Thanks everyone -
Sorry I didn't share more story this morning - I was running out the door to hit the downtown WalMart tent that didn't exist. *cough* SPRRY75/Ryan *cough*
Ryan and I decided to head out together last night kind of at the last minute.
We decided to drive to Payson Walmart for midnight and work our way back.
We arrived at about 11:15 and went back to check the aisle out. There was a tape across the area with a note about Star Wars not being sold until 12 am.
They were still pulling a lot of the self-contained pallets out of the back, and Sprry and I asked if we could check out the aisle - the toy guy was totally cool, and even let us start filling our carts.
We had the aisle to ourselves for a good 45 minutes.
There weren't any figures beyond #32, and I was pretty minimal in what I wanted, so this was even a bigger bummer. The toy guy really thought he had seen the Clone Pilot (no way) and allowed us to open sealed 3 3/4 cases on a pallet and go through them. I know! It was so taboo. I felt dirty, and was certain someone else would come along at any moment and bust us.
But they didn't.
Scored one red and one blue guard, and left about ten (at least) of each there. D'oh! If I only knew.
Then we hit Springville Walmart, and I got the AT-RT like the tard that I am. $20 for a poorly painted figure who is eternally in the taking a dump position. They had the super-secret tent, and I was really pissed to learn that the early bird wouldn't be around until 8, and only in the tent. Suck.
Next we went to Orem TRU and saw Randy (Mandalorian Candidat) and Ryan2. I met Dave for the first time there, which was cool and another Randy. Nice to finally have the community aspect of the evening - we stood around talking for a while.
I'm a total tool, so I convinced Sprry to stop off at the AM FK Walmart even though I knew deep inside it would be a waste. We got a glimpse of the Early Bird throught the tent flap before the security guard made it clear we weren't getting in, even for a look around.
Dropped Ryan off at about 2:30 I think.
This morning I basically drove around looking for that dang ARC-170, and the Early Bird.
Walmart 13th - squat
Target 106th - Easy score on Lava Vader & I saw Abel
Abel told me that 106th didn't have any Early Bird sets, so I skipped them
Target Redwood 70ish - squat
Murray TRU - Met Jason Gibson in line because they don't open until 10 now, and we both thought 9:30. Nice guy. Also had the incredible line cutting bitch who wouldn't tell me what she was after and then didn't like it when I asked her how cutting in line worked for her in her life. She gave me a sad dance about how she had been in her car since 9 until she saw Jason and I cue up. I didn't really care, since I was there for sand for the sand box more than SW, but she was still a piece of work.
Kmart 9th E - crap, and not much shelf space
Smith's 3300 S - Bupkis - nothing even out
Kmart Parley's - boring
It didn't feel like a launch. It was great to hang out with Ryan, but I expected more stuff and more people. I was glad to not have the competiton at Payson, but felt a little dumb to be one of so few out that late.
Now to decide what I'm opening today, what I'm keeping around for a while, and what goes back the next time I walk into a Walmart.
BTW - EVERYONE gets the $1 off at Target, card or not. They scanned a photocopy at the register when I was at 106th S.