JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Saga Collection '06 => Topic started by: Brian on April 14, 2006, 01:35 PM
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Maybe the "collectors" area is a more appropriate place for this, so I'm sorry if this isn't the right forum for this. With the "hit and miss" quality that TSC figures have had in my area so far (although I've been fairly fortunate so far), I've started to consider ordering cases for the upcoming OT waves (Tatooine, and maybe Endor, in particular). I've personally never done the case route, and I was curious if anyone could offer some advice. Where is the best place to go? I've read a lot of posts of people having good luck with Newforce, and I know that Entertainment Earth carries the assortments as well. Which is the best bet (price, actually getting the product, timeliness, etc.). With many of the price jumps this year at retail, it doesn't look like online ordering would be too much more expensive. I'm not sure if I should go this route or not, but I really don't want to miss out on this upcoming waves and I don't always have as many opportunities to hit the stores at the right times. Anyways....any advice on case ordering and/or your experiences with it?
thread title edited for clarity - Jeff
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I tend to use www.NewForceComics.com as my source.
NewForce is going to be the cheapest ($72 plus about $8 shipping), but there is alway the chance you won't get your order because they sometimes get shorted by Hasbro (since they don't do the volume of EE).
If your main concern is that you know that you will get your order, your best bet is probably EE. the are often times the most expensive option ($80 plus about $10 shipping), but they come through 95% of the time with your pre-order.
So,
- if you want them cheap and are willing to risk you won't get what you ordered , the NewForce is for you
- if you want to be sure that you have the best chance to get the case and are willing to pay a litle more for it, then EE is for you.
There are tons of other sites out there, but I've done most of my "by the case" ordering at NewForce or EE.
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I'll back up everything Jeff said. My experince with newforce has been the best overall due to service and price. It's a shame they do get short changed.
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In each of my dealings with Newforce I've either received the order so long after the wave was relevant that I didn't want it anymore, or never received the item at all. It looks as though the latter may be the case with the 5 wave 4 UGH packed-in cases I ordered from them. It was a bad gamble and I'll know not to do it in the future.
Entertainment Earth all the way. I've used them for 10 years now and I'll stick with 'em. The extra cost is worth the piece of mind.
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Entertainment Earth all the way. I've used them for 10 years now and I'll stick with 'em. The extra cost is worth the piece of mind.
And the peace as well.
I've preordered with NewForce twice and had my order cancelled twice. Entertainment Earth has come through every single time, ever since the POTF2 days when I first ordered a case with them consisting of the Vader Removable Helmet/ Ishi Tib/ Admiral Piett/ Zuckuss wave. EE is the most reliable and worth the extra couple bucks if you want to see your order for certain.
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You're my new grammar checking software. ;)
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It looks like consensus in this thread- I'm new to Newforce, and I received one case of 6, and I'm not feeling like the rest are coming. I've ordered from EE in the past and always gotten the product, but I wanted to save a few bucks and try Newforce. It's a drag to preorder and then your etailer gets short changed by the big H, so I will probably stick with EE from here on out. I only order a few cases a year, so it won't add up too much.
I already have my Endor and Tatooine waves ordered at EE. The earliest cases have the best ratios (generally 2 of each new figure, no repacks).
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EE all the way. I will gladly pay slightly more knowing I will get what I ordered, receive them within a few weeks of retail, and arrive in mint condition on my doorstep.
If it wasn't for EE I wouldn't have my 90% of my OTC collection, 99.9% of my Post-OTC, and about 85% of my TSC collection.
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I remember I used to order from Newforce quite a bit back in 2002-2003, and was happy with them. But suddenly I started not receiving orders... I was pretty unhappy with that. Not that I really blamed them, but I'm not going to miss out on figures just because they are nice people. So when I do order a case online (which is rare lately), I go through EE. I've never had a problem with them.
Another place that I really enjoy shopping through is www.dnstoys.com - very good people to deal with and probably the best customer service I've seen.
:)
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I ordered from NewForce a while back... I think Commtech days maybe it was. I'd written ordering online off for the most part because I generally found what i wanted in stores anyway but NF had come through for me.
