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Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => The Legacy Collection => Topic started by: speedermike on September 28, 2009, 11:45 PM

Title: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: speedermike on September 28, 2009, 11:45 PM
I've been collecting since 1995 (and had a vinatge collection ) and I have to say, that for distribution, 2009 has been the worst year ever.  Over the years, the only figure that I never found on the pegs was Swimming Jar-Jar.  But this year, I missed the entire AOTC wave.  Not only that, but whole waves of Clone Wars are coming in and dissapearing in hours.  At this point, I honestly don't know what I've even missed, and I'm ususally really fanatic about this stuff.

On top of that, I can no longer make the amount of toy runs that I once did, because I now pick up my son from school.

I'm very happy with the product, but there's just too much and it goes by too fast.  Who knows, maybe Nov/Dec will be like Nov/Dec 2007, where I bought 4 waves in about 2 weeks...
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: CHEWIE on September 29, 2009, 12:15 AM
Well, the quality of the Legacy line has been outstanding in my opinion this year.  But the problem is the distribution in my opinion - too much CW and Legends crap being shipped in ridiculous numbers.  We were talking about this at Yak recently that this seems to be the absolute worst distribution since 1999 when there was a glut of Wave 1 and 2 stuff everywhere from TPM.

Legacy seems to have done great though, and I can barely find B.A.D. stuff other than the ones that were major pegwarmers such as Yarna and the Organas.  However, the figures that Hasbro claims are the hot figures (CW and Legends) are the ones I see collecting dust.  Seems obvious that they say those are the hottest ones for one reason and one reason only - they're the higher PROFIT lines for them per figure.  It's all repacks in the Legends line and mostly minimal sculpting/articulation in the CW line.  To me when they say those are the hot lines, they're full of you know what.

BTW, www.hasbrotoyshop.com hasn't been bad about stocking some of the figures you are talking about not being able to find.  You might want to check there for things you've missed. 

Also, I know you said that CW stuff is selling out in your area fast, wish that were the case here in STL.  It's anything but that at the stores in these parts.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on September 29, 2009, 12:23 AM
Great thread. I could not agree more in terms of distribution, this year has/is truly terrible and very inconsistent. I put a large portion of the distribution/delay problems on TF2 and Joe movie toys. That alone took a lot of energy on Hasbro's part to produce and market, in the end SW has suffered in my estimate (and my experienced in the Toy industry). They use a lot of the same factories and they can produce only so much, and it has taken a toll. With Joe somewhat flopping, TF2 not selling like the first movie it makes it a bit aggravating to me that they are not making the stuff that actually sells fast enough. But a lot of the problems are the Clone Wars taking more precedence. CW had more consistency than Legacy.

Since late 2006 the line has progressively been getting worse in terms of distribution and timing. TAC in general ran fairly smoothly (sans wave 5), especially when compared to this years waves. 2008 was so lopsided and very slow off the bat, Hasbro is just falling further behind. The 08 summer glut was overkill and the end was dry as a bone which set the stage for this year. Distribution has been disastrous with a drought for months then too much at once like we are experiencing now. 2009 has 5 waves and oodles of exclusives in a little over 3 months. On top of all of that the case ratios are 1 of every new figure which is going to make it harder than ever before to find army builders and extras. All of these factors do not make collecting fun, it makes it very tedious.

The product is truly great, if it was not for that I am not sure what would keep us in. I have been ordering entire wave cases online since mid 2006 after I was sick of hunting so I have not had an issue getting everything I wanted. But even that has become harder as several retailers stopped selling and some have taken so long big box stores have gotten them in first. Without BBTS right now I would be screwed. I no longer have the time or desire to go on massive hunts. I was happy to pay for shipping on the Amazon Target Geo sets, that to me was worth the time and gas saved. The WM DF2 sets were the first time that I really had to "work" to find them and I still had to pay a small premium to get the 3 extra sets I wanted. As I read the stories of difficulties finding stuff, reading Hasbro's Legacy woes and seeing the stores empty pegs I more committed to ordering online than ever before.

My hats off to anyone who enjoys the hunt and does not order online. If I was 18 again I might enjoy it like I did in 1995 but being and old man & father at 32 I am not going to compete to spend my money with some other boob waiting in the morning when the doors open.

2 more waves are scheduled for October so I am anticipating the remaining stuff to be in a glut mode of 4 waves in two weeks. I am 100% caught up sans 6 more Geo Assault packs but last week alone I got bombarded with so much at once I did not get to enjoy the newness. It's like getting good coffee before dinner only to have them serve you so fast you do not get to taste it or enjoy it.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Ghost of QG on September 29, 2009, 12:52 AM
I'm gonna have to disagree. The entire 2009 line-up, minus the new comic packs, have been seen multiple times in my area. Might be a store issue, and not Hasbro's fault( they're already guilty of too much!!!) IMO I htink Hasbro's done a pretty good job. With that being said, case assortments have been extremely crappy!!!!
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on September 29, 2009, 01:05 AM
I'm gonna have to disagree. The entire 2009 line-up, minus the new comic packs, have been seen multiple times in my area. Might be a store issue, and not Hasbro's fault( they're already guilty of too much!!!) IMO I htink Hasbro's done a pretty good job. With that being said, case assortments have been extremely crappy!!!!

I truly mean no offense by this but when you live in highly populated areas their are a lot more collectors and competition competing for the few figure pout there including the new crappy case ratios. It's all relative to where you live. While you may be finding stuff now there is also no denying the consistency of waves. Drought then gluts.

I have been with this line since 95, lived in NJ/Philly area, Ca and Chicago so I have a perspective from the East & West Coast and the Midwest, this year's distribution is truly the worst. I do not say that lightly as I defend Hasbro, I turned down a job there last summer, I love the company. If it was not for location I would be working on this stuff so I am not a hater. They are great guys but as I said I put more of the blame on their movie push.  Nevertheless I hope we as a community press the issue and step up to support the line. I like to see it go until 2018 when they have to renew the license.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Darth_Anton on September 29, 2009, 10:17 AM
I dunno. The first saga line was pretty bad. There was actually a wave that I never seen hit here in LA, and I was looking.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Phrubruh on September 29, 2009, 11:39 AM
Around here I believe stores don't even bother stocking Legacy figures. They keep the pegs full of CW or Legends figures but I have never seen the last three waves. This is weird considering in the past I had no problem finding anything.  Even ebay has been pretty low on the last three waves of Legacy figures.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Greedo The Green Menace on September 29, 2009, 12:13 PM
It's been hard this year, but I still find that the 2002 AOTC Saga line was the worst for distribution. At least here in Canada, so much product glut and barely anything new aside from the first couple of waves.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Brian on September 29, 2009, 01:09 PM
I think that 2009 has been one of the worst as far as distribution goes as well, at least for the Legacy line.  We also had a lot of problems locally with the 2002 Saga line that has already been mentioned in this thread.  Like it has been said, I think the 2009 product has been some of the best ever.  I've mentioned it before, but the Legacy figures coming out lately have really been top notch.  It used to be that there would be one or two really good figures in a given wave, a couple of "ok" ones, and usually at least one craptastic one.  Anymore, it is difficult to even find a bad figure in the Legacy line.

The distribution of the Legacy line has been another story.  I've seen (and can probably still find) lots of the first ANH wave (or wave 5 is it?) with Han/Luke Stormy, Cantina Aliens, etc.  I saw the ESB and AOTC waves once each I think, a few weeks after I received them from BBTS and/or HTS.  On the other hand, I've seen every Clone Wars figure released so far this year, and several times.  Heck, the pegs at both Target and WM right now are packed full of the most recent figures.  They seem to sell ok, but are starting to sit a little bit more now.  Actually, longer than I would have thought.  I can remember a time where any new figure, particularly a new clone or bounty hunter-type one, would be "blink and you miss them" - but I've seen figures like Cad Bane and Gree several times, and even sitting for days in some cases.

I've mentioned it in other threads, but the two to three lines at the same time really proves a problem.  They may be seperate numbers, seperate pegs, and labeled differently - but they all get jammed together.  Heck, since getting laid off early this year I've picked up a part time morning job at Target (stocking) and I know for a fact I'm the only one who stocks the lines on the proper pegs.  I check the next day (or after a day I haven't been in), and they are all mixed together again.  I think that proves a problem as well.  I can understand the animated style CW figures and all, they seem to be a great success, but it is too bad there isn't a better way to keep CW and TLC seperate (and drop Legends altogether).  I used to sort of enjoy the thrill of finding new figures on the pegs, but I've gotten to where I just order entire waves at BBTS as well (and have done that for over a year).  If I happen to find them at retail first, I can always cancel, but the prices are reasonably in line and I'd rather pay a little extra and have them than have to search weeks upon weeks for them.  Also, like others, I'm at a point in my life now at 32 where I just don't have time to search every store all the time for this stuff.  Exclusives are enough work to track down sometimes, I don't need to do it with the basic line too.

Also, the whole releasing 3/4 of the line in the last four months of the year is a big problem, maybe the main one even.  If these waves were spread out about every six weeks or so throughout the year, it would probably help a lot.  Instead we've had these three month dry spells, then a wave, then a couple more months, then two waves, then a month and then 4-6 waves in 3 months time.  Hopefully they can get away from that pattern in 2010, particularly if we keep seeing more and more exclusives in the last 1/3 of the year.  I remember towards the end of 2005 telling my wife that "Star Wars will be slowing down more each year from now on", but I now find myself buying/searching for more stuff than I did in the big ROTS year.  The number of exclusives is higher all the time (not to mention the prices), and the basic figure line has just as many releases (and a whole other line if you collect CW too, which I have been for the most part).  Add in distribution problems to an increasing number of releases, and it makes it problematic.

Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on September 29, 2009, 01:20 PM
Oh, let me count the ways to rant on this topic!

For me this is without question the worst year ever but I don't have the historical context that some of you do. This is the first year I really got SERIOUS about this hobby and Distribution of Product is easily my #1 problem.

It's just horrible, arbitrary, inconsistent, baffling, etc.

It all starts with Hasbro and their complete lack of information. I find it INCONCEIVABLE that a toy company wouldn't have comprehensive listings for all their toys on their website, each individually catalogued with pictures and details. If you woke up today and said "Hey, I want to buy everything from the Clone Wars line" there is absolutely no place to go for that information other than fan sites, which are almost always sloppy or incomplete.

EVERY TOY HASBRO HAS EVER MADE FOR SW SHOULD BE ARCHIVED ON THEIR WEBSITE - PERIOD.

Next - release dates. Why does Hasbro even bother publicizing these when they are so grossly inaccurate?!?! The Clone Wars Wave 10 had placards at SDCC saying "Available 7/31" and they STILL have yet to show up at retail!!! None of their toys ever show up even remotely close to when they are supposed to come out. I know a lot of this is store driven, but I continue to insist that if they can do it with DVD's, they can do it with toys. Pick a release date, ship it out and display it on that date.

Case assortments/repacks/etc - just crazy. You know, more than one person might actually like to buy a new SW figure when they are released! All I see now is new stuff flying off the shelves and old junk languishing there. How did it get so bad? Obviously they have begun trimming the new content back, resulting in a disproportionate amount of old swag impeding the flow.

They need a faster, tighter, more robust business model.

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"My hats off to anyone who enjoys the hunt and does not order online. If I was 18 again I might enjoy it like I did in 1995 but being and old man & father at 32 I am not going to compete to spend my money with some other boob waiting in the morning when the doors open."

This made me laugh. I am an old man and father at 38 and still love the thrill of the hunt. Since I am also a husband, online ordering is out of the question. The next big box that arrives at my house will spark an argument of epic proportions. (Wives appreciate SW toys about as much as they do the 3 Stooges)

I don't feel as if I have to compete with anyone here in VA. I've never run across anyone from my area in any of the other SW forums, and I have my Hunt Vector structured for maximum efficiency so it is no problem hitting 15-20 stores every week. And i've never seen any poor shlub waiting when the doors opened, except myself (once). I definitely feel lucky that it's mostly kid interest around these parts.

Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Nicklab on September 29, 2009, 02:18 PM
What we're dealing with now in Hasbro's distribution stream is the aftermath of the economic crisis.  Hasbro stated explicitly at Comic Con that they were caught very much off guard by the economic downturn, especially as it pertains to the planning of the first few waves of the Legacy Collection.  Those waves were planned prior to the downturn really hitting, and the production numbers were high.  

What's happened since?  Sales among the collector base went down dramatically.  And pegwarming became commonplace.  Anyone remember the Yarna situation?  It didn't happen that long ago.  And on that particular issue, I think collectors need to accept some responsibility for that fiasco.  But Saga Legends continued to sell, as did Clone Wars.  Hence greater supplies of those two lines.

As for Legacy?  The supply has gotten much tighter.  But that's also because some of the demand has dried up.  There's a direct correlation.  And I think that has hit collectors who are in high collector density areas in a big way.  There's competition again.

As for the title of the thread?  I really think it needs to be "2009...Worst Distribution Year Ever?"  Because the product is among some of the best we've ever seen.  It's the distribution that's the issue.

As for what could be done better?  Honestly, I think the Saga Legends line needs to be folded into Legacy.  I understand it's place in the line.  But I think the concept could potentially be combined with Legacy the way the Greatest Hits line was, but in a less confusing manner.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Brian on September 29, 2009, 02:56 PM
As for what could be done better?  Honestly, I think the Saga Legends line needs to be folded into Legacy.  I understand it's place in the line.  But I think the concept could potentially be combined with Legacy the way the Greatest Hits line was, but in a less confusing manner.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I'd like to see the Legends concept just folded into TLC as well, similar to what we're seeing with the recent "red card" waves with the Biker Scout and Evolutions Darth Maul.  They could very easily fold in that ROTS Pilot Obi-Wan (or any of the more recent upgrades), the Evolutions Anakins, etc. that populate the Legends line and just release them alongside a (hopefully) related wave (ROTS/AOTC/etc.).  It seems like characters like Plo Koon and SaeSee Tiin shouldn't have really rated "Legends" status anyways, since they were fairly significant pegwarmers, so stick more with the "big guns" main characters and army builders, and just include them with the regular TLC waves.  They've got a nice pool to choose from now with the various VOTC, Evolutions, and even just recent basic carded figures.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JES on September 29, 2009, 03:02 PM
It definite correlates to what Nick said regarding the economy. Hasbro has opted to play it safe and not get caught in another excess glut which would leave them selling (and/or giving) away product at discounted prices like what happened back in '99/'00

I mean we are finding TAC figures as is at discounters like TJ Maxx. So with the incredibly high unemployment rates in the US and people struggling just to pay the bills... Hasbro knows trivials such as toys are so low on most peoples totem poles.

Clone Wars does see a much larger and heavier distribution, but I think that's due in part to it being a very children driven line. Kids do love it. Now I do get a little confused with the Legends, but I guess you have take into account it's molds sitting around that no matter what they are making money on at this point as they have been used time and time again.

The AOTC wave hit retail here at WalMarts only. I have never seen one AOTC wave figure at a Target or TRU store, and even then only some WalMarts got the wave in. One particular store for some odd reason did receive a butt load so it was almost like that one store got everyones shipments. Those came and went quick.

Now I have seen the TPM wave once so far and that was a Target. No stragglers... no nothing from the wave anywhere since.

Could we see a huge slam in a month or so? I think so, but I don't really count it. WalMarts, and Targets have both cut down their ordering. Hell WalMarts have shrunk their toy depts down to nothing in some stores. I think a very smart business for now as I said above people need to buy the basics (food) and many have just enough to do that these days.

I'm still shocked we got the Turbo Tank this year after the way this year has turned out economically. I mean the AT-TE and Falcon sold well, but not as well as Hasbro would have liked. TRU has recently been buying old stock of these for next to nothing (I was floored when I heard what TRU was paying).

I don't think it's a bad year for toys as much as it's just a bad year.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Rob on September 29, 2009, 03:06 PM
This year was the first time I missed a figure on shelves since 1999 and Swimming Jar Jar.  FX-6... never saw him.  I only saw several things once or twice.  Wal-Mart Droid Factory came and went in a single weekend.

I don't know how soon it is, but I still haven't seen the latest Comic Pack wave with the Vong in it... I haven't sniffed the Episode I wave either.

What's happened since?  Sales among the collector base went down dramatically. 

$8.00 figures have a lot to do with that... I flat out stopped army building when they went to $7.00.  I stopped collecting carded as well.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JES on September 29, 2009, 03:13 PM
Yeah Rob definitely a few of short run figures this year. FX was really short end.

Also demand hasn't gone down enough which hurts some people in some areas. I mean they did a good amount of the first Ahsoka figure and yet she's still hot as can be, and hasn't shipped in a long time. She's due to come out on the new style card, but that hasn't happened as of yet... and who knows if it will.

Even some previous comic packs weren't (let alone the new Vong wave) easy fetches for some. The Luke/Emperor set is one.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on September 29, 2009, 03:53 PM
As for the title of the thread?  I really think it needs to be "2009...Worst Distribution Year Ever?"  Because the product is among some of the best we've ever seen.  It's the distribution that's the issue.

No one can argue that, I agree renaming the thread and the line being at its best.

As for what could be done better?  Honestly, I think the Saga Legends line needs to be folded into Legacy.  I understand it's place in the line.  But I think the concept could potentially be combined with Legacy the way the Greatest Hits line was, but in a less confusing manner.

