Generations 2014 Series 01 Second Run

Well that's good, though September sounds awfully far off for, y'know, things that already exist. Or are they just know making this batch and it'll take them that long to get here? (genuine question, not trying to being snarky)

Does this mean AoE will have a really short run? Classics and Movie are the same line now, is May-August Movie stuff and September+ Classics (both restocks and new releases)? Or am I completely misunderstanding all of this?

Shelves will probably still be full of AOE anyway, so I'm not sure how many of these will turn up at retail, but if TFSource get them on pre-order I might suffer the Bee just to get Skids and Waspy.

Funny, the only one I didnt find in retail was bee. I found G2 dreadwing and skids in target and jumped on them. They were the only ones. Then I found waspy in a walmart and he was the only one. I jumped on it. I never saw any of them again anywhere. I wouldnt mind having bee just for the comic book. I wouldnt pay more than ten bucks including shipping.

how much you want to bet they still wont show up in stores

Good to hear. I've had these guys on preorder (at TfSource, but still) since December of last year. Kind of glad I found Waspinator and Skids out in the wild now.

Did BBTS say this is a second run?

I'm willing to bet BBTS got these from a distribution center somewhere, where these guys are just collecting dust. They'll probably be shelf-warming sometime before Christmas - Kinda like how Voyager Inferno was impossible to find, and then poof, Toys R Us was stuffed to the brims with him around the holidays.

There is NO way im giving a greedy retailer all that money for just skids.
this is a cheap marketing trick which reminds me of those horrible
adults that sell overpriced magic the gathering cards to children... booo

Can someone explain how distribution works and fails? I don't understand how some toys come up extremely short in the U.S. markets, especially since Hasbro is HQ in the U.S and the U.S. makes up their largest market share for their line.

I would imagine that the marketing teams are coming up with manufacturing numbers during the planning phase, so how do they fall short?

There's still a dreadwing in a comic store in my area. $20 bucks though. That's how I found a new skids after the one I had's ball joint snapped off when I tried to fix it's hips.

It Is Him wrote:Did BBTS say this is a second run?

I'm willing to bet BBTS got these from a distribution center somewhere, where these guys are just collecting dust. They'll probably be shelf-warming sometime before Christmas - Kinda like how Voyager Inferno was impossible to find, and then poof, Toys R Us was stuffed to the brims with him around the holidays.

WHATT!!!! wWhere???? I've missed every version of that mold to come stateside and I'm not happy abou that....

Having only secured Waspinator last year, I'm certainly happy about this.

Just not as happy as I'd be if it was the Ruination wave, which I only ever saw in one store in my area, during two weeks when I couldn't afford them. Is perceived demand for the Wreckers so low that there's no chance of a second run, no matter how low supply was?

I'm not so high on wanting Skids anymore, if Takara ever makes a dark blue version, I will bite.

sad to say, but this puts me off even more from hasbro official produts.
3rd parties seem to generally do it better, In fact skids and wheeljack were the only
official products on this years list for me. changed my mind about wheeljack and while this
skids is a good looking figure, enough time has passed from when he featured prominently in MTMTE
so the hype is over.

All this might not seem relevant. What is though is that whether the case may be here (marketing strategy from developers or distributors) is that its ASTONISHING how hasbro, while taking extreme lengths towards obscure marketing strategies (for example telling Roberts he couldn't have Mirage on the Lost Light cos they had plans for him.... 2 years later and ... nothing) and then then let some greedy distributor inflate the prices of one of their strongest products of the moment (to adult/g1 tf fans Skids was one of the few non 3rd party really desirable figures).

Regardless, in the end, I have more love for fansproject, and other emerging 3rd party companies than for hasbro, which sadly, seldom fails to meet our needs, as they say the needs of kids is such a higher demographics to make our money irrelevant for them.. very well if they don't want my money I'm sure I can find some1 who does...

sorry to add to this but just to make it clear:

try explaining to someone who doesn't collect (wife, father, husband, collegue, whatever) why to get 1 figure worth some $20 you have to buy another 3 figures for a total of 60$
they will all tell you your an idiot if you bite.
and the fact that nobody will really ask this question just stresses how we all know its true deep down...

