darkSpyro

I can't believe I'm typing this, but TRU has earned my praise. Due to real life getting in the way, I was unable to get to any store yesterday, and after last year's experiences with empty shelves, I wasn't feeling very optimistic about my chances of getting the new figs today. Then I saw in the paper that TRU had a buy one, get one 40% off sale, and my hopes went down yet another notch.

But then I went to TRU this morning, and was very impressed to find that they had a massive SG display that was fully stocked. Series 2, lightcore, giants, singles, triple packs, legendaries - they had it all. I refuse to feed the dragon that is Activision, so I will not be purchasing the lightcores and series 2 figs, but I still got two starter packs (one is for my nephew since it's 40% off), five singles (Flashwing, Sprocket, Fright Rider, Pop Fizz and Chill), and three giants (Crusher, Swarm and Bouncer). I'm still a little bitter that I had to purchase a series 2 Cynder in the starter pack, but I look at it as a "free" figure considering the prices of these things.

The only figure that I would have purchased but did not see what Hot Head. I thought he was supposed to be out, but I didn't see him. I also went to Target and bought their last Granite Crusher, but I'm not sure that I will be keeping him, since he's a variant. Finally, I went to Wal-Mart and saw the 3DS starter pack with the red Pop Fizz and the GID Cynder. I might actually go back and buy that because my son actually has a 3DS, but what the heck am I going to do with two Tree Rexes? Wish they had put a different giant in that pack.

Anyway, back on topic. Very, very, very good job this time around TRU. The 40% sale was the cherry on top of a pleasant experience.

Quote: Nibelilt

Shroomy is sending them out to me, but overall, I'm really disappointed Acti is putting out Wave Two so soon.
1. It's another America exclusive thing, when America already gets literally everything else except for a few Dark Spyro Single variants, Pearl Hex and Glow Fright Rider, and have Metallic Cynder, Chrome Spyro, WERDS, Flocked Stump Smash, and the Sidekicks to themselves.
2. There is no good reason for them to do it, anywhere. It ruins the suspense and excitement of new Waves, and makes the job of scalpers that much easier.
3. It's stupid.
But hey, I'll shut up once I get Sprocket.

TRU get no praise from me. Don't care how harsh that sounds.

Quote: Nibelilt

Quote: Nibelilt

Shroomy is sending them out to me, but overall, I'm really disappointed Acti is putting out Wave Two so soon.
1. It's another America exclusive thing, when America already gets literally everything else except for a few Dark Spyro Single variants, Pearl Hex and Glow Fright Rider, and have Metallic Cynder, Chrome Spyro, WERDS, Flocked Stump Smash, and the Sidekicks to themselves.
2. There is no good reason for them to do it, anywhere. It ruins the suspense and excitement of new Waves, and makes the job of scalpers that much easier.
3. It's stupid.
But hey, I'll shut up once I get Sprocket.

TRU get no praise from me. Don't care how harsh that sounds.

Your criticism has nothing to do with TRU, and everything to do with Activision. Put the blame where it belongs.

The fact is, TRU is fully stocked, and it is the only store I have seen that actually has a sale on Skylanders. And a good sale at that. And considering that Wal-Mart and Target have bumped their prices to match TRU, it's a no-brainer that TRU is the store of choice for Skylanders right now.

America in general is making me frown right now...

...

Quote: Nibelilt

America in general is making me frown right now...

...

At least we have GITD Fright Rider!

Quote: CAMOflauge

Quote: Nibelilt

America in general is making me frown right now...

...

At least we have GITD Fright Rider!

I guess that's kind of our little symbol, eh?

I respect those other countries out of the US, however today when I went to buy Hot Head at TRU, I saw a whole shelf of Ninjinis there. I immidiately went to grab one, however at check out they wouldn't let me buy her. They did put in a pre-order to get her for free to notice the mistake they made. Anyway, they also said that if I came back at the end of the day, I could get a Sprocket and a Flashwing for free. To those in Europe, they might have also made the same thing, so keep your eyes out for her!

