darkSpyro

Preface: Recently, most retailers have the same old boring mundane in-stock Skylanders (Cynder, Whirlwind, Flashwing, Swarm, Crusher, Stump Smash, Sprocket, Lightcore Drobot, Lightcore Shroomboom, Dragonfire Cannon Pack).
I've been told (by both Skylanders enthusiasts and retail store clerks/salespeople) that since Skylanders are always shipped to the stores in "assorted" boxes, retailers have little control over which characters appear on their shelves. Furthermore, since the Skylanders packs all share the same SKU number, retailers often get "stuck" with stagnant stock, since 1 or 2 characters from a shipment sell very quickly, leaving behind a bunch of characters that aren't particularly desirable. Thus, since those "dust-gatherer" characters don't sell fast, but the store's inventory database still shows plenty of in-stock items (remember, all have the same SKU), the retailer can not (or will not) order additional Skylanders.

So ........ I was thinking .... would it make sense to walk into, say, a Target store, toss all their current stock of Cynder/Whirlwind/Flashwing/Swarm/etc. in your shopping cart, buy them on your RED Card, and stash them in a box at home for a few days. The purpose being to "force" the retailer into re-stocking their shelves, hopefully with newer/better items. After all, a major retailer like Target (again, just as an example) wouldn't want their Skylanders display to be completely empty with literally nothing on the "pegs", right?

Then, after a few days, hopefully after the store has ordered in a new supply, grab your box of common character packs from home, and return the whole lot of them to the store for a refund.

I'm not interested in hearing about people's various opinions on the morality of such a maneuver. I would like to know the following ....

1. Has anyone actually tried this before? If so, what were the results?
2. Would the retail store have some type of policy to prevent this type of maneuver? Or would it be considered "within the rules" (for returns, refunds, etc.) even if it's unorthodox?
3. Would you ever be willing to try this idea?

Share your thoughts!

I'm not sure about the added perks of the redcard, but I believe you're only allowed to return so much in a given amount of time. For example, I returned approximately $70 in items after holding onto them for months. They mentioned there was an annual cap I believe, on the dollar amount given back for actual cash back... even with a receipt. They are able to track this either through your redcard history or through a phone number. They may give you store credit after the cap has been met, but I don't think you're interested in that.

I'm sure a Target employee will happily correct me if I'm wrong...

There's 4 reasons why I would not be up for that:
First, the walmart near me is full of undisreable characters (I would say around 50+)
Second, because of the shelfs being stocked full, they could have more in the back so they would not order any.
Third, it takes a few days before they request for more stock and it could take a week or 2 for them to come in.
Fourth, You would not know when they get the new shipment in so you would have to stalk the store so that no one else picks up the few disirable characters that may or may not come in.

1) No, don't see it being useful.

2)I don't think so, I mean profit is profit.

3) No way, not wasting money even if I return them.

Quote: DluA

I'm not sure about the added perks of the redcard, but I believe you're only allowed to return so much in a given amount of time. For example, I returned approximately $70 in items after holding onto them for months. They mentioned there was an annual cap I believe, on the dollar amount given back for actual cash back... even with a receipt. They are able to track this either through your redcard history or through a phone number. They may give you store credit after the cap has been met, but I don't think you're interested in that.

I'm sure a Target employee will happily correct me if I'm wrong...

Wait an annual cap on returns?? How is that possible? I mean i have a target credit card, if i spend 5000 for example a year and have a receipt i damn well better be able to return that full 5000 during the year as long as im in my 90 day window.
Now there is a cap of $70 or $75 on non-recipet returns, i learned this when i went to return skylanders i bought online for store credit only to be told i had to mail them back in for refund. I decided that wasa waste of money and took a store credit i returned 6 the wife the other 4. cause 7 would have hit the cap.

Good responses so far, for the most part!

I concur with SlayerX11 ... there is no cap on the amount of returns one can make (at Target) when your payment source is your Target Red (credit) card. I believe one also gets 120 days for returns at Target when using the RED card (instead of the standard 90 days).

I would expect there to be a cap on returns for cash (as DluA suggested) and also a cap on the amount of returns one could make without a receipt (as SlayerX11 suggested). However, it's for those reasons that I suggested using a RED card at Target in my hypothetical maneuver (in the OP).

Quote: Rand O M

3) No way, not wasting money even if I return them.

I'm curious about this answer, Rand O M.
One wouldn't be wasting money in the situation I described in the OP. One would be using store credit, and then later returning the same items and therefore returning the credit, too. No cash would ever actually change hands. The only liability the "buyer" would take on in my proposal is the loss one could incur if s/he wrecked his/her car with the cache of Skylanders in the trunk. Or if one's house burned to the ground with the Skylanders inside, I guess. But really, barring those unlikely catastrophes, there's no loss of cash money for the "buyer", at all.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: Rand O M

3) No way, not wasting money even if I return them.

I'm curious about this answer, Rand O M.
One wouldn't be wasting money in the situation I described in the OP. One would be using store credit, and then later returning the same items and therefore returning the credit, too. No cash would ever actually change hands. The only liability the "buyer" would take on in my proposal is the loss one could incur if s/he wrecked his/her car with the cache of Skylanders in the trunk. Or if one's house burned to the ground with the Skylanders inside, I guess. But really, barring those unlikely catastrophes, there's no loss of cash money for the "buyer", at all.

Oops, didn't really read the whole thing, just kinda guessed. I still wouldn't do it though. I would rather use for something more valuable, even if I do return the Skylanders for the same credit. It just doesn't appeal to me. I realize that I will get the same amount of credit back, but something about it makes it seem.... unappealing to do. That's just me though. I definitely want new stock up at target and other stores, but there is something about the method at just doesn't make me crazy about it. It's nothing against you. I just don't see the value in do ping something like that just for more inventory to go in.