Flashwave wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Did BBTS say this is a second run?

I'm willing to bet BBTS got these from a distribution center somewhere, where these guys are just collecting dust. They'll probably be shelf-warming sometime before Christmas - Kinda like how Voyager Inferno was impossible to find, and then poof, Toys R Us was stuffed to the brims with him around the holidays.

WHATT!!!! wWhere???? I've missed every version of that mold to come stateside and I'm not happy abou that....

That was like 2009, maybe 2010.

Stormrider wrote:Can someone explain how distribution works and fails? I don't understand how some toys come up extremely short in the U.S. markets, especially since Hasbro is HQ in the U.S and the U.S. makes up their largest market share for their line.

I would imagine that the marketing teams are coming up with manufacturing numbers during the planning phase, so how do they fall short?

I have a pretty laymen's understanding off the supply chain (someone with some expertise feel free to correct any of this) A simple version of the supply chain is

Manufacturer (Hasbro) ---> Distribution Center ----> Retail (Toys 'R Us)

Toys get shipped by Hasbro to Distribution Centers, which then get shipped to Retail Stores.

There's a lot of reasons why supply could get out of whack, but primarily it comes down communication and expected sales.

If Target says they need 10,000 Generation Deluxe cases, but Hasbro sends 12,000, you're going to have 2,000 sitting in a Distribution Center somewhere, which might later end up at discount stores like Tuesday Morning or Ross. There are other variables to this situation, like retail ordering more than Hasbro can provide, etc.

explanations are all very nice, but they don't fulfill the customers initial intent.

example.
Frank walks in restaurant (to eat) to be told the kitchen is closed.
Frank goes looking for another restaurant.

whatever the explanations is the result is
A)SKIDS: a wanted figure supposed to be available at $20 is only really found at $60
B) MP RAT BAT: Hasbro is providing info on MP ultra magnus in 20whatever while not providing information on if and when a figure that is worth some $20-40 alone at best is only obtainable at $120.

explanations are hypothesis
the results... well are under the light of the sun for all to see.

... I'm not trying to troll, rather express how I feel as a customer. I find it hard to believe that nobody else feels like this. not even those who have MP soundwave, want ratbat but not soundblaster? last time i checked in the park, tree's didn't grow $120 dollar notes...

Transformers don't grow on trees, either.

It Is Him wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Can someone explain how distribution works and fails? I don't understand how some toys come up extremely short in the U.S. markets, especially since Hasbro is HQ in the U.S and the U.S. makes up their largest market share for their line.

I would imagine that the marketing teams are coming up with manufacturing numbers during the planning phase, so how do they fall short?

I have a pretty laymen's understanding off the supply chain (someone with some expertise feel free to correct any of this) A simple version of the supply chain is

Manufacturer (Hasbro) ---> Distribution Center ----> Retail (Toys 'R Us)

Toys get shipped by Hasbro to Distribution Centers, which then get shipped to Retail Stores.

There's a lot of reasons why supply could get out of whack, but primarily it comes down communication and expected sales.

If Target says they need 10,000 Generation Deluxe cases, but Hasbro sends 12,000, you're going to have 2,000 sitting in a Distribution Center somewhere, which might later end up at discount stores like Tuesday Morning or Ross. There are other variables to this situation, like retail ordering more than Hasbro can provide, etc.

I think you're missing an important link here: the retail chain's warehouses. I know of at least one for my local stores in the (not-so) immediate area.

Susha wrote:explanations are all very nice, but they don't fulfill the customers initial intent.

example.
Frank walks in restaurant (to eat) to be told the kitchen is closed.
Frank goes looking for another restaurant.

whatever the explanations is the result is
A)SKIDS: a wanted figure supposed to be available at $20 is only really found at $60
B) MP RAT BAT: Hasbro is providing info on MP ultra magnus in 20whatever while not providing information on if and when a figure that is worth some $20-40 alone at best is only obtainable at $120.

explanations are hypothesis
the results... well are under the light of the sun for all to see.