You are already seeing this kind of change in the TPM & ROTJ wave cases. The ROTJ case has EP2 Ani & Obi, Jango Fett and the Scouttrooper in it. The TPM case has Luke & Han Stormtrooper, DM, Jawa, Spacetrooper, Scouttrooper. All kid friendly repacks, Hasbro has definitely made an adjustment to compensate for the slowdown in Legacy to make it kid friendly. While it sucks about distribution and case ratios it's a survival mechanism for keeping the line going. I am ok with that I just have a problem with the space between waves. I have taken into account that even prior to the economic downturn (a very valid point) the planning was slipping big time. That's where the bulk of the frustration comes in. When to  many waves hit at once and stores not getting stock in fast enough it creates a sense of panic and hurts or wallets as it takes a lot of loot to keep up (All by choice, but makes the hobby not as enjoyable in general).

I support the line more than the average collector as I buy multiple cases of each wave and multiple of exclusives all the way to even more extras for customs. I love this toy line and as pathetic as it sounds after 18 years of collecting SW figures (more than half my life) it has become second nature. I do not know life without it. I dread the day that it's really over. I have adapted by ordering online to avoid the hunt I just hope others continue to support the Willrows and the old mainline. Hopefully this is like the 2002 downtime for the line but will bounce back one day. Maybe the live action show will revive the enthusiasm in Legacy when we are at Midnight Madness.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JES on September 29, 2009, 04:09 PM
Also lets not forget Canada and many parts of UK/Europe are not getting waves at all. That also includes Battle Packs, Comic Packs, and more. So with that said demand being still fairly high here in US, and overseas - product is being spread even thinner.

Our fellow brothers and sisters across the line up north and water to our left (or right depending where you stand) are really getting shafted moreso than previously.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on September 29, 2009, 06:34 PM
I've had pretty good luck finding things eventually, with the exception of the new comic packs (why are there so many repacks in this assortment!?).  I also collect at least 2x of each figure...I wonder what % of sales are made up buy the 2+ guys like us?  Personally, I have like 50 Target stores in the Minneapolis area to tap into and I'm part of a collector group that helps me find things, so that has really helpded me out the past few years.  But, I can see how a lot of collectors would be frustrated with distribution as of late. 

I don't pretend to know profit margins for Hasbro, but I think they'd be selling figures a lot better with smaller price increases and better timed distribution.  There's no reason for Battle Packs to drop a figure and move up $6 per item int he course of a year.  Even with basic figures - try raising the price from $6 to $6.50 to $7 to $7.50 instead of trying (and failing) for years to charge a buck extra, then dropping the price back down.  That would have better seeded expectations among their loyal buyers. 

As for the distribution, not releasing anything for several months, then pushing out three different waves in the course of a week seems like a bad way to keep consumers interested. I know this is tied to production issues and unforeseen demand on the CW figs, but why not purposely space these out a little better to keep wallets from drying up and maintain a constant buzz on new figs?
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: DoctorPadawan on September 29, 2009, 07:57 PM
I think it truly has been one of the worst years, if not the worst year, in terms of distribution in the history of the modern line.  I've been collecting (again) since the very first wave of POTF2, and the total lack of figures from the main, movie-based line, both from the perspective of not being shipped and not being stocked, is absolutely deplorable. 

In 14 years of modern collecting, there is only ONE figure I NEVER saw at retail, and that was Ephant Mon in 2002.  There were others (such as the initial release of the SA AOTC Clone) that I only saw once or twice, but, by and large, it wasn't an ordeal to locate much of anything if you looked for it on a semi-regular basis (non-exclusive, wise, of course; the current trend of Target actually stocking and/or selling their exclusives in stores was the complete opposite back in the late 1990's/early 2000's for those of you who weren't around back then).  Nowadays, it seems "the hunt" has become much more difficult, much more taxing, and much more likely to result in empty hands than in previous years.

To me, there is absolutely NO excuse for there to be a Saga Legends line if they're only going to repack older figures in the regular, main TLC line as well.  If you're going to do a repack assortment, keep the repacks in that assortment, or don't do it at all.  If you're going to do a main line assortment of figures, do it with all new figures or don't do it at all.  Despite what Hasbro claims (and I tend to agree with the sentiment that the only reason that line is successful in Hasbro's eyes is because they don't have to do any new tooling for it), the SL line is, in fact, keeping new product from hitting the pegs, both from the TLC line and from the animated CW line.  I've said it once, I've said it a million times, and I'll say it again:  UPC/SKU differences or not, card color or not, character style or not, all retailers and stock people see is "STAR WARS" and it doesn't make a bit of a difference what assortment it is to them.  1000 SL Saesee Tiins are the same thing as 10 each of the last 100 basic BAD/TLC figures that have been released. 

To retailers, Star Wars is Star Wars is Star Wars.  Sure, Entertainment Earth might be able to tell the difference, but Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Target, and K-Mart don't give a flying rat's ass whether it's Saga Legends, Clone Wars, or the Legacy Collection, even if there are separate pegs and SKU/DPCIs for each assortment.  If the pegs are full of Star Wars, they don't need to be scanned or stocked.  Hasbro can go on and on and on about "What you see at a local level is not necessarily indicative of what is being seen at a national level", but if you walk into any Wal-Mart across this country, what are you going to see?:

About 500 figures, 400-450 of which are Saga Legends, 30 or so animated CW figures, and 20 TLC BAD figures on the white/blue card, mainly multiples of the same characters, over and over and over.  If this wasn't the case on a national level, why was Hasbro able to circulate a list to their field reps of what figures needed to be recalled due to saturation of the market? 

On a lighter note, would it be possible for someone to let me post a "beating a dead horse" emoticon from now on in these topics, since all of my posts regarding such matters tend to sound like a broken record?  :D
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Jeff on September 29, 2009, 08:21 PM
Threads like this make me very appreciative of my collecting environment.  Between the reasonable on-line sources out there (HTS, EE, BBTS) and my local collecting group, I can't remember the last time I had much trouble adding something to my collection. 


would it be possible for someone to let me post a "beating a dead horse" emoticon from now on

(http://www.jedidefender.com/jsmentek/deadhorse.gif)
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Nicklab on September 29, 2009, 08:39 PM
I've got to agree with Jeff.  Between sites like JD, local groups (NJSWCC, PSWCC, KSWCC, etc), and online retail, there are networks/options for filling in the gaps.  I think the past few years of distribution have spoiled us somewhat.  There's been a level of availability that was fantastic.  And now that has dropped off, and maybe some of us need to rekindle the trading networks.  I know that I had been able to get everything on my own, and barely had to trade at all.  And most of the folks that I traded with were in the same boat.  Now things are different.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on September 29, 2009, 09:10 PM
I've not run into problems with much other than long droughts and a lack of comic packs and battlepacks.  Those have been much harder for me to find than basic figures.

Though ESB Wave and AOTC Waves either were spotty or just came and went quickly. 

The figures are fantastic...  prices suck...  distribution seems hit and miss.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on September 29, 2009, 09:17 PM
a flying rat's ass

Hands down that statement alone to me made all of the distribution problems worthwhile just to be able to read such a phenomenal description of big box employee attitudes.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Ghost of QG on September 29, 2009, 11:43 PM
I'm gonna have to disagree. The entire 2009 line-up, minus the new comic packs, have been seen multiple times in my area. Might be a store issue, and not Hasbro's fault( they're already guilty of too much!!!) IMO I htink Hasbro's done a pretty good job. With that being said, case assortments have been extremely crappy!!!!

I truly mean no offense by this but when you live in highly populated areas their are a lot more collectors and competition competing for the few figure pout there including the new crappy case ratios. It's all relative to where you live. While you may be finding stuff now there is also no denying the consistency of waves. Drought then gluts.

I have been with this line since 95, lived in NJ/Philly area, Ca and Chicago so I have a perspective from the East & West Coast and the Midwest, this year's distribution is truly the worst. I do not say that lightly as I defend Hasbro, I turned down a job there last summer, I love the company. If it was not for location I would be working on this stuff so I am not a hater. They are great guys but as I said I put more of the blame on their movie push.  Nevertheless I hope we as a community press the issue and step up to support the line. I like to see it go until 2018 when they have to renew the license.

I live right in the middle of Kansas City, so I do live in a highly populated area. I'm just saying it's been very easy for me to find the 2009 figures , with just a little work and effort.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Darth Broem on September 30, 2009, 02:17 AM
I don't have much to say other than the merchandise overall is fine with me this year.  I just hate the inflated prices especially on certain exclusive items.  I am no distribution expert.  I have no idea how they send that stuff out, etc.  I live in a big metro area and seem to always find what I want to eventually. 

I thought the worst year was back in the Saga days with the AOTC stuff/era.  I could find nothing new for liteally 9 months it seemed like. 
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JesseVader08 on September 30, 2009, 03:19 AM
Also lets not forget Canada and many parts of UK/Europe are not getting waves at all.

 :'(  

Retail is dead in Canada.  And the HTS / EE / BBTS online shops are not a great deal for Canuckians since shipping is so extreme.  (EE minimum shipping is $17.95 and HTS adds $25 to ship up here, thanks for the kick in the nuts  ::))

Argh.

(time to start a Wanted thread in the Classifieds...  ;))
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: iFett on September 30, 2009, 11:44 AM
I don't have much to say other than the merchandise overall is fine with me this year.  I just hate the inflated prices especially on certain exclusive items.  I am no distribution expert.  I have no idea how they send that stuff out, etc.  I live in a big metro area and seem to always find what I want to eventually. 

I thought the worst year was back in the Saga days with the AOTC stuff/era.  I could find nothing new for liteally 9 months it seemed like. 

Same here - haven't noticed anything different this year other than the insane amount of exclusives.  I do remember that big drought back in the Saga/AOTC days though and that was a headache.  Feel bad for the rest of you who are hating this year though.   :-\
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Mister Skeezler on September 30, 2009, 02:01 PM
Have to agree, Mike. I've pretty much switched over to only collecting off the internet. Hasbrotoyshop has been pretty damn good so far...but the Walmart exclusives are killers, especially for people in NYC (which has no Walmarts near it).
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on September 30, 2009, 02:11 PM
Have to agree, Mike. I've pretty much switched over to only collecting off the internet. Hasbrotoyshop has been pretty damn good so far...but the Walmart exclusives are killers, especially for people in NYC (which has no Walmarts near it).

Really? What's up with Walmart and NYC? That shocks me...almost as much as the fact that there are no Targets in Vermont.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: CHEWIE on September 30, 2009, 02:14 PM
I live just south of STL.  Gotta say, that it definitely does take work and effort to find things (at least find them early).  I'd rather find this stuff at the stores than online any day though, because that adds to the thrill of getting something new.

I have never missed on a single figure at retail, but that's because I go on a bit of a toy run practically every day of the week, and have a good number of Walmarts, Targets and TRU in my area.  I absolutely have to be persistent, but I've always had to be.  I can't expect to go on just one run every two weeks and count on finding anything in the stores that I don't already have.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Mister Skeezler on September 30, 2009, 06:46 PM
I live just south of STL.  Gotta say, that it definitely does take work and effort to find things (at least find them early).  I'd rather find this stuff at the stores than online any day though, because that adds to the thrill of getting something new.

I have never missed on a single figure at retail, but that's because I go on a bit of a toy run practically every day of the week, and have a good number of Walmarts, Targets and TRU in my area.  I absolutely have to be persistent, but I've always had to be.  I can't expect to go on just one run every two weeks and count on finding anything in the stores that I don't already have.

Ordering online and getting a package full of figures is pretty cool though...it's like having little Christmas mornings sporadically all year...
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: iFett on September 30, 2009, 07:05 PM
I enjoy the thrill of the hunt too much so I only order new stuff online as a last resort - or if I'm very impatient on whatever item.  I'm at a Target every single day of the week, but I'll go on crazy hunts on weekends when there's a bunch of new stuff hitting.

Ordering online and getting a package full of figures is pretty cool though...it's like having little Christmas mornings sporadically all year...

Boy is it ever.  I remember my great stint on eBay from 02-04 getting caught up on SW & Transformers/MASK stuff.  I had about 5-10 packages coming to me per week. 

That was a fun ride.    :)
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Brian on September 30, 2009, 07:09 PM
I've gone to mostly online ordering as well.  I've had good luck with both BBTS and HTS, and have almost always gotten the figures a few weeks before retail (if not more).  I enjoy finding stuff at retail as well, and still do my CW figure hunting that way, but the Legacy stuff is just so spotty anymore.  We have three Wal-Marts, three Targets, and one TRU in town - so there aren't a ton of stores to choose from.  Plus the fact that I really only visit three of those stores (1 WM, 1 Target, and TRU) on a regular basis, since the others are a bit more of a drive.  Like some have already mentioned, it is tough to find time for "toy runs" these days - especially with a little one and all of that.  Once the next wave of exclusives (like the AT-ST and Dewback) start hitting, I'll probably try to do that a little more though.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Darby on September 30, 2009, 11:58 PM
I ordered the TPM wave from HTS and today, naturally, I find them at Target.  Only the AOTC wave has been absent here, which has to be the first MIA wave in these parts since... end of run POTJ.  It's been more challenging this year for sure.  I'm getting to where hunting for it is less and less fun (but finding stuff always is), so ordering online is fine for me.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: CHEWIE on October 1, 2009, 01:34 AM
I live just south of STL.  Gotta say, that it definitely does take work and effort to find things (at least find them early).  I'd rather find this stuff at the stores than online any day though, because that adds to the thrill of getting something new.

I have never missed on a single figure at retail, but that's because I go on a bit of a toy run practically every day of the week, and have a good number of Walmarts, Targets and TRU in my area.  I absolutely have to be persistent, but I've always had to be.  I can't expect to go on just one run every two weeks and count on finding anything in the stores that I don't already have.

Ordering online and getting a package full of figures is pretty cool though...it's like having little Christmas mornings sporadically all year...

Not arguing with that - I still order online from time to time.  I just don't rely on it as my main source of figures is all I meant.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Mister Skeezler on October 1, 2009, 01:58 PM
Oh yeah, I hear you. I'm just still feeling warm and fuzzy from my ROTJ case a couple days ago!  8)
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: JES on October 2, 2009, 09:05 PM
Quote
1. I've noticed that several new waves of Clone Wars figures seem to be hitting stores at the same time. Will the upcoming Legacy waves be released in a similar fashion to ensure they make it to stores by the end of the year? It seems like a pretty tight schedule to release five waves of figures in four months.


Answer: We don't know for certain how the Legacy/Droid Factory waves will flow out, only because sales have really been dropping on this line compared to Clone Wars, and we do not know when (we won't say *if*) all of the planned waves will be able to get to retail. We are doing our best to try and read the landscape and adjust to release quantities to get everything out. We are committed to manufacturing every wave we have shown, so even if distribution at retail is spotty, it should be available through online retailers.



That is really ******* bull**** if you ask me. Things don't sell if they can't be found or bought in the first place. Hasbro seems to really be out to kill the Legacy line for some strangely odd reason. Clone Wars sells - yes it does I give them that. You know what the f- doesn't? The loads of Legends they think does.

Total bunch of **** on this answer....  >:(


edit - no need to circumvent the language filter since you can turn it off if you want to see the "bad" words. jls
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Ben on October 3, 2009, 01:29 AM
Yeah, this year is pretty bad. I remember never finding the Commtech Motti/Leia wave, nor the TC-14 wave at retail, and POTJ was pretty spotty at the end there, but now there's going to be what, 5 waves of stuff in absurdly limited distribution? I'll agree this has been the worst year, but I think we saw it coming once CW became a hit. I just wish it wasn't at the expense of the best product Hasbro has ever done.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: Force Guy on October 3, 2009, 02:46 AM
I have never missed on a single figure at retail, but that's because I go on a bit of a toy run practically every day of the week, and have a good number of Walmarts, Targets and TRU in my area.  I absolutely have to be persistent, but I've always had to be.  I can't expect to go on just one run every two weeks and count on finding anything in the stores that I don't already have.

Yes, it's much better to be persistent & waste time & gas by going on daily toy hunts at multiple stores.  It's for the "thrill" of finding something new.  Makes so much sense...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on October 3, 2009, 02:49 AM
I'm doing ok on "once-a-week" toy runs and then just hitting the local stores when I'm out anyway...  But yeah, if I could get things online (Hasbro would be my preferred way, honestly), without the hastle of extras, I'd probably be more keen on that...  I do at times, but it's become more out of necessity than anything since new waves of figures are a rarity right now.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darby on October 3, 2009, 11:09 AM
Hasbro's very honest answers in the QNA this week about their doubts on prodouct levels and distribution for Legacy, and the fact they're not shipping any to Canada, has nudged me toward pre-ordering everything online.  I don't do as many runs as I used to, and I think HTS will be as a good a source as any, but I'm not taking any chances.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 3, 2009, 02:45 PM
Hasbro's very honest answers in the QNA this week about their doubts on prodouct levels and distribution for Legacy, and the fact they're not shipping any to Canada, has nudged me toward pre-ordering everything online.  I don't do as many runs as I used to, and I think HTS will be as a good a source as any, but I'm not taking any chances.

That's probably the smart thing to do as a collector.  My concern is that when sales rates decline at retail because we're all ordering online, there will no longer be any reason for retailers to carry anything but CW for the kids.  If its not turning fast enough at Wal-Mart and Target, the Legacy line will go away.   :-\
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on October 3, 2009, 10:33 PM
Yes, it's much better to be persistent & waste time & gas by going on daily toy hunts at multiple stores.  It's for the "thrill" of finding something new.  Makes so much sense...

