Venture Brothers on CLEARANCE at TRU???

[LonnieFisher]

So could this be the sign of the end of the 8" re Mego era already if things are getting discounted this quickly?

Lynn

TRU doesn't like to discount stuff. I see stuff from the last Star Trek movie at full price that won't sell and hasn't moved any pieces for months. So I think it looks bad for the 8" figures to be discounted so soon.

[MIB41]

All this talk re: pricing and availability of the DC RA line made me want to post. I'm not someone who typically throws their hands up and quits. But I have to say, personally, I gave up on this line about two weeks ago. I purchased waves 1 and 2. I bought a few for my 6 year-old as well. He loves them. But I've had enough. Enough of the overpricing (my opinion), enough of the poor distribution/availability. I sold them all because quite honestly I grew tired of the Easter egg hunts at brick and mortar. And I got tired of being let down. I like to think that if a (major) retailer claims to carry a line of goods that it will provide - after many many months - a decent supply of said product. I was even willing to bite the bullet on price but I was still empty handed walking out of (yet another) TRU. Over and over. As they say, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result equals insanity. I'm not bitter I am just stating that I feel let down. This line was something I had been looking forward to for some 30 years and for me, it came up short. I must have gone to 5 different TRU stores, a couple of them a dozen times during the course of six months - and came across Wave 2 one time. And even then, only 3 of the 4 characters. Before someone says "buy online," my response is "thats not what I want to do." Nor is it what I *should* have to do since TRU claims to carry them. Not a good way - again, my opinion - for a company the size of Mattel, not to mention Toys R Us, to run business. So, not to be dramatic but I just wanted to put it out there. Unless this 1/2 *** situation improves I'm done getting excited about it. A lot of wasted energy as I see it.

Honestly? I think this whole line will eventually become an online exclusive. Unless the Meijer's gig takes off, I think that's where we're headed. TRU doesn't seem to be pushing the line much these days and I think that's why Mattel went looking for another vendor.

[hedrap]

Honestly? I think this whole line will eventually become an online exclusive. Unless the Meijer's gig takes off, I think that's where we're headed. TRU doesn't seem to be pushing the line much these days and I think that's why Mattel went looking for another vendor.

I'm with you. I have this feeling that the NYTF announcement is going to be just that. If it's wide online, fine. Amazon is my friend. BUT, if it's -

Join Matty + overpriced figure + limited quantity = I'm out.

Their is a price-point when we go from being a collector's community to a collection of marks.

[boynightwing]

If you'd like, I'll keep an eye on the Ghostbusters figures at our TRU and grab them for you if and when they get marked down. I believe the 8 figures there is a full case although I don't know what the case packs are on the Ghostbusters Retros. Just let me know.

That's very awesome of you! Thanks!

[ScottA]

Haven't been to ours in a while so I went today.

Same 3 Lex's and 2 Sinestros that have been there for months
No Monsters
No Venture Brothers (but tag said they were on sale)
Twilight Zone were on sale but ALL had very damaged cards, Had 5 left.
Finally saw Ghostbusters. 3 Peters, 1 Ray and 1 Egon. Sorry but I really like them.

[geoffdude]

Honestly? I think this whole line will eventually become an online exclusive. Unless the Meijer's gig takes off, I think that's where we're headed. TRU doesn't seem to be pushing the line much these days and I think that's why Mattel went looking for another vendor.

I don't understand this perspective at all. ???

What is TRU supposed to do to "push" these? And what does that mean exactly? Print ads? TV? Radio? Etc.? If so, that would be Mattel's area, not TRUs.

BTW... Venture Bros. figs are not really for "kids". I love the show, but the content is very adult. I would think teenagers might be a little bit interested, but VB are truly an adult collector's line as most kids younger than 12 wouldn't know the characters (for the most part).

Regards,

Geoff

[trekman101]

I agree that Venture Brothers and Twilight Zone are really for adult toy collectors....my son knows both shows and has interest in them both but doesn't want the figures......Retro action,Monsters,Flash Gordon,Ghost Busters that's a different story....he has interest in many of the figures
price point on all theses lines should be $14.99

[hedrap]

I don't understand this perspective at all. ???

