darkSpyro

Next Saturday the 11th Shelly.

Quote: Bazinga

Next Saturday the 11th Shelly.

Where's that coming from?

It is in an email today.

Skylanders Day is Back!

Visit any GameStop on Saturday, January 11, for our next Skylanders Day! Get there early, because the first 25 Skylanders fans in the store get a FREE exclusive poster. We’ll also have tons of deals, including $20 off a Skylanders SWAP Force Starter Pack, a FREE Skylanders Mini with the purchase of $20 worth of Skylanders SWAP Force items, and more.


That is what it says.

Quote: echomancer

Just checked my email looks like the date for this will be Jan 11th. The details from the email are
Quote:

Skylanders Day is Back!

Visit any GameStop on Saturday, January 11, for our next Skylanders Day! Get there early, because the first 25 Skylanders fans in the store get a FREE exclusive poster. We’ll also have tons of deals, including $20 off a Skylanders SWAP Force Starter Pack, a FREE Skylanders Mini with the purchase of $20 worth of Skylanders SWAP Force items, and more.

I'm hoping they will have the Dark edition on sale as well, but that is super unlikely. And it looks like they will be doing the same thing as my local store did and restrict it to only Swap Force purchases. I'll probably check with my local Gamestops and see if they have recieved the "minis" yet.

There yah go!

Thank you Bazinga---I think im having a duh moment.

Quote: Bazinga

It is in an email today.

Skylanders Day is Back!

Visit any GameStop on Saturday, January 11, for our next Skylanders Day! Get there early, because the first 25 Skylanders fans in the store get a FREE exclusive poster. We’ll also have tons of deals, including $20 off a Skylanders SWAP Force Starter Pack, a FREE Skylanders Mini with the purchase of $20 worth of Skylanders SWAP Force items, and more.


That is what it says.

Deja vu. Polar Whirlwind Redux.

I wonder how many threads will be started with all of the locations doing their own thing and making up their own bait and switch rules to this. And what the hell is a mini?

My best guess is probably left over giants sidekicks stock. Since one of the stores near me was doing something similar with left over ssa sidekicks.

Ghost roaster--there is always hope that people will use this thread. ..lol

Quote: echomancer

My best guess is probably left over giants sidekicks stock. Since one of the stores near me was doing something similar with left over ssa sidekicks.

Now THAT should be a misleading advertising. The giantkicks have always been called that. Are they going to plead stupidity and now call them something different in the hopes a bunch of dopes show up so they can do a hard sell on used games?

Pathetic.

Quote: shelly9871

Ghost roaster--there is always hope that people will use this thread. ..lol

Hope is a dream....unfortunately harsh reality ensues.

I wonder if you get a mini for every $20 spent, or just 1 mini with minimum $20 purchase. I plan on buying a starter pack for my niece, hopefully that will count toward the $20, not just figures.

As far as I know it is per $20. So a dark edition should get you 5 unless they put a max number of figures per purchase.

I can try and clear some stuff up for folks. It looks like they are going to be the giants sidekicks. There's an image for marketing that shows those specific ones. And it looks to be a mini for every 20 spent, just like the last time. No word on new figures in general yet, but there's also gonna be a deal where you can get 10.00 off the swap force game by trading an old portal of power.

Why can't I just pay $9.99 to BUY a mini? I already have all the Swap Force I need at this point...

Can we trade in our old Portals simply for store credit?

I really hope skylanders: Minis is a new gimmick or brand new promo altogether.

I would be happy for the people that didn't get all 8 sidekicks if this is a re-distribution. But i would be kind of mad to take time out of my day to go to gamestop, only to find they decided not to call them sidekicks.

Who knows, maybe it's a new game altogether. Where there are "commander" skylanders that lead little minis with different abilities (skylanders: pikmin?)

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Quote: rfriend

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Bummer. Was hoping to get all 4 with a Dark Edition Starter Pack. Oh well, one is better than none. Anybody know about the free poster for the first 25 fans?

Knowing my gamestop it will be one sidekick for every $20 spent. They really are just looking to move merchandise. I am with others here not sure I can spend much on new swap characters I already have everything that is out. Would be smarter to push this with a new release of figures.

