I think we're feeling the crunch from several directions. Stores are ordering less, Hasbro is producing less, there's more competition with holiday shoppers, etc.

I think it's very much a function of your local area and your focus as to what your perception is. I bitch and moan as much as anyone, but I've never had any trouble finding the new comic packs, for example. The Targets around here are littered with Geonosis arena sets, and I've even seen a strong showing of AT-ST's in the past week.

But no sign of the new wave of Battle Packs, and very few Dewbacks so far.

I do think we're at the point where they just need to go ahead and release anything due for the rest of the year. We're down to 6 weeks of shopping before Christmas, for god's sake. (Target - why are you sitting on the Ryloth and Abregado battle packs - THIS IS ASININE! Don't you see the benefit of stocking these for holiday shoppers?!?!)

All I know is I can't wait for the dirty Red Y-Wing from Landing at Point Rain...they gotta roll that out next year.

I found Wave 10 at Walmart today! Padme, Matchstick, Ziro's Assassin Droid AND the Tank Gunner...all mine. 

They only had 1 each on some less than pristine cards, but no way I was passing those up. FREAKING SWEET!

I just wonder if we're liable to see Wave 11 before the end of the year or if this is it for 2009. I had seen a December street date for these but who knows.

Either way, it's been a good run this year!

Well, just based on what I saw this weekend on the hunt, I'd be worried more about finding the Dewback than the AT-ST. The 2 stores around here with the AT-ST on display had A LOT. They completely filled their own endcap. Like the Octuptarra Droid, the stores that have them have lots of stock, it appears.

I've only seen 1 Wally with Dewbacks, and they just had 3. Those will go quick.

Yeah, I wish I could post a pic before I send it back. I'm pretty hopeless with that stuff though.

All I know is that I examined both repeatedly and stared REALLY hard trying to convince myself the two were different and I could not. Whereas I look at the pic you posted and the difference is quite obvious.

I went ahead and snagged that All-Tan-Limb Klaatu I had my eye on...even without the weapon this was too good to pass up for the price. I looked closely and definitely have the grey version already, so this should complete my Klaatu run. (Not worried about the mix and match color variants, and I don't buy that "blue face" variant people are trying to pass off on eBay)

I had a hard time tracking my rum down as well.  Kohl's has come in pretty handy these past few holiday years on toys - at least for me.  It's the only retailer out there that I was able to find the ROTF ice cream truck at.

I stopped at Kohl's this weekend after reading your comment but they only had Yarna, Stass, and the Organas. 

Did we really need MORE stores carrying those? Ugh.

Well, really it's not so much a question of finding one, as finding one that is ACTUALLY, obviously Blue. The last one I bought off eBay, which I have to ship back tomorrow, looked blue in the photo but when I got it it was the same shade of purple as the one I had. (Seller SWEARS it is really the blue one)

I don't know what to think, honestly. I mean, I can tell purple from blue, the pics from JediJman look obvious enough to me. Compounding my uncertainty is some speculation I have read online that this is not a true variant, but a simple color degradation of the soft goods over time. I'm not sure I buy that, but it does make me wonder.

I'm likely going to try picking up another one this week or next; maybe I will have better luck.

RE: Klaatu: yeah, the mix and match limbs seem to be the more common of the variants for this fig. I actually want one with ALL tan limbs, which I have a line on but haven't pulled the trigger yet. (soon)

Is it just me or does one of those seem oddly out of place?

I like the comedic value of the Sith Reunion, but it doesn't really seem to fit in with the rest of the selections. (IE: not a recreated scene from one of the films)

I had to vote for Bespin Carbon Freeze. Thos pics are like looking at still shots right from the movie. The attention to detail is amazing, especially the lighting. Hoth Hangar was a close second.