Mattel Explains Retro-Action in Discount Chains

[Spyweb007]

Stocking at Toys R Us is automated to a point, but the warehouse does force items on the stores as well, and if the different waves have different SKN numbers then wave 1 sitting on the shelf would not mean no other waves with different SKN numbers would be shipped. I worked for TRU for 17 years and the bottom line is that they really aren't that efficient at getting new product to the stores on on the shelves quickly. I used to find new figures from different lines at Kmart and Electronic Boutique before we got them, which I always thought was embarassing for the "Wolrd's Biggest Toy Store".

[geoffdude]

If the below is true at Toys R Us, then wave 3 will not show up in
stores that still have Luthor and Sinestro on the pegs.

If no one at TRU notices that stock received last April is still
on the pegs, then those stores will never put out new stock.

Wave 3 will show up where possible.. some TRUs have sold enough (I assume) to trigger new stock coming in. Also, Jan. is inventory month for TRU, so we may see a lot more wave 3 hit after Jan. Keep in mind, prior to Xmas, wave 1 had less parent, and kids, looking at them. During xmas, Wave 1 would have sold more, so there is now more room for Wave 3.

Note though, wave 3 is only appearing in select TRUs now. No TRU I have in my area has them (that I have seen).. probably won't for awhile as these stores have 3 to 4 pegs full of GL, Sinestro and Lex still. I ordered my Wave 3 from tru.com.

TRU managers "can" special order re-stocks if they feel there is a need. Especially if say certain items have been stolen, so the count of in-stock units is wrong... so the computer says the items are still on the floor in error. It's just not something they do too often, but they can and will do it.

Regards,

Geoff

[Doc]

If the below is true at Toys R Us, then wave 3 will not show up in
stores that still have Luthor and Sinestro on the pegs.

If no one at TRU notices that stock received last April is still
on the pegs, then those stores will never put out new stock.

Walmart and Target do the same thing. Its all automated. As registers record sales items sold it compares to shelf counts When a certain number is reached a new order is put in. Thats why DC Cyborgs and Shazams are clogging pegs in alot of places. I just saw today Cyborg was FINALLY marked down to $11 at my old store.

[ctc]

>If they unloaded them at $10, they may not of made much or anything on them at that price.

It's called "maximalization," and sometimes it takes a bit to sort out. Sure, you might sell more at a lower price, but the amonut of extra you sell might not equal the absolute amount of income made if you sell fewer at a higher price.

Don C.

[EMCE Hammer]

Walmart and Target do the same thing. Its all automated. As registers record sales items sold it compares to shelf counts When a certain number is reached a new order is put in. Thats why DC Cyborgs and Shazams are clogging pegs in alot of places. I just saw today Cyborg was FINALLY marked down to $11 at my old store.

Both the TRUs near me went for a period of weeks with no RA figures at all. When finally restocked, Superman and GL sold thru quickly. There have been a lone pair of Sinestro and Luthor for weeks in one, and nothing in the other. One of the stores never got wave 2, the other appeared to get one case that sold thru quickly. What's the explanation for no wave 2 in one, and no wave 3 in either given that the shelves are not, nor ever have been, "clogged" with old stock? Similar story with Batman B&B figures, BTW.

[Doc]

>If they unloaded them at $10, they may not of made much or anything on them at that price.

It's called "maximalization," and sometimes it takes a bit to sort out. Sure, you might sell more at a lower price, but the amonut of extra you sell might not equal the absolute amount of income made if you sell fewer at a higher price.

Don C.

Maximalization is short sighted. Doing the exact opposite is why walmart dominated the retail scene for years. Id hate to tell you how many things I marked down that lost money at Wally world. Just so you all would buy more other things.

Plus I really dont think they would be losing that much money even at $10 for the item in question.

[Doc]

Both the TRUs near me went for a period of weeks with no RA figures at all. When finally restocked, Superman and GL sold thru quickly. There have been a lone pair of Sinestro and Luthor for weeks in one, and nothing in the other. One of the stores never got wave 2, the other appeared to get one case that sold thru quickly. What's the explanation for no wave 2 in one, and no wave 3 in either given that the shelves are not, nor ever have been, "clogged" with old stock? Similar story with Batman B&B figures, BTW.

At Walmart ( I dont work for TRU) they calculate every item. A peg can hold 8 figures and there are 4 facing. (Example) when the registers sell down to 6(Constantly updated in the inventory control system linked to the register) they reorder. If there are 7 peg warmers they wont reorder, If someone stole one (6 on the peg and one missing they wont reorder) If 1 or 2 are lost in another part of the store they wont reorder. It was a pain. Management hated empty spots. But they never wanted us to 0 out shelf caps even if we were sure the item was not in the store.

[MIB41]

Does anyone know what the wholesale price of a Retro Action figure is at TRU?

[Audiorij]

Everything in this thread is an exercise in futility, complete speculation on everyone's part. I don't put much stock in the words of corporate PR people.

[alex]

With the matter of peg warmers, surely they must have people who look into these matters, getting mail from mattel with new product and other companys, where they calculate of what line, how much was sold etc., and then in accordance ordering X for the future, it just sounds logical, otherwise it just sounds like a computer system run by monkeys with no sense. Really bizzare reading this, just order the things online I say, must save everyone a hell of a lot of money and time.