[PlayTime]

It seems that less and less action figures are able to be purchased online from Walmart themselves. Instead you have to buy from ToyWiz which jacks up their prices like the typical flipper. Even their exclusives you cant get from them, but you can from ToyWiz and they jack up the prices by like triple. Am I missing something here?

Kinda irritating

[Lazer]

I feel where you're coming from. After so many years of relying on figure purchases through online venues, because it was always pretty difficult to track down the stuff in person, the online market has basically turned into an "aftermarket" option.

Only second to finding what you want at the brick-n-mortar option (Wal Mart, T'R'U, Target etc...) buying online limits you to a few big sites at sometimes discount prices depending on how close to launch you are making your purchase at. If it's several months after launch you have to resort to "collector" prices, which is a definite hassle. But this isn't new either.

I recall when Toy Biz's original Marvel Legends launched I just so happened to stumble upon a series 1 Toad figure that for whatever reason was fetching stupid prices online. To this day I have never sold it. $14.99 off the shelf at EB Games and the only reason I kept it was because it felt like a turning point to me...the box is crushed and worn and not in good shape now. That's exactly how I feel the toy industry has evolved in my eyes since 2002, I don't collect mint in box, I like to open and display. The only figures I left in the box are only there waiting until I can figure out where to display them.

You're not wrong though, it almost seems like figure hunting online has become almost as difficult as finding something in your favorite store for MSRP...

[Skoob]

I find most bricks-and-mortar collection-shopping more trouble than it's worth. In Canada, the most common problem is slow distribution. You never know when a given product will finally, finally arrive in-store. Wal-Mart just received the last wave of Star Wars Black Series that I ordered online quite a while ago, and because they took so long to stock it, they missed a lot of sales to collectors like me. Consequently, many days later, most of the inventory is still sitting there, collecting dust.

I sense that some major retailers are trying to use their website "Pre-Order" and "Send-me-an-email-when-this-product-becomes-available" features as a way to measure demand prior to specifying their own order quantities. In the Black Series example, the Jango Fett wave was posted 'unavailable' for many weeks before it finally came up as 'available in stock.' What's more interesting and aggravating to me is the out-of-control pheonomenon of SCALPING that seems to dominate the sales at these websites. If you don't sit around 24-7 with a hair-finger hovering over the 'pre-order' button when it becomes available, it's hard to say when or even whether you'll get another chance to pick up a popular item you're after at MSRP. A particularly dramatic recent example is the Ahsoka Tano figure, wherein scalpers apparently wiped out online inventory from all major retailers within mere moments, and then continued to do so, over and over and over, every time a new batch of inventory became available. It seems remarkably systematic and consistent. I wonder if some of it is automated, maybe using a web bot and some kind of script.

I've never shopped at ToyWiz, but the 'scalper' / 'flipper' description seems apt.

[TimothyR]

Yeah.. Toy wiz is such a ripoff. It's amazing that anyone actually uses that site.

[redx24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimothyR

Yeah.. Toy wiz is such a ripoff. It's amazing that anyone actually uses that site.

No one should open that site at work. The words out of my mouth at lunch literally should have gotten me fired even if I was technically on my own time

[PlayTime]

It just amazes me that a retailer would not sell their products through themselves but another online retailer. Especially an exclusive. How can you have an exclusive but have someone else sell it, and at a price that doesn't match your in-store price.

[redx24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlayTime

It just amazes me that a retailer would not sell their products through themselves but another online retailer. Especially an exclusive. How can you have an exclusive but have someone else sell it, and at a price that doesn't match your in-store price.

I think Toy wiz buys out walmart stock at the retail rate and then Jacks it up on the same site because you either get it in store or buy it at their insane rate.

[PlayTime]

But why does Walmart.com even have them on their site in the first place.

[redx24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlayTime

But why does Walmart.com even have them on their site in the first place.

walmart pobly gets a good enough cut of each sale, plus they save cash by not having to hold an item in stock or pay a worker to find the item in their shipping facility or even anything to ship it. its an all win situation for walmrt in making cash.

[Lazer]

I will add though, that I don't rely on the internet anymore to buy my figures. When the Spiderman Classics series blew through the stores and I missed most of the og figures in early 2000's I did ebay a couple of them...for a markup of course (same goes for a few early Black Series that I still want).

But I find that patience is on my side. Example was this weekend.

My town has way more Wal Mart's than any town should have, none of them are all that good at stocking anything at launch that isn't Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles, so this was an unusually good weekend for finds.

The TMNT 2 Secret of the Ooze figures hit shelves, only one case per store mind you, and with it came some random Black Series and Marvel Legends appearances on the shelf.

We've been sitting on that last bulk wave of Kylo/Poe/Phasma/Guavian since April, I saw old Han Solo and a Flametrooper in a Wal Mart once but other that rare sighting our Wally Worlds just don't stock Star Wars figures much at all (Target and Wallgreens seem to be consistent though). And the Allfather BAF Marvel Legends wave has been on clearance for just as long.