... I'm not trying to troll, rather express how I feel as a customer. I find it hard to believe that nobody else feels like this. not even those who have MP soundwave, want ratbat but not soundblaster? last time i checked in the park, tree's didn't grow $120 dollar notes...

You are not alone in anger. For me, I have just grown a callus to the toy distribution problems. It doesn't solve the problem at all, but keeps me from doing this: :BANG_HEAD:

The reason why I ask about the distribution principles so I can get around this repetitive issue is I understand if the problem is fixable (such as this case of Hasbro releasing a second run), or if it's being more in tune with the potential problems and buying the figures from other markets before they dry up like Windcharger.

As you stated - Skids has manufacturing defects so I am not going out on a limb to pay top dollar for him. I would love to add him to my collection but I am willing to wait if a second run really will come out.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

It Is Him wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Can someone explain how distribution works and fails? I don't understand how some toys come up extremely short in the U.S. markets, especially since Hasbro is HQ in the U.S and the U.S. makes up their largest market share for their line.

I would imagine that the marketing teams are coming up with manufacturing numbers during the planning phase, so how do they fall short?

I have a pretty laymen's understanding off the supply chain (someone with some expertise feel free to correct any of this) A simple version of the supply chain is

Manufacturer (Hasbro) ---> Distribution Center ----> Retail (Toys 'R Us)

Toys get shipped by Hasbro to Distribution Centers, which then get shipped to Retail Stores.

There's a lot of reasons why supply could get out of whack, but primarily it comes down communication and expected sales.

If Target says they need 10,000 Generation Deluxe cases, but Hasbro sends 12,000, you're going to have 2,000 sitting in a Distribution Center somewhere, which might later end up at discount stores like Tuesday Morning or Ross. There are other variables to this situation, like retail ordering more than Hasbro can provide, etc.

I think you're missing an important link here: the retail chain's warehouses. I know of at least one for my local stores in the (not-so) immediate area.

Thanks for the explanations. I realize that there can be many variables, but now I get the gist.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

It Is Him wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Can someone explain how distribution works and fails? I don't understand how some toys come up extremely short in the U.S. markets, especially since Hasbro is HQ in the U.S and the U.S. makes up their largest market share for their line.

I would imagine that the marketing teams are coming up with manufacturing numbers during the planning phase, so how do they fall short?

I have a pretty laymen's understanding off the supply chain (someone with some expertise feel free to correct any of this) A simple version of the supply chain is

Manufacturer (Hasbro) ---> Distribution Center ----> Retail (Toys 'R Us)

Toys get shipped by Hasbro to Distribution Centers, which then get shipped to Retail Stores.

There's a lot of reasons why supply could get out of whack, but primarily it comes down communication and expected sales.

If Target says they need 10,000 Generation Deluxe cases, but Hasbro sends 12,000, you're going to have 2,000 sitting in a Distribution Center somewhere, which might later end up at discount stores like Tuesday Morning or Ross. There are other variables to this situation, like retail ordering more than Hasbro can provide, etc.

I think you're missing an important link here: the retail chain's warehouses. I know of at least one for my local stores in the (not-so) immediate area.

Ah yes. Most big box retailers have those. I believe that Walmart is the only one that doesn't.

this wave is shelf warming at the three TRU's in my town. however, i never once saw the ruination figures.

i dont get all the anger though. theres a new run on the way. if you cant find them in stores (or dont think you will) why not jump on the online retailers who are offering them again? if you really want them, theres your opportunity. as others have stated before, buying online is necessary sometimes and shipping runs about the same as gas money on the multiple hunting trips anyways.

and what i really dont get was the statement about having more faith in third parties than hasbro. third party figures are collector pieces first and foremost, all usually suffer from some form of QC, and you cant exactly walk into to walmart and buy a fansproject smart robin. so give hasbro a break already.

