The Energon Pub

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!

Now that its mainstream, slightly, perhaps more people will join on my bandwagon of hating HABSLOW ! Because their morons.

Went to a nearby Kohls yesterday, and this is what they had. No Bumblebees but still plenty in stock. Can't say the same for my local TRU or Target.

I was at a Target in Minneapolis and they had a printed note saying that they would no longer look in the stockroom to see if something was in stock and that you could only buy a certian number of the same Item. I found this funny because it was only listed on the Transformer section (Which was empty, by the way) but Spiderman 3 stuff? Stocked and double stocked, just waiting for the Clearance bin!

Kohl's: Got stock when everyone else did, or a little after, but sat on it because the old stuff didn't move. Beyond that, most people don't go there looking for toys because they usually don't have anything new, and since you're using gas and time to get there, it's a hell of a gamble. That's why you can find them at Kohl's. (That well is running dry as we speak.)

TRU: Got stock and sat on it, or haven't ordered because they haven't moved the stock that's already there. (Protoforms) Some stores were able to sell out and order more in. (Not all. Every TRU that I've been to, not only doesn't have them, they don't know when they're getting any in.)*

Target: Sold out. Completely, 100% sold out. Can't even order due to the shortage. October's dates for restock look to be quite legitimate.*

Wal-Mart: Same story as TRU. Orders too much of the old stuff, or sells out at a bad time and can't order more.*

*= the new stuff you're seeing, is all part of the remnants of the final orders before the shortage. We really don't know when they started producing Dropkick in the factories. It could've been yesterday, it could've been three months ago.

The only reason some stores are seeing new stock, is because those few cases were just the very, very end of the last shipment.

If you notice now, after all of that new product has sold out, no one's really restocking. You might read of one or two stores nationwide, here and there....but not a normal stock situation as we're used to. When Target can come right out and say it's a shortage from the manufacturer (which is what I was told at a local store by a manager!)....then it's time to believe them and realize that there is a shortage, and no matter what conspiracy theories we come up with....there's a massive problem and it hasn't quite been addressed yet.

They could be building a *HUGE* shipment, intended for the Christmas season.

They could be in a lot of trouble to meet demand and they're just unable to do so.

Either way, the ball was dropped, and yes...at the core of it is Hasbro.

Especially after seeing the movie's popularity in the first few weeks of the movie, production should've shot through the roof.

And yes, I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Hasbro is banking on this skyrocketing demand. It not only keeps people on their toes about the line, but keeps 'em wanting more. Sooner or later the people will be rabid (well, more than they are...), waiting on the product and when it finally comes out, the people will buy everything in sight because they're so damned shocked to see it and Hasbro will cash in on just the singles sold. Then when you add in the people buying multiples "just in case"...their profits will go even higher.

It's a mix of strategy and lack of product and we're stuck in the middle.

If that's not even remotely obvious to you, perhaps you need to take another look.

Autobot032 wrote:Target: Sold out. Completely, 100% sold out. Can't even order due to the shortage. October's dates for restock look to be quite legitimate.*

Wal-Mart: Same story as TRU. Orders too much of the old stuff, or sells out at a bad time and can't order more.*

Ok, where was it reported LEGITIMATELY that there was a shortage. And I mean word form the source, not the word of store managers(and yes, I've been told the same thing as well), and speculations from random people because there was a flood in China. Provide some links, show me solid, concrete PROOF that Hasbro or anyone involved with the production end of things has reported a shortage resulting in lack of stock. I will gladly change my tune and admit I'm wrong when the facts are presented to me. Until then, I'm not buying it. It smells like Target and such screwed up, and they're trying to cover their asses.

Not tryin' to flame or start flaming, but I have yet to see real proof of a shortage outside of managers and employees doing what they're told by blaming someone else and fan speculation because of a flood in China.

And another thought for you all as far as the flood in China. Not just Hasbro has their toys manufactured in China, why does no one else suffer from shortages? I understand the TF toy line is hot right now, but everyone knows other toys are still selling as well. How come TF's pegs are the only bare pegs we see? Floods don't favor or discriminate against different toy manufacturers, so why are TFs only affected?

Went to Walmart tonight and found Dropkick. Wasn't going to get him but since I havent seen any toys in a while, and figured I wouldn't for some time, I bought him. Then I decided to go to Target, quick glance, no Deluxes. Second look though and found the G1 repaint starscream. Then right under it Leader Brawl. I was so excited having not seen anything for a while that I had to buy them both. So there is something out there.