Quote: rfriend

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Gamestop... Gamestop... Gamestop. This is going on my list of why I don't do business there. Essentially, we are going to have to buy 8 SWAP Force Skylanders to get all four minis.

Pass already have my minis thou i told my bro as his frydo lays ones never came.

Quote: lcopley98

Quote: rfriend

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Gamestop... Gamestop... Gamestop. This is going on my list of why I don't do business there. Essentially, we are going to have to buy 8 SWAP Force Skylanders to get all four minis.

Last time they did this, they didn't have all 4...so even that's a huge assumption.

Quote: SlayerX11

Pass already have my minis thou i told my bro as his frydo lays ones never came.

Really? If he sent in the money and followed all their rules, he should demand a refund of the money he sent. I know that's no real consolation, but at least he'd be "whole" again monetarily. For the record, I sent mine with checks clearly stating which fig I was expecting. And the nice benefit is a check is proveable if they have doubts. You can just print the check stubs and send them off. Or have your bank print up copies of the checks. If you're talking about a minor though, you can ask your parents to do the checks.

I called a Gamestop in my area, and the guy said he didn't know much about this promo. I was told to call a few days before it happens and find out the details. If this "trade in a portal towards getting the game" is real, does this mean we can use both that and the $20 off that day together? If so, my bf would want in on that. He's actually interested in Swap Force now...when he hadn't cared less than a month ago. Helps that his nephew likes to play video games too. Also, is this only for one portal? What if you have the SSA and the SG ones? Can they each add $10 to the credit towards the game? Which leads to my next question: Will the newest portal work properly for SSA and SG? Will it konk out quickly?

Quote: TheLurk

Quote: SlayerX11

Pass already have my minis thou i told my bro as his frydo lays ones never came.

Really? If he sent in the money and followed all their rules, he should demand a refund of the money he sent. I know that's no real consolation, but at least he'd be "whole" again monetarily. For the record, I sent mine with checks clearly stating which fig I was expecting. And the nice benefit is a check is proveable if they have doubts. You can just print the check stubs and send them off. Or have your bank print up copies of the checks. If you're talking about a minor though, you can ask your parents to do the checks.

I called a Gamestop in my area, and the guy said he didn't know much about this promo. I was told to call a few days before it happens and find out the details. If this "trade in a portal towards getting the game" is real, does this mean we can use both that and the $20 off that day together? If so, my bf would want in on that. He's actually interested in Swap Force now...when he hadn't cared less than a month ago. Helps that his nephew likes to play video games too. Also, is this only for one portal? What if you have the SSA and the SG ones? Can they each add $10 to the credit towards the game? Which leads to my next question: Will the newest portal work properly for SSA and SG? Will it konk out quickly?

My brother is lazy ive told him to call and he keeps putting it off and this was months ago. I will bug him again about it on his day off, he acts like such a kid sometimes.

Quote: lcopley98

Quote: rfriend

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Gamestop... Gamestop... Gamestop. This is going on my list of why I don't do business there. Essentially, we are going to have to buy 8 SWAP Force Skylanders to get all four minis.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Gamestop or their "promotions", but you have to buy 8 (maybe more depending on if they count tax towards the $20) only if you didn't buy a bag of chips and spend $2 for shipping. And you didn't have to buy any duplicate figures you already own. If you are in the position to buy all those figures to get those sidekicks, I find it hard to believe you couldn't pony up for some chips 6 months ago. At least Gamestop is offer an option for people to get a hold of their missing sidekicks, but don't act like this was the only way to obtain them. You snooze, you lose.

It's like the people complaining 6 months after the fact when they cannot find a variant like Jade Flashwing or Granite Crusher at retail or the people that cannot find Darklight Crypt on the shelves. I'm not a fan of scalping, but exactly how long do we need to keep these things/offers around until all the latecomers get around to taking advantage of it? I know people just take up the franchise, but if you do not get in on the ground floor you simply cannot expect to have everything readily available for you.

Some people didn't start playing this game until Swap Force came out. Therefore, they would not have bothered to "pony up for some chips 6 months ago" because they would not have known nor cared.

As long as the newer games continue being programmed by Acti such that you can't complete them without tracking down the old merchandise, new players are going to keep looking for old figures.

