darkSpyro

Just came from two Targets and called two other ones and they didn't know anything about it. I asked them to check the back and they said they didn't have anything in the back. This reminds me of the Giants ad last year....HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!

My little guy was so excited to go hunting for Stink Bomb and was so disappointed not to find him. I said that's okay he will finally will be out soon...he just playing hide-n-go seek with you! It is just a shame that our area did not receive them!

If anyone finds them in South Florida...please let us know. Thank you to you all for all your insightful information. Happy New Year everyone!

Sorry to hear about your luck. When I went to my local Target the pegs were empty, so I asked an employee if they had the new skylanders that were in the ad. After about 15 mins she came from the stock room with a box that was set aside for the ad. Picked up all 3 swappers.

Yeah...Typical retail "have it in the ad for Sunday...but no actual inventory when you go in the store" day first thing this morning at Target. Funny thing is after reading this board I went first thing on Friday morning and they didn't have any and "we've put out all the inventory"...I come back Sunday morning first thing..."Oh, we put them out midday Friday and they were all bought up then"....Double fail. I guess going first thing in the morning is no longer a good strategy...Just camping in the electronics section and praying is the new early bird gets the worm. *shakes head*....Ahhh...The thrill of the hunt. Funny thing is I offered to buy my little one Zoo Lou or Roller Brawl (2 that he didn't have yet) and he chose to "just wait and try TRU later." He really wants that stink bomb. LOL

I'm not sure how far you're willing to drive, but the swappers WERE found in South Florida. I'm sure they'll get more throughout the week. //forum.darkspyro.net/spyro/viewposts.php?topic=95009

My local Target had nothing out and when I asked they told me they had nothing and then I said don't advertise then if you don't! So they look up any ways and low and behold they said they have some in the back. Well he walks out with two spy rises and said thats all they had but I do recall seeing two stink bombs on the pegs yesterday someone must of bought them!

It was a bust here too. I don't think any stores here received any. We went to two stores and they checked the back in both stores. I don't think the boxes made it on their last trucks that came in. Maybe later this week they randomly stock them.

I checked 3 stores in southern CT. The first in Ansonia didn't get them at all and weren't sure if a vendor was bringing them later today or if they'd be on tomorrow's truck. The second in West Haven checked the computer and either didn't get them in or they got put out and sold Friday or Saturday...the clerk wasn't sure. The third was the Milford store where I managed to get all 3, but I got the only ones. I got the sense that they put them out Saturday and I just got lucky.

Anyways, good luck everybody...

Gainesville, FL Target was the same story - had nothing in back, no record of receiving Skylanders in since a bit before Xmas. I'm supposed to check back by Monday at 12pm. Sadly another epic fail for having a sale Ad item in stock on the morning of it's release

Real happy that some of you found them...hopefully will find them soon.

I have tried calling this afternoon and none so far...I guess by everyone's report...they must have put them out early! Ugh! My little guy is bummed out but it's all part of the hunt...we will eventually find them!

Just let us know any sightings of them so we can go snatch them...especially and !

Be careful about Employees telling you they don't have any in the back... They did that to us today. We asked "PLEASE, CAN YOU GO CHECK?" They checked and said Oh yeah, we have Rubble Rouser and Spy Rise but no Stink Bomb.
We said, that has to be a mistake, PLEASE CHECK AGAIN. Then, bam, after 15 minutes, Stink Bomb.
Target was very frustrating today but just push them until they are annoyed at you. At least, it worked for us today.

I went to one target on Friday and they had none on the shelves or in the back.
I went to another the same day and they had none on the shelves but the guy was nice enough to bring out a box. From the back.


CA here.

Quote: skylanderkids

Be careful about Employees telling you they don't have any in the back... They did that to us today. We asked "PLEASE, CAN YOU GO CHECK?" They checked and said Oh yeah, we have Rubble Rouser and Spy Rise but no Stink Bomb.
We said, that has to be a mistake, PLEASE CHECK AGAIN. Then, bam, after 15 minutes, Stink Bomb.
Target was very frustrating today but just push them until they are annoyed at you. At least, it worked for us today.

Thank you for your response...we did do the same and they went to check but didn't find any. My little boy loves your videos...he is always watching your kids. We had to make him a YouTube channel with videos of himself reviewing toys. Your kids and Evan influenced him to start making videos...thank you for your inspiration.

Zap congrats on finding a nice and helpful target employee...Cheers!

