View Full Version : Gaming The System: Toys 'R Us Exclusives
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 17:09
<img src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/80851/HCRealms.com/logos/toysrus_logo.jpg" style="width:200px;padding-right:5px" align="left">Following the recent announcement that Giant-Size X-Men Action Comes to Toys 'R Us! (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316903), a lot of people were understandably annoyed at the exclusivity, which was compounded by the fact that not all Toys 'R Us would be participating!
So I took it upon myself to remedy the situation for everyone who doesn't have a local store participating ... and here's how you too can get your Exclusive Giant-Size X-Men!
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 17:11
1. Call the Toys 'R Us store nearest you who will be carrying the product and find out if they have it for sale first.
2. Go to your local Toys R 'Us store and ask them to call that store (have the info with you to make their job easier) and do an "OUT OF STOCK PHONE ORDER". You will then have to purchase the product over the phone and the Toys 'R Us store that has the product will ship it directly to your house. They also said that it is shipped FEDEX free of charge.
You will have to be in a Toys 'R Us store to do this as they need to verify your identity (I believe). The rep who gave me this info also said not all stores may know how to place a "OUT OF STOCK PHONE ORDER". They also said that depending on the exclusiveness of it some stores may not honor an "OUT OF STOCK PHONE ORDER" so results may vary.
I'm 2.5 hours from the closest store selling these. So this really is my only option outside of eBay/3rd Party resale. If enough people start bugging Toys R Us, perhaps we won't see a "limited store release" again as I see this causing a good bit of wasted man hours and shipping fees.
The REAL ARES (DC)
05/14/2011, 17:15
Very good work sir!!! Rep to you!!!
Still doesn't help non US residence.
Dr. Morbius
05/14/2011, 17:17
Good news for my American buddies not in a listed TRU area :)
I should call my TRU here in Germany and ask them to try it just for the fun of their dumbstruck faces if I did! LOL
dutch_brennan
05/14/2011, 17:22
They also said that depending on the exclusiveness of it some stores may not honor an "OUT OF STOCK PHONE ORDER" so results may vary.
I was told today that not only can they choose not to honor it but more than likely most stores simply won't do it. Apparently the product is listed as a collector's item, which are only typically available in small quantities. I was told that whenever that happens, typically stores want to hold onto what little they have for their own clients. Still, I guess there's no harm in trying.
fillonius
05/14/2011, 17:30
Can't hurt to ask. Thanks for the info!
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 17:31
I was told today that not only can they choose not to honor it but more than likely most stores simply won't do it. Apparently the product is listed as a collector's item, which are only typically available in small quantities. I was told that whenever that happens, typically stores want to hold onto what little they have for their own clients. Still, I guess there's no harm in trying.
Again results may vary. I was told to ask for a particular employee and she said she'd do it. So again results may vary. I assume Toys R Us looked at how Clix sold in their stores and pushed the "exclusive" product to stores that have high sales records of it in the past.
As for "their own clients" local or in another city we are all customers. But I know what you mean.
Like I said some may choose not to do it. I just wanted to let people know how they can try to go about getting it if they can't get to a store.
Darknesspwns
05/14/2011, 17:35
i wish you didnt post this because you just gave people an advanced way to scalp...
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 17:46
i wish you didnt post this because you just gave people an advanced way to scalp...
True, but that's going to happen no matter what. I posted to help people like me. With gas prices at what they are, I'd spend 40 bucks just in gas to go get them, plus my time, for me that's a day trip...and then hope they are at the store when you get there. I understand the need for exclusive items, but when they are exclusive to a location with no other means in sight to get them at original, I think that stinks. At least with the Con exclusives we know they will be available later in the year in some form, at least that gives us more than one option.
MisterId
05/14/2011, 17:59
Were you able to order them already, and if so do you know the cost?
bigsquidnuts
05/14/2011, 18:09
WizKids: The colossals are not due to even begin arriving in TRU until next week.
Directly from Wizkids Facebook, most stores do not have them in stock for Sunday they will be receiving them on shipments this week.
This still doesn't help bring in new players. It's just as bad as the Target gravity feed.
What is NECA's true intent here?
If it is to bring in new players and reach the general public/mass market, then this is how you do it: you create beginner intro packs ala pokemon/ M:TG. Each heroclix Intro pack has a map and rulebook as well as enough figs for 2 players. One DC intro pack and one Marvel intro pack. Each one containing the top 6 or so popular characters. Then you mass produce them in enough quantities so that they are consistently available. This kills 2 birds with one stone by preventing them from selling out and by decreasing their value so they are not as collectible but not worthless either.
