's easy to be nice to employees and not mess up their shelves and be jerks. It goes a long, long way!

I have been at stores at the right time when people who recognize me are there and have been able to score some chases. But it’s usually being lucky and being there at the right time.

[Stu]

It is mostly luck, but I agree with what everyone else said about being friendly to and making friends with employees at Hot Topic and Gamestop. If there are not collectors working at the store, chances are they will help you with the chase if you are a regular customer. Up until Saturday, the only chases I have ever received were in orders from Entertainment Earth. I found my first Chase for a line I collect in the wild on Saturday and it was pure luck. I was at a Gamestop I don't usually go to, and the chase was sitting on a bottom shelf in an inconvenient area for traffic.

[Mario Wario]

1. Make friends with employees/managers
2. Figure out when they stock
3. Follow local Hot Topic and Box Lunch on IG for when they post Chases for the following day.
4. Network with others who are willing to help you with Chases

Yep, basically that. (Or really being lucky.)

[felixfelicis]

Stay out of the Los Angeles area. No seriously, flippers are a business here, they will line up in front of stores 5-6 hours before opening hunting chases. But there have been very few chases I have wanted and patience turns into me finding them on eBay for less than $20 shipped.

[runtodere]

I'm quite lucky with Chases, both online and in the wild.

I placed 2 orders on Amazon a few weeks back and added on 3 Finn Balors to each order (6 total), and 5 of the 6 were Chases. Luckily, had some friends that were looking for him too and was able to trade the other one. Also ordered 1 Razor Ramon from Hot Topic and got the nWo Chase. I've had a few other Chases from online orders too.

Just this weekend, I found 3 different Chases in the wild (Heffer and Weaponized Rick at FYE and Bombshells Catwoman at BAM).

If I include the ones I've found for friends or ones I've traded for other Pops that I wanted, I've found a total of 38 Chase Pops (Both "in the wild" and "online" orders are in that total). Some of them were even the old school 1:36 ones.

Please keep in mind that very rarely do I go out and just look for Pops, nor do I have any employees at any stores tipping me off. I might hit a few stores maybe one day per week, two if I have extra time. I've just been extremely lucky lately. In fact, I seem to have better luck if I just go in somewhere to kill a few minutes of time instead of setting out to actually go "Pop hunting".

Sorry if there is a way to figure this out - but can I ask where you live? Every display near me is totally picked over.

[Libertyroxx]

I've found ones "in the wild" on rare occasion at random places. But NYC is very difficult, not many stores plus extremely large population = good luck. The couple I have found have been at Gamestop (twice), FYE (once), and a local comic shop Midtown Comics (also once). I've gotten a couple via mail too. It really is just luck of the draw.

That aside any ones I have were either gifts, traded for/bought from individuals, and one I got at Funko HQ.

[runtodere]

Stay out of the Los Angeles area. No seriously, flippers are a business here, they will line up in front of stores 5-6 hours before opening hunting chases. But there have been very few chases I have wanted and patience turns into me finding them on eBay for less than $20 shipped.

Raise my hand - LA has got to be one of the worst. Assume NY is also really bad

[Libertyroxx]

Stay out of the Los Angeles area. No seriously, flippers are a business here, they will line up in front of stores 5-6 hours before opening hunting chases. But there have been very few chases I have wanted and patience turns into me finding them on eBay for less than $20 shipped.

Raise my hand - LA has got to be one of the worst. Assume NY is also really bad

NYC is really bad yeah.

[NoOtherOptions]

Stay out of the Los Angeles area. No seriously, flippers are a business here, they will line up in front of stores 5-6 hours before opening hunting chases. But there have been very few chases I have wanted and patience turns into me finding them on eBay for less than $20 shipped.

Raise my hand - LA has got to be one of the worst. Assume NY is also really bad

NYC is really bad yeah.

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

[NoOtherOptions]

Stay out of the Los Angeles area. No seriously, flippers are a business here, they will line up in front of stores 5-6 hours before opening hunting chases. But there have been very few chases I have wanted and patience turns into me finding them on eBay for less than $20 shipped.

Raise my hand - LA has got to be one of the worst. Assume NY is also really bad

NYC is really bad yeah.

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

[lastmidnight]

Raise my hand - LA has got to be one of the worst. Assume NY is also really bad

NYC is really bad yeah.

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

Yeah, have never found a chase in the wild in LA other than my Maleficent, which I literally had to watch them open the box in order to get.

Makes me wonder how easy it is to find chases in the Mid West

[NoOtherOptions]

NYC is really bad yeah.

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

Yeah, have never found a chase in the wild in LA other than my Maleficent, which I literally had to watch them open the box in order to get.

Makes me wonder how easy it is to find chases in the Mid West

I'm on a discord group with a few buddies in Houston/Wisconsin and they say not many. Lots of guys run their own businesses on the side and camp out. It's just...hot?

[funkystark]

All my chases have just been right store, right time. For example on my lunch break I walked into a store as they were unboxing todays shipment and they had a Xander chase. Right place, right time.

[lastmidnight]

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

Yeah, have never found a chase in the wild in LA other than my Maleficent, which I literally had to watch them open the box in order to get.

Makes me wonder how easy it is to find chases in the Mid West

I'm on a discord group with a few buddies in Houston/Wisconsin and they say not many. Lots of guys run their own businesses on the side and camp out. It's just...hot?

Dang. I guess no matter the demand in the area, there is always demand online.

[NoOtherOptions]

Yeah, have never found a chase in the wild in LA other than my Maleficent, which I literally had to watch them open the box in order to get.

Makes me wonder how easy it is to find chases in the Mid West

I'm on a discord group with a few buddies in Houston/Wisconsin and they say not many. Lots of guys run their own businesses on the side and camp out. It's just...hot?

Dang. I guess no matter the demand in the area, there is always demand online.

Yeah I mean look at the Crota situation; those were impossible to find just about everywhere. 50 dollars for a non chase pop for at least a month.

[runtodere]

NYC is really bad yeah.

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

Yeah, have never found a chase in the wild in LA other than my Maleficent, which I literally had to watch them open the box in order to get.

Makes me wonder how easy it is to find chases in the Mid West

That's an awesome one to find in the wild though. I really wanted that one. But yeah, I don't have the time to go and hunt and get people to open boxes and stuff so I guess I may just never find one.

[masteryoda69]

When I hunt for chases I never find them. When I go to the store for something else not Funko related I find chases. Guess if I don't try they will come to me

[lastmidnight]

I'm in BK/NY but yeah it's awful here. have run intoa few in the wild though.

Yeah, have never found a chase in the wild in LA other than my Maleficent, which I literally had to watch them open the box in order to get.

Makes me wonder how easy it is to find chases in the Mid West

That's an awesome one to find in the wild though. I really wanted that one. But yeah, I don't have the time to go and hunt and get people to open boxes and stuff so I guess I may just never find one.

That’s been the only one that I HAD to have. Like I had to hang around a Hot Topic for a couple hours to get it, but it was WORTH IT. Other than that, it usually isn’t worth the hassle to get a chase, especially when they are still pretty affordable a couple months later (depending)

[NoOtherOptions]

Does SDCC count? I camped out 3 days at Funko South.

[SincityFunko]

I sometimes I’ll just wait in the morning when they open up in hottopic

[Chase Variant]

I thought OP was talking about online. In-store, I got my chases by pre-ordering multiples at GameStop (they give the chases to the pre-orders) and by showing up at Hot Topic when it opened.