So What's Your Excuse??

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:34 pm

I'm sure its happened to all of us on many occasions. You are in line for the register at TRU, Wal Mart, or Target, trying to keep a low profile, when the cashier (or another customer) makes some innocent comment about you buying a big toy plane, tank, or a bunch of action figures. Afterall, "proper" society says grown men aren't supposed to be buying toys... Trying to cover your addiction to military toys, you utter a few words in response...

So, whats your excuse?

***

I usually say I'm getting a birthday present for my younger brother.

(Never mind the fact that he's 21 and doesn't much care for military toys

)

Jericoeagle1 · Post by **Jericoeagle1** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:48 pm

I tell them straight out I'm a collector, and if I get any lip after that I tell them would it be better if my hobbies were drinking, gambling or something else? That usually satisfies most people and to tell the truth it was how I met my girlfriend. She told me after dating a bunch of guys who did nothing but drink and watch sports all the time it was nice to meet a guy who didn't do the same. She collects stuffed animals so she understands my obsession.

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:24 pm

I have to admit that when I've been asked (has happened at least once each at both WM and TRU) I've fibbed and said they're for my son. Sometimes I do pick up pieces for him, but at 14 he has many other interests and is not obsessed like I am(!).

immeww2 · Post by **immeww2** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:49 pm

I just say straight up that it's something I want since I collect these items. Most of the people then comment that I must've been in the military at one time or another, and my reply to them is "NO" "NEVER" to which they are completly surprised.

Morian Miner · Post by **Morian Miner** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:18 pm

I tell them they're mine, even when the kids are with me. I never say collector, though - after years of the Star Wars and Hot Wheels game, I don't like the term.

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:04 pm

The best looks I got at Wally World was when I happen to run into a HUGH sale of White Stuka Dive Bombers - 15.00 each! I snagged all 8 or 9 they had. Well, if you go trucking through the store with 9 big boxes, people are gonna stare at you. I just had a big old smile on my face as I parade up to the cash register. The cashier said, "Some kid is going to be happy" I just replied, "Yeah, REAL happy!"

Morian Miner · Post by **Morian Miner** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:22 pm

As humourous as the infamous Spitfire score. All but one were up on one of the high shelves they have on the walls.

Me:"Would you mind getting those down for me?"
Walmart Toy Dude:"Can do. How many do you want?"
Me: "Twelve."
WTD:"Huh....?"
Me: "Twelve."
repeat a couple times.

kevrut · Post by **kevrut** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:49 pm

I actually had a 10 minute conversation with a Wal-Mart employee at the register about the planes I was buying. Her husband (also WM employee) served in WWII. They both liked the planes. I too, have bought several planes at one time. It does turn a few heads.

kenhil2 · Post by **kenhil2** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:37 pm

i usually cop out and say its for my little cousin. most people just give you strange looks and dont understand why a grown man wants to buy toys

pokeyjtc · Post by **pokeyjtc** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:40 pm

I have used several lines when asked. One was "These were the toys I always wanted when I was a kid, and now they finally make them". Another reply is"I collect military stuff". Sometimes, I just buy my items as quickly as possible and try not to make eye contact because you can just tell when people are wondering why a 30 year old man is buying 6 figures, or 2 planes, or 4 vehicles at 1 in the morning.

My favorite time was when I was in TRU, my 6 BBI Paratroopers in hand, and this lady who was old enough to be my grandmother looks at me and asks me what I am buying my child. I have no kids and I was caught off guard by a total stranger I hadn't been paying any attention to. I just stopped and held up one of my figures and said '"army men" and then I walked to the check out as fast as I could.

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:31 am

I was buying a Tyco RC tank(a psuedo Abrams for $65) about 17 years ago at a local catalog store. The girl behind the counter gave me a strange look and I mumbled something about it was going to be hard to sneak it into the house so my son wouldnt see it, as it was a christmas present. She smiled and said "aww that is so nice". I probably could have gotten her phone number if 1)I wasnt spending all my free time messing with this stuff and 2) I hadnt given her the impression that I was married(which I wasnt at the time).
If someone says something about my purchases at the store, I tell them I am buying it to sell on Ebay for 5 times what I am paying for it. That usually shuts them down, especially if they are being fececious(a jerk). When people are at my house and see the collection filling the family room and ask why, I tell them the real one(M37) in the garage doesnt fit in the family room...

luftpanzer · Post by **luftpanzer** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:39 am

I dont care one way or the other what they think. But I do care what the wife will think. So my stories are usualy reserved for her.

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:35 am

Yeah, I go with the I am a teacher line. I tell them I hang up the airplanes in my room. Which I do hang planes in my room, but only 1/48 scale. My garage looks like an airtraffic controler's worst nightmare though. And in regards to the wife, I generally try to sneak it when she is not home. But, if she is home, I just leave it in the back of the stationwagon under some blankets for a while.