Well, it makes a lot more sense than assigning the same DPCI # to multiple items so that customers can't call up on the phone and confirm what specific items are actually in stock.

The absurdity of the retail inventory system, coupled with the gross incompetence and unwillingness to help exhibited by most retail employees, essentially demands in person stock checks at multiple outlets, at least if you want to be assured of scoring whatever limited quantity of new product they decide to throw out to the shelf.

I think the sarcasm is misplaced. Why does it matter how other people see fit to spend their time and money in pursuit of their hobby anyway?
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 3, 2009, 11:48 PM
Yes, it's much better to be persistent & waste time & gas by going on daily toy hunts at multiple stores.  It's for the "thrill" of finding something new.  Makes so much sense...

Well, it makes a lot more sense than assigning the same DPCI # to multiple items so that customers can't call up on the phone and confirm what specific items are actually in stock.

The absurdity of the retail inventory system, coupled with the gross incompetence and unwillingness to help exhibited by most retail employees, essentially demands in person stock checks at multiple outlets, at least if you want to be assured of scoring whatever limited quantity of new product they decide to throw out to the shelf.

I think the sarcasm is misplaced. Why does it matter how other people see fit to spend their time and money in pursuit of their hobby anyway?

Don't worry about FG - he only shows up once in a while to make himself feel better by putting others down.  That's why he can't fathom that people might be going to Target or Wal-Mart for other shopping needs for some of their trips or that people might actually like getting their butts off the sofa togo browse the toy section.  Heaven forbid you should be more than ten feet from your toilet or your fridge FG!  ;)

I used to make plenty of store runs on the hunt in my younger days and there was definitely something of a "rush" in finding new stuff in person at the shelf.  These days, I have much less time and can rely more on the JD network to help track down new stuff locally.  For me, the internet is just another option to help track things down if all else fails or a good deal pops up.
Title: Re: 2009...Worst Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on October 4, 2009, 02:00 AM
I think the sarcasm is misplaced. Why does it matter how other people see fit to spend their time and money in pursuit of their hobby anyway?

Your time will be better spent staring at the wall than answering any of his replies. Listen to JJ, he nailed him to a T.

I do not have the drive to hunt like the old days but I love buying this stuff more than ever. Persistence has always been a part of collecting SWs. I was just reminded of that with the WM Droid Factory line. It seems future realistic stuff will be trickier to get for awhile with Hasbro's cutback. Dark times these are.

Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on October 4, 2009, 10:43 PM
Thanks guys, duly noted.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on October 9, 2009, 02:49 PM
Please, please don't kill me for this ... but either the Saga Legends line needs to be canceled (just a crazy suggestion if all else fails), or ALL-NEW figure choices need to be put into this way ...  no more Plo Koon, Saessee Tiin, C-3PO, Obi-Wan (Mustafar) and Darth Vader (Mustafar). Figures like Luke in X-Wing gear and the Hoth Imperial Trooper were hard to find - these type of figures should be put into the line.

Figuring out how to best fix up the Saga Legends line will create better sales. Better sales lead to less leftover stock, and less leftover stock leads to more room for new products.
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: jedi_master_sal on October 15, 2009, 12:29 PM
Heh, we all knew this was going to happen.

Cripes Hasbro, two years in a row now where product was held back for the just before Christmas quarter. We know you want great sales for the quarter, but you're screwing up the rest of the year and making it hard for everyone to get what they want then. This is creating a deluge of OLD product on shelves, that dramatically inhibits the potential for that very stuff you want to have come out in the 4th quarter being put on the shelves/pegs.

Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: McMetal on October 15, 2009, 01:30 PM
Heh, we all knew this was going to happen.

Cripes Hasbro, two years in a row now where product was held back for the just before Christmas quarter. We know you want great sales for the quarter, but you're screwing up the rest of the year and making it hard for everyone to get what they want then. This is creating a deluge of OLD product on shelves, that dramatically inhibits the potential for that very stuff you want to have come out in the 4th quarter being put on the shelves/pegs.



Yep, it's totally asinine...and it's not just figures either. I don't know where they will be able to stock any of the new BattlePacks with scores of the old dregs collecting dust. (How many $&%@! B'Omarr Monastery packs did Hasbro MAKE anyway?)

They will cry "bad economy" but that is old news. Anyone could have seen the writing on the wall 18 months ago.

They have really screwed themselves for this holiday season I think. I KNOW none of the Wally's around here have space for an AT-St or Dewback. Nor will they for quite some time...
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: Jayson on October 15, 2009, 01:37 PM
Yep, it's totally asinine...and it's not just figures either. I don't know where they will be able to stock any of the new BattlePacks with scores of the old dregs collecting dust. (How many $&%@! B'Omarr Monastery packs did Hasbro MAKE anyway?)

They will cry "bad economy" but that is old news. Anyone could have seen the writing on the wall 18 months ago.

They have really screwed themselves for this holiday season I think. I KNOW none of the Wally's around here have space for an AT-St or Dewback. Nor will they for quite some time...

I suspect they made as many B'Omarr BP as all the other sets, it just doesn't command the desire of the other sets.

As for this holiday season, as soon at "black friday" kicks off, anything with a SW logo (especially multipacks and roleplay items) will start fiying off the shelves making way for new product. I don't think panic is warranted yet.
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: McMetal on October 15, 2009, 02:52 PM

As for this holiday season, as soon at "black friday" kicks off, anything with a SW logo (especially multipacks and roleplay items) will start fiying off the shelves making way for new product. I don't think panic is warranted yet.

Well, I'm certainly not panicked, since I don't work in Hasbro's marketing department, but I think concern is warranted. I don't know if I agree about anything with a SW logo flying off the shelves - Yarna comes to mind. If that was true, I don't think Hasbro would have had their reps out in force pulling back stock around the country as they have been doing.

Retail sales have taken a steep hit this year; I don't think we can necessarily predict what will happen based on years past.
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: jedi_master_sal on October 15, 2009, 08:49 PM
Granted Black Friday is usually a big boost to sales, but Hasbro shouldn't count on just that. IMO, it's around October that we should be seeing repacks and refresh cases. Throughout the rest of the year we all, kids and collectors alike should be able to purchase the waves of figures each month. The last quarter would be reserved then for only the hottest selling figures from the first three quarters. October would see refreshes of the first quarter, November would see refreshes of the second quarter, and december would see the third quarter stuff.

Yes, that means more planning on Hasbro's part. But seriously, if they want to sell this stuff, they need to make some serious changes about how/when it's being put on shelves.

Now of course this would mean we collectors wouldn't have much to look forward to new-wise during the holidays, but honestly, I think most of us could use the break anyway and besides it would give us money to spend on family and friends instead of ourselves, which we all do yearlong. (Not saying you don't spend on family and friends the rest of the year either, you know what I'm getting at.)

Were it not for Clone Cash, waiting on sales, discount codes for HTS purchases, I know I wouldn't have bought as much this year. Having this stuff hit in 2 months when it should have been spread over 6-8 months is a bit much to ask of we collectors to absorb. Again, hasbro has to consider the economy in this and you bet they should have seen this coming. Planning for the line a year in advance still should have given them time to scale back on how much was produced r whatever other adjustments they needed to make.

STOP BLAMING US HASBRO. We want to buy this stuff, not just all at once!

We've got lives too, other than collecting SW. We need to be able to budget for this stuff, more so than ever with things how they are nowadays.


Whoo, ok, sorry for the rant, but I needed to vent.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 23, 2009, 11:42 AM
Got my shipping notice from EE on these today.

I've just opened my ROTJ figs.  This is very reminescent of '07, when we got waves every week it seemed.  On one hand, it's great - new figures are never boring - but on the other, it makes it hard to appreciate any of it. 

Yeah, life is pretty sweet on the Legacy tip right now. Tons of new fig waves, the Interceptor, Dewback & AT-ST coming any day, etc.


Not so much for Clone Wars. I think they forgot this show is still running. 8 weeks til X-Mas, marketing dweebs!
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Paul on October 23, 2009, 12:04 PM
- new figures are never boring - but on the other, it makes it hard to appreciate any of it. 


That is what annoys me most about the Carpet Bombing effect we get at times wit these waves.  When I get my boxes now, I TRY to hold off and open them later, but the impatience is usually too much to bear and I end up opening them, and them putting them away and I miss the new toy smell and enjoyment of new figs.

I think that is why I dropped the Rise of Cobra Joe stuff...the initial glut of product sucked the fun out of getting new stuff...

I will suffer through it with SW though because while it "seems" CW is getting the shaft, it has been MONTHS since we got OT stuff around here.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Brian on October 23, 2009, 12:11 PM
Yeah, it seems like it has been more of a TLC drought around here as well.  Now, I've gotten the TPM, ROTJ, and now ANH waves within a little more than a month's time, but that was all via online preorders.  As far as retail goes, it has basically been empty pegs for TLC (or, more likely, filled with CW figures).  Our local stores have been getting shipment after shipment of the CW stuff, and I think I've seen each figure at retail several times except for the "last" wave with the Padme, IG droid, Matchstick, etc.  Plus, like it has been mentioned, it is nice to actually see more OT product this year after a fairly big drought the past couple years.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 23, 2009, 12:45 PM

I think I've seen each figure at retail several times except for the "last" wave with the Padme, IG droid, Matchstick, etc. 

Yeah, apparently that Wave is an "Online-Exclusive".  ::) Most e-tailers have had them for weeks now, but not a single one has shown up at a brick and mortar ANYWHERE. That's a pretty significant lag, IMHO.

I totally sympathize with the OT neglect you guys have been suffering through. But lately the tide has really turned in your favor. We have now seen 2 fig waves, plus the TIE exclusives, available at retail since the last CW toy was released. (The Crumb Bomber) And that Dewback and AT-ST are due to hit any day. They are catching up big time.

Why can't Hasbro focus on 2 lines simultaneously and just crank out a new release every other week? It's not like they share the same physical space in stores.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jabba the Slug on October 24, 2009, 11:32 PM

I think I've seen each figure at retail several times except for the "last" wave with the Padme, IG droid, Matchstick, etc. 

Yeah, apparently that Wave is an "Online-Exclusive".  ::) Most e-tailers have had them for weeks now, but not a single one has shown up at a brick and mortar ANYWHERE. That's a pretty significant lag, IMHO.

WHOAH! No way - I don't normally order figures from online - I always buy them at retail. Feeling disappointed ....  >:(
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 25, 2009, 10:00 PM
WHOAH! No way - I don't normally order figures from online - I always buy them at retail. Feeling disappointed ....  >:(

Oh wow, dude, I just realized after reading this and the other thread you posted in that you may have taken my snarky remark out of context. Sorry!

I didn't LITERALLY mean this was an online-exclusive wave, I just meant that it has been in a de facto sense thus far. (IE: the only places these have shown up at all is online the past month or so)

I'm curious how keeping the product out of brick and mortar retail outlets is going to enhance their seasonal marketing strategy.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jesse James on October 26, 2009, 03:37 AM
Hmmm, I can't say that the tide's really turned yet...  haha

Exclusives don't count, to me...  They come in when they come in, and you get them if you're lucky.

And I can't speak for others, but judging by the griping I can, and I haven't seen a full set of TPM figures, or ROTJ figures, much less these newest figures that just showed up online (much less brick and mortar) this past week.

So far Legacy's got about a month's worth of shipping, at least, to catch up to CW...  I see CW figures routinely, including the more current waves save for the very latest (Luminara).  Legacy, I'm about 3 waves behind, technically.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Adam_Pawlus on October 27, 2009, 04:58 PM

I think I've seen each figure at retail several times except for the "last" wave with the Padme, IG droid, Matchstick, etc. 

Yeah, apparently that Wave is an "Online-Exclusive".  ::) Most e-tailers have had them for weeks now, but not a single one has shown up at a brick and mortar ANYWHERE. That's a pretty significant lag, IMHO.

WHOAH! No way - I don't normally order figures from online - I always buy them at retail. Feeling disappointed ....  >:(

He's kidding. :) I've seen that wave at retail.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 27, 2009, 09:05 PM

He's kidding. :) I've seen that wave at retail.

Yep, I was being a smart ass, hence the eyeroll. I did not mean to start any rumors, really!

Where on Earth have you seen this wave at retail? (assuming you mean a brick and mortar)

I've never heard a whiff online of anyone spotting this Wave in an actual store, so I'm super curious. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Title: Re: distribution
Post by: Jesse James on October 27, 2009, 11:45 PM
A month's hardly a long time to wait between waves.  one wave a month is actually a pretty steady pace.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jayson on October 27, 2009, 11:56 PM
I've never heard a whiff online of anyone spotting this Wave in an actual store, so I'm super curious. Thanks for any help you can offer!

ANH and the ROTS wave have shown up at TRU and Walmart stores according for JTA (http://jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5367).
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jesse James on October 28, 2009, 12:01 AM
Still never seen 75% of the TPM wave here...

I've seen ONE ROTJ wave figure (Numb) here...

No hope in hell of seeing ANH figures.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jayson on October 28, 2009, 12:04 AM
Still never seen 75% of the TPM wave here...

Same boat for me. I resorted to picking up the ones I needed online and plan on doing that more until this distribution works itself out.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jesse James on October 28, 2009, 12:07 AM
I just need Rum Sleg which I think I have lined up...  Got the others at HTS.

It really doesn't bode well for me finding ANH and ROTJ waves though, much less extras of figures I  actually would buy a dozen (or more) of like the Scanner Tech or Panno.  Really is sucking the life out of me these days because my stores are loaded with blue/white carded ****, and Clone Wars/Legends on the red card.
Title: Re: distribution
Post by: JediJman on October 28, 2009, 10:48 AM
A month's hardly a long time to wait between waves.  one wave a month is actually a pretty steady pace.

Amen.  I just got done picking up 50-some-odd CW figures the past few months.  A month or so off is a nice break! I do share McMetal's eagerness to get the mail away going on this though - Nahdar may be one of my top 5 CW figures thus far. 
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: shmashwitdaclub on October 28, 2009, 12:20 PM
I went to my local Target last night and they had almost 2 complete waves of ROTJ (non revision cases).  The only figs that were missing were Leia and the Ewoks.  I was pretty shocked by this because one of those 2 cases was there a couple days prior.  I woulda figured these woulda flew off the shelf - but then again there hasn't been any movement on CW and SL figs at that store either.

So, either Hasbro is right on Legacy (still don't really think so), or a lot of people in my area have moved to online ordering (I think I have obtained the last 7 waves at HTS).
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: JES on October 28, 2009, 12:43 PM
I have to say local TRU stores here are complete and utter **** for quite some time now. I haven't seen a new Legacy wave at TRU since the blue carded ANH wave. No word of lie. They never got the Empire wave in, nor the AOTC... let alone the new red carded Legacy. I guess up here in the Northeast TRU is sucking some mighty strong gusts of wind.

I did see everything at WalMarts up to TPM so far, and that's not bad since ROTJ just started hitting. Target's here also blow hard. If it wasn't for Wally's and KMart (for ROTJ) we'd be waves and waves behind.
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: McMetal on October 28, 2009, 01:09 PM
Ok, I realize I am shouting into the wind on this one, but it's not as simple a complaint as "a month is too long to wait for new toys".

It's a complaint compounded by multiple factors. Among them:

1) When X-Mas is December 25th, and all the retail outlets are starting to ramp up for the seasonal shoppers, October is NOT the month you want to take off. Take off April. Take off June or July. But do not let the line sit idle when stores are actually ordering more product and clearing display space on the aisles.

2) TCW line is unique in that it has an awesome marketing tool to augment sales from October to May: the TV show on Cartoon Network. It's like a program length advertisement running every week! The fact that new CW toys stopped hitting at almost exactly the same time as the show resumed this Fall is utterly asinine. It's a wasted opportunity to maximize the profile of the line.

3) Stop showing new toys at SDCC with insanely unrealistic street dates. Wave 7 (Padme, Matchstick, etc) was listed as available 7/31/09. I realize these dates are "best estimates" and subject to change, but that one was not even remotely close. That shows a serious disconnect between marketing and production and distribution.

4) Stop shipping new waves to online stores weeks and weeks before they ever ship out to brick and mortars. If you want to give them a week or 10 days lead time I'm fine with that, but that damn Wave 7 has been in the hands of retailers for almost a month now! And not a single one has shipped to an actual store. WTF? If I was a Target or Walmart I would have a real problem with that. That kind of lag is inexplicable.

Ugh, I could go on but it's a tiresome rant. (I'm sure most of you would agree) I'm sick of the whole thing myself. It's just hard when you become accustomed to something and suddenly you're in total deprivation mode, with no warning and no end in sight. I'll stfu now.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 28, 2009, 01:21 PM
ANH and the ROTS wave have shown up at TRU and Walmart stores according for JTA (http://jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5367).


Oh, no no no no...totally different waves. I was referring to TCW Wave 7 with Matchstick, Padme, Ziro's Assassin Droid, etc. I know this is the wrong thread but it just started as a tangential topic.

That Legacy stuff is hitting in droves around here. I'm strictly talking about those 4 TCW figures, which have been available online for weeks now but there hasn't been a single reported sighting at a brick and mortar reported ANYWHERE online.

I literally wake up EVERY day and check all the fan sites hoping to see that someone found one of these, but I am disappointed every single day.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: JES on October 28, 2009, 01:55 PM
If you've been in the game long enough to know (which I only assume you haven't) seeing online retailers get a wave or two a year a while before retail isn't a shocker. It's happened before and will again.

Also you say the Legacy is hitting in "droves" around you... but, where is "around here"?