Just think about - you go into a big box store any time of the year and see this intro pack with eye catching wording that states it contains enough to get a game started for 2 players. So each store would stock about a dozen of these packs or so. Then with each pack you have a fold out product catalog that tells the consumer what packs/sets/etc are coming out in the future. Then you make those feeds/sets in limited quantity.
But the way it is being done now is bass ackwards.
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 18:14
Were you able to order them already, and if so do you know the cost?
WizKids: The colossals are not due to even begin arriving in TRU until next week.
Directly from Wizkids Facebook, most stores do not have them in stock for Sunday they will be receiving them on shipments this week.
No, I have not. My source says they need to be in stock at THE STORE you are getting them from. My source is an employee at one the TRU stores getting them and not a friend, just an inventory manager.
And yes most TRU Stores do not have them yet. I believe the way the release on WK site was a bit confusing.
<img src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/80851/HCRealms.com/logos/toysrus_logo.jpg" style="width:200px;padding-right:5px" align="left">Following the recent announcement that Giant-Size X-Men Action Comes to Toys 'R Us! (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316903), a lot of people were understandably pissed off of the exclusivity, which was compounded by the fact that not all Toys 'R Us would be participating!
So I took it upon myself to remedy the situation for everyone who doesn't have a local store participating ... and here's how you too can get your Exclusive Giant-Size X-Men!
Awesome! I didn't see how I could do it myself in the thread, and I assume you weren't just getting my hopes up, so you must be offering to let me send you money, and you'll ship them to Canada for me. Thanks!
Great idea.
I went to TRU today with my son and I did not see any of the figs. I didn't expect to see them even though they are on the list.
When are they expected to be on sale???
psycho69
05/14/2011, 19:18
street date is may 18th.
MisterId
05/14/2011, 19:20
This still doesn't help bring in new players. It's just as bad as the Target gravity feed.
What is NECA's true intent here?
If it is to bring in new players and reach the general public/mass market, then this is how you do it: you create beginner intro packs ala pokemon/ M:TG. Each heroclix Intro pack has a map and rulebook as well as enough figs for 2 players. One DC intro pack and one Marvel intro pack. Each one containing the top 6 or so popular characters. Then you mass produce them in enough quantities so that they are consistently available. This kills 2 birds with one stone by preventing them from selling out and by decreasing their value so they are not as collectible but not worthless either.
Just think about - you go into a big box store any time of the year and see this intro pack with eye catching wording that states it contains enough to get a game started for 2 players. So each store would stock about a dozen of these packs or so. Then with each pack you have a fold out product catalog that tells the consumer what packs/sets/etc are coming out in the future. Then you make those feeds/sets in limited quantity.
But the way it is being done now is bass ackwards.
They might not be aiming for no players, bit rather collectors. By making it a TRU exclusive, you get collectors looking at it and they might by into the game on simply collecting and not playing.
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 20:11
Awesome! I didn't see how I could do it myself in the thread, and I assume you weren't just getting my hopes up, so you must be offering to let me send you money, and you'll ship them to Canada for me. Thanks!
Sorry the post is worded wrong...USA participants. Sorry everyone else.
CursedSoul
05/14/2011, 20:46
Good news for my American buddies not in a listed TRU area :)
I should call my TRU here in Germany and ask them to try it just for the fun of their dumbstruck faces if I did! LOL
I lolīd. Great Idea, maybe i try this one aswell for fun.
TheMoonMonster
05/14/2011, 21:10
At first I thought this whole tru exclusive was a cool idea, didn't hurt that I live 3 miles from one of the stores and 10 from another. Then I remembered the quality of those stores....hoo boy. So scary. Bravely went to the close one, just to see if there was early release or any idea when release, only to wait 20 minutes to be helped then yelled at that "there's only iron man heroclix, x men ones don't exist!" (apparently she had been asked a few times that day)...called the other store, where they were nice but confused, telling me that if it's not on their web site they don't carry it. Oh boy...tru was never known for being knowledgeable about gaming products, thinking back to the clobbering time days when it was impossible to buy a booster there that wasn't already opened...
SamuraiWolf
05/14/2011, 21:41
What is their true intent?
I need a shirt with that on it.
Actually I would think that Neca/wizkids does alot to promote the game.But producing a product is not in itself anything more than....producing product.
Maybe they had/want to make some in roads with companies that ask/demand a special exclusive product in return for selling your standard product at some point.
I have no insider knowledge, I have to put faith in all companies I am fond of that they have a business that actually has professional people that know how to run a business.
I am sure that everything will be ok.
combatninja
05/14/2011, 22:04
I said it before, and I'll say it again; NEVER TRUST AN EMPLOYEE OVER THE PHONE.