Quote: SlayerX11

Quote: DluA

I'm not sure about the added perks of the redcard, but I believe you're only allowed to return so much in a given amount of time. For example, I returned approximately $70 in items after holding porto them for months. They mentioned there was an annual cap I believe, on the dollar amount given back for actual cash back... even with a receipt. They are able to track this either through your redcard history or through a phone number. They may give you store credit after the cap has been met, but I don't think you're interested in that.

I'm sure a Target employee will happily correct me if I'm wrong...

Wait an annual cap on returns?? How is that possible? I mean i have a target credit card, if i spend 5000 for example a year and have a receipt i damn well better be able to return that full 5000 during the year as long as im in my 90 day window.
Now there is a cap of $70 or $75 on non-recipet returns, i learned this when i went to return skylanders i bought online for store credit only to be told i had to mail them back in for refund. I decided that wasa waste of money and took a store credit i returned 6 the wife the other 4. cause 7 would have hit the cap.

Yes, sorry forgot to include exceeding the 120 day policy. IF, one were to exceed the allowed 120 days, then I believe there are various limitations depending upon if the receipt is present or not. I, too, had to learn this the hard way. Also, if no receipt is present, they use the current price for the items being returned, which at times can be cheaper than what was paid...

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: Rand O M

3) No way, not wasting money even if I return them.

I'm curious about this answer, Rand O M.
One wouldn't be wasting money in the situation I described in the OP. One would be using store credit, and then later returning the same items and therefore returning the credit, too. No cash would ever actually change hands. The only liability the "buyer" would take on in my proposal is the loss one could incur if s/he wrecked his/her car with the cache of Skylanders in the trunk. Or if one's house burned to the ground with the Skylanders inside, I guess. But really, barring those unlikely catastrophes, there's no loss of cash money for the "buyer", at all.

Just a few things here. You are talking about the Red CREDIT card correct? You realize you have to pay off the amount put on the credit card right?

If you buy it with the credit card and return it, they will issue the refund back onto your credit card. If you return it without the receipt and get the store credit, the money is still on your credit card and you will have to pay it back.

Do the stores order things individually? If so, you could buy everything from one location and return them to another. (If this was already mentioned, I apologize. I didn't read everything.)

Theorectically this could work, although the local Wal Marts here run of floor stock quite quickly, only to fulfill the pegs with the same undesirable figures over and over again

I can see if the demand were high enough and they were consistently back ordered this would be feasible. Unfortunatly they seem to have already ordered more than the demand, only to put those unopened boxes right back on the floor (hence the same figures that were just there).

I am assuming that their prevention method is to continually put what's in the back or in the warehouse on the floor, and when supplies are low order more stock. When asking a cashier or sales rep, when will it be back in stock or do you have it in the back they give you the most obvious answer.

I have never tried this nor would I want to just for the simple fact that it would take more than just myself alone. This would take a group effort in my opinion. There are not that many die hard fans in my particular area (SW Florida-retirees, snow birds and beach lovers) willing to do such. Mostly the happy to see my grand kid happy enthusiast willing to wait or impatiently spend 3 times as much online for 1 figure (I overheard a lady behind me in line stating she would pay $50 for Ninjini the day she was released just to see the look on her grandaughters face)

And as mentioned previously, you would have to be constantly calling and going to the store to know when their next shipment arrives. Putting in a lot of time and effort. One must be willing and dedicated for this. Then and only then to find out the next shipment received was exactly the same as the previous shipment.

Quote: Conquertron

Theorectically this could work, although the local Wal Marts here run of floor stock quite quickly, only to fulfill the pegs with the same undesirable figures over and over again

I can see if the demand were high enough and they were consistently back ordered this would be feasible. Unfortunatly they seem to have already ordered more than the demand, only to put those unopened boxes right back on the floor (hence the same figures that were just there).

I am assuming that their prevention method is to continually put what's in the back or in the warehouse on the floor, and when supplies are low order more stock. When asking a cashier or sales rep, when will it be back in stock or do you have it in the back they give you the most obvious answer.

I have never tried this nor would I want to just for the simple fact that it would take more than just myself alone. This would take a group effort in my opinion. There are not that many die hard fans in my particular area (SW Florida-retirees, snow birds and beach lovers) willing to do such. Mostly the happy to see my grand kid happy enthusiast willing to wait or impatiently spend 3 times as much online for 1 figure (I overheard a lady behind me in line stating she would pay $50 for Ninjini the day she was released just to see the look on her grandaughters face)

And as mentioned previously, you would have to be constantly calling and going to the store to know when their next shipment arrives. Putting in a lot of time and effort. One must be willing and dedicated for this. Then and only then to find out the next shipment received was exactly the same as the previous shipment.

That was pretty much what I said in Post #3

I have actually thought of this idea before, and chasing this wild idea I went to one of my local walmarts and took a good look at the 30+ gitd sonic booms and 30+ other undesirables and sighed. Well anyways, I ran this idea by some of the employees and they informed me they have more of the same figures in the back and so it would not accomplish anything besides buying and returning a crap load of figures.

Quote: dinoah2005

Quote: Conquertron

Theorectically this could work, although the local Wal Marts here run of floor stock quite quickly, only to fulfill the pegs with the same undesirable figures over and over again

I can see if the demand were high enough and they were consistently back ordered this would be feasible. Unfortunatly they seem to have already ordered more than the demand, only to put those unopened boxes right back on the floor (hence the same figures that were just there).

I am assuming that their prevention method is to continually put what's in the back or in the warehouse on the floor, and when supplies are low order more stock. When asking a cashier or sales rep, when will it be back in stock or do you have it in the back they give you the most obvious answer.

