[elbe]

Hey everyone,

I had another question I would like to get some advice on. Lately I have gotten more interested in the Power Rangers Legacy Collection I saw at Target. However, There was only one figure I saw from that collection that I wanted, the green ranger. The other one was the Red ranger but he seems to be sold out.


The advice I am looking for is, it seems that there are some people "in-the-know" around some of the target/Walmart/toysrus stores who know exactly where they will be, and when they are there and buy them all up (this also is true for figures like Marvel legends).

I understand that some of these people may know someone that will call them up and tell them if they have them in stock, but lets say you don't know anyone.... How do people go about finding these things in the store, but scalpers, or other collections buy them up?


Sometimes I notice these stores don't really keep good track of their inventory like what is in stock when you check online (although Walgreens seem to be doing a great job with this)


Does anyone have any advice on things like when these toys will get shipments (do new shipments come in on days like every Tuesday), how to track it, or maybe if there are alerts people have that will let them know when they arrive?

Or is this literally a game of patience and I literally have to keep going to the stores physical location wasting gas and time hoping that they just happen to be in the store?


Thanks for any advice in advance its much appreciated!

[Trivial Psychic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elbe

Hey everyone,

I had another question I would like to get some advice on. Lately I have gotten more interested in the Power Rangers Legacy Collection I saw at Target. However, There was only one figure I saw from that collection that I wanted, the green ranger. The other one was the Red ranger but he seems to be sold out.


The advice I am looking for is, it seems that there are some people "in-the-know" around some of the target/Walmart/toysrus stores who know exactly where they will be, and when they are there and buy them all up (this also is true for figures like Marvel legends).

I understand that some of these people may know someone that will call them up and tell them if they have them in stock, but lets say you don't know anyone.... How do people go about finding these things in the store, but scalpers, or other collections buy them up?


Sometimes I notice these stores don't really keep good track of their inventory like what is in stock when you check online (although Walgreens seem to be doing a great job with this)


Does anyone have any advice on things like when these toys will get shipments (do new shipments come in on days like every Tuesday), how to track it, or maybe if there are alerts people have that will let them know when they arrive?

Or is this literally a game of patience and I literally have to keep going to the stores physical location wasting gas and time hoping that they just happen to be in the store?


Thanks for any advice in advance its much appreciated!

Delivery schedules will be different for every store, as each one has their own delivery schedules, and since most of them will arrive by truck, are subject to delays due to inclimate weather, accidents, and staffing shortages.

Truthfully, when it comes to finding toys in the wild...I cannot stress this enough, it almost always comes down to two things, being polite and courteous when asking an employee, and being both patient and persistent in your hunting routine. While most employees at retailers aren't extremely learned in action figures and toys, many will help whenever possible provided you are polite and aren't a jerk. Snickering at them when they tell you "there's nothing in the back" is not going to win you any favors (and truthfully, when they do tell you that...9 times out of ten, it will be true, as NO retailer likes to keep extra stock on hand.) and it might leave a bad impression on them when you ask them for help the next time you are on your rounds.

Some stores have tools that can help (such as DCPI codes that can research online for or item finders that will help you locate stores) but more often than not, these tools are often not reliable, and it will ultimately require effort and boots on the ground to find what you're looking for.

If you choose to go from store to store in search of what your looking for, being persistent is very important, and remember to think outside the box a bit when picking stores to check out. For example, you might have better luck hunting Marvel Legends at a Target smack dab in the middle of a retirement community, than you will at your local one in the middle of town or at a shopping mall, as the interest in that community will more than likely not be on action figures.

Most importantly, do your best to not be discouraged if you cannot find what you're looking for. Don't always chalk everything up to the scalper "boogeymen" that people tend to blame here. For every scalper out there, there's honestly another person just like you who loves Transformers, Marvel Legends, Power Rangers, and what not, as well as their children. And if you run into someone with a pile of figures in their hands, don't immediately assume they are out to bilk the collecting community. I've bought entire cases of figures in single trips, and while you might mistake me for the "scalper", I actually open up and play with 90 percent of what I buy. Instead, nod at your competition, and say to yourself "better luck next time." The moment where you start to seethe and curse the world because you simply could not find a Deadpool, it's more than likely that you are no longer having fun doing it, and might want to try another hobby. We're all in this because we enjoy kick ass toys after all!

Finally, don't be afraid to check out online retailers. BBTS, Dorkside Toys, Amazon, and even Ebay will often have what you're looking for, and with free shipping no less, saving you the labor and gas of driving from place to place, and you might even score a good deal in the process. There are a lot of great sponsors here on Toyark, don't be afraid to check them out.

[elbe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trivial Psychic

Delivery schedules will be different for every store, as each one has their own delivery schedules, and since most of them will arrive by truck, are subject to delays due to inclimate weather, accidents, and staffing shortages.

Truthfully, when it comes to finding toys in the wild...I cannot stress this enough, it almost always comes down to two things, being polite and courteous when asking an employee, and being both patient and persistent in your hunting routine. While most employees at retailers aren't extremely learned in action figures and toys, many will help whenever possible provided you are polite and aren't a jerk. Snickering at them when they tell you "there's nothing in the back" is not going to win you any favors (and truthfully, when they do tell you that...9 times out of ten, it will be true, as NO retailer likes to keep extra stock on hand.) and it might leave a bad impression on them when you ask them for help the next time you are on your rounds.