Now if one store calls another, you might actually get something done. But for reasons already explained (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5558262#post5558262), it's best to check yourself. (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5558963#post5558963)
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 22:41
I said it before, and I'll say it again; NEVER TRUST AN EMPLOYEE OVER THE PHONE.
Now if one store calls another, you might actually get something done. But for reasons already explained (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5558262#post5558262), it's best to check yourself. (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5558963#post5558963)
I agree. But in my situation I have to go with this. If it fails me, unfortunately there is eBay or Realms.
ibeatdrew
05/14/2011, 22:45
This still doesn't help bring in new players. It's just as bad as the Target gravity feed.
What is NECA's true intent here?
If it is to bring in new players and reach the general public/mass market, then this is how you do it: you create beginner intro packs ala pokemon/ M:TG. Each heroclix Intro pack has a map and rulebook as well as enough figs for 2 players. One DC intro pack and one Marvel intro pack. Each one containing the top 6 or so popular characters. Then you mass produce them in enough quantities so that they are consistently available. This kills 2 birds with one stone by preventing them from selling out and by decreasing their value so they are not as collectible but not worthless either.
Just think about - you go into a big box store any time of the year and see this intro pack with eye catching wording that states it contains enough to get a game started for 2 players. So each store would stock about a dozen of these packs or so. Then with each pack you have a fold out product catalog that tells the consumer what packs/sets/etc are coming out in the future. Then you make those feeds/sets in limited quantity.
But the way it is being done now is bass ackwards.
I agree. I think Fast Forces will have some of what you have mentioned....I don't know if that is going to Mass Market though which is the odd thing.
This still doesn't help bring in new players. It's just as bad as the Target gravity feed.
What is NECA's true intent here?
1) To look like a profitable partner in retail to the big boy retailers.
How?
2) By forcing long-time clix players to either (A) get out to these select retail locations and hunt for product like it's the Cuban Missile Crisis OR (B) suffer the penalty of the pocketbook trying to get these items from collectibles hawks who will scavenge and horde these items for a kings ransom.
Either way, NECA comes out the winner. Through the avarice of some and the desires of others, their limited product sells out all over existence and they get to trumpet their sales triumphs in press releases and facebook.
:tired: Hooray...
True intent? They are not looking for new players, they are looking to secure more lucrative retail channels on our backs. They are not concerned with losing the player base. This is their biz model moving forward until profits of product sales force them to course correct.
:cool: Winning...
Darknesspwns
05/14/2011, 23:00
1) To look like a profitable partner in retail to the big boy retailers.
How?
2) By forcing long-time clix players to either (A) get out to these select retail locations and hunt for product like it's the Cuban Missile Crisis OR (B) suffer the penalty of the pocketbook trying to get these items from collectibles hawks who will scavenge and horde these items for a kings ransom.
Either way, NECA comes out the winner. Through the avarice of some and the desires of others, their limited product sells out all over existence and they get to trumpet their sales triumphs in press releases and facebook.
:tired: Hooray...
True intent? They are not looking for new players, they are looking to secure more lucrative retail channels on our backs. They are not concerned with losing the player base. This is their biz model moving forward until profits of product sales force them to course correct.
:cool: Winning...
can you really blame them for wanting to make money? i mean a profit is what this game needs to survive i doubt there is a bruce wayne type guy out there funding the whole thing out of love for the game
yes scalping sucks yes limited runs suck but as we have seen in the past with brick figures they might always release another run of non numbered ones based off of the first waves sales.
any company that says no to more money really shouldn't be called a company at all..
i loved the GSX set and i believe the company is on the right path the only complaint i have is that their supply is no longer meeting the demand
for example 2 weeks after Gsx was released it was announced that they were sold out at the warehouse or whatever.. because of this the only place in my area decided to jack up the price of gsx boosters to 20 bucks a pack... i would have bought a few more bricks of the set if it wasn't for the inflated price
so in short i love the new sentinels/apoc but i disagree with limiting the print to 5000 of each and maby offering a 2nd printing and offering them on the TRU web store.
if you get the product to the people they will buy it
however Toys R us is a dying company maby next time make it a
Wal-Mart Exclusive
lol
TheMoonMonster
05/14/2011, 23:03
1) To look like a profitable partner in retail to the big boy retailers.
How?
2) By forcing long-time clix players to either (A) get out to these select retail locations and hunt for product like it's the Cuban Missile Crisis OR (B) suffer the penalty of the pocketbook trying to get these items from collectibles hawks who will scavenge and horde these items for a kings ransom.
Either way, NECA comes out the winner. Through the avarice of some and the desires of others, their limited product sells out all over existence and they get to trumpet their sales triumphs in press releases and facebook.