I have never tried this nor would I want to just for the simple fact that it would take more than just myself alone. This would take a group effort in my opinion. There are not that many die hard fans in my particular area (SW Florida-retirees, snow birds and beach lovers) willing to do such. Mostly the happy to see my grand kid happy enthusiast willing to wait or impatiently spend 3 times as much online for 1 figure (I overheard a lady behind me in line stating she would pay $50 for Ninjini the day she was released just to see the look on her grandaughters face)

And as mentioned previously, you would have to be constantly calling and going to the store to know when their next shipment arrives. Putting in a lot of time and effort. One must be willing and dedicated for this. Then and only then to find out the next shipment received was exactly the same as the previous shipment.

That was pretty much what I said in Post #3

And I agree with your post, you make it simply stated, I for some reason, seem to not know how to do that yet LoL, I try to be as descriptive and as detailed as possible (may have something to do with my military service)

Good topic and idea, unfortunately it is very unlikely

More excellent responses!

I have to admit that I shared the concerns presented by dinoah2005, Conquertron, and GhostToaster, even before posting the OP. I wanted to see if others agreed, and apparently, ya'll do.

I'm sure Activision has some reason why they distribute the Skylanders in the way that they do ..... but that reason is lost on me.

For example, how stupid was it to include 2 Flashwings in every box of "Wave 3" characters, even after there clearly was minimal demand for Flashwing during "Wave 2"?
Or how about including Swarm in "Wave 5" of the Giants, even though most retailers still had not cleared their stock of Swarms from "Wave 1" and "Wave 2"?

Quote: Lash

Do the stores order things individually? If so, you could buy everything from one location and return them to another. (If this was already mentioned, I apologize. I didn't read everything.)

Stores can not order specific characters (unless it is a store exclusive character). Unless I am misinformed, stores can only order "Single Packs", "Lightcore Packs", "Giants", "Triple Packs", or "Battle Packs" ... and they are shipped in a pre-determined assortment, based on the current "wave" of figures. So, for example, if a store clerk notices that his store just sold 4 Hot Dog single packs in less than a day after they went on the shelf ... he can't order more Hot Dog single packs (how stupid is that, right?!). His only option is to order more "wave 4 single pack" shipments ... and in addition to ONE single pack Hot Dog, he'll be forced to also stock the other single packs from the "wave 4" shipment (Fright Rider, Trigger Happy, Gill Grunt, Chill, Sprocket, Lightning Rod, Hex, Shroomboom), even if he knows those won't sell well/quickly.

Hence the dilemma and hypothetical idea in my OP here.

What really bothers me is that (at least here in Charlotte, although I bet it's similar elsewhere) three of the worst culprits for "dust-gathering" (or inventory-clogging ... whatever you want to call it) have been included in multiple "waves" ...

• Flashwing in "wave 2" and "wave 3" ... two of her in each shipment in both of those waves (Ugh!!)
  
• Whirlwind in "wave 1" and "wave 3"
  
• Swarm in "wave 1", "wave 2", AND "wave 5" (wtf?!)
  

Meanwhile, a handful of much more in-demand characters (Bash, Flameslinger, Slam Bam) have appeared in only one "wave" each, with all three of these not appearing in either "wave 3" OR "wave 4".
Now, I realize many people hypothesize that these 3 will be available again once "wave 5" reaches store shelves .... but back to the question/proposal in the OP .... if retailers' shelves (and back-stockrooms) remain clogged up with Flashwings and Cynders and Whirlwinds, will we even see "wave 5" anytime before the leaves are falling off the trees again?

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: Lash

Do the stores order things individually? If so, you could buy everything from one location and return them to another. (If this was already mentioned, I apologize. I didn't read everything.)

Stores can not order specific characters (unless it is a store exclusive character). Unless I am misinformed, stores can only order "Single Packs", "Lightcore Packs", "Giants", "Triple Packs", or "Battle Packs" ... and they are shipped in a pre-determined assortment, based on the current "wave" of figures. So, for example, if a store clerk notices that his store just sold 4 Hot Dog single packs in less than a day after they went on the shelf ... he can't order more Hot Dog single packs (how stupid is that, right?!). His only option is to order more "wave 4 single pack" shipments ... and in addition to ONE single pack Hot Dog, he'll be forced to also stock the other single packs from the "wave 4" shipment (Fright Rider, Trigger Happy, Gill Grunt, Chill, Sprocket, Lightning Rod, Hex, Shroomboom), even if he knows those won't sell well/quickly.

I meant individually by location, not character.

Believe it or not but this has been done and people do this on a regular basis for other collectables and have long before skylanders existed. It was popular with hotwheels about eight years ago. What will happen is once a specific number of figures is bought it will trigger another order automatically.

What you need to watch out for:

That the store just does not have another fifty boxes of the same stale characters sitting out back that staff has already picked through

The same forces that picked through the characters the first time on the shelf won't beat you to the new boxes

That the system inventory itself is correct (If there are twenty figures on the shelf and the system thinks there are 60 buying those 20 will not likely trigger an order

Knowledge that this trick has a limited shelf life. To do it a second time you would need to rebuy all the original freight plus the new left behinds from the resultant ordered stock (If you are buying at a chain store you can spread the love while returning figures to make future use of this strategy easier or simply buy from store a and return to store b and do it again at store a

Make sure you know and understand the specific return policy for the store you are using and always keep receipts

Note: I am not condoning this just stating it happens and there are best use practices for the technique

I have done something kind of like this. I bought a S1 Ignitor, but wanted a S2 so I left it in the box and waited until I found a somewhat scarce S2 Ignitor. When I finally found one I returned the S1.

That way even if I didn't find the more desired S2 Ignitor, I'd still have an Ignitor. I'm thinking about doing this with Wham Shell if I see it in the castle case again since I don't really want the case, and would rather find Wham Shell alone.

I will be buying a S2 Cynder single for a custom.

There's a very simple idea that could really benefit not only retailers, but the masses and collectors as well:
We need a mail in offer figure.

I've seen this work with Hot Wheels in the past. Usually TRU will have a sign about once a quarter of the year, where you have to buy X amount of cars (I think it's about 10-15), then you mail in the UPCs for them plus something like $2.99 S&H.