Most people still can't find all the TPM wave so I find it hard to believe any Legacy is out in force anywhere.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jayson on October 28, 2009, 02:02 PM
I'm strictly talking about those 4 TCW figures, which have been available online for weeks now but there hasn't been a single reported sighting at a brick and mortar reported ANYWHERE online.

Oh? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3968349&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&vc=1)

Oh? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3968400&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&vc=1)

Oh? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3969322&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&vc=1)
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: JediJman on October 28, 2009, 04:18 PM
Ok, I realize I am shouting into the wind on this one, but it's not as simple a complaint as "a month is too long to wait for new toys".

It's a complaint compounded by multiple factors. Among them:

I think you have some valid points here, but I think you're over simplifying the issue.  I'm pretty sure that Hasbro wants to sell as much product as possible.  It's not like they're all vacationing somewhere and letting the line die or purposely trying to avoid new product at shelf.  The distribution on this line has been screwed up from the beginning because demand was much stronger than supply.  I think they've been playing catch up ever since and are just trying to send out whatever they can whenever they can send it.  

Most stores in my area have a bunch of older CW sitting on the pegs anyway - it's Legacy that needs to get some new product in.  If the show drives kid interest in the line, then we ought to see some of the older figs clearing out for kids.  That seems to make more sense than shipping in new stuff that both kids and collectors want only to sell the new stuff and not the old.  The show is designed to be a pull strategy not a push strategy...if you do it right, the interest in the show drives older product sales and makes room for orders of new products.

As for the distribution, there's a lot of added complexity here that I'm not sure you're aware of.  For starters, Hasbro takes massive orders from big chain stores vs. online merchants.  They're not going to sit and pick through each case to make sure everyone get's a fair share of each wave.  If Target orders 5,000 cases, then they're going to get the next 5,000 cases.  That may contain 3 different waves, but no one's going to hold the order up or ship less to make sure the last 1,000 cases contain a 4th wave that isn't ready yet.  Big chains order in massive bulk quantities - it's not like Hasbro is shipping out a few cases here and there piecemeal.  They also have to get product from Hasbro to the distribution centers, then from the DCs out to hundreds of retail outlets.  It's very possible that big chains have new product sitting in their warehouses, but they're not usually going to get that product out if there are older cases waiting in front of them.

Online retailers order less, so they can clear out supply faster.  They can probably also choose to order 'x' cases of each wave - something I imagine the big guys pay less attention to.  At the very least, they can better forecast what's going to sell online to minimize the amount of old product they have in the way.  Online also has the advantage of shipping from one location.  They don't have the added steps of getting product to a store, churning through older product first, getting it out to the sales floor, etc.  They get it in, add it to the site, and it's available for order - in many cases you can even pre-order to further reduce the wait.

Given all that, I think it's pretty difficult to offer accurate street dates every time (they are usually pretty close in most cases) and completely unrealistic to think that all retailers are getting the same product within a week or two timeline.  The only time that seems to happen is when there is a brand new line coming out and that usually comes along with an official "do not release until..." street date.

Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: CHEWIE on October 28, 2009, 04:26 PM
New Legacy stuff is damn hard to find around here, and most reports I've seen is that this is pretty much the case in most parts of the country.  The only exception has been the past week or so that I've seen the ROTJ wave hitting most Targets, a case here/case there.  I don't know if that's a good window into what to expect or not, but hopefull it is.

TRU has been really bad, though a few weeks back both stores in my area got in a couple cases of TPM and ROTJ... but what the heck good does a couple cases do?  Not a heck of a lot when there's more people that want them than can find them.  And of course, both TRU got in a ton more Legends stuff and more Clone Wars at that same time - for every new B.A.D. figure they get in, seems they get in 10 figures from Legends/Clone Wars. 

Wal-Mart really isn't a whole lot better, but for the past year they have been better than the other places in my area... until the red card line switched over.  Now it's Legends and Clone Wars galore, with a new B.A.D. sighting if you get extremely lucky.

I can say that I do find everything that I want at retail, but I live in a good area for finds because there are a lot of stores to choose from - many nice new Wal-Marts, Targets and a couple big TRU stores.  But I also go on a lot of toy runs too, and most collectors don't spend this much of their lives searching for toys.

This is getting aggravating for a lot of people.
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: McMetal on October 28, 2009, 05:02 PM

Given all that, I think it's pretty difficult to offer accurate street dates every time (they are usually pretty close in most cases) and completely unrealistic to think that all retailers are getting the same product within a week or two timeline.  The only time that seems to happen is when there is a brand new line coming out and that usually comes along with an official "do not release until..." street date.


Fair enough. But the very thing you are describing as "completely unrealistic" is EXACTLY what they do with DVD's.

Transformers 2 has a street date.

On that street date, I can walk into ANY Walmart, Target, etc in the country and buy that DVD. Regardless of how may "older" DVD's they have sitting on the pegs. Somehow they ALWAYS find a place for the new releases.

I don't have to drive to six different Walmarts to find the DVD I want.

I don't have to worry that the studio only packed 1 copy per case, so if some random ahole gets there before me I am out of luck.

And somehow magically, the retail outlets are able to cycle through older inventory without having to sacrifice ordering the new stuff.

Now THAT's an oversimplification. But it's also a great illustration of how Hasbro has a crappy business model.

I don't want to derail the whole thread with this rant, my only point is that the whole business paradigm for toys in this country is seriously messed up. If you tried to sell another product like that (music industry comes to mind) you would fail miserably.

Please don't flame me...I'm just throwing out an opinion - there are probably a lot of other frustrated collectors out there that would agree.
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: Jayson on October 28, 2009, 05:17 PM
The release date/availability for action figures vs DVD business model is hardly a synonymous comparison. Have you ever tried to get a DVD out of the stockroom before its release date or have you ever seen them out available for purchase before then?
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 28, 2009, 05:18 PM

Oh? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3968349&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&vc=1)

Oh? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3968400&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&vc=1)

Oh? (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3969322&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&vc=1)

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Want to give me a re-cap?  ???

If someone from RS actually spotted these in a store, why did it never make their front page?

I barely even go looking for crap anymore, but the 3-4 Targets I have hit in the past week or two have all had that Panno, Giran, etc wave on the pegs. I saw full waves of TPM before that, multiple times. (Mostly at Walmarts though)

I'm not saying you don't have to put a little effort into looking, but there's out there. (And I live in VA for the record, which isn't exactly a toy mecca, but there's not a lot of competition either)

I feel like I am getting on the bad side of some of you with these comments for whatever reason. Thinking it is probably time for me to shut up on this topic.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jayson on October 28, 2009, 05:26 PM
Want to give me a re-cap?  ???

If someone from RS actually spotted these in a store, why did it never make their front page?


Here is what they read:
Quote
Got Matchstick, Clone Tank Gunner and Ziro's Assasain Droid from TRU Leeds today, they had plenty of them along with the rest of TCW waves. They had no Padmés however.

Quote
Got Luminara, Matchstick, Padme, Clone Tank Gunner, Ziro's IG Droid from TRU. Shame they never had Clone Commander Thire and AAT Driver Battle Droid.

Quote
Picked up Matchstick, Zero IG-86, Clone Gunner and Cad Bane from Tesco this morning.


Granted these are collectors in the UK, but they have made it to retail "somewhere".

Also, RS doesn't post store reports on their front page. They're cool like that.

(Thank you Forum Gods, for splitting the topic.)
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jeff on October 28, 2009, 05:50 PM
(Thank you Forum Gods, for splitting the topic.)

It's much easier for me to ignore the constant bitching about distribution if it's all in one place and not spread out over 5-6 different threads.   ;)
Title: Re: Distribution
Post by: Adam_Pawlus on October 28, 2009, 08:37 PM
The release date/availability for action figures vs DVD business model is hardly a synonymous comparison. Have you ever tried to get a DVD out of the stockroom before its release date or have you ever seen them out available for purchase before then?

Yes and yes.  (Video games, no, but DVDs, yes.)  A friend of mine and I used to go out to Best Buys and Wal-Marts (and Blockbuster Video stores) specifically to do just this.  It is doable, although we found more out on the floor than we ever saw stuff come out of the back if asked for.  Employees who just don't care are your friends, sometimes.

Action figure release dates to some extent are marketed as such in some Japanese lines, specifically I've seen this in Transformers marketing, but their stuff is also largely solid-packed.  Doing release dates on a specific figure (and I'd argue DVDs, games, and CDs) never *helps* you get the figure.  It just alerts people which day to wait out in front of the store to buy something up, creates even more hype, and often causes stores to hold items in the back until a specific date, rather than just putting them out when they show up.  I may be alone here but I *HATE HATE HATE* street dates for products.  If you have it, you should be able to sell it-- why turn down a sale?  Street dates just prevent people from getting stuff early for marketing/hype purposes.

In the case of Star Wars street dates-- arguably one of very few lines which have managed to do a successful "launch" (which Hasbro has tried to do with Marvel, Joe, and Transformers to very little success in terms of coordination)-- it doesn't hurt when there's a huge aisle reset with dozens if not hundreds of new SKUs like the TPM/AOTC/ROTS/TCW launches.  But if they didn't have that launch date, you would be able to find those items out on the pegs much earlier at most stores, due to the AZ Wal-Marts' not giving a crap, I bought a ton of AOTC Saga items about a month before the official date.  They were out and about, just the way it should be.  Get it out, let it sell, and then reorder and sell some more.

The way figure assortments work, street dates for specific waves and figures is just not doable.  A store might only get 30 cases, putting that kind of marketing effort for a batch of 6 figures is a waste of time for all involved.  For the hundreds or thousands of a game or DVD, though, it makes good sense.  TRU experimented with in-store pre-orders with dates for later wave Episode I stuff in 1999... it didn't work.

...and yes, I do agree that 2009 (black/red) as of today is absolutely the worst year for Legacy figure distribution from what I see in the wilderness.  Clone Wars, it's about the same as the movie lines used to be on an OK day.  Blue was basically OK except for Wave 7.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: McMetal on October 28, 2009, 09:10 PM

Here is what they read:
Quote
Got Matchstick, Clone Tank Gunner and Ziro's Assasain Droid from TRU Leeds today, they had plenty of them along with the rest of TCW waves. They had no Padmés however.

Quote
Got Luminara, Matchstick, Padme, Clone Tank Gunner, Ziro's IG Droid from TRU. Shame they never had Clone Commander Thire and AAT Driver Battle Droid.

Quote
Picked up Matchstick, Zero IG-86, Clone Gunner and Cad Bane from Tesco this morning.


Granted these are collectors in the UK, but they have made it to retail "somewhere".

Also, RS doesn't post store reports on their front page. They're cool like that.


Fair enough, but plenty of other sites like JTA and Galactic Hunter DO do this and it's mega helpful. (A simple blurb saying "Hey this was spotted in AZ by one of our eagle-eyed forum members", maybe with a photo, is really cool)

I guess I should have qualified my remark with "IN THIS COUNTRY" but honestly I figured that went without saying. I'm sure we could jet over to Malaysia to pick up a few new toys too, but I'm really just venting about the situation in the US. I can't speak to the foreign markets because that is a whole different animal.

Adam, thanks for the informed insight, I get what you are saying but I just have a different take on the whole "street date" thing. I think it helps a lot to make new releases an "event" based on firm dates because it allows you to build a targeted marketing and production push at a national level. If Hasbro had any control over when their product hits the shelves, it would really enhance their ability to accurately forecast sales projections over the course of the year, so they can refine the release dates over time and optimize their strategy.

The way things are right now, it must be a nightmare trying to coordinate all these moving pieces and data mine for any kind of useful analysis that could actually help grow the business. From a business standpoint, it just seems like any success is in spite of the current system, not because of it.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Jayson on October 28, 2009, 09:27 PM
Fair enough, but plenty of other sites like JTA and Galactic Hunter DO do this and it's mega helpful. (A simple blurb saying "Hey this was spotted in AZ by one of our eagle-eyed forum members", maybe with a photo, is really cool)

My "they're cool like that" statement was a lame attempt at sarcasm/facetiousness. Many fine sites (JD, HH, GH, JTA, ST, YF, YN, etc.) post stateside store reports on their respective front pages frequently - and if they haven't - it hasn't hit yet. Rest assured they will when it does and you'd be better served looking at those site's front pages for store reports.

As for the "street date" issue, I think it makes sense to a point like for exclusives, but for general release figures I think it's too much of a logistical hassle with all the different skus to contend with.
Title: Re: Distribution Whining
Post by: Adam_Pawlus on October 28, 2009, 10:18 PM
Adam, thanks for the informed insight, I get what you are saying but I just have a different take on the whole "street date" thing. I think it helps a lot to make new releases an "event" based on firm dates because it allows you to build a targeted marketing and production push at a national level. If Hasbro had any control over when their product hits the shelves, it would really enhance their ability to accurately forecast sales projections over the course of the year, so they can refine the release dates over time and optimize their strategy.

Hasbro certainly thinks it has the ability to control their product, as most of their new male action lines do have specific launch dates for the first wave(s) when a big push happens.  (These include: Episode I, Saga/Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Transformers [Movie], Transformers [Animated], Indiana Jones, The Clone Wars, Wolverine/Marvel Universe, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra.  These all had street dates on the boxes for some or all of its early waves of product.)   As you probably noticed, Hasbro does have a strategy as to when new products and waves hit.  And these targets (more ranges than specific dates) are sometimes missed, in particular, you can see this in Q4 of 2007 and 2009 Hasbro Star Wars lines.  Things just happened to get pushed back for various reasons, some of which I am not at liberty to discuss.

For marketing purposes with lots of items, it definitely has a (potential) place.  For some reason, retailers are usually able to coordinate things with Star Wars nicely on those big launch dates.   (The big ones, anyway.  There were sometimes secondary dates for like a month after the main launch and these tend to be totally ignored.)  A big launch gets free press attention (local news), fans go out with friends who may not be collectors who want to see the spectacle, and stores get big sales.

If you've watched this stuff closely the stores basically ignore it for everything that isn't Star Wars, Wal-Mart in particular.  The 3 3/4-inch Marvel Universe line and Wolverine were supposed to have a strict street date, which Wal-Mart ignored at many locations and put everything out early.  With Transformers, some items got put out early for the first movie and a lot of stores put stuff out a little late for the second one, thus missing the entire point of a large launch date.  And with Transformers: Animated, there was an advance release in (if memory serves) Ohio while the rest of the country was supposed to wait to put them out until a specified date-- who  benefits from this?  Some Wal-Marts, again, ignored this and put them all out, which is why I got my Animated stuff at Wal-Mart.  A lot of the stores I frequent missed the Rise of Cobra date and just put the stuff out whenever, typically late.

The thing that really gets my goat is restrictions-- when an item scans as "do not sell."  Usually because the store is uninformed and thinks the item has been recalled, which it rarely (never) is.   As a collector, I know the score, but what about the kid who finally convinces mom and dad to buy a figure, they take it to the register, and the kid's out of luck?  That sucks.  Just sell the damn toy.

I agree with Jayson that with exclusives, it does seem sensible.  When it works, of course, assuming the store remembers to put it out and/or it doesn't get siphoned off before the street date.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on October 29, 2009, 01:03 AM
I don't like constant street dates but I don't mind when Hasbro or another company plans a street date for an event like a TV series launch, movie, or even DVD release.  You know what's coming and when it's going to be in stores.  I'm fine with that every once in a while, but I don't want one every year where it ***** up distribution for the rest of the year.

Here's the problem I'm seeing in my town; we have a Walmart and Target and while there is a KMart it's really not a player.

Walmart has had the ANH and ESB waves a few times each.  When it came time for them to get in the AOTC wave they instead got 2008 Wave 2 (I forget which revision).  That's been on the pegs with the last of the ESB and we've seen nothing new for 2 or 3 months because my city has gotten its fill of those figures.

Target did not stock a single new case of 2009 TLC figures from January till October.  None.  In mid September Hasbro finally pulled off 12+ Breha and 12+ Bail Organa figures (they left 1 Breha), all of the Stass Allie except for three and all of the Yarna figures.  That left one figure on each of the 4 TLC pegs.  No new stock showed up for a month until finally one of the Stass figures sold.

We got a fresh case on the pegs about a week after that.  It wasn't the currently-shipping TPM or ROTJ figures.  It wasn't the just-shipped AOTC wave nor even the earlier ESB wave; we got 1 case of ANH.

Okay, that's not bad, maybe there will be just enough people in town to buy that wave and we'll move on.  Right?  After a week where they only sold 1 figure, someone finally picked up 6 or so and the pegs were nearly clear. 

Last week we got a new case of action figures, fresh from 2008...Wave 4 Revision 2.  More Breha. More Bail.  More Commander Faie.  Plus the repacks of the 327th, Vader and Grievous.  The same ******* case that's been clogging up this store for a year.

Where the hell did that come from?  What possible excuse is there for year old product to still be in the pipeline to Target?  That's what's wrong with Hasbro, Target and the entire distribution chain for action figures.

Needless to say, it's been another week and the only thing that's sold are a couple of the army builders (327th and Faie).  Locally, this town will not absorb those figures till parents are forced to buy them because they need something Star Wars to put in little Johnny's stocking in two months.

I have no reason to believe that my local Target will get more than 1 single case of 2009 figures in 2009.  How can it be explained, in any reasonable manner, by anyone, how it is acceptable for any product line to NOT ship to a store for an entire year?  In what other line of merchandise in ANY industry would this be even remotely acceptable?

