The Energon Pub

Nemesis Destron wrote:How does something like this happen so soon? Did they somehow fall through retail cracks and so much?

The RiD sub-line is ending, so this is probably just normal "retailers getting rid of the old stock to make room for the new stuff" that happens every time a line ends. Not necessarily a sign of weakness in Transformers and/or Prime.

Noideaforaname wrote:

Nemesis Destron wrote:How does something like this happen so soon? Did they somehow fall through retail cracks and so much?

The RiD sub-line is ending, so this is probably just normal "retailers getting rid of the old stock to make room for the new stuff" that happens every time a line ends. Not necessarily a sign of weakness in Transformers and/or Prime.

Also, retailers obviously bought OBSCENE amounts of the stuff.

RAcast wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:

Nemesis Destron wrote:How does something like this happen so soon? Did they somehow fall through retail cracks and so much?

The RiD sub-line is ending, so this is probably just normal "retailers getting rid of the old stock to make room for the new stuff" that happens every time a line ends. Not necessarily a sign of weakness in Transformers and/or Prime.

Also, retailers obviously bought OBSCENE amounts of the stuff.

I dunno. Last year you really could say they bought obscene amounts of DOTM stuff, but this year... the PRID figures seemed to be lacking, rather than being overly plentiful... at least in the deluxe and voyager department. Don't pay much attention to cyberverse.

I remember the pegs being pretty full last year. This year the stock didn't appear to change much, even when there were gaping holes in the section. Makes me wonder how well Transformers have sold this year, overall, because the lack of stock changes doesn't seem to be saying anything positive. Granted, the first 6 months or so was plagued with yellow menace, but still.


But as for the discount store getting them so soon, it could be a clean out for newer products, but it could also be Hasbro wanting money ASAP. This is the time of the year when toys sell best, though it is odd they only just started hitting the discount stores instead of several weeks ago. I'd imagine these discount stores have connections with companies like Hasbro and buy excess stock from them, as well as other places. If Hasbro is sitting on enough figures to sink a battle cruiser a hundred times over it would be a good business move to sell them to whatever store will take them, even if it means taking a profit cut. Better to make a little money than have them sit in a warehouse somewhere where they have to pay to store them.

That's just my guess though.

I stopped by TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshall's in Columbia, MD tonight.

TJ Maxx had the Deluxe Primes for $6.99, but none that I wanted--just Sergeant Kup. It had the Voyagers for $12.99--I picked up Ultra Magnus and Starscream, as they were the only two left. I figured I'd trade Starscream at Target after.

I then headed to Ross. Well, turns out they had Ultra Magnus and Thundertron, the two I actually wanted, for $11.99. I've noticed that before--sometimes Ross has lower prices on the same product even though they're all the same company.

Marshall's didn't have jack. Usually they're pretty well stocked but not today. All I found were a few Dark of the Moon toys (they did have Leader Ironhide and Sentinel Prime if anyone's looking--and so did TJ Maxx, but not Ross) and some Kreos.

Anyway, the upshot is I will be returning the Voyagers I bought at Target (Ultra Magnus and Thundertron, $19.99 each) and TJ Maxx and keeping the ones I got from Ross.

amtm wrote:Deluxe Primes

Prime Deluxes. Deluxe Primes could mean something else.

Nemesis Destron wrote:How does something like this happen so soon? Did they somehow fall through retail cracks and so much?

GuyIncognito wrote:

peaces wrote:transformers aren't selling due to price increases and low quality.

That may be true, but I don't think that's necessarily why we're seeing these figures at discount stores. I'm pretty sure Transformers were being sold at discount stores even in the mid-80s, when they were the hottest thing in the toy stores.

The last couple years, it seems like it's the later waves that are ending up at discount stores. My hypothesis is that it's because the retailers are overstocking the first wave, ending up with a gazillion Bumblebees clogging the shelves, and then they don't bother ordering the later waves, so they end up at the discount stores. In other words, I don't think it's price or quality, I think it poor inventory management combined with Hasbro overpacking BB in every case.

See this thread from a while back for Hasbro's explanation to investors of why this happens. It's been happening every year since I began collecting (2008), but I didn't know the reason until I read the 2010 annual report. And it will likely continue for several more years, if not decades--at least until retailers believe the economy is showing a real recovery, rather than something fabricated by money-printing and debt. In other words, not until everyone's forgotten about what they did wrong last time.

http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/where-are-all-the-new-transformers-hasbro-t75608.php

interesting and informative read. thanks

GuyIncognito wrote:

peaces wrote:transformers aren't selling due to price increases and low quality.

That may be true, but I don't think that's necessarily why we're seeing these figures at discount stores. I'm pretty sure Transformers were being sold at discount stores even in the mid-80s, when they were the hottest thing in the toy stores.

The last couple years, it seems like it's the later waves that are ending up at discount stores. My hypothesis is that it's because the retailers are overstocking the first wave, ending up with a gazillion Bumblebees clogging the shelves, and then they don't bother ordering the later waves, so they end up at the discount stores. In other words, I don't think it's price or quality, I think it poor inventory management combined with Hasbro overpacking BB in every case.

add the fact that Beast Hunters is coming soon. (wave one is in some stores here in CA, )and stores are getting rid of their stocks.

I would think that if a lot of what we're seeing is the result of poor managing and over-stocking starting with wave 1 shouldn't we see all those damn BB's, Optimus, and Starscreams? Not figs like Kup, Ultra Magnus, and Thundertron which are more recent in stores.

In the end it's all great but still interesting to discuss.

Nemesis Destron wrote:I would think that if a lot of what we're seeing is the result of poor managing and over-stocking starting with wave 1 shouldn't we see all those damn BB's, Optimus, and Starscreams?

Starscream? PFFFTTTHAHAHAHA!

Yeah right, if you're lucky!

Nemesis Destron wrote:I would think that if a lot of what we're seeing is the result of poor managing and over-stocking starting with wave 1 shouldn't we see all those damn BB's, Optimus, and Starscreams? Not figs like Kup, Ultra Magnus, and Thundertron which are more recent in stores.

In the end it's all great but still interesting to discuss.

TJ Maxx likely has connections with manufacturers like Hasbro. If they only bought over stocked items from the likes of Target & Walmart, we'd probably only be seeing the old stuff. I'd imagine they play both cards to feed their stores, given they are a big chain.