darkSpyro

I figures since Swap Force is over, I'd like to talk about how everyone feels about certain character sales. Did some sell better than you'd think they would or were some just very underrated and deserved to be purchased more? Let me know what you think about the sales of your favorite characters.

For me personally, I was quite shocked that wasn't a shelf warmer like I thought he'd be and same with . I did wish that and sold more, but hey at least they didn't do as bad as or sadly I actually liked those two.

I see a ton of Boom Jet and Rip Tide.

I See alot of boom jet, scorp and riptide.

i see tons of zoo lou, legendary zoo lou, scorp, slobber tooth, rip tide, dune bug, star strike, mega ram spyro, smolderdash and every swapper. i lined up 15 different swappers last time at walmart just for fun (the 15 including jade fire kraken and doom stone)

I thought Scorp was a great character design, yet see him languishing on shelves quite often. Riptide I thought would sell better too, he is pretty cool looking as with Dune Bug. Punk Shock also moved slowly despite being in very limited numbers. I also see lots of legendaries (which my son loves), not to mention all other variants (guess the wind has gone out of that sail, people are a lot more hesitant to re-buy the same characters).

Zoo Lou I see a lot, but they simply put him in way too many case assortments. Boom Jet as well, but he looks pretty silly, so I get people not getting him. Hoot Loop (Enchanted as well) also quite numerous.

No reposes seemed to move much at all this year, save for Hot Dog and Prism Break - but that isn't unexpected. Triple Packs were also a bust, my TRU still has two full columns of completely full pegs of those. They never got many post-Wave 1 ones, Sheep Wreck or Crossbow packs, because they still can't move the Wave 1 ones.

In general, at this point almost anything is pretty easy to find. Some of the early stuff that didn't come again later is drying up (I've been looking for a cheap S3 Chill to replace mine that had one of her helmet wings come off that I cannot find, but I'm not paying full price for her).

Quote:

For me personally, I was quite shocked that Slobbertooth wasn't a shelf warmer like I thought he'd be and same with Roller Brawl.

How can anyone not love those two ? Next to Pop Thorn they are my favorites .

Things move very slow over here but recall seeing legendary Zou Lou and Night Shift then they were gone . Rubble Rouser is in short supply . The last wave has never been here .
Prices for Swop Force starter and figures are starting to go on discount . My brothers computer company he works for has no interest in stocking Trap team due to poor Swop Force sales .

I can tell you which Giants skylanders still warming the shelves .
Bouncer , Pop Fizz , Scorpion Striker Battle pack , Gill Grunt , Light core Shroom Boom . Lightning Rod , Fright rider .

Tons of zoo lou. Too much zoo lou.

Seems like some of the core characters sold very well, such as Star Strike and Smolderdash.

I think the ones that didn't sell very well are the ones mentioned like Zoo Lou, Countdown, Scorp, Slobbertooth.

Personally speaking I think every figure sold well initially but there wasn't a point where everything sold out and there was nothing anywhere like with SSA and Giants. As such, stores should still have a lot of early figures left and they'll be trying to sell them off as much as possible before Trap Team comes out.

I'm curious about the whole S2 Hot Dog thing. I've seen every other character from every other release on the pegs, except him. I guess the combo of high demand for him plus the 2 per box that were shipped created a scarce amount on the shelves. I'm sure when the facts are put together then this isn't really true, but sometimes I wonder if the limited number of some figures like him and Bash are done on purpose. Trying to create elusive figures to keep Skylanders on our minds while we continuously hunt them.

I'm sure that I'm overthinking it a great deal.

Generally speaking, everything was easy to find...made my life easy...but as defpally has mentioned...no one is storming the stores anymore clamoring to get these things either.

I found most of wave 1 to be the shelf warmers.

Quote: somePerson

I found most of wave 1 to be the shelf warmers.

Interesting. Around here, except for more recent at one of the TRU's, I haven't seen much of Wave 1, especially S2 Pop Fizz.

I never see s3 chill, hot dog, scratch, chop chop, roller brawl, slobber tooth, or magna charge. Or the sheep wreck pack.

