Hasbro Responds to Concerns Regarding Supply Chain Problems Coming this Holiday Season
Monday, August 30th, 2021 8:00PM CDT
Categories: Toy News, Site ArticlesPosted by: william-james88 Views: 65,818
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Several news sites have been covering their prediction of what seems to be a bleak Christmas this year for people buying toys for their kids (or themselves). For instance, this CNN article quotes people from brands such as Fisher price and Little Toy Tykes who are experiencing issues securing enough shipping crates to meet the demand this holiday season. Also, with the price of shipping crates sky rocketing, it seems toys will be more expensive but we have yet to see how retailers like Walmart will react to that. Oftentimes Walmart has chosen not to charge more to cover price increases.
But what about Hasbro? Well they and Mattel have prepared themselves for this. CEO Brian Goldner has told reporters asking about potential supply chain issues that any issue would be more in making sure they are producing enough toys and not in terms of shipping since they have already arranged to have enough shipping channels:
"Look, I think our first objective is to ensure that gamers and the people engaging in our toys and games business have the product that they're looking for and that our retailers have product to support these major initiatives that we have. I do believe that there could be some shifting between Q3 and Q 4. We're out to source product and to bring it in via any number of new carriers. The team secured more ports, and we've got more shipping lanes than we've had in the past.
And so I'm going to be a little less focused on exactly where the inventories come in, but rather that we have the inventories to meet the demand that we need for the second half of the year, recognizing we also have a number of new entertainment initiatives, including the MY LITTLE PONY film, several from our partners at Marvel, additional Star Wars content coming for the second half of the year. Princess is performing at a very high level. And then, of course, we get into the holidays, and the team has an array of new games lined up there as well.
So again, you're right, there could be some shifting around as - it's a little different than past years where direct import could play a bigger role than it has in the past. But again, working with our retailers around the world, we feel - most importantly, we want to meet the high demand."
Now he does make a distinction of using direct import more now than in previous years and we as fans know that importing something does have a higher cost to it. Does our definition line up with his? Still, this might mean higher costs, but at this point we just don't know.
What we do know is that Hasbro is making sure shelves are filled with their toys this holiday season. Let's see if that will work out as they plan.
As of now, several Walmarts and Targets have been lacking in Hasbro toys, we have seen the pictures of empty Transformers sections you shared with us. But at the same time, fans are reporting resets in their Walmarts and restocks in their Targets. Keep sharing what you see in your stores with us and let us know how it looks like once the holiday stocking comes around, if it does.
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Posted by Beachjezus on August 30th, 2021 @ 8:52pm CDT
I live in Michigan - we’ve had a shortage of toys for 2 years now.
Seriously Walmart should not even have a toy department anymore the shelves are so empty. They did a rest weeks ago and it looks more empty now than ever.
All this shit does is feed to the scalpers and that non sense. The more we talk about this the more the scalpers come in and make it worse.
Anybody on here try to collect NECA TMNT? My god what a disaster. $50 toys selling for $300 on eBay.
The world has g8ne crazy and the kids are the ones who suffer.
Posted by william-james88 on August 30th, 2021 @ 8:58pm CDT
Beachjezus wrote:This is a joke. A lot of fancy words that translate to “yes many many shortages.”
I live in Michigan - we’ve had a shortage of toys for 2 years now.
Seriously Walmart should not even have a toy department anymore the shelves are so empty. They did a rest weeks ago and it looks more empty now than ever.
All this **** does is feed to the scalpers and that non sense. The more we talk about this the more the scalpers come in and make it worse.
Anybody on here try to collect NECA TMNT? My god what a disaster. $50 toys selling for $300 on eBay.
The world has g8ne crazy and the kids are the ones who suffer.
I don't really understand. How does it feed scalpers if there are no toys to purchase/scalp at retail?
Posted by jtanimator on August 30th, 2021 @ 10:36pm CDT
Posted by Beachjezus on August 30th, 2021 @ 11:10pm CDT
william-james88 wrote:Beachjezus wrote:This is a joke. A lot of fancy words that translate to “yes many many shortages.”
I live in Michigan - we’ve had a shortage of toys for 2 years now.
