Simple question to start us off: Have you seen the Star Raiders line at your local US Walmart? I ask because the answers given to that question so far have been nothing but frustrating or confusing. While Walmart has gotten its stock for distribution, they've only used it so far to fulfill online orders. And there's a lot of stock online with both Road Pig and the
Thundertron leader set still available for purchase.
That last bit is a rarity as Walmart will sell out of exclusives online, with the bulk of stock going to stores instead. However, these toys have been available and shipping from their website but they have yet to be found in stores... or have they?
With the toys shipping from the Walmart website, fans got excited to find these exclusives in stores. But that lead to frustration since the hunt resulted next to no sightings. What was found was confusing and has lead to some misinformation being spread by other news sites. The few toys from the Star Raiders capsule that were found were never found with casemates, but as single examples, and often times discounted too. Like the sighting below which just so happens to have the 2 products that have finally been shipping from Walmart.com.
It most likely means that these are returns and them being discounted is due to Walmart not having these skus on the planogram (no designated space on the shelf). We tend to see that with older releases which no longer have a designated space on the shelf, but it's the same cause regardless. And that is extra confusing and frustrating since it means that as of right now there is no plan to have these toys on shelves.
That also means that any sighting being shared online is not legitimate as it does not indicate that this line is being distributed to stores. It instead simply means that fans are returning toys they purchased online. So in the end, there is no concrete evidence that this line is being distributed to stores right now.
We have no real sighting of this Star Raiders line in US Walmarts so far.
Let us know how your experience has been with this exclusive subline and if you have found it in a decent amount in your area (if you are in the US). Who knows, maybe one of you has a sighting of a non returned item to share.
Pictured above: returns and false hope
Photo by
Red Snarl