I see all the legendaries in tru thou i dont recall seeing lc grim creeper thou I might have missed him. I dont see anything wave 1 anymore besides the triples /swappers. I haven't seen rattle shake in awhile. series 2 hotdog, jetvac, scratch i havent seen since they came out. Roller brawl is what ppl seem to be asking for per friends that work in target/walmart. Lightcores i see all ver and lc countdown (he aint moving due o ppl havin countdown already)

TRu is also sitting on alot of SSA stuff but most are none reposes (past giants) so here's hoping it stays that way as they are slowly clearing out..ie ignator, sonic boom etc.


I think activ needs to get an dea of what stores still have huge amounts of figure wise from the past 3 games and try to avoid those as reposes. This way if a kid wants ignator for example they can get the SSA one (giants seems rare)

Quote: Eggers

I'm curious about the whole S2 Hot Dog thing. I've seen every other character from every other release on the pegs, except him. I guess the combo of high demand for him plus the 2 per box that were shipped created a scarce amount on the shelves. I'm sure when the facts are put together then this isn't really true, but sometimes I wonder if the limited number of some figures like him and Bash are done on purpose. Trying to create elusive figures to keep Skylanders on our minds while we continuously hunt them.

I'm sure that I'm overthinking it a great deal.

Series 2 Hot Dog and Jet Vac, as well as Scratch are uncommon because they shipped in a Wave that was quickly upstaged by the Easter Wave shipments (Fryno was in both, so he was easier to find). Stores simply didn't get as many of them as they did other Waves, because they were also stocking Easter ones. So, in other words, it really only saw a half of a Wave. Stores simply aren't going to order as many cases of Skylanders in April/May as they do in October - April and later Waves have always been harder to find, notably Drobot S2, Lightcore Chill and Pop Fizz last year and Wham Shell/Camo/Warnado the year before.

Quote: defpally

Quote: Eggers

I'm curious about the whole S2 Hot Dog thing. I've seen every other character from every other release on the pegs, except him. I guess the combo of high demand for him plus the 2 per box that were shipped created a scarce amount on the shelves. I'm sure when the facts are put together then this isn't really true, but sometimes I wonder if the limited number of some figures like him and Bash are done on purpose. Trying to create elusive figures to keep Skylanders on our minds while we continuously hunt them.

I'm sure that I'm overthinking it a great deal.

Series 2 Hot Dog and Jet Vac, as well as Scratch are uncommon because they shipped in a Wave that was quickly upstaged by the Easter Wave shipments (Fryno was in both, so he was easier to find). Stores simply didn't get as many of them as they did other Waves, because they were also stocking Easter ones. So, in other words, it really only saw a half of a Wave. Stores simply aren't going to order as many cases of Skylanders in April/May as they do in October - April and later Waves have always been harder to find, notably Drobot S2, Lightcore Chill and Pop Fizz last year and Wham Shell/Camo/Warnado the year before.

I think the rareness of Hot Dog 2, Scratch, and Jet Vac 2 is due to three factors:

(1) Wave "4" was a limited promotional shipment to the major retailers, followed by several weeks more Wave 3 shipments. Based on what I have seen from my store's orders, Activision did not really start the new wave ("4.5" on the boxes), until the past couple of weeks.

(2) Because Wave 3 lasted so long, store shelves are swamped with the figures that were overrepresented in Wave 3 (Smolderdash (3 per box), Dune Bug (3 per box), and the rereleased Wave 1 figures - Zoo Lou and Countdown - that most everyone has). Store shelves are especially full of Smolderdash right now because Activision has now shipped her in Waves 1, 3, and 4.

(3) In the Wave "4.5" boxes Activision is shipping right now there is ONLY 1 Hot Dog and 1 Jet Vac. There are only 2 Scratches. Even if a store stocks a new box right now, all it takes is 1-2 customers to clean them out.

It seems they still can't get the shipment mix right still. Shame figures in demand can't be bought, but others are languishing on the shelf, demotivating retailers. I think they should get it to where a retailer can mix it up a bit more.