Seriously Walmart should not even have a toy department anymore the shelves are so empty. They did a rest weeks ago and it looks more empty now than ever.
All this **** does is feed to the scalpers and that non sense. The more we talk about this the more the scalpers come in and make it worse.
Anybody on here try to collect NECA TMNT? My god what a disaster. $50 toys selling for $300 on eBay.
The world has g8ne crazy and the kids are the ones who suffer.
I don't really understand. How does it feed scalpers if there are no toys to purchase/scalp at retail?
The more bare the aisles are the more rare the toys are. The scarcity drives up perceived value and more scalpers see the opportunity to exploit. Vicious cycle
Posted by william-james88 on August 30th, 2021 @ 11:11pm CDT
Beachjezus wrote:william-james88 wrote:Beachjezus wrote:This is a joke. A lot of fancy words that translate to “yes many many shortages.”
I live in Michigan - we’ve had a shortage of toys for 2 years now.
Seriously Walmart should not even have a toy department anymore the shelves are so empty. They did a rest weeks ago and it looks more empty now than ever.
All this **** does is feed to the scalpers and that non sense. The more we talk about this the more the scalpers come in and make it worse.
Anybody on here try to collect NECA TMNT? My god what a disaster. $50 toys selling for $300 on eBay.
The world has g8ne crazy and the kids are the ones who suffer.
I don't really understand. How does it feed scalpers if there are no toys to purchase/scalp at retail?
The more bare the aisles are the more rare the toys are. The scarcity drives up perceived value and more scalpers see the opportunity to exploit. Vicious cycle
But where are the scalpers getting the toys?
Posted by Sherlock Zero on August 30th, 2021 @ 11:12pm CDT
william-james88 wrote:I don't really understand. How does it feed scalpers if there are no toys to purchase/scalp at retail?
My guess is that there are scalpers that map out when select stores get new inventory, and where to go when they do. Which allows them to grab choice stock for intended purposes/cases something like this happens. With some stores going barren because smarter scalpers are prepared for cases where their local stores will have a small/minimalistic amount of choice items for sale.
But this is (more/less of) a theory that is based on what you were responding to.
Posted by Beachjezus on August 30th, 2021 @ 11:17pm CDT
Fenrir Zero wrote:william-james88 wrote:I don't really understand. How does it feed scalpers if there are no toys to purchase/scalp at retail?
My guess is that there are scalpers that map out when select stores get new inventory, and where to go when they do. Which allows them to grab choice stock for intended purposes/cases something like this happens. With some stores going barren because smarter scalpers are prepared for cases where their local stores will have a small/minimalistic amount of choice items for sale.
But this is (more/less of) a theory that is based on what you were responding to.
Yes
Also in some instances they know store employees or are store employees.
Also it’s just simple economics, the less there is of something the more it’s worth. The more it’s worth opportunistic people will take advantage
Posted by MKyuun on August 30th, 2021 @ 11:38pm CDT
As for there being toys for the holidays, we'll see. I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by Emerje on August 31st, 2021 @ 12:59am CDT
Emerje
Posted by william-james88 on August 31st, 2021 @ 1:30am CDT
Beachjezus wrote:Fenrir Zero wrote:william-james88 wrote:I don't really understand. How does it feed scalpers if there are no toys to purchase/scalp at retail?
My guess is that there are scalpers that map out when select stores get new inventory, and where to go when they do. Which allows them to grab choice stock for intended purposes/cases something like this happens. With some stores going barren because smarter scalpers are prepared for cases where their local stores will have a small/minimalistic amount of choice items for sale.
But this is (more/less of) a theory that is based on what you were responding to.
Yes
Also in some instances they know store employees or are store employees.
Also it’s just simple economics, the less there is of something the more it’s worth. The more it’s worth opportunistic people will take advantage
That doesn't explain the lack of Cyberverse on the shelves. They don't sell for a markup online and scalpers arent interested in them. And yet the shelves are as bare of Cyberverse (the most stocked line) as generations. So Scalping is not the problem here since not all things are equal, it can only be lack of available product from the distributor. That becomes your main underlying factor.