:tired: Hooray...
True intent? They are not looking for new players, they are looking to secure more lucrative retail channels on our backs. They are not concerned with losing the player base. This is their biz model moving forward until profits of product sales force them to course correct.
:cool: Winning...
Hard to really disagree too much here. I think new players might be a theoretical goal, but really all that's going to happen is making the secondary market the new primary market for most players. Along with my tru adventures today I figured I'd check out a few targets, and all I found were empty shelves and clueless employees. I live in a huge city, so unless I feel like camping out or taking daily trips, it's kind of silly - eBay for a complete set, even at a 2-3 times retail markup, just makes more sense.
Zatara55
05/14/2011, 23:34
I said it before, and I'll say it again; NEVER TRUST AN EMPLOYEE OVER THE PHONE.
Now if one store calls another, you might actually get something done. But for reasons already explained (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5558262#post5558262), it's best to check yourself. (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5558963#post5558963)
I wouldn't trust employees at the store. Years ago I worked at K-Mart and we were trained to tell shoppers that 'everything is on the shelves'. I guess it wasn't cost effective to have us go in the back to search for something. Of course I broke the rules and eventually got fired. And sometimes they really have everything on the shelf, especially if it's on sale that week.
I went to TRU today looking for these. They were dead. I must of looked lost. They had clixs but only the Iron Man ones and they were on clearence. I had a couple of women trying to help me. I tried explaining to them what I was looking for and they just didn't seem to get that these were game pieces and there were TRU exclusives. Very frustrating.
lensnart
05/15/2011, 00:24
This still doesn't help bring in new players. It's just as bad as the Target gravity feed.
What is NECA's true intent here?
If it is to bring in new players and reach the general public/mass market, then this is how you do it: you create beginner intro packs ala pokemon/ M:TG. Each heroclix Intro pack has a map and rulebook as well as enough figs for 2 players. One DC intro pack and one Marvel intro pack. Each one containing the top 6 or so popular characters. Then you mass produce them in enough quantities so that they are consistently available. This kills 2 birds with one stone by preventing them from selling out and by decreasing their value so they are not as collectible but not worthless either.
Just think about - you go into a big box store any time of the year and see this intro pack with eye catching wording that states it contains enough to get a game started for 2 players. So each store would stock about a dozen of these packs or so. Then with each pack you have a fold out product catalog that tells the consumer what packs/sets/etc are coming out in the future. Then you make those feeds/sets in limited quantity.
But the way it is being done now is bass ackwards.
Even if we forget the conversation about this particular product or the gravity feeds and treat them like something that was made strictly for collectors, I don't understand why this idea has never happened.
This seems like such an obvious way to get people into the game. Instead of Thor and a bunch of people the average person has never heard of or Iron Man and a bunch of people the average person has never heard of, make a pack of names that everyone knows. If there was a pack with Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, The Joker, and Lex Luthor, with a map, some dice, and a streamlined rulebook (let's face it the current mess of semantics and nitpickyness is not going to appeal to most new gamers) I think that could be a great way to expand the customer base. Same with a pack with Spiderman, Wolverine, Captain America, Iron Man, Magneto and Doctor Doom.
The_Sound_Of_Animals
05/15/2011, 00:54
to the OP, this is a great idea if you live in the US. For those of us outside the US we have realms trades or the secondary market. I will refrain from these and am to the point where I hope that they sit on shelves... the camping out at TRU's thread is making me think that these will sell fast and the entire debacle will be repeated later
Did your source tell you when the stores would get them in? Great job by the way thanks.
lensnart
05/15/2011, 00:59
I am with you Sound of Animals, though I hope that instead of sitting on shelves they get bought up by scalpers and then everyone refuses to pay the exorbitant prices and they have to eat the cost.
The_Sound_Of_Animals
05/15/2011, 01:00
I am with you Sound of Animals, though I hope that instead of sitting on shelves they get bought up by scalpers and then everyone refuses to pay the exorbitant prices and they have to eat the cost.
ooooo even better!
Darknesspwns
05/15/2011, 01:12
Even if we forget the conversation about this particular product or the gravity feeds and treat them like something that was made strictly for collectors, I don't understand why this idea has never happened.
