I've seen exactly three, all in the same store...

 

One (of two? all three? don't remember) at a WalMart back on Halloween afternoon (grabbed one of them), I happened to be back there a few weeks ago and they had two (same?) on the shelf... (not anymore, though -- told a friend from another board, who grabbed both)

 

As for others, if anyone else here is in the Rochester NY area, I saw these yesterday, leaving all since I already have them:

 

Brockport WalMart -- THREE Meisters

Greece Target -- a Grimlock, TWO Windchargers, and THREE Swindles! O_O

I actually had no problems finding Tracks. At the start of December, I just popped into my local Superstore (kinda like a super Wal-Mart, except Canadian, with more groceries, but less of everything else), eyeing the Omega Supreme's they had for sale at $50 CDN. I got to the toy aisle, and suddenly found myself in front of an opened, but not yet unpacked case of the new Alts. Tracks, Meister, and Dead End were mine, and I wasn't even looking for them. On subsequent visits, there were probably another 3 cases worth of them that had been put out, of the 2x Tracks, 1x Meister, 1x Dead End case assortment variety.

 

Of course, haven't seen them since, not that I care. Now I'm just jealous of all the Americans who're wading in piles of Grimlocks, Swindles, and Windchargers. I don't think any of those figures have been sighted in the Vancouver area yet, outside of comics shops.

Picked up the only one I've ever seen.

Tracks I've seen about 2 -3 times on rare excursions as I call em. I picked him up the first time I saw him though.. somethin about the blue I guess, I dunno.. now if I could find flippin meister.. then I'd be truely happy.. and I can sit back a bit on the newer alts that have been released and wait till they become shelf warmers..

It's been a bit weird for Tracks here, and I think it may depend on just how much 'old stock' remained on the shelves for each store. If you were stuck with a boat load of Smokescreen/Sideswipe at a store, that one likely missed out on Tracks (or only got a couple of boxes).

 

If it wasn't, chances are you'll see a lot more of them. In CO Springs, the 'new' Wal*Mart is really good about getting in new assortments, while Smokescreen and Sideswipe are still lining shelves at the older Wal*Marts.

My experience here in Chicago has been this:

 

1) Found Smokescreen and Sideswipe in February/March 2004.

 

2) Spent the next 9 to 10 months desperately looking for Alternators.

 

3) Since the end of November, I found Silverstreak, Hound, DeadEnd, Swindle, Meister, Grimlock, Windcharger.

 

4) I have NEVER seen Tracks.

 

So, we had nothing forever, then we got everything and I think I just was unlucky with spotting Tracks. He must have come and gone while I was stuck at work. I wish they would just re-release him instead of putting out Swerve.

tracks is the worst alternator so the lack of demand doesn't bug me.

those legs are awful and the arms look like something out of armada.

grimlock was the money for me.

but i've only seen tracks once and it's the one i've got.

the joints are either too loose or too tight.

transforming him is quite the little pain.

well i have no hope of seeing tracks so i just got the BT and i agree with the above his legs are crap and the arms are a little odd

Three Words: Central Pennsylvania Distribution.

 

 

Smokescreen and Sideswipe weren't available in the capital area until June. I had crossed the Maryland border some 4 months back, considering the previous 4 months of searching more than fair. Little did I know this pattern would continue to worsen as time went on.

 

A miracle brought Bluestreak and Hound to a local KMart in the middle of July. Then they were gone until late October. As usual, TRU brought up the rear putting out a few cases last month. Eight. Months. After. Release. Why are they close to bankrupty?[/sarcasm]

 

Dead End, I saw exactly 3 times and caved at the last second. Fortunately I relented on the whole Sunstreaker issue in time. Never saw 2 in the same place, ever, else I might not be praying for a yellow Viper exclusive in 2005.

 

A single store got 2 cases of the Meister-Tracks-DeadEnd assortment. No Swindle. No Grimlock. No Overdrive. No Ravage. Only have Alternators 8-10 by virtue of thinking ahead and ordering a case through Diamond in September.

 

 

It's not for lack of effort...product simply isn't available.

 

PS - I appreciate online retailers but I will buy a $40 BT over a $35 Alternator every time.

HA! The most recent Alt. where I live is Hound!