So please don't sit there and assume that the people looking for old figures were able to find them when they came out and that they "snoozed". You know what happens when you assume.

theres also us in Canada that couldn't do the chip promotion and have to wait and rely on EB to have these promos so that we can get them too

Quote: defpally

Quote: lcopley98

Quote: rfriend

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Gamestop... Gamestop... Gamestop. This is going on my list of why I don't do business there. Essentially, we are going to have to buy 8 SWAP Force Skylanders to get all four minis.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Gamestop or their "promotions", but you have to buy 8 (maybe more depending on if they count tax towards the $20) only if you didn't buy a bag of chips and spend $2 for shipping. And you didn't have to buy any duplicate figures you already own. If you are in the position to buy all those figures to get those sidekicks, I find it hard to believe you couldn't pony up for some chips 6 months ago. At least Gamestop is offer an option for people to get a hold of their missing sidekicks, but don't act like this was the only way to obtain them. You snooze, you lose.

It's like the people complaining 6 months after the fact when they cannot find a variant like Jade Flashwing or Granite Crusher at retail or the people that cannot find Darklight Crypt on the shelves. I'm not a fan of scalping, but exactly how long do we need to keep these things/offers around until all the latecomers get around to taking advantage of it? I know people just take up the franchise, but if you do not get in on the ground floor you simply cannot expect to have everything readily available for you.

I missed Skylander Giants. I posted a topic some weeks ago asking what Skylander Minis were. In fact, when I went to a used store to buy Skylanders, that was the first I'd heard of Skylander Minis. Thanks for your sincerity and bluntness.

Quote:

Some people didn't start playing this game until Swap Force came out. Therefore, they would not have bothered to "pony up for some chips 6 months ago" because they would not have known nor cared.

As long as the newer games continue being programmed by Acti such that you can't complete them without tracking down the old merchandise, new players are going to keep looking for old figures.

So please don't sit there and assume that the people looking for old figures were able to find them when they came out and that they "snoozed". You know what happens when you assume.

Thank you very much.

Quote: defpally

Quote: lcopley98

Quote: rfriend

Talk to my gamestop and they told me they will be the sidekicks for the giants
Barkley , Mini Jini , Eye Small and Thumpling
Make a purchase of $20 + get 1 side kick
In order to get all 4 you have to make 4 transactions

Gamestop... Gamestop... Gamestop. This is going on my list of why I don't do business there. Essentially, we are going to have to buy 8 SWAP Force Skylanders to get all four minis.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Gamestop or their "promotions", but you have to buy 8 (maybe more depending on if they count tax towards the $20) only if you didn't buy a bag of chips and spend $2 for shipping. And you didn't have to buy any duplicate figures you already own. If you are in the position to buy all those figures to get those sidekicks, I find it hard to believe you couldn't pony up for some chips 6 months ago. At least Gamestop is offer an option for people to get a hold of their missing sidekicks, but don't act like this was the only way to obtain them. You snooze, you lose.

It's like the people complaining 6 months after the fact when they cannot find a variant like Jade Flashwing or Granite Crusher at retail or the people that cannot find Darklight Crypt on the shelves. I'm not a fan of scalping, but exactly how long do we need to keep these things/offers around until all the latecomers get around to taking advantage of it? I know people just take up the franchise, but if you do not get in on the ground floor you simply cannot expect to have everything readily available for you.

While I understand your frustration, that last statement doesn't make any sense if you are the company (Activision).

If there continue to be new players who want the old games/old figures -- does it make sense to let the 2nd-hand market get all the sales or for you the company to get the sales by continuing to provide the old product?

At some point there is an equilibrium, but I believe Swap Force is a game that is doing a good job of bringing in new players.

As someone who just started playing Skylanders this Holiday season, I have to agree with defpally. There's no reason that anybody has to continue to make these Sidekicks cheap and easily attainable. They were at one point in time, but that time has passed. I've missed the boat, I've accepted it. Just because I wasn't into Skylanders at that time, doesn't mean I should demand that they should be cheap and easily attainable again. Likewise, I wasn't born when "Action Comics" No 1 came out, so I shouldn't demand that Comic Book stores allow me to buy a mint copy for 10 cents.

As for not being able to complete newer games without them, when have sidekicks ever been required to complete any of the games? Actually, do have any of the games require figures from the past game(s) to complete (real question)? I know Swap Force requires a Giant in order to open some chests, but those aren't required to complete the game.

