Okay, I've HEARD about this happening any number of times, but I haven't often SEEN it...

Was in Wal-Mart this morning. Here was one of the new Comic Sets -- Tripwire/Cobra Commander.

The figures contained therein? Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. And based on the articulation level, not the most recent of versions, either. Han was dressed in dark blue, Luke was in Jedi black.

The package had been carefully opened along the plastic flaps on the back and re-sealed with ordinary tape. All the accessories were gone, too. They left the comic book.

Okay, I'm not collecting the 25th-style figures, but this STILL ticked me off.

I took it to the front of the store and turned it in with an explanation. Hopefully they won't just put it back on the racks...

Ah, the collecting community in Tucson is going downhill. I just recently saw at Walmart a month or so ago some SW figures with coins, where the coins were replaced with aluminum foil. Add to this seeing a bunch of Imperial officers yesterday at the same Walmart - which were $1.64 at Target a week ago. Yeah, I'm sure they're not the same figures

And with toy prices going up, I just see this getting worse.

I don't see much of it around here, but I did recently see a destructo-case Joker swapped for a Movie Masters one. I'd say something, but last time I mentioned anything at that store (told a cashier that someone had ripped off the Doc redemption form and stickers) it was back on the shelf next time I came in.

ALUMINUM FOIL!? I'm almost tempted to give that one a few points for creativity, but a crook is a crook.

Which Wal-Mart, may I ask?

I hate to tell you this, but they will probably put it back on the shelves. I have turned stuff like this in at both WM and TRU and come back to find them on the selves.

Recently the 3 pack CGs was at my TRU, my wife grabbed it. We did not buy it, because the figures were the Fred from the Comic packs. I had to explain to her and the cashier and manager. Luckily another local collector heard me and complained too. He called me and told me they were back on the self the next morning (2 sets).

I would love to see people get caught and prossecuted for this, it IS stealing after all.

Fortunately, this is a Wal-Mart that I frequent. It's only a 12-minute walk from my home. I intend to keep an eye on it. If it turns up again, I'm going to ask to speak to a manager (yeah, I know, for all the good it'll do, but still... )

It sucks that there are a few scumb bags that make it harder on the rest of us.

I know a guy that 'accidently' droped something on a SW pack that this was done with. I wanna say he told me it was a soda or milk. Then he turned it in. He told the manager he did not intend to buy it because it was not as packaged. But the damage was accidental.

Good luck with keeping the locals in check in your area.

it really sucks there isn't a hasbro line to call and narc people out for it. it probably affects their bottom line more than they realize

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Wow, I would think these would be more sought after than the TRU ones though because of the removable helmet.

Speedway, for both instances.

Local Zellers had 2 comic packs opened in the store and the Save Doc points removed, which is doubly "LASER BLAST" because you can't even order Doc in Canada...

- R

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Hooray for vigilante-ism!

Hmmm -- not a bad location, decent-sized Wal-Mart, but if memory serves, a toy department that frequently looks like it's had a tornado go through it. Wonder if I should be surprised over this. I don't get out there too often.

This was the Foothills Wal-Mart where I encountered the swapped out comics set today.

(Apologies to non-Tucsonans who don't have any idea what we're talking about here...)

Hmmm...

Didn't Chief just turn up in the greater Tucson area? Coincidence?

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And you know the scumbags are sellin' them loose on evilbay.