I was at my local Wal Mart yesterday and noticed something: they have not restocked any TF's in about a month or so. I lucked out and found one Arcee and one Mirage there around early May and haven't seen either one (not to mention Demolishor and Insecticon) since. It is starting to get really annoying, but I have thought about some of the reasons as to why this is:

 

1. The "Exclusive Wall": a couple months ago the TF's had the Wal Mart exclusive wall all to themselves, which meant that WM really stocked up...on everything TF. However, It doesn't mean they sold all of them. So what do you get when Big-Summer-Blockbuster-Movie-Based-On-A-Comic rolls in? A ton of overstock clogging up the regular TF section.

2. Energon has been all reruns: The last new episodes of Energon aired at the beginning of May (if my memory serves me correctly) or late April. That means that no kids have been rushing out to buy Snowcat, Prowl, Landmine, Rodimus (maybe rushing out to buy him as he was featured briefly in the last new ep.), Demolishor, Mirage and Arcee. Hopefully, we will start seeing more of the newer figures a week or so after Energon starts with new episodes.

 

Anyone else have any idea as to why this is?

 

Here's to hoping we see the next couple waves of Energon finally hit stores everywhere in July! :tfgrin

From working in the toy dept. at Target, I know that collectors are the absolute FIRST to get into a store. They'll literally wait for an hour or so outside the store until it opens, then they'll rush like crazy to the toy dept. If there's anything new on the pegs or shelf, THEY WILL PROCEED TO CLEAN OUT THE ENTIRE STOCK OF IT.

 

Pretty messed up, huh? I've seen it happen on several occasions. The worst is when they keep bugging you every five minutes to check the back for new stuff, especially when you just told them you don't have anything except what's on the shelves.

 

Thankfully, I don't work there anymore.

At toys R us I saw a case of transformers through the windows into the storeroom after the employe just told me they had none.

From working in the toy dept. at Target, I know that collectors are the absolute FIRST to get into a store. They'll literally wait for an hour or so outside the store until it opens, then they'll rush like crazy to the toy dept. If there's anything new on the pegs or shelf, THEY WILL PROCEED TO CLEAN OUT THE ENTIRE STOCK OF IT.

 

Pretty messed up, huh? I've seen it happen on several occasions. The worst is when they keep bugging you every five minutes to check the back for new stuff, especially when you just told them you don't have anything except what's on the shelves.

 

Thankfully, I don't work there anymore.

 

 

Wow, and I thought I was fanatic by just scoping out the stores when I have the spare time and seeing what they have on the shelves. And if I already have what's on the shelves, I either leave or go look at something else. Phew! :tfgrin

At toys R us I saw a case of transformers through the windows into the storeroom after the employe just told me they had none.

Ah, the helpful employees. Gotta love 'em. :tfgrin

 

 

Unless it was a box of figures they already had out on the shelves.

I've actually had good experiences with my TRU here. I had found an Energon Prowl on the pegs, but no Rodimus or Snowcat. I asked the guy there who worked in the toys if they had any more in the back, or could let me know if they had ordered another case, because the other two I was looking for were in the same wave as the one in my hand. The guy grabbed his manager and they looked for me and found some :D

 

I think if you ask them politely, when they're not busy, and don't annoy the crap out of them, they'll take a peak. But in most cases, if the pegs are half empty, they're aren't any more in the back because they always want the shelves looking full.

 

-Turbine

I think it's just the way things are done. Right now, at Target, I saw that they were getting ready to do inventory. They also have put a bunch of seasonal item on clearance. I'm guessing that they will reset some of the store in a couple of weeks, and maybe restock the toy section too.

I think in my area it's a combination of the featured section coming down, and the fact that I live in a smaller city with only one Walmart and one Target so the product doesn't move as quickly or turn over as fast.

target has a computerized inventory system, led by the hand scanners they use (LRT's, they called them). From what i was told when i worked there, this meant that inventorying their stock wasn't necessary. i guess they were full of crap.

target has a computerized inventory system, led by the hand scanners they use (LRT's, they called them). From what i was told when i worked there, this meant that inventorying their stock wasn't necessary. i guess they were full of crap.

Perhaps they just don't have to do it as often. It's hard not to tell that they're going to do an inventory, especially since display items got Post-It notes saying "Do not inventory." :tfgrin