darkSpyro

So wave 3 doesn't have a different sku then previous waves, so both stores have trouble dealing with an orderly release.

TRU gets the first group (and probably the worst since it's only one new character and not a swapper) and releases them at midnight, advertised, no sale. Some stores release early but generally, customers are not upset. The don't put them on sale during the release (actually higher then most stores), but still sell very well.

Target gets the 2nd group (a nice set since it's 3 swappers) on the 29th. For whatever reason, they don't have much supply, some stores not getting any, others getting two at most. Quite a few stores put them out early. The have a B3G1 type sale. They advertise it and customers are not happy.

TRU gets the 3rd group on Jan 7th. This may not even be an exclusive as Amazon also got the figures. It may be that TRU has better shipping, or prioritized this. They have plenty of stock, and sell without a sale and advertising. Some stores don't appear to have the stock yet. TRU puts a sale on SA figures to drive customers to the stores. They don't advertise the new figures, wisely, because there's good reason to believe stores may not have it. Recently shipping history is unreliable and weather factors. Plus, no sku to enable registers to lock out early sales.


Not trying to poo poo Target yet again, or who ever's at fault, but I am much happier paying TRUs full price then Target's sale price.

Retailers make a lot of mistakes. I went to 2 different targets over the past several days, and found nothing.

Well the good news is that wave 3 (like all of Swap Force) won't be hard to obtain. A little patience, and minor effort online (Amazon) and we will all have what we need soon enough. I remember the good old days, during Spyro's adventure; when you couldn't find any figures at all.

TRU has had all of my business during swap force. Havent even bothered to venture to Target for wave 3. The skylander section at my target is a mere fly speck in comparison to the TRU across the street. I aint kidding you all, the section at most walgreens is prolly larger. TRU = larger selection, periodic deals, exclusives, and healthy stock.

Quote: YerMomsFaceHere

TRU has had all of my business during swap force. Havent even bothered to venture to Target for wave 3. The skylander section at my target is a mere fly speck in comparison to the TRU across the street. I aint kidding you all, the section at most walgreens is prolly larger. TRU = larger selection, periodic deals, exclusives, and healthy stock.

I am with you on this one. My Target has been awful with Skylanders this season while TRU seemingly has a whole wall of them every time is visit. They do a really good job of keeping the store stocked, even if there are a lot of duplicates. Both Target and Walmart in my area just seem picked over. Last week, Walmart took out the Skylanders in the Toy section making the stock even worse.

Thus far, I've only bought stuff at TRU with their sales. They have the best selection and sales thus far, but it depends on how long they continue doing that.

My Targets (and Walmarts) have been stocked pretty well, although i've yet to see Wave 3 stuff at Target. only once did i see a few wave 3 core guys at TRU.

Quote: lcopley98

Quote: YerMomsFaceHere

TRU has had all of my business during swap force. Havent even bothered to venture to Target for wave 3. The skylander section at my target is a mere fly speck in comparison to the TRU across the street. I aint kidding you all, the section at most walgreens is prolly larger. TRU = larger selection, periodic deals, exclusives, and healthy stock.

I am with you on this one. My Target has been awful with Skylanders this season while TRU seemingly has a whole wall of them every time is visit. They do a really good job of keeping the store stocked, even if there are a lot of duplicates. Both Target and Walmart in my area just seem picked over. Last week, Walmart took out the Skylanders in the Toy section making the stock even worse.

Seems to be a trend. My local Target has about four pegs of skylanders total at any given time, while the local TRU has two ten foot sections filled with figures. Even my local Wal-Mart has two different sections with tons of figures, unfortunately they are mostly the same 5-6 figures. It's surprising to me that Target gets exclusives and early releases with how awful their Skylanders section is in my area.

Quote: melvimbe

So wave 3 doesn't have a different sku then previous waves, so both stores have trouble dealing with an orderly release.

TRU gets the first group (and probably the worst since it's only one new character and not a swapper) and releases them at midnight, advertised, no sale. Some stores release early but generally, customers are not upset. The don't put them on sale during the release (actually higher then most stores), but still sell very well.

Target gets the 2nd group (a nice set since it's 3 swappers) on the 29th. For whatever reason, they don't have much supply, some stores not getting any, others getting two at most. Quite a few stores put them out early. The have a B3G1 type sale. They advertise it and customers are not happy.

TRU gets the 3rd group on Jan 7th. This may not even be an exclusive as Amazon also got the figures. It may be that TRU has better shipping, or prioritized this. They have plenty of stock, and sell without a sale and advertising. Some stores don't appear to have the stock yet. TRU puts a sale on SA figures to drive customers to the stores. They don't advertise the new figures, wisely, because there's good reason to believe stores may not have it. Recently shipping history is unreliable and weather factors. Plus, no sku to enable registers to lock out early sales.


Not trying to poo poo Target yet again, or who ever's at fault, but I am much happier paying TRUs full price then Target's sale price.

Not true, TRU is having a sale on the Swappers (Normally - $16.99) and Giants (Normally - $15.99), Buy 3 for $35 ($11.66, $11.67 and $11.67).
It is advertised in this weeks ad and online and has been posted here also. So yes I agree TRU is hands down much better prepared for Skylanders.

My TRU was like a truckload of Wave 3 exploded on the shelves. I didn't get there until the evening, but there were loads of all things (minus cores). Anyone that was afraid of being unable to find Wave 3 swappers after the Target thing can rest easy. I literally spent 20 minutes going through the Wham Shells and Countdowns looking for the best lights and paint job. There were enough that I could be really choosy. Wham Shell's paint job is of very varying quality, and the light on several was really dim - one Countdown you could barely tell was lit up in the store. The stock in the store was beginning to wane due to the post Christmas rush, but this definitely spruced it up.

I guess it helps that they have started making better case choices as well. Four of each new lightcore and four of the old ones is a good selection in the case. Lightcores were already starting to get scarce - and this way the rush on the new ones doesn't mean they will be clogged with shelf warmers preventing new shipments - and hopefully avoids Wave 4 lightcore delays like last year that resulted in very late and hard to find LC Chill and LC Pop Fizz.

Big difference between Target and Toysrus. One is a general merchandise store and the other is strictly Toys. Kinda obvious who would be the better place for TOYS.

Quote: DutRank

Big difference between Target and Toysrus. One is a general merchandise store and the other is strictly Toys. Kinda obvious who would be the better place for TOYS.

Not to mention TRU is all-in on Skylanders...I still marvel when I go in there and see their massive displays. I can only imagine it through a kid's eyes. My kid is going to have such fond memories of trips to TRU just like I did when I was young.


I had to edit for this:



I mean...Look at that Wash Zone...LOL...He's as big as the Cadillac Power Wheel. Too cool.

Yeah I'm hoping I can pull some strings to get one of their displays. I already have the Magna Charge hanging sign from Target when it comes down.

I'll happily pay the $1 extra at TRU. They have tons of stock almost always and when its low within a day its restocked.

Only reason to shop elsewhere is an exclusive or a mega sale

I guess my TRU had all the wave 3's except swappers. The only one left is LC whammy, I hope it will last until Saturday morning. If not no biggie. I just really want the Arkeyan crossbow pack, but they're sold out. Sigh....

Quote: dinoah2005

Not true, TRU is having a sale on the Swappers (Normally - $16.99) and Giants (Normally - $15.99), Buy 3 for $35 ($11.66, $11.67 and $11.67).
It is advertised in this weeks ad and online and has been posted here also. So yes I agree TRU is hands down much better prepared for Skylanders.

You're correct. My mistake. Still, would have paid full price.