Some employees are just horribly rude.
I heard some employees whispering behind my back and calling me autistic when I was talking with another employee about if they had any back stock.

I turned around and left. I probably won't set foot in there again.

Quote: Wakeup

Quote: skylanderkids

Be careful about Employees telling you they don't have any in the back... They did that to us today. We asked "PLEASE, CAN YOU GO CHECK?" They checked and said Oh yeah, we have Rubble Rouser and Spy Rise but no Stink Bomb.
We said, that has to be a mistake, PLEASE CHECK AGAIN. Then, bam, after 15 minutes, Stink Bomb.
Target was very frustrating today but just push them until they are annoyed at you. At least, it worked for us today.

Thank you for your response...we did do the same and they went to check but didn't find any. My little boy loves your videos...he is always watching your kids. We had to make him a YouTube channel with videos of himself reviewing toys. Your kids and Evan influenced him to start making videos...thank you for your inspiration.

Do you guys do them for everyone to watch or is it just for something to do? If it's for all to see do send me the link. I'm sure you guys put on some good stuff and I'll leave him some thumbs up comments so he can have another fan lol.

I got to my south florida target near my house when they opened at 8am and saw the following

1 Stink bomb
5 Rubble Rouser
5 Spy rise

So I bought 1 of each. I imagine there was only 1 SB since they were bought by employees.

Was a nice surprise with the 50% off deal.

No luck in Cedar Park, TX today. They are cleaned out and their computers don't even show them getting more in. They told me to check back in January, LOL.

Yea, it's really odd how they have handled this. My brother in law and I went in not really expecting to see them there today, but were happy to be surprised with them on the shelf. I was going to get a set for my nephew, but my sister said he has to wait since he got enough Skylanders for Christmas.

Quote: unfashionable

I got to my south florida target near my house when they opened at 8am and saw the following

1 Stink bomb
5 Rubble Rouser
5 Spy rise

So I bought 1 of each. I imagine there was only 1 SB since they were bought by employees.

Was a nice surprise with the 50% off deal.

Great find for you guys! Where about in South Florida...we are wiling to drive!

Quote: Wakeup

Quote: unfashionable

I got to my south florida target near my house when they opened at 8am and saw the following

1 Stink bomb
5 Rubble Rouser
5 Spy rise

So I bought 1 of each. I imagine there was only 1 SB since they were bought by employees.

Was a nice surprise with the 50% off deal.

Great find for you guys! Where about in South Florida...we are wiling to drive!

This one was university drive near commercial blvd, lauderhill

There is a huge super target near sawgrass mall too that may have some.

Quote: GhostRoaster

Quote: Matteomax

Some employees are just horribly rude.
I heard some employees whispering behind my back and calling me autistic when I was talking with another employee about if they had any back stock.

I turned around and left. I probably won't set foot in there again.

You should've thanked them for the compliment.

Now that was totally uncalled for.

I would've happily thanked them with my fists, but I don't wanna be arrested.

Quote: Matteomax

Quote: GhostRoaster

Quote: Matteomax

Some employees are just horribly rude.
I heard some employees whispering behind my back and calling me autistic when I was talking with another employee about if they had any back stock.

I turned around and left. I probably won't set foot in there again.

You should've thanked them for the compliment.

Now that was totally uncalled for.

I would've happily thanked them with my fists, but I don't wanna be arrested.

I didn't mean that negatively. My son is autistic and there's nothing wrong with that. Still, yes they were rude. People are from time to time.

Quote: GhostRoaster

Quote: Matteomax

Quote: GhostRoaster

You should've thanked them for the compliment.

Now that was totally uncalled for.

I would've happily thanked them with my fists, but I don't wanna be arrested.

I didn't mean that negatively. My son is autistic and there's nothing wrong with that. Still, yes they were rude. People are from time to time.

Ah, sorry, took it the wrong way.

Yeah, but this was really excessive and kinda hurtful that ToysRUs employees would think that.

Quote: Eggers

Quote: Wakeup

Quote: skylanderkids

Be careful about Employees telling you they don't have any in the back... They did that to us today. We asked "PLEASE, CAN YOU GO CHECK?" They checked and said Oh yeah, we have Rubble Rouser and Spy Rise but no Stink Bomb.
We said, that has to be a mistake, PLEASE CHECK AGAIN. Then, bam, after 15 minutes, Stink Bomb.
Target was very frustrating today but just push them until they are annoyed at you. At least, it worked for us today.