The fact that there are cases of 2008 figures in the pipeline a year after their initial release means to me that Hasbro utterly failed with their launch of the TLC line in 2008.  Complete and utter failure.  In my opinion, Hasbro and Hasbro alone owns that ****up.  Not the retailers.  Not the collectors.  Hasbro.
   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on October 29, 2009, 01:07 AM
Quote
Last week we got a new case of action figures, fresh from 2008...Wave 4 Revision 2.  More Breha. More Bail.  More Commander Faie.  Plus the repacks of the 327th, Vader and Grievous.  The same ******* case that's been clogging up this store for a year.

This is EXACTLY what I saw, and not just Target but WM also.  They pulled that ****, but then put more out!  I have seen figures all the way back to the repaint wave resurface, which those sold it seems, but the majority were that ROTS wave of Breha/Bail and others.

Sucks majorly.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: shmashwitdaclub on October 29, 2009, 01:57 PM
Yeah, everything about that sucks efranks and there is almost nothing you can do about it.  The one thing I think that you could do about it is buy the figures now to force the system to order yet another case and then return them at a later date.  Both Target and Walmart, in my area at least, have 90 day return policies - so you could return them in the thick of the Christmas season for parents to buy them (or if you go on a road trip return them to another store and let them be that stores burden  >:D ).

You can do this if you care that much and have the money to do so.  Should you have to?  HELL NO!
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Pete_Fett on October 29, 2009, 07:12 PM
I went into my local WM yesterday morning and I happened upon two reps from Hasbro working with the lady in toys.

I wasn't sure they were reps from Hasbro at first, but then when I saw they had Hasbro badges, I felt compelled to speak with them - sure I know this puts me into the "creapy collector" category, but quite frankly enough is enough, so here's what went down....

I asked if they had a few minutes to speak with me regarding distribution of the Star Wars line. They said they did, so I asked them to accompany me over to where the figures are pegged.

In our modest toy section we have 12 pegs, four for Clone Wars, four for Build-a-Droid and four for Legends. There hasn't been a single Legacy/BAD figure on the pegs since I scored the TPM wave.

Curious to see what we were talking about the lady who runs the toy dept came over as well.

I showed the Hasbro reps how CW and Legends figures were filling the pegs designated for TLC/BAD. At first they were telling me that I was wrong and I had to get a bit testy with them to let them know that (a) I'm not stupid and (b) that they should know that there are three separate assortments.

Once we got the assortment issue out of the way, I explained to them that since the pegs are full, no one at this WM is going to re-order anything since, to the regular WalMart employee, they have Star Wars in stock - the three assortments mean NOTHING to them since the prices are all the same and they just peg figures wherever they can put them when they come in.

At this point, the lady working toys thinks I'm out to get her or something and she starts speaking up (I wanted to tell her to shut her f**ing mouth - but I didn't). I explained to the Hasbro reps that when they are going to re-order they don't scan each figure individually, they just count what's on the pegs and if they are full move on. The WM employee piped up that it wasn't true and that when they check for re-orders they always scan each item (sure, and I have a million dollars to give away to the next 100th caller)

So all while I'm talking, I'm moving the CW figures to the CW pegs and the Legends figures to the Legends pegs.

When I was done, the WM employee piped up and said - "yes, but if I leave these pegs here in the middle empty, I get in trouble!!!"

At this point, I couldn't help but smile and then I said "thank you for proving my point".

The two Hasbro reps had a startled look on their faces, almost like they had an epiphany of some sorts - I said that this was happening all over the area, the BAD figure pegs are CLOGGED with CW and Legends product and every three weeks, the Star Wars team trots out answers that blame collectors for the failure of the BAD line. If the BAD figures were gathering dust on the pegs then that would be one thing, but they're not.

I ended the conversation by stressing that the similar look of the lines and the equal prices only caused confusion for the WM/Target/TRU employees who really could care less that there's a difference between the lines - since to them - there really ISN'T a difference - it's all just "Star Wars".

The really kick in the pants came when the WM employee came back over to the pegs after stepping away for a minute with an inventory gun - she proceeded to scan the BAD peg tag and then proceeded to say "I just ordered two more cases of them!"

This is where I started to feel REALLY defeated - is that all it took? I'm curious to see if it is. Is it just a simple matter of getting your WM toy dept manager to scan the pegs and order more - no wonder nothing ever gets ordered - and when things DO get ordered sometimes its more Legends or CW when clearly that's not what we need more of right now.

I've said it in other threads and I'll say it in this one - only Hasbro is to blame for this lack of distribution - it may not be directly, but they are most certainly indirectly responsible. Having three lines divides your brand and causes confusion in the market place. Not everyone cares about the different lines like we do. As much as I like the look of some of the animated figures, the difference in figure style is to blame for this, it's that difference in style that forces there to be two separate lines and the lack of figures in the animated style (like Vader, Luke, Han & Chewie) is what drives Hasbro to keep lines like Legends going. If an X-Wing pilot Luke could ship in the same case as a Clone Wars Ashoka Tano, NONE of the problems we're having now would exist.

Getting back to the conversation I had with the Hasbro reps - I really don't expect it to go anywhere - they probably made fun of me the second I left the area - but damn if it didn't feel good to give at least SOMEONE who works for Hasbro a piece of my mind!
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on October 29, 2009, 09:13 PM
Woooow, intense story...

I really do get upset with the proper lack of distribution, but sometimes I just think that we (as in the collecting community) all need to just calm down and keep looking/demanding Hasbro for better distribution. Yeah, Hasbro keeps screwing up, but, c'mon, I mean this respectfully when I say that this is just a fun collecting hobby that's been around FOREVER... but Hasbro's not making it easy.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 30, 2009, 12:03 AM
Great story - thanks for sharing.  Hopefully one of the reps passed along the story.  I don't get why they can't jsut make more distinctive packaging for the 3 lines of SW figures, though that might not help anyway.

Can Jeff or anyone else speak to why Hasbro needs a separate Legends line?  Why not just put those figures in the regular Legacy assortments, since they already have other repacks in there anyway.   They might even get a few extra sales from numbering them.  I guess it doesn't quite fit as well with the BAD pack-ins, though they could just shuffle those around for the repacks like they did with the hologram pieces in Saga2.  Just seems like having 2 lines might cut down more on the clutter and confusion. 
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jeff on October 30, 2009, 12:32 AM
I don't get why they can't jsut make more distinctive packaging for the 3 lines of SW figures, though that might not help anyway.

Blame LFL.  They are the ones who tell Hasbro what the packaging should look like.  On a positive note though, it sounds like they have at least acknowledged the need to differentiate them further...  from the Q&A @ SSG (http://www.sirstevesguide.com/index.php?categoryid=13&p2_articleid=1934) last week:

We will have a solution next year to more strongly separate the Legacy product from Clone Wars and Saga Legends. We are working to also differentiate the latter two as well.


Can Jeff or anyone else speak to why Hasbro needs a separate Legends line?

The short answer is "because they sell".  As long as Legends keeps selling, it's here to stay. 

In order to get Legends into Legacy and maintain the volume of cheap, profitable, kid-friendly Legends figures that Hasbro wants to sell, you'd be looking at something like 4 new figures and 8 repacks per case.  In the end, does it really matter if the pegs are filled with Legends figures that are mis-stocked on the wrong pegs or Legends figures that came from the Legacy boxes?  Either way, you still have the problem of junk you don't want/need keeping you from easily getting the stuff you do want.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 30, 2009, 12:53 AM
In order to get Legends into Legacy and maintain the volume of cheap, profitable, kid-friendly Legends figures that Hasbro wants to sell, you'd be looking at something like 4 new figures and 8 repacks per case.  In the end, does it really matter if the pegs are filled with Legends figures that are mis-stocked on the wrong pegs or Legends figures that came from the Legacy boxes?  Either way, you still have the problem of junk you don't want/need keeping you from easily getting the stuff you do want.

Well, my point here was that you wouldn't end up with Legends figs blocking Legacy pegs and preventing a reorder per the story above.  True, you may have the same figs leftover on the pegs, but the reorder minimum would at least have to be higher with double the peg space and it would cut down on confusion around stocking the product in the wrong location to some degree. 

If the Legends figures are really selling well enough to support the line (I am shocked that they are by the way as I never see new Legends stuff pop up anymore), then they should sell just as well as part of the Legacy line, right?  You might even be able to mix and match better if you only wanted some of the new figs, but could grab the remaining BAD piece from a repack.  And heck, if they're part of the numbering they might even get some extra sales from hard core completists. 

Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on October 30, 2009, 01:07 PM
Pete - you are my freaking hero. Post of the year!

What a great story, I would KILL for an opportunity like that. Just to be able to express the myriad problems to someone in a position like that is priceless.

What a great insight into the Walmart drone mindset too. Now I am even more determined to rearrange the pegs every time I go there and leave them with a huge, gaping empty spot where new figs should be. I hope someone DOES get in trouble for that.

Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Greg on October 30, 2009, 01:28 PM
What a great insight into the Walmart drone mindset too. Now I am even more determined to rearrange the pegs every time I go there and leave them with a huge, gaping empty spot where new figs should be. I hope someone DOES get in trouble for that.


I also would love to speak my mind to a rep next time I see one. However, I don't see the sense in trying to get the employees punished. Frankly, that seems juvenile and makes collectors look bad. You cannot expect the employees to know and keep up with 3 barely different packages, especially when the day before they could have been working clothes or food. I'm sure even the toy managers have more to worry about than keeping Star Wars figures on the correct pegs. If Star Wars was the only toy line, there would be no excuse, but unfortunately that is not the case.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 30, 2009, 01:34 PM
What a great insight into the Walmart drone mindset too. Now I am even more determined to rearrange the pegs every time I go there and leave them with a huge, gaping empty spot where new figs should be. I hope someone DOES get in trouble for that.


I also would love to speak my mind to a rep next time I see one. However, I don't see the sense in trying to get the employees punished. Frankly, that seems juvenile and makes collectors look bad. You cannot expect the employees to know and keep up with 3 barely different packages, especially when the day before they could have been working clothes or food. I'm sure even the toy managers have more to worry about than keeping Star Wars figures on the correct pegs. If Star Wars was the only toy line, there would be no excuse, but unfortunately that is not the case.

Agreed.  It's many store's policy to front face the pegs with product to make them look more full, cleaner, and just generally easier to shop.  While they shouldn't be putting the wrong line on certain pegs, I don't really blame them for not knowing the difference.  I like to rearrange the pegs accurately when I have time and always hope that the employees will catch on because of it, but I don't wish them any ill will if it gets messed up again.  They're just doing their job ignorant of the issue.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Pete_Fett on October 30, 2009, 02:08 PM
Agreed.  It's many store's policy to front face the pegs with product to make them look more full, cleaner, and just generally easier to shop.  While they shouldn't be putting the wrong line on certain pegs, I don't really blame them for not knowing the difference.  I like to rearrange the pegs accurately when I have time and always hope that the employees will catch on because of it, but I don't wish them any ill will if it gets messed up again.  They're just doing their job ignorant of the issue.

Yes, I flat out told the employee that I understood where she was coming from. I used to work at a Target and that was most certainly the policy - even if it meant having only one or two of any item on a peg and spreading the inventory around, you ALWAYS wanted to have the pegs looking "full". It's just the way they run their business - and the employees, WalMart and/or Target can not really be blamed for it.

I made it clear to her that I did not want her to get in trouble and I thanked her for ordering more.

Again - it really comes down to the fact that for better or for worse the "Star Wars" logo is the biggest text on the card backs. So to someone who is looking to just front face pegs, it is all the same product with the same price.

It really only matters to us the collectors.

It SHOULD however matter to Hasbro - it really should - and for them not to see that having the three lines is really hurting them is a shame.

I understand Jeff's point very clearly, but it's hard to argue that they are doing things "right" with the Legends line as well.

Why, when Plo Koon is coming shortly in the ROTS wave do we need the older version in the Legends line? Why couldn't Saesee Tiin, the ROTS Clone and the Shocktrooper have been repacks in the ROTS wave along with Commander Bacarra and Commander Deviss?

It seems to me that Luke Skywalker in X-Wing Pilot gear and the Sandtrooper could have been repacks in with the ANH wave.

Mynock Hunt Han and Chewie could have been repacks in the ESB wave.

The ROTJ wave could have had the C-3PO w/Throne as a repack.

I could go on - my point is that with 15 repacks in the Legacy collection - and 19 figures in the Legends line, it seems to me that they could have EASILY helped make the new figure Legacy waves cheaper by putting in the same repacks as the Legends line in with Legacy.

Then - there would only be TWO different assortments to order - Clone Wars and Legacy - that's it.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on October 30, 2009, 03:25 PM

I also would love to speak my mind to a rep next time I see one. However, I don't see the sense in trying to get the employees punished. Frankly, that seems juvenile and makes collectors look bad. You cannot expect the employees to know and keep up with 3 barely different packages, especially when the day before they could have been working clothes or food. I'm sure even the toy managers have more to worry about than keeping Star Wars figures on the correct pegs. If Star Wars was the only toy line, there would be no excuse, but unfortunately that is not the case.


 I see your point, and I don't really want anyone to be punished either, but I do want managers held accountable if they are choosing reshuffling over reordering, because that's just lazy. I am sure hat is the case with some of these stores.


Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on October 30, 2009, 03:50 PM
I honestly don't see how anything changed, when WM's on automatic renewal like everyone else...  An employee may say they're going to order more, but they ultimately cannot.  It's out of their hands.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Keonobi on October 30, 2009, 03:57 PM
Kind of late weighing in on this, but shouldn't the real criticism be of the Hasbro reps (as opposed to the store employees and corporate Hasbro).  As others have mentioned, it is beyond the professional responsibility of a store employee to differentiate between two products that are identically priced and appear to be from the same collection (essentially the "they are all Star Wars toys" argument).  On the otherhand Hasbro has created a process where as volume is sold through at stores, they ship more, so the specific mix between Clone Wars, Legacy and Legends should be maintained.

My understanding of the Hasbro reps is they are tasked with visiting the various stores to ensure that Hasbro products are stocked, displayed and available in a way that aligns with the agreements they have with the store (chain).  Of the three groups responsible for the selling side (Store employees, company reps and HQ Head hanchos), the hasbro store rep is the only one with the specific product knowledge and retail visibilty to identify product mix problems at the retail level.

It seems the reps should know their product well enough to identify which ones are stocked in the wrong place, quickly correct that, and then if there is a stocking problem, help the store to identify it.

Or is my understanding of the Hasbro reps off.  (I understand they also do things with introducing new products and the like...)
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Pete_Fett on October 30, 2009, 04:11 PM
I honestly don't see how anything changed, when WM's on automatic renewal like everyone else...  An employee may say they're going to order more, but they ultimately cannot.  It's out of their hands.

Ok - so if they are on auto-reorder, then perhaps the employee was giving me a line a bull.

I never said that my conversation really mattered or made a difference. It really just felt good to have it!
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on October 30, 2009, 04:17 PM
I think the most an employee can do is mention it to management who can discuss it with their district distribution center and things.  The only one with any power at a retailer is the store manager,a nd they often have their hands tied too.

Dept. Stores like Penney's and Macy's have merchandisers in-store still, but they're becoming few and far between these days.  It sure helps having that.  It's something that it's a shame the big box stores don't try to include one in every store I think, as it works, and they double as a manager of course.

The Hasbro Reps honestly don't often know a ton.  The regional manager of them usually knows more and does the field work like the random ones you may run into, but they're not really all that knowledgeable more often than not.  When I was way younger, and in school, I tried getting a p/t thing with Hasbro but they weren't hiring, and the impression I got was they were very much like the retailing associate.  They have a general idea, but to them they too see pegs full and are generally happy.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Pete_Fett on October 30, 2009, 04:23 PM
Well in this case - she scanned the bar code on the Legacy collection peg, saw that she had (as she put it) "12 pieces en-route" (which I took to mean that she has a case coming). She then pressed several keys and then looked up and told me "I just ordered another 24 in addition to those"

She seemed genuine in her statements. I have never really seen a gun like this at a WalMart before.

It probably was too good to be true, but if it means that some Legacy product starts to flow to my local WM, I will be incredibly happy.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 30, 2009, 06:34 PM
I honestly don't see how anything changed, when WM's on automatic renewal like everyone else...  An employee may say they're going to order more, but they ultimately cannot.  It's out of their hands.

Jsut because they have an auto-order system doesn't mean they can't override the process to order more stock.  It's been a long time since I worked at Target, but we could zero out the counts, effectively ordering new product as soon as it becomes available.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on October 31, 2009, 01:05 AM
Everything I've ever heard counters that, but I don't know many Target people either...  One of my best freinds is a WM manager though, and they've got no control over it except to contact distribution centers/regional and comment on the issue.  Usually to no avail.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 31, 2009, 01:16 AM
Everything I've ever heard counters that, but I don't know many Target people either...  One of my best freinds is a WM manager though, and they've got no control over it except to contact distribution centers/regional and comment on the issue.  Usually to no avail.

Well realistically, there are manual overrides to everything.  Would it make any sense to set up an ordering system that is 100% dependent on an automated process that couldn't be corrected in the case of errors?  As far as I know, it's not as easy as just entering a code and ordering a couple cases as the earlier story suggested.  However, at Target you can zero out your store's inventory and by default that should mean the DC is going to ship you new product as soon as they are able. 
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on October 31, 2009, 01:42 AM
Quote
Would it make any sense to set up an ordering system that is 100% dependent on an automated process that couldn't be corrected in the case of errors?


