The wild resale prices of TransLink's Compass Soccer Mini keychains
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, TransLink released a limited-edition Compass Mini keychain, shaped like a soccer ball.
It caused a stir, to say the least. Daily Hive Urbanized was on the ground on release day and documented the record-breaking lines on Saturday, June 6.
The sale started at 9 a.m., but TransLink told Daily Hive that there was not only an estimated 5,000 people in line by 8 a.m., but that some were camped out the night before with air mattresses and camp chairs.
While TransLink has released a number of collectibles — most recently the Hello Kitty Compass cards — a spokesperson told Daily Hive Urbanized they’ve never seen this level of demand.
Like any Compass Card, people paid a $6 refundable deposit. Now, some people are trying to capitalize on the moment and sell these minis for exorbitant prices.
While it might not have the official FIFA World Cup branding (it is TransLink’s soccer-themed branding), the excitement around Vancouver hosting the games could be part of the reason for the demand.
TransLink only released 10,000 Compass Soccer Mini keychains, with 8,000 of them blue for adults and 2,000 orange for youth and seniors. People in line were limited to purchasing two minis.
On Facebook Marketplace, we saw one seller first try to list one for a whopping $170. However, they’ve brought their price down to $80.
On Craigslist, however, it seems like sellers are holding firm.
Craigslist
One user listed the orange meant for youth and seniors at $225 each and the blue for $115 each.
They offered a “bonus” if you bought both together, saying they’d throw in a FIFA World Cup “commemorative dollar coin.” (Or, you could buy that on its own for $5.)
Craigslist
Another person listed a mini at “$120 OBO” (or best offer), saying that they will ignore low-ball offers.
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