Thank you for your response...we did do the same and they went to check but didn't find any. My little boy loves your videos...he is always watching your kids. We had to make him a YouTube channel with videos of himself reviewing toys. Your kids and Evan influenced him to start making videos...thank you for your inspiration.

Do you guys do them for everyone to watch or is it just for something to do? If it's for all to see do send me the link. I'm sure you guys put on some good stuff and I'll leave him some thumbs up comments so he can have another fan lol.

Yes we just started doing it for everyone. He would really love your comments and subscription. His channel is BRANDON'S TOY BARN...please feel free to join. He will be so ecstatic to see comments! Thank you and you will make one little boy very HAPPY!

Heading to PA for next two days, hopefully i come across these two.

Yes we just started doing it for everyone. He would really love your comments and subscription. His channel is BRANDON'S TOY BARN...please feel free to join. He will be so ecstatic to see comments! Thank you and you will make one little boy very HAPPY!

Just subscribed to his channel

I have a question for some of you folks that work (or are knowledgeable of) the retail side of this equation. Do the folks that scalp these things typically end up returning a bunch of them? IE: Buy up a ton of the new characters...then if they can't resell them for profit, return them shortly before the return period expires?

I can't imagine, considering just how well stocked waves 1 and 2 were leading up to Christmas, that the profitability both time-wise and money-wise is anything but extremely short and small, relatively on these wave releases this go-round. So I have this vision of people coming back into Target in a couple weeks returning about 10 stink bomb/rubble rouser/spy rises at once. Does this kind of stuff actually happen?

Quote: Skylanders Dad

I have a question for some of you folks that work (or are knowledgeable of) the retail side of this equation. Do the folks that scalp these things typically end up returning a bunch of them? IE: Buy up a ton of the new characters...then if they can't resell them for profit, return them shortly before the return period expires?

I can't imagine, considering just how well stocked waves 1 and 2 were leading up to Christmas, that the profitability both time-wise and money-wise is anything but extremely short and small, relatively on these wave releases this go-round. So I have this vision of people coming back into Target in a couple weeks returning about 10 stink bomb/rubble rouser/spy rises at once. Does this kind of stuff actually happen?

Yes, that has happened before. I've seen it with Dragon's Peak, LightCore Shroomboom, and others.

Quote: ZapNorris

Just subscribed to his channel

Thank you so much Zap...you made one little guy happy. We are doing more videos and also on request. Thank you once again for subscribing!

Quote: Matteomax

Quote: Skylanders Dad

I have a question for some of you folks that work (or are knowledgeable of) the retail side of this equation. Do the folks that scalp these things typically end up returning a bunch of them? IE: Buy up a ton of the new characters...then if they can't resell them for profit, return them shortly before the return period expires?

I can't imagine, considering just how well stocked waves 1 and 2 were leading up to Christmas, that the profitability both time-wise and money-wise is anything but extremely short and small, relatively on these wave releases this go-round. So I have this vision of people coming back into Target in a couple weeks returning about 10 stink bomb/rubble rouser/spy rises at once. Does this kind of stuff actually happen?

Yes, that has happened before. I've seen it with Dragon's Peak, LightCore Shroomboom, and others.

Lightcore shroomboom didn't fetch hefty sums?

I find this hard to believe.

Obviously a farting skunk has no chance if this is the case....Time to pack it up and send the wave 3 figures back to Target scalpers.

Quote: Skylanders Dad

Quote: Matteomax

Quote: Skylanders Dad

I have a question for some of you folks that work (or are knowledgeable of) the retail side of this equation. Do the folks that scalp these things typically end up returning a bunch of them? IE: Buy up a ton of the new characters...then if they can't resell them for profit, return them shortly before the return period expires?

I can't imagine, considering just how well stocked waves 1 and 2 were leading up to Christmas, that the profitability both time-wise and money-wise is anything but extremely short and small, relatively on these wave releases this go-round. So I have this vision of people coming back into Target in a couple weeks returning about 10 stink bomb/rubble rouser/spy rises at once. Does this kind of stuff actually happen?

Yes, that has happened before. I've seen it with Dragon's Peak, LightCore Shroomboom, and others.

Lightcore shroomboom didn't fetch hefty sums?

I find this hard to believe.

Obviously a farting skunk has no chance if this is the case....Time to pack it up and send the wave 3 figures back to Target scalpers.

LC Shroomboom was rare for some time, then he was everywhere.