Also, every single mainline generations toy has been available at BBTS, TFSource, Entertainment Earth, ect. Everybody can just buy it from there when the preorders are up.
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on August 31st, 2021 @ 3:16am CDT
Emerje wrote:This is why I've pre-ordered or bought online nearly everything from WFC. Basically the only things I'm buying in stores are impulse buys and exclusives if I can find them.
Emerje
Same, here.it's been south of ridiculous around where I live.
Posted by Cheetron on August 31st, 2021 @ 7:33am CDT
Posted by william-james88 on August 31st, 2021 @ 9:35am CDT
Cheetron wrote:The shelves have been empty for so long that I've resorted to Amazon for guys. And guess what, they come smashed, crushed. Amazon customer service fights me over returns. Tracks was snapped in half. Rhinox in pieces. Hasbro, get your crap together. I'd rather find them in stores than trust online stores
Why not order from BBTS or Entertainment Earth?
Posted by RNSrobot on August 31st, 2021 @ 11:31am CDT
Cheetron wrote:The shelves have been empty for so long that I've resorted to Amazon for guys. And guess what, they come smashed, crushed. Amazon customer service fights me over returns. Tracks was snapped in half. Rhinox in pieces. Hasbro, get your crap together. I'd rather find them in stores than trust online stores
I don't believe you.
Posted by Overcracker on August 31st, 2021 @ 11:41am CDT
Cheetron wrote:The shelves have been empty for so long that I've resorted to Amazon for guys. And guess what, they come smashed, crushed. Amazon customer service fights me over returns. Tracks was snapped in half. Rhinox in pieces. Hasbro, get your crap together. I'd rather find them in stores than trust online stores
I have not yet received anything broken from Amazon.
Rhinox's box was a bit crumpled, but the figure was fine.
Last Knight Megatron was fine, Earthrise Snap Dragon and SS Bee+Sam perfectly fine.
If it was broken, its easy to return it to Amazon for a refund. I don't think amazon has ever fought me for a return either. I find it hard to believe one figure arrived smashed. Much less multiple ones.
Something is not right here.
Also, never had any issue with other online stores like BBTS or TFsource except the time it takes for them to ship to me. But its not their fault. Its customs and the local mail service here. Don't know why BBTS uses Asendia for international shipments, but they do. All is fine until it goes through customs clearance. Then it takes several weeks here, and then I may have to go pick it up at the local distribution center here and pay a fee.
Posted by First-Aid on August 31st, 2021 @ 4:52pm CDT
Posted by Nemesis Reformatted on August 31st, 2021 @ 5:16pm CDT
This time I paid the ebay scalpers & my set will be here this Thursday or Friday. I'm not playing these f****n games anymore. Target's website is f****n horse***t too. They list the item just to tease us but you can never actually order the damned thing. Their website says it is not sold in any stores near me but my store has a place on the shelf set for it.
If that's how they want to run their business then I don't want anything to do with them & I wish Hasbro would stop giving them so many damn exclusives.
Posted by william-james88 on August 31st, 2021 @ 8:07pm CDT
First-Aid wrote:I don't believe this is a supply CHAIN issue.
It isn't, that's what Brian Goldner was trying to explain to reporters. It's as you say, more along the stage of production.
Posted by Sherlock Zero on August 31st, 2021 @ 9:55pm CDT
william-james88 wrote:That doesn't explain the lack of Cyberverse on the shelves. They don't sell for a markup online and scalpers arent interested in them. And yet the shelves are as bare of Cyberverse (the most stocked line) as generations. So Scalping is not the problem here since not all things are equal, it can only be lack of available product from the distributor. That becomes your main underlying factor.
Also, every single mainline generations toy has been available at BBTS, TFSource, Entertainment Earth, ect. Everybody can just buy it from there when the preorders are up.
The lack of Cyberverse is due to the lack of interest and/or demand. Thus a good percentage of major chain stores do not have a real reason to stock them at this time. With the ones that are lucky enough to get more Generations will mostly be the stores that scalpers shop from.
And I also prefer buying what I can see. Which is why I prefer both Mandarake and eBay. But this past week has me realize that I have been doing everything wrong for the past decade. Which is another reason why I am not using those stores. Or planning to buy any new Transformers, etc.