D-340 wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:Target: Sold out. Completely, 100% sold out. Can't even order due to the shortage. October's dates for restock look to be quite legitimate.*

Wal-Mart: Same story as TRU. Orders too much of the old stuff, or sells out at a bad time and can't order more.*

Ok, where was it reported LEGITIMATELY that there was a shortage. And I mean word form the source, not the word of store managers(and yes, I've been told the same thing as well), and speculations from random people because there was a flood in China. Provide some links, show me solid, concrete PROOF that Hasbro or anyone involved with the production end of things has reported a shortage resulting in lack of stock. I will gladly change my tune and admit I'm wrong when the facts are presented to me. Until then, I'm not buying it. It smells like Target and such screwed up, and they're trying to cover their asses.

Not tryin' to flame or start flaming, but I have yet to see real proof of a shortage outside of managers and employees doing what they're told by blaming someone else and fan speculation because of a flood in China.

And another thought for you all as far as the flood in China. Not just Hasbro has their toys manufactured in China, why does no one else suffer from shortages? I understand the TF toy line is hot right now, but everyone knows other toys are still selling as well. How come TF's pegs are the only bare pegs we see? Floods don't favor or discriminate against different toy manufacturers, so why are TFs only affected?

Well, I'd consider a Wal-Mart associate with the Telzone Gun (with a note left by the department manager), a Target manager, and a sign on Target's shelves to be official. They have the inside track on ordering that we don't. I'd say one soucre is blowing sunshine up our asses. Two sources, perhaps telling the truth, but most likely just doesn't want to address the issue. Three sources, then it's definitely a problem and no one's making it up.

And you bring up a good point, floods are indiscriminate, and we still have no TF product. That furthers the point that Hasbro really dropped the ball. Does anyone remember the company with the Cabbage Patch Dolls in the early '80s? Overwhelming demand, not enough supply and people went nuts. Same thing's happening here and if Hasbro doesn't get their act together soon...we're going to see pissed off people, come this Christmas time.

And there is proof of a shortage. Go into any random store that sells TF figures and you'll pretty much find the Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader class spots completely barren and dust covered.

One store chain not receiving product is not a shortage. They're just stupid and missing out on the gravy train.

Two store chains not receiving product is the start of a bad sign, but hope remains.

Three store chains not receiving product is not only proof of a shortage, but gives you an idea how bad it is.

Then you add in all the K-Bs, K-Marts, etc and you see that it is a major problem and that we're not seeing them address it at all. Granted, like I said, they could be amassing a huge Christmas shipment, which would be behind the scenes out of our line of sight, and this would be a good thing. I seriously doubt that's the problem.

If anything, they're either completely out and are seriously screwed and working as hard as they can to meet demand, or they're sending out shipments piecemeal (which would cost them more than they'd make) and they're tackling it one store at a time.

No. They screwed up and they're hopefully trying to fix it.

Autobot032 wrote: And there is proof of a shortage. Go into any random store that sells TF figures and you'll pretty much find the Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader class spots completely barren and dust covered.

I think this proves that there's a shortage. So about a month back, (Late July I'd say) I went out looking for Transformers to buy. Now I've collected tons of toy lines and I know all the in and outs of looking for a toy line mind you. (And much harder toy lines I thought. Remember Palisade's Muppets line? I collected just about every one of those figures and I thought Hasbro shouldn't be hard to find.) I was just out to get ONE transformer toy to see if I'd like too start collecting them. Over two days I went to FIVE diffrent stores and found NOTHING. It wasn't until the evening of the second day I found a Movie Deluxe Jazz to pick up. And there were only two (Leaving just one left!), and it was on an endcap at the front of Target. Since then, whenever I've found what I was looking for, it's always been barely there. (As in uder three in stock.)

As a new collector, I can see without a doubt that it's a problem.

AutobotServo wrote:

Autobot032 wrote: And there is proof of a shortage. Go into any random store that sells TF figures and you'll pretty much find the Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader class spots completely barren and dust covered.