This model would be absolutely PERFECT for Skylanders. First of all, people have long been clamoring for a variant that was easier to get (A la Flocked Stumpy), yet people also don't want them shelf warming after a while. (in the case with GITD Sonic Boom, etc)

Secondly, with the problem brought up in this thread, we're left right now with figures that are very likely not going to move whatsoever, and will probably be sitting on the shelves way into Swap Force or until scalpers realize that they could probably make a quick buck on them once they "retire".

Essentially, the promotion would go something like "Buy X figures, mail in the UPCs with X S&H and get X Figure". Unlike Hot Wheels which are only a $1 or so, Skylanders would have to be scaled accordingly (so, something like buy 2 figures).

This is a Win/Win/Win for everyone. The masses and collectors get a special figure, Retailers sell off their stock, which in turn allows them to get new ones in, in turn helping people find new figures and BUYING them, and Activision makes some more pretty dosh for the Scrooge McDuck styled vault I'm assuming they're going to be making.

I've thought of this too but I simply don't have the money for it and all the stores near me right now have hit that wall in trying to get rid of excess characters, or aren't simply getting shipments in. Target for example for nearly two weeks now unless they actually get something in, won't be getting anymore in right now probably until scarlet or polar release.

Most giants figures will be retired for swap force because they only plan on making 2 for each element series 3 and almost all of the rest won't be released obviously for swap force to make room for all the other new characters.

It would be nice to see another variant type, but I think like many we just want to be able to finish hunting and for most its the final two variants they don't have to complete their collections.

I forsee more sales to try and get people to buy out remaining stock so they can refill the shelves with the final wave, which is probably going to be coming within a few weeks. It might also explain why the last wave is taking so long because acti was able to keep up with demand on most figures, though seeing whirlwind series 2 en masse is kind of upsetting with polar nowhere to be found. I doubt she'll make a series 3 return.

I agree...some of these characters may not make it back to shelves before mid summer...I'm starting to get the feeling that Activision has officially "overstocked" or "wrongstocked" Giants---the antithesis of SSA. I think their methodology on determining and fulfilling demand has to get more sophisticated (ie know what's selling and what's not selling and dynamically fill demand that way instead of just making a kajillion figures and dump them).

Quote: GhostRoaster

I agree...some of these characters may not make it back to shelves before mid summer...I'm starting to get the feeling that Activision has officially "overstocked" or "wrongstocked" Giants---the antithesis of SSA. I think their methodology on determining and fulfilling demand has to get more sophisticated (ie know what's selling and what's not selling and dynamically fill demand that way instead of just making a kajillion figures and dump them).

Agreed, completely.
Even though Activision is making millions of dollars off the Skylanders franchise ... they COULD be making EVEN more, if they did a better job of monitoring trends and shipping out characters based on demand and need.
Maybe the overhead required to conduct such monitoring and more dynamic shipping/supplying methods is cost-prohibitive ... I don't know. I doubt that, though.

Quote: spyroflame0487

There's a very simple idea that could really benefit not only retailers, but the masses and collectors as well:
We need a mail in offer figure.

I've seen this work with Hot Wheels in the past. Usually TRU will have a sign about once a quarter of the year, where you have to buy X amount of cars (I think it's about 10-15), then you mail in the UPCs for them plus something like $2.99 S&H.

This model would be absolutely PERFECT for Skylanders. First of all, people have long been clamoring for a variant that was easier to get (A la Flocked Stumpy), yet people also don't want them shelf warming after a while. (in the case with GITD Sonic Boom, etc)

Secondly, with the problem brought up in this thread, we're left right now with figures that are very likely not going to move whatsoever, and will probably be sitting on the shelves way into Swap Force or until scalpers realize that they could probably make a quick buck on them once they "retire".

Essentially, the promotion would go something like "Buy X figures, mail in the UPCs with X S&H and get X Figure". Unlike Hot Wheels which are only a $1 or so, Skylanders would have to be scaled accordingly (so, something like buy 2 figures).

This is a Win/Win/Win for everyone. The masses and collectors get a special figure, Retailers sell off their stock, which in turn allows them to get new ones in, in turn helping people find new figures and BUYING them, and Activision makes some more pretty dosh for the Scrooge McDuck styled vault I'm assuming they're going to be making.

I personally think this is brilliant. It would be a surefire way to get some of those Flashwings and Swarms off the shelves. In fact, I wouldn't even be opposed to a more specific promotion, like "Buy Flashwing and Swarm, mail in their unused webcode cards, and get a special variant character mailed to you in 4-6 weeks".

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: GhostRoaster

I agree...some of these characters may not make it back to shelves before mid summer...I'm starting to get the feeling that Activision has officially "overstocked" or "wrongstocked" Giants---the antithesis of SSA. I think their methodology on determining and fulfilling demand has to get more sophisticated (ie know what's selling and what's not selling and dynamically fill demand that way instead of just making a kajillion figures and dump them).

Agreed, completely.
Even though Activision is making millions of dollars off the Skylanders franchise ... they COULD be making EVEN more, if they did a better job of monitoring trends and shipping out characters based on demand and need.
Maybe the overhead required to conduct such monitoring and more dynamic shipping/supplying methods is cost-prohibitive ... I don't know. I doubt that, though.

This all sounds easy but think about this:
When you call/inquire a store to see what figures they have in the back, they cant tell you unless they open the box and look, because of the way that the skylanders are shipped. They do not ship them by an individual SKU#. Activision probably did this to save money (easier to pack a certian amount without having to inventory what characters are in each box). You would think they would make the same amount of every character, but it obviously does not look like they do.

^

Nah, that doesn't add up, dinoah2005, although thank you for the input.
Activision could have just as easily made boxes of just 6 Thumpbacks, just 6 Eye Brawls, just 12 Hot Dogs, just 12 Wrecking Balls, etc, etc.
After all, that's how they package the store exclusive variants for shipments.

