[Runamuck]

Just got this email from BBTS:

Quote:

Hi - We have just been told by the vendor that this item has been converted to an exclusive for a chain store, and as a result they will not be filling our orders. We will need to cancel all orders in our system and remove the item from our site. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thanks
BigBadToyStore.com - Toys, Action Figures, Vintage Toys, and Collectibles

Boooo! That really sucks that this playset is a store exclusive. I'm sorry, but you just don't make the main playset a store exclusive. It really cuts into how many kids can enjoy it.

[Nexodusrex]

awww. well hopefully that dosent mean retail cancel. I want it for my marvel

[Joe Moore]

The likely explanation is that no retailers had any desire to carry it. The thing is massive and will eat up shelf space. Plus, if it's overly expensive it will simply sit there eating up that space for an extended time.

Whomever stepped up to carry it probably did so on the condition that it's not offered elsewhere. I've seen this happen plenty of times.

[Shin Densetsu]

That sucks! Earlier they had it listed as "only ships to USA".

[Crazy Jetty]

I agree with Joe. Was actually going to type that exactly, until I saw his post.

And Playmates was probably borderline about to cancel the behemoth outright.

[D00MTR0N]

no shock there.

[Shin Densetsu]

I am glad Playmates actually had the balls to make this thing. Kudos to them for making a large ass playset when everyone else seems to shy away from it.

[Runamuck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Densetsu

I am glad Playmates actually had the balls to make this thing. Kudos to them for making a large ass playset when everyone else seems to shy away from it.

Word.

Big playsets have always been my favorite items. That's why I love the 80's toys so much. It's a shame that consumers nowadays just don't want them. :/

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runamuck

Word.

Big playsets have always been my favorite items. That's why I love the 80's toys so much. It's a shame that consumers nowadays just don't want them. :/

Well retailers are skiddish about them too, that, combined with higher petro price and lower value of the dollar, equals less retailer confidence.

[proteus]

That is a shame,but given a choice,id rather lose the playset then any of the figures or vehicles,if they limit the amount of playsets made,maybe we'll get more waves of figures instead??

[trebleshot]

Not surprised. If given a choice between having a playset that's an exclusive and not having one at all, I'm going to go with the former.

I'm curious who Playmates got to pick it up.

[Iceman]

I find this lack distribution disturbing.

[DogFashionDisco]

It must be Toys R Us, right? Who else could allocate the shelf space for something that big? Oh, and what do these things cost?

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

Not surprised. If given a choice between having a playset that's an exclusive and not having one at all, I'm going to go with the former.

I'm curious who Playmates got to pick it up.

[Iceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogFashionDisco

It must be Toys R Us, right? Who else could allocate the shelf space for something that big? Oh, and what do these things cost?

more than they would have if they could be made in larger quantities. There's always clearance I guess.

[LapuLapu]

You guys remember the Pirate ship playset from the recent Pirates of the Carribean movie? That thing is huge , sat in its aisle until moved to clearance then it actually got bought.

[ToyAddict]

Related side note -- all the new Playmates TMNT stuff @ BBTS says "ships to USA only." Wonder why Playmates made that stipulation?

[Crazy Jetty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyAddict

Related side note -- all the new Playmates TMNT stuff @ BBTS says "ships to USA only." Wonder why Playmates made that stipulation?

Just speculation, but in the past TMNT often gets labled different things in different counties, depending on local stigmas. I know for a fact in the 80s and 90s, the UK had some reeeeeally weeeeird censorship over TMNT, even calling the series "Teenaged Mutant Hero Turtles." And even weirder censorship in the cartoon itself.
Combined with the hot water Hasbro have gotten themselves into over names that are acceptible here (Spastic, Slag), that have illogically become extremely offensive over there, may be setting an example for other toy companies to be more cautious.

These may have something to do with it.

[ToyAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Jetty

Just speculation, but in the past TMNT often gets labled different things in different counties, depending on local stigmas. I know for a fact in the 80s and 90s, the UK had some reeeeeally weeeeird censorship over TMNT, even calling the series "Teenaged Mutant Hero Turtles." And even weirder censorship in the cartoon itself.
Combined with the hot water Hasbro have gotten themselves into over names that are acceptible here (Spastic, Slag), that have illogically become extremely offensive over there, may be setting an example for other toy companies to be more cautious.

These may have something to do with it.

Huh, never knew that. That made for some interesting googling. What I found pretty much all agrees, that they (at least the UK) has changed the policies about the "violence."

I'm half-tempted to write the company and see if they'd give a straight answer.

[Jimmyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyAddict

Related side note -- all the new Playmates TMNT stuff @ BBTS says "ships to USA only." Wonder why Playmates made that stipulation?

It's the same as the Thundercats range fron Bandai, Playmates know they can cash grab $18 a figure from the UK and $60 for the van.

[ToyAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyo

It's the same as the Thundercats range fron Bandai, Playmates know they can cash grab $18 a figure from the UK and $60 for the van.

I don't quite follow. . .do they actually sell them in the UK? Is there like different packaging or something?

[Jimmyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyAddict

I don't quite follow. . .do they actually sell them in the UK? Is there like different packaging or something?

Bandai have released wave 1 of the thundercats toys in the UK before christmas and have said they will release wave 2 in august this year (9 months between waves lol) and all at the maximum retail price (£40 for the thundertank)

We probably won't get TMNT this year if at all, we did not get young justice but atleast we could import those.

My daughter has already saved her own money for TMNT so I will have to figure something out

[thechris]

Wow, this is going to be like my 6th TMNT playset (Have the original Sewer, Technodrome, the 2003 Playset, the Movie redecco Playset, the Movie Tower Playset) I guess if you count those clamshell Mighty Max style mini playsets, it'd be my 7th.

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogFashionDisco

It must be Toys R Us, right? Who else could allocate the shelf space for something that big? Oh, and what do these things cost?

That would be my first choice, but I guess we'll see. As for price, I'd guess it's probably going to be around $100, give or take.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Jetty

Just speculation, but in the past TMNT often gets labled different things in different counties, depending on local stigmas. I know for a fact in the 80s and 90s, the UK had some reeeeeally weeeeird censorship over TMNT, even calling the series "Teenaged Mutant Hero Turtles." And even weirder censorship in the cartoon itself.
Combined with the hot water Hasbro have gotten themselves into over names that are acceptible here (Spastic, Slag), that have illogically become extremely offensive over there, may be setting an example for other toy companies to be more cautious.

It's only illogical if you're from the US. Look at the word "fag" and what it means in the US versus what it means in Europe.

[Robogeek28]

This news is hardly surprising but still kind of depressing. Ah well, as long as I can get the figures I want without any issues then I guess all is well.

[MegaPrime33]

I hope the new turtles line, both for the new cartoon and the classics, don't come to the same fate as Thundercats. I was at TRU the other day and everything Thundercats was in clearance. The classics line is awesome, but it fails if you only release 2 figures. Though I suppose that only happens if not enough people buy it as well. I will be pissed if they only release 2 of the classic turtles and never release anymore.