This seems like such an obvious way to get people into the game. Instead of Thor and a bunch of people the average person has never heard of or Iron Man and a bunch of people the average person has never heard of, make a pack of names that everyone knows. If there was a pack with Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, The Joker, and Lex Luthor, with a map, some dice, and a streamlined rulebook (let's face it the current mess of semantics and nitpickyness is not going to appeal to most new gamers) I think that could be a great way to expand the customer base. Same with a pack with Spiderman, Wolverine, Captain America, Iron Man, Magneto and Doctor Doom.
wasn't that the idea behind Batman alpha?
can you really blame them for wanting to make money? i mean a profit is what this game needs to survive i doubt there is a bruce wayne type guy out there funding the whole thing out of love for the game
yes scalping sucks yes limited runs suck but as we have seen in the past with brick figures they might always release another run of non numbered ones based off of the first waves sales.
any company that says no to more money really shouldn't be called a company at all..
i loved the GSX set and i believe the company is on the right path the only complaint i have is that their supply is no longer meeting the demand
Not blaming them for wanting to make money, just want to make sure they're not chasing marketing strategies that will yield nothing but better retail shelf positioning...and at what cost? I want WK to succeed, thrive and grow in both profitability and player base.
The real question is, is putting out limited product to large retailers with no tangible rationale (eg. expand player base with complete starter set - map, rules, figs, dice), other than establishing that retail link, a true path to further success for the product line? Larger volume of sales, expanding player base and game/brand awareness.
As you mention, the new production model seems to be under production. Keeps 'em marketing sexy, player wanted and product sold out. That might meet their near-term goals but what about the long-term implications? Anybody notice, there doesn't seem to be a lot of new players (IMO) and the stalwart players I do know have been griping about how they can't afford to complete sets now or chase everything that's being produced. Where's the threshold?
spider_ham
05/15/2011, 01:35
wasn't that the idea behind Batman alpha?
Creating the Alpha ruleset and overproducing the mini-set is what initially backfired. Had Alpha been promoted strictly as a Heroclix mini-set using standard rules (like Green Lantern), the product would have sold like hot cakes. Of course, the dials would have been designed a little differently.
BoondockSaint1
05/15/2011, 02:39
WizKids: The colossals are not due to even begin arriving in TRU until next week.
Directly from Wizkids Facebook, most stores do not have them in stock for Sunday they will be receiving them on shipments this week.
Which means those of us who work are gonna be screwed too since by the time we get out of work every day to check if they're in yet, they'll be sold out by then...
lensnart
05/15/2011, 02:44
wasn't that the idea behind Batman alpha?
It was and I still don't think it was a bad idea in theory. I think the problem with Alpha was it was blind boosters, yes it had a Batman but that was all you could see. A mass market starter with 6 recognizable figures and plenty of room on the back of the packaging to show what it is you are buying, that has a streamlined version of the standard rules (that could be used as a stepping stone to the full rules rather than as a separate game) would be a whole different animal.
ibeatdrew
05/15/2011, 02:56
Did your source tell you when the stores would get them in? Great job by the way thanks.
No, they don't know. I assume it will be whenever they get a delivery this week or next depending on the day the get a delivery. When you re-read the post on Wizkids' site, at first it sounds like they have a street date of May 15th, but after re-reading it, it sounds like that's when they are being shipped from either their warehouse or Toy's and that you should look for it that week and after.
it would be nice if it were shipped in waves so you could check back each week. (Example more than one shipment being sent to each store....each week more trickle in.) This would be good info to know, but no one is talking.
http://heroclix.com/blog/2011/05/11/giant-size-x-men-action-comes-to-toys-r-us/
charlesdward
05/15/2011, 03:07
1) To look like a profitable partner in retail to the big boy retailers.
How?
2) By forcing long-time clix players to either (A) get out to these select retail locations and hunt for product like it's the Cuban Missile Crisis OR (B) suffer the penalty of the pocketbook trying to get these items from collectibles hawks who will scavenge and horde these items for a kings ransom.
Either way, NECA comes out the winner. Through the avarice of some and the desires of others, their limited product sells out all over existence and they get to trumpet their sales triumphs in press releases and facebook.
:tired: Hooray...
True intent? They are not looking for new players, they are looking to secure more lucrative retail channels on our backs. They are not concerned with losing the player base. This is their biz model moving forward until profits of product sales force them to course correct.
:cool: Winning...
You forgot option C): Look at the figures and think they're neat and all, but not be bothered with jumping through the hoops required to get them.
Of course, the nature of the collectible market being what it is, the rabid collectors will be more than happy to jerk around to whatever strings Wizkids and TRU pull them by.
Sorry to Wizkids, but I'm not one of your Pavlovian test subjects. You can keep your shiny colossals. :tired:
At first I thought this whole tru exclusive was a cool idea, didn't hurt that I live 3 miles from one of the stores and 10 from another. Then I remembered the quality of those stores....hoo boy. So scary. Bravely went to the close one, just to see if there was early release or any idea when release, only to wait 20 minutes to be helped then yelled at that "there's only iron man heroclix, x men ones don't exist!" (apparently she had been asked a few times that day)...called the other store, where they were nice but confused, telling me that if it's not on their web site they don't carry it. Oh boy...tru was never known for being knowledgeable about gaming products, thinking back to the clobbering time days when it was impossible to buy a booster there that wasn't already opened...
