That's a recent development that has happened for a few years now. Conspiracy theories claim it's Walmart that demands a street date for online retail from Hasbro to put everyone on "equal footing" (as in, to entice people to walk into a Walmart store instead of just ordering online), which Walmart may then break themselves because Hasbro would never even think about sanctioning Walmart or somesuch.

There have been enough weird incidents where online stores never offered toys for preorder and suddenly put them up as instant "in stock" listings that make this very credible. There are definitely mandated street dates for online retailers, stupid as it may sound.

 

We had this problem with wave two and some
Of wave three of siege. I couldn’t buy Galaxy Force Optimus last year when I found him because when he was scanned it dinged and the associate at target wouldn’t sell him to me. It happened to me with combiner wars at Walmart years ago too but that was Walmart. The checker just shrugged and over rid them and sold them because well...they don’t care. Lol

 

Local comic stores here will not break street dates out of fear that they won’t get more stock. This is from direct conversations from staff who place orders. They don’t have the clout that bigger retailers have.

 

Also, if the DCPI is exactly the same as Siege, wouldn't Target's computers not know the difference between the two?

 

I found most of the wave at Target today, only one not in stock was Ironworks who was unfortunately the only one I wanted

 

Anyone have UPC codes? Barcode pics?

 

Finally found Iron Works Today
He came with a red decoder and the insert in the box says: Velocitron.

What is that in reference to?

 

It's the proper name of the speed planet introduced in Transformers Cybertron. It's been appearing in more media since then, and is always depicted as a place where alt mode races are the dominant cultural pastime.

 

I hope wave 2 shows up in retail before July

 

I hope wave 2 shows up PERIOD   But I will consider myself and my family extremely lucky if that ends up being my biggest worry...

 

Is Earthrise Target only?

 

Nope. Saw some at Best buy

 

I wonder if they're out in central PA yet. All I managed to find before the lockdown was the military MicroMaster set.

Like anybody would know. It's not like it goes on your permanent record. Do they think Hasbro has spies hiding under their beds when they're not chasing moose and squirrel?

 

Yes Natasha, they do. Moose and Squirrel hides under all your beds and spies!

 

 

Maybe I can catch a few of those squirrels and train them to do my toy hunting for me. Would sure make this hobby a lot easier!

 

Good idea!

 

Is pulse shipping?? I got my order in couple weeks ago and it hasn't shipped.

 

Maybe their are delays on certain items? I'm not sure tbh but my seacons shipped last week so for sure some items are still being sent out.

 

Oh okay so you've never heard of secret shoppers.

 

Which of these responses should I go with?

1. OK, so you think a small shop's regular customers will turn them in for selling them the toys they want.
2. OK, so you think with all of the layoffs Hasbro's done they still have staff to run all over the country policing street dates.
3. OK, so you think there aren't a hundred interchangeable "distributors" to get Hasbro products from.
4. OK, so you think the embargo isn't real and Hasbro isn't constantly delivering stuff weeks/months late.

As Tarkin said, "fear will keep the local systems in line."