This whole "wave" business with pre-determined amounts of "assorted" characters is crap, in my opinion. I can understand not wanting to release 30 characters at once. That aspect of the "waves" does make sense. But the strategy of sending out tons of "wave" boxes that have one or three "hot sellers" but also a slew of "slow sellers" that inevitably clog-up retail store shelves and inventory (thus preventing the retailer from ordering more stock of the stuff that sells best) ... it's retarded, truly.

I'm considering trying this at a target by me. I just feel like someone above said its more a group effort. I mean I dont want to be the weird guy walking in and taking like 30 gaints off the shelf buying them and then returning them all at once. Maybe if i can get some family in on it then i'll try it. I dont mind returning the stuff slowly every couple times i go to target in smaller amounts.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

^

Nah, that doesn't add up, dinoah2005, although thank you for the input.
Activision could have just as easily made boxes of just 6 Thumpbacks, just 6 Eye Brawls, just 12 Hot Dogs, just 12 Wrecking Balls, etc, etc.
After all, that's how they package the store exclusive variants for shipments.

This whole "wave" business with pre-determined amounts of "assorted" characters is crap, in my opinion. I can understand not wanting to release 30 characters at once. That aspect of the "waves" does make sense. But the strategy of sending out tons of "wave" boxes that have one or three "hot sellers" but also a slew of "slow sellers" that inevitably clog-up retail store shelves and inventory (thus preventing the retailer from ordering more stock of the stuff that sells best) ... it's retarded, truly.

They could but they don't and that is why they cant track what the stores have...
My point is that because of the way they ship/track the boxes, they do not know what characters they ship or sold to a particular store.
And because they ship some characters in 3 packs or add them to another wave, they seem to not care what characters are less disirable, this makes it easier for Acitvision and harder on the stores. Activision gets thier money and then the stores have to figure out how to get rid of the less disirable characters.
This is probably why it is hard to find variants at Game Stop, they grab the variants before it hits the stores and then sell them online as a bundle to help with the cost when they cant sell the common figures.
One of the TRU also told me that they can not sell the variants if they get one, they have to send it back to the corporate office. Someone mentioned about an employee from TRU said that they use to see variants come in and out of the store when SSA was out, since Giants been released the same employee has never seen one...

The problem is Activision doesn't know what items will be hot and what won't. Too bad they couldn't figure a way to get results from TRU, Walmart, Target etc of which figures are selling and what isn't moving, then using that info apply it to the next wave. We can only hope that maybe they read forums like this and see the desire for slam bams, zook, ignator, bash, and flameslighters and decide to toss in a few of them when they release drobot, lc hex etc. You never know. Maybe they will come full circle on stuff and re-release all wave 1 items.

Quote: SlayerX11

The problem is Activision doesn't know what items will be hot and what won't. Too bad they couldn't figure a way to get results from TRU, Walmart, Target etc of which figures are selling and what isn't moving, then using that info apply it to the next wave.

This exactly.
It wouldn't be very hard to do this, either.
They'd just have to put some minimal effort and resources into it.
I am positive that the results of investing that minimal effort/resources would rake higher profits.
It's just a matter of whether or not they're smart enough and/or willing to do it.

I think the whole thing with variants right now is laughable at best. They come in and I'd say 9 times out of 10 they don't ever get put on the shelves. Now, I understand that employees should get first dibs on things, but most of them are probably gonna put them right up on ebay. They need to find some way to distribute them that is much easier for them to get into the hands of fans and NOT scalpers or resellers. The way I see what dinoah has mentioned is that TRU is playing parent with these things: if employees can't be trusted with them, then they have to take them away from them. (Although I have to ask exactly what happens to them afterwards. Distributed to workers at corporate? At least with Gamestop we know they're picking them out to use in bundles)

Hopefully for Swap Force we'll get a change to the way things are sold and distributed. I know it's a lot to ask for a series like this compared to something like Star Wars or Hot Wheels, but characters need to be treated as individual accessories. That way, each one will have a unique UPC, and allow stores to see which ones they need to pick up. The thing with Skylanders is that each one is different and are used in a separate game in a particular way. It'd be like if you had a PS3 or Wii U, but you didn't get a controller with it. You want to buy one but you arrive to find that they don't have one...but hey, you could pick up the multiple Wiimotes or Gamecube controllers for your console! I think with all of the characters being treated as separate things, we could solve the problem that Slayer brought up with them not being able to track which characters sell and which ones don't.

To be honest though, I can't see how they don't see new characters being popular. I mean, what real benefit do they make out with sticking one of a brand new figure in a box with 11 of ones that are already out. That just doesn't make sense.

I'm very interested to see how Disney distributes these things. Will they treat each one differently, or will they fall into the same problems that Activision have found themselves in? {Psst, for the PR agents for Activision or Disney that I know are browsing right now; PLEASE listen to us}

Superb post, Spyroflame.

Quote: spyroflame0487

I think the whole thing with variants right now is laughable at best. They come in and I'd say 9 times out of 10 they don't ever get put on the shelves. Now, I understand that employees should get first dibs on things, but most of them are probably gonna put them right up on ebay. They need to find some way to distribute them that is much easier for them to get into the hands of fans and NOT scalpers or resellers. The way I see what dinoah has mentioned is that TRU is playing parent with these things: if employees can't be trusted with them, then they have to take them away from them. (Although I have to ask exactly what happens to them afterwards. Distributed to workers at corporate? At least with Gamestop we know they're picking them out to use in bundles)

Hopefully for Swap Force we'll get a change to the way things are sold and distributed. I know it's a lot to ask for a series like this compared to something like Star Wars or Hot Wheels, but characters need to be treated as individual accessories. That way, each one will have a unique UPC, and allow stores to see which ones they need to pick up. The thing with Skylanders is that each one is different and are used in a separate game in a particular way. It'd be like if you had a PS3 or Wii U, but you didn't get a controller with it. You want to buy one but you arrive to find that they don't have one...but hey, you could pick up the multiple Wiimotes or Gamecube controllers for your console! I think with all of the characters being treated as separate things, we could solve the problem that Slayer brought up with them not being able to track which characters sell and which ones don't.

