darkSpyro

Quote: defpally

Well, Trap Team seems to be doing well this year, but I can't help but remember back in Giants when a new figure would show up on Amazon or elsewhere and be gone in minutes. Winterfest is still up for order for $14.99 (and a couple third parties, $49.99 + $7.99 shipping - LOL) hours later. Actually, variants in general aren't that hard to find at all anymore, I've seen Jolly Bumbleblast in stores quite a bit as well - I wonder if they re-shipped him, but I have seen him throughout the year.

I considered waiting for Best Buy, but I figured go ahead and get it from Amazon since we have Prime and I was already ordering something else. Thanks to the OP, you can't find it just by searching on "lob star" - you have to search "winterfest lob star" or use that link. Best Buy has had the listing for a while (release date 11/27), but it's still "Coming Soon" and getting someone to look it up in the store is painful with all the seasonal employees that don't know how to search stock in the computer. I'm sure they will get it soon too, but it will save me a trip.

I think they just overproduced Jolly Bumble Blast and Kickoff Countdown. I don't see Springtime Trigger Happy anymore and both Scratch and Punk Shock haven't made a sighting in my area in quite a while. I never did see a non-Easter packaging of Punk Shock in stores. Personally, I don't think we'll ever see a mad rush for figures or variants like we saw in the Giants era. It was the height of the franchise and most collectors, kids, & parents found the one Giant of each element much more manageable than the 2 per element gimmick they're spitting out now...consumers have wisened up. I can barely keep track of the new Trapmasters and cores and often I have that "oh yeah" moment to remind myself of an unreleased figure when I come across their soul gem in the game (I'm still working on my first leisurely playthrough of the game.

Just bought winter fest lob-star at Walmart in evergreen colorado, let the hunt begin if you didn't get him off Amazon already

^ Yeah, he has popped up everywhere at this point with no street date.. I'm already over him, ready for wave 3, lol

Just got mine best buy Kennewick Wa...there street date in 11-27-2014...they had 5 left

He's out of stock now on Amazon. I missed him. Maybe be back in stock in a couple of days.

Quote: KLM8325

He's out of stock now on Amazon. I missed him. Maybe be back in stock in a couple of days.

if you missed him on amazon, i couldn't get him either due to no fundage till later in the week, there's walmart which is getting them in now and remember gamestop will have him in on saturday for skylander day.

I believe that Activision is doing the same with Skylanders as most items that become collectible do. When there's more of a demand for them, especially as people want to collect them, the manufacturers suddenly release more of them. Giants was probably when a lot of people really started getting into the franchise. I know that's when we got into it. SSA had been out for a year and kids wanted it for Christmas, and they wanted the newest game. With all the great sales during the holidays for Giants, it was easy for new people get get hooked. Once that game played out and it was time for Swap Force, Activision saw the demand for variants and hard to find figures. They decided to produce more this time around, to meet the demand.

Jolly Bumble Blast was no where to be found, in my area, after Christmas. Then a couple of months ago, they appeared in abundance. I'm not sure if they produced more to meet a demand or if they had just been sitting on them. Kickoff Countdown, IMO, came too late in the game and was over produced. Most kids didn't care about the soccer variant (especially since it's not as popular of a sport in the US), and since Countdown was in abundance, anyway, no one really cared. Springtime Trigger Happy (and the rest of the Easter packaged releases) were the true hard to find ones. I couldn't find a STTH anywhere after Easter (and I was looking because the one I got my son was defective). I haven't seen the Easter packaged releases since before Easter, either. However, I did find a STTH at a Walmart the other day and my son found Punk Shock in Easter package somewhere while he was visiting my sister-in-law in Georgia. I'm not sure if they had just been found stashed somewhere or if they might be coming back out like Jolly Bumble Blast.

