The magic IS back!

[sprytel]

Seriously, is there anything that can be done with regard to availability? This whole "Easter egg hunt for wave 2" is really taking the wind out of a lot of people's sails. I like buying at b&m retail and there have been several times while in TRU I would have purchased another Retro Action figure... and they're not there! Really aggravating. Makes me wonder just how much longer this line is going to survive given such a weak, and I mean WEAK presence in the market.

The fact that these can be found in *any* Toys R Us is better than most of the so-called "re-Mego" figures, right?

[drmego]

I feel your pain - I keep going to TRUs - regular and Express - looking for
the Universal Monsters and get so bummed out when there nothing there
except Sinestro and Luthor.

Hopefully it will get better as we get closer to Christmas season.

[Astronut]

The fact that these can be found in *any* Toys R Us is better than most of the so-called "re-Mego" figures, right?

Saying they can be found in any TRU is not entirely true. Wave 2 has yet to show in many areas of the country. Distribution is - again, not to repeat myself but - spotty at best. People shouldn't have to go on a journey to find one of these things, they are being put out there by a manufacturing GIANT. Not some small privately owned company. I mean, hell, I'd expect terrible availability if that were the case but it's not.

[jimsmegos]

I feel your pain - I keep going to TRUs - regular and Express - looking for
the Universal Monsters and get so bummed out when there nothing there
except Sinestro and Luthor.

Hopefully it will get better as we get closer to Christmas season.

So... will the new Monsters be in Toys 'R Us? I'm kinda stunned on that one. It's great don't get me wrong, but where else will they be?

I really want to see a wide distribution if at all possible. Clarification is much appreciated.

[Spyweb007]

Wave two maybe hard to find because they are selling out, I saw 6 pegs of Mattel retro's at the Toys R Us express near me last month, and when I went in yesterday all I saw there was one peg of wave 1.

[MIB41]

Wave two maybe hard to find because they are selling out, I saw 6 pegs of Mattel retro's at the Toys R Us express near me last month, and when I went in yesterday all I saw there was one peg of wave 1.

I would endorse that theory if I were seeing any figures at all from Wave 2, but I'm not. The other way to gauge demand is by observing online auction prices. Wave 2 is either selling at or below shelf price (when they do sell). That is not indicative of big demand. Since Mattel is not showing a distribution that illustrates wide spread popularity, I have to believe they are altering their strategy to meet what appears to be a much smaller market. Plus you have to remember at some point Mattel is suppose to retool factories to fix this body issue. Perhaps the cost of this is making them reconfigure production volume for the waves still affected by this defect before the switch over comes. Remember, its all about what impacts the bottom line.

[PNGwynne]

Our (Akron-area) TRU-X has been open about three weeks--It's a seasonal store at an outlet mall.

They had stocked a case of Wave 2, and it seems to be moving well--about half sold-out. The foes sold first...

[sprytel]

Saying they can be found in any TRU is not entirely true. Wave 2 has yet to show in many areas of the country. Distribution is - again, not to repeat myself but - spotty at best. People shouldn't have to go on a journey to find one of these things, they are being put out there by a manufacturing GIANT. Not some small privately owned company. I mean, hell, I'd expect terrible availability if that were the case but it's not.

Sorry, I can see how you read my comment that way. It was worded ambiguously. I didn't mean that they can be found at all Toys R Us. I meant the fact that they can be found in some Toys R Us stores at all, even if it is spotty.

Don't get me wrong... the distribution issues drive me batty too.... but most of the other 8" figures you have to buy online. Or maybe in your local comic shop. So the fact that these can be found on the pegs at a major toy retailer, somewhere in this country, is kinda cool, right?

(What can I say, I'm a "glass half full" kind of guy...)

[GUYx1]

Our TRU is pretty big in size. I waited for the 1st wave to sell and then they never stocked wave 2. I asked them and they told me they didn't think they were going to carry them. I should have brought in a sku # and had them scout around on the internal computer network. Has anyone tried that? That is how I used to get toys through Toys R us.

[Astronut]

Sorry, I can see how you read my comment that way. It was worded ambiguously. I didn't mean that they can be found at all Toys R Us. I meant the fact that they can be found in some Toys R Us stores at all, even if it is spotty.

