Not really. We knew at KB Toys that product was in route. It wasn't until the week of delivery we'd get an email before the truck came with exact totals. We usually would know up to a month or more on some products that such and such is ordered by distribution and a certain number would be allocated to our store. Exact numbers aren't always given, but basic information to say product has been ordered and is in route is given frequently.

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That looks like a corporate, paper pushing job. That type of employee probably never sets foot in a store. I'm not saying its high level, its just not a sales rep position.

Perhaps, but then that's the information available for that store to its employees. Hasbro wouldn't have that information nor would their reps. To expect them to is just silly. Why would they know what merchandise is being expected for delivery? They don't work for that store.

It's not that Hasbro reps don't know, but Hasbro themselves has shown that they really do not care if stores aren't stocking their toys. It also makes me wonder what the major chains are doing with the stuff they buy if it's not getting stocked on shelves. We know a lot sits in their warehouses and gets sold to discount outlets eventually but what of the rest? I heard an idea once that these store chains are putting the more desired stuff on eBay to scalp, and while I'd not put much faith into that, sometimes I wonder.

It also gets me that something like Masterpiece Skywarp was found so little at Walmart stores(my region seemed to never get them) but then they hit TJ Maxx in large numbers.

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Hasbro has made their money. What happens to them after the retailer purchases them doesn't matter to them at that point nor is there really anything they can do about it. It's not that they don't care, it's that the situation is out of their hands. Once the product is produced and in the states, it's up to the retailers to make it available. If you can't find product, go complain to the retailer. That's where the problem lies.

Still, I have to wonder why these stores keep buying stock if they aren't actually putting out merchandise on store shelves for people to buy. Typically, stores buy stuff, sell out and order more. I'm not sure how they can justify ordering more here when it's not being put on shelves for people to buy. They have to be losing money if they sell their stock to TJ Maxx or Ross. So they buy a "normal" amount of stock, barely put any out on shelves but then order more and Hasbro doesn't notice anything odd? I have to think something very odd is going on. And really, this seems almost exclusive to the Joe brand because stores I go to don't do this with other lines.

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Because its probably in smaller numbers, and goes to other stores faster. There is a target no more than 10 miles from the target closest to my house. That target always has the latest wave of Joes and WWE figures, they also have more residences around them with tons of schools and traffic.

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Besides, target dumps that stuff to other retailers once the line has gone massive clearance. They make more doing it that way than selling it to us on clearance.

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No, they aren't sitting on stock. They wont order more until they need it and then it will be stocked. If there's nothing on the shelves it's because they don't have anything to put there. Joes aren't exactly a big seller right now so they're not going to order a whole lot of it when they do order it if they order it at all. If anyone is sitting on stock, it's that stores distribution center. The distribution center wont ship anything out unless the store orders more of it.