To be honest though, I can't see how they don't see new characters being popular. I mean, what real benefit do they make out with sticking one of a brand new figure in a box with 11 of ones that are already out. That just doesn't make sense.

I'm very interested to see how Disney distributes these things. Will they treat each one differently, or will they fall into the same problems that Activision have found themselves in? {Psst, for the PR agents for Activision or Disney that I know are browsing right now; PLEASE listen to us}

Because when they ship the box to the store (i.e. Walmart) they get there money, it doesn't matter if walmart can sell them or not. Thats why they ship them the way that they do. If they shipped them based on the SKU#, Stores would then just request for certain ones and not be forced in to buying the less popular characters. This way Acti gets more money.

^ That could not be more untrue, dinoah2005.

If the stores' inventories are backlogged with lots of characters that no one is buying, then the stores will not be able to order more shipments.
If the stores are not ordering more shipments, then Activision is flat-out leaving money on the table.

How could you be blind to this?

Quote: BahamutBreaker

^ That could not be more untrue, dinoah2005.

If the stores' inventories are backlogged with lots of characters that no one is buying, then the stores will not be able to order more shipments.
If the stores are not ordering more shipments, then Activision is flat-out leaving money on the table.

How could you be blind to this?

Because they do not sit on the selfs, the stores start having sales to get more new figures i.e. TRU = 45% - %50 Off or buy one get one free / Target = Buy 2 get 1 free. There are alot of other sales that have gone on since Giants came out, just go back and look at the different post here since October.
Now who's blind?

Here is my take on this.


1. Could Activision just throw out boxes of just 12 X character? Yes, they could. However, it don't make much sense. Stores don't have an infinite amount of space to hold 100 boxes of skylanders. So, to get more out in the store they will send out a mixture. Now, could they do a better job of mixing the characters up? Probably. Side note on this, The reason that they will only put say 1 of a new figure in a box is to keep people looking. Sometimes the older players of this game forget that this game is/was made for kids. When you have little Johnny who wants Spyro, but can't find him and then he sees Fright Rider he will probably get Fright Rider and then they will keep looking for Spyro. People sometimes forget that Activision, TFB, and the retailers are out to make money. Does that make them bad? No.

2. To send out a box of all of the same figure would cost more in the long run. You are going to spend more on shipping and that will raise the price up.

3. To the OP original point. This could work. However, I think most stores these days are putting out what they have. They don't like having stuff in the backroom.


Finally to BahamutBreaker, a lot of places get the new waves automatically shipped to them. I know that TRU and Gamestop do. When I worked at Wal-Mart for a couple of months they got the new waves shipped to them automatically also.

Quote: dinoah2005

Quote: BahamutBreaker

^ That could not be more untrue, dinoah2005.

If the stores' inventories are backlogged with lots of characters that no one is buying, then the stores will not be able to order more shipments.
If the stores are not ordering more shipments, then Activision is flat-out leaving money on the table.

How could you be blind to this?

Because they do not sit on the selfs, the stores start having sales to get more new figures i.e. TRU = 45% - %50 Off or buy one get one free / Target = Buy 2 get 1 free. There are alot of other sales that have gone on since Giants came out, just go back and look at the different post here since October.
Now who's blind?

Um ... you.
You seem to be aloof to the fact that shelves at TRU and Target are STILL littered with Whirlwind/Flashwing/Cynder/Swarm ... even AFTER those discounts and promotions that you mentioned.
The whole purpose of this thread, from the beginning, was to highlight the fact that sales and promotions have failed to keep retailers' stock fluid ...

Actually BahamutBreaker, I kinda have to beg to differ with you. I have not seen Swarm anywhere besides TRU for awhile. Even then it has only been one or two. Cynder I would say is a bit different because he came in the starter pack. Most people bought those instead of the portal owners pack. So those will sit no matter what. Flashwing is still pretty rare no matter where I go.


Also, no reason to start calling each other blind when this boils down to opinion.

Quote: Bazinga

Here is my take on this.


Finally to BahamutBreaker, a lot of places get the new waves automatically shipped to them. I know that TRU and Gamestop do. When I worked at Wal-Mart for a couple of months they got the new waves shipped to them automatically also.

Thank you for your insights, Bazinga.
I hate to do this, but I must contradict what you just said, at least when it comes to GameStop (and Target, for that matter ... not sure about Toys R Us or Wal-Mart). I literally just this week spoke to a store manager at a local GameStop about this issue. She told me, clear as day, that she can not order more Skylanders until the ones on her shelves/pegs sell ... even if the ones on the shelves are slow-sellers that no one really is looking for.
I got the exact same story from a Target employee the same day.

This is further validated by the fact that Toys R Us.com THIS week announced that they are just now selling the "wave 3" Giants "Triple Packs". Why? Well, presumably because the sales on the "wave 2 Triple Packs" were horribly sluggish.

Quote: Bazinga

Actually BahamutBreaker, I kinda have to beg to differ with you. I have not seen Swarm anywhere besides TRU for awhile. Even then it has only been one or two. Cynder I would say is a bit different because he came in the starter pack. Most people bought those instead of the portal owners pack. So those will sit no matter what. Flashwing is still pretty rare no matter where I go.


Also, no reason to start calling each other blind when this boils down to opinion.

I do not believe that "blind" is particularly offensive in this context, but point taken.

If you would like some Swarm or Flashwing, I could literally round up about 50 of each in less than an hour by hitting-up the various retailers in/around Charlotte. I wish I was exaggerating.

