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Post by Eric on Dec 18, 2007 17:04:52 GMT -5
I have come to know a couple of the workers at my local Toys R Us over the years, so when I ask a question, they are pretty straight with me. I went in today to look for the new waves of the 25th Anniversary Joe figs and to also take a chance on MAYBE finding something other than the Superman waves of the DCSH line. I was a bit shocked as to what I found, tho not that much. Where the Batman/JL section was, there was now some japanese toy lines. I checked around looking for where they went and wound up finding them 2 ailses over where all of their miscellaneous toys where located. There were only about 4 pegs of figs, not even full, that consisted of, of course, DCSH Supermen and some misc. JL figs. There were also the exclusive box sets stacked underneath. Marked down! I saw one of the clerks I had spoken to before and asked what was up. He told me that due to the "slowness" of the Batman stuff, the new planogram they have for January has them in the misc. aisle with only a couple of pegs and a couple slots for boxed exclusives. He said he doesnt think they will have any space for Batman oriented toys until the spring/summer plan when the movie is getting close to release. I know him from the comic shop and have always talked toy collecting with him. He knows the frustration people have had with the DC lines and said he figured itd only be a matter of time before they (TRUs) did something like this. They werent going to dedicate a 8 foot section of space for nothing but Superman and Batman repaints that sit on the shelves for months at a time. I just shook my head and told him that I was pretty much done with current Batman toy collecting and proceeded over to the Joes and grabbed a couple that I needed.
This isnt just TRUs either, Ive noticed decreasing space at Target as well, and Kmart has never had more than 4 pegs dedicated to Batman. Mattel is the worst thing that has happened to the Batman license since the whole Toy Biz thing. Of course, at least you could find those!
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Post by BruceWest on Dec 18, 2007 17:25:30 GMT -5
Maybe Batman should become a juiced up WWF freak. Then he would get a whole aisle dedicated to him, i don't know whats up with the lack of love for Bats lately but i've noticed this trend also. I've been collecting since the Mego days, so i guess the movies help to hype up the sales but i would like to see more stores putting faith in an American icon instead of some flavor of the month.
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Post by jasontodd2 on Dec 21, 2007 10:37:02 GMT -5
I have been noticing this as well, every place I go there is barely any Batman toys, thanks for the insight shadowbat69
I think one problem with the batman toylines is that they need to market a bit more. I can't recall the last time I saw a Batman toy commercial on TV???
Also some of the designs they come out with are not up my alley. What ever happened to the simple approach to these toys?
Sure having a Batman all decked out in armor is pretty cool, but what about a normal looking Batman?
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Post by J-Man on Dec 23, 2007 16:43:23 GMT -5
You know, I don't know what happened in the past eight months, but both The Batman and the DC Superheroes lines have all but vanished from Wal-Mart and Target. In fact, I went to Wal-Mart the other day, and there were no Batman figures at all. I've seen them sporadically in Target... though not in as great abundance as they once were.
And this isn't just from my "hometown," either. I go to school in DC, and I haven't seen many Batman figures in the few Targets that I've been to in the past year or so. Definitely strange, and altogether annoying (though I guess it does keep me from spending money, which is always good-- in a sense).
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Post by BruceWest on Dec 23, 2007 19:49:40 GMT -5
When all hope is lost for Walmart and The Batman. I went to the new Walmart in Hunt Valley today and found Green Lantern and Hawkman. this store has never carried DC figures , but today things changed. Hal and hawkman both have perfect paint jobs and Hawkman's wings on his mask are perfect. Start checking Walmarts.
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Post by Eric on Dec 26, 2007 13:22:14 GMT -5
Theres only one Wal Mart in my area, thank God, and they havent carried any DC related toys since the BBegins line was marked down and discontinued. Also, I refuse to shop at WM, I have a friend who wroks there and he lets me know if anything new has come in, but Its never happened, so theres no worries of me missing anyting. The toy section at my WM is laughable.
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baTT
Legions Of Gothamite
Chillin like a Villain!
Posts: 87
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Post by baTT on Dec 26, 2007 20:46:38 GMT -5
Theres only one Wal Mart in my area, thank God, and they havent carried any DC related toys since the BBegins line was marked down and discontinued. Also, I refuse to shop at WM, I have a friend who wroks there and he lets me know if anything new has come in, but Its never happened, so theres no worries of me missing anyting. The toy section at my WM is laughable. Why won't you shop there?
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Post by electri on Dec 27, 2007 15:44:24 GMT -5
DC has never really been at any of the stores i go to all i get in the stores I go to are Marvel Legends, Spiderman, Tranforming Marvels and a few marver showdowns. The rest are Ben 10 and transformers so all we have had of DC for about a year is batman begins and superman returns. But I do shopping online now getting myself a batman and son joker and robin 2pck. Alos the Justice boxset and coming Febuary the DC UNIVERSE series (its going to be that long until they get series 1)
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Post by DrGreenEvil on Dec 27, 2007 16:08:44 GMT -5
What I'm really hoping for is that Walmart treats the upcoming Batman movie exactly like they did with the last Spiderman movie. That the action figure aisle will become 50% Batman and that they will sell large numbers of anything even remotely Batman related. Like they did with Spiderman 3.
