JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => 30th Anniversary Collection => Topic started by: Brian on March 22, 2007, 10:07 AM
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With the TAC starting to hit the pegs, I was curious which route everyone is taking in picking up these figures. I used to have to rely online (either through stores or through others helping) for so many figures, but since we moved to "the city", I have had a little better luck in finding things at retail - at least for the most part. With a baby on the way this summer, I know that my trips out to check the stores will be a lot more limited - and for the most part, collecting Star Wars around here is sort of "buy it when you see it" for many figures over the past couple years, and I don't see that changing this year. Anyways, with that in mind, I've considered ordering more things online. I have "sets" of the next couple waves preordered through BBTS (partially as "insurance" in case I can't find them at retail), but I've noticed that those preorders have started to get more and more expensive (up to $10 per figure on average, plus shipping). I know many people go with cases, which is probably cheaper, but that's something I've never done before just due to the overall price of things - and in some cases, the extras. Anyways, I was curious what everyone does in there shopping habits - do you rely totally on retail, do you order/preorder some things online "just in case", or do you order cases and basically not worry about retail outside of exclusives? I usually like to just find things at retail, but like I said, I don't know if I'll be able to get out as much this year - and this could actually be a year where I want one of each basic figure - due to that darn coin promo :).
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I usually preorder just in case and cancel if i find them at retail first.
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The hunt is the best part for me so i'm all retail. Ordering online usually takes the fun out of it and a box coming to the house usually angers the Mrs...
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I switched over to trying to buy all my basic figures on-line this year. My Wave 1 case from New Force worked out to $6.75 per figure! That's less than Target/Wal-Mart cost and they were shipped right to my door - you can't beat that! I'll still be hunting the Target and Wal-Mart exclusives at retail though. Those cost waaaaay too much to try to get on-line from the scalpers.
Luckily, the Target exclusives are pretty easy to nab around these parts and it only takes a day or two of hunting when they hit locally to get them. Wal-Mart exclusives on the other hand... Ugh. ::) Those things are a bit more work for me to track down, but luckily I have a nice local gang that watches out for each other, which makes things much easier for everyone. :)
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I'm going for retail - I have picked up all I want from Wave 1 that way.
If I couldn't get what I was after at retail for the rest then hopefully I would be able to trade for them at a forum before going ebay / etailer.
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I am trying to go exclusively online this year. Just to see if it can be done. I'll do my army building through retail and trades, but other than that, I am going to get cases from EE.com or New Force or any other Collector Friendly site that pops up that can be trusted...
Like Jeff, I'll go hunt exlusives once I hear they have hit town, but other than that...it is Toys at my door....
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I will have to go the retail route. My wife does not like it when I buy Star Wars in bulk and especially when it arrives at the door for her to see. Plus, she'll see the $80 plus case assortment on the credit card bill and get ticked. But if I buy here and there at retail then all is well in the Broem household. For some reason multiple items at one time sets her off.
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That's another reason why I go the retail route - it seems to sit better with the wifey. I think its better if I pick things up in small doses here and there, instead of the big bulk charge at one time. That's the reason I haven't gone the case route in the past, seeing that big $80-$100 charge on the credit card doesn't look too good :).
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Getting extras I don't want kills me so I probably won't be going the etail route this year for much. I will be ordering a vintage case from NFC as I did last year. That's the only way to go on those IMO.
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The first wave I got through retail, and after seeing what chasing these McQuarrie figures might be like this year, I ordered a set of wave two and a case of wave 3 through BBTS.
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Unless I get another lucky break with a WM leaving their basic figures at half price, I'm with Jeff. NFC all the way.
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The hunt is the best part for me so i'm all retail. Ordering online usually takes the fun out of it and a box coming to the house usually angers the Mrs...
Well, I dont have a Mrs, but thats pretty much how I see it. The hunt is the best part, and finding em at the WM price after a good long hunt is the second best part.
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I like the hunt and I don't like a wait. Thats what makes me like retail more, and the only thing thatll make me resort to ebay is if I cant find a fig I want really really badly at retail.
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retail..my parents refuse to let me buy online.
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retail..my parents refuse to let me buy online.
Show them how it could save them money. They'll love that. ;)
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Well if could find what I want online, I'd buy it... :'(
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For those who want to shop online, Newforce comics put up Wave 3 and the Vinatge line for presale.
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Mostly retail, but when I see a fair deal online I'll go for it.
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More and more I buy online. Plus I get it sooner without dealing with the fat bearded scalpers. I rather save the gas and time. I just turned 30 and I am getting very bored of going in stores and leaving empty handed. I still store hunt only before work so its nice and early to beat them. Its the damn exclusives they keep me going.
Online the way to go I already have TAC wave 2, Sith infiltrator, V wing as of 2 weeks ago. The little hunting I do satisfies the competitive hunting spirit I have left.