OK, Could Activision ship every single Skylander by SKU? Sure.
Could each and every retailer keep stock of every Skylander by SKU? Sure.
Could each retailer then order more stock for specific Skylande by SKU? Sure.

The question then comes do you want to pay for that?
Do you want to pay for the added cost of every Skylander being logged as a separate item? For that item to be inventoried separately in the manufacturing warehouse, the shipping warehouse, the retailer receiving warehouse, the retail store warehouse, the shelves of each warehouse?

I am not saying it is a bad idea, but the man hours associated with 4 main items being inventoried vs 100 is a major time consuming process. People here complain that certain figures are too hard to find, then turn around and complain about the cost increase from S:SA to S:SG.

Short version is, it is one or the other. You can either find every figure every time you go into the store for much more than they cost now. Or have the selection as it is for the price it is. There is no pleasing everyone.

From a businesses perspective, I cant see how Activision is going wrong here. Could they make more? Maybe. People still seem to be buying their product. And because Skylanders is the highest grossing product they have ever had, they must think it is going pretty well too. Could they make it easier on the consumer? Yes, so the consumer can just walk in and buy only the one they want. From a collector standpoint that makes sense. But on the whole how many are true collectors vs. casual players. I would be willing to bet more are walking in and seeing a great selection rather than us few here who have most or all of the released figures already.

I for one, have not had a single issue getting a single giants figure thanks to this site. I find out when they are out and go get them, granted it may take a store or 3 to do. but no issue none the less.

But that is just my $.02 rant. My opinion may not be yours.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: Bazinga

Here is my take on this.


Finally to BahamutBreaker, a lot of places get the new waves automatically shipped to them. I know that TRU and Gamestop do. When I worked at Wal-Mart for a couple of months they got the new waves shipped to them automatically also.

Thank you for your insights, Bazinga.
I hate to do this, but I must contradict what you just said, at least when it comes to GameStop (and Target, for that matter ... not sure about Toys R Us or Wal-Mart). I literally just this week spoke to a store manager at a local GameStop about this issue. She told me, clear as day, that she can not order more Skylanders until the ones on her shelves/pegs sell ... even if the ones on the shelves are slow-sellers that no one really is looking for.
I got the exact same story from a Target employee the same day.

This is further validated by the fact that Toys R Us.com THIS week announced that they are just now selling the "wave 3" Giants "Triple Packs". Why? Well, presumably because the sales on the "wave 2 Triple Packs" were horribly sluggish.

That's funny because... The Gamestop guy I talked to said that they only know when some are "in transit." As they do not order any and all are tracked and shipped from their inventory system. Maybe, they were saying the same thing as the stores inventory system tracks it and they don't actually order them, but they will not get any more until they sell their stock.

As far as the triple packs, I have not seen any in the Wal-Marts I go to. They may of had some on launch day but that was it. I have not seen any triple packs at TRU since launch time either. Not even the legendary ones. Target has had a few. Mostly of the wave 1 and wave 2. I don't think it was they were sluggish sales. In my opinion it may have more to do with Activision not making as many this time. The only place I see them in regular abundance has been Gamestop. It maybe more of a case where the stores are not ordering them as it cuts into profits. I have no idea, I just don't buy it comes to the sales being sluggish as I have never seen that many on a shelf to begin with.

Quote: dinoah2005

Because when they ship the box to the store (i.e. Walmart) they get there money, it doesn't matter if walmart can sell them or not. Thats why they ship them the way that they do. If they shipped them based on the SKU#, Stores would then just request for certain ones and not be forced in to buying the less popular characters. This way Acti gets more money.

Hmm..that's a fair point I suppose. I guess I'm just a bit wishful thinking over here haha.

I think perhaps a more realistic alternative is to look at the new characters and split them 100, 75/25 then finally settling at 50/50 for Wave 3 and up stuff. So like, Wave 1 would be all new, Wave 2 would be 75% with 25 of random stuff from Wave 1 (ie, new characters and not reposes), Wave 3 would then cap at the 50/50 new stuff and a combination of Wave 1 and 2 stuff.

That way they could have a healthy mixture of characters while also getting the new ones out that will obviously be more popular. Like, right now I see a lot of people looking for Slam Bam and Ignitor. Both of them should have been in a newer box. (at least one, although I'd hope and guess that they will be in Wave 5 boxes). I know I'm personally looking for Ninjini still: The Giants boxes have 2 Ninjini, 2 Thumpback, 2 Eye Brawl and a Crusher. They should have had 3 or 4 in there with 1 of Thumps and EB since they were just out in the last wave. (and plentiful now)

I'm probably a bit jaded about that last bit there lol, but still. I think they really need to evaluate what is coming out and what is already out. They need some sort of system to check what is actually in stores, what's moving and what's not, etc. Hopefully they can figure out some system or whatever to help them better address the needs of people in the future. At least though we can be happy they actually HAVE stuff in stock though. I remember this time last year it was still hard to find the figures!

Quote: siowm6

OK, Could Activision ship every single Skylander by SKU? Sure.
Could each and every retailer keep stock of every Skylander by SKU? Sure.
Could each retailer then order more stock for specific Skylande by SKU? Sure.

The question then comes do you want to pay for that?
Do you want to pay for the added cost of every Skylander being logged as a separate item? For that item to be inventoried separately in the manufacturing warehouse, the shipping warehouse, the retailer receiving warehouse, the retail store warehouse, the shelves of each warehouse?

I am not saying it is a bad idea, but the man hours associated with 4 main items being inventoried vs 100 is a major time consuming process. People here complain that certain figures are too hard to find, then turn around and complain about the cost increase from S:SA to S:SG.

Short version is, it is one or the other. You can either find every figure every time you go into the store for much more than they cost now. Or have the selection as it is for the price it is. There is no pleasing everyone.