Quote: BP

Quote: defpally

Quote: Eggers

I'm curious about the whole S2 Hot Dog thing. I've seen every other character from every other release on the pegs, except him. I guess the combo of high demand for him plus the 2 per box that were shipped created a scarce amount on the shelves. I'm sure when the facts are put together then this isn't really true, but sometimes I wonder if the limited number of some figures like him and Bash are done on purpose. Trying to create elusive figures to keep Skylanders on our minds while we continuously hunt them.

I'm sure that I'm overthinking it a great deal.

Series 2 Hot Dog and Jet Vac, as well as Scratch are uncommon because they shipped in a Wave that was quickly upstaged by the Easter Wave shipments (Fryno was in both, so he was easier to find). Stores simply didn't get as many of them as they did other Waves, because they were also stocking Easter ones. So, in other words, it really only saw a half of a Wave. Stores simply aren't going to order as many cases of Skylanders in April/May as they do in October - April and later Waves have always been harder to find, notably Drobot S2, Lightcore Chill and Pop Fizz last year and Wham Shell/Camo/Warnado the year before.

I think the rareness of Hot Dog 2, Scratch, and Jet Vac 2 is due to three factors:

(1) Wave "4" was a limited promotional shipment to the major retailers, followed by several weeks more Wave 3 shipments. Based on what I have seen from my store's orders, Activision did not really start the new wave ("4.5" on the boxes), until the past couple of weeks.

(2) Because Wave 3 lasted so long, store shelves are swamped with the figures that were overrepresented in Wave 3 (Smolderdash (3 per box), Dune Bug (3 per box), and the rereleased Wave 1 figures - Zoo Lou and Countdown - that most everyone has). Store shelves are especially full of Smolderdash right now because Activision has now shipped her in Waves 1, 3, and 4.

(3) In the Wave "4.5" boxes Activision is shipping right now there is ONLY 1 Hot Dog and 1 Jet Vac. There are only 2 Scratches. Even if a store stocks a new box right now, all it takes is 1-2 customers to clean them out.

Ah, well that makes sense then. Thank you for your input, especially since you can see orders and boxes. I knew it wasn't some ingenious idea from Activision. I didn't even think there were any more of Hot Dog getting shipped after those Wave 4 boxes.

Quote: GhostRoaster

It seems they still can't get the shipment mix right still. Shame figures in demand can't be bought, but others are languishing on the shelf, demotivating retailers. I think they should get it to where a retailer can mix it up a bit more.

I personally think that is on purpose. I have been to two Wal-Marts almost daily looking for Jade Fire Kraken (still looking). On many failed trips, I buy other things. It is in the retailers' interest to keep you coming back. Now that launch, Christmas, and Easter are over, what keeps you coming back? If you come in looking for Hot Dog but don't find him, maybe you buy another figure. Maybe that happens multiple times over the period you are looking.

Something else I should clarify: My comments above were primarily for singles...I seem to recall that W4 swappers started shipping a couple of weeks earlier.

Something to keep in mind: The waves are not clean in any way, shape, or form. Activision generally seems to start shipping a new wave when they run out of the previous wave. If they run out of wave 2 swappers but have a bunch of wave 2 singles left, they will start shipping the wave 3 swappers and keep shipping the wave 2 singles until they are gone.

Also, just because you see characters from a new wave in the store doesn't mean that the wave has started. From my experience, they sometimes float a couple of boxes of a new wave to the major retailers (especially TRU) early, i.e. before they start shipping them regularly, to get people excited and start them looking for the new wave. For example, when Lightcore Bumble Blast came out at TRU, I recall seeing that the Box said "W5," even though Activision was still shipping W3 singles and lightcores at the time.

I sometimes feel like there is a pre-set promotional schedule of when characters release at the major retailers, and Activision might be shipping a limited amount of the figures when necessary to comply with the marketing schedule.

Quote: BP

Quote: GhostRoaster

It seems they still can't get the shipment mix right still. Shame figures in demand can't be bought, but others are languishing on the shelf, demotivating retailers. I think they should get it to where a retailer can mix it up a bit more.

I personally think that is on purpose. I have been to two Wal-Marts almost daily looking for Jade Fire Kraken (still looking). On many failed trips, I buy other things. It is in the retailers' interest to keep you coming back. Now that launch, Christmas, and Easter are over, what keeps you coming back? If you come in looking for Hot Dog but don't find him, maybe you buy another figure. Maybe that happens multiple times over the period you are looking.