Hime, Hot Head is out. He's just more sought after for some reason. TRU's didn't get as many boxes of wave 2 Giants as they did wave 2 singles.

^ wow! i wish i could get figures for free....I'm heading to TRU after work to check out the situation here on whether they have them yet or not. But yesterday they were very controlling of how people bought the figures...so i'll see later i guess. i just really want flashwing

milton, I TRUly doubt so.

(... Making that pun made me feel 0.0000000000001% better...)

Quote: GameMaster78

Hime, Hot Head is out. He's just more sought after for some reason. TRU's didn't get as many boxes of wave 2 Giants as they did wave 2 singles.

Yeah, I know he's out GM. I just couldn't find him. He's the only released figure that I still want to buy at this point. Just went back to that same TRU to redeem my legendary 3-pack pre-order form (left it on my desk at work when I went to TRU this morning - doh!), and then bought legendary Bouncer at 40% off. I had already paid for the 3-pack last week, so I wasn't sure if they would honor the 40% off for L-Bouncer, but they did. TRU keeps impressing me this year.

Just need four giants and two of the new "normal" figs, and I'm done. Oh, plus the legendary Stealth Elf.

not sure why it is that hot head is so scarce compared to the others. i saw all of wave 2 at walmart yesterday, except hothead and LC jet-vac. i havent been out looking for any today, because i blew my paycheck yesterday, hows the stock on these things? ill be back out wednesday looking for ones i dont have yet. i only got the starters and granite crusher, fright rider, and pop fizz. so i pretty much need all thats out so far.

while i am glad that they are now available i am sad that i have no funds for wave 2, my last paycheck was gone yesterday after snatching up all of wave 1. Oh well, hopefully some of it will last until friday

I can tell you for sure why Hot Head is scarce. Because the Giants are SUPER popular.

When I was at Toys R Us day 1, everyone was reaching for the Giants first. While I was grabbing Chill, Fright Rider and Pop-Fizz, the amount of Bouncer Swarm and Crusher was depleting FAST! The employees had to keep getting boxes out from the back to replenish the supply of Giants, but there were still tons of Chill, Fright Rider and Pop-Fizz. That's actually good for me, because I'm not really that fond of the remaining four Giants, but REALLY want the rest of the new regular characters. If people want to spend their money on Hot Head and leave Sprocket for me, that's fine by me. I can wait and get him later.

ok so i called tru inquiring about hot head and was very disappointed in their service.....1st tru "nowedonothavehotheadthankyoubyebye" the 2nd tru "NO! We. Do. Not. Have. Hot. Head. Bye" like there wasnt really any reason for either to be that rude -.-

Quote: Nibelilt

America in general is making me frown right now...

It is Activision, and not America. I also see you spouting that crap all over this forum.

It's an American product from an American company (made in China) and then EXPORTED to your country.

These types of exports used to be impractical, so be happy it's making it's way to you at all.

Stop being a racist about a freaking video game.

Quote: DinoHex

While I was grabbing Chill, Fright Rider and Pop-Fizz, the amount of Bouncer Swarm and Crusher was depleting FAST! The employees had to keep getting boxes out from the back to replenish the supply of Giants, but there were still tons of Chill, Fright Rider and Pop-Fizz.

Interestingly, our TRU has a TON of Bouncers, only a few of Crusher and Swarm, and of course no Hot Head.

Series 2 is massively better in every way than Series 1. You seriously think your plain Cynder is just fine, and Activision is foisting a repose off on you? Hah. They massively overhauled the engine to the game, and the new figures are future-proofed for sequels now. The figures are higher in quality, sculpts superior... they make the old ones look like Chinese knockoffs, and do more.

When the next sequel is out and your green-based figures can't learn any of the new abilities or add anything at all just because you were mad at Activision, I hope you remember that somebody called you on this on day one.