No, but it also doesn't make any sense to leave ordering in the hands of anyone who doesn't know what they're doing, which generally most store managers and below don't at Target and WM, that's why the auto-ordering system is in place.  It's to replace merchandisers because it's considered "more efficient", and efficiency is WM/Target's central structure of their logistics model...  And ultimately problems are to be addressed via the store manager's contact to the distribution center and the person who has the actual power to do something about it.

Allowing individual stores control over the auto-ordering system is actually a very negative thing because of the gumming it can create in the works then, as they have the system set up now anyway.

Like I said, in an ideal world I think a merchandiser should be on-hand in the stores, as it's usually helpful if they know what they're doing...  It's what I did interning for JC Penney's when I graduated, and then I moved into Service Merchandise right after with a similar job even though I was the visual merchandiser for the district.  I still handled merchandising for my main store as well, to help the main manager/merchandiser.  It's people's specializing in knowing the product that helps a lot.

I'm all for having someone in the store that has an inkling of what they're doing, but WM and Target aren't set up like J.C. Penney's, Macy's, Boscov's, etc., as far as their inventorying goes, but they've all started heading more that direction, especially Penney's which canned a lot of folks way back when I was still there, because the system was changing gradually.

I think what you'd see if you had people at WM with the power to just say what they wanted, would be a distribution system far worse than the current (most likely) shorter-term backlog of crap.  At least if you didn't have them better trained to know their store inside/out, as far as merchandise goes.

Locally the best thing that could happen I think is retailers getting off their ass, clearing out blue/white carded stuff at a discount, and getting the SW aisle 100% to the new packaging.  But that seems unlikely to happen anytime soon, and has zip to do with Hasbro other than them getting their **** together and getting figures back to a "month-at-a-time" with the waves (at least).
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on October 31, 2009, 03:53 AM
It's my understanding, of Target anyway, that the store does have the ability to zero out the counts of an item to force the computerized ordering system to request more product from the DC.

It may not be the team member stocking the aisles, it's probably the store manager or whatever person covers the area of the store that contains the toys.  If someone at the store didn't have the ability to do that then they'd never be able to compensate for theft, damaged product that wasn't correctly taken out of inventory or cashier mistakes that cause an item to not be rung out correctly.

They probably don't walk through an aisle and find a hole and force an order, it probably only happens when it's been brought to someone's attention and they take the time to investigate.  That or a rep comes through, finds empty pegs and checks up to find out what's going on. 

Don't get me wrong though, I'm sure the stores do rely heavily on the computer ordering system and it probably takes a lot of motivation to get the employees to actually check up on things. 

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on October 31, 2009, 01:14 PM
There is someone at Target who specifically goes through the toy section aisle by aisle looking for low inventory counts on a regular basis.  They are trained in what they do (contrary to Jesse's comments about all retail staff not knowing their ass from a hole in the ground) and they will zero out inventory as E mentioned to reset counts when they feel it is needed.  The automated system is there to simplify the process and take care of 95% of the work, but there needs to be someone checking on it and able to correct it when needed.  

I don't know about Wal-Mart or other retailers, but I would be shocked if they didn't have a similar process in place.  I've met some very helpful and intelligent sales people at WM who have gone the distance to help me out, so Jesse, I find your comments indicating that they are all untrained ignorants to be pretty offensive.  Kind of ironic that you are calling them ignorant then talking out your ass about inventory management systems you know nothing about.

Now are these people "merchandising specialists" who are expressly trained in knowing the nuances of every item in the toy section inside and out?  Of course not.  But they don't need to be a specialist in toys to understand that empty space on the shelves should be scanned and investigated and are trained to do that fairly simple task.  

The problem with Star Wars is that you can't easily tell the three different lines apart.  I don't blame retail people for that - there are numerous UPCs per DPCI code and a slight color change on the packaging is all that they have to go by.  They are told to front face all the pegs when cleaning up the aisles, and if they can't tell the figures apart, then they're going to be putting Legends and CW figs on the Legacy pegs - they're just trying to do their job.  Hasbro obviously realizes this is a problem as they've already commented that they will be making the packaging more distinctive next year.

I think we're all a little frustrated by some of the distribution issues of late, but I think what retailers are doing is a very very small part of the issue.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on November 2, 2009, 02:30 AM
There is someone at Target who specifically goes through the toy section aisle by aisle looking for low inventory counts on a regular basis.  They are trained in what they do (contrary to Jesse's comments about all retail staff not knowing their ass from a hole in the ground) and they will zero out inventory as E mentioned to reset counts when they feel it is needed.  The automated system is there to simplify the process and take care of 95% of the work, but there needs to be someone checking on it and able to correct it when needed.  

I question to what extent they know their jobs, depending on what level they are I guess, yes...  These are likely the people who say, "spread it out" on the 3 different rows of pegs to make it look fuller than the individual line's numbers are showing.  Which I don't blame them either Justin, that's not really their job to know the 3 lines specifically...  In many store systems people who do jobs like that aren't paid much more than the average floor employee.  I really don't blame retailing employees totally, or at all in many cases.  They're at the mercy of the systems they work in generally.

Like I said, this is what I did right out of school...  Too many years of retailing really, which drove me away from it because it's nutty at times, and not very appreciated generally.  Merchandisers are usually replaced with a "department head" (or other similar title) now though, which isn't a replacement at all when you compare the two realistically.

I don't know Target's system thoroughly though, I've admitted...  Wal-Mart's I'm more familiar with.  Target seems a bit more efficient, I think, and it's generally similar.  At WM's there isn't a large group of people with the authority to screw with inventory.  THat's left to management only, and major changes (not loss adjustment) are done through district.  Dept. heads can bring things up, but management can shoot it down...  And they answer to district who can shoot their decision to change inventory for re-ordering purposes.  It's not that people CAN'T do it, it's that they don't do it for the things people are suggesting (getting new stuff on the pegs because the auto-order isn't doing it to their satisfaction, collector complaints, etc.).  That generally takes a district manager's approval.  Is it the same at Target?  Maybe not I guess, but I just have doubt that it is dramatically different.

Quote
I don't know about Wal-Mart or other retailers, but I would be shocked if they didn't have a similar process in place.  I've met some very helpful and intelligent sales people at WM who have gone the distance to help me out, so Jesse, I find your comments indicating that they are all untrained ignorants to be pretty offensive.  Kind of ironic that you are calling them ignorant then talking out your ass about inventory management systems you know nothing about.

It's equally ironic you just said I'm talking out my ass about it, considering I do know about WM and a variety of other retailers...  My background just says differently, and I'll leave it at that I guess.  I've had some very, very helpful employees at WM, Target, and anywhere I shop myself as well.  My comments aren't meant to be offensive more than they are meant to say, "don't blame retail employees, as they're not experts and don't have the ability to fix things the way you want them".  But that's been my experiences in the industry before I quit for the better.

My experince with Target has mostly been limited in that I've studied their business model several times in the past because of its competitive efficiency though, and successes compared to other retailers, in particular logistical issues...  maybe they've got a system with a much wider birth on inventory alterations, distribution fixes, and a general ease on who can access and change these things, and things of course change in 11 or 12 years time I guess.  Still though, loss replenishment's one thing, but we're not talking about theft...  We're talking about a major adjustment to inventory replenishment issues at individual stores.  These things are not the same, and they require a bit more than the average floor employee or department head.  Usually it takes management contacting district/distribution centers...  that's why Hasbro's, "working with retailers" to fix it, and all that jazz.

People did the same thing with inventorying at Penney's and they were called MA's (merchandiser's assistant).  They helped the store merchandiser control inventories for each department on a more micro-managed level, but they held no real power either.  They didn't even handle scheduling for their departments.  It's not a knock on them, they aren't experts, but they helped keep the merchandise stock flowing and things replenished steadily, and they always knew their section best compared to upper management save for the merchandiser for that group of departments...  they were basically sales floor associates though.  They couldn't fix distribution issues like we're seeing...  Penneys is way different than Target though.  But still, the sudden ( or complete?) depletion in the system at (at least) stores I imagine requires a reason and in my experiences it cannot be accomplished without one being given to the powers that be.

Quote
Now are these people "merchandising specialists" who are expressly trained in knowing the nuances of every item in the toy section inside and out?  Of course not.  But they don't need to be a specialist in toys to understand that empty space on the shelves should be scanned and investigated and are trained to do that fairly simple task.
 

And I hope they've had these months to sort this all out then.  I'd imagine it's shown on their inventory sheets for their department now for a while that one of the STar Wars lines is sorely hurting, as all 3 will show separately on a sheet since they're 3 separate numbers...

Quote
The problem with Star Wars is that you can't easily tell the three different lines apart.  I don't blame retail people for that - there are numerous UPCs per DPCI code and a slight color change on the packaging is all that they have to go by.  They are told to front face all the pegs when cleaning up the aisles, and if they can't tell the figures apart, then they're going to be putting Legends and CW figs on the Legacy pegs - they're just trying to do their job.  Hasbro obviously realizes this is a problem as they've already commented that they will be making the packaging more distinctive next year.

And as noted above, a department head should have a sheet showing them, 3 different lines.  This is what Hasbro's talking about when they say that it's three separate lines and that retail knows that.  It's obviously real tough to discern visually in an aisle, but it's much less complex on a store's inventory sheet for that aisle.  It may even break it down by # on a visual mock-up to the aisle's display, similar to a plan-o-gram, so the employee can see that column 1 has 4 pegs and 24 figures (or whatever, this is all hypothetical), column 2 with 4 pegs has 2 figures, and column 3 has 30 figures (or whatever, that's somewhat simplified).

I agree totally, it's not the retail employee's fault on the floor that theyr'e told to get the section cleaned up and not leave pegs empty, that's pretty standard stuff and in some cases it is even part of OSHA regulations, but if department heads are following up on inventory counts and things to help the management, they certainly get a comparison and see 0, or whatever, for an active number as being in stock on the floor, and that's where they're hopefully fixing that by working with management...  THough why the inventorying system is NOT re-ordering is odd, and for a very long time now it seems.  If it's down so low (I saw a Target today down to one peg of Legacy stuff total).  That's usually a sign either the re-order point's been lowered because sales have stagnated, or there's a flaw in the system itself I suppose, or there's a distribution issue from the manufacturer, which Hasbro's denying.

I've personally thought it's been more in the middle...  re-order points have been lowered or frozen because of stagnant sales.  Retailers are backing off.  Store managers can be lectured all day by collectors on an issue like that, but it'll take more than someone upset they can't buy the latest Legacy case to fix that kind of a problem, as a manager can't tell district "I want more Legacy stuff", when district's the one who stopped it for something they feel is a legitimate reason.  That's where Hasbro reps should be coming into play, and helping break the logjam.  That's also why Hasbro would take anything back, as well...  Retail said, "no", and Hasbro has had to react.

Sadly, by my estimation locally though (and some others as well it seems), some of the OLD cases were still in the pipelines with WM and Target both, and so some older figures that Hasbro cleared out have returned....  back to square one.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 3, 2009, 06:04 PM
Alright, Target finally restocked again tonight!!

Oh, wait, 2008 wave 4 Revision 2.

We're back to 3 Breha, 2 Bail, 4 Stass Allie and 4 327th Star Corp figures plus a pair of Grievous and Saleucami Clone and whatever else was left...

Is E gonna have to choke a bitch to get this fixed?

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: darth_sidious on November 3, 2009, 06:40 PM
During November and December, we will be chasing 4 waves of Legacy figures and 2 (maybe 3) waves of CW figures - that is a distribution train wreck in itself - not to mention Legacy waves are harder to find now, and most stores only put out 1 case at a time - Hasbro needs to figure something out before we have a melt down.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Morgbug on November 4, 2009, 04:17 PM
Brand new case of Legacy put out this morning, I even scored the empty box from the store.  Of course given I'm in Canada, the only thing I scored actually was the empty box with the street date of July 2008 replete with more Yarna.  Yay, thanks so much for that. 
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: iFett on November 4, 2009, 04:20 PM
Wow...that's pretty sad Brent.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JesseVader08 on November 4, 2009, 04:27 PM
Shouldn't you be doing your civic duty and filling said box with Yarnas?   :-*
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Morgbug on November 5, 2009, 01:26 PM
Dude, I own two Yarnas - that's 12 boobs worth, more than enough for any man. 

Went back again today and they'd put out the old Legacy stuff.  Well, it was brand new, but it was the white card, round top Legacy card - Seulacami trooper etc.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on November 5, 2009, 01:32 PM
Dude, I own two Yarnas - that's 12 boobs worth, more than enough for any man. 

Went back again today and they'd put out the old Legacy stuff.  Well, it was brand new, but it was the white card, round top Legacy card - Seulacami trooper etc.

I had to limit myself to 2 Yarnas as well.  I might have gone for extra if she had more of a Darth Talon frame though.   ;)

Has there been any official word that newer Legacy waves won't be shipped to Canada?  Thought I read that somewhere on here, but wasn't able to dig it up.  Let us know if you need help from your neighbor to the South - we've got waves 8-10 popping up here and there right now.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Rob on November 5, 2009, 09:10 PM
I don't know if anyone's done the math or not yet... but in the last 5 or 6 weeks I've bought:

Target Geonosis 2-packs:  10 Figures
Episode I wave:  7 figures (including B.A.D.)
Episode VI wave:  10 figures (including B.A.D.)
Episode IV wave:  10 figures (including B.A.D.)
Episode III wave:  7 figures (including B.A.D.)
Second Ugnaught
5 Comic Packs (still missing one):  10 figures
Gunship Battlepack:  2 figures
Re-released Mynock Han and Chewie
Wedge X-Wing:  2 Figures

That adds up to 61 figures in about 6 weeks.  It's a year's worth of stuff in under two months.

Which is out of control.

Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Morgbug on November 5, 2009, 09:58 PM
That's ridiculous.  But it's also wholly off topic for this thread considering how much you've found. ;)

I do believe precisely none of that has been released in Canada; now I could be wrong about a wave or two but I don't think so.  I've been able to pick up some of it from hts.com but I'd like that second Ugnaught, Rum Sleg and a few others.  I've mostly been waiting on hts.com to get them, but usually out of stock. 
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Rob on November 5, 2009, 10:40 PM
That's ridiculous.  But it's also wholly off topic for this thread considering how much you've found. ;)

I figured this was the best place to put it because it was in part the terrible distribution that led to all of this product showing up right now.   :)
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on November 6, 2009, 09:16 AM
I don't know if anyone's done the math or not yet... but in the last 5 or 6 weeks I've bought:

Target Geonosis 2-packs:  10 Figures
Episode I wave:  7 figures (including B.A.D.)
Episode VI wave:  10 figures (including B.A.D.)
Episode IV wave:  10 figures (including B.A.D.)
Episode III wave:  7 figures (including B.A.D.)
Second Ugnaught
5 Comic Packs (still missing one):  10 figures
Gunship Battlepack:  2 figures
Re-released Mynock Han and Chewie
Wedge X-Wing:  2 Figures

That adds up to 61 figures in about 6 weeks.  It's a year's worth of stuff in under two months.

Which is out of control.



Don't forget the TIE Interceptor, AT-ST and Dewback which are out now too! It's crazy!

I could post a list of the new TCW stuff I have found in the same time span, but it would be a lot shorter.  ;D
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Rob on November 6, 2009, 09:29 AM
Yeah, I'm skipping the Interceptor, but I have to pick up the other two.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on November 7, 2009, 10:57 PM
TLC is making a healthy comeback to my local Targets. The ROTJ wave is hitting hard (the TPM wave not so much), but Malakilli is starting to pegwarm. Please, NOT ANOTHER YARNA!
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: speedermike on November 8, 2009, 09:34 PM
I still have seen no red card TLC at Target or TRU.  I found the E1 wave a few weeks ago at a Wal-Mart.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: jedi_master_sal on November 9, 2009, 03:02 PM
I had hoped to army build the gungan. To date I have 2 of them.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Keonobi on November 9, 2009, 03:07 PM
I don't toy hunt as often as some JDers, but the lack of selection lately is really annoying.  One store me has left overs from the ROTJ wave (two Rancor Keeper, i got the last B-Wing Sullustian), I found Cody and the Utai from ROTS, I've seen nothing from ANH.  But I could still get a Yarna or either Organa at any one of a half dozen stores locally (Albany isn't all that big a town, one TRU, about a dozen Walmarts locally and about 5 Targets).  Soon we'll be looking at four full waves that have been extremely hit and miss, and that's all on the Legacy side of the line.... :(
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on November 9, 2009, 03:15 PM
I'm in the exact same boat Keonobi, so don't feel alone.  I've got a laundry list of what I've yet to see...

-No Rum Sleg (got the rest of the wave, mostly online)
-Saw ROTJ Wave at K-Mart only and Sullustan Pilot at Target (got what I have online otherwise)
-No ROTS wave at all
-No ANH wave at all
-No AT-ST at all
-Just recently saw the Gunship Turret battlepacks once, never seen them before or since
-Never seen the new Comic packs in stores, just repack remnants
-Never saw the Geonosis Arena 2-packs in stores save for a Yoda/Droideka set, though they are in the stockroom at several Targets locally which never put stuff out in a timely manner.


What I do see are Clone Wars waves steadily come in and go (though I only have seen Bane once now, last night), and Legends crap galore.

Legacy's basically non-existant locally at this point and it's not even coming into Hasbro Toy Shop much where I'd probably buy it all if they had full (or at least mostly full) waves available.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JES on November 9, 2009, 04:56 PM
Jesse I know you're on the East cost like me, not sure on Kenobi, but it seems we're suffering here on this side of the country.