Current fears of them being unreliable have me concerned though about something I did order off them. It's always something, I tells ya. ::)
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I might order a case of the Vintage stuff, just to be sure I get two Biker Scouts.
This is, of course, assuming the pack is 2x of each figure. I want a carded and loose set and this just seems to be the most sensible way to do it.
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Yep, that's the case breakdown for the VTSC. Newforce is out of stock but EE still has them.
At one time, the Star Wars Shop had them by the case as well and the price wasn't too shabby.
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Another place that I really enjoy shopping through is www.dnstoys.com - very good people to deal with and probably the best customer service I've seen.
I've never used them for case orders, but I have placed a few orders with them for individual things. In those times I used them, they always seemed to come through with little hassel and pretty good service.
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I was just over browsing at EE amidst all the discussion of Newforce not receiving their full alotment of orders. Everything EE has up says coming soon, so I can drop more $$ to get the same stuff from EE still at this point that I have on order with Newforce.
The questions is, has anyone received their orders of Wave 4 Saga from EE to this point? If not, aren't we sort of speculating a little early about Newforce getting the shaft from Hasbro (even though past history dictates this may occur)?
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The questions is, has anyone received their orders of Wave 4 Saga from EE to this point?
Yes. I received my two cases of Wave 4 Rev 2 March 23 or the 24 if memory serves me right. The thing with EE, as with other pre-orders is the sooner you place your order with them, the sooner you get your figs. I placed my order the first week of January, and pretty much pre-order as soon as that particular case assortment I'm interested in goes up.
Pre-ordering rocks if you can swing it. You don't have to worry about chasing down htf figs, and it so easy to cancel with EE should you change your mind, or find the figs at retail.
"Either way, you win"
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Thanks Ricardo, I was just wondering if EE had been shipping out as well. I presumed they had, it was unlikely that Newforce would have received them without EE receiving them as well.
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I've been considering doing this myself with EE. $80 for a case isn't bad at all, especially when you considering the extra cash spent on gas and the time wasted. Based on everyone's experience, are there often times where you find the stuff in a store before you receive your case from EE? I'm sure it's bound to happen from time to time, I'm just wondering if it can be a regular event.
John
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It does happen sometimes, but you can always cancel the order before it ships. I have really decreased my trips recently, choosing to wait for my cases to arrive for Tatooine and VTSC. If I happen to run into either while I am at the store, I can get me my extra troopers-
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I've decided on the next wave to order online, exercise some patience, and get my case from EE and some of the duplicates from BBTS.
I actually ordered a case of the Tatooine wave from EE yesterday. The case breakdown is
2x Momaw Nadon (Cantina Alien "Hammerhead", Saga #31), 2x Darth Vader (Bespin Battle, Saga #38), 2x Sandtrooper (Saga #37), 2x R5-D4 (Saga #32), 1x Hem Dazon (Cantina Alien "Goldeyes", Saga #33), 1x Garindan (Cantina Aliens "Long Snoot/Snitch", Saga #34), 1x Luke Skywalker (Tatooine Poncho and Hat, Saga #36), 1x Han Solo (Cantina, Saga #35).
With shipping the case is like $93 which is like $7.75 per figure which is not that much more than what I pay to Target or TRU, or even Walmart. By the time gas and lost time is thrown in, I think I will be ahead on this. I'm off track right now, but when I go back I am taking some classes online for my teaching certificate, and between planning, class, my other technology class, etc, my time for hunting will go way down until July 1. So ordering online made more sense to me. On downer is they will hit retail before I see this case from EE, but on the up side, I know EE will ship this case. I like the ratio's also (except they could have put in an extra Hem in and taken a Vader out. I'll admit it here, since I firmly believe the Vader is a rehash of the 500th Vader again, I'll take him back to Target using one of my figure receits there for $6.99. Other than that, I like the ratios of the case.
I'll also keep my BBTS order since I will use them to fill in one or two extras that I still want.! Only way to go I believe especially since gas will be over $3.00 a gallon before Memorial Day and then into June for the summer driving season. Price gauging in my opinion but that is for anthoer thread in Watto's.
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Time is the key issue with me too. I only get to stop at one WM a week, and I never find anything.