If you ask me, we should all be thankful that GameStop is having this promotion. Afaik, the only way to obtain these currently is through eBay, and they're selling for $20 or more, by themselves. So to get them free with $20 a Swap Force purchase sounds like a great deal to me.

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

Quote: lcopley98

I missed Skylander Giants. I posted a topic some weeks ago asking what Skylander Minis were. In fact, when I went to a used store to buy Skylanders, that was the first I'd heard of Skylander Minis. Thanks for your sincerity and bluntness.

Quote:

Some people didn't start playing this game until Swap Force came out. Therefore, they would not have bothered to "pony up for some chips 6 months ago" because they would not have known nor cared.

As long as the newer games continue being programmed by Acti such that you can't complete them without tracking down the old merchandise, new players are going to keep looking for old figures.

So please don't sit there and assume that the people looking for old figures were able to find them when they came out and that they "snoozed". You know what happens when you assume.

Thank you very much.

You apparently also missed the part where I said "I know people just take up the franchise, but if you do not get in on the ground floor you simply cannot expect to have everything readily available for you.". You are expecting everything from a three year old franchise to be readily available, at retail price. That's unreasonable. No store is going to stock a full array of older merchandise so that a relatively small portion of the base, such as yourself can "catch up". The SSA/Giants area at TRU is already ridiculously overstocked with things that aren't selling, leading to them having to offer clearance level sale prices on them frequently. They simply are not going to continue to stock cases after case of these old things on which 90% of the stock will have to be clearanced out in the end to make room for new stock that will sell.

Gamestop is providing you an option to do so with the Giantkicks, but at a higher cost. Be happy for that option. Activision is providing an avenue for you to catch up on many of the previously available characters through reposes. Be happy for that. You *can* catch up through secondary sales, but it will cost you. Right now you can obtain figures to play as 95% of the available roster at retail, if you look hard enough. Your need to fill up your collection with things that are no longer in production is a burden you place on yourself, yet you seek to shift that burden onto the stores to stock that stuff. You can play the game the whole way through with currently available figures. Your need to fill the checklist is not "finishing the game 100%". Ghost Roaster is not required to complete the game or play all of the levels. Eye Small is not either. If that's the way you feel, then perhaps it is best if you re-evaluate if this franchise is for you and save some money, because that is not how things work.

And not taking part in the game previously is "snooze"ing. You got in late for whatever reason, you still missed the opportunity to get them easily and cheaply. You need to adjust your expectations.

Quote: Shawn

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

Target uses the same DPCI # for all figures within the same category. So you can hold onto the figures you buy at GameStop, then buy the new releases at Target and return the GameStop figures to Target.

Quote: Shawn

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

If they ring the sidekick up on the receipt (which they typically do), they will probably make you return the promotional item in order to return the other items and receive your refund. Some stores (like TRU) deduct the promotional value from the item and display a "return value" on the receipt. Sidekicks, as I recall had a $999.99 price if rung up without the associated items, therefore the return value of the items would be less than zero, if they even let you do it.

If the store simply throws it in the bag with the figures, then sure you could probably just return them - assuming they don't remember you and know what you are doing.

I had to go through this with the Volcanic Vault a while back at Best Buy. I didn't need any figures, but wanted to get it (was free with $25 purchase of Skylanders stuff). I bought the guide and a figure which I used for a birthday gift for a friend of my son's. You may not need the figure, but do you have friends/children's friends birthdays coming up that like Skylanders? I've often had a few duplicate figures for various reasons over time and it makes an easy last minute gift for a birthday party. Just an idea.

Glad I know someone who works there.

Quote: defpally

Quote: Shawn

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

If they ring the sidekick up on the receipt (which they typically do), they will probably make you return the promotional item in order to return the other items and receive your refund. Some stores (like TRU) deduct the promotional value from the item and display a "return value" on the receipt. Sidekicks, as I recall had a $999.99 price if rung up without the associated items, therefore the return value of the items would be less than zero, if they even let you do it.

If the store simply throws it in the bag with the figures, then sure you could probably just return them - assuming they don't remember you and know what you are doing.

