Just trying to do some more analysis. So, there are almost 1900 Target Stores in the United States, and over 300 in California alone. Just FYI, I have at least 10 that are within relatively short driving distance.
https://www.scrapehero.com/target-com-a ... s-the-u-s/There are (shockingly) Almost 3600 Walmart Supercenters in the United States. Again, I can attest that there are at least 20 that are within a relatively short driving distance from me.
Then I watched this video:
https://youtu.be/dJohpUyh_CENow while it is not the most articulate commentary, there are some points I agree with, and Disagree with, as we all try to navigate the reasons for the empty shelves, which is now without a doubt a nation-wide problem, not just a local one:
1. COVID Is not to Blame -Agreed. As the rest of the Toy department is seemingly well stocked at all times in most stores, also as we've seen stores in Canada, don't seem to have issue keeping items in stock
2. Kids aren't buying Action Figures anymore -Mostly Agree.
3. Purchasing Action Figures is moving to a more online purchase format - Agreed (unfortunately)
4. Scalpers aren't as big a problem as it seems -Disagree . All you have to do is look online and there are vast quantities of product on eBay and other aftermarket auction and non-auction sites, for insane markups. Unfortunately I don't have time to go to stores when they first open, but on the *rare* occasion I have taken a day off of work and done such, I've always seen multiple scalpers.
5. Toy Companies purchase shelf space, so they don't care that it is empty -Hard Disagree - This may have been true in the past, but certainly not anymore. It is my understanding that the Toy Companies (i.e. Hasbro) gets paid based on how much a distributor orders. They are certainly ordering less it seems because they don't want to lose money on discounting/clearancing items.
6. Unsold Toys go back to the factory -Disagree -I'm pretty sure we all know that any unsold toys go to secondary stores (Ross/Marsahalls/ Ollies etc...) to be sold at deep discount. Toy companies *might* send product to these secondary stores directly, but it's only because it was not initially ordered by the larger distributors first.
Of course if I am way off base in my understanding, please let me know, I'm just trying to figure this all out based on my own observations. The sad fact is, yes, I know online is pretty much the way to go. I've got pretty much everything for the foreseeable future as pre-ordered through multiple sellers, btu as we've come to see, nto even online pre-orders are a guaranty anymore. It just stinks that the system we've known pretty mch our whole lives is changing. Going into a toy store and actually *seeing* the thing you want before you get it is always advantageous IMHO.
Bucket/Want List: Botcon 2016 Customization Class Ratchet (G2 Deco), or Customization Class Ratchet (Marvel Comics Deco) **would also be willing to pay for an Unpainted Botcon 2016 Ratchet, TT Legends Fortress Head (only) with working Electronics
Wish List of Modern Combiners: Road Caesar, Monstructor & Dinoking (proper size to fiction), Landcross, Guard City, Battle Gaia, & G2 Defensor. Wish List of Titans:Metrotitan,Majin Zarak