I think this proves that there's a shortage. So about a month back, (Late July I'd say) I went out looking for Transformers to buy. Now I've collected tons of toy lines and I know all the in and outs of looking for a toy line mind you. (And much harder toy lines I thought. Remember Palisade's Muppets line? I collected just about every one of those figures and I thought Hasbro shouldn't be hard to find.) I was just out to get ONE transformer toy to see if I'd like too start collecting them. Over two days I went to FIVE diffrent stores and found NOTHING. It wasn't until the evening of the second day I found a Movie Deluxe Jazz to pick up. And there were only two (Leaving just one left!), and it was on an endcap at the front of Target. Since then, whenever I've found what I was looking for, it's always been barely there. (As in uder three in stock.)

As a new collector, I can see without a doubt that it's a problem.

Thank you. A fresh perspective (a new collector) is exactly what this issue needs. You add in the kids who are complaining and we've got a group of people who are affected. And these groups are quite large and diverse. I could see kids making up an issue. I could see collectors coming up with one. I could see new fans coming up with it, but not all three at once. It just doesn't make sense for all of them to band together to create a lie.

T0day I fouund a few new Titaniums. 3 Scourge's. Bought one. He's all mine now! MINE! They had a lot more Titaniums before I was there. The three remaining ones were spread across an empty shelf area. I saw no such sign in the three Targets in my area that are within 20 minutes of each other.

AutobotServo wrote:

Smokescreen GT wrote:Are the G1 repaints of Starscream and Jazz a part of this mid-October thing? I thought they were going to be released on August 26th.

I didn't ask. It was super-crowded there and I thought all I'd get was a "Read the sign." I might ask next time. (Well hopefully they'll just HAVE it there.)

Anyone remember the good old days when stores actully had what you were looking for?


Oh, and does anyone know what I should call them when I ask for them? Whenever I want to ask I think it'll go like this...

AutoBotServo: Pardon me good sir, but do you know if perchance this store has a "Transformers Movie Deluxe Target G1 Redeco Jazz" and "Transformers Movie Voyager Target G1 Redeco Starscream" in stock?

Target guy: .... A What?

AutobotServo: A "Transformers Movie Deluxe Target G1 Redeco Jazz" or "Transformers Movie Voyager Target G1 Redeco Starscream" good sir. Do you have it?

Target guy:Ahhh....We have voice changer helmets. Is that what you're talking about?

AutoBotServo: -sigh- Well do you have Transformers Movie Deluxe Acree, Dreadwing, or Dropkick?

Target guy: God bless you.

AutobotServo: Wha?

Target guy: You sneezed.

AutoBotServo: -sigh-

Your post is hilarious!

On topic though,
I don't think any of us saw this coming. Mid-October...That's about two months away. Wow!!! I don't believe it.

I've said it in many threads before, but Hasbro got hit harder than they expected and the stores under-ordered the Movie toys (for good reason, look at the stinkers from Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, TMNT, etc.) and now they are gearing up for the holiday season. Mid-October restocking puts them in a position to have the shelves filled continually through late November when holiday shopping picks up steam.

Despite many people not wanting to believe there is a shortage of toys, I think the proof we've seen since mid-July speaks for itself.

AutobotServo wrote:I hope not all targets are going to have this sign. Has anyone stopped by their Targets to see if it's state-wide? I still can't imagine that they'll get NO Transformers for almost two months. That just sounds crazy.

____________________________________________________________

I happen to work for TARGET and I know for a fact that MY store will not be getting ANY movie figures at least until mid-to late- September if that soon. So actually, it is Hasbro's fault, NOT Target. As soon as the movie hit, BAM!! The figures flew off the shelves...Then a new shipment a week or so later. The DROUGHT!! No figs. At All. Period. Demand surpassed supp;y. Then e-bay. Flooded w/ Deluxe Class everything. Go ahead. Look.
BTW, my store does NOT have a sign by the door. Nope. No sign. Sorry. Just wanted to clear things up here.

Autobot032 wrote:
Well, I'd consider a Wal-Mart associate with the Telzone Gun (with a note left by the department manager), a Target manager, and a sign on Target's shelves to be official. They have the inside track on ordering that we don't. I'd say one soucre is blowing sunshine up our asses. Two sources, perhaps telling the truth, but most likely just doesn't want to address the issue. Three sources, then it's definitely a problem and no one's making it up.

You'd actually be suprised how out of the loop department heads and employees are when it comes to overall stock. The higher store managers in the shipping and receiving areas are placing orders, not them. They order according to what stock remains. To them, anything that says Transformers, regardless of it being Deluxes, Voyagers, Real Gears, Voice Changers, ect. If they see Transformers items in their inventory, no new stock gets ordered, plain and simple. And then you have the problem we have now, no new deluxes and such. As I said before, my local TRU and others in the area, are getting new figures in. But they also have the benefit of one of their warehouses being local(here it's actually down the street from the actual store). I've spoke to the management there as well, and they have told me they do have stock in their warehouse, but it's brought in according to what sells. That's how most places handle it.

