Chasing the chase, tell me your secrets

[NoOtherOptions]

This is partially our own fault. The employees see us waiting outside and realize there is demand for the chases or exclusIves. They can also see there is demand in the secondary market just by checking eBay sales. Honestly, I wouldn’t care as much if the employee was an actual collector and not just a flipper.

Most places have policies against employees touching product. I can't remember where I read it but recently I saw a story on an employee getting fired for hiding discounted stock of clearance items for themselves. So it DOES happen (not as fast as we want).

I know plenty of stores that have these policies but it’s up to the store managers to enforce the policies. We can complain to Corporate but there is often no proof so in the end there is nothing that Corporate can really do

Previously tools like brickseek would give you stock #'s. If you see they got six; go at opening and find 5 on the floor. Time to call corporate; because they can actually track that.

[skillawashere]

Sometimes you just get lucky when you get to a store. Other times it’s networking with store employees and just being super nice to them.

[tonychen2121]

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?

Good question. I havent gotten any chase variant either. Guess I just have bad luck or not willing to buy a case of 6 to attempt at getting one.

[runtodere]

It's really all about timing and luck. I was just looking through a section at Target and found my first behind another Pop.

This is the other thing I struggle with - with the huge walls of pops now, I hate sitting there touching every pop to see what's behind each other one. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I feel weird sitting there for long periods of time going through them all.

[cypress]

It's really all about timing and luck. I was just looking through a section at Target and found my first behind another Pop.

This is the other thing I struggle with - with the huge walls of pops now, I hate sitting there touching every pop to see what's behind each other one. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I feel weird sitting there for long periods of time going through them all.

Trying to go through that at Hot Topic is a disaster why the put them up so high is beyond me. I hate it. I don't mind going through a ton of boxes because I have found a couple gems that way but when it is completely out of my reach it annoys me.

[kdmlvr]

I find hot topic is rough too many campers,
Target and other big box stores seem easier for me to find them at

[runtodere]

It's really all about timing and luck. I was just looking through a section at Target and found my first behind another Pop.

This is the other thing I struggle with - with the huge walls of pops now, I hate sitting there touching every pop to see what's behind each other one. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I feel weird sitting there for long periods of time going through them all.

Trying to go through that at Hot Topic is a disaster why the put them up so high is beyond me. I hate it. I don't mind going through a ton of boxes because I have found a couple gems that way but when it is completely out of my reach it annoys me.

Yeah - it's crazy - what's the thought process of putting them 10 feet high?

[mactds]

My only tips would be to wait until they're about $20, and then it's just 2X the normal purchase price, no biggie. That $20 price sure isn't worth waiting at Hot Topic before it opens, or doing the Amazon lottery to order more than one to increase your cost anyway, and Gamestop pre ordering seems to always cause me to be too late, or I pre order at the wrong GS.

[GoldenYellowPup]

This is the other thing I struggle with - with the huge walls of pops now, I hate sitting there touching every pop to see what's behind each other one. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I feel weird sitting there for long periods of time going through them all.

Oops I should've clarified. I wasn't actually moving around each Pop. I was looking at the Sister Location Pops and when I pulled the first front one out, I found a Funtime Freddy chase sitting right behind it. I still can't believe I got before the collector that usually comes early to get the chases. But then again this was the day after Christmas. Perhaps shopping burnout meant perfect timing? I was there like 10ish.

But yeah... Hot Topic does keep their chases behind the register so people don't mess up the display. Least in mine. Toys R Us though is really annoying to browse through Pops. Rows behind rows of disorganization. Even watched a woman once took like 20min to move EVERY Pop for a chase.

[blue85butterfly]

I just try to get them early and around $25 in the long run its cheaper than driving everywhere to get them

[Esko5150]

My secret to finding Chases is not to try and find chases LOL. Every Chase I've ever got has come from random dumb luck. Only one have I ever stood in line for prior to Hot Topic opening to get. Others have all been random.

[pommefille]

I've had decent luck with preorders and mail orders, but getting them in store has become way more of a pain than it used to be because so many people in my area now scour stores every day. The best tip I have besides 'keep trying' is to go to as many different stores in your area that carry Pop!s and figure out which ones have the least amount of collectors, then get to know the staff there. If you have a 'territory' with less competition it'll be easier than stores with vultures

[allcutethings2]

Definitely patience. I check at stores probably three to four times a week, but most of the time I'm there at that store, or that shopping center already. I rarely drive just looking for them. I waited in line once (for twenty minutes) for a chase, was third in line, and they had three. But I refuse to wait for hours, and I refuse to pay over retail.