:disappointed:
1)
1st, please realize that very very few TRU employees at the store level (be they cashiers or all the way up to the head manager) even know that these things are coming. {let alone what they are}
The first time many will know anything about it is when one of three things occur;
A: Someone asks about it prior to its arrival.
B: It comes off the truck.
C: They pass it in the ailse/have to price it/have to ring it up/have to re-shop it at some point in their day.
2)
And here is what you do about that first store you dealt with.
.You note the employees name.
.You ask for the manager on duty & then ask for the corprate phone #.
.You then call that # and file a complaint.
(as well as talking directly to the manager about it)
And if you've bought something?
YOU CALL THAT PHONE # ON THE RECEIPT and give your honest feedback.
Actually, do this whatever your experience. Yes, if they gave you bad service, obviously that needs critiquing. But so does any positive experiene!
There ARE people listing on up the chain.
3) "If it's not on the website it doesn't exist/We don't carry it" (sigh....)
No, wrong answer.
If it's not on the website? That means that TRU.Com doesn't carry it.
Or, on occassion, they simply don't have something within a particular assortment - various action figures being a prime example of this. EX; If you search for DC Universe figures you'll get quite a few results. But you'll also note that there's figures simply not listed at all out of the various waves.
This does NOT mean that the toy doesn't exist. Or isn't/wasn't carried by TRU as a whole. Just that TRU.com doesn't carry it.
Of much greater importance is wether or not the item exists in the S.I.S. inventory system. Every store relies upon this system. Without an item in SIS virtually nothing can happen with it at the store level.
of course sometimes finding something in SIS can be a... challenge
As an additional note about the website: When you see an item flagged with the green "sold in store"? That seems to appear no matter how few stores actually stock it....
I haven't checked to see if the closest Toys R Us store to me has this yet because... The closest one to me is 3 hours away. Wish they had sent these to gaming stores!
I stopped in ours yesterday to see if they had come in on the truck. 2 guys working there had heard that there would be a release, but didn't know when. One guy checked the computer, and there was nothing in their system except for the Iron Man Fast Forces pack.
According to the WK announcement, today May 15th is the release date.
We are very pleased to announce that beginning next week (May 15th and forward) there will be three new versions of some very familiar (and COLOSSAL!) figures!
I keep asking myself..." Am I going to pay $24 for a 300 point piece?"
Thrumble Funk
05/15/2011, 09:19
This still doesn't help bring in new players. It's just as bad as the Target gravity feed.
What is NECA's true intent here?
If it is to bring in new players and reach the general public/mass market, then this is how you do it: you create beginner intro packs ala pokemon/ M:TG. Each heroclix Intro pack has a map and rulebook as well as enough figs for 2 players. One DC intro pack and one Marvel intro pack. Each one containing the top 6 or so popular characters. Then you mass produce them in enough quantities so that they are consistently available. This kills 2 birds with one stone by preventing them from selling out and by decreasing their value so they are not as collectible but not worthless either.
Just think about - you go into a big box store any time of the year and see this intro pack with eye catching wording that states it contains enough to get a game started for 2 players. So each store would stock about a dozen of these packs or so. Then with each pack you have a fold out product catalog that tells the consumer what packs/sets/etc are coming out in the future. Then you make those feeds/sets in limited quantity.
But the way it is being done now is bass ackwards.
That or hold in-store demos centered around existing (dust-collecting) classic packs. 'Cause its all new to a new player.
Gabellius
05/15/2011, 14:07
According to the HC website, the figures would be available at this Toys R Us store (close to where I'm from):
8515 Day Drive, Parma, OH 44129
Today is May 15th, and I called this store to ask prices/availability. They said, to my surprise, that the figures would be unavailable at this location, in the entire region, and that as far as they knew, the closest locations carrying the figure were in New York!
What?
Today is May 15th, and I called this store to ask prices/availability. They said, to my surprise, that the figures would be unavailable at this location, in the entire region, and that as far as they knew, the closest locations carrying the figure were in New York!
What?
we missed the fine print that it's a State exclusive. :laugh::confused::tired::disappointed:
So i just checked two stores in West Los Angeles. No luck on either.
I Stopped by the Los Angeles Location and could not find anything. Checked in action figures and game section. They were fully stocked on the old iron man battle packs and wave 1. Talked to customer service they looked through there system and nothing.
Also called the torrance location. they have nothing in there system.
Any Success yet?