Quote: obidawsn

I believe that Activision is doing the same with Skylanders as most items that become collectible do. When there's more of a demand for them, especially as people want to collect them, the manufacturers suddenly release more of them. Giants was probably when a lot of people really started getting into the franchise. I know that's when we got into it. SSA had been out for a year and kids wanted it for Christmas, and they wanted the newest game. With all the great sales during the holidays for Giants, it was easy for new people get get hooked. Once that game played out and it was time for Swap Force, Activision saw the demand for variants and hard to find figures. They decided to produce more this time around, to meet the demand.

Jolly Bumble Blast was no where to be found, in my area, after Christmas. Then a couple of months ago, they appeared in abundance. I'm not sure if they produced more to meet a demand or if they had just been sitting on them. Kickoff Countdown, IMO, came too late in the game and was over produced. Most kids didn't care about the soccer variant (especially since it's not as popular of a sport in the US), and since Countdown was in abundance, anyway, no one really cared. Springtime Trigger Happy (and the rest of the Easter packaged releases) were the true hard to find ones. I couldn't find a STTH anywhere after Easter (and I was looking because the one I got my son was defective). I haven't seen the Easter packaged releases since before Easter, either. However, I did find a STTH at a Walmart the other day and my son found Punk Shock in Easter package somewhere while he was visiting my sister-in-law in Georgia. I'm not sure if they had just been found stashed somewhere or if they might be coming back out like Jolly Bumble Blast.

I think it's a double-edged sword that they're playing with at Activision. There was more of a demand for variants in the Giants era, but the logic to produce more doesn't pan out. You had a MUCH smaller base number of overall characters to work with then. From a financial standpoint, it made sense to go after everything that was out. Now with double the gimmick characters (2 of each element), 2 new elements, and peripherals (traps), it is getting to the point of overkill where consumers are wisening up and bailing on the franchise for their kids (the target market) and those who do stick around need a checklist year after year just to keep track of the new releases. Who needed a checklist for Giants? You just looked on the back of your starter pack & all the figures were on the box...I don't think they even fit on there anymore. Also, most kids really don't have the attention span to stick with a franchise year after year. Perhaps in simpler times when there was one Mario and Zelda game every few years, people saw it fit to reintroduce themself to the franchise with a new story and major graphical upgrade. If you sit out Skylanders for 2 years, you're 100+ figures behind in the game and feel it's a struggle to catch up.

Getting back to the variants question, I'd be very curious as to the production numbers of variants of the limited figures such as Granite Crusher, Jade Flashwing, Molten Hot Dog vs the production numbers of variants today. I wouldn't be surprised if Activision contractually strong armed Target into buying into a large production number of the Nitro series and Walmart into a large production number of the Enchanted series. I can see Walmart dropping out of the exclusives game with the next Skylanders game since there really isn't a point to purchasing their exclusive buddy packs this year.

Nailed it on exclusives. They're really baffling. I think the Legendary traps were pushing it this year, too.

Our big wal-mart only had 3 left, I only grabbed 1, but I haven't seen it anywhere else. Still happy though.

Yeesh, 3 threads about Winterfest Lob Star. Merged all into one to save space/stop people from making even more topics.

Quote: GhostRoaster

Nailed it on exclusives. They're really baffling. I think the Legendary traps were pushing it this year, too.

Yeah, and add in the premium for buying them I guess they think the book is worth $3, the fact that one element is doubled up instead of all being different. I got one of them for a stocking stuffer but have no desire to get all three. I have the same apathy for the slew of traps - one per element will do just fine thanks.

I just picked up Winterfest Lob Star at best buy here in southern Indiana.

Picked up Winterfest Lob Star. Best Buy in Glen Burnie Maryland.

Yeah my local BB in Northern Virginia had 10 on the shelf tonight. TRU still doesn't have any, strange, but it's cool cause my 20% gamers club discount is sweet!

Got my WFLobstar tonight at Walmart

My TRU got 6 cases yesterday, but still hasn't put them out yet?!?!!

