This may be more of a general figure collecting topic, but since I'm specifically interested in how the Marvel Universe figure distribution works, and I don't know if it works the same for all types, and I'll be citing the MU waves as examples, I figured it'd be best to start it here. Feel free to move it if I'm wrong.

I'm trying to better understand the distribution system for the Marvel Universe figures, to better time my hunts and hopefully have a more fruitful result.

I went to a Target yesterday and found that they had restocked. They had a handful of Series 2 Waves 5 and 6 (Multiple Man, Mystique, Iron Man 2020, Winter Soldier), a handful of Series 3 Waves 1, 2, and 3 (Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Woman, Apocalypse, Cyclops, Gladiator, Falcon, Scarlet Spider, Dr. Doom, and 2 Dr. Stranges). As far as I remember, none of these figures were really there before, safe a Gladiator or two and maybe a Spider-Woman.

So how does the distribution system work if they get figures from 5 or 6 different waves in the same packages?

I've seen the order forms in Diamond's Previews, where you get a case of one wave for ~$100, and I've seen the orders of waves on hasbrotoyshop.com, where it's like a case of three waves in one for around the same price. How do big stores like Target and Walmart replenish their stock? Do they ever ship stock from one store to another?

Given that I've seen some figures in clearance at one Walmart and regularly priced at another in the same town, I'm figuring that they don't replenish stock of these low-cost items with stock from other stores, and that they must purely order direct from Hasbro, who gives them a case of crap-shoot figures.

Does anyone have any experience working in or talking with people who work in these stores? I think it would be extremely beneficial to know if they're ever going to be able to get a Juggernaut (Series 2, Wave 3) for me again, or any of the first series or wave, for that matter.

If I am understanding right..they get what are called revision cases. They contain like 1/2 recent figures and 1/2 older releases. Maybe not exactly 50/50 but you get the point.

Those are the revision waves. Gives people a chance who are just starting to get the older figures

I can only tell you that mixed in with the good waves are revison waves, these waves contain a good chunk of new figures(typically) and a small part of old figures.

Sometimes it may just be all old figures, usually that doesn't happen, I know this from seeing these revison waves on BBTS and in person at target.

Revision waves were the best thing for new collectors ever. It made many of my older figures worth much less.. but it is very nice for people that missed out on stuff! And sometimes the variants make us who have the older ones rebuy them again!

As the others have said, revision cases are the answer.

The way I keep track of what all is in each revision case is by looking on BBTS.com. They have each revision listed.

That way when I run across something at retail I can think to myself..."Oh, this looks like revision case XX, which means such and such figure should be around here somewhere...Green Lantern???...man those really suck....out of the way kid! You smell and need to find your mom....Stop staring at me old guy, I'm not muscling in on your Transformers...I really like fries. Maybe I should get some fries..."

Yes, I know. The inner workings of a brilliant mind.

Whoa, that's how my mind works too!

Try getting a revised Vision or X-Force Warpath...

With tender loving care.

Just kidding, revision cases is the answer.

As others have mentioned, those are revision waves you're seeing, not regular waves.

Walmart, Target and most other national chains have distribution centers that control distributing product to the retail stores. Basically, they order stock from various manufacturers and it is all shipped to their main warehouse(s), which then load up trucks to take to various district/regional centers and that stock is then divvied up and loaded onto other trucks to the stores.

Not sure about Target, but Walmart only does this when you order from their website and choose Site-To-Store as the delivery option. As far as shifting merchandise to areas where it is selling better, then no.

See above about store-to-store stock. As far as the cases go, Walmart et.al. simply don't care. They want X number of cases from Hasbro when they order it. Retailers don't care if Hasbro's already in the middle of shipping Wave 9 and your local Walmart only got up to Wave 3 before it re-ordered.

Generally, the staff at your local Walmart or Target won't have any idea when or if they'll get a particular figure in at any given point. The best they could do would be to tell you when the trucks usually arrive with product. But they still won't be able to tell you what's on the truck until it's unloaded and ready to be put on the shelves/pegs.

Revision packs was the obvious piece of the puzzle I was missing. Glad to know it's still possible for newbs like me to get in on the older stuff when Wave 5 revisions come out.

Thanks for all the info, Trebleshot! I love hearing about the inner-workings of these businesses and how the product gets into my hands.

revision cases imo should be held to one case per store statewide,period!

There are a few reasons. As most everyone has said, revisions is the number one reason.
But sometimes stock crew will stock newer cases to the shelves, leaving older cases behind, which will sit in the backroom for a few months, continuously passed over, until someone grabs it and gets it out for inventory. That would be the number two reason.

Sometimes a simular situation where a case will sit in the warehouse or distribution center, getting passed over for a few months, and then finally gets shipped out to a store. I'd say that's probably the third biggest reason for older toys to show up.