I had to go through this with the Volcanic Vault a while back at Best Buy. I didn't need any figures, but wanted to get it (was free with $25 purchase of Skylanders stuff). I bought the guide and a figure which I used for a birthday gift for a friend of my son's. You may not need the figure, but do you have friends/children's friends birthdays coming up that like Skylanders? I've often had a few duplicate figures for various reasons over time and it makes an easy last minute gift for a birthday party. Just an idea.

Or you can just return at a different location.

Quote: Donatron

Quote: defpally

Quote: Shawn

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

If they ring the sidekick up on the receipt (which they typically do), they will probably make you return the promotional item in order to return the other items and receive your refund. Some stores (like TRU) deduct the promotional value from the item and display a "return value" on the receipt. Sidekicks, as I recall had a $999.99 price if rung up without the associated items, therefore the return value of the items would be less than zero, if they even let you do it.

If the store simply throws it in the bag with the figures, then sure you could probably just return them - assuming they don't remember you and know what you are doing.

I had to go through this with the Volcanic Vault a while back at Best Buy. I didn't need any figures, but wanted to get it (was free with $25 purchase of Skylanders stuff). I bought the guide and a figure which I used for a birthday gift for a friend of my son's. You may not need the figure, but do you have friends/children's friends birthdays coming up that like Skylanders? I've often had a few duplicate figures for various reasons over time and it makes an easy last minute gift for a birthday party. Just an idea.

Or you can just return at a different location.

That was my thinking anyway to return them at a different location but I guess if they do ring up the mini separately then I guess that puts a chink in that idea.

Quote: Donatron

Quote: Shawn

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

Target uses the same DPCI # for all figures within the same category. So you can hold onto the figures you buy at GameStop, then buy the new releases at Target and return the GameStop figures to Target.

Just as an FYI, that is indeed Return Fraud, and is illegal. Also, some figures do have different DPCI#, like Jolly Bumble Blast so they can be street dated. They probably won't make a huge deal of it, but you don't want to be the guy that an over-zealous manager wants to make an example of that day.

There are legitimate ways to get you money back or make use of duplicate figures. Make selections that you can sell/give to friends or others. For example, don't get a super common figure, get one that people still want. You probably aren't going to get all your money back, but you can probably make enough to justify the loss by the sidekick you receive. For example, I wanted the regular Starter figures for our collection, so I waited for a sale and bought it, then sold the portal and game along with a couple other duplicates I had to a neighbor that just wanted to play it with the figures he already had. In the end I got my figures for about $20 and he got the game/portal and some older figures for $20. Win/win. You just have to think ahead. Make a deal with a friend that maybe wants a figure or two, split the cost for his figures on the condition you keep the sidekick.

Now we can definitely confirm this is Saturday right? Because on GameStops website it says Sunday the 11th... Well which is it GameStop?! The 11th is Saturday and Sunday is... well... not the 11th.

Quote: defpally

Quote: Donatron

Quote: Shawn

Can't why just buy the figures in order to get the mini's and then just return what you bought? I know this may sound bad but for those saying they have everything available but may not own any sidekicks.

Target uses the same DPCI # for all figures within the same category. So you can hold onto the figures you buy at GameStop, then buy the new releases at Target and return the GameStop figures to Target.

Just as an FYI, that is indeed Return Fraud, and is illegal. Also, some figures do have different DPCI#, like Jolly Bumble Blast so they can be street dated. They probably won't make a huge deal of it, but you don't want to be the guy that an over-zealous manager wants to make an example of that day.

There are legitimate ways to get you money back or make use of duplicate figures. Make selections that you can sell/give to friends or others. For example, don't get a super common figure, get one that people still want. You probably aren't going to get all your money back, but you can probably make enough to justify the loss by the sidekick you receive. For example, I wanted the regular Starter figures for our collection, so I waited for a sale and bought it, then sold the portal and game along with a couple other duplicates I had to a neighbor that just wanted to play it with the figures he already had. In the end I got my figures for about $20 and he got the game/portal and some older figures for $20. Win/win. You just have to think ahead. Make a deal with a friend that maybe wants a figure or two, split the cost for his figures on the condition you keep the sidekick.

Jolly Bumble Blast rings up differently because it's a chase. Don't get chases, and you'll be fine; stick to the basics. As long as they're unopened and in good shape (and without any retailer stickers or anything along those lines), nobody's going to care. Worse case scenario, if they ring up differently, just say you must have brought the wrong receipt.