Good for those who missed it. I was able to find my Waspinator and Dreadwing during the Christmas season, and Skids around January. I had planned to pick up Goldbug just to say I have at least one use of the mold, but with Nightbeat's unveiling, forget him.

shajaki wrote:this wave is shelf warming at the three TRU's in my town. however, i never once saw the ruination figures.

i dont get all the anger though. theres a new run on the way. if you cant find them in stores (or dont think you will) why not jump on the online retailers who are offering them again? if you really want them, theres your opportunity. as others have stated before, buying online is necessary sometimes and shipping runs about the same as gas money on the multiple hunting trips anyways.

and what i really dont get was the statement about having more faith in third parties than hasbro. third party figures are collector pieces first and foremost, all usually suffer from some form of QC, and you cant exactly walk into to walmart and buy a fansproject smart robin. so give hasbro a break already.

when did I ever talk about wanting to buy in stores???? please pinpoint the exact phrase cos I don't rem writing it...
or about distribution?
it was always about
-the price
-the fact that vendors are selling them in packs of 4.
-the fact that this isn't the first overpriced hasbro product (coincidence?).

and Hasbro has repeatedly stated and announced to care more for new audiences than for collectors, I have no issue ordering items on ebay, the question at hand is their price....

Mindmaster wrote:Good for those who missed it. I was able to find my Waspinator and Dreadwing during the Christmas season, and Skids around January. I had planned to pick up Goldbug just to say I have at least one use of the mold, but with Nightbeat's unveiling, forget him.

Good, I was planning a pop quiz to ensure you had one of them

Susha wrote:

shajaki wrote:this wave is shelf warming at the three TRU's in my town. however, i never once saw the ruination figures.

i dont get all the anger though. theres a new run on the way. if you cant find them in stores (or dont think you will) why not jump on the online retailers who are offering them again? if you really want them, theres your opportunity. as others have stated before, buying online is necessary sometimes and shipping runs about the same as gas money on the multiple hunting trips anyways.

and what i really dont get was the statement about having more faith in third parties than hasbro. third party figures are collector pieces first and foremost, all usually suffer from some form of QC, and you cant exactly walk into to walmart and buy a fansproject smart robin. so give hasbro a break already.

when did I ever talk about wanting to buy in stores???? please pinpoint the exact phrase cos I don't rem writing it...
or about distribution?
it was always about
-the price
-the fact that vendors are selling them in packs of 4.
-the fact that this isn't the first overpriced hasbro product (coincidence?).

and Hasbro has repeatedly stated and announced to care more for new audiences than for collectors, I have no issue ordering items on ebay, the question at hand is their price....

*sigh*
you didnt. these were merely positive points towards hasbro. just sayin 3rd parties arent the be all end all.

Mindmaster wrote:Good for those who missed it. I was able to find my Waspinator and Dreadwing during the Christmas season, and Skids around January. I had planned to pick up Goldbug just to say I have at least one use of the mold, but with Nightbeat's unveiling, forget him.

Is Nightbeat coming out soon? I haven't seen him as a preorder yet on online retailers.

Can someone tell me why generations Skids was the most collectable from the lot and the harder one to find?

That's great, these hadn't shown up along with the Ruination wave. Interesting comments going on, I would've bought these toys but if they don't show up I simply can't. Whether or not it's directly Hasbro's fault it affects their brand and sales in the end.

william-james88 wrote:Can someone tell me why generations Skids was the most collectable from the lot and the harder one to find?

1985 G1 cast member. Anyone from 1984-1986 is guaranteed to be super popular.

shajaki wrote:

Susha wrote:

shajaki wrote:this wave is shelf warming at the three TRU's in my town. however, i never once saw the ruination figures.

i dont get all the anger though. theres a new run on the way. if you cant find them in stores (or dont think you will) why not jump on the online retailers who are offering them again? if you really want them, theres your opportunity. as others have stated before, buying online is necessary sometimes and shipping runs about the same as gas money on the multiple hunting trips anyways.

and what i really dont get was the statement about having more faith in third parties than hasbro. third party figures are collector pieces first and foremost, all usually suffer from some form of QC, and you cant exactly walk into to walmart and buy a fansproject smart robin. so give hasbro a break already.

when did I ever talk about wanting to buy in stores???? please pinpoint the exact phrase cos I don't rem writing it...
or about distribution?
it was always about
-the price
-the fact that vendors are selling them in packs of 4.
-the fact that this isn't the first overpriced hasbro product (coincidence?).

and Hasbro has repeatedly stated and announced to care more for new audiences than for collectors, I have no issue ordering items on ebay, the question at hand is their price....