From a businesses perspective, I cant see how Activision is going wrong here. Could they make more? Maybe. People still seem to be buying their product. And because Skylanders is the highest grossing product they have ever had, they must think it is going pretty well too. Could they make it easier on the consumer? Yes, so the consumer can just walk in and buy only the one they want. From a collector standpoint that makes sense. But on the whole how many are true collectors vs. casual players. I would be willing to bet more are walking in and seeing a great selection rather than us few here who have most or all of the released figures already.

I for one, have not had a single issue getting a single giants figure thanks to this site. I find out when they are out and go get them, granted it may take a store or 3 to do. but no issue none the less.

But that is just my $.02 rant. My opinion may not be yours.

Nicely said...

Quote: spyroflame0487

Quote: dinoah2005

Because when they ship the box to the store (i.e. Walmart) they get there money, it doesn't matter if walmart can sell them or not. Thats why they ship them the way that they do. If they shipped them based on the SKU#, Stores would then just request for certain ones and not be forced in to buying the less popular characters. This way Acti gets more money.

Hmm..that's a fair point I suppose. I guess I'm just a bit wishful thinking over here haha.

I think perhaps a more realistic alternative is to look at the new characters and split them 100, 75/25 then finally settling at 50/50 for Wave 3 and up stuff. So like, Wave 1 would be all new, Wave 2 would be 75% with 25 of random stuff from Wave 1 (ie, new characters and not reposes), Wave 3 would then cap at the 50/50 new stuff and a combination of Wave 1 and 2 stuff.

That way they could have a healthy mixture of characters while also getting the new ones out that will obviously be more popular. Like, right now I see a lot of people looking for Slam Bam and Ignitor. Both of them should have been in a newer box. (at least one, although I'd hope and guess that they will be in Wave 5 boxes). I know I'm personally looking for Ninjini still: The Giants boxes have 2 Ninjini, 2 Thumpback, 2 Eye Brawl and a Crusher. They should have had 3 or 4 in there with 1 of Thumps and EB since they were just out in the last wave. (and plentiful now)

I'm probably a bit jaded about that last bit there lol, but still. I think they really need to evaluate what is coming out and what is already out. They need some sort of system to check what is actually in stores, what's moving and what's not, etc. Hopefully they can figure out some system or whatever to help them better address the needs of people in the future. At least though we can be happy they actually HAVE stuff in stock though. I remember this time last year it was still hard to find the figures!

I am with you on this, they could and should but I doubt it. This way they can drag it out til Summer.

I personally think we are at the "lull" of the franchise...I expect more sporadic availability and haphazard delivery schedules...except for the final 4 and triple packs wer're almost done...we have no idea how much of each wave is in backstock and what Activision's plan for release is...of course I DO KNOW that not keeping anyone in the "know" is part of the marketing plan--just as it was with beanie babies. Problem is---people want to complete their frickin collections since October and would like to "git r done".

But by people wanting to get their collection complete, and not giving the supply to the consumer, it keeps the demand high. And keeping the Skylanders demand high while the impending Infinity is about to launch sounds like good business.

Or they could just release it all so you can buy it all, and get bored because there is nothing left to buy until October with Swap Force. Wonder how many would start Infinity then and possibly not come back for swap force?

Quote: siowm6

But by people wanting to get their collection complete, and not giving the supply to the consumer, it keeps the demand high. And keeping the Skylanders demand high while the impending Infinity is about to launch sounds like good business.

Or they could just release it all so you can buy it all, and get bored because there is nothing left to buy until October with Swap Force. Wonder how many would start Infinity then and possibly not come back for swap force?

We have a winner! The problem that everyone forgets is that Acti is not out to make us happy. They are out to make money. It pisses people off but in reality that is what makes the gaming world go round. If they worried about making everyone happy then they would be out of money. This is a very critical point in the skylander franchise right now. It is very hard for Activision to know what to do at this point. It appears that we will have all characters by the time Infinity is released. Which just seeing it got pushed back to August is probably a good thing for Activision. That maybe why we have not seen anything since the end of Feb, first part of March. They need to keep hype and people looking for as long as they can because Infinity will come out with a lot of fan fare. Will it catch on? Who knows. Either way it is very critical for Activision to play this right or it could be bad news for all of us.

I just wanted to get my opinion in here, even though I don't really post outside the Minecraft topics

Making these figurines as is is an insurmountable task. Please try to remember that America is not the only country buying Skylanders and that you already get the majority of stock. Workers have to hand manufacture and paint every single piece made from machines, for each country, and we can already see that there is a botch of stock. My conclusion on that is... What they need to do is hire more workers(see bottom). They don't care much about the current demand, and it's because of that. They just make a bunch of figures so that they do have stock, any stock, to sell. And they just send those out when stores have nothing left. I'm not trying to justify Acti for not refreshing S2 Bam, just explaining my estimations on why...

They make 3237826489 LightCores and 0.3 Fright Rider. I won't act like an official source, but I'd guess that's to keep up demand, because if they time it right, when the character is sent in, they won't be on sale- which means, possibly less sales, but possibly more gross instead. If Acti only have one new character a box they're instantly rare and people will buy them straight away because they're scared to wait for sales in case they disappear. Many people buy characters the day that they come out rather than waiting for them to price drop, which you could abuse by making everyone except the extremely patient want to do so. I'm sure if Skylanders were common from the day they came out many would be comfortable waiting for price drops as well because this things are already expensive as hell as it is

I'm not saying that that's a better strategy and that they will make less sale but more gross doing it... But it's going to stay easier for them until/unless they hire more workers to actually make more stock. People actually have to make these Skylanders... Millions of them. What they need to do is get a buttload more workers, PR guys who listen to the toys the fans want to see, so that they CAN build up stock for every store order, and refresh stores monthly or something, but from what they're doing so far, it seems that they can't unless they have a huge amount of time where they don't make any stock whatsoever. Remember how bad it was between June last year to Giants' release?

Just rambling on my part, so have this with it: