JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Revenge of the Sith => Topic started by: Brian on October 12, 2004, 03:04 PM
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With another inevitable round of "midnight madness" for the release of the ROTS toys, I was wondering how many of you have gone to these events in the past, or plan to next year? I didn't go for Phantom Menace, and really just got into collecting around that time again. I was working at a department store during college, so was able to pick up the figs I wanted at that time, when we stocked them. I don't remember the date even, but it was likely well after the big name stores had them. For AOTC, we still lived in a small town, so I drove to the nearest Wal-Mart (35 miles away) shortly before midnight, and got there as they put them on the pegs. That was the most other collectors I had seen in an aisle at the same time as me, with probably about ten of us there. I was able to pick up about all the initial waves, with the exception of Dooku and Royal Guard. I just wanted to see what I could get, and mainly wanted to come away with a Yoda and the main characters, and was able to do that. It was an interesting experience, and still by far the most Star Wars figures I have ever bought at once.
I've been trying to decide what to do about ROTS. We now live in a city, with more shopping options that we used to have (2 Wal-Marts, 2 Targets, TRU, KB), and all within 10 minutes or so of home. But, I'm sure there are a lot more collectors here as well, and I don't know if I feel like "battling" them at midnight madness to get the figures. We don't eve know which characters will be out that day, and how they will look/will be, but I'm sure there will be enough good to be tempted by that line pretty quickly. Especially if there is a Chewie/Wookiees in the initial assortment(s). Anyways, I was wondering if any of you have gone in the past, and if you plan to go next year, or just wait until the next day (or later). I'm kind of thinking about just going the next morning and trying my luck around town. We'll see, awhile to think about it yet ;).
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I guess the midnight madness thing has become part of the new movie tradition, so I'll go, again. I can't say either previous event was worth it figure-wise. Good luck getting anything you plan to keep mint and carded. Also, anything that seems to go on the shelf that night tends to be easily and painlessly found the next morning, without all the running, shouting, rushing, and crowding.
I was in Denver for Celebration 1 and did MM at a TRU in Littleton. Ended up with a bleeding thumb because some dude crashed his cart into mine as I was pulling it. Didn't find everything on my checklist until the following morning.
Back in SoCal for the AOTC MM at TRU was a mess of people screaming and shouting as annoyed employees dumped random cases of figures into wire bins. Went to another TRU an hour later, just before they were closing, to find them resetting their display for the morning and fully stocked with everything, and shopped casually to fill the checklist.
So keep in mind, it's for the experience (good or bad).
Just my take on the whole thing. :)
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I've had good times both times I went (TPM & AOTC), so I figure why not?
Last time I was able to grab all the figures I wanted with no problem. But you're right Jared, it really isn't a good idea for carded collectors. Its definitely a loose collector's dream though.
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I haven't made midnight madness for the previous two movie years, and I think I am going to skip it again this time around. I really don't want to deal with the crowd fighting over action figures. Plus, I'd be real embarassed when all the employee's are just standing there gazing at us. I'll probably just go early the next morning, that way I don't have to deal with tons of people, and I can take my time getting what I want. I did that the last two times, and everything was great. Might as well keep with it.
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I've gone to both of the MM nights so far, so why not. It is definitely not that great for the carded collectors, although for the Episode 2 MM the employees were taking cases out of the back and just handing them to us, so we could go through them and see if we needed any of the figures. Then we grabbed a bunch of empty boxes and put all of our figures in there. The best part, tho, was the ride home. I have a pretty small car (Nissan 240SX) and we had about 8 - 10 cases of figures stuffed in the the back seat, since my little hatch area houses 2 12" subwoofers. ;D
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I have gone to both and will be going to this one as well. I can't wait. It's usually alot of fun.
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Yep, it's gonna be three for three. :) Won't buy as much as last time, but the best part is just hanging out with SW folk.
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I hope so. I was at work for the last one, but I did go to the TPM one.
I doubt TRU will be on the bandwagon this time because they weren't last time, but there's always Wal-Mart. :)
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Hey you're all gonna think I've lost it, but....
Can someone please explain to me the details of just exactly what 'Midnight Madness' is?
thx!
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Some stores that stock Star Wars open at midnight on the merchandise's street date to capitalize on the collectors foaming at the mouth to get new Star Wars stuff.
It's a good time, depending on the crowd. :)
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All the collectors running around like a herd of wild animals... what's not to love about that! ;)
For EPI , I was in college and went to TRU - I only had about $75 to spend and I was broke...