I will concede Hasbro dropping the ball in one aspect. They must know the way some stores are handling the toys. They've gotta be getting angry emails from collectors as well as parents and such about this. If they wanted to rectify this, they could send regional reps to the stores in question to set up displays and display resets to get in the proper available stock. Why this hasn't happened, I don't know. Distributors and companies send reps to monitor their product all the time, so cost wouldn't be an issue.

All and all, it still doesn't explain why random places has the new deluxes and such, a thread popped up not to long ago about someone finding Recon Barricade, who is in the same wave as Dropkick. Who knows, only the direct parties involved. The rest of us can only speculate.

bumble_bee_68 wrote:

AutobotServo wrote:I hope not all targets are going to have this sign. Has anyone stopped by their Targets to see if it's state-wide? I still can't imagine that they'll get NO Transformers for almost two months. That just sounds crazy.

____________________________________________________________

I happen to work for TARGET and I know for a fact that MY store will not be getting ANY movie figures at least until mid-to late- September if that soon. So actually, it is Hasbro's fault, NOT Target. As soon as the movie hit, BAM!! The figures flew off the shelves...Then a new shipment a week or so later. The DROUGHT!! No figs. At All. Period. Demand surpassed supp;y. Then e-bay. Flooded w/ Deluxe Class everything. Go ahead. Look.
BTW, my store does NOT have a sign by the door. Nope. No sign. Sorry. Just wanted to clear things up here.

Just curious, do you place orders yourself? Do handle the stock and deal with the company regional reps? If you do, I will definately consider you the horses mouth I'm lookin' for. Why can't/won't your store be getting any more til then? What other info can you provide?

what's interesting about this whole thing is how much mass hysteria is building. Once these toys finally do show up it will end up being like one other poster stated, buy one cuz I may never see it again, buy them all cuz I may never see them again or buy them all because I know they are hot on ebay.

All the hype, created by us, may be a part of the problem. I once watched my gerbil gnaw off its own foot.

Also, another reason I'm not ready to call it a shortage just yet is because Hasbro themselves hasn't stated there is a shortage. Before I get the "Why would Hasbro admit there mistake?" response, let me explain:

We got a note from a Target saying no new Deluxe TFs til October. Now, while it isn't required by law or company policy, it is common practice and common courtesy for the company to post the distributor's explanation for it, usually in the form of a memo that was sent to said company. This makes it easier for everyone on all sides to deal with said shortage. In this case, we get a note from the store with no explanation why, no explanation from Hasbro, nothing. We just get a form of "Cuz we said so."

We may never get that, but we should. As consumers, we shouldn't be left in the dark to speculate anything. Bare shelves aren't proof of a shortage, nor is it proof that the retailer screwed up their ordering. But if there was a shortage, we should have gotten an explanation by now.

All Targets here in the Detroit area have been completely wiped out of TF toys for well over a month.

I doubt the shortage is on purpose, I mean there was always the remote possibility that the movie would tank and and no one would want the toys, and going by much of the opinion I read in the lead up, a lot of people seemed fully prepared to hate the movie. But the toys are cool, and even people who hated the movie want the toys.

If only Hasbro hadn't wasted their time with so much of the junk, perhaps they could have had more deluxe and voyager figures available.

I realize some of the deluxe and voyager figures aren't really suitable for younger children, but cyber-slammers, cyber stompin, plush transformers, transformable arm blasters, are all I seem to be seeing in stores lately. Not to mention the more upmarket non-transforming collector stuff. It's kind of crazy that they can almost fill an entire aisle with transformer stuff that I have little to no interest in, but the good stuff is few and far between.

D-340 wrote:I've seen this myself. My local TRU has Voyager Megatron(which is where I bought it) out the wazoo. The local Kohls in my area has all the new deluxes. How is that possible, if according to your logic, Hasbro hasn't manufactured enough product to meet demand? The answer: it's not. How could some have plenty of stock to go around, and others don't if there isn't enough product? If there isn't enough product, it's not possible. Everyone would be out if there were a shortage, but obviously there isn't a shortage if some do and some don't.

