darthchuckmc wrote:AutobotServo wrote:Hi there everybody! Just got back from my local Target, and was shocked to see a sign saying this...(NOTE: This wasn't a hand written sign, this was a real sign.)
"Target guests, Due to manufacturing delays, we expect that we will not be getting any shipments of TRANSFORMERS action figures until mid-october. This includes the Scout, Deluxe, and Voyager lines."
That's about what it said. Here's a picture of it...
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4359471&a=32557494&p=75790957&f=0
I think this is the first time a big store like Target has put the blame on Hasbro, is it not?
Well, that's about it. Good luck on avoiding the white sign of death!
Hey, that's MY sign!!!!
I made that for my Toy Department at the Target in Clermont, FL. Not because I was sick of people asking or blaming Hasbro per se, but just so people were informed of WHY we didn't have anything to sell.
The info we received was that Hasbro sold 3 MILLION units in less than 60 days, and had depleated their available stock to send to retailers. They estimate mid-October as our replinishment time frame, but may have merchandise sooner.
The Jazz and Starscream are NOT affected, because they are a specially ordered Exclusive, and have set production runs that are already completed and shipping or have shipped to Target's DCs and some stores....as you can tell by all the folks using DPCIs to get them early.
The Endcap that has Jazz and Starscream is due the week of the 26th. Some stores set early, some a few days later depending on their workload and amount of Team Members scheduled. We have about 24 Endcaps all due the 26th, so it depends on which end of the toy department they start setting on, and whether they have a good percentage of the merchandise to set the Endcap or not. Execs and District Managers HATE half empty Endcaps, because they are prime real estate.
Stores have -0- control of what they get in stock. Toy Managers, our Execs, even our Store Manager has any control over it. All stores have a minimum ON HAND set by Corporate, and all orders are AUTO REPLINISHED. When you see Team Members scanning pegs and putting grey dots out, they aren't "ordering". They are checking what the system says is ON HAND. If there is nothing on the pegs, they key zero to update the system, in case it missed something going through the checklanes, affecting the count. If it shows there are on hands, and nothing is on the pegs, it creates a batch to pull them from Backstock. As long as they are properly scanned into a location, they come out in a pull and are stocked. Having Team Members pull from the backroom can also mess up the counts and cause more problems. If they subtract the wrong amount, or take without subtracting, it screws up the system, and can delay shipments, too. That's another reason they are cracking done on checking the backroom so often. Some stores flat out refuse, others are a little more cool about it. My store is kinda in between. I usually pull stuff for people if I have it, but alot of my Team Members don't because they either are authorized to (you have to be trained) or are clueless about Toys in general, not just TFs.
Now that I've written a novela here...if there are any more questions, I'll be glad to answer them. I am NOT acting as an OFFICIAL TARGET REPRESENTITIVE in anyway, but I will share as much info as I am allowed...as long as you guys are cool about it and don't start bashing...otherwise, I'll just shut my piehole and keep the info to myself.
BTW, to the guy that took the pic of my sign, "Autobot Servo", I work tomorrow, Thurs & Friday mornings 8-430. Come by and I'll grab a Jazz and Starscream out for you if you come introduce yourself...unless I already know you....do I?
Ok so you have gotten official word that they are short on deluxes. Then as far a shortage on deluxes goes I was wrong. This was offical from Hasbro, right? Is mid October for the holiday season, or just when they will have more? Is this coming from the Target warehouses as far as more stock or Hasbro itself? As far as the scanners go, it worked a bit different where I was than how you described, but the principle is similar.