And like you said, gas is a key issue as well. I am afraid we'll hit $4 by Labor Day.
BTW, that case breakdown for the Tatooine wave could be better, I agree. I'd like to have two each of Hem and only one of the Vader. I swear I have four extra "500th" Vaders now because of the cases I bought!
:P
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Heard back from Rick today and though he wouldn't outright state it, if you haven't received your wave 3.x case from Newforce, you probably won't. He's still waiting on them but it doesn't look good he said.
He's expecting his VOTC shortly (this week or next) and hopes for a full alotment of cases.
So we're back to the old days again where Newforce doesn't necessarily get its full order amount. That's really frustrating because I like supporting them, but I hate not receiving what I ordered. It's looking like I may as well pay EE and at least get what I ordered. :-\
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Ditto here. That sucks. I rather buy from Rick than anyone else. Oh well.
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Heard back from Rick today and though he wouldn't outright state it, if you haven't received your wave 3.x case from Newforce, you probably won't. He's still waiting on them but it doesn't look good he said.
Well there's a big surprise. Sorry, but I can't order from a place that doesn't deliver, even if hit's run by the nicest of folks. It's unfortunate that he's losing business because of Hasbro, though.
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With some pegwarming starting to happen with the Hoth remnants, Geonosis bugs, and some Vaders - I'm starting to consider ordering a case of the Tatooine wave from EE. I'm really looking forward to that wave, and I'd hate to miss out on them because of the pegs being packed with these.
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No surprise to anyone on the Wave 3 (UGH Cases) stuff, but I thought I'd post it to offer some hope for those who ordered the VTSC from them...
From NewForce (http://www.newforcecomics.com/):
Reposting: SW Vintage update, wave 3 update
April 26, 2006 | 8:25 PM | newforce1
Apparently our posting was accidentally removed. Our first delivery of the VOTC is scheduled to arrive today. Hasbro has emailed that as soon as they get their next shipment (some product still arriving into Hasbro) in earlly May, we will receive balance of allocation at that point to ship presells. We listed a May/June release in our presell info, and while many major stores have received (they always get product first), I am confident to receive balance of product as ordered with hasbro, based on correspondance with them. As always, we never discourage folks from procuring at local majors and saving their receipts, if they locate now. This provides some security for our customers, as we are beyond the cancelation request period of this case.
Further, we had received a large quantity of what we posted as wave 3.1, 3.2, 3.3. To date, we have received no further allocations, and have yet to receive a single case of 3.4 on. We are awaiting on Hasbro to confirm further receipt, or cancel balance of our order, and will update here once we know.
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So none of 3.4 :o Well at least I wasn't alone when I got pooched.
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Some 3.4 as of last night. Maybe we will get lucky. I would have to return a few figs if he comes through but I am hopeful.
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EE IS WAY BEHIND ON THEIR SHIPMENTS. THEY DID NOT EVEN RECEIVE THEIR WAVE 3 IN YET. STORES IN CHICAGOLAND ARE USALLY EMPTY WITH SOME SCRAPS. ORDERING BY THE CASE IS A GOOD IDEA. I WAS STARTING TO DO THAT BUT THEN I FIND THEM IN STORES AND HAVE TO CANCEL. ITS A TOUGH CALL.
I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE WAVE 4 AND VSTC.
I WILL HAVE TO CHECK OUT NEW FORCE ITS SOUNDS GREAT.
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EE IS WAY BEHIND ON THEIR SHIPMENTS. THEY DID NOT EVEN RECEIVE THEIR WAVE 3 IN YET. STORES IN CHICAGOLAND ARE USALLY EMPTY WITH SOME SCRAPS. ORDERING BY THE CASE IS A GOOD IDEA. I WAS STARTING TO DO THAT BUT THEN I FIND THEM IN STORES AND HAVE TO CANCEL. ITS A TOUGH CALL.
I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE WAVE 4 AND VSTC.
I WILL HAVE TO CHECK OUT NEW FORCE ITS SOUNDS GREAT.
Don't fault EE or other e-tailers for lack of case shipments, blame Hasbro for not meeting demand.