Well day 2 of hunting...still empty handed! All Targets here don't have any and they all said to try back Tues when they receive their trucks...UGH! Oh well, hopefully we find them before New Years...so my little guy can ring in the new year with a big smile on his face! Wish us LUCK!

May the Force be with you.

Quote: Matteomax

May the Force be with you.

LOL...I think I need to bring Darth Vader with me to use his Jedi powers on those Target employees...hehehe

Good luck

I'm still on the hunt for spy rise

Luke I am not your Father, now give me the dang new swappers... lol...

In case anyone has ever wondered why retailers and Activision aren't as forthcoming with info as you'd like, see all the Target threads for examples of the exact reason.

The ONLY official "statement" from Target regarding these was the little corner of the ad that said "Get them here first." Nothing about that was false, untrue or misleading in any way. Clearly stated quantities were limited.

All the talk about holding them until the 29th was from an unofficial (but awesome) source who now has half this forum bashing Target because he was kind enough to share the info in advance.

Was it a bummer that they were sold earlier than thought--yes. But big deal 99.999% of the info we receive from that particular person is right on. It's not his fault or targets. I think you are right Unclebob~~Target didn't mislead anyone. Anyway--hopefully we all find them soon. This is the first time--with Swap Force--that I've had trouble finding something right away. It seems to me that the stock has been much more plentiful then it was for previous games. Is that what others have experienced?

Oh, it's not his fault at all and I'm not trying to blame him. I'm just saying that folks have created multiple threads for the purpose of bashing his company based off his info that he never had to share in the first place.

Then, we wonder why no one wants to share info.

I knew you weren't trying to blame him. Sorry if my post read that way.

Quote: UncleBob

Oh, it's not his fault at all and I'm not trying to blame him. I'm just saying that folks have created multiple threads for the purpose of bashing his company based off his info that he never had to share in the first place.

Then, we wonder why no one wants to share info.

Mr. Uncle Bob...please forgive us if we have in anyway offended anyone. We are not trying to bash anyone,on the contrary, we are very grateful and thankful for everyone posting information to keep us all inform...only to make our children happy. Thank you to you all!

I have always taught my child that is all part of the game...when it come to searching for Skylanders. Plus, it's fun for us to hunt them but even better when we find them. These are wonderful memories we are creating and we are grateful to you all. Hopefully, tomorrow we can ring in the year with the NEW SWAPPERS...but if not well better luck next year...lol

Quote: UncleBob

In case anyone has ever wondered why retailers and Activision aren't as forthcoming with info as you'd like, see all the Target threads for examples of the exact reason.

The ONLY official "statement" from Target regarding these was the little corner of the ad that said "Get them here first." Nothing about that was false, untrue or misleading in any way. Clearly stated quantities were limited.

All the talk about holding them until the 29th was from an unofficial (but awesome) source who now has half this forum bashing Target because he was kind enough to share the info in advance.

Have to say I 100% agree with this. And to add that everyone is all upset about them not sticking to an ad we weren't even supposed to know about until Sunday morning. If lesty hadn't been helpful and let us know they were on the way we wouldn't have even known to be looking for them and at what store. Sorry some missed out because their store stocked them early, but come on. A lot of people got them at Target in the last week, some didn't. That was bound to happen whether they all strictly stuck to the date or not. Wave 3 has always been plentiful with every game, these figures will not be hard to come by - only one store has gotten them so far.

I'm not relating the disappointment with lesty one bit...just folks frustrated that they didn't get the swappers. As others have said...this is probably the first time since the game has been released that anyone has had to do ANY work to get the figures. I'm betting some of those complaining weren't around for the SSA and SG fiasco.

As Flynn says..."Cool your jets". We'll get em in BOOM! type quantities and all will be good in Skylands.

I guess we could have had three times the people camped outside of Target on the 29th when the store opened and only enough stock for a third of them, causing all sorts of chaos.



Maybe a few fist fights amid less than happy parents and more screaming/crying children over others getting "their" figures instead of them. Personally I'm more annoyed at all these *exclusives* and the companies dropping the ball on limited quantities. 2-3 boxes of the swappers seems hardly enough to have to stock the shelves for your Sunday ad. Let alone when you are going to put them out early, and your next shipment to restock is likely a day or more after the ad release.

Now seeing the Target ad...they didn't even list the product names or DCPI numbers...very informal. I'm not sure what the purpose of having an exclusive is if they're not properly stocked. Just trying to be logical.

On the flip side it's always nice to get a pop-corn and Icee before leaving...always takes the sting away.

