Toy Hunters — Local services in Springfield Township

I hate leaving bad reviews on businesses. But unfortunately after previously spending quite a bit of money at Toy Hunters in Ontario, Ohio, I'm not sure I'll be back again... The owner Tony and his wife didn't seem very interested in working with us.

Let me start by saying my wife and I were excited to return to Toy Hunters this past Friday evening as we had planned our day in advance. We called Toy Hunters and spoke with Tony to tell him we were in our way from thr Columbus, Ohio area. I tried to refresh his memory of who I was, but only being there a couple times I completely understood that he didn't recall. I explained that we were excited to see their newest Funko Pop additions on our hunt and to discuss several Funko Pop trade-in values we were bringing with us. I immediately felt a bit of tension with Tony over the phone... But I figured once he saw me, recalled the amount of $$$ I had spent this past month at his store, he'd know I was a serious buyer / collector and he would be ready to do business...

But in actuality, he was not. When we arrived we began assembling all the pops they had that we were interested in purchasing. I believe we had nearly 22 set aside at his counter, at around $480 / Toy Hunter sticker price.

Tony came from the backroom as I went outside to my truck to bring in the 16 pops I was interested in trading. Most of them were mint condition 2019 SDCC (the shared Summer convention exclusives) and a few were just commons. Tony reviewed them and graciously told.me.he didn't want to offend me by giving me an offer too low. I told him, I understood and just wanted a fair trade-in value towards the pops I wanted to purchase. I shared with him that I had visited another comic store in Delaware just prior to coming to his store..I explained that I was offered a laughable amount in trade value, $160. I then explained to Tony I couldn't pack up my pops quick enough to leave that store... But I also had not spent $500+ within the month prior at that visit, so the owner didn't know I was a cash in hand big buyer... This wasn't the case at Toy Hunters.

Tony simply said we "couldn't do business." Then walked away... No negotiations, no offers on a single pop. He didn't even seem to notice or care about the $480 of pops I had on his counter. Smh...

Sadly, I packed up my pops and left the store. I had about 20 of his pops that we had set aside and prepared to BUY. We added the Toy Hunters pops up at $480. So, I was also hoping to get a FAIR TRADE-IN VALUE on some or all of my pops. (Toy Hunters didn't have any of my 2019 SDCC pops)

Okay, let's be honest here... I had planned on spending a few hundred dollars cash at Toy Hunters on Friday. Just based on our two previous (good) visits. (All within the last month)

Now the bad news... that didn't happen. The owner, Tony seemed rather annoyed or perhaps concerned with offending me more than simply working out a fair dollar amount on my trade bait. So he simply looked at all my trades then shared with me how the value of the SDCC 2019 STICKERS and the 2019 SHARED LIMITED SUMMER CONVENTION stickers would be significantly lower. Of which I didn't know... being they're the same exact pops. (Minus the actual SDCC sticker) He graciously showed me the PPG page which confirmed his statement. All good so far... I still had high hopes we could work out some sort of a fair trade in value.

As a side note, I too am a small business owner. I get money has to be made and not lost.

Tony simply looked over my 16 pops and said he was sorry and that "we couldn't do business."

Atleast try and work something out... Negotiate!! Let me put it this way.. What business wouldn't give a good paying customer a (fair) trade-in- value for an opportunity to make an additional $300-$400 in cash sales in that same day!? Apparently Toy Hunters.

Finally I want to say the owners of Toy Hunters, truly seem like very nice people with a beautiful store that offers a good variety of quality merchandise...

I just wish they would've been a bit more customer...

I was in the area picking up a few lots from Marketplace and I always like to check out local haunts. I was very impressed by the selection as I'm a fairly serious collector BUT I've bought and sold so much vintage stuff that I have begun to dabble in reboots/relaunched lines that I might have missed....examples being mid-00's GI Joe stuff: Valor vs Venom and 25th/ROC/POC or the 2011 Bandai Thundercats...those things are amazing, my current favorite! Anyway, they have a nice selection of toys from that era and while not something NEWBIES looking for childhood memories in plastic might be interested in TOY JUNKIES will appreciate and they're only going up $$$ as time passes!