Something else I should clarify: My comments above were primarily for singles...I seem to recall that W4 swappers started shipping a couple of weeks earlier.

Something to keep in mind: The waves are not clean in any way, shape, or form. Activision generally seems to start shipping a new wave when they run out of the previous wave. If they run out of wave 2 swappers but have a bunch of wave 2 singles left, they will start shipping the wave 3 swappers and keep shipping the wave 2 singles until they are gone.

Also, just because you see characters from a new wave in the store doesn't mean that the wave has started. From my experience, they sometimes float a couple of boxes of a new wave to the major retailers (especially TRU) early, i.e. before they start shipping them regularly, to get people excited and start them looking for the new wave. For example, when Lightcore Bumble Blast came out at TRU, I recall seeing that the Box said "W5," even though Activision was still shipping W3 singles and lightcores at the time.

I sometimes feel like there is a pre-set promotional schedule of when characters release at the major retailers, and Activision might be shipping a limited amount of the figures when necessary to comply with the marketing schedule.

Just saying: It is nice to have insight from a small business owner who deals with Skylanders merchandise daily.

Quote: BP

Quote: GhostRoaster

It seems they still can't get the shipment mix right still. Shame figures in demand can't be bought, but others are languishing on the shelf, demotivating retailers. I think they should get it to where a retailer can mix it up a bit more.

I personally think that is on purpose. I have been to two Wal-Marts almost daily looking for Jade Fire Kraken (still looking). On many failed trips, I buy other things. It is in the retailers' interest to keep you coming back. Now that launch, Christmas, and Easter are over, what keeps you coming back? If you come in looking for Hot Dog but don't find him, maybe you buy another figure. Maybe that happens multiple times over the period you are looking.

Something else I should clarify: My comments above were primarily for singles...I seem to recall that W4 swappers started shipping a couple of weeks earlier.

Something to keep in mind: The waves are not clean in any way, shape, or form. Activision generally seems to start shipping a new wave when they run out of the previous wave. If they run out of wave 2 swappers but have a bunch of wave 2 singles left, they will start shipping the wave 3 swappers and keep shipping the wave 2 singles until they are gone.

Also, just because you see characters from a new wave in the store doesn't mean that the wave has started. From my experience, they sometimes float a couple of boxes of a new wave to the major retailers (especially TRU) early, i.e. before they start shipping them regularly, to get people excited and start them looking for the new wave. For example, when Lightcore Bumble Blast came out at TRU, I recall seeing that the Box said "W5," even though Activision was still shipping W3 singles and lightcores at the time.

I sometimes feel like there is a pre-set promotional schedule of when characters release at the major retailers, and Activision might be shipping a limited amount of the figures when necessary to comply with the marketing schedule.

Nothing gets me more excited than finding what I need in one trip. Nothing frustrates me more as a buyer than chasing stuff. I'm over this franchise for the most part, so I'll have no problem dropping it if it became a goose chase.

I don't go shopping much because I buy offline but when I do I see lots of reposes and lightcores and never any dune bug or stink bomb which sucks becwuse I want dune bug so badly.

lightcores shelfwarmed as well as wave 1. there was never any other triple packs here aside wave 1s this time around and the sight of the euro pegging for swap figures indicates that europe just isn't interested in skylanders as much anymore. with trap team being announced, i think more people are just losing interest now and you'll see lots of figures on sale on ebay. bubble's bursting and these aren't going to be worth as much as they used to be.

not even the skylanders days anyone came for. i was the only one there to inquire on things unlike the year before. i think most people these days are ordering online. pretty much what i did for swap force from toys r us.

Quote: Thepokeman

I don't go shopping much because I buy offline but when I do I see lots of reposes and lightcores and never any dune bug or stink bomb which sucks becwuse I want dune bug so badly.

My Walmart has both... tons of Dune Bugs

ive been seeing euro cynders and dune bugs + other singles, not just swaps now. Im in Cali too

I mostly look at walmart and they are flooded with enchanted star strikes and hoot loops.