I think (if it works) I'll buy the Dark Edition (if they have it) and jeep fully that'll get me all 4 figures plus I'll keep the the Dark figures and sell the portal and game at a fair price online. If not then the 3DS starter pack and some extra figures, qualify for all 4 sidekicks, keep Volcanic LB Eruptor, and sell the game, portal and extra figures online for a fair price. I hope this works...

Quote: Kartoonkid91

I think (if it works) I'll buy the Dark Edition (if they have it) and jeep fully that'll get me all 4 figures plus I'll keep the the Dark figures and sell the portal and game at a fair price online. If not then the 3DS starter pack and some extra figures, qualify for all 4 sidekicks, keep Volcanic LB Eruptor, and sell the game, portal and extra figures online for a fair price. I hope this works...

Someone mentioned that it's 1 sidekick per transaction, but your location might be kind enough to give multiple.

Quote: Donatron

Jolly Bumble Blast rings up differently because it's a chase. Don't get chases, and you'll be fine; stick to the basics. As long as they're unopened and in good shape (and without any retailer stickers or anything along those lines), nobody's going to care. Worse case scenario, if they ring up differently, just say you must have brought the wrong receipt.

Gamestop uses giant, hard to get off stickers on their merchandise, and often place them on the card and not the bubble. Collectors have frequently complained about this. When I worked there (Electronics Boutique days) many, many moons ago they used similar stickers and we had to use a heat gun to get them off and they still left residue.

Quote: defpally

Quote: Donatron

Jolly Bumble Blast rings up differently because it's a chase. Don't get chases, and you'll be fine; stick to the basics. As long as they're unopened and in good shape (and without any retailer stickers or anything along those lines), nobody's going to care. Worse case scenario, if they ring up differently, just say you must have brought the wrong receipt.

Gamestop uses giant, hard to get off stickers on their merchandise, and often place them on the card and not the bubble. Collectors have frequently complained about this. When I worked there (Electronics Boutique days) many, many moons ago they used similar stickers and we had to use a heat gun to get them off and they still left residue.

In that case, don't try to return these to Target. lol

Quote: Donatron

In that case, don't try to return these to Target. lol

Yeah, that's my point. Glad I don't keep packaged figures, the Thumpback and Eye Brawl ones I got last year took a ridiculous amount of effort to simply make the label not readable since it was a gift to my son - and it left a bunch of gunk.

I still think the best choice here is to use some of the ideas I posted above. In the next few days before it hits, ask around to some of your Skylanders friends, I'm sure some would be willing to go halfsies on figures they want that don't care about Sidekicks. Many players don't care at all about those little guys, in game they are more annoying than anything. When I bought that Thumpback and Eye Brawl above, I combined my purchase with a friend that was buying them as well and he got some Sidekicks out of the deal (I already had them). There are many social options if you think outside the box that limits the need for subterfuge.

Quote: defpally

Quote: Donatron

In that case, don't try to return these to Target. lol

Yeah, that's my point. Glad I don't keep packaged figures, the Thumpback and Eye Brawl ones I got last year took a ridiculous amount of effort to simply make the label not readable since it was a gift to my son - and it left a bunch of gunk.

I still think the best choice here is to use some of the ideas I posted above. In the next few days before it hits, ask around to some of your Skylanders friends, I'm sure some would be willing to go halfsies on figures they want that don't care about Sidekicks. Many players don't care at all about those little guys, in game they are more annoying than anything. When I bought that Thumpback and Eye Brawl above, I combined my purchase with a friend that was buying them as well and he got some Sidekicks out of the deal (I already had them). There are many social options if you think outside the box that limits the need for subterfuge.

Im alone here in Tennessee for medical treatment and most people I do know don't care at all about video games let alone Skylanders Ive just been wanting these sidekicks since I heard about them but missed the whole frito lay thing.

You can get the stickers off by using peanut butter yes peanut butter. Take a quarter size scoup of peanut butter and rub on the sticker really good then let it set for a few hours or so then try and ease it off if not rub the peanut butter that is on it a little more then again wait it will come off before long then just wipe the remaing peanut butter off. I have done this many times I have kids that out stickers on everything and it works, just don't overdo the peanut butter and try to not get more than you have to on the cardboard backing. If you have to as soon as you put the butter on the sticker wipe around the edges to get most of the cardboard.