I have seen the Gunship BP sets though more than anything else. I have four I wanted and must have seen at least another four sets that I left behind.

I have seen the comic sets (Vong, etc) once at Kmart. Saw the remains (repacks) once at TRU and saw the Vong (and remains) at one Walmart once. Target is just a total **** hole for anything in ages. I mean no figure waves, BP's, comic sets... nothing...

I have seen a lot of AT-ST's in the last week. Dewback have seen a few, but not many so far.

TPM wave hit WalMarts here, but one case per store in the few stores I saw it at. ROTJ at KMart, but... they had a good four cases worth. They also hit once at one WalMart. Just grabbed the mixed ANH/ROTS wave from (of all places) TRU last week
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JES on November 9, 2009, 04:58 PM
Opps hit post by accident...

I know it doesn't seem that bad to some, but people are finding wave after wave at several stores and more than once. Most of the stuff I have seen was total **** luck that I had happened to go to the store when I did. Hell people that collect the Mattel DC Universe line are bitching about the wave 10 exclsuive Wally wave and I have seen them a good three to four times. Meanwhile stuff I collect and want I can not find.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Keonobi on November 9, 2009, 05:02 PM
JES, I'm near Albany, NY, so yeah, the East Coast is either its usually 3-4 weeks behind the rest of the country, or the thread title is pretty accurate.  Kinda funny that the only place I've seen ROTJ was at KMart too.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JES on November 9, 2009, 05:06 PM
Yeah, we're always slooow getting goods on our side of the country Kenobi, but man this **** blows (and not in a good way) this year.

I saw the ROTJ wave at one WalMart once. It was the revision with Ugnaught... and some ****** opened the case took the Ugnaught and left the case on the floor. WTF. I mean even if you own the Nikto guards and Slave Leia would you really leave them behind. Some of the best figures this year.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on November 9, 2009, 08:42 PM
Yup, we're always in a bit of a toy rut it seems...  For battlepacks we've been so clogged with Jabba CW3D sets, I think that's part of the reason we didn't see the Pod packs till recently.  I have really zero hope of seeing those other new ones that are out now save for etail.

I'm going to do a bit of a big loop tomorrow night and see how things go...  I must say my patience with collecting is as tested now as it ever has been.  It's annoying right now to the point part of me wants to take a break from it.  Might be worth it, I don't know.

So far there has only been one report locally of the AT-ST found in the area...  A couple scalper guys I know even have said they've never seen it anywhere and they're usually out and about in a broader area than I am, that usually do better on distribution than my haunts.  Nada though.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on November 10, 2009, 12:09 PM
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?!?!)
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jeff on November 10, 2009, 12:20 PM
(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?!?!)

Because every year they hold a few new items so that they have something new to draw you in for the big post-Thanksgiving shopping weekend.  If they put them out now, you'd buy them and you might not come back.  By doling out things slowly, it keeps you coming back to the store again and again.  This is the way it's been at Target the past few years, it shouldn't be a surprise at this point they are holding the CW BPs and the SotE-inspired TIE Fighter for that weekend.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Scott on November 10, 2009, 12:32 PM
Can't find the hot new toy? Blame the economy (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iV6jje4WMKlYgUbCNyFuksdE4jGAD9BS8LKO0)

Case closed...retail is not ordering product like it did in the past...end of the discussion
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 10, 2009, 12:39 PM
I wouldn't say that's case closed.  What I'm seeing isn't a lack of new product when it comes to the basic action figures, it's the fact that Target is still stocking year old merchandise because Hasbro/Target never cleared it from their inventory.  That's backing up new shipments.

There may be less, but the crappy distribution of product, sometimes due to the automatic computer ordering systems, is keeping what there is from hitting shelves in some areas.  That's a broken system, IMO, not a manufacturer or retail store scaling back.

   E...

Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Scott on November 10, 2009, 12:42 PM
Slow sales of said product though is the reason they aren't ordering new.  Some of those stores have had that stuff in the back for 6-8 months.  There is no way it is still at the distribution centers since most stores are receiving new waves....they are just receiving less of it because they are ordering less
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on November 10, 2009, 02:32 PM
I was at a WM the other day that actually had their 3 columns of pegs organized right, and it was really quite sad seeing a holo Sidious as the only Legacy figure, and the CW/Legends pegs jammed full of pegwarmers.  This unfortunately blows right now.

I think the only thing that hit here in good quantity is the Dewback...  and that's largely sold out (but is available online at WM.com site-to-store so technically it didn't).  Locally we're just sitting around and have empty pegs at many locations, some don't, waiting for anything even remotely new.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Keonobi on November 10, 2009, 03:15 PM
Just stopped in my local target.  They had 6 Cartoon figures (one on each peg), a couple dozen Legends figures (on the correct pegs, shockingly) and about 40 Legacy figures.  The only problem was that 37 of them where the Stormtrooper helmet card (Faie, both Organas, a couple Spacetroopers and a couple of the Cantina denizens).  That left room for three Legacy figures and they were all repacks. :(
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on November 10, 2009, 03:15 PM
Because every year they hold a few new items so that they have something new to draw you in for the big post-Thanksgiving shopping weekend.  If they put them out now, you'd buy them and you might not come back.  By doling out things slowly, it keeps you coming back to the store again and again.  This is the way it's been at Target the past few years, it shouldn't be a surprise at this point they are holding the CW BPs and the SotE-inspired TIE Fighter for that weekend.

Ok, that sounds plausible enough. Seems like it would put a lot of pressure on on timely distribution of product though. Considering new stock arrivals vary weeks from store to store, they are cutting it pretty close, IMO.

Also, if the post-holiday weekend is such a draw, why are we getting the dewbacks and AT-ST's now? Doesn't that mean Walmart has pretty much blown their wad already? (so to speak) And TRU has all their exclusives out already as well.

I suspect there is probably some compelling marketing research to support NOT waiting as well.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on November 10, 2009, 03:29 PM
From other conversations in this thread, I think Target's DC to shelf distribution is better suited/monitored to hold items back until the 11th hour.  I'd bet they start getting their stuff in about a week prior to Black Friday - that will be the time to hunt for them if you want to use the DPCI mind trick.  To Jeff's point, that has been their MO the past few years.

Not sure that I recall Wal-Mart doing anything like that.  Maybe they are holding back comic packs or other exclusives, but I think they tend to just put things out on the shelves with less discipline.  That's why we see AT-ST's stocked in the middle of a Sporting Goods aisle.  They are certainly timing their exclusives for November, but probably hoping to capitalize on both the early rush and the post Thanksgiving demand by getting their stuff out now. 
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: shmashwitdaclub on November 10, 2009, 08:55 PM
I went to two different WM's today and saw 1 case of ROTS wave at one, and 2 cases of ROTS at the other.  While I was happy to see this I did have to wonder where the hell the ANH wave was (not to mention ROTJ but I had already seen plenty of that at Target).
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on November 10, 2009, 09:03 PM
I think a big part of it too is WM's never really been in a position where drawing people into the toy aisle has been an issue.  They're the ones the others are catching up to.  THey probably figure they're doing fine as is...  Their distribution is so hit & miss too, would every store be guaranteed that such and such is on the shelf for that specific date?  NOt likely with WM... 

Hell, Target locally is just putting the Geonosis Arena sets out NOW.  So they're not much better.  But at least you can almost guarantee every store has those in stock...  WM, not so much.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on November 10, 2009, 10:49 PM
I think just blaming the economy is pretty simplistic.  I'm sure that many stores are seeing fewer sales and blaming the economy.  That in turn leads to fewer reorders and the distribution problem sprials downward.  However, when there's no new Legacy product for 4 months, there's obviously going to be lower sales, so blaming the economy is a cop out.  I'm sure the 4 old figures that were released a year prior made it seem like stores weren't completely out of inventory, but you can't sell what's not there.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Scott on November 10, 2009, 11:03 PM
As has been said a few times already, the pile up of waves is probably more due to factory time with all of GI Joe and Transformers taking precedence over anything Star Wars.  How little Marvel stuff has been new for the same amount of time?  Even worse than SW
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JediJman on November 11, 2009, 09:32 AM
As has been said a few times already, the pile up of waves is probably more due to factory time with all of GI Joe and Transformers taking precedence over anything Star Wars.  How little Marvel stuff has been new for the same amount of time?  Even worse than SW

I think that's a totally fair assessment.  If so, I'd still blame Hasbro for making that decision - I wouldn't go away from my bread and butter to make way for a new line, even if it is supported by a movie.  None of that stuff sells as well as Star Wars.  That just further shows that the economy excuse is a cop out.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 13, 2009, 03:54 PM
"That kid is BACK...on the escalator again!"

That is what popped into my head today, as a cry of frustration, disbelief and realization that Hasbro's 2009 plans for the Star Wars line can only end in bloody disaster no matter how many warnings they've been given.

What prompted this?  The THIRD ******* CASE OF 2008 WAVE 4 FIGURES STOCKED IN A MONTH at my Target!

**** **** **** **** **** ****.....****!!!!!!!! 

Somebody PM me a contact person at Hasbro that I can send a photo and store number to in order to try, once again, to get them to recognize their complete and utter failure at their jobs this year.   There is no reason why these cases should be in any pipeline for any retailer at this point.  This needs to be corrected.  Hasbro already knows that that particular wave KILLED them at retail this year and they still haven't completely addressed the issue if stores are still stocking these figures.  Nobody wants Bail, Breha or Stass Allie and not even Christmas shopping will move these figures.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jayson on November 13, 2009, 03:56 PM
"That kid is BACK...on the escalator again!"

Easy Banky  ;)
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darth_Anton on November 15, 2009, 09:51 AM
Although we have still not seen the ANH or ROTS wave here in Los Angeles, I'm still not ready to call it the worst distribution year ever. I'll wait until after christmas to judge. A lot can happen between now and then.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: GrandMoffNick on November 15, 2009, 10:23 AM
Although we have still not seen the ANH or ROTS wave here in Los Angeles, I'm still not ready to call it the worst distribution year ever. I'll wait until after christmas to judge. A lot can happen between now and then.

I think that is somewhat fair to judge the year the way you are, but I also think that if one part of the country has to wait 3 months to see figs the other part saw earlier that you can add that to the worst distribution equation.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on November 15, 2009, 01:46 PM
Yeah, there should be a steady influx of stuff coming in around December. It always happens. And hopefully the pegwarmers (Yarna, Plo Koon, Saessee...) clear off to make way for the new TLC product.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darth_Anton on November 16, 2009, 09:07 AM
Although we have still not seen the ANH or ROTS wave here in Los Angeles, I'm still not ready to call it the worst distribution year ever. I'll wait until after christmas to judge. A lot can happen between now and then.

I think that is somewhat fair to judge the year the way you are, but I also think that if one part of the country has to wait 3 months to see figs the other part saw earlier that you can add that to the worst distribution equation.

Perhaps, but I tend to look at the TAC period when the whole country was backed up and waiting as a strong contender for worst.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 16, 2009, 10:29 AM
God damn it!  HTS.com had the ROTS wave in stock for about 2 seconds this morning.  I had time to get them in my cart and before I could get out they were gone.

It's not like I don't want to spend money, they won't freakin' let me!

Edit: I think I got them!  I saved my cart and went back and they all came in stock again, not shipping till 12/1, though. Hopefully I won't get screwed on the build-a-droid parts.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on November 16, 2009, 11:51 AM
Sorry for the stupid question, but if they're in stock now, why would they wait until 12/1 to ship them? That doesn't seem like good customer service. Sounds more like a backorder. (Having worked in a mailorder dept, I know this is an anathema to most customers)
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jayson on November 16, 2009, 12:03 PM
Yep, they're pre-orders.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 16, 2009, 02:08 PM
They're basically pre-orders but I've ordered product from them before with this type of status.  It seems that HTS.com only puts things up for sale when they know they have the figures allotted to them.  I've never ordered anything that was listed as in stock and shipping in the future and had it get cancelled.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: McMetal on November 16, 2009, 03:01 PM
Makes sense...thanks for the explanation.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Pete_Fett on November 17, 2009, 09:27 PM
I'm not going to claim to be 100% responsible for the change of things at my local WM - but at that WM where I had the conversation with the Hasbro reps and the WM employee claimed to "order more" over the past week, they have gotten in at least four cases of the ROTS wave and two cases of the ANH wave.

This after NEVER getting the TPM or ROTJ waves at this store at all.

Clearly, laziness and/or a clogged pipeline had something to do with this store not getting in new Legacy product.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 17, 2009, 11:19 PM
Very odd things at Target.  I found a SCUBA Clone Trooper and Nien Nunb B-Wing at Target but no other new figures, and the pegs are still packed with the latest 2008 Wave 4R2 figures. 

Both had R3-M3 parts so they're from the ROTJ wave cases.  No other carry forward figs like ARC, Saleucami or Biker Scout, though, so I can't believe the store got a full case.  I'm wondering if someone returned them from K-Mart.  That would explain the odd leftover carry forward ROTJ figs at that store as well.

Don't know.  Odd things going on here right now.  Unfortunately, the carry forward ANH figs I found at KMart tonight have the YV-H1 B-a-D parts so unless something else shakes free, I'm going to be 3 parts short on my R3-M3 droid.  HTS is already moved on from that wave 9 case in their stock.

I'm still blaming Hasbro on most of this fiasco.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jayson on November 18, 2009, 02:26 AM
LMK what R3-M3 parts you are looking for as I have some extras that I can send you.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 18, 2009, 09:10 AM
I'm not sure yet what I'm going to need because I haven't picked up the rest of the ROTJ wave yet.  I'll have to wait till I get a shot at those figures before I know, but thanks for the offer.

I just got a shipping notice today from HTS for all of the figures I ordered the other day.  So even the "pre-order" figures shipped already, didn't have to wait till December.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darth_Anton on November 18, 2009, 09:20 AM
I'm not going to claim to be 100% responsible for the change of things at my local WM -

But you could be. Stores have the ability to control how much they get.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: jedi_master_sal on November 19, 2009, 10:25 AM
LMK what R3-M3 parts you are looking for as I have some extras that I can send you.

Say if you've got an extra of the leg that came with the Ewoks (not sure if that's the left or right), I need it.

I've got extra parts to if you need something. Let me know and I'll check my "scrap pile," LOL.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Brian on November 19, 2009, 12:01 PM
Although our local WMs and TRU have continued to pretty much be barren of SW figures (unless that has changed this week), Target has been stocked to the gills it seems.  Although I already have what I need via online sources, I've seen quite a bit of the ROTJ wave - and this morning the ANH wave was on the pegs as well.  It is the most Legacy I've seen out in some time, and the Legends/CW pegs are full of figs as well.  Nice to (finally) see some stock making it out.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on November 19, 2009, 12:21 PM
TPM wave seems to be the hardest of the last three waves they are the only one that I am not seeing. It would make sense they would make a shorter run of that wave. They still have instinctual fear from 1999.

Think about it we have not had a single rerelease of a TPM vehicle. I would have thought we would have seen a dirt AOTC deco Naboo fighter by now.The upcoming BP with Maul's speeder is the first I know of. You can sort of count the Eopie but that was a mail away. They fear TPM.

But distribution issues for now seems to have been addressed in a great deal hopefully it will stay that way. We shall see.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: tmanthegreat on November 19, 2009, 12:35 PM
Although our local WMs and TRU have continued to pretty much be barren of SW figures (unless that has changed this week), Target has been stocked to the gills it seems.  Although I already have what I need via online sources, I've seen quite a bit of the ROTJ wave - and this morning the ANH wave was on the pegs as well.  It is the most Legacy I've seen out in some time, and the Legends/CW pegs are full of figs as well.  Nice to (finally) see some stock making it out.

Yes, my targets have done the same with the ANH and ROTJ waves.  They've also been putting out last year's wave of CW figures, but on the new cards.  I've not seen the new waves of CW figures or the ROTS wave yet.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 21, 2009, 03:42 PM
So today I was 15 seconds shy of picking up a new figure at Target.  Litteraly, as I was walking into the aisle, a guy three steps ahead of me got to the pegs first and proceeded to buy every ANH wave figure on the pegs, even the re-pack/carry forward figures.

I have that wave but would have liked to have pulled the R2 and returned the one I have with the B-A-D part that I don't need. 

So now I'm thinking that he might be the guy that beat me on the ROTJ wave earlier in the week, when all I found was a lone Nien Nunb figure.  So now I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that since every store I've been in has moved beyond the ROTJ wave, I'm probably never going to see them in stores.  Unfortunately, HTS only has about 2 figs from that wave in stock and since none of the ones that matter are carried forward into new cases, I'm going to have a hard time with them. 

Blah.  Still blame Hasbro for the bulk of this.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on November 21, 2009, 03:57 PM
Wooow ... your story reminds me of a time back in 2007 when I found a lone McQuarrie Chewbacca. I put it back on the pegs (after inspecting it) for a split second to look to see what other Star Wars figures there were, and, sure enough, another guy walks in, looks at the peg where I put the McQuarrie Chewy, and takes him. Oh well. My loss.  :(
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 21, 2009, 06:50 PM
It's actually funny you say that, because as I was walking down the aisle behind this guy I spotted R2 on the front of the pegs.  He reached for the Kal Fas figure above him and I contemplated, for a second, just walking by, reaching in front of the guy and snagging the R2 from the peg below where he was looking and then just keep walking out the end of the aisle and leaving.