I also wanna make note of taking advantage that they're always buying/trading too! I always have a few goodies I'm ready to pass onto a new home and did so while adding to my collection from their selection. I think the people reviewing and mentioning overpricing/underpricing in buying/selling should consider #1 just how IN the adult toy collecting hobby has become. Netflix created a series about it and I know there's been other shows and just look at all the Toy Shows and online listings. Toy Hunters doesn't pull pricing out of thin air to get one over on you! Their prices are FAIR MARKET VALUE and I've found them VERY WILLING to negotiate....reasonably. I can offer them $65 for that Flagg and if they laugh at me, which should be the correct response, that doesn't make them overpriced! Do some basic research on an items worth and don't look at current ebay listings and base $ solely on them ...look at completed listings. Finally please realize that any RESELL business is going to follow the PAWN SHOP mentality.....in order to remain in business! Because this is SOMEONE'S BUSINESS and he's financially at risk here. And he's a nice guy....I traded in for store credit the CerealBox Lifeline sealed and B.S.'d with him for 30 minutes. But anyone who's had experience with Pawn Shops knows that any RESELL concept is 99% of the time going to offer you 1/3rd of the products value. $30 for a $90 figure in other words and that's because at $90 they've already sunk $30 in aquiring and then $30 has to cover rent/electric/payroll/business expenses AND finally the last $30, which puts them at $90, is because they're a business and in business to be profitable and hang around a while!

If you're looking for top $ then list your item online. And for an item you consider overpriced I personally would see if they'd be willing to sell a $100 item for 10-15% off....but don't go further because it's insulting whether you agree or not! I consider retail pricing covers my convenience because...sure maybe there have been listings for less online BUT I can see and handle the item here and I know it's complete OR if joints are tight/loose and I'm leaving with it today, right now vs watching an auction and leaving shipping and shipping safely up to a stranger in Oregon or wherever who only sees $ in this item he found in Grannies attic!

Ps...most dealers, Toy Hunters included, while may only offer $25 cash for a certain item they're often more than happy to knock that number around a bit...$30...$35 even in CREDIT in store. Consider that next time as well! And especially if you're a new TOY enthusiast remember that much of collecting is in relationships and I think you'd be surprised how willing owners are to accommodate REGULARS within reason and they're great resources to have as long as you remember that they HAVE to operate in the black! These owners are the BIGGEST TOY FANS too ...they took collecting and turned it into literal daily life! So THANK YOU TOY HUNTERS! I'll be back anytime I'm in the area & I look...

I love the selection this store has and I have been going here once a week for the past month. I went in today on 03/14/2019 at 2 p.m. because I was interested in seeing if they were hiring since it would be a great place for me to work. Ended up speaking with a lady who claimed to be the owner but unfortunately she was the rudest person I've ever met. She literally asked me when walking in "What do you want?". I planned on spending so much money at this place but after my experience today I will most likely no longer go in that store. So if I go in there to give the place another shot and I see her there I will walk right out and spend my money elsewhere. Comic book stores struggle enough as is, even with it now being a part of pop culture. Having a good personality and giving common respects is an important part of running a business so apparently she has no idea what shes doing when it comes to customer service but she wants her money I bet. If you go there I do recommend checking out their inventory but if you see her working expect her to be rude. I fell in love with the store when I first went in and like I said planned on shopping there a lot but as of right now I am no longer willing to shop here. Tread carefully when going here. To the owner who states I am lying I just want to put this on her as well. When I called up I asked to speak with a manager and the reply I received was "What?" "What?" "What you want?" So when hearing this it sounded like you could not understand me and when I came into your store and tried it in person your first response was "why?". Instead the proper response would be "Well I am the owner of the store, What could I do for you?" That one opening statement could cause a whole lot less confusion! Again I love the selection but just cause someone comes asking to speak with a manager doesn't mean you should instantly start asking why, but how can I help you. I am a huge dedicated comic book fan and I have plenty of associates who are as well and that I had been sending to this location for over a month. Know that your response is a show of your character and you do not responde to people like that because small things like this can effect even the most successful businesses. Sorry you do not agree with my post but know that what you are saying is not close to the truth but maybe this will be a learning experience for you on how to respond to some ok ne who asks this...