Nobody has "plenty of stock to go around". There are a few stores getting in small shipments here or there but pretty much everywhere has been out of stock for nearly two months now. The ONLY reason Kohl's has quite a few deluxes is because not many people buy toys there. ALL of the stores in my city have been dry for months except Kohl's. Wal-Mart, Target, TRU, KB, and Kmart are all dry. Kohl's is the exception and cannot be used to prove your point.

You really just have no idea what you're talking about. Let me quote you from another post:

D-340 wrote:You'd actually be suprised how out of the loop department heads and employees are when it comes to overall stock. The higher store managers in the shipping and receiving areas are placing orders, not them. They order according to what stock remains. To them, anything that says Transformers, regardless of it being Deluxes, Voyagers, Real Gears, Voice Changers, ect. If they see Transformers items in their inventory, no new stock gets ordered, plain and simple.

I'm sorry but this is just wrong. I don't even work retail and I know this is not how it works. The computers don't just list everything as "Transformers". That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, it doesn't even make sense. How would they be able to track anything? How would they be able to tell which toys need reordered? Do you honestly believe the reason Target isn't getting any new stock is because the Voice Changer helmets are still sitting on shelves? Wouldn't someone at Target have figured it out by now?

Give me a break. If it worked the way you said nothing would ever get reordered in any toy line as long as a few products were still on the shelves. NO. I know that is wrong, it's common sense. There's no possible way they could do it that way and have a successful toy department. When deluxe figures run out they reorder more deluxe figures, the Cyber Slammers, FAB's, and other crap have no affect on that. Your statement is so blatantly false it's absurd.

Phenotype wrote:

D-340 wrote:I've seen this myself. My local TRU has Voyager Megatron(which is where I bought it) out the wazoo. The local Kohls in my area has all the new deluxes. How is that possible, if according to your logic, Hasbro hasn't manufactured enough product to meet demand? The answer: it's not. How could some have plenty of stock to go around, and others don't if there isn't enough product? If there isn't enough product, it's not possible. Everyone would be out if there were a shortage, but obviously there isn't a shortage if some do and some don't.

Nobody has "plenty of stock to go around". There are a few stores getting in small shipments here or there but pretty much everywhere has been out of stock for nearly two months now. The ONLY reason Kohl's has quite a few deluxes is because not many people buy toys there. ALL of the stores in my city have been dry for months except Kohl's. Wal-Mart, Target, TRU, KB, and Kmart are all dry. Kohl's is the exception and cannot be used to prove your point.

You really just have no idea what you're talking about. Let me quote you from another post:

D-340 wrote:You'd actually be suprised how out of the loop department heads and employees are when it comes to overall stock. The higher store managers in the shipping and receiving areas are placing orders, not them. They order according to what stock remains. To them, anything that says Transformers, regardless of it being Deluxes, Voyagers, Real Gears, Voice Changers, ect. If they see Transformers items in their inventory, no new stock gets ordered, plain and simple.

I'm sorry but this is just wrong. I don't even work retail and I know this is not how it works. The computers don't just list everything as "Transformers". That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, it doesn't even make sense. How would they be able to track anything? How would they be able to tell which toys need reordered? Do you honestly believe the reason Target isn't getting any new stock is because the Voice Changer helmets are still sitting on shelves? Wouldn't someone at Target have figured it out by now?

Give me a break. If it worked the way you said nothing would ever get reordered in any toy line as long as a few products were still on the shelves. NO. I know that is wrong, it's common sense. There's no possible way they could do it that way and have a successful toy department. When deluxe figures run out they reorder more deluxe figures, the Cyber Slammers, FAB's, and other crap have no affect on that. Your statement is so blatantly false it's absurd.

Ok, well that's the way I ran a department. That's how I was trained by the manager before me and the store owner. That is exactly how it works. They don't order based on specific toys, they order based on price points. If you've never worked retail, you have absolutely no idea how it works. Now I'm not saying don't question me, cuz I'm not, that's what debate is about. But to call your statement fact based on nothing but speculation, while I base my statements on experience and having you say it's absurd is absurd. It's no where near false. We have no proof there's a shortage outside of hearsay, so you shouldn't pass that off as fact.