I've been collecting Pops for six and a half years now, and have only managed to buy nine in the wild. Three more came at different times randomly in online orders. The remaining few I have were gifted to me. I've had a little more luck with dorbz chases, but not by much.

[Nemesis989]

There are a few stores around, Gamestop mostly where you can pre-order a pop and if a chase variant comes in they will hold it for you. I think it all depends on the policy of the individual store though

[bakivali]

If there are certain chases you are really interested in, I would try Target right in the morning when they first open when they have new huge shippers in. Also, most Hot Topics now have a Facebook or Instagram page that they post chases in for the next day. If you see it on their page, then you know to go in the next day and try for it.

Though as others have said, it all depends on your time/the value of the Pop. Sometimes paying $20-30 is better than trying to hunt for it a lot.

[Ilovefunko]

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

I agree with just paying an extra $10-15 for a chase rather than waiting in lines or running all over town. Some people have more time than money and others have more money than time. It is exciting to open up your package to see if you got the chase though
.

Thanks for the replies, some good tips from everyone. It would be nice to get a chase every once in awhile but just hasn’t happened in my experience. I think if I worked in an Amazon warehouse I would spend my whole paycheck on chases, seems like you would be able to double or triple your pay if you put in the time and turn around and sell them on eBay. The only chase I’ve had to have so far is the Alex DeLarge which I just purchased off the bay.
Definitely some Funko diehards here that put in a lot of time waiting in lines and what not, which is probably part of the fun for some.

I'm 99% sure that if you work at an Amazon warehouse you can't just pick Chases out. Could be wrong; did someone else say that? I thought they just said they bought from Amazon in bulk.

I really don’t know I was just throwing that out there.

[kappait]

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

I agree with just paying an extra $10-15 for a chase rather than waiting in lines or running all over town. Some people have more time than money and others have more money than time. It is exciting to open up your package to see if you got the chase though
.

Thanks for the replies, some good tips from everyone. It would be nice to get a chase every once in awhile but just hasn’t happened in my experience. I think if I worked in an Amazon warehouse I would spend my whole paycheck on chases, seems like you would be able to double or triple your pay if you put in the time and turn around and sell them on eBay. The only chase I’ve had to have so far is the Alex DeLarge which I just purchased off the bay.
Definitely some Funko diehards here that put in a lot of time waiting in lines and what not, which is probably part of the fun for some.

I'm 99% sure that if you work at an Amazon warehouse you can't just pick Chases out. Could be wrong; did someone else say that? I thought they just said they bought from Amazon in bulk.

I really don’t know I was just throwing that out there.

I have to agree sometimes your time is more valuable than a few bucks. Haha.

[lastmidnight]

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

I agree with just paying an extra $10-15 for a chase rather than waiting in lines or running all over town. Some people have more time than money and others have more money than time. It is exciting to open up your package to see if you got the chase though
.

Congratulations on the chase! One of the reasons I love Purchasing from HT.

Definitely makes that opening a package exciting! I’ll always order one to see if I got a chase, and if it doesn’t happen and I REALLY want the chase, I’ll pay the extra $10.

But most of the time, when I see that common, I realize I don’t really need the chase.

[runtodere]

This is the other thing I struggle with - with the huge walls of pops now, I hate sitting there touching every pop to see what's behind each other one. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I feel weird sitting there for long periods of time going through them all.

Oops I should've clarified. I wasn't actually moving around each Pop. I was looking at the Sister Location Pops and when I pulled the first front one out, I found a Funtime Freddy chase sitting right behind it. I still can't believe I got before the collector that usually comes early to get the chases. But then again this was the day after Christmas. Perhaps shopping burnout meant perfect timing? I was there like 10ish.

But yeah... Hot Topic does keep their chases behind the register so people don't mess up the display. Least in mine. Toys R Us though is really annoying to browse through Pops. Rows behind rows of disorganization. Even watched a woman once took like 20min to move EVERY Pop for a chase.

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter

[runtodere]

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

I agree with just paying an extra $10-15 for a chase rather than waiting in lines or running all over town. Some people have more time than money and others have more money than time. It is exciting to open up your package to see if you got the chase though
.