Heck, I'll quote myself when you go out and buy the reposes. That'll be fun. Until then, get over the fact that the game runs on a new engine and stop complaining all the time. That, or stop accusing other forum members of being whiners. Anything to make you look like less of a hypocrite.

"Ooh, I'm soo upset that part of my purchase went to a better version of Cynder..."

Cry me a river. First-world problems, man.

Quote: Tashiji

Series 2 is massively better in every way than Series 1. You seriously think your plain Cynder is just fine, and Activision is foisting a repose off on you? Hah. They massively overhauled the engine to the game, and the new figures are future-proofed for sequels now. The figures are higher in quality, sculpts superior... they make the old ones look like Chinese knockoffs, and do more.

We are Activision and we approve this message.

^ (Generic snarky and/or passive-aggressive message) + (Pretend to be witty) + (Not contribute anything)

Want me to go around the forum doing this? I can find hundreds of instances.

Quote: Hindsight

Quote: Nibelilt

America in general is making me frown right now...

It is Activision, and not America. I also see you spouting that crap all over this forum.

It's an American product from an American company (made in China) and then EXPORTED to your country.

These types of exports used to be impractical, so be happy it's making it's way to you at all.

Stop being a racist about a freaking video game.

Am I talking about just Skylanders? And also, I'm not saying I hate all you Americans on this Forum.. I know a lot of you are a nice bunch, it's just... Know what, I won't even bother trying to explain, cause if I do I know someone will find something to say.

Sigh... I think I'll just leave now. This year is just too hard for me, thank you high school.

Quote: Tashiji

^ (Generic snarky and/or passive-aggressive message) + (Pretend to be witty) + (Not contribute anything)

Want me to go around the forum doing this? I can find hundreds of instances.

I have never denied my snark. In fact, I embrace it, and many forum members enjoy my posts (according to their PMs). You clearly do not, yet you can't help yourself responding to me.

To your last point, however, the game isn't challenging enough to justify re-purchasing 24 figures (or whatever the number is). The only reason I bought the first 32 figs is because my kid really likes the game, and the figures look cool. I'm positive my son and I can beat the game with the 8 new figs and the 8 giants. If it turns out that future Skylander sequels require Series 2 (and newer) figures, maybe we'll buy a few of our favorites. But we certainly won't be buying all of them.

The so-called "superior" sculpts seem the same to me. It's just a prop for a video game. The quality of the sculpt doesn't mean anything to a non-collector like me. I may be a completionist, but I'm not a collector. And I'm certainly not going to flush away my money on a re-pose just because it's out there.

I like you fine, Himewad, you're just giving somebody who actually adds a lot to the forum a hard time. Nil is not some newbie off the street. S/he's been active with information on the Giants board and in-game discussion for quite some time. I think the internet is too trivial to actually hate anyone, I just felt like telling you I don't think you've got the right target this time. You and me? I know we don't exactly see eye to eye, but honestly, even saying what we've said here, I still consider us cool. We're adults. We're thick-skinned and don't mind a bit of blunt communication, at least that's my understanding.

For what its worth, I'm actually with you on most of the reposes. I don't like characters like Stump Smash enough to want to level another one, and a Wow Pow upgrade doesn't fix that. Did I jump at the chance to get the new Ignitor? Sure. But that's a character I use all the time. I, too, don't have the extra cash to pay hundreds for benchwarmers this time, but I do believe that the Series 2 figures are markedly better, and it would behoove anyone to at least look into upgrading their favorites to make them more competitive in the new game.

Also, again for what it's worth, I can help myself just fine with internet debates, and I find it hysterical that you would think otherwise. I'm an adult, in absolute control of my actions, and I specifically decided to address you because you're trolling somebody who spends a ton of time working on tier lists and PVP discussion over the fact that they have a somewhat rightful grievance with Activision here. How hard would it have been to ship Wave 2 to Europe, really, when my Walmart has been through three boxes and still seem to think the release date is at the end of November? The things are showing up in places that didn't even know they ordered them, but not one figure overseas? It really is screwy. S/he is right.