Aaron

JimBob55 · Post by **JimBob55** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:19 pm

I enjoy this thread. I have aircraft hanging in our computer room. This may expand to the family room (never the living room, says my wife!!) I also have a couple of select aircraft hanging on the wall at work, too. I work at a military museum, so it is somewhat accepted.

My wife is very supportive with this hobby. She even got me a bubble-top P-47 last Christmas. She happily calls me the world's oldest 10-year old? (really 50 now). Like some of you, she prefers this hobby to bar hopping, etc. She collects Longaberger baskets, and the 1:18th planes are much cheaper.

JimBob

NO EXCUSES NECESSARY

Post by **p51** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 4:34 pm

I don't think I've ever been asked that. Most of the time, the people are really interested in what they are. 'Oh, my son would love these!' Or 'My grandfather loves World War 2 airplanes, I need to get some of these!' Plus, I buy a lot of my aircraft toys from the Planes of Fame Museum... that's the one place where you'd look weird NOT buying them

donnieboy · Post by **donnieboy** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:11 pm

Probably 'cause I'm in my late fifties, people at Wal-Mart ask me if I'm getting these for my grandson. I tell them "let's just say there's gonna be one happy little feller tomorrow". Since I am rather short, this is not a lie!

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:48 am

Well i cannot speak on behalf of the other Brits here. I`ve found though anything that`s NOT Pub,Football (soccer) is always looked on as an oddity.

I point out which is better someone who spends £50-100 for a night out or spend £50-100 on his hobby where he could recuperate that if sold his collection.
Or someone who spends £300 on a season ticket for his team (that then looses most matches) who`s the brighter I for seeing my stuff & always feeling the winner or the sad sap wasting his cash on a loser team?

When you point it out to the "average" folk,well that makes them see straight away it`s not a silly/childish hobby.

Though with my height & build i`ve not really ever had any stick anyway......HAHAHAHA

Ja
Steel Bonnet

bluesparrow · Post by **bluesparrow** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:13 pm

Yeah I don't bother with excuses, every hobby's sort of weird if you take it far enough, why should I justify buying toys if football (american) fans don't have to justify stripping down and painting themselves to go to games in 30º weather?

More often than not the cashiers are surprised at how good the toys are. I think any of the negative sentiment goes back to people remembering how bad *their* toys were as kids. In which case wondering how people could buy them would certainly make sense.

But realistically, especially in this subset, what kids are buying these toys? If I felt odd about buying something I'd question whether it's even worth buying - 21st and BBi figures and vehicles quality is self-apparant.

mondaytanker · Post by **mondaytanker** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:33 am

This is a funny thread. I was just thinking the other day how comfortable I felt wandering around the toy department at WM with a bunch of children looking at other toys. I'm now 30 as well. It's much easier when I have my 3 1/2 year old daughter with me.

I haven't had to lie to the checkout yet. But I have gotten funny looks from the TRU checkouts when I answer "no" to "Would you like a gift receipt?".

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:30 pm

I just simply say, "I really dig this stuff man" !

eddie372 · Post by **eddie372** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:04 pm

Yeah, this thread is funny.

I don't really get asked at the stores, although I buy most of my airplanes online.

The people that always ask questions are the ones that come to my house to visit. Almost without exception, people say that they'd get nightmares if they were sleeping under this improvised 'european theater' in my master bedroom. Yeap, German ones facing south and american and british facing north.

The first person that ever said that (a girl) made me lough. But after I started hearing it from males and everyone else at different times, I thought it was kind of weird.

What's really cute is my wife's response to these comments: Actually, she says, I feel kind of protected by all these planes.

KAMIKAZE · Post by **KAMIKAZE** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:24 pm

I tell people that I'm an escaped mental patient with a history of violence and I just love things that go boooommm!

This works great for the girls at the register. For the general public I tell them that the planes are for an sneak attack my daughter has been planning for months on a neighboring kids birthday party and that I figured out how to put motors in them and make them drop REAL bombs. That usually shuts up the stupid ones

Most of the time I tell people I am an amature history buff and buy these toys for their historical importance and acurracy. And that story is great for the smart people.

hworth18 · Post by **hworth18** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:35 pm

I think the checkout girls get a chuckle when I tell them that I don't play with all of them, just a few...

Post by **p51** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:45 pm

A really good gal friend of mine walked into my room Sunday as we were leaving for a Star Wars costume exhibit... most people see the massive amount of aircraft and WW2 items in here and say things like 'oh my gosh!' or 'whoa', etc. Usually really 'you're crazy' type astonished remarks. My friend was the first person to be totally opposite! She walked in here and the first things she said was 'This is sooo cool!'

Small Scale Military Headquarters

So What's Your Excuse??

So What's Your Excuse??

xd

excuse?

So What's Your Excuse?

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