For EP2 - I went to two different Walmarts - much better experience!
So, for EP3 - I'm going to two different Walmarts that night, and a TRU in the morning.
:P
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It is more a social event now for me. It is great to run into people I've not seen in a while, while chasing SW toys.
I'll be there!
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For Episode 1, I was driving home from Denver after C1 so I had to settle for a lunch time stop at Target in Nebraska...
For Episode 2, I skipped the TRU Midnight Madness, but did end up hitting Wal-Mart at 12:30am because I couldn't sleep knowing there were Ep2 toys out there. Quick trip to 24hr Wally fixed that. Grabbed the rest of what I needed at Target the next day.
This year, I'll probably just hit Target on April 2nd because I hear that they are really cooking up something cool for those that buy their stuff there on April 2nd... 8)
Jeff
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For Episode I, I didn't really do anything, although I did work for a store in our college town (Pamida, subsidiary of Shopko if you have ever heard of either), and we had the Episode I figures. One other guy and myself got to set up the display that night after closing, and were allowed to set aside anything that we wanted. That was really my first step of getting back into Star Wars collecting, and I think I bought 6 figures at the time {poor college student budget :)}.
For Episode II, a friend and I drove to the nearest Wal-Mart (which at the time was about 40 minutes away), and got there about 11:45-ish. There was a handful of other collectors there, and they had the aisle closed off while they stocked the pegs, and then let us in at midnight. That was by far the most I ever spent on one collecting trip, picking up most of what was offered, except not finding the Dooku, Royal Guard, and passing on figures like Typho and the Battle Droid for the time being (got them later on).
This time, I was planning on bopping down to Wal-Mart around midnight, since it is only about five minutes away now since we moved to a much larger town :). Although, if Jeff is correct, I might wait until the next day and hit Target up. I enjoy shopping there so much more anyways. We'll see if I can resist, and how many people there are to "fight" in the aisle. I don't really enjoy that, the people at Episode II MM weren't overly polite, at least some of them...but hopefully this time will be different/better. I am looking forward to it though, plus, being up late on a Friday night/Saturday morning isn't nearly as bad as a Monday :P.
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Didn't anything get leaked early for youse guys? I think I had most everything 3-4 days before hand and I thought that was a fairly widespread occurrence. Hmmm.
No midnight madness here anyway. I think TRU did it for Ep I, but I didn't care. I went to an out of town Walmart the following day and found everything I wanted. Even bought into the Ric Olie is shortpacked hype (though I only bought one) ::)
My plan is to still stick to minimal purchase in advance. I'll pick up stuff later on that clearances down the road. Clones and Vader will be pretty easy to buy, but otherwise I'll try my darnedest to pass on them (and likely fail miserably).
Not much shoving up here, I think the glut of toys has shown that there's no big danger of missing anything and the retailers do nothing special either. Maybe I'll have to make the drive to Grand Forks for the Target opening. That might be fun. Depend on the weather though.
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I'm not passing on much... I'd rather pay an extra buck or two and have the figures I want rather than wait several months.
:P
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I'm not passing on much... I'd rather pay an extra buck or two and have the figures I want rather than wait several months.
:P
Hah, yeah, as much as I hate to say it, I agree! I'm at the point where, if I see it, I'll buy it. (There goes the monthly budget out the window).
I don't think there will be a MM here, since I can't see Zellers (a Canuckian chain) getting involved in this. But I think it could be a lot of fun, with the right group of collectors - no elbows, eh? :)
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I didn't go to any of the midnight madness sales, not sure if my city even did that except at the 24 hour walmart. But I might go this year.
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Is that when you can get the first line of ROTS figure at walmart at 12:01 AM april 2nd?
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As far as I understand it, that's pretty much right. It sounds like some other retailers may get involved as well, perhaps Target and TRU. Am I right guys?
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Yeah...
Episode 1 had it first, and it was TRU actually who did a Midnight Madness thing... They made a big production out of it, and there were huge lines at TRU stores. In some sense it was a madhouse and hectic. I went to the Monroeville, PA store out of curiosity (I knew this stuff wouldn't be hard to get) and there were TONS of people.
For AOTC I don't recall TRU doing anything actually, but Wal-Mart stores people were pretty much heading to since they were open all night. My WM was open so I tore up that way and there was maybe 12 people total... I walked out with 3 TIE Bombers since they were the only things I wanted after seeing that horrible unveiling.