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Quick question for online shoppers - does EntertainmentEarth.com double box when they ship? Last year, when I ordered from them, I received everything minty mint and double boxed.
Just recently I received a case that wasn't double boxed and in rough shape.
Kind of a big deal as I like to keep some figures carded.
Any experiences or insight is greatly appreciated.
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Quick question for online shoppers - does EntertainmentEarth.com double box when they ship? Last year, when I ordered from them, I received everything minty mint and double boxed.
Just recently I received a case that wasn't double boxed and in rough shape.
Kind of a big deal as I like to keep some figures carded.
Any experiences or insight is greatly appreciated.
I think my stuff from them has always been double boxed. Themint condition guarantee on figures, so you should send it back and request a replacement if the cards were damaged. I sent a package back years ago and they were very prompt in sending me a new one.
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I agree with JediJmam about calling them on the Mint Condition Guaranteed. I ordered everything from them via will call and I still got my orders double boxed.
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I picked up all of my EU Comic Packs, Wave 3, and Vintage at retail. With Wave 4, I bought all I wanted from Amazon. I could see online purchasing being my new standard for figures.
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I'm going to roll with New Force from here on out to whatever extent the case assortments make sense to do so.
The rest I'll go retail.
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Quick question for online shoppers - does EntertainmentEarth.com double box when they ship? Last year, when I ordered from them, I received everything minty mint and double boxed.
Just recently I received a case that wasn't double boxed and in rough shape.
Kind of a big deal as I like to keep some figures carded.
Any experiences or insight is greatly appreciated.
If anything weird happens with your order that in any way causes it to arrive in less than what you deem mint condition, please call us at Entertainment Earth (1-800-370-2320) and let us know-- we have the guarantee to make sure you're happy with your order should any snags cause your figures unnecessary scratches and/or dents. I'm not kidding when I say we want to hear from you if anything happens to your order that you may not entirely be thrilled with.
(/dayjob hat)
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Thanks for the advice - I sent an email to CS kindly requesting that my future orders be double boxed.
I don't think that's too much to ask considering NF and others do it...and their prices are cheaper.
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I rather just online if I can.... Gas costs to much when the scalpers have already gotten everything.
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I went ahead and pretty much pre-ordered everything so far this year, especially with the new baby and being tied to home a bit more right now. It has worked out pretty well so far, and I've gotten each wave before it has hit retail. If for some reason I find them in the stores first, I could always cancel the order. There hasn't been any sign of Wave 4 or beyond here yet, and Legends has been more uncommon as well, but I think I've seen each figure from the first three TAC waves in the stores at least once.
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I've been ordering everything online since wave 3. The only problem is that Entertainment Earth has yet to fill any of my preorders and New Force has already shipped all of their preorders for the same waves. I'm not even sure I'm going to get my wave 4 revision cases and wave 5 case from EE. At least I preordered the remaining waves through New Force. Hopefully they can come through. The only thing I've seen at retail are the ROJ Luke and CZ-4 as far as new waves go. That was just yesterday. It's just easier to think that the shipping charge is less than all the gas I'm going to blow through trying to hunt these down.
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Online is the way to go the stores runs are not really worth it anymore in my opinion. Too many disappointments of leaving with no figures. I already have wave 5 in hand today from D&S. I am tired of the early morning runs to beat the Hot Wheels crowd for UGH's. Wave 4 is really scarce here. D&S & New Force are the best place to preorder from. EE is too slow and more expensive.
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D&S? I'm not familiar with them. Are they a solid resource? What's the URL if you don't mind?
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I ordred it all online. NJ is scalper heaven. I barely see anything. I basically go to the stores just to buy openers i may want.
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Yeah, I can't find anything around here because the
scalpers guys from Minnesota have nothing else better to do.
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We're not all that bad....Just Vlady ;) I think he takes monthly trips out there, so be on the lookout.
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We're not all that bad....Just Vlady ;) I think he takes monthly trips out there, so be on the lookout.
To be fair, no one would have expected Iowa to actually be ahead of other parts of the country at any point in time...
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Well it would not be that BAD if Target would actually start to stock w4&5. TRUS has barley started to get W4, so that put all the presure on Wal Mart and all the scalpers know this and rape the pegs leaving nothing for the true COLLECTORS!
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Along the same lines of this question, if you have been buying figures at retail this year - which store has been the best source so far? I've been preordering sets online, because I don't have as much time to hunt, but I've seen every figure from waves 1-3 at retail so far (no 4 or 5 yet though). I've picked up some "extras" as well, along the way. I would say Target and TRU have been the best so far, with TRU maybe being the best source here locally. I've seen the first three waves' McQuarrie figures at TRU at least twice (surprisingly), and they also have a good supply of Legends. Ever since a new Super Target opened in town, they have been well stocked with 1-3 and Legends as well. Wal-mart has been a no show. They are finally getting something in the TAC packaging, some Wave 1 Legends. Those are the first new line figures there all year. I think, aside from one AOTC Clone, I haven't bought a single basic figure at Wal-Mart this year. Its been nice avoiding there though, as our closest store is always crazy busy and in general disarray. I think until some of their exclusives (comic packs/Rebo band) start hitting, I'll avoid it altogether.