*sigh*
you didnt. these were merely positive points towards hasbro. just sayin 3rd parties arent the be all end all.

i wasn't trying to be rude..

just...
my mom always told me...
you can never kill a saint with the same technique twice in a...
whatever saint seiya jokes aside, if some1 fools you once, it can pass, but if you let him fool you twice... its on you.
at the end of the day ratbat and skids were way overpriced and I passed on both,
but with all the affection I have for hasbro I can't but feel some1 is pulling me by the tail.
I'm not sure who it is, or how much is to blame, BUT, its a hasbro product and I really don't
care about the details... well ok maybe "I" do, but not more than my money...

the relevant point is, i feel 'cheated' and my customer fidelity suffers from it.

Susha wrote:

shajaki wrote:

Susha wrote:

shajaki wrote:this wave is shelf warming at the three TRU's in my town. however, i never once saw the ruination figures.

i dont get all the anger though. theres a new run on the way. if you cant find them in stores (or dont think you will) why not jump on the online retailers who are offering them again? if you really want them, theres your opportunity. as others have stated before, buying online is necessary sometimes and shipping runs about the same as gas money on the multiple hunting trips anyways.

and what i really dont get was the statement about having more faith in third parties than hasbro. third party figures are collector pieces first and foremost, all usually suffer from some form of QC, and you cant exactly walk into to walmart and buy a fansproject smart robin. so give hasbro a break already.

when did I ever talk about wanting to buy in stores???? please pinpoint the exact phrase cos I don't rem writing it...
or about distribution?
it was always about
-the price
-the fact that vendors are selling them in packs of 4.
-the fact that this isn't the first overpriced hasbro product (coincidence?).

and Hasbro has repeatedly stated and announced to care more for new audiences than for collectors, I have no issue ordering items on ebay, the question at hand is their price....

*sigh*
you didnt. these were merely positive points towards hasbro. just sayin 3rd parties arent the be all end all.

i wasn't trying to be rude..

just...
my mom always told me...
you can never kill a saint with the same technique twice in a...
whatever saint seiya jokes aside, if some1 fools you once, it can pass, but if you let him fool you twice... its on you.
at the end of the day ratbat and skids were way overpriced and I passed on both,
but with all the affection I have for hasbro I can't but feel some1 is pulling me by the tail.
I'm not sure who it is, or how much is to blame, BUT, its a hasbro product and I really don't
care about the details... well ok maybe "I" do, but not more than my money...

the relevant point is, i feel 'cheated' and my customer fidelity suffers from it.

Your anger is wholly misplaced at Hasbro. They can't control what toys make it onto store shelves, in what quantity, and when. Take it up with retailers. They couldn't force wal-mart to swallow a sixth and seventh wave of dotm deluxes. These things happen.

It Is Him wrote:Your anger is wholly misplaced at Hasbro. They can't control what toys make it onto store shelves, in what quantity, and when. Take it up with retailers. They couldn't force wal-mart to swallow a sixth and seventh wave of dotm deluxes. These things happen.

Bingo. If the Toy Category Buyers at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. aren't ordering the new waves in large quantities, Hasbro isn't producing them in large quantities, and then we have shortages. This is pretty common during the post-Christmas lull in retail sales; it just sucks it had to coincide with such a popular wave. It's a different problem than (but is often compounded by) the questions of supply chain raised earlier.

Credit where credit's due here - Hasbro heard fans were unhappy at the scarcity of this wave, and they're producing a second run. And people are angered by this?

megatronus wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Your anger is wholly misplaced at Hasbro. They can't control what toys make it onto store shelves, in what quantity, and when. Take it up with retailers. They couldn't force wal-mart to swallow a sixth and seventh wave of dotm deluxes. These things happen.

Bingo. If the Toy Category Buyers at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. aren't ordering the new waves in large quantities, Hasbro isn't producing them in large quantities, and then we have shortages. This is pretty common during the post-Christmas lull in retail sales; it just sucks it had to coincide with such a popular wave. It's a different problem than (but is often compounded by) the questions of supply chain raised earlier.