Quote: PurpleSnurple

Yeah my local BB in Northern Virginia had 10 on the shelf tonight. TRU still doesn't have any, strange, but it's cool cause my 20% gamers club discount is sweet!

TRU registers are locked out from selling them until 12/7.
So unless a manager overrides it, or they lift the register lock, they wont be able to sell them until sunday.
I know that my store got 13 cases of them in today.

Ordered mine from Amazon. No worries about searching the stores in Camp Hill, PA.

FYI absolutely no streetdate at best buy

Mine came in the mail (got 2 of them). One of the arms is actually broken and rolling around in the box, so look out.

Quote: Matteomax

Mine came in the mail (got 2 of them). One of the arms is actually broken and rolling around in the box, so look out.

Rare, manufacturing error variant! To EBay, Batman!

Quote: defpally

Quote: Matteomax

Mine came in the mail (got 2 of them). One of the arms is actually broken and rolling around in the box, so look out.

Rare, manufacturing error variant! To EBay, Batman!

Not if it's in the box, lol! And damn Matt, what did you get them shipped, overnight?

Quote: skylander_chaos

Quote: defpally

Quote: Matteomax

Mine came in the mail (got 2 of them). One of the arms is actually broken and rolling around in the box, so look out.

Rare, manufacturing error variant! To EBay, Batman!

Not if it's in the box, lol! And damn Matt, what did you get them shipped, overnight?

Mine will be in today as well. Thanks for heads up, I may already have a "rare manufacturing" error in my box!

That doesn't make me feel good since I ordered them from Amazon. Hopefully, it will be intact.

BACK IN STOCK AT AMAZON

Quote: defpally

Quote: Matteomax

Mine came in the mail (got 2 of them). One of the arms is actually broken and rolling around in the box, so look out.

Rare, manufacturing error variant! To EBay, Batman!

*insert Batman transition with badly edited Lob Star art*

Lol, nope. It was actually broken. It looks like someone took it out of the packaging and purposely snapped the arm off. Really odd.

Has anyone found one yet in metro Detroit?

Found mine at Toys r us in Bloominton, IL today. Tons of them out. No other store had them.

Quote: Cheshiremonkey

Found mine at Toys r us in Bloominton, IL today. Tons of them out. No other store had them.

Did you buy one or were they locked?

Quote: GamerDrone

That doesn't make me feel good since I ordered them from Amazon. Hopefully, it will be intact.

Got mine today and they look great. No worries.

Quote: TrapShadowFan

Quote: Cheshiremonkey

Found mine at Toys r us in Bloominton, IL today. Tons of them out. No other store had them.

Did you buy one or were they locked?

Yes, it was locked, but a manager came over and unlocked it at the register.

Got him today at Walmat! They had plenty on the shelves. I'm in Kansas, USA

Picked up one at a Walmart in metro Detroit. They had about 10 hanging on pegs, but two of them had their right arms broken off. The packages themselves were not damaged, so it was kind of weird seeing two broken in the same exact spot.

I tried to find him at my Walmart today, which I absolutely ADORE shopping at... when I got to the skylanders, I saw they had reduced their stock to a tiny cardboard display, filled with Hog Wild Fryno Buddy Packs and Countdowns. There was one Gusto, the only trap master there. I asked a guy if they had new skylanders in the back, specifically WFLS, but he just said: "I'm not sure, try checking the shelf over there," and didn't even make an effort to look anywhere. Ah, Walmart, how I love thee.

Quote: griswoldthunder

Picked up one at a Walmart in metro Detroit. They had about 10 hanging on pegs, but two of them had their right arms broken off. The packages themselves were not damaged, so it was kind of weird seeing two broken in the same exact spot.

I found him at Walmart this afternoon. There was one on the pegs that also had his right arm snapped off at the elbow. While mine is not loose, I suspect that is going to be a common weak spot.

Ok glad I look today Amazon had them back in stock. Didnt have to go to any stores or pay TRU higher rates too.

