So the wiki says there's 800 TM stores across the USA. Each case has 12 figs, and each store got just 2 figs, meaning one case for every 6 stores, right? That divvies out to mean the entire TM corporation got just 134 cases, which equals out to just one or two pallets. That really does sound like a 'warehouse find' kinda situation, imho.

But if it was Hasbro that found this pallet/s, how does it make sense to sell to TM at half price than to put them up on HTS? Unless this was actually sold by HTS to TM to clear floor space in a limited HTS warehouse? Too many variables to know, really. But it's hard to understand how these sort of situations happen when Hasbro has their own direct-sale avenue, except to ascertain that Hasbro doesn't know how to run HTS worth a damn, imho.

_________________

Could if been another box store getting rid of inventory as well...

Don't forget all those motorcycles and the 12" figures. This was way more than just 134 cases of individual figures. Each TM may have only gotten two figures, but the one closest to me got about four 12" figures, and the one closest to me still has about half a dozen motorcycles.

I also have to wonder how the multi-lingual packaging factors into this. Were these leftovers from Canada?

It's still a shame there wasn't a better supply. I wouldn't've minded Snake-Eyes, or another Data-Viper or Combat Ninja.

most likely
what frustrated me was that their Targets had the new waves while ours already dropped the line

Not the first time that's happened, and I'd love to know the reasons.

I've got a Tuesday Morning across town, they're empty (although I did find a Sgt. Rock GI Joe Accessory set there long ago), I just checked the one in Grand Rapids, they had one, the Cobra Commander, so I picked him up.

_________________

I don't have sales info, this is just anecdotal, but wave 3.5 showed up at TRU in decent quantities up here. I'm in the Montreal area and I was able to pick up Crimson Guards and the other troop builders on a couple of occasions. Also, I can still walk into a couple of TRUs at the moment and get a Kwinn, Budo or Roadblock. I even saw a couple of Data Vipers last time. Also, Target stocked these before the Holidays but did not restock and Walmart dropped the line last fall.

Shortly after the Holidays, this wave started showing up at smaller toy shops and other outlets for much cheaper. The major retailers were selling them for 10.99$, but I picked up some figures at my local pharmacy for 6.49$. My guess is that either Hasbro Canada overestimated demand, or Walmart cancelled their order and left big H with surplus inventory. I'm guessing that it was option 2. The surplus was probably offered to various Canadian stores and smaller chains and then the rest was bought up by Ross/TM.

Anyway, just a theory based on my local observations.

OB

_________________

You know, OreoBuilder, I could use another good Data-Viper...

I'll keep an eye open the next time I'm at TRU

OB

_________________

I can confirm what OB said as I'm in the same area.
I was able to complete my 5 Combat Ninja team at TRU.
I went to TRU 2 or 3 weeks ago and they still had some 3.5 figures available.

_________________

I just went to the Yonkers, NY TRU and they've reloaded with Wave 1 at least 3 cases

Restocks are hitting and with more than just 2 figures, now it's 6 figs. Product number has changed to 14111524. But that's not to reliable this time. Checked the number for a few days with no stock.

Then someone found them even though the product line still said no stock. Called the number this morning and still said no stock, but checked a store anyway and found 3 figures-Budo, Ult Cobra Commander, and Ult Roadblock.

_________________

They are American stock too.
It's disappointing their inventory system isn't working. I would rather not drive all the way to check & find nothing.

Stopped in today and found Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes, Kwinn, and a CG.
They also had a Combat Ninja and a Flint, but I'm not interested in them, so I left them.

_________________

but Flint has that awesome parachute!