Quote: UncleBob

In case anyone has ever wondered why retailers and Activision aren't as forthcoming with info as you'd like, see all the Target threads for examples of the exact reason.

The ONLY official "statement" from Target regarding these was the little corner of the ad that said "Get them here first." Nothing about that was false, untrue or misleading in any way. Clearly stated quantities were limited.

All the talk about holding them until the 29th was from an unofficial (but awesome) source who now has half this forum bashing Target because he was kind enough to share the info in advance.

I am not buying what this post is selling.

The technicality of speech within an ad does not excuse the obvious marketing game being played (that retailers have played for decades now) of putting a product in a Sunday ad and not actually having a single unit of the product available at opening on that Sunday. The big difference with this situation as compared to the rest is that this one is unique because (1) it is a new product, (2) it is also a highly sought after new product, and (3) it is an exclusive to the store item...which means Target negotiated the exclusivity terms and there is 100% certainty they did so with the knowledge of what character releases for Skylanders holds in store because, well, we're in the 3rd season now. So that makes it a tad more annoying as they should foresee this and hold some stock for a Sunday ad like this. It's not like it came out of nowhere.

It's one of those Happy Gilmore "I know what you're doing, and I don't like it" situations. It happens. Whatever. But the whole "nothing was false, untrue or misleading" commentary is a combination of semantics and hogwash. You open the Sunday ad in the morning. The product is in the ad. You go to the store. You're informed: "yeah, we haven't had any of that since Friday and we only got like 3 of them and they were sold within the hour." Not one person in the universe isn't going to be annoyed and/or put off by that. But it is what it is with the Sunday ad garbage...same ol' same ol'.

Activision can't change any of that as the Sunday ad game has been going on forever, or at least as far back as 20 years or so that I've been old enough to be aware of it. The best Activision can do is make sure there's enough stock to match demand over the long run (which is it's natural business desire anyway). And thus far they've done that remarkably with Swap Force. Anyone that wants a character at retail price will get it eventually with patience/persistence. They'll just have to wade through a cesspool of Sunday ad and other types of chicanery on the way. Best thing I would suggest is (1) if you are a parent, do NOT take your kids hunting for new characters with you unless it is for a character that is for sure well stocked...a mistake I sadly made this past Sunday and (2) Don't take this stuff to heart. You and/or your kid will have that figure soon enough. It's obvious. Anyone that has been doing the skylander hunt thing for a while knows it's not an if, but a when in regards to new releases. (As for those that are hunting backwards for certain SSA/Giants figures...My condolences...)

Quote: GothamLord

2-3 boxes of the swappers seems hardly enough to have to stock the shelves for your Sunday ad. Let alone when you are going to put them out early, and your next shipment to restock is likely a day or more after the ad release.

The goal isn't to sell Skylanders. The goal is to sell little Jimmy's mother lots of other stuff while she is there getting a Skylander for him. Between the exclusive cost and wholesale, they probably don't make much off of them - it is mainly a "loss leader". And 2-3 cases of 12 is quite a lot if you consider not every customer is there to buy three each. Most parents might get them one.

Quote: defpally

Quote: GothamLord

2-3 boxes of the swappers seems hardly enough to have to stock the shelves for your Sunday ad. Let alone when you are going to put them out early, and your next shipment to restock is likely a day or more after the ad release.

The goal isn't to sell Skylanders. The goal is to sell little Jimmy's mother lots of other stuff while she is there getting a Skylander for him. Between the exclusive cost and wholesale, they probably don't make much off of them - it is mainly a "loss leader". And 2-3 cases of 12 is quite a lot if you consider not every customer is there to buy three each. Most parents might get them one.

Why would a "loss leader" product have a sale going on (buy 2 get one 50% off) at release of a product that is given to sell out for at least a couple weeks...not only that, a product specifically negotiated for?

I find that hard to believe. There's margin in there for sure.

I don't blame anyone for posting correct info, however I do blame Target for the way they advertise their exclusives. This is not the first time they failed when it comes to Advertising and Exclusives.

Back when Giants was out they advertised a Sale (I believe it was BOGO), and had Thumpback as the main picture, turns out that Thumpback was not released for another month. Most of us remember the Jade Flashwing exclusive and how well that went.

All I am saying is that TRU is well run when it comes to exclusives/early releases and well stocked (Usually a minimum of 10-12), and most of the time they do have the BOGO 40% (Minus the weekend before Christmas). But if you really want to, you could take the receipt in and get your savings the very next week.