What is TRU supposed to do to "push" these? And what does that mean exactly? Print ads? TV? Radio? Etc.? If so, that would be Mattel's area, not TRUs.

BTW... Venture Bros. figs are not really for "kids". I love the show, but the content is very adult. I would think teenagers might be a little bit interested, but VB are truly an adult collector's line as most kids younger than 12 wouldn't know the characters (for the most part).

Regards,

Geoff

If over the holidays, TRU marked down Wave 1 by five, or hell even ten, and added some Wave 2, that would be considered a push. Instead, they sat on W1, ditched W2 and went straight to W3 right after Christmas, which has to be the weakest time for toy sales.

The use of peg space shows no logic. If Luthor and Sinestro are clogging room, mark them down. It's apparently not as major an issue as they've shown with VB and TZ, unless it's something from Matty's end that's stopping it.

[geoffdude]

If over the holidays, TRU marked down Wave 1 by five, or hell even ten, and added some Wave 2, that would be considered a push. Instead, they sat on W1, ditched W2 and went straight to W3 right after Christmas, which has to be the weakest time for toy sales.

The use of peg space shows no logic. If Luthor and Sinestro are clogging room, mark them down. It's apparently not as major an issue as they've shown with VB and TZ, unless it's something from Matty's end that's stopping it.

That could help. I'm not sure though how TRU picks an item to mark down. Maybe the line is not being offered anymore, or it's been setting too long. ???

One thing though, as a whole TRU does not mark things down to just clear out stock. They'll hold on to old assortments for a LONG time... it's beyond actually figuring out I suppose.

Regards,

Geoff

[MIB41]

I don't understand this perspective at all. ???
What is TRU supposed to do to "push" these?

Well, call me crazy. But they could stock their stores with them...

[geoffdude]

Well, call me crazy. But they could stock their stores with them...

They can't if Mattel hasn't sent them, due to too many older, non-sold, figures peg warming in stores preventing a restock.

We've had this point counter point before, bottom line is TRU can only put out what they have, and only put out new stock if old stock has sold. TRU will not re-stock/re-order more of what they can't sell. ???? Why would any store do that?

Just stocking items is not a "push" BTW, a push would be something that brings pointed attention to an item or event.

Regards,

Geoff

[MIB41]

Just stocking items is not a "push" BTW, a push would be something that brings pointed attention to an item or event.

Regards,

Geoff

Actually it does. If TRU would push them to their outlets where there are not any (two stores here in Louisville with no figures) they would increase sales to those of us who would like to get them locally. Bottom line:If your product is suppose to be a TRU exclusive, you should make them available for purchase at all regional stores. Otherwise it becomes only an online exclusive. Make sense?

[Foolkiller]

The TRU at Franklin Mills Mall in NE Philadelphia got 1 case of Venture Brothers at X-Mas time, still has half of that same load and they're marked down to $14.99 as well. They had Twilight Zones which sold immediately and never got em back in. They have a few Ghostbusters and no superheroes; Wave 2 was the only assortment this store had and it was back in September

[geoffdude]

Actually it does. If TRU would push them to their outlets where there are not any (two stores here in Louisville with no figures) they would increase sales to those of us who would like to get them locally. Bottom line:If your product is suppose to be a TRU exclusive, you should make them available for purchase at all regional stores. Otherwise it becomes only an online exclusive. Make sense?

Exclusives are not always available at all of a chains stores. Walmart is THE perfect example of that.

I didn't know that TRU sill had the outlets open. I figured most closed already after xmas.

Regards,

Geoff

[MIB41]

Exclusives are not always available at all of a chains stores. Walmart is THE perfect example of that.

I didn't know that TRU sill had the outlets open. I figured most closed already after xmas.

Regards,

Geoff

Which leads right back to my original point. They seem to be moving towards being strictly an online exclusive...