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« on: March 20, 2014, 08:31 PM »
This whole sub-section of the thread should probably be a topic unto itself. Clearly, distribution is an issue at this time. And there are significant issues that are contributing to the problems we're encountering.
RETAILERS - Clearly, some of them are being far more conservative with their buying. Sales in the action figure segment are down across the board because of a shift with kids toward video games. WalMart seems to have pulled back in light of the TPM 3D debacle and the stock from that time that is STILL in stores. Target seems to be managing their inventory even more aggressively than they have in the past with fewer orders. And TRU is having issues maintaining their own business model. The expansion into Disney stores certainly helps Hasbro, but we'll have to see how that pans out. Disney stores aren't quite as plentiful as other chain stores and may have some difficulties managing their inventory down the line.
PRODUCTION - The lead time from producing a figure until the time it gets to store shelves is considerable. A production run may take weeks. Then there's overseas shipping, customs and distribution to retailers. And this isn't accounting for production schedules at the factories, which are also turning out other Hasbro properties on a schedule. The Hasbro Star Wars team can't simply call the factory and say "Hey, Darth Plagueis is really selling well! Churn out another 3,000 and get them to me next week!" And that kind of slow roll is likely why it's taken Hasbro 2 years to get Bastila reissued, too. They simply aren't capable of turning on a dime like a smaller company.
Product is likely to be more readily available as the marketing for REBELS starts to ramp up.