The easiest way to get those pesky stickers off (in Skylander Dads opinion) is...



At 1:39 you'll see how they don't peel off. At 1:48 I peel the sticker off after using heat and it's super easy and no mess left behind.

Quote: defpally

Quote: lcopley98

I missed Skylander Giants. I posted a topic some weeks ago asking what Skylander Minis were. In fact, when I went to a used store to buy Skylanders, that was the first I'd heard of Skylander Minis. Thanks for your sincerity and bluntness.

Quote:

Some people didn't start playing this game until Swap Force came out. Therefore, they would not have bothered to "pony up for some chips 6 months ago" because they would not have known nor cared.

As long as the newer games continue being programmed by Acti such that you can't complete them without tracking down the old merchandise, new players are going to keep looking for old figures.

So please don't sit there and assume that the people looking for old figures were able to find them when they came out and that they "snoozed". You know what happens when you assume.

Thank you very much.

You apparently also missed the part where I said "I know people just take up the franchise, but if you do not get in on the ground floor you simply cannot expect to have everything readily available for you.". You are expecting everything from a three year old franchise to be readily available, at retail price. That's unreasonable. No store is going to stock a full array of older merchandise so that a relatively small portion of the base, such as yourself can "catch up". The SSA/Giants area at TRU is already ridiculously overstocked with things that aren't selling, leading to them having to offer clearance level sale prices on them frequently. They simply are not going to continue to stock cases after case of these old things on which 90% of the stock will have to be clearanced out in the end to make room for new stock that will sell.

Gamestop is providing you an option to do so with the Giantkicks, but at a higher cost. Be happy for that option. Activision is providing an avenue for you to catch up on many of the previously available characters through reposes. Be happy for that. You *can* catch up through secondary sales, but it will cost you. Right now you can obtain figures to play as 95% of the available roster at retail, if you look hard enough. Your need to fill up your collection with things that are no longer in production is a burden you place on yourself, yet you seek to shift that burden onto the stores to stock that stuff. You can play the game the whole way through with currently available figures. Your need to fill the checklist is not "finishing the game 100%". Ghost Roaster is not required to complete the game or play all of the levels. Eye Small is not either. If that's the way you feel, then perhaps it is best if you re-evaluate if this franchise is for you and save some money, because that is not how things work.

And not taking part in the game previously is "snooze"ing. You got in late for whatever reason, you still missed the opportunity to get them easily and cheaply. You need to adjust your expectations.

I sincerely apologize for sleeping on the job. Thank you for the pep talk and the suggestions as to which way I should steer my opinion of something.

Quote: skylanderkids

The easiest way to get those pesky stickers off (in Skylander Dads opinion) is...

At 1:39 you'll see how they don't peel off. At 1:48 I peel the sticker off after using heat and it's super easy and no mess left behind.

Ahahahaha "If you live in an African jungle perhaps"

Quote: lcopley98

I sincerely apologize for sleeping on the job. Thank you for the pep talk and the suggestions as to which way I should steer my opinion of something.

Snooze is a figure of speech that doesn't necessarily mean "sleeping". But, obviously you are taking it literally.

And one suggestion of where you should steer your opinion goes very well along with your suggestions that retailers should cater their stock/prices/deals toward your specific needs. I, and many, many other fans would prefer stores not give up half their limited space to keeping a diverse stock of old figures for the few that just discovered the franchise recently.

This franchise is about collecting as much as it is about gameplay. Part of collecting means that you have to do some searching, and some things go out of print over time. Coin collectors do not demand the Treasury re-mint old coins again. Stamp collectors don't think the post office should re-print old stamps. Baseball collectors don't demand a re-print of Honus Wagner cards (even if the company still existed). Now, I would be with you if we couldn't mail things without those old stamps, or buy things without those old coins. But, some Skylanders fans seem to think exactly that. You can play the game just fine, with the vast majority of playable characters bought in stores for retail. What you cannot do anymore is 100% your collection direct from retail unless you get really lucky, just as you cannot build a world class stamp collection by stopping by the post office. Don't mix playing the game "completely" with collecting.