Don't get me wrong... the distribution issues drive me batty too.... but most of the other 8" figures you have to buy online. Or maybe in your local comic shop. So the fact that these can be found on the pegs at a major toy retailer, somewhere in this country, is kinda cool, right?

(What can I say, I'm a "glass half full" kind of guy...)

No dude, don't be sorry. I understand. I'm a big bell ringer for this thing too. I've posted lots of good will toward it. But look. To me, this is just aggravating at this point. It's been months. Where is Wave 2? Relegated to a few pieces here and there and in some cases none at all. It's like being starved with a wad of cash... and all the restaurants are closed. Yeah yeah I know - buy off the Net. But that's not the point. The point is these figures should have decent distribution and it's depressing they are not getting a fair chance in the market. End of rant. For today. Heh

[Audiorij]

Where I live I found wave 1 at a regular Toys R Us, didn't have the cash with me and went back later to see them all gone and subsequently had to keep going back until another set of wave 1 was in the store.

Wave 2 I only found at Toys R Us express.

But isn't it possible for some people that have never seen them in the stores that their store actually got them in and sold them out and didn't get any more in and they just missed them?

[geoffdude]

Well.. as I've mentioned in many post/threads.. this toy line could be killed at ANY TIME. It does not matter what has been solicited, as I've seen toy lines killed in the 12th hour, with figures already produced.. and the figures sent to dollar stores, big lots, etc.

What's kind of whacky is collectors here who want this "retro-old-time-feeling" of finding, and seeing, these in a store. To capture some memory of yesterday. Ultimately, who cares? Just buy them online at AMAZON or tru.com and be done with it. Get the figures first and foremost.

This is not 1975.. stores do NOT stock, or order, product like they did in those days. Most stores auto-order stock based on units currently on the hand, or on the floor. Individual item product numbers, or Superman vs Sinestro, does not matter. TRU will not order more of this toy line until they sell through what's in store, stocked on the pegs.

It's a new age, and new way of thinking. If you want something I suggest you buy it online and be done with it. Sure, you may be able to buy them in store (I did), but the general rule is online is the future, it's the now. Don't waste time and opportunity towards getting these by waiting for them to show up in your local TRU or comic book store.

It's 2010, almost 2011.

Regards,

g.

Seriously, is there anything that can be done with regard to availability? This whole "Easter egg hunt for wave 2" is really taking the wind out of a lot of people's sails. I like buying at b&m retail and there have been several times while in TRU I would have purchased another Retro Action figure... and they're not there! Really aggravating. Makes me wonder just how much longer this line is going to survive given such a weak, and I mean WEAK presence in the market.

[MIB41]

Hmmmm... This is interesting news. I ventured out on the TRU website to see if they were restocking Wave 2 for the holidays. What I found was TRU selling them BY THE CASE...for $184.99. Okay that has an ominous ring to it. That sounds more like a clearance tactic than moving in new product. See the link below. If you look to a different selection which shows them as a set, they are marked "out of stock". Sounds like Wave 2 is finished and Mattel is gearing up for Wave 3.

DC Universe Retro-Action Wave 2 Case - Mattel - Toys Us

UPDATE: Note that TRU is teaming up with Entertainment Earth. You can see this announcement on the link for Wave 2 above. So I went out to Entertainment Earth to see if they are selling Wave 2. Guess what? Nope. Gone! They are advertising only Wave 3 and Wave 4. See link below for the Wave 2 "sold out" notice. Yep... Wave 2 is done folks. And I bet what they had in stock they moved to TRU to sell as cases. Better hit Ebay and Amazon if you want them. For those lucky enough to have them at your local store, grab them up. I think that is as official as it's going to get. This mystery has been solved!

DC Universe Retro-Action Wave 2 Figures Set - Mattel - DC Comics - Action Figures at Entertainment Earth

[The Toyroom]

Out TRU has yet to stock Wave 2....But they are in the TRU Express in the mall which is right across the street from the regular TRU store. So I'm thinking that Wave 2 never showed up at the main store cuz they can't seem to unload the rest of Wave 1 that's still on the pegs. Sinestros and Luthors galore....

[sprytel]

You may be right. Weren't they originally talking about Wave 3 in November?

You can still can get Wave 2 from Amazon (and with Super Saver shipping)

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