Disappointing that he is an actual Walgreens exclusive. I still have yet to find the Walgreens exclusive Silver Centurion Iron Man. Hopefully it might be a shared exclusive online and that Amazon listing will still pan out.

 

I've been saying Bluestreak "felt" like this year's Walgreens exclusive for a couple months. To be honest, I don't mind either way. Most Walgreens exclusives (at least Transformers) have ended up being fairly easy to find around here within six weeks of the first sighting. Of course there are a billion Walgreens locations in central/south central Oklahoma, most small towns that can support a Walmart Supercenter will also have a Walgreens. Last year I was still seeing a couple locations with a full shelf of Ratchets as late as mid-February of this year. Similar deal for the Clones and Brainstorm (don't remember about Wreck-Gar, he was get and forget). I can't blame Hasbro for continuing to give Walgreens a treat every year, they need more options than just Walmart/Target/Amazon.

+-MWG-+

 

Explain.

I don't seem to remember the original CHUG Bluestreak being an exclusive. Explain what's changed, besides Hasbro seeming to be in a really bizarre hurry to redo so many characters in such a short space of time.

 

I almost SHIT A BRICK when I saw 39.98! I zoomed in and saw 2x 19.99. Man that was a scary moment

 

Well, hope it goes up on their website. With how this year's distribution has been, they could have thrown it in the main line. I have not seen anything new in months and hardly any of my preorders have come in.

 

Well awesome another Walgreens Exclusive to never be seen in a store in my area... My Walgreens still has TR on the shelf

 

Does anyone know what the Walgreens item number is for Bluestreak? It's usually I think like 6 numbers?

 

Where’s our resident Walgreens employee that usually finds this stuff out long before release?

 

Hasbro's distribution plan has completely changed.
Skywarp & Thundercracker weren't CHUG exclusives either, but this year, they are only at Target. Ratchet wasn't a CHUG exclusive, but he was in Siege (at Walgreens).

What's changed, is what retailers will put on their shelves. They don't give Transformers half an aisle anymore, like they did 10-15 years ago. Hasbro is also putting out 3 full lines at once (Generations, SS, Cyberverse). The retailers just won't set aside that much aisle space for that many TFs in a given year, not anymore.

Back in the day, we'd get Prowl, and maybe Bluestreak this year; Smokescreen would be next year. By putting out store exclusives, it means we get all of the toys we want quickly; and retailers are happy, because they have "exclusives!" which will probably sell out completely.

So to your final point, yes - Hasbro is "in a hurry" to get all of these characters out quickly. Because if they get them out quickly, they make more money. And then, if they redo them again, we'll buy them all over again. Think about it: In the span of 2 years, we'll have bought 2 full versions of the car brothers, and the seekers. It used to take 2-3 years to get 1 full set; but they got us to buy 2 full sets in less time.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?), it just can't last. Eventually, we're all going to say "last year's Bluestreak was perfect; I simply don't need another one, that is barely an improvement." I am hoping that Kingdom does well, and shows Hasbro that (1) they need to start re-doing other series besides G1, or (2) they need to make new characters, or (3) they need to mostly concentrate on later G1 stuff that hasn't been re-done yet.

 

I hate when these sellers post ridiculous prices where they want to quadruple or higher their profit. Im quick to send them a DM with my best offer. Occasionally they bite. When they decline, I respectfully remind them that an item is only "worth" what someone is willing to pay for it. Using ebay prices as a guideline creates a false perception because those prices havent found a buyer. Theres a huge difference between what someone "is asking" and what its actually worth. Dont be afraid to reach out to these guys. If they get more reality checks, the prices will go down and deals will be made.

 

it’s a Texas thing too. There’s probably half a dozen here.

 

Man if it’s not bad enough with wave 2 of ER not showing up I got sick of wasting time & gas I just ordered online!

Now I’ll def have to waste gas looking at the 3 Walgreens near me & not find him for the next 3mos as it took me 3mos just to find ratchet!

God I’m so sick of exclusives & hasbros website never restocks! My Walmart’s suck at sticking anything so trying to get the next Netflix figs will take till next yr!

 

Why didn’t you just order Ratchet online? He was available for a least a month or two. It’s 2020. If you really want something, buy it online or risk not getting it at all. Saves time and gas. I only buy at brick and mortar if I can’t get it online.

 

Wait, Walgreens? I thought it was an Amazon exclusive! Wait again!! Walgreens still exist?!? I'm so confused?!? I mean, I don't plan on grabbing it either way, but that's weird for it to shift one exclusivity to another.

 

Has anyone else found Bluestreak yet?

Unless I've missed it, I don't think anyone has.

 

You should check the first post in this thread

 

I’ve never had a problem finding any Transformer Walgreens exclusive. I don’t think Bluestreak will be any exception. Hell, I even found all my Wave 2 GI Joe Classified at Walgreens. Moon Knight & Silver Centurion Iron Man are still available in my area!

 

I meant anyone else other than the first guy, but I could've worded that better.  

 

Honestly, think about the south side of OKC. Between I-40 to the north and I-240 to the south, I-35 east and I-35 west. Not really a well-to-do part of town, but at least three Walgreens in that area. Plus a couple more south of I-240 but before you get into the Moore area (and Moore itself has at least two Walgreens). Then there are a bunch north of I-40 (I don't even want to try and count right now) and most of the "satellite" towns in OKC's massive "sprawl" has at least one Walgreens. Even the bigger towns that are slightly separate from the metro usually have a location around here. Just crazy.

+-MWG-+

 

Classics Skywarp was a Target exclusive bunbled with Ultra Magnus