22035 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503 CA
1833 La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 CA
TheGoodReverendJLang
05/15/2011, 16:39
I traveled from Salem to the Tigard, OR location, and recieved blank stares from the customer service desk gal, as well as the "guy who knows everything about that dept." who I will be calling back :angry:
I called the Clackamas, OR location this morning, to be told that they didn't have it in their system, and they did not have it.
Finally I called the Jantzen Beach (Portland, OR) location, and they actually knew what I was talking about, yet they said that it was not in stock and they would not be carrying it.
Thank you Wizkids for wasting my gas and my Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning going on a wild goose chase :tired:
At least I saw Thor in 3D after braving the aisles of unwashed children running amok, and the movie was awesome. :)
I found one Apocalypse for sale on ebay for $45.00 and both Sentinels for $35.00 each. I hope this isn't retail. If the retail is more than $20.00 I'll be passing on these.
Kaitouace
05/15/2011, 16:59
I found one Apocalypse for sale on ebay for $45.00 and both Sentinels for $35.00 each. I hope this isn't retail. If the retail is more than $20.00 I'll be passing on these.
To be fair that's all the same guy and he doesn't actually have the pieces. He's running a pre-sale in the attempt to go shark these figures from multiple locations and sell them on eBay at a marked up price (he states he "has" 3 of each figure). I sincerely doubt they'll be that price when we finally start seeing them show up on shelves.
mr_obvious
05/15/2011, 17:17
WizKids: The colossals are not due to even begin arriving in TRU until next week.
Directly from Wizkids Facebook, most stores do not have them in stock for Sunday they will be receiving them on shipments this week.
I wish I would have seen this before I drove to TRU this morning.
tyroclix
05/15/2011, 18:08
Thank you Wizkids for wasting my gas and my Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning going on a wild goose chase :tired:
But I appreciate your wild goose chase.
I considered driving down to TRU this morning but frankly, I have too many other things to do plus I didn't want to drive down and find out they are too expensive.
Knowing there will be people here who will be outside hours before a store opens, bang their shoes Khrushchev-style demanding answers, and driving all over the known world like DOG the Bounty Hunter, I correctly just logged on and read about all your leg work.
Thanks to the realms, I know no one has any yet, price is still unknown, and its likely the earliest will be Tuesday but more likely after that.
While I do think the trouble some people go through to get a game piece is excessive, without you I would not know near as much. So for that, I salute each and every one of you.
Hmm. No "salute" emoticon so I'll throw you a wink instead:
;)
I'm in San Jose CA. and could not find them. They're not on the company's website and no one has any information about them. By the way do we know how much they cost?
TheMoonMonster
05/15/2011, 18:24
So i just checked two stores in West Los Angeles. No luck on either.
I Stopped by the Los Angeles Location and could not find anything. Checked in action figures and game section. They were fully stocked on the old iron man battle packs and wave 1. Talked to customer service they looked through there system and nothing.
Also called the torrance location. they have nothing in there system.
Any Success yet?
22035 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503 CA
1833 La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 CA
All I can say is thank you for saving me a trip. Though now I know there's competition! ;)
Honestly, I don't foresee myself getting either these or the Green Lantern gravity feed anywhere but eBay - as someone who works during the same hours as all the big box stores, I won't be able to check back till Saturday, and I'm going to guess by then it's going to be sold out city.
I'm only hoping that after a few weeks of the hoarders sharking the prices will stabilize to be only a few bucks over retail.
Vevilaughs
05/15/2011, 21:23
neither store in Illinois had the figures today, not did they know about them.
Superfly
05/15/2011, 21:59
neither store in Illinois had the figures today, not did they know about them.
I live in the Western suburbs of Chicago and the stores I called had no idea what I was talking about. Nothing in stock and they had never heard of HeroClix. (No big surprise, there!)
At least one my stores knew of the game and said they carried it a few years ago. Not that does me any good. Is there any chance that someone from Wizkid's could weigh in here and tell us what's up?
doesnt help me when i live in new zealand-the pimple on the butt of the world and light years away from any toys r us. bugger.
Unless the "Toysrus Exclusives" have something that wasn't in the original release I'm not interested in the least.
ziggy1503
05/16/2011, 09:24
I hope wizkids goes bankrupt. If its not broke don't fix it.