Wife picked up 3 tonight on ling island, ny.

Spotted them today at Walmart in North Olmstead, OH. They had about 6 of him out center stage on the display. Poor regular Lob Star was regulated to the back end cap lol

^ lol, awww

I got today from AMAZON.. No damage !! SORRY ! "Matt'..

Got mine the other day, seems no damage. However, one thing I noticed and was confirmed when I saw a ton of them at TRU today - they in general have very sketchy paint jobs. The red and white don't fade very well, they probably should have stuck to sharp lines between the colors.

Got mine at best buy.

He's the new Jolly Bumble Blast...soon to be overloaded at a store near you and collecting dust in January if not bought in December. They would have sold thousands more if they had released him the week before Thanksgiving. Before people start mentioning Black Friday sales, that's the retailer's problem of selling at a lower cost...Activision still makes the same amount of money whether it's sold at $15 or $9...it's about quantity of figures shipped out that they capitalize off of. I'm fairly certain the retailers make a profit off the figure even if the store marks them down 50% off...it just cuts into their net profit.

Quote: mastermc54

I'm fairly certain the retailers make a profit off the figure even if the store marks them down 50% off...it just cuts into their net profit.

I've actually always been really curious about this. How much does it cost to make a figure VS the amount it sells for. In SSA (when they were still $7.99), we estimated that the RFID chip in it was likely pennies, and the actual casting of the mold likely equated to something around $3 total for the figure. At $8, they were almost tripling their money spent. Then Gamestop or whoever had to bump their prices up and start the $9.99 price point.

Quote: mastermc54

Before people start mentioning Black Friday sales, that's the retailer's problem of selling at a lower cost...Activision still makes the same amount of money whether it's sold at $15 or $9...

This is not entirely accurate.

Quote: UncleBob

Quote: mastermc54

Before people start mentioning Black Friday sales, that's the retailer's problem of selling at a lower cost...Activision still makes the same amount of money whether it's sold at $15 or $9...

This is not entirely accurate.

Please do educate us. Did Walmart pay more for figures at launch and got a price break right before Black Friday to sell at a lower cost? Quite honestly, the price that stores must pay to get the figures is baffling...if Five Below can make money selling Skylanders for $5 after distribution costs are figured in, figures must be provided to them by Activision for like $1-2 each.

There's a couple of things that factor into this.

A.) Stores get price breaks based on quantity ordered. If I know I'm only going to sell 100 at regular price, but I'm going to sell 1,000 at half price, then I'll order 1,000 and use that leverage to get a discount that I can then pass on to consumers. That discount means less money for Activision.

2.) Often times, manufacturers will make deals with big box retailers, giving them a price break or a partial refund/credit in exchange for that retailer using promotional/discount pricing to clear out old stock. Wave 1 not moving off the shelves fast enough? We'll credit you 25% of the cost on your remaining inventory towards future purchases. Then, you get to clear out Wave 1 figures and make room for Wave 2. The price break/refund/credit means less money for Activision.

Finally - Advertising. When you see Skylanders in the weekly ad, on signing through the store, or even on TV ads, this isn't always the retailer using a known brand to get you into the store. Often, manufacturers will pay big bucks or offer exclusive deals (including discounted pricing or special releases, like TRU's Legendary line) in exchange for this preferential treatment. Paying for this special advertising (even parts of deals like BOGO 40% off or whatever) means less money for Activision.

If you don't see them at TRU yet, it's because they're street dated for Dec 7th (which is also after their sale ends).
We got them in today weren't supposed to put them out yet.
Went to another store, they had about a box worth of them on the shelves.

^ I do get what mastermc is saying.. No matter what, let's just say Walmart, gets them for, and then turns around and sells them for, they still pay activision whatever the price they have in contract per unit.. But I personally think selling starter packs is like a company selling a game system, they can afford to lose money to make a lot more money, by selling add ons, toys, games, whatever the case may be..