Printable View
BigW Robina has none of the advertised Pred. Rising Commanders, but I did see the Epic Robot Heroes Optimus, which scanned in as a TF4 product. I also spotted while roaming the non toy isles a Bumblebee tent product for the lil uns.
TRU Pacific Fair was almost bare, they've already started removing stock, most was bare. Depressing
Some store displays from the other day and before I went to America last week.
Target Springwood
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014tg1.jpg
Myer Hyperdome
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014myer3.jpg
Kmart Hyperdome
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014kmart2.jpg
Toyworld Hyperdome
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014tw1.jpg
Kmart Sunnybank
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014kmart3.jpg
BigW Garden City
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw3.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw4.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw5.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw6.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw7.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw8.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/2014bigw9.jpg
At BigW, the three Nikko Remote Controlled vehicles (one convertible, two are just cars).
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/zz4b.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/zz4c.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/zz4d.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/zz4e.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/zz4f.jpg
The Rescue Bots Epic Optimus above, are huge... only a centimetre shorter than Metroplex.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/b905.jpg
.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/b904.jpg
Woolworths Petrol Station, Runaway Bay has the new mini trading card and figure sets, for $3.99 a piece. I took most of the G1, but plenty of prime and movie verse still left. I hope this means we will get gem in Woolies
All three Big W stores are lacking the Shockwave/Hardshell repaints, and only Runaway Bay has any Predaking Rising. Big W Robina now has the little TF figure with collector cards, only movie verse and prime though, no bumblebees anywhere
Bumblebee is in wave 2. Picked up the G1 Optimus and Ratchet from Big W Mt Ommaney yesterday, they still had the rest of series 1, from what I could see. $4
Target had heaps of deluxe Strafe, Slash and Drift in an AOE pallet.
Also, Coles had the G1 custom Kreons Optimus, Soundwave and Starscream.
Quote:
Originally Posted by reillyd
If you guys are looking for another source for the 30th anniversary mini figures I got some from the reject shop at springwood and other RS stores may also have them ($4 each) I think Griffin also mentioned to me that TRU have them too.Quote:
Originally Posted by tinyJazz
@reillyd: there are 30 of those mini figures, 15 for each wave (10 G1, 10 Prime & 10 Movieverse) across two waves. There is a brochure in the packs showing both waves.
Thank you for the tip Ravagecat. Thought they might have been cleared out before I got to them ;)
Seen @ Woolworths northside Brisbane -
http://s7.postimg.org/ncipt15rf/IMG_7043.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/gxjowcz1n/IMG_7044.jpg
Target Runaway Bay has a whole lot of Silver Knight Optimus repaints (Titan, flip and change, construct a bots) as well as the Voyager Grimlock 2-pack
Target Rocky are gearing up for toy sale, and have a very large quantity of TFs. Nothing that hasn't been seen elsewhere, but plenty of everything from the looks of things, including Wave 2 AOE Generations figures. They also have some interesting non-TF toys such as Marvel Legends Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the Power Rangers Super Megaforce Legendary Megazord. Will be interesting to see if and what get discounts once toy sale actually starts on the 23rd.
I was trolling through Toys "R" Us at Garden City Westfield in Brisbane and lo and behold, what do i see, TRU Exclusive Hasbro MP Prowl! they're selling for $100 and i would have snatched him straight away if i didnt already have Takaras version. So that got me thinking, GRIMLOCK is on the way! i asked "The Guy" and he said they're indeed on their way and you can sign up to be notified as soon as they have them in stock, cant wait!
I just tried phoning the closest for me (Aspley) and the guy from the figures dept said that "yes they are in the system but not on the shelves and he can't put my name down as they may not get them. It is a false hope exercise". Going to keep a close ear to the ground that's for sure as i really want a Grimlock. I already have a Prowl in TakTomy.
Kmart Sunnybank's visual merchandising display at the front of the store...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/b961.jpg
Almost completely stripped bare, with no interest from Kmart to put other Transformers toys in it... as this store at least (could be Kmart policy) aren't interested in touching Third Party displays, even though it could benefit their bottom line by selling stock that would otherwise just sit in the back of the store in the toy section.
Since they have Transformers toys in THREE different sections of the store at the moment, with the other two sections being “hidden” in the extremities of the store’s corners, I went to the Service Counter and asked them, why are they wasting the Visual Display that is at the front of the store? Why not benefit from it by getting one of their staff to just spend 5 minutes to grab some Transformers toys in the other two sections, just to keep it filled.