Either way, I am not saying you are wrong. I am just saying that my past experiences have me deal with things like this differently. Especially when I am too bored to be interested in a franchise. (Which is why I am taking a break from all of this so I can get what I have collected graded, etc.)
Posted by Emerje on August 31st, 2021 @ 10:46pm CDT
Nemesis Reformatted wrote:If that's how they want to run their business then I don't want anything to do with them & I wish Hasbro would stop giving them so many damn exclusives.
Target keeps getting exclusives because Target keeps asking for exclusives because they keep selling out, the entire goal for Target and Hasbro. These figures wouldn't be made at all if they weren't exclusive. I know how much you hate hearing that but this is an undeniable fact. I'm still looking for my Worlds Collide set and if I have to go to eBay to get it I wont be all pissy about having to pay scalpers, I'll still be thankful to Target for getting me a Fangry.
william-james88 wrote:First-Aid wrote:I don't believe this is a supply CHAIN issue.
It isn't, that's what Brian Goldner was trying to explain to reporters. It's as you say, more along the stage of production.
That's still a type of supply chain issue, just on the production end rather than the fulfillment end.
Fenrir Zero wrote:The lack of Cyberverse is due to the lack of interest and/or demand. Thus a good percentage of major chain stores do not have a real reason to stock them at this time. With the ones that are lucky enough to get more Generations will mostly be the stores that scalpers shop from.
Not true, if it were the shelves would be full, not empty. Stores don't set aside shelf space for things they never intend to carry, it doesn't reflect well on them. We have photographic proof that stores are stocking the newest figures and they're selling just as fast as Generations lines, but not to scalpers.
Emerje
Posted by o.supreme on August 31st, 2021 @ 11:27pm CDT
Posted by Emerje on August 31st, 2021 @ 11:41pm CDT
o.supreme wrote:Not sure about that. I recall several Walmarts that had several pegs for retro original series casettes when soundwave came out that never got them. That is just one example of many I can think of
That doesn't mean they didn't intend to sell them, just means they didn't get them for whatever reason. Shelf space is valuable and toy companies are constantly competing for that space. Stores are in the business of sell products, not empty space.
Emerje
Posted by william-james88 on September 1st, 2021 @ 12:11am CDT
Fenrir Zero wrote:william-james88 wrote:That doesn't explain the lack of Cyberverse on the shelves. They don't sell for a markup online and scalpers arent interested in them. And yet the shelves are as bare of Cyberverse (the most stocked line) as generations. So Scalping is not the problem here since not all things are equal, it can only be lack of available product from the distributor. That becomes your main underlying factor.
Also, every single mainline generations toy has been available at BBTS, TFSource, Entertainment Earth, ect. Everybody can just buy it from there when the preorders are up.
The lack of Cyberverse is due to the lack of interest and/or demand. Thus a good percentage of major chain stores do not have a real reason to stock them at this time. With the ones that are lucky enough to get more Generations will mostly be the stores that scalpers shop from.
Just an FYI, that goes against all the evidence we have and all the facts we know. Cyberverse is the most stocked line of the 3 main lines as anyone in the "brag or cry about your Transformers retail section" thread can attest. We just newsed that some Target's are finally restocking with new product and its all Cyberverse. So that means its being ordered on large quantities by one of America's main big box stores. If people see empty shelves, it means the product has simply been sold and not to scalpers (Cyberverse toys aren't scalped). There isn't enough product to meet demand of fans of all ages.
https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... tor/46247/
Posted by william-james88 on September 1st, 2021 @ 12:24am CDT
o.supreme wrote:Not sure about that. I recall several Walmarts that had several pegs for retro original series casettes when soundwave came out that never got them. That is just one example of many I can think of
That is a very small fraction of the TF section, I think it's missing the forest for the trees in terms of this current conversation where someone has suggested that Cyberverse toys aren't being ordered by Walmart or Target. Which we have evidence is false.