Quote: Nibelilt

Am I talking about just Skylanders? And also, I'm not saying I hate all you Americans on this Forum.. I know a lot of you are a nice bunch, it's just... Know what, I won't even bother trying to explain, cause if I do I know someone will find something to say.

Sigh... I think I'll just leave now. This year is just too hard for me, thank you high school.

You're whining publicly about the lack of exports from a foreign nation AND your High School Drama?

This is not Live Journal, please refrain.

- - -

Also, to the above - I am buying Series 2 because they got me, I want the bonus exp, and I can't get it without buying "Orange Based" Skylanders.

Though I can imagine those with less money might be annoyed at that, you can at least buy them over time?

I went after Nib because they said I was whining about not getting Hot Head in another thread. I corrected them (him? her?) and properly labeled Nib as the whiner.

Activision has its own reasons for doing what they do. It may not make sense to the masses, but a company doesn't get to the level of success they have reached without making informed decisions about where to flood the market with certain products.

Quote: Tashiji

Nil is not some newbie off the street. S/he's been active with information on the Giants board and in-game discussion for quite some time.

She should stop whining and focus on those posts, again, it's an American product, and she's acting entitled.

Someone has always found a flaw in Activision's actions, but when you add export costs, shipping, VAT, etc, I can't blame them for making it less of a priority.

I imagine they get a much nicer margin on their product when they sell it here first, make the money back, and then re-invest in shipping to other nations where the profit margin and taxes are not as favorable.

Whining posts turns people off to forums like these, which is why my preference would be to focus on news, info, releases, sightings, etc, and not on whining "my country doesn't get the purple pony, omg my life is so hard!"

You were right when you said it... first world problems.

Games are only considered imports and exports from a totally technical/legal perspective. Activision set the European release date and then proceeded to phone it in. They don't need anyone to apologize for them, they should be the ones doing that. Keep in mind that this is a company which has publicly stated (and not just to Americans) that they were going to solve shortages and lackluster stock this time around. It was one of the focal points of their strategy to win back burnt parents/users after all the wild goose chases the first time, and while I'm glad that, for the most part, I can say that they've satisfied American demand, this is truly a global game. It's not like London is Zimbabwe; if we've got Flashwing and Hot Head early, so should they.

We all get irked when Activision lets us down. Don't tell me you weren't there with the first Skylanders, because otherwise I'd get to wondering if you ever played it.

This isn't random complaining about a company that usually has its act together, it's a reponse to all of the numerous times that this company has let its users down on figure distribution, and the fact that it wasn't supposed to be like that this time.

Something was promised that has only been delivered on in select areas. You've got to expect some sour grapes from the numerous territories that were told the same thing we in the US were, but bailed on at launch anyway.

EDIT: Yep, Himewad, I'm not arguing that you've properly labeled whining. All I'm saying is that Activision is why we're hearing all these complaints, and not just from Nil. There's no point making it an issue with people on the micro level when what we're looking at is a macro-level distribution problem. Everything else was bound to happen and the people who are doing it, obnoxious or not, are right. Like when TRU repeatedly screwed you with the first game, and I absolutely remember that, I let it slide every time because the party responsible for your repeat misfortune was obviously not you. Same deal here.

You lost me at "should", as "should" is an opinion my friend.

Skylanders 2 has already been better than Skylanders 1. Progress has been made, the majority is satisfied.

Toys for Bob is a Californian company, yes, this is still an import/export issue as there is great Taxation (over 20% from VAT) in selling to the UK.

I am a former Nintendo employee and I own a marketing company now, I know what I'm talking about.

American products will almost always release later overseas, just like Japanese products almost always release later here in the states.

Whining about it just creates crap on these boards and adds zero valuable info for anyone to benefit from.