I was being polite and genuinely helpful with the suggestion, but the lady gave me attitude as though she was really unimpressed that a customer was telling her how to run the store. So I sent a message (and the photo) to Kmart Head Office and to Hasbro, because the stores need to keep these Visual Merchandising displays stocked and selling product if they want to make money. Even if the Visual Displays are the responsibility of a third party company to set up and dismantle, what is Kmart thinking for wasting an asset like that, when it is clearly making them more money on toy products that otherwise don’t move where they are currently located at the back of the store. (sure, if the products in display sell out it is a success already, but why waste a themed display if there is more of that themed stock in the store that needs the extra help)
As I was there for a few minutes and then took that photo, people kept stopping to look at the display, or their eyes were drawn to it as they walked past (it is right near the entrance of the store), but with half the display empty... what a waste – for both Kmart (who sell less stock, so aren’t even taking this free(?) display-stand seriously), and Hasbro (because it is the one time in the year you get regular people forced to look at your product, who otherwise won’t make the trip to the toy section at the back of the store).
All that from just wanting to get the artwork scene at the top of the display when they are finished with it (as it just gets trashed)... which she said they were not responsible for it and couldn't help me chase up the people who were.
^That's embarrasing, made even worse by the fact that it only has 3 facings & would take a staff member 2 minutes to fill that up -which they should be doing, not the Hasbro rep as it isn't to date, a permanent fixture.
Once those stands get delivered to stores it's their responsibility to maintain, packaway or discard, once the promo has finished or notified otherwise.
Big W Robina seems to have gotten a few more Metroplexes, scanning in at 148.
They also were restocked with 1 step changers, including Slash, Hound and Lockdown
That display had a few fall of cybertron figures last week, grabbed a Ultra Magnus and Sideswipe, there was also a Starscream, all going for $15, so not sure if any are left there, but it was pretty bare which was a shame.
Hey guys, I've been chasing 'round town trying to get my hands on a 30th Anniversary minifigure G1 Starscream. I know TRU, Big W and the Reject Shop have some figures in stock but it seems they get plundered pretty quickly. Anyone had any sightings at other stores? Ebay has a few listings...but $15 shipping on something no bigger than a postage stamps seems a bit much.
Was surprised to see at Coles Aspley today Series 3 Kreo Microchangers; I know they're old but if anyone is still chasing them I would guess there were 2 or 3 boxes on the pegs as it was packed with 4 rows of packets. I managed to get a replacement Long Haul for my existing one that was missing 2 pieces... though that didn't quite pan out, as I'll post in another thread! :rolleyes:
I saw one yesterday at Big W Kawana. I'll head back there tomorrow and pick him up if you don't find one by then if you like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Facepunches
Thanks for the offer Caffinetron, I have a couple more Big Ws I will hit up today and will let you know how I go. Again, I appreciate the offer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Caffinetron
To use a phrase from Metal Slug... "MISSION COMPLETE". I managed to dig up a 30th Anniversary G1 Starscream from a Reject Shop on the northside. So much happiness in such a little package. Thanks again for the offer Caffinetron – my micro G1 collection is complete! :)
No problemo!Quote:
Originally Posted by Facepunches
I think someone at the store must have gotten a verbal spanking from head office, as I got a phonecall this afternoon from one of the store managers, and he didn't sound happy. He started off by wanting to know when the photo was taken, so that he could defensively say that the display had been removed at the end of the day, so it was okay to be neglected for at least a whole day.Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
I said to him that it wasn't just looking like that on that last day, and shouldn't have been left like that even for half a day. So he then went on to say that him and the 5 managers wouldn't have left it looking like that for a whole day, let alone several... but since it's my nearby store, I had been in there a few times during the two weeks it was up, and it was never restocked with anything that wasn't in there on the first day. Once the DLX Generations sold out or the One-Steps were almost all gone, nothing was put in their place. And there were no permanent shelf-tags there, so anything with a "Transformers" logo could go in there... even the pencil cases and other merchandise that won't move for six months.
The weekend before, it was already a mess, with many slots already down to just one or two items on the sides. You can even see in the photo, that they put a pile of blue Kmart baskets next to the other side, to hide the empty slots that faced the entrance of the store, so that they didn't have to put any effort into finding something to put in there.
He also claimed that they don't remove toys from their "primary" section (the toy department) just to fill a temporary display... but they had an over-supply of Power Battlers and Rescue Bots in the toy department, and they also had heaps of Titans and Hero Mashers in the seasonal section that they could have easily grabbed a half dozen as well, just to put at least one item in each slot of the more visual, high-traffic eyesore of an empty display case at the front of the store. (instead of trying to hide it behind blue Kmart baskets)
How difficult is it to grab 6 items from the Seasonal section, and stick them in the empty slots, just to give people something to think about buying, that they otherwise probably wouldn't have even known existed because they were already past the Seasonal aisle that had Transformers toys.
And how difficult is it for their staff, who I see walk past it every few seconds of the day, to straighten up what is currently in the display. That mess wasn't just done that morning (I was there an hour after it opened), and even if it was, do you leave something that messy at the front of the store if staff are constantly walking past all day long?
And what bugs me a little is that Head Office didn't respond to my email at all, but they were more than happy to pass on my phone number to the Sunnybank store so that some stranger calls me up claiming to be a store Managers, and give me a rather hostile phone call... who couldn't hang up fast enough after justifying procedures that were either flawed, or didn't obviously even happen.