Credit where credit's due here - Hasbro heard fans were unhappy at the scarcity of this wave, and they're producing a second run. And people are angered by this?

But who is determining, which figures make up a wave and how the figures are packed in assortments? Why are popular characters often getting short packed? As pointed out Skids is a popular character from G1 and has a popular role in IDW, so why wasn't he created in larger quantities?

Stormrider wrote:

megatronus wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Your anger is wholly misplaced at Hasbro. They can't control what toys make it onto store shelves, in what quantity, and when. Take it up with retailers. They couldn't force wal-mart to swallow a sixth and seventh wave of dotm deluxes. These things happen.

Bingo. If the Toy Category Buyers at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. aren't ordering the new waves in large quantities, Hasbro isn't producing them in large quantities, and then we have shortages. This is pretty common during the post-Christmas lull in retail sales; it just sucks it had to coincide with such a popular wave. It's a different problem than (but is often compounded by) the questions of supply chain raised earlier.

Credit where credit's due here - Hasbro heard fans were unhappy at the scarcity of this wave, and they're producing a second run. And people are angered by this?

But who is determining, which figures make up a wave and how the figures are packed in assortments? Why are popular characters often getting short packed? As pointed out Skids is a popular character from G1 and has a popular role in IDW, so why wasn't he created in larger quantities?

He was packed two-per case by Hasbro. That's evenly packed with the three other figures who were two-per case for a total of eight figures per deluxe case. This seems right to me.

im not angry, you fail to understand my point..

and your being very stubborn about this:
For me there are two actors involved in a selling of the toy.
The producerm, and the shop keeper...

Seriously try explaining to a client why he cant have his
starbux coffy cos the shop is out of coffy...

It simply doesn't happen, because the GREAT
advantage of buying rights to a franchise
is they provide you with stock EVERY MORNING.

OFC, starbux does make you sign shitloads of paper
as they want to protect their name and you represent it if you
open a shop of theirs...


So in the end, if a hasbro product has distribution probelms
there is really no point in trying to blame, British Petrolium for example...
Hasbro IS involved because this IS their product. I don't care
about excuses about a greedy or lazy middle...
because its just so totaly redundant to the point being made..

but whatever ...

Susha wrote:im not angry, you fail to understand my point..

and your being very stubborn about this:
For me there are two actors involved in a selling of the toy.
The producerm, and the shop keeper...

Seriously try explaining to a client why he cant have his
starbux coffy cos the shop is out of coffy...

It simply doesn't happen, because the GREAT
advantage of buying rights to a franchise
is they provide you with stock EVERY MORNING.

OFC, starbux does make you sign shitloads of paper
as they want to protect their name and you represent it if you
open a shop of theirs...


So in the end, if a hasbro product has distribution probelms
there is really no point in trying to blame, British Petrolium for example...
Hasbro IS involved because this IS their product. I don't care
about excuses about a greedy or lazy middle...
because its just so totaly redundant to the point being made..

but whatever ...

You're free to be ignorant of how the business works... but that just makes you, well... ignorant.

Starbucks is a horrible example, FYI. They are (nowadays) vertically integrated as the producer, distributor, and retailer of their own coffee. They used to only be the distributor and sometimes retailer. Either way, it's not the same as being only the producer or manufacturer.

What would happen if you were a Starbucks Franchisee and decided in July that you would only need half the coffee you normally do in January. And then come January, customers got pissed off because there was no coffee. Would it make sense to get mad at Starbucks who produces/distributes the coffee, or you, the Franchisee for not ordering enough?

Hasbro is a manufacturer. They don't sell anything to us. But they create a volume of goods based on the demand expressed by the people who DO sell to us, the retailers. Yes, Hasbro is involved, and yes, I'm sure there's some wiggle room involved when they finalize their aggregate sales predictions. But they're not going to baselessly speculate on the popularity of a figure 6 months in advance and buck the general outline of their forecasts on a hunch. Why would they do that?