It was funny how there was all of like 12 of us, and yet there was all the E2 product and they REFUSED to take that plastic off the aisle (covering all the toys) till 12:01 a.m. exactly. :) I had to pee and just wanted to get the hell home with my TIE Bombers.
And that was the day...
This time around, nobody's said concretely what they're doing for E3. WM's are almost all open 24 hours I think, so there's one stop to go to if you want... Target I don't think is doing anything at midnight... TRU I dunno. I doubt it since they didn't last time. It makes me believe they see it as too costly to keep the store open just for the geek crowd, but to me that line had to have proved profitable for the TRU I was at, I dunno.
People went nuts in 99 too, and I remember kids getting trampled and scalpers pushing people out of the way for Darth Maul figures... it was pathetic.
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I went to MM for Episode I, but I wasnt collecting when Episode II came out. I dont think TRU had a Midnight Madness for it anyways. Episode I MM was fun, and luckily there were no major scalpers or people trampling other people to get anything. It was quite peaceful. I've heard some pretty rough stories from other people though... :-\
Opps, almost forgot the mention I will be going this year, but probably to Walmart since I am needing to save as much money as possible.
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EP1 - I was flying back from Denver, so my GF at the time, my wife now, went for me and waited for me at TRU to get my stuff.
EP2 - I waited for 4 hours at TRU to get my stuff. My wife and I split up the sections of stuff. I sent her after ships, playset and games, and I went after the 3 3/4" stuff. I ended up getting interviewed by a local TV station for having a cart load of stuff. Shocked the hell out a couple friends the following morning when they woke up to me on TV.
EP3 - Probably won't hit the Midnight release, but will hit Target in the morning.
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Went to both MM so far...
EP1 - Went with my wife and step-son. My wife was really supportive and my step-son had a blast. We weren't anywhere near the front of the line that formed outside the Toms River, NJ - TRU so when we got in, things like the 12" Maul were LONG gone. Was able to get everything else, even the Battledroid variants in duplicate w/o any problem.
EP2 - The TRUs in NJ that opened for MM were scaled back to almost none - my options were Freehold, NJ or Elizabeth, NJ - the second one is the one that can be seen from the NJ Turnpike off exit 13A. This time around, I went really early with my step-son and we started the line - we ended up being there for six hours before they re-opened for MM. We were the first ones in the door, even got a copy of Sansweet's SW Action Figure guide as a bonus. Didn't have any problem finding everything I needed. Even was able to get the figures in the Dooku wave and picked up all of the background variants.
For EP3, I'm skeptical that TRU is even going to do it in NJ this time around. Our WalMarts aren't open 24 hours so I may have no choice but to pick a store and be there on the morning of April 2nd. My current "plan" is to hit Toms River, NJ WalMart at 7 AM when it opens, grab as many figures as I can for $5.88 and then swing over to the Target around the corner by 8 AM and pick up enough to grab myself a couple of the Red Chromed Vaders. After that if I haven't been able to grab everything that is supposed to be out on the 2nd, I'll grab some breakfast and wait for the Toms River TRU to open at 10AM and pick up what I still need there. Unless I hear that TRU is also going to be charging $5.99, I'm probably not even going to investigate what TRUs will be open at midnight.
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I went out in 1999 with a friend to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and TRU at midnight. We went to WM first (since I'm kind of introverted and didn't want to deal with the mess at TRU, since that was where *everyone* else was going) and we were about fifth in line. By the time midnight came around, there were about 40 people behind us, and it actually was run really well. They had an entire aisle fully stocked, and they allowed 10 people at a time to go down the aisle and get what they wanted. No worries about a particular figure running out either, as they had pallet upon pallet of figure cases ready to restock if something ran low. I was able to get one of everything I wanted without any problems whatsoever.
The one interesting thing that I remember about that night was the fact that neither WM nor TRU had gotten any of the 12" dolls or the Accessory packs, while K-Mart had gotten both. Weird.
In 2002, I went to an out-of-the-way SWM and was only one of two people there. Me and the other guy just stood around talking before they actually let us down the aisle. I got everything I wanted, as did he, and we spent about 20 minutes digging through the pegs to find him a Luminara Unduli and myself a Royal Guard. I managed to get 26 figures (finding out in the AM that Dooku had been released as well) and all the ships, plus the soundtrack. The next day I walked into another WM and found a Dooku. And all was right with the world.