Thanks for the replies, some good tips from everyone. It would be nice to get a chase every once in awhile but just hasn’t happened in my experience. I think if I worked in an Amazon warehouse I would spend my whole paycheck on chases, seems like you would be able to double or triple your pay if you put in the time and turn around and sell them on eBay. The only chase I’ve had to have so far is the Alex DeLarge which I just purchased off the bay.
Definitely some Funko diehards here that put in a lot of time waiting in lines and what not, which is probably part of the fun for some.

I'm 99% sure that if you work at an Amazon warehouse you can't just pick Chases out. Could be wrong; did someone else say that? I thought they just said they bought from Amazon in bulk.

I really don’t know I was just throwing that out there.

Congrats. That's awesome. I think that pop looks really cool

[GoldenYellowPup]

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter.

Honestly, I found out that most people won't care and are more occupied in their lives to bother judging. I would love to get a chase from HT. Speaking of...

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

What time did you got that one? White flocked Krampus is one of the few chases I legit want.

[Hqsdfan619]

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?

You can try to do gamestop and pre order. That works for me sometimes. Not for all of them though. Some smaller toy stores sell bundles but I try not to do those unless it is a series I am a huge fan of. You can get lucky from Hot Topic Online but only order how many you can afford. Maybe order 2 of each type that have a chase variant. That way if you strike out you won't be out too much money! Some stores are doing morning only releases for chases which is really hard for anyone who works full time to try to get. Good luck!

[lastmidnight]

This is the other thing I struggle with - with the huge walls of pops now, I hate sitting there touching every pop to see what's behind each other one. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I feel weird sitting there for long periods of time going through them all.

Oops I should've clarified. I wasn't actually moving around each Pop. I was looking at the Sister Location Pops and when I pulled the first front one out, I found a Funtime Freddy chase sitting right behind it. I still can't believe I got before the collector that usually comes early to get the chases. But then again this was the day after Christmas. Perhaps shopping burnout meant perfect timing? I was there like 10ish.

But yeah... Hot Topic does keep their chases behind the register so people don't mess up the display. Least in mine. Toys R Us though is really annoying to browse through Pops. Rows behind rows of disorganization. Even watched a woman once took like 20min to move EVERY Pop for a chase.

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter

I tend to just start organizing the Pops as I move them around, to make me feel less bad about going through all of them.

[runtodere]

Oops I should've clarified. I wasn't actually moving around each Pop. I was looking at the Sister Location Pops and when I pulled the first front one out, I found a Funtime Freddy chase sitting right behind it. I still can't believe I got before the collector that usually comes early to get the chases. But then again this was the day after Christmas. Perhaps shopping burnout meant perfect timing? I was there like 10ish.

But yeah... Hot Topic does keep their chases behind the register so people don't mess up the display. Least in mine. Toys R Us though is really annoying to browse through Pops. Rows behind rows of disorganization. Even watched a woman once took like 20min to move EVERY Pop for a chase.

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter

I tend to just start organizing the Pops as I move them around, to make me feel less bad about going through all of them.

That's a good way to look at it. I'll try that next time. The employees are going to think I'm a crazy person though

[lastmidnight]

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter

I tend to just start organizing the Pops as I move them around, to make me feel less bad about going through all of them.

That's a good way to look at it. I'll try that next time. The employees are going to think I'm a crazy person though

I’m sure they’ve seen worse! And if you aren’t a total jerk to them, they usually don’t mind.

[Theshowman619]

Lol always tough for me to find a chase since I work m-f, 7-4. Found a couple, but I don’t have the luxury of showing up at HT or whatever store right when they open

[T-Diamond Stylus]

Just buy them off ebay. Idk how people buy 6 of one pop and by chance might get a chase or drive all over only to come up empty handed. I learned a long time ago that if you want a chase pop just go to ebay. You save time, money and most of all your own sanity.

[YamiJV]

The chases I find in the wild are all luck base. It seems to me that I always find chases for my friend and not me

[Ilovefunko]

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter.

Honestly, I found out that most people won't care and are more occupied in their lives to bother judging. I would love to get a chase from HT. Speaking of...

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

What time did you got that one? White flocked Krampus is one of the few chases I legit want.

I ordered it online. I have never been in a Hot Topic before, I think I may have passed the cut off age.

[Hiroku]

Don’t even bother chasing anymore all the stores just hold them for their regular customers or preorders not like the good old days where everything was put out now it’s just a joke.