Shawnbesaw
05/16/2011, 12:09
I'm spoiled by living in the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas and have multiple locations to check. Unfortunately the list gave me 3 options out of the 9 that were suppose to carry these. Also to my misfortune is that I stopped at 2 that were not on the list and had to educate the sales force there on Heroclix. The 3 closests stores (17, 21 & 27 miles away) that were on the list had no clue and also had to be educated (or maybe they were just flat out lying to me). But again I checked in advance on Sunday to see if they were going to get any in and my have not talked to the correct people (went to the service desk for you know "service"). Good luck to all and I'll be checking again throughout the week here.
squirrelfarmer
05/16/2011, 16:31
I called every TRU store in the MIchigan list and none of them have heard of this release. Not only that they have most of the "heroclix" property listed as discontinued.
good luck to all who try to get these exculsives.
What a let done, typical from WizKids. Nice marketing model...
here is the list of stores I called or shopped at.
32070 Gratiot, Roseville, MI 48066 MI
13801 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Hghts, MI 48313 MI
34800 Warren Road, Westland, MI 48185 MI
14333 Eureka Rd., Southgate, MI 48195 MI
32700 John R. Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071 MI
2800 Tittabawassee Rd., Saginaw, MI 48603 MI
none of these store have them as of May 16th
TheMoonMonster
05/17/2011, 23:47
Still no dice in la. Customer service first checked the web site (hate it when they do that to determine availability), then the inventory system. No entries in either.
Shawnbesaw
05/19/2011, 02:09
I was told by the ordering rep from a TRU here in the Dallas area that they were getting the shipment tonight and should have them in the stores tomorrow. But we will see...
Shawnbesaw
05/19/2011, 14:11
The TRU store did get in some (very little) of the figures, so I was able to get the Sentinel Mark V and Apocalypse for 14.99 each (but no Mark II).
Darknesspwns
05/19/2011, 16:27
so Alot of us arent following every thread about the TRU exclusives
or the target Gravity Feed Run so heres some information
This is Not Your Only Chance to get them:
There will be another Run of these Clix made avaliable Internationally
Sold in B&M stores
Link is here:
For more information
http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317876
Knowing what your looking for will help you find them:
Some if not all TRU employees have been clueless to Heroclix and the exclusive items
going in there knowing the SKU# will help any confused employee find somthing on the avalibility of the product
upc numbers from barcode and receipt:
apoc: 634482702161
sentinel mark V: 634482702154
The Price is: $14.99
Still Getting No Where?
even loaded with this info they could still be clueless, so if its not to far out of the way go to the store itself...
there should be a section in TRU with some comics and Heroclix Classic packs This is where the new Collosals Should be found.
if they are not there, ask an employee when the next truck comes in and check again on that day...
i hope this info helped some of you in some way.
personally im going to wait for B&M stores
TRU is too far from me to continue trying to hunt these things down.
omegarobb
05/19/2011, 16:34
I called every TRU store in the MIchigan list and none of them have heard of this release. Not only that they have most of the "heroclix" property listed as discontinued.
good luck to all who try to get these exculsives.
What a let done, typical from WizKids. Nice marketing model...
here is the list of stores I called or shopped at.
32070 Gratiot, Roseville, MI 48066 MI
13801 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Hghts, MI 48313 MI
34800 Warren Road, Westland, MI 48185 MI
14333 Eureka Rd., Southgate, MI 48195 MI
32700 John R. Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071 MI
2800 Tittabawassee Rd., Saginaw, MI 48603 MI
none of these store have them as of May 16th
Add the TRU in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti to that list.
I really do not care either way. I can not wait to destroy the teams built with these figures that took there owner countless hours of stress and headaches to buy. Then I will look right in there eye and ask "was it worth it".:classic:
Add the TRU in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti to that list.
I really do not care either way. I can not wait to destroy the teams built with these figures that took there owner countless hours of stress and headaches to buy. Then I will look right in there eye and ask "was it worth it".:classic:
lol, your not bitter are you :p
Been to the Toys R Us stores that were suppose to get these and I've been told by the Store Mgrs that TRU did not get any of them and they don't even have street date for them either.
omegarobb
05/19/2011, 19:02
lol, your not bitter are you :p
Not bitter just tired of all the hype. Maybe it's because this is the first time I had to deal with "exclusive" figures but it seems that people are going bat poop crazy to get these things. then when people find out that they will not be available to every TRU store the insanity multiplies. Are these people completest or are they actually going to buy as much as they can just so they can try to flip them for profit?
Bat-Phreak
05/20/2011, 10:26
these people completest or are they actually going to buy as much as they can just so they can try to flip them for profit?
I think a little bit of both, probably leaning more toward profit.
With WK/NECA's announcement of B&M + International availability on the horizon, I think the "profiteers" will not make out as well as they hoped.
EarthMightiestMortal
05/22/2011, 15:49
Yeah I know your pain, i've been calling a bunch of Toys r us in Jersey and going there and they have no idea what i'm talking about. The UPC code did help so thanks for that.
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