You can be mad at Hasbro, sure. But to be mad ONLY at Hasbro and blithely ignore the menagerie of other industry players...

Susha wrote:im not angry, you fail to understand my point..

and your being very stubborn about this:
For me there are two actors involved in a selling of the toy.
The producerm, and the shop keeper...

Seriously try explaining to a client why he cant have his
starbux coffy cos the shop is out of coffy...

It simply doesn't happen, because the GREAT
advantage of buying rights to a franchise
is they provide you with stock EVERY MORNING.

OFC, starbux does make you sign shitloads of paper
as they want to protect their name and you represent it if you
open a shop of theirs...


So in the end, if a hasbro product has distribution probelms
there is really no point in trying to blame, British Petrolium for example...
Hasbro IS involved because this IS their product. I don't care
about excuses about a greedy or lazy middle...
because its just so totaly redundant to the point being made..

but whatever ...

Toys are not Starbucks coffee. You can't equate the two. Production is far more complex, more expensive to keep on the shelf, significantly less in demand, and vastly more unpredictable of a market to guarantee stock at every store. Toy margins are tighter than coffee, and if stores carried too much stock, they could suffer badly for it.

Edit: didn't see megatronus's response but yeah

1 I am not mad at hasbro...
what i did say is my customer fidelity suffers from having my tail pulled more than once.

Just FYI if you go to HSBC or any bank and ask for advice about opening a franchise
you will receive a <200 page file with several details. One of which is your
obligation to not 'put under bad light' the franchise name you represent.

I think the McDonald managers (80's-90's) who had mice in their burgers might know
something about these laws and the related...

I have no relation with the middle man. Nor did the Mc Donald customers who
found mice in their burgers, Nor should they care, mc donald was
giving their name, ultimately its their responsibility.

I frankly don't understand why your making this an issue of customer fidelity (hasbro or shop keeper)
while it really only is about the money...

Susha wrote:Seriously try explaining to a client why he cant have his starbux coffy cos the shop is out of coffy...
It simply doesn't happen, because the GREAT advantage of buying rights to a franchise is they provide you with stock EVERY MORNING.

that arguement is all kinds of nonsense. unless theres some hasbro only store out there that ive never heard of.

shajaki wrote:

Susha wrote:Seriously try explaining to a client why he cant have his starbux coffy cos the shop is out of coffy...
It simply doesn't happen, because the GREAT advantage of buying rights to a franchise is they provide you with stock EVERY MORNING.

that arguement is all kinds of nonsense. unless theres some hasbro only store out there that ive never heard of.

Bingo. Hasbro doesn't have franchises. Argument invalid.

shajaki wrote:

Susha wrote:Seriously try explaining to a client why he cant have his starbux coffy cos the shop is out of coffy...
It simply doesn't happen, because the GREAT advantage of buying rights to a franchise is they provide you with stock EVERY MORNING.

that arguement is all kinds of nonsense. unless theres some hasbro only store out there that ive never heard of.

That's comparing apples and oranges. I don't know how many times restaurants and cafes get restocked, but I know toy stores get restocked once a week to once every two weeks here, and only with the product they felt like ordering taking sales and average sales in a certain period into account.

if there is a second run, I'd like them to assemble Skids' hips properly.

With all the trouble I read here people have had with this wave, more so Skids, I am glad I found him at Wal-mart for $9.99. Not to rub it in lol.

Susha wrote:explanations are all very nice, but they don't fulfill the customers initial intent.

example.
Frank walks in restaurant (to eat) to be told the kitchen is closed.
Frank goes looking for another restaurant.

whatever the explanations is the result is
A)SKIDS: a wanted figure supposed to be available at $20 is only really found at $60
B) MP RAT BAT: Hasbro is providing info on MP ultra magnus in 20whatever while not providing infowwwrmation on if and when a figure that is worth some $20-40 alone at best is only obtainable at $120.

explanations are hypothesis
the results... well are under the light of the sun for all to see.

... I'm not trying to troll, rather express how I feel as a customer. I find it hard to believe that nobody else feels like this. not even those who have MP soundwave, want ratbat but not soundblaster? last time i checked in the park, tree's didn't grow $120 dollar notes...