[NoOtherOptions]

There are a few stores around, Gamestop mostly where you can pre-order a pop and if a chase variant comes in they will hold it for you. I think it all depends on the policy of the individual store though

"most" gamestop that is their policy (Chases to pre orders first).

[NoOtherOptions]

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

I agree with just paying an extra $10-15 for a chase rather than waiting in lines or running all over town. Some people have more time than money and others have more money than time. It is exciting to open up your package to see if you got the chase though
.

Thanks for the replies, some good tips from everyone. It would be nice to get a chase every once in awhile but just hasn’t happened in my experience. I think if I worked in an Amazon warehouse I would spend my whole paycheck on chases, seems like you would be able to double or triple your pay if you put in the time and turn around and sell them on eBay. The only chase I’ve had to have so far is the Alex DeLarge which I just purchased off the bay.
Definitely some Funko diehards here that put in a lot of time waiting in lines and what not, which is probably part of the fun for some.

I'm 99% sure that if you work at an Amazon warehouse you can't just pick Chases out. Could be wrong; did someone else say that? I thought they just said they bought from Amazon in bulk.

I really don’t know I was just throwing that out there.

Gotcha; congrats btw! Enjoy the Chase...get it? hahaha

[Lyndsay_wagner]

So I have bad Luck. That is the only Luck I have. So the only time I have gotten a chase was from Hot Topic, or Amazon just by pure accident. Most of the time, I end up waiting a while and I will just buy the chase for $30.
I hope you have Good Luck and Find all the Chases you want!

[runtodere]

Lol. I usually start moving some then feel self conscious and stop. I've never seen a chase at a hot topic. One day it will be interesting to see one behind the counter.

Honestly, I found out that most people won't care and are more occupied in their lives to bother judging. I would love to get a chase from HT. Speaking of...

Um, so guess who got a chase in the mail today. A HT white Krampus. I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it. If I knew all I had to do was complain on the forum, I would have done it a long time ago. My luck is changing, woohoo!

What time did you got that one? White flocked Krampus is one of the few chases I legit want.

I ordered it online. I have never been in a Hot Topic before, I think I may have passed the cut off age.

Lol - I feel that way as well.

[runtodere]

Just buy them off ebay. Idk how people buy 6 of one pop and by chance might get a chase or drive all over only to come up empty handed. I learned a long time ago that if you want a chase pop just go to ebay. You save time, money and most of all your own sanity.

That's so sad though and I have such an aversion to paying more than retail.

[runtodere]

The chases I find in the wild are all luck base. It seems to me that I always find chases for my friend and not me

I guess Funko has done its job - hearing a lot of 'luck based' which is sort of the way I think Funko wants it - instead of going to flippers and such. I honestly actually like randomness as long as it is truly random

[ch_aeiro]

I’ve never found a chase in the wild although my mom has and it was only by total luck. You either have to have a friendly relationship with store employees or shop at a store where nobody collects..which is a really rare thing nowadays.

[Sarcasticguy]

i've found 5 chases in the wild.. from 2 stores...

Once at Target there were 2 (Both Bill and Dipper Chases) and then this last week at HT there were 3 chases! (Furiosa, 2x Rocko).

Normally, my friends are way luckier than I am so they help a lot... but I generally just wait for the hype to die down and get them at $20-30 on Ebay. Buying multiples online or driving around all day, you're basically spending that much anyways.

[Ms_CcBabeyy]

Well .. I open my Mercari app and search funko chase pop and start buying away, usually good deals too (I'm semi kidding hehe) Don't get me wrong I hunt like crazy but being in Socal I'm almost always seeing 2-3 other collectors in the same funko sections per store I walk into. The one time recently I did find a chase was when Gamestop stayed open later for the holidays this past December and they were opening shipment 2 hrs before closing. I noticed they had the Luke on speeder chase. I asked the manager if I was able to purchase it and she said "sure, we have no preorders on it" (which is odd because 9 out of 10 they have preorders for every pop even without a chase). It was really exciting! So point of my story haha .. sometimes the stores will pull out stock before closing rather than at opening. Goodluck!

[captainvoltaic]

When I go hunting for a chase, I come home with nothing. When I'm not looking for a chase, I find them, Probably just my luck. I think Gamestop is where you'll most likely find them in person (pre-order!) and Amazon will be the most likely to yield a chase through online ordering.