[TheBlueMarvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeLikeJinx

The irony is the same thing that happened to TRU might happen to Gamestop... and maybe within the next five years too depending on who buys them out. At any rate... with Gamestop being in the game maybe it will discourage scalping... not like there will be any more TRU exclusives and those were the ones that were scalped the most I think. Secondary market values on recent Legends figs are shockingly low compared to how they used to be.

Gamestop could definitely tank, but people have been predicting their demise since Dematteo and other executive chairs sold off their stakes in 2014. Mauler's abrupt departure doesn't help matters either, but somehow Gamestop manages to limp on. In my opinion, this isn't a matter of what firm buys them out or who heads the turnaround as much as it's a symptom of the painfully slow death of brick & mortar retail.

Those secondary market rates and the activity of scalpers are both going to see a significant uptick if Hasbro doesn't get distribution sorted. In the wake of TRU's implosion, Hasbro needs to get serious about getting product into the hands of consumers. All the peole complaining about too much merch (I agree, actually, I was there a year or two ago - the internet has no memory) may be singing the opposite tune 6-10 months down the road.