Some stores have tools that can help (such as DCPI codes that can research online for or item finders that will help you locate stores) but more often than not, these tools are often not reliable, and it will ultimately require effort and boots on the ground to find what you're looking for.

If you choose to go from store to store in search of what your looking for, being persistent is very important, and remember to think outside the box a bit when picking stores to check out. For example, you might have better luck hunting Marvel Legends at a Target smack dab in the middle of a retirement community, than you will at your local one in the middle of town or at a shopping mall, as the interest in that community will more than likely not be on action figures.

Most importantly, do your best to not be discouraged if you cannot find what you're looking for. Don't always chalk everything up to the scalper "boogeymen" that people tend to blame here. For every scalper out there, there's honestly another person just like you who loves Transformers, Marvel Legends, Power Rangers, and what not, as well as their children. And if you run into someone with a pile of figures in their hands, don't immediately assume they are out to bilk the collecting community. I've bought entire cases of figures in single trips, and while you might mistake me for the "scalper", I actually open up and play with 90 percent of what I buy. Instead, nod at your competition, and say to yourself "better luck next time." The moment where you start to seethe and curse the world because you simply could not find a Deadpool, it's more than likely that you are no longer having fun doing it, and might want to try another hobby. We're all in this because we enjoy kick ass toys after all!

Finally, don't be afraid to check out online retailers. BBTS, Dorkside Toys, Amazon, and even Ebay will often have what you're looking for, and with free shipping no less, saving you the labor and gas of driving from place to place, and you might even score a good deal in the process. There are a lot of great sponsors here on Toyark, don't be afraid to check them out.

Thanks so much! This was incredible helpful and informative! I try to be persistent and look out for these things, but it can be incredibly difficult.

For instance, I remember when Hasbro released the X-men wave.... (Wolverine - mask off, Magneto, Storm, etc for the Jubliee BAF) and I thought, okay let me be persistent and look out for it at Toys R Us... but I could NEVER find them! lol

In the end... I had to buy Storm from Ebay where people were selling her for more than $100! Ridiculous! lol. Aw well... being a collector sucks sometimes.

[Trivial Psychic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elbe

Thanks so much! This was incredible helpful and informative! I try to be persistent and look out for these things, but it can be incredibly difficult.

For instance, I remember when Hasbro released the X-men wave.... (Wolverine - mask off, Magneto, Storm, etc for the Jubliee BAF) and I thought, okay let me be persistent and look out for it at Toys R Us... but I could NEVER find them! lol

In the end... I had to buy Storm from Ebay where people were selling her for more than $100! Ridiculous! lol. Aw well... being a collector sucks sometimes.

Don't feel too bad about that wave. It was stupid hard to find, and most of us have horror stories about it. I managed to pick up Storm and Magneto as a set on Amazon, which ran me roughly about 40 bucks for each of them at the time.

Sometimes though, I realize persistence is not enough, and it just boils down to the area where you live...and it's a hard truth in our hobby that some areas just tend to be stocked better than others. Thank goodness that the internet has closed up many of those challenges, but it opens up new ones as well. But being patient and persistent on the internet as well can help you find what you're looking for (in particular, ebay.) You never know when you'll come across that piece you're looking for at a great price!

[Heisenberg17]

Create a loop for yourself that you can in a decent amount of time. Learn when each store usually gets their shipment. Get there early on days you think they might be getting a new shipment. If you can make friends with people who work the toy department. I can't tell you how lucky I have gotten because I have made friends at TRU, Target and Wal Mart. I work retail myself so I have an advantage because I give them a discount at my store. Find other toy collectors who are willing to help you out. That is another major boon. I have a friend who goes out almost as much as I do but looks mostly for POPS, WWE and Transformers. I collect POPS but not the other two. I let him know what I am looking for and he takes a picture and and tells me the store for different stuff all the time. He is the only reason I was able to get a second Deadpool to keep MOC. He had to hide it for me though, Deadpool is crazy difficult to find. I have found the entire wave sans Deadpool now like 5 times. If you really want something that is difficult to find sometimes a pre order is best. Although this can be a bit risky as once I pre-order something I always end up finding it soon after.

Most important at all though is to be persistent. I go to two different Targets and two different Wal Marts every other day. I go to TRU probably 5 out of 7 days of the week. I also pick another day where I hit up Walgreens and a couple other Wal Marts.I have a decent number of Power Ranger figures at both Target and Wal Mart. The Red Ranger is harder to find than green because he comes only once a case. Which is why I again picked up two. I do this so I can open one without the anxiety that it will someday become very valuable and I will want it MOC....I have issues I know, I know. I also like to sometimes have an extra for trade or just to help out a friend. Happy Hunting!!

[SpasticPlastic]

One thing not mentioned that I'm always on the lookout for is the "stashed away" figure. Look on the bottom shelf behind the bigger items, scan every toy aisle in the store for any figures that have been hidden away by someone else. In my area, Target, both Walmarts and Toys R Us all have employees that snatch up the stock rather quickly, and have friends that they hide things for. I've gotten quite a few figures by spoiling their plan. I'll even buy stuff I have no interest in, when I run across one of their scalper stashes, because it makes me chuckle.