I didn't plan to find anything, which is basic routine nowadays in the figure hunt, but the first Wal Mart I hit last Friday had just stocked the new Marvel Legends Giant Man series and they do in fact short pack Black Panther. There were doubles of every figure but only one Black Panther. And not to brag, the second Wal Mart had pallets of recently opened boxes so I checked the Star Wars figs and right on the outer pegs were a single ANH Luke, Asohka Tano, Jango Fett, and that ever sought after Flametrooper...No Kanan oddly enough.

Black Panther went to my nephew, that was his favorite character from Civil War, the Luke and Tano went on figure stands and I feel I can relax until Force Friday II...

[PlayTime]

I feel a retailer should just be that retailer when it comes to online sites.
Walmart is not Amazon. Target, while you cant even buy most legends from their site, do not offer other retailers. Maybe they are the last because I think even K Mart offers other retailers for their stuff.

[Riddick]

I hate Toywiz with passion. Nothing but scalping at it's finest. Other places sell figures at higher prices but Toywiz takes it to a whole new level!

[TimothyR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riddick

I hate Toywiz with passion. Nothing but scalping at it's finest. Other places sell figures at higher prices but Toywiz takes it to a whole new level!

It's unbelievable that they're still in business. I guess they sucker enough people who don't know any better sadly.

[Omanlew]

Rey resistance outfit 3.75 inch figure on toywiz... 55 dollars lmao. You would figure I should be able to find their star wars exclusives stocked at least. My Walmaarts in upstate new york just don't care about restocking product or putting out

[PlayTime]

So I just had a chat for shitz & giggles, with Walmart customer service.
Unbelievable. Not only would they just say, "OK, we'll sell it to you for this price", but they said they cant price match ToyWiz!!!!111!! They are on the Walmart site selling shit but they cant price match! HA!

Quote:

Emilio O.: Thanks for chatting with Walmart.com! I’m Emilio O. and I’ll be assisting you today.
Emilio O.: Hello Sean
Emilio O.: How can I help you today ?
Sean : I was with another rep but we got cut off
Emilio O.: I am sorry for this inconvenience
Emilio O.: I will do my best to assist you
Sean : I'm having trouble with a Walmart exclusive. I've seen it in stores (currently out of stock) but I wanted to save time and order online. But it appears you aren't selling it, but another company ToyWiz is, but for double to store price.
Emilio O.: I am checking for http://www.walmart.com/ip/WWE-Basic-...rrior/48810300
Emilio O.: The item is listed in $29.99
Emilio O.: through Walmart.com
Sean : Correct, but not by Walmart, but by ToyWiz. I saw $19.98
Emilio O.: Yes I certainly understand your request
Sean : How come Walmart isnt selling it's own exclusive?
Emilio O.: so ToyWiz prices for $19.98?
Sean : No. Walmart (in store) was $19.98. They ran out before I could buy it so went online and see ToyWiz selling it for $29.99
Sean : I'm just trying to order it from Walmart but at the in store price
Emilio O.: Okay I will do my best to assist you
Emilio O.: I will transfer this chat session to our Price Match team
Emilio O.: Your request meets the necessary criteria
Emilio O.: Okay?
Emilio O.: It's been a pleasure assisting you.
Emilio O.: Are you still with me ?
Sean : Yep
Emilio O. has disconnected.
Dwight K.: Thanks for chatting with Walmart.com! I’m Dwight K. and I’ll be assisting you today.
Dwight K.: Thank you for holding. Please allow me a moment to read the above chat transcript, so I will be able to better assist you.
Sean : ok
Dwight K.: Thanks for holding.
Dwight K.: I have reviewed the transcrip
Sean : No problem
Dwight K.: I am unable to price match with toywiz.com.
Dwight K.: I apologize they are not an approved competitor. Is there anything else I can do?
Sean : Wait what ... then why do you guys have them on your site as a seller!?
Sean : This item is a Walmart only deal
Dwight K.: They may be a 3rd party vendor on our website. That doesn't mean we price match with them.
Dwight K.: You can check out the vendors we price match with online by searching price match.
Dwight K.: Is there anything else I may be able to help you with?
Sean : That's ridiculous. You have a 3d party company on your site selling your exclusive items and you cant price match?
Dwight K.: No, we can not
Dwight K.: You can review the price match policy online
Dwight K.: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Sean : Nope. I'll be doing my shopping with Target from now on. Thanks!
Dwight K.: It's been a pleasure assisting you. I am going to disconnect now. You may receive a brief email survey regarding your experience with me after you close this chat, and I would appreciate your feedback. Thank you for contacting Walmart.com and have a great day!
Dwight K. has disconnected.