Strangely enough, K-Mart was once again the only retailer that had gotten the 12" dolls for a few weeks. They were also the first retailer to get the Ultimate Jango Fett doll too, if I recall correctly.
This time around, I don't know what I'm going to do. I keep hoping that there will be a definitive list of what is and isn't coming out on 04/02/2005, but as with last time, I don't think I'll really know until I get in there. I'm going to be budgeting a bit this time around though, and I'm thinking that if I do go out at midnight, I'm just going to get the three Unleashed figures and the more "desirable" (as in, "I'm buying the ones that I foresee being irritating to find if I wait" like Vader or Clones) action figures, and worry about the ships, dolls, deluxe, etc. at a later date. I have a feeling that I'm going to be really sick of that Vader head staring back at me within three months time.
The simple fact that there is a release date for toys blows my mind to this day. I mean, I could see it if there was something they wanted to keep under wraps, but when you release Head Choppin' Jango Fett, Darth Tyranus/Count Dooku, and/or Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine/Sidious well over a month before the film, I see no point in an actual release date. Everyone's already seen the toys, so stock them already.
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It's weird, I will probably go to this one, but I can't say I'll be buying much. Guess it's just the StarWars geek in me needing to gawk at all the new stuff as soon as I can.
I was getting ready to go to bed in April of '99 when a news story came on about the "Midnight Madness" for TPM, including some shots of some of the toys. I had stopped collecting at that point, but seeing the Jabba Glob and Sith Speeder on TV made me change my plans and drive out to the nearest Wal*Mart that night. I got there just before midnight to find a nice-sized crowd waiting. I figured, "eh, I'd like a young Obi-Wan and maybe that JarJar character" and wound up buying almost all of the first 18 that night. I even hung around a while til they restocked so I could get a Maul. Then I didn't buy another toy until the CommTech ANH figures hit.
For AOTC I had been seeing the pictures for months of the stuff leaking and at Toy Fair, but I was mostly hoping Bespin Luke and Vader would be out. I bought a ton of figures that night, pretty much everybody except the Jedi figures or Battle Droids. I felt lucky to get a Yoda and a Dooku, not to mention Hangar Anakin. Still, I didn't pick up any deluxes or beasts or ships (were there ships? I don't even remember).
This time I'm looking to pick up maybe three or four figures out of the initial twenty, but it feels like old times going out at midnight to see the display all shiny and new. I'll go just for the fun of it.
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EP1 I got back just in time from Denver and went to TRU. It was a big deal. Hundreds of people. I bought about ten figures, since that was all I had cash for.
EP2 was WM, about fifty people, and that time I bought all the figures available, everybody but Dooku. That was fun.
This time, unless TRU passes on MM again, I will go to WM. I'm planning on about a dozen figures, a deluxe maybe, and maybe an AT RT. Mostly I just want to have fun.
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I am going to 3 locations-walmart,another walmart,and target.I hope to get one of each figure then many multibles of the new clone trooper.Does anyone know if the republic gunship will be avaible on april 2nd?
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I don't remember if there were any MM sales here in Minnesota the last two times. Besides, for EpI I was just 13, and for EpII I was 16 but without a drivers license. My parents wouldn't have driven me even if there was a MM event.
But this time I'm 19 and I can drive myself if there is a MM. ;D 8)
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Ah, I remember for the first midnight madness in '99, I had $50 cash to spend, and put about $75 on a credit card... man being broke in college then really sucked... but I graduated in December of '99, and was soon working and able to buy the stuff I wanted.
For '02, I went to two different Walmarts that night and spent about $400.00...
This year, all bets are off. I'm sure I'll spend around $700.00 the first night. Oh, crazy me!
:P
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I went to the past 2. Both were fun, it helps when you have friends with you. You can divide the store and meet up later, I covered a lot of ground for TPM this way. But as previously posted, go for the experience really. If you want your beauty sleep wait till the morning. There will be plenty.
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I hadn't realized until the other dat that April 2 is a Saturday. That means that MM will happen on a Friday night. This is nice for those who have to get up early for work, but I'm worreied that it will bring out the "amatuers."
On the other hand, it might bring out some more kids.
LandotheScoundrel and I went in 2005, and we had a very good time. I'm hoping we can do the same this year.