Lits of people feel the way you do, we just dont repat our selves about it. And what your using as an example is somewhat two different levels of things. Bbts is trying to entice you to buy stuff thats already sitting around in a warehouse instead of cherrypicking. Its no differnt than going to a yardsale and not being allowed to onoy buy one kitchen chair in a complete set, or just Onslaught in a complete Bruticus figure. Yeah, it sucks, and the prices are a bit high for someone who had a crack at yha case once, but some people are missing figures.

Ratbat is a little different, because there is no individual option for him. He's a reward for buying a repaint that Takara Tomy needs the money from sales. (needs ina figurative sense ) IF they ever sell Ratbat alone, itll be several years, because selling Ratbat will undercut their sales for Soundblaster and thwy are stuck with useless product. So if you want a ratbat, plan on a giant tapedeck accesory. If thats unappealing, hope for clearence prices or resign yourself to not having him. Does it suck? Yes, absolutely, but thats the bundle, most of us bought Generations Legends Optimus for the Rollar figure, Megatron because of Chop Shop, and hundreds of Minicons shine under display shelves while the bigger figutes tbey came with collect dust in storage.

Thats not hypothesis, thats Business Marketing 101

Hero Alpha wrote:With all the trouble I read here people have had with this wave, more so Skids, I am glad I found him at Wal-mart for $9.99. Not to rub it in lol.

But was this recent? I find the distribution of this line quite puzzling and interesting.

My local toys r us has the entire set of Generations Wave 7 except for Autobot Skids.

The wallmart next door to this very same toysrus has most of Wave 5 (the orion Pax line).

The local Target however has loads of Trail Cutter and Wave 7 (Hoist and Thundercracker).

I have never seen anything from Wave 8 in any main retail store in the Montreal area of Canada so far to the point that I wonder if they were ever stocked.

If there are any fellow Quebecers, confirmation would be nice.

Have you guys seen any similar patterns in the states?

Also, the deluxe price in Canada is 16.79$ (15:32 US)

william-james88 wrote:

Hero Alpha wrote:With all the trouble I read here people have had with this wave, more so Skids, I am glad I found him at Wal-mart for $9.99. Not to rub it in lol.

But was this recent? I find the distribution of this line quite puzzling and interesting.

My local toys r us has the entire set of Generations Wave 7 except for Autobot Skids.

The wallmart next door to this very same toysrus has most of Wave 5 (the orion Pax line).

The local Target however has loads of Trail Cutter and Wave 7 (Hoist and Thundercracker).

I have never seen anything from Wave 8 in any main retail store in the Montreal area of Canada so far to the point that I wonder if they were ever stocked.

If there are any fellow Quebecers, confirmation would be nice.

Have you guys seen any similar patterns in the states?

Also, the deluxe price in Canada is 16.79$ (15:32 US)

No it wasn't recent. I bought that Skids about 30DEC. I was very lucky as it was the only one and a guy standing beside me said "aw man!" when I picked it up

I got this wave right before Christmas, and it was the only time I've ever seen them. I'm glad people are getting another shot at them, because Skids for sure and Waspinator as well are good figures.

I found 3 Skids at my local Walmart (thanks to a certain somebody) and I decided to simply put one up on ebay at starting bid of 0.99$ like that people can decide whatever price they want and they dont have to settle for the insane buy it now prices.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?siteid=0&pub=5574891718&campid=5336631220&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.ca%2Fitm%2FTransformers-Generations-Autobot-Skids-Mint-MOSC-%2F171322742572%3Fpt%3DUS_Action_Figures%26hash%3Ditem27e3a1972c%26

I have another for myself that I opened to take a look at what the hype was all about and I do not find it to be a great toy. He's bulky for a generations toy, the spring loaded mechanism is not amazing and the car panels do not snap tight in alt mode.
But he is an intersting reinterpretation of a classic character and he doesnt turn into an uncool minivan this time.
I have another that I was going to keep in a box but if anyone wants him, feel free to PM me with an offer. The shipping would be the same as my ebay policy: free