I didn't, which surprises me, because I'm kind of a dick like that.   >:D 

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darth_Anton on November 22, 2009, 09:44 AM
I'm just having bad luck. One of my local Targets has several cases of legends erroneously marked as Basic Legacy. The box says Legends, but the conveyor sticker applied by the warehouse slapped on the Legacy bar code.  They pulled out two cases for me and and said the remaining 3 cases are labeled as such.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darth_Anton on November 29, 2009, 09:50 AM
Now I know how the rest of the country feels. SW is just dead in my part of the city. Pegs are clogged and old waves continue to get re-stocked. Ouch.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: DoctorPadawan on November 29, 2009, 12:18 PM
This week has definitely been a complete rejection of the Hasbro "Legends sell better than Legacy" mantra we've been hearing for the last year or so.  Toys R Us actually has the three SKUs separated on the pegs (which, in and of itself, is a miracle), and even after Black Friday, the pegs are filled to the point of overflow with Saga Legends; only one Leebsub is on the 8 pegs allotted to TLC; three IG-86s from last year are occupying the 12 pegs for CW. 

The same story at the other major retailers in my area, with the TLC BAD figures being non-existent for the most part with the exception of the Ugnaughts and Captain Needas from the ESB wave earlier this year at WM, and a steady stream of the ROTJ wave at Target, and CW in acceptable supply.  Saga Legends, however, is dominating the pegs, and none of it has moved since Black Friday would theoretically see a lot of impulse buying on the parts of parents.

I think I've said this before, but Hasbro's claims that SL sells better and TLC-BAD is struggling are starting to remind me of the Iraqi Information Minister who stood on the roof of a Baghdad building with reporters claiming that they were "repelling the American invaders and Iraqi victory was imminent" while explosions were going off in the background.  You know, that whole "Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain" philosophy. :)

Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on November 29, 2009, 12:40 PM
I was in Walmart, Target and TRU in the Binghamton/Vestal, NY area on Wednesday night.  Of the three stores the only TLC figures I saw were in Target.  They had one Malakili and I believe one or two blue/white Stormtrooper card TLC figures.  Everything else was Legends and CW.

Walmart has a dozen pegs for figures and probably a 100 figures on them, not a single TLC figure.

TRU has probably as many pegs and they had maybe 20 or fewer total figures, mostly being Legends and maybe a CW or two.

Target had some newer CW and a ton of Legacy.

I was in all three on Black Friday, after the crush of shopping during the opening two hours or so.  Nothing was moving.  Nobody was even looking at the sW sections in any of the three stores while I was there and nothing was much different from Wed night when I'd been in.  The Malakili figure was gone from Target but other than that it looked the same.

That Target also has had the newer comic packs, because they had six (let me say that again, SIX!  6!  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!!!!!) Luke/Deena packs.  Plus they had various amounts of the repacks on red cards.  What didn't they have?  The "new" figures, Krayt/Dare and Vong/Katarn.  So don't tell me the new comic packs aren't selling.  It's the ****** repacks and boring "old" characters that arent moving.

Oh, and WM in Vestal?  Has over a dozen Leia/Xizor comic packs.  That's it.  Nothing else.  And they've had at least that many for months now.  Months.  Plural.  They've had them going back to October when I was there and I'm sure had them long before that.

Then I got home yesterday and stopped in Target.  Guess what they got sometime between Wednesday night and Saturday?  ANOTHER ******* CASE OF 2008 WAVE 4 REVISION 2.  That makes four cases of that wave since October 1st.  There are two pegs dedicated to Stass, Breha and Bail.  The other two TLC pegs have a mix of Sandstorm Han (3), Wioslea, 327th and Faie with one each Grievous and Saleucami Clone.  Now we're back to being in a situation that lasted from January to August at this store; choked with unsalable inventory.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Keonobi on November 30, 2009, 09:57 AM
Basically ditto, except in Albany.

I was at TRU just after it opened, well, around 2 really, and the line for the register started at the door.  I couldn't wait that long so I left, but they did have a couple new figures from the ROTS wave.

I've been into the half dozen closest Walmarts over the last week and the newest Legacy figure was from the first ESB wave (Needa or Ugnaught anyone?).  I'm tempted to buy one just to buy anything, but I know that won't trigger a restock, since no stores are restocking.  There has got to the some kind of supply issue for all the local stores to be devoid of new figures.

Its actually sad/funny but the time I stop into one of the local stores, 2-3am, is when they are stocking the toys, which in years past allowed me to grab a few figures before they were even on the pegs.  This year, no dice.  Take Wednesday night, I stopped in and there were four pallets each stacked 6 or 7 feet high with Purple and brown boxes (which i guess means the toy section).  Not a single one said SW Basic figs, or anything close.  And to prove that point not a single new figure appeared in that store over the next 6 days, I checked.

Seriously, how can they stock every other toy line except the one that in the previous year was the single most popular toy line in country?  That's like Coca Cola suddenly no longer selling Coke.  Sure Star Wars figures may not be the highest margin toy they sell (oddly enough I've seen plenty of AT-STs, Evolution packs, bobbleheads, Galactc Heroes, etc.), but its probably not the lowest margin toy either, so please stock it anyway.  I know that Walmart has bypassed probably a couple hundred dollars worth of sales to me simply because there was nothing to buy.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: jedi_master_sal on November 30, 2009, 02:28 PM
Man, I agree with these sentiments and observations of late.

Old stock and reissued stock is clogging up pegs.

I desperately want more Gungans to army build, let alone not finding the whole ANH wave. I want the NEW stuff (and with their wave specific BaD part, not the reissued part from a different wave).

I really think Hasbro is screwing the pooch so to speak with all of this. My personal opinion is that new figures should SOLELY come in new cases for awhile BEFORE refresh cases come out. I actually found an Ewok set but it had the freakin' Terminator droid part in it, instead of the blue droid part. I bought it knowing I wanted a second set, but it still irked the crap out of me that this is a NEW wave and yet I only found the REFRESH figure.

And please don't get me started on the Imperial Scanning trooper (and for that matter Ugnaught 2). Can't even find these guys in ANY wave, new or refresh.

Yes, Hasbro we all get it, you want the most out of your molds for figures.

However....refreshing them into cases that should be reserved for newer figures is not the way to go. How about doing some ACTUAL market research. Find out which figures sell well and people are asking for more of. Then guess what....yep, you already have an answer for that, it's called the LEGENDS line. NOT Legacy. Spaces resevred for Legacy should be new figures only. I get the repacks. You don't want to "force" people to buy a whole wave of figures when some are obscure, so you think by offering us popular characters with the same droid parts you're doing us a favor. Maybe...but I'd say more often than not, this is NOT the case. If you seriously want me to pay more upwards or more than $8 per figure, then yo've got to make available NEW figures, not repacks. And not even refreshed ones from previous waves.

It's obvious you're not doing this market research. How do we know? Simple, just look in this thread for example for all of those folks complaining about still seeing 2008 figures on store shelves. Or what of those figures from early 2009. It's verging on December now. We shouldn't be seeing figures older than 6 months on the pegs. Like that or not, it's REALITY.

If a figure is deemed a stinker, oh well. Sometimes you've got to take a hit on those. Maybe some additional research up front about what figures we want would help. You've done some of that, but you definitely can do more.

For example, Yarna. I personally think she's a great figure for what she is, but she'd have best been served as an exclusive, either on card or in a battle pack. More examples are aplenty.Were I not at work at the moment, I'd expound upon this some more. But I think I've stated enough for the moment.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: tmanthegreat on November 30, 2009, 06:06 PM
And please don't get me started on the Imperial Scanning trooper (and for that matter Ugnaught 2). Can't even find these guys in ANY wave, new or refresh.

Really?  There must have been at least six of the Scanning trooper at one of my local Wal Marts in Central California - and that was just one store.  I've seen more at other Wal Marts and Targets in my area.  They're not moving all the quickly and I already got my fill. 

That said, I certainly agree with much of what has been said above to an extent.  I still have not seen that new wave of CW figures (the one with Matchstick) or the ROTS wave.  I was used to regional distribution back with the 21st Century Toys Ultimate Soldier line, but I would have thought mighty Hasbro could do better...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: tmanthegreat on December 3, 2009, 06:19 PM
Within the past few days, my faith in Hasbro's distribution has been restored.  Finding the new ESB, ROTS, Clone Wars waves within the past couple of days as well as having already had the ANH and ROTJ waves available for weeks in my area has confirmed that Hasbro will pull through.  The large Wal Mart displays with all the ships and new figures by the dozens are further evidence of this 8)
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on December 4, 2009, 01:46 AM
I've managed to find the comic packs, ESB, ROTS and most of the ROTJ waves over the last couple of weeks, but I'm nowhere close to easing up on Hasbro.

The entire year was screwed and while there was a gap in waves shipping (partly due to the card change), the bad decisions that were made in 2008 are still plaguing stores in some areas.  I still lay the demise of the comic packs at Hasbro's feet.

They've got a long way to come back to make 2010 a better year.  However, between the line change due this summer and the much smaller releases for the last 3 or 4 waves, I'm anticipating a long, dry Spring/Summer.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on December 5, 2009, 02:48 AM
Reports have been flooding in that the new CPs are hitting harder at Walmart. Too bad there's no Walmart even near me.   >:(
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: jedi_master_sal on December 7, 2009, 12:10 PM
Which comic packs are we talking about here?
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on December 7, 2009, 06:50 PM
I'm assuming he's talking about the Krayt/Dare, Vong/Katarn, Luke/Lumyia wave since I think that's all that's shipping right now.

There is another WM exclusive wave due, but unless I missed something, I don't think that's shipping yet. Probably soon, though.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on December 7, 2009, 07:30 PM
Nah those aren't out.  Pics of them surfaced just recently from overseas so I think there's a little time on those yet.  I saw remnants of the wave tonight again including Luke/Lumiya for the first time, but none of the other sets.  I'm still on the hunt for extra Katarn sets so I can do a nifty update for a Dark Forces and Jedi Knight Katarn duo I'm hoping... 

We're clogged to the brim with lots of Marvel sets and not a ton else.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jabba the Slug on December 8, 2009, 01:59 AM
I'm REALLY surprised because the new red product is hitting hard, and my local Targets are doing pretty well with TLC (except a few leftover white/blue Saesee Tiins. Yarna's all gone now, THANK YOU!  :-*) The only thing missing is the new red-carded CPs. ??? The only CPs here are the Xizor and Thrawn sets. I'm starting to worry that the Krayt/Katarn/Lumiya sets won't EVER hit by my neck of the woods. 
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on December 8, 2009, 09:57 AM
Over the weekend my Walmart sold through all of the comic packs on the shelf except for the Leia/Xizor pack (2 or 3 left).  That set may be the single worst fiasco Hasbro has ever come up with.  Worse than the late 90's Nien Nunb.  Worse than Yarna/Bail/Breha combined.

I could, right now, walk out of work and buy at least 6 of those comic packs within 5 minutes.  Give me a half hour and I could buy another dozen (Elmira).  Another half hour after that, two dozen more (Binghamton).  That's all based on what I saw over the last 2 weeks when I went shopping.

Now, tell me again how collectors screwed this line?   ::)  We didn't pick that pack.  I don't remember anyone asking for a new Xizor either...and we certainly weren't asking for that Leia.

Not even the Christmas toy rush is moving that pack here.  The $6 price at Walmart has really cleared the pegs, however, even of the CW figs.  We may actually get a restock here.  I can only hope we get the ROTJ revision case.

Target, on the other hand, I don't see them selling all of the Bail/Breha/Stass figures they have.  They couldn't sell them the first 10 months of the year so I don't have any reason to believe they'll move for Christmas.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jesse James on December 8, 2009, 03:31 PM
We've still yet to see a lot of the ESB wave locally I guess, unlike other areas.  I'm a little disappointed.  Hopefully I find them soon, as I'd like to be "caught up" again for a while.

Leia/Xixor is definately the suck.  Would it have done badly had Luke been packaged instead of Leia?
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Jeff on December 8, 2009, 03:36 PM
Would it have done badly had Luke been packaged instead of Leia?

Luke, or Dash, or Guri, or ANYONE would have been better than Cankles Leia. 

That to me is one of the biggest mysteries of the Comic Pack line - WTF were there so many Leias in there?  Vader I get (trying to cross sell to kids) but what was with all the EU Leias - Hoth, Endor Sniper, SotE, etc? 

All the time they tell us that Leia/Padme don't do well, then they stick a bunch of Leias in the Comic Pack line.  Strange.   ???
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on December 8, 2009, 03:56 PM
Would it have done badly had Luke been packaged instead of Leia?

Luke, or Dash, or Guri, or ANYONE would have been better than Cankles Leia. 

That to me is one of the biggest mysteries of the Comic Pack line - WTF were there so many Leias in there?  Vader I get (trying to cross sell to kids) but what was with all the EU Leias - Hoth, Endor Sniper, SotE, etc? 

All the time they tell us that Leia/Padme don't do well, then they stick a bunch of Leias in the Comic Pack line.  Strange.   ???

I don't think Luke would have sold that pack better.  I think Guri would have.  Kids may have picked the set for Luke, but collectors, the comic pack target audience, probably wouldn't have.  There's been a bigger call for Guri for the last 10 years than another Xizor or pretty much anyone else from SotE.

Not only does Hasbro tell us that Leia/Padme don't sell, it's a well known fact that female action figures don't sell well in general.  That's one of the reasons why the 2008 Wave 4 case is such a terrible assortment; two female characers (Stass and Breha) plus a collector targeted figure we weren't asking for (Bail) and some troop builders.  Making matters worse, there were 2 revision cases for that wave, both of which included Stass/Breha/Bail, but only the first case and first revision had FX-6 which is was a excellent figure. 

The theme here is how badly Hasbro ****** 2008 and we paid for it through the entire year 2009.  I could write a thesis on how Hasbro screwed up over the last year but all I really want to do is punch the entire Star Wars team in the mouth and swear at them for an hour.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Darby on December 8, 2009, 09:40 PM
I think the missteps (all of which I agree with) of 2008 were magnified by the downturn in the economy.  Had the market gone on like nothing happened, I think they would have gotten through the Yarna/Comic Pack Leia mess fine.  They seem to be doing fine this year - obviously sales are down, but you wouldn't know it by what's happening on the shelves right now.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on December 8, 2009, 11:55 PM
I don't remember anyone asking for a new Xizor either...and we certainly weren't asking for that Leia.

I actually really like that figure and glad they made him. I would have like the rest of the SOTE crew updated and really hope Dash, Guri and Snoova get resculpted/made one day. I do like the Leia but the cankles are bad they should have put the articulation in the knees. Was she a wise choice hells no! And yes this set was a slow seller like the Thrawn pack. Even the Green Mandos out sold these sets. You have to laugh a little bit that the curse of Xizor lives again.

At least the Rancor Keeper this time around is not clogging pegs. He is not the fastest seller but he redeemed himself in my opinion.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: efranks on December 9, 2009, 12:35 AM
Well, unfortunately the local Walmart got a pallet display either Monday or Tuesday.  The TLC section, which was all ROTS wave, was pretty decimated when I found it.  The CW and SL sections were barely touched.   Only one or two vehicles had sold.

I was hoping that my store would skip this because the Saga Legends will most likely choke off this store for months.  The only hope is that the $6 price moves them out, but I'm not holding out much hope.

Back to the comic packs for a sec; I like the Xizor figure also.  I bought him loose off eBay cause I didn't want to pay for that comic pack.  Still, whether it's a good figure or not, there wasn't a huge fan call for him.  And the Leia was pretty bad. 

While I do agree that the downturn in the economy had an effect, I don't agree that it was the only reason this pack didn't sell.  Plenty of other comic packs that shipped with the Leia/Xizor pack sold.  Even the Marvel painted repacks from the most recent wave are selling, but not this one pack. 

Those three figs from the 2008 wave 4 cas I keep mentioning, other figs from that case are selling but those three are dogs.  Terrible choices.  And locally, those three were soley responsible for my Target not getting a shipment of 2009 figures until October.

Part of the reason I'm so pissed about this is the fact that Hasbro continues to blame collectors for the problems in the line and I don't buy.  And I hate it when people won't own up to **** like that.

   E...
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: jedi_master_sal on December 9, 2009, 10:56 AM
They blame us for not buying. Okay, to a point I'll agree with that. However it's the reasons WHY we're not buying that are in question.

Poor choice of characters, HIGH price points, those are two of the biggest reasons I keep seeing from the collecting community.

Hasbro wants to choke us with unwanted product AND pay a premium for it. Sorry Pawtucket, not buying it. Blame us or not, but the real problem stems from you FIRST. Give us characters we want and at much more reasonable prices and we'll buy.

I am SO glad I chose to reduce my budget over the last few years. It's made it extremely easy to pass up on stuff. But Hasbro decision on which characters are made and their ever increasing prices have made it even that much easier to slow down on buying.
Title: Re: 2009: Worst Distribution Year Ever?
Post by: Keonobi on December 9, 2009, 11:27 AM
The thing that slowed my spending the most, by drastically reducing impulse buys, was the multitude of figure lines.  I think I've bought four Clone Wars figures and I picked up a couple Saga Legends.  I certainly haven't bought every Legacy figure, but I probably bought most.  That said, most times I walked into a store all they had were Legends figures and a few pegwarmers from the other two lines.  If there had been one, or maybe two, lines there wouldn't have been nearly the same frequency of stinker figures.

Whether that's simply a failure at the distribution and retail level, not having the line I'm interested on the shelf, at all, makes it very difficult for me to buy anything.