Posted by Sherlock Zero on September 1st, 2021 @ 2:13am CDT
william-james88 wrote:Fenrir Zero wrote:william-james88 wrote:That doesn't explain the lack of Cyberverse on the shelves. They don't sell for a markup online and scalpers arent interested in them. And yet the shelves are as bare of Cyberverse (the most stocked line) as generations. So Scalping is not the
problem here since not all things are equal, it can only be lack of available product from the distributor. That becomes your main underlying factor.
Also, every single mainline generations toy has been available at BBTS, TFSource, Entertainment Earth, ect. Everybody can just buy it from there when the preorders are up.
The lack of Cyberverse is due to the lack of interest and/or demand. Thus a good percentage of major chain stores do not have a real reason to stock them at this time. With the ones that are lucky enough to get more Generations will mostly be the stores that scalpers shop from.
Just an FYI, that goes against all the evidence we have and all the facts we know. Cyberverse is the most stocked line of the 3 main lines as anyone in the "brag or cry about your Transformers retail section" thread can attest. We just newsed that some Target's are finally restocking with new product and its all Cyberverse. So that means its being ordered on large quantities by one of America's main big box stores. If people see empty shelves, it means the product has simply been sold and not to scalpers (Cyberverse toys aren't scalped). There isn't enough product to meet demand of fans of all ages.
https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... tor/46247/
And FYI, I was responding to the following comment you made here:
william-james88 wrote:That doesn't explain the lack of Cyberverse on the shelves. They don't sell for a markup online and scalpers arent interested in them. And yet the shelves are as bare of Cyberverse (the most stocked line) as generations. So Scalping is not the
problem here since not all things are equal, it can only be lack of available product from the distributor. That becomes your main underlying factor.
And FYI, I also said the following as a response to the comment you made here:
Fenrir Zero wrote:The lack of Cyberverse is due to the lack of interest and/or demand. Thus a good percentage of major chain stores do not have a real reason to stock them at this time.
As in the fact that the stores you have mentioned are not part of the "good percentage" I was talking about. And the definition of a "good percentage" is, logically, known to be in areas that are similar to mine. So consider that an additional FYI as I live near a Walmart, with two additional Walmarts and three Targets reflecting what you have originally stated.
With that said, I am done and am bowing out of this argument. I would have gladly clarified on what I said. As opposed to being reminded why I stuck with Japanese Transformers (even before my first run being a member here). All in all... I hope you get what you want.
The end. With me logging out so I can use my free time hoping that Renegade Games will show the artwork they will use in their Transformers RPG. Which they talked about in their Twitch event.
Posted by Fireback on September 4th, 2021 @ 4:55am CDT
jtanimator wrote:Glad I’m not going crazy or something. All 5 Walmarts I can access around me have toy shelves so bare, I could count the number of toys on an entire isle with both hands.
You ain't kidding!
All these Walmart's or at the very least 4 out of 5 (up North here at The Twins), Are so bare, AN HAVE BEEN BARE FOR YEARS !!! Like 4 or 5 Years now!
An anytime 1 store has A lot of something (say WWE ELITE's)- it's only 1 of the 5 stores & it's because they have gotten 5 Cases of the same wave! It's not like how it used to be, where they get 2 or 3 Cases of A Wave. An have A selection. Nope! It's like 1 Store out of the 5, Got the other 4 stores 1 case(s).. Than that store, won't get another case/ wave, for like 6-9 months! Because the computer AI. will show its stocked for WWE ELITE'S. Its such Bullsht. COMPUTERS & AI are the Death of society. An this is just 1 example.
Posted by -Kanrabat- on September 5th, 2021 @ 1:08am CDT
MKyuun wrote:Just came back from the Wally down the road from my house, and the Transformers section has looked like that picture for at least two weeks if not more. I didn't know if it was an issue with my store's lack of ordering stuff, Hasbro's distribution, a combo of the two, or something else. My store has been rather poor about getting TFs for about the last five or six years, so empty pegs/shelves are pretty much the norm; however, as in the posted pic, everything around it is empty, too, which made me wonder if there was something else going on. I guess I got my answer.
As for there being toys for the holidays, we'll see. I'm not holding my breath.
That's not just the toys.
Even in Canada, there is WAY too many FOOD shelves at Walmart that are completely empty. It's creepy and scary.