EE did infact receive Wave 3 shipments because I received mine on 2-23, which I pre-ordered 11-10-05. If you want your figs before retail or at the same time as retail, that is more than likely not going to happen. If you want your figs a few weeks after retail, in untouched/mint condition, and 99.9% guarantee what you order will arrive on your doorstep, than order as soon as it is up on EE, or your prefered online store.
Remember first come, first serve.
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Don't fault EE or other e-tailers for lack of case shipments, blame Hasbro for not meeting demand.
EE did infact receive Wave 3 shipments because I received mine on 2-23, which I pre-ordered 11-10-05. If you want your figs before retail or at the same time as retail, that is more than likely not going to happen. If you want your figs a few weeks after retail, in untouched/mint condition, and 99.9% guarantee what you order will arrive on your doorstep, than order as soon as it is up on EE, or your prefered online store.
Remember first come, first serve.
You ae correct, I am not faulting them. But I ordered around the same time you did and they sent me an email saying Hasbro shiiped late. A local store called TOYNK is really getting screwed by Hasbro. Its sad they dont seem to care about the little guys.
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As soon as Rick posted VSTC for pre-order I ordered them, then I waited deciding on the Coruscant wave and I waited too long because New Force had them listed as sold out of pre-orders. So I ordered that case from EE. I asked Rick a few times about the Tatooine Wave and he hadn't had anything up yet, so tonite I ordered it at EE. $10 more but it's better having the peace of mind....and saving time and gas.
Me along with some local friends have had a few orders not get fulfilled because of Hasbros allotments to NFC. We've had plenty fulfilled though and Rick is great to deal with, and an all around great guy, but I'm afraid months after the figures are out my order will be cancelled and I'll have to resort to ebay, and more headaches than if I'd paid the extra $10 to EE. Literally for 2 weeks my Target has had ONE hook for figures...and I have not seen anything new on my sid eof town for months. I wa sout of town this week and saw most of the Coruscant wave (even grabbed scorch because my case is supposed to have an UGH Scorch) So with the situation in my part of town, I'm just going to order cases, and any leftovers and UGH's will be used for trade bait for things I need (like Vader UGH and Vader an dYOda out of HEroes and Villains) or will go to the 'bay.
So short story...EE for cases. worth the extra $10.
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FWIW, if you get those catalogs from EE, they have source codes in the address box you can use for free figures, discounts, etc. I have a source code for $10.00 off, which I have already used a couple of times for some cases. I'm pretty sure it's still active, so if you plan on buying/pre-ordering some stuff from EE PM me, and I will pass it along.
All I ask is that you don't spread it around too much, as I don't want EE getting suspicious as why they keep getting flooded with $10.00 off all their orders. :P
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I know I ordered my wave 5 case from EE on 4/20 because I wanted to ensure that I would receive this wave. That and combined with my schedule for the next 2 months means little hunting for me. Just easier that way. I know they will show up at retail before I get em, but that is okay, I'll get em without the added cost of gas, wear and tear on the car, and the loss time which is perhaps the biggest issue for me.
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For those who still had just the tiniest bit of hope left... the final nail in the coffin for the UGH cases:
SW wave 3 preorder Update
May 24, 2006 | 11:32 AM | newforce1
We got the "email" from hasbro that all of our open/unfilled wave 3 (all versions)orders have been canceled. Unfortunately, this means all outstanding/unfilled wave 3 preorders with us will not be filled due to no available product from hasbro to fill our orders. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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Dammit Hasbro. You create these "chase" figures, but don't produce enough to meet demand. Idiots.
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Well, it's either that or we're stuck swimming in Coruscant figures at retail!
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That newforce info is a real let down. I like the idea of getting my stuff from a smaller collector type retailer, but getting the goods is what it is all about. Dammit Hasbro indeed.
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I got my VTSC from Rick at Newforce and I was happy... He beat the retailers on price with those ultimately so I applaud the guy's efforts.
It's a shame he gets screwballed by Hasbro routinely... Not his fault and it causes so many to be hesitant to go to Rick and you can't blame the consumer there... I guess for regular release items you're usually a little better off to put an order in and likely get it, but for anything that's shaping up to be hard to find (UGH of course) you'll be lucky if you get it.