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Along the same lines of this question, if you have been buying figures at retail this year - which store has been the best source so far?
For me, if it hasn't come from NewForce (30AC), it's probably from Target (Legends, Comic Packs, Battle Packs, GH, Vehicles, exclusives).
The only things I buy at Wal-Mart and TRU are the exclusives, because it's just not worth it for me to go to those 2 stores that often when I have 3-4 Targets that I pass on the way to get to either of them... :P
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D&S? I'm not familiar with them. Are they a solid resource? What's the URL if you don't mind?
www.dnstoys.com - Very, very good site - just wish they'd update their page a bit more often.
And the owner, Dave, is an extremely nice person. I've interacted with a few owners from various e-tailers over the years, and none were as personable as he was (at least in my experience).
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If not online, the only place i have found anything is KB and TRU. They are the only stores with new product. Walmart and Target hace not restocked since wave 2.
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This year, not including army builders, my buying has come at 80/20 in favor of online.
Saves me in gas, time and frustration. And saving on the "GTF" factor as I'm calling it, has become a big thing for me. Hmm, maybe I should switch that to GFT so it looks like "gift." heh heh.
As far as which store has been teh best at retail, that by far has to be TRU for me. But that's sort of a bias as I now am in a program that saves me 10 cents per gallon of gas for every $50 I spend in gift cards at TRU (as well as other retailors/restaraunts/etc). I've had several free tanks of gas because of this.
Target just doesn't get as much in as it used to and Wal*Marts are near dead around me.
I've actually been very happy to buy from TRU. We ALL need TRU to stay in business. For one it keeps the big boxes in order and competition as well. But ther very idea of NOT having a toy store to get toys from astounds me. When I think retail toys, I think TRU.
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I agree on the point about TRU. Aside from occasionally higher prices and the fact that they rarely clearance things, I really hope that our store is doing well and won't be closed like so many others have. Regardless of prices/etc., its a "fun" place to go - and I remember being amazed the few times we got to go there when I was a kid (we lived in a small town, so only got to go on the rare occasions we drove the hour to the nearest one). I hope the store is always there for kids' sakes if nothing else.
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I'm almost exclusively getting my stuff at Target or from friends who have ordered online. W1-3 was all Target (maybe 3-4 figs from TRU), and W4 came from buddies. TRU's hours are too limited and there's only one nearby; Wal-mart's 24 hour policy makes it tough to figure out when new stuff will arrive and it always seems picked over by the time I get there. There's also only one even remotely nearby versus 6-7 Targets and even a Kmart in closer proximity.
I would buy more online if it wasn't for the mixed assortments. I've bought cases from NF and EE before, but I hate getting duplicates that I don't need. If you get the case early, you can sell them to friends, but if the cases arrive later than retail, you're stuck with extra product that you don't need. :-\
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I've gone online for everything so far this year, and that has worked out pretty well. I'm caught up (aside from extras) through Wave 6, and I haven't seen anything past a few Wave 4 figures here locally (our WM is packed with older TSC figures, so they've been worthless for anything newer). I've got the remaining three waves preordered as well, but I'm wondering if I should cancel them or not. With everything hitting so heavy this back half of the year, its making the credit card bills look scary - and making the wife unhappy. Has anyone else been relying on retail this year, or is it easier to go online? I don't think it would have been so bad if things were spread out a little more, instead of getting waves 4-9 in 3-4 months.
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...Has anyone else been relying on retail this year, or is it easier to go online?...
Most of my spending is online. No stress, no wasted gas, more time for myself instead of always on the hunt.
Dont' get me wrong I'll still go in stores if I happen to be out and they are on the way, but that's only for extras. And if I don't find those extras I don't worry about it.
Collecting has been much easier this year because of this.
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Retail. Always retail. I live for the "thrill of the hunt", so shopping online is basically "cheating" to me. ;) Of course, I have the luxury of being in SoCal, where there's about 30 Target stores within an hour of me, and another 20+ WMs and TRUs, so I'm lucky in that respect. However, I can see how folks in other areas that have only one or two (poorly stocked) stores nearby would definitely want to go with the online route instead.
I do shop online whenever there's an online exclusive (like at EE), of course. Maybe an eBay purchase from time to time as well, but that's about the extent of online shopping for me. Of course, with gas prices surging way over $3 a gallon again, and traffic being as ****** as it is in L.A., I may need to start rethinking my shopping methodologies soon here... :-\