Probably because they have a different operating structure and someone like a BBTS can't offer a preorder for the newest wave of toys until they can figure out how much of that specific product they can secure from their distributor to sell, a much lengthier process involving probably a lot of extra steps, while say a Wal-Mart or Target operate by just taking whatever wave Hasbro ships to their DCs, ships the product to individual stores from there, which then puts that product on the shelves, the end.

Also in the case of BBTS, which seems to be the online retailer people mean the most when they bring this up, they seem to have had trouble for awhile now getting in any products in a timely manner before their competitors like they had in the past, and it hasn't been just Hasbro and items sold also at Wal-Mart, either. So I guess if you want to explain their preorder problems, first you have to explain that?

 

Prowl can shoulder mount Sideswipe's launcher using the rectangular tab on it

Zach on Twitter

 

Don't even try. Most (if not all) of these people you're arguing with have never had a distribution account let alone dealt with the "manufacturer" directly. Never had a toy solicited the day before it released or received a "solid case" six months late and stuffed with repacked leftovers. In their defense, why would they when their areas are overflowing with the latest stuff at bargain basement prices and nary a shelfwarmer in sight? Why, even if it's not quite such a wonderland, all they have to do is sleep in the sporting goods department to get the jump on us "lazy" folks that can only check after work.

Another point missed by them is that there are NDAs and TOSs that prevent sharing some information. If your real job is selling toys (mine wasn't), you're not going to risk having your account (such that it is) pulled for airing dirty laundry. Keeping people in the dark is a timeless strategy for keeping them under control.

Edit: TFW needs a feature to list attachments. Since I started posting photos directly through the camera upload, I've lost track of where I posted what. That Target photo I wanted to compare is, I think, buried somewhere in the Marvel Legends thread in Toyark. They seem to be juggling the Cyberverse around - it's not crap, it's 4 KiDz!1

 

How about trying the sightings thread for your state?

Pennsylvania Transformers Sightings

 

Oh lord. I thought I was posting in there. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Well of course you love the theory, since you're actually the propagator of it...

 

Heh, just saw 3 of them at Walmart this morning. $18 each

 

Hasbro _does_ have an online presale embargo on their products, and that is presumably due to the big retailers pressuring Hasbro to not allow online preorders well before they can sell their stuff.

But this is just for online solicitation, and yes, the result is often that big box stores receive their initial shipments before this presale date.

That being said, WalMart does not have a different 'street date' than other retailers. If a product is street dated, it is the same for everyone. If it's not, retailers can put it out whenever they want. If other big box stores are sitting on product in their stockroom, it is more likely that they are holding it for a reset.

 

This is not a thing. Toys have a fairly low gross margin. It's actually really hard to make money selling toys.

Toys do generally have an SRP. Most retailers stick to this SRP because it's the best way for them to maintain as much of that margin as possible. Even then, stores like Walmart like to undercut the SRP to the point where other retailers can't because they would be close to losing money on the product.

Hasbro Pulse, while Hasbro branded, is still run as its own business. It still has an operating budget, and therefore has to make a profit. They are not going to 'take' product at a lower cost, as that undercuts the profits of Hasbro proper.

SRP with a set gross profit margin =\= price fixing.

A lot of 'sources' on the internet are not the experts they portray themselves to be. Quite often they just piece together the same information anybody else reads on the internet. Their conclusions are often wrong.

 

That's cool. It's the same slot that Barry uses for his guns, so yay for cross compatibility.

 

While I have no interest in Prowl or Sideswipe (I think having the 'front' of the car as a chest is not a good look), that actually makes me happy to know about some cross compatibility with some of the non-5mm port items. Sadly I have to wait until online stores have proper stock in to get any Wave 2 figures, as well as Shockwave.

 

Anyone have dpci codes yet? I'd rather not waste my time going to the store if they aren't going to have anything.

 

These are the SKU’s I’ve been using on Brickseek for Walmart. They’ve been highly accurate thus far. It does help to know what’s on hand prior to running the numbers sometimes though.

WFC Deluxe SKU 942298571
WFC Voyager SKU 544955522
WFC Leader SKU 224626525

 

Saw them, this morning. Thought about Ironhide and remembered that I ordered him on Pulse for $9.99

 

Siege: War For Cybertron Info:

Battlemasters DCPI: 087-16-3981 SKU: 557652106 UPC: 630509754779

Micromasters DPCI: 087-16-3983 SKU: 165460703 UPC: 630509754861

Deluxes DPCI: 087-16-3985 SKU: 942298571 UPC: 630509754649

Voyagers DPCI: 087-16-6608 SKU: 544955522 UPC: 630509754908

Leaders DPCI: 087-16-3984 SKU: 224626525 UPC: 630509748280


Studio Series:

Deluxe: DCPI: 087-06-5834 SKU: 139095051 UPC: 630509629046

Voyager: DCPI: 087-060-5839 SKU: 845659764 UPC: 630509628186

Leader: DCPI: 087-06-5842 SKU: 750091947 UPC: 630509627851

Individual codes do not work, contrary to what others might tell you. Also, if using the UPC at Walmart (some can't get the SKU to work) leave the last number off. The Telzone/Palm Pilot will automatically catch it right away, but if you use the full number with the last one at the end, it'll say item not found or not carried at this (your) location. It's such a stupid, stupid system. -_-

 

"Bu...bu...bu... SIEGE is expensive and smaller...yet I still buy it because I WANT MAH TOYS AND WALMART GETTING DIBS FIRST IS A cUnSpIrACY and the amount of illogical conspiracies I spew out MUST BE TRUE!"*

*Not blue text because though sarcastic, evidently there are fans that actually DO think that way!

In my area we do get recent waves but seems like stores only order 1 case at a time and their replenishment time is anyone's guess.

 

I think that's every area and every store really. Unless an endcap or special promotion occurs where they need the extra product, the stores are only going to play it safe and bring in just the 1 case at a time to avoid ending up with a bunch of unsold product that's doomed for the clearance aisle.

 

Well, quite frankly, until somebody verified as working for BBTS/Dorkside/etc comes and posts here (which is unlikely), I think your information is just as unreliable.

Around me, it quite literaly is 1 case, if any at all. And restocks simply don't happen. The shelves and pegs will sit empty for weeks, sometimes months. This is just as much a Hasbro problem as a retail Walmart/Target/etc problem.

Aside from figures, I have zero reason to visit a Walmart, Target, Walgreens, or Gamestop. So if I can order online, great.

 

I am not BBTS or Dorkside, but I do run an online store and have accounts/order Hasbro product from the main US distributors.

Those distributors have a set date that they are allowed to solicit a product. Any larger online retailer that may have a direct Hasbro account would have that same date as their 'presale' date.

Quite often product has shown up at big box retailers before or right around these dates. This puts online retailers at a significant disadvantage, and the only logical reason that Hasbro wouldn't allow them to list for presale any earlier is that they have gotten pressure from the big stores.

This is a fairly recent trend, it started about 3 years ago. Prior to that, solicitations came out well in advance.

 

In a post-TRU world, I'd think B&M retailers have less sway. I'm actually very curious to see online vs. B&M sales reports, and somebody like Walmart really can't be helping the Hasbro bottom line all that much on the more expensive figures (Marvel Legends, Star Wars Black Series, Transformers Generations). And those probably exist for public viewing, but I'm just not that interested right now (lack of time).

My knowledge is a bit more dated. I knew it had gotten messier, but that's about it.