Tag Archives: Retailer Exclusives

OK, Hasbro. You need a reality check. The current exclusive program is an unmitigated disaster. And you should be held accountable for its ineffectiveness. Unless you’re dead under a rock somewhere, you must know how pre-orders for online exclusives are COMPLETE calamities, right? This nonsense has to stop. (more….)

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It’s becoming increasingly more frustrating to find anything Star Wars-related merchandise at retail. And while we are constantly bombarded by the pompous defenders that retailer exclusives are a necessary evil for the Star Wars toy line, one has to wonder what the point of all this is when literally nothing is found. (more….)

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Every now and then I ask myself if collecting something, anything really, is still fun or if something has become too much work. In a perfect and ideal world a company such as Hasbro would make sure that anyone who wants to buy something gets the chance to do so – by either simply walking into a store and finding things on shelves and pegs, or by going online and buying from Amazon, Entertainment Earth, Dorkside Toys or any other etailer. But reality is different. The “exclusive” figure or set has become a staple of collecting, exclusives are no longer the exception, but have become the norm. And scarcity seems to be a concept companies like Hasbro or Funko (and not just them) seem to like a lot. Why? Click through for some thoughts about collecting!

Soon not available in stores near you

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Sears, America’s iconic but bankrupt department store chain, passed a critical milestone Friday when a deadline for potential buyers to submit bids on its assets passed. Before the 4 p.m. ET deadline its former CEO, Eddie Lampert, had proposed buying the struggling retailer in full for $4.6 billion through his hedge fund ESL Investments – including 500 Sears and Kmart stores, store inventory, the Kenmare and DieHard tool brands and other assets. As part of the deal, ESL would also forgive $1.8 billion of debt that the retailer owes the hedge fund. But the deadline passed without word of an official bid. Fox Business has the full story.

The Amazon of yesteryear has been killed by the Amazon of today. The retail apocalypse continues. As you know, Sears was a founding Kenner