Hasbro's the one to blame though... Same as when their case mixes suck ass, or the figure is somehow lesser in quality than a year or two prior... Hasbro's the root of the problem I've found, retail is simply at their monkey's mercy.
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I'm going a little OT here so please excuse me in advance...
Has anyone ever ordered items from a non-SW line from NewForce? I preordered the first wave of Stargate SG-1 figures from them awhile back, since they are only going to be availible in comic stores and online, and now all this talk about them cancelleing orders is making me worried. I'm hoping that my order doesn't get cancelled, because I have no other good way to get them. :-\
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Has anyone ever ordered items from a non-SW line from NewForce?
I've ordered DC Direct figures/props from them and have always recieved my order. I know of a bunch of people who use them for things like GG mini-busts or statues and those have always worked out for them too.
Pretty much the only problems I've ever heard about with NewForce are directly tied to Hasbro - either Hasbro short-changing them, or Hasbro changing case assortments, etc.
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Has anyone ever ordered items from a non-SW line from NewForce?
I've ordered DC Direct figures/props from them and have always recieved my order. I know of a bunch of people who use them for things like GG mini-busts or statues and those have always worked out for them too.
Pretty much the only problems I've ever heard about with NewForce are directly tied to Hasbro - either Hasbro short-changing them, or Hasbro changing case assortments, etc.
Ah, that's good to hear... I guess. I think I may just avoid them fro SW then. :-\
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Can anyone tell me where the cheapest place to buy cases of figures online?
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Just click here. (http://www.newforcecomics.com/) NewForceComics
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Newforce is awesome, but I had so many orders cancelled through them unfortunately due to Hasbro not allocating enough cases to them.
I usually go with www.dnstoys.com or www.entertainmentearth.com
:)
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Exactly. You have balance price and reliability when ordering online. Rick is a good guy but if he gets screwed by Hasbro then in turn you will be screwed too.
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Entertainment Earth is the best.
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I hate to agree with that, given they overpricing approach to collectibles, but that is true. They have no let me down once, yet.
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Entertainment Earth is the most reliable, and the price is fair. $79.99 for the case which breaks down to $6.66 per figure, then about another $9 for shipping. Between tax and gas at retail, it's a dead heat between EE and peg hunting. Thus, you really can't beat Entertainment Earth for ordering online, given the good price, and total reliability.
New Force can be okay, but preordering a case with them is just like giving them a "suggestion". They may or may not keep your order. They crap out on you a little too often.
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Newforce is awesome, but I had so many orders cancelled through them unfortunately :)
Exactly. Which makes them not so awesome after all. You can't count on them to be reliable, and I'm not interested in their excuses.
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It might not really be their fault, but you're right. When it comes down to it, I'm not going to chance orders with them, maybe not ever again. I had two cases cancelled back in 2003 and it really irked me. That has never happened with me anywhere else. I'd rather pay a couple extra bucks and know what I'm getting.
:)
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My only problem with EE.com is this. I have ordered cases from them and ended up cancelling them myself cause I found them in the store long before they would ship my case out. But on the other hand I ordered a case of the H&V wave and I got it a week before I found them in the store. So I guess it can go either way. They just got the Tatooine wave in stock and I got my figures from Target about a month ago. I hope they get the Endor wave in before I find them.
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I love ordering online especially in these times of high gas prices and a growing family.
My only gripe are the case breakdowns - it's often difficult to unload my extra Vaders that I get in every wave I order.
I guess I could return them to Wallyworld for store credit - is that unethical?
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It does suck getting extra Vaders when you don't need them. I've always wished he had more customizing potential as fodder.
:)
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The extra Vader's is one of the biggest drawbacks of pre-ordering this years assortments. I plan to give my extra Vader's, and other extras to the local neighborhood kids, and whatever is left to Toys for Tots at the end of the year.
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Screwing pre-orderers as well as screwing the retailers... Every store near me has a pile of Vaders from all series. It's sad really. Vader's popular, yes, but he's not THAT popular... He sat in 2005 so I'm not sure what their drive is to have him pegwarm in 2006 too.