Should isn't an opinion, it's advice. You offer your advice on forums. "Should" was absolutely contextually appropriate, and frankly, a subjective term that can mean a volume of things. I'm sad I lost you at the point where you misread me (and that's definitely what it was; I'm highly articulate, probably more so than yourself), but that's your fault.

I understand what you're saying about American products, but you're completely ignoring precedent here. Wham-Shell landed first in Australia, L. Trigger Happy debuted in Canada, Europe STILL has a Dark Spyro single we're unlikely to ever see on these shores, a German Toy Fair got an exclusive variant, and in just those four examples, I have established a track record of foreign support that you cannot deny. What is happening right now in Europe is a deviation from the norm.

Basically, everything you've said is wrong. Except the Nintendo thing; I can't verify that.

I'd just like to share a bit of my previous figure collecting knowledge here: Activision doesn't decide what store gets what, the stores themselves dictate what they want to buy. So when Toys r us has a timed exclusive wave, it's because they paid Activision for the right to have that wave and bring more business to their stores. Just like Target paid for exclusivity to Granite Crusher. If the stores didn't buy Skylanders giants when it was shown at the trade shows like Toy Fair earlier this year, it would not have been made. Period.

Toys r us UK is a totally different entity from TRU US, with seperate buyers and distributors. They have to worry about completely different child safety standards and taxes on imported goods. Simply put, TRU US paid for the 2nd wave early, TRU UK did not. No one is really to blame, it's just the way it is.

And honestly, these squabbles kind of make me hopeful. It's the growing pains of Skylanders changing from a quirky hobby that few people take seriously, to a legitimate franchise with a very passionate dedicated fanbase. You guys are on the right track.

The figures are not exclusive to Toys R Us. Activision is shipping them to every store across the country right now because they oversold Wave 1 orders. I bought mine at Walmart. So a distinct absence from Europe, where no doubt we're also working with the concept of being oversold, is definitely preferential treatment.

But, this thread is getting derailed, and I apologize for my part in that mess. I've said what I had to say, and drawing it out any further will just deny people a chance to actually give Kudos to TRU. So, you're right. Absolutely. No more squabbling from my end; any point I'd want to make can be made in PM. Have fun with the thread.

Quote: orcface777

Toys r us UK is a totally different entity from TRU US, with seperate buyers and distributors. They have to worry about completely different child safety standards and taxes on imported goods. Simply put, TRU US paid for the 2nd wave early, TRU UK did not. No one is really to blame, it's just the way it is.

so my question is - does geoffrey the giraffe exist over there?
if so. does he have an accent?
can you tell its an accent? b/c i imagine he sounds pretty normal to you

Himewad, the TRU i am at has tons of hot heads in stock. If ya like, I can get ya one and ship it to ya. Let me know.

On a completely different TRU topic, my son paid for a game this summer (not Skylanders ... GASP!!!) using a TRU gift card he received for his birthday. The person that rang us up asked us she could keep our now depleted card. We said of course, but why? Well, she collects the different styles of TRU gift cards and keeps them in a binder. She even showed us the binder. It was actually kind of cool when they were all there, displayed very nicely.

Some people collect Skylanders and display them on their man-cave wall. Some people collect TRU gift cards and display them in a binder. To each their own.

Quote: Tashiji

Basically, everything you've said is wrong. Except the Nintendo thing; I can't verify that.

You've illustrated that different items came out in different ways in different countries.

Something happening once is a trend? Maybe you're not as articulate as you're giving yourself credit for being?

I always like to let OTHERS compliment me, vs. patting myself on the back.

Keep it up, if it makes you feel better. Condescending is a good color on you.

Quote: Monsinour

Himewad, the TRU i am at has tons of hot heads in stock. If ya like, I can get ya one and ship it to ya. Let me know.

I appreciate the offer, Monsinour, I really do. But I'll just wait. I've already got more than enough new stuff for Christmas, and then he can use some of his Christmas cash to buy the few others that we need.