Go work as a stocker, you'll find out this is exactly how it works. Orders are based off of stock. When stock is labeled a specific way, it's ordered by what it's labeled. Here's an example:

Orders aren't in a computer based on a list of toys. You won't see a list containing names. So said manager doesn't go in and say: "Well, no 08 Bumblebee and no Arcee, got to order more". That's not how it's tracked. It's tracked by price point and by what's available in the stock rooms. If there is stock at said price point in the stock rooms, the computer won't even place an order for more. It can't be over ridden by anyone in the store, because this is how an ordering system works. A scanner scans barcodes on shelf price tags, it then goes and it's recorded as data to process for an order. The scanner is then taken to the stock room to scan similar barcodes. The data collected is used to place an order based on stock available. If barcodes that are scanned match, it counts it as "In Stock" and no additional inventory is ordered. Then the scanner is hooked into phone line and the order placed electronically to the distributors computers to place the order. The problem is, in the case of Transformers and other products, some things at the same price point have similar barcodes and scanners can read them as such.

So as far as managers placing orders, this is how it's done. No speaking to specific people unless said manager speaks to a company rep. Company reps can alter whats ordered by taking their own inventory manually, which is what they would in this case if they went into a store and saw pegs empty where their product should be. I can't tell you how many times I had to go through this very same problem because of the way ordering is set up.

And ask just about any manager in any aspect of retail, they'll tell you something very similar to what I just said. It doesn't make sense, it's very shoddy system. But that's the way it is. And if you have no experience in retail, you won't and can't understand how it works.

Again blame whoever you want. Call me liar if it makes you feel better, I could care less. But you said it yourself, you've never worked retail, so you have no idea of how it works. And as far as nothing getting ordered because of things being done this, why do you think there are shelf warmers? Stock gets sold out, stock gets ordered, but what comes in the shipping box isn't always new stuff. This works on both ends. Stock is ordered by the computers, the computers process orders according to what available. If there is left over stock of, say, a previous wave of toys, that's what's getting shipped. And that's because it's the first in line. So even when we do get new deluxes and such in, it may be the previous wave.

The Wal-Marts around here are allmost fully stocked now. With Cybertron and Classics!

Is Target not getting in on this? The older lines are selling just as good as the movie stuff. Wal-Mart filled the pegs with Cybertron and Classics Deluxes a couple of weeks ago, and they've all sold except for a stray Cliffjumper and Mirage. Seems parents and kids are buying ANYTHING with Transformers on it. So why hasn't Target recieved any of the old lines? Are they not ordering anything, or has Hasbro worked out some kind of deal with Wal-Mart?

It seems that if a retailer orders a case of Movie Deluxe, they get Cybertron or Classics, whatever is in the warehouse.
I haven't seen this at K-Mart, Target or TRU, just WM.

On the other hand, two Kohls near me have EVERYTHING. I counted 12 Concept BB's at one store.

Loki41872 wrote:The Wal-Marts around here are allmost fully stocked now. With Cybertron and Classics!

Is Target not getting in on this? The older lines are selling just as good as the movie stuff. Wal-Mart filled the pegs with Cybertron and Classics Deluxes a couple of weeks ago, and they've all sold except for a stray Cliffjumper and Mirage. Seems parents and kids are buying ANYTHING with Transformers on it. So why hasn't Target recieved any of the old lines? Are they not ordering anything, or has Hasbro worked out some kind of deal with Wal-Mart?

It seems that if a retailer orders a case of Movie Deluxe, they get Cybertron or Classics, whatever is in the warehouse.
I haven't seen this at K-Mart, Target or TRU, just WM.

On the other hand, two Kohls near me have EVERYTHING. I counted 12 Concept BB's at one store.

And this proves my point. Cybertron and Classic deluxes share a similar barcode as the movie ones. When it's scanned and sent in for an order, the stock that's first in line is sent. In this case, Cybertron and Classics deluxes. To further drive this point home, in the past few days I've been into Target, TRU, Walmart and such. The only stores I haven't seen this in is Target, the only ones blaming Hasbro directly. As a matter of fact, the TRUs in my local area has everything but movie deluxes. They had movie voyagers, Classic Voyagers, Cybertron and Classic Deluxes, Cyber Slammers and such. The only problem seems to be movie deluxes. But Target seems to be the only ones bare, and Hasbro seems to have plenty of Cybertron and Classic deluxes to send before the movie ones. It sucks, but there's not a whole lot anyone can do.

just wanted to say that all the targets around me here in cali are also empty. the only ones that i ever see are replicas, but even those sell surprisingly fast. bummer.

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?