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That's good it's on a Saturday. I can get off work, go home and shower, and get out to Wal-Mart in time for the rollout. Then hit the bars afterwards to bask in the glow of groovy new toys. :)
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I was hoping on Saturday I could sleep in, get up and "play" with my new ROTS toys. But I have to be at a bachelor party that starts at 10am... still getting the toys the night before though. ;)
:P
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Boy, you probably have to pay a stripper a fortune to dance at 10:00 in the morning!
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The stripper doesn't start until around 8pm. ;)
Here's our schedule -
10am - golf 8)
4pm - dodgeball ;D
8pm - stripper :)
2am - go home >:(
:P
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So far I know that one Toys R Us is doing it; I'm on board, but it's a bit of a drive from where I live. If one happens closer to home I'll defect.
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Don't know if any of my local stores are doing a MM sale but since wallyworld is 24 hours, I will probably go by there to see what they have. If they have what I want, then I'll give my kid his and I'll sleep late on Sat morning.
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I dont think my local TRU is doing it. I think they are too busy with they're Yu Gi Oh stuff. I'll probably go to Walmart that night and go to Target in the morning.
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I haven't gone to the midnight showing before, but I've been planning this one for a couple of years now and it's going to be huge!
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I went to a TRU for Ep.I and it was nuts. Went to a WalMart for Ep.II and it was really lame how it was set up. It was on an outside aisle of the toy section and they had carts and employees blocking off the section. We all lined up in front of the toy section and were allowed in 5 at a time. I actually found a Dooku and Hanger Duel Anakin at the very back of a couple of pegs (people were too lazy to look all the way to the back I guess) and as I was exiting the section, an employee was pushing in 2 more carts filled w/ figs and I grabbed a Yoda off the top as I passed by. He wasn't too happy about it but I'm sure he got over it.
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I went to a TRU for Ep.I and it was nuts. Went to a WalMart for Ep.II and it was really lame how it was set up. It was on an outside aisle of the toy section and they had carts and employees blocking off the section. We all lined up in front of the toy section and were allowed in 5 at a time. I actually found a Dooku and Hanger Duel Anakin at the very back of a couple of pegs (people were too lazy to look all the way to the back I guess) and as I was exiting the section, an employee was pushing in 2 more carts filled w/ figs and I grabbed a Yoda off the top as I passed by. He wasn't too happy about it but I'm sure he got over it.
LOL Awesome. Well looks like Ontario,CA TRU will be doing MM so I'll be there. Then off to Walmart then up at the buttcrack of dawn for Target.
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Well I wont be going now. The closest TRU doing MM is 45 minutes away. I'll just go to WM thats 5 minutes away. :)
cCc
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Does anyone have any evidence that the RS list is legit? To me that looks like it's as thorough as the list for TPM. You can't tell me that the hype of EPIII has made TRU forget the past history of TPM?
Perhaps they are expanding the number of stores opening compared to those that did for AOTC because they know that w/o a midnight opening they are going to get killed and left holding A LOT of stuff in stock!
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Hey Pete RS posted something there today saying the list may not be all of the stores participating. Basically you are going to have to either check the Toys R Us website or contact the specific store itself.
I will be checking up on my area TRU on 4/1 to see (unless I find out before then). By then someone in the store might know if they are opened at midnight on 4/2.
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Dodgeball?
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Well one of my close buddies works at my local TRU, and from the sounds of it they are doing MM (but I will double check) and I'll either end up there or my local WalMart.
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I saw the list on RS, and it shocks me that the TRU in Clive, IA is the only one in Iowa doing MM.
I would have figured that the TRU in Des Moines would do it instead of that one. The local TRU here in Waterloo didn't do MM for AOTC, and I doubt they'll do it this time. I don't know about the one in Cedar Rapids, except that it's the greatest TRU I've ever been in.
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3 just around Pittsburgh... Not sure if anyone's gonna even bother locally that I know, though I imagine some will. I'm going with the intent of buying little. More hoping to get the local gang out for a drink afterwards... That'd be more fun to me.
May nab an army builder or two though, just to satiate any figure needs I have that evening.
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I'm trying to get some people together for drinks here too, but no one's biting. Guess there are less collectors around here than I thought.
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Just found out today that my local TRU is doing MM. I wonder if they'll have the holo Yoda, because I heard something about it not being available till 4/10.
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Uh oh. Further thrown out of whack, my plans are. Hmm. I had planned on TRU in the morning, but... strategy time.