(I do feel bad for managers who have their hands tied by corporate policy, but to have one calling me to berate my constructive criticism AND suggestions, was disappointing)
What's worse is that it's at the front of the store & it's a given that if it's empty, you fill it. & that whole spiel about 5 Managers.., pfft.
As far passing on the numbers, that's something they've implemented so that the store you had the experience with can resolve the issue personally. The fact that you've got photographic evidence now means H/O is fully aware & the store doesn't have a leg to stand on.
The local Kmart near me has a display near the front of the store that looks similar to that. Except this one only has a few of the slots of one (out of four) sides of the display partially filled. It hasn't been like that for only one day either.
It is sad, considering how much AoE stock they purchased, that they haven't refilled the display yet. It's their loss I guess, especially considering that NOW is the time to have them constantly packed full in their prime (see what I did there? :p) location during the first few weeks of the movie release.
If they leave it too long, the hype will die down shortly and they'll have bucket loads of shelf-warming product that they'll have to try and sell at a discount in 6 months time.
Madness....
It is exactly the same in K-MaRT Rocky (which as far as I can tell never even got the new Generations FOC deluxes in). It's a shame that K-Mart seem so utterly devoted to not doing any work at all to promote the franchise.
That response from the local store member is appalling! You did not send them your contact details so they can be forwarded to a hostile staff member who then attempts to discredit you. Seriously. I am sure BTT can pen a great letter back to Head Office about the poor handling of this by both the Head Office and local staff.Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
Aspley Toys R Us has a few wave 2 AoE deluxes, and Grimlock and Slug AoE evolution-packs. Also, if you're looking for over priced Hasbro Masterpieces, they have a few Prowls available.
Did you ask them about the MP Grimlock at all?Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon Sexton
Sorry no. I was just wasting a bit of time there before I needed to do something, so I was basically 'in then out'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Caffinetron
I'm not sure this is significant or not, but at big W in Carindale I recently noticed a little cyberverse-esque retool of that BH rippersnapper mold to look like Grimlock, and Voyager Galvatron among other things...
So yeah, if you're nearby have a look.
All sightings are important!Quote:
Originally Posted by octopunchshotfisrt
Glad to see voyagers appearing in BigW. I'm waiting on mine to get in Hound and Galvatron
Voyager Galvatron and Hound were at Kmart Sunnybank Plaza for $49
Was at Garden City Mt. Gravatt today and on the lower level - kinda opposite Jay Jay's - there is a little novelty store. In there I found some very interesting items (didn't buy any):
- Beast Machines Cheetor (Voyager class) $40 boxed
- Beast Machines Deluxe (random flying bird thing) $30 carded
- Beast Machines Scout (about 5 different ones) $20 each carded
- ROTF deluxe TFs (cannot remember the price) about 4 different ones, carded
- Takara Disney Mickey Mouse Optimus Prime B&W transformer $20 boxed
The Mickey Mouse one may have been a knock-off given the price and the fact they sell knock-off DC lego mini-figs - but the box was very convincing.
Jay Jay's also had 2 mens Transformer comic-style shirts at 2 for $40
Just wanted to update this for ya, the ROTF figures were $50, no idea where they got that price, and they also had:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_K
Universe 1 Rodimus Prime - $80 O.O
Universe Megatron (Nerf gun) - $70
No idea where they were getting these prices from, would've grabbed Rodimus, but way to expensive
Old news: last weekend kmart toombul had 1 of each ruination left except whirl (i bought one of each, except whirl...), kmart toowong had 2 of each, but i bought one whirl. However they for my nephew and my sister in law knew i was buying them but she still got them herself, so yesterday i returned full set of 5 to aspley kmart, were back out on shelves by 5pm.
Gametraders chermide still had reissue irongide, ratchet, skylynx, but also now:
Hasbro reissue skids $89
Hasbro reissue sideswipe $80
Takara reissue skids (not book style) $75
Reissue ultra magnus (didnt check jap/eng) $? Think 150
Reissue dirge (didnt check jap/end just drooling over tracks pics in cover) $79
MP Smokescreen ) $124?
Edit: maybe magnus and smokescreen prices switched
Toys R Us Aspley has Then and Now Bumblebee, along with a restock of Then and Now Strafe and Slug. Also 3 Mp Prowls on the shelf.
Evolutions Slug, Strafe and Grimlock at Garden City TRU, but no Bumblebee. (yet?)
Is that the BW mold strafe or the AOE with minicon?
The then & now is the movie version with the DoTM classics minicon, while BWN Guiledart is packed with the RoTF Legends Sideways (Stinger).Quote:
Originally Posted by tinyJazz
Edit :confused: Terrorsaur as Dinobot Strafe with Legends Bumblebee, that's the other BW pack. It's been a long day.