Think about it.... The Dark Knight, JLU, DCU, Super Friends, The Batman, and maybe even a few others just lining the shelves. My even more hope against hope dream... That Spiderman gets the shaft next year just as hard (maybe even harder) as Batman and DC did this year.
Wow, this might become one of my "I know its selfish but i'm gonna pray for it anyway" prayers. DrGreenEvil
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Post by anthonywayne on Dec 30, 2007 19:19:01 GMT -5
What I'm really hoping for is that Walmart treats the upcoming Batman movie exactly like they did with the last Spiderman movie. That the action figure aisle will become 50% Batman and that they will sell large numbers of anything even remotely Batman related. Like they did with Spiderman 3. Think about it.... The Dark Knight, JLU, DCU, Super Friends, The Batman, and maybe even a few others just lining the shelves. My even more hope against hope dream... That Spiderman gets the shaft next year just as hard (maybe even harder) as Batman and DC did this year. Wow, this might become one of my "I know its selfish but i'm gonna pray for it anyway" prayers. DrGreenEvil Selfish or not, I'm afraid I have to agree.
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Post by PJ on Dec 31, 2007 7:28:40 GMT -5
They are still showing in my local stores computer (I've been looking for the Hawkman & GL) but they don't know when they'll be getting them.
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Post by electri on Jan 12, 2008 12:36:33 GMT -5
TRU hate me they said they haven't recieved DC UNIVERSE yet and probably won't for 5 weeks
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Post by Eric on Jan 13, 2008 15:04:01 GMT -5
I wont shop at my local WM because there have been many many bad experiences there with myself and others that I know. Its just bad management and terrible employees.
On the TRUs subject tho, all The Batman, DCSH, and JL figs are now gone. They were all reduced right after Christmas. Now all that exists of the DC licenses is the TRUs exclusives, and as I said, they are on the bottom shelf of the miscellaneous toy aisle.
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tomstoyz
Gotham Tourist
"Greetings, Good Citizen!"
Posts: 11
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Post by tomstoyz on Jan 13, 2008 19:43:21 GMT -5
People who know me know how obsessed I am with Batman toys, ha ha! And it is kinda weird how at this moment there are not ANY Batman items anywhere! There's no toothbrushes, cereal boxes, games, fruit snacks....nothing! OK, Target had a cool retro T-Shirt recently ( but probably gone or sold out ).
What's the deal with this HUGE drought? Usually there's merchandise on every single isle...it's weird! Maybe he has to do with no hype. The only thing goin' on "Batman" is the new cartoon & it's kinda failing with the general public ( Personally I think it's gotten a lot better this season ).
I guess this might be good because I am kinda broke lately & if there were a ton of bat-stuff it would drive me crazy, ha ha! I guess I'll save my money for when TDK hype hits or maybe buy vintage items, which I like better anyway.
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darkfire1978
Legions of Gotham Police Officer
Brick by Brick, LEGO Batman is taking Gotham back!!!
Posts: 150
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Post by darkfire1978 on Jan 13, 2008 20:07:31 GMT -5
I live here in Miami and it's been months since ive seen anything "DC" in the shelves, aside from the SuperFriends line. The only way i can get the new toys, is via Ebay or the other toy merchandisers...and as you can tell, i pay a lot more (shipping) then I would if I got them at the local toystore. Im a collector so I will dish out the cash for it...but what about the mass market, mainly kids who watch the cartoon and would want a toy to play with.
I think that Mattel, needs to beef up thier toy supply or else all the cartoons, comics and toyline themselves will eventually fade. Im assuming this is due to all the toy recalls they have been having lately. Perhaps Mattel is holding back newer items due to more and extensive quality control checks...or the Stores themselves are not buying mattel products because of fear of possible recalls and the dreadful returns. (they lose money)
My opinion, Mattel should open thier own online store. Make site exclusives and over all have products ready to ship for kids and toy collectors alike.
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Post by Eric on Jan 13, 2008 21:24:54 GMT -5
I know it may not be cool to "bad mouth" Mattel seeing as how LoG does get some inside info, tho there really hasnt been any recently. However, I also think it an obligation to voice our concerns on this matter. Mattel is seriously dropping the ball on this license, as they have with others. Batman is WB's cash cow and I can't believe they are allowing for practicaly no merchandise. Someone on the inside must be aware of all this. I was very excited when I first saw what Mattel had planned back when they received the license. I mean, it was a big deal and in all the interviews they always said how they had majr plans for Batman toys. Well, imo, I didnt ever see it. I can also say, that even with no movie, or cartoon, Kenner/Hasbro still had representation on the shelves for Batman and even came out with the new villain or sculpt. They also didnt make it so exclusive that no one could find it or get it. I have been collecting Batman toys for 20 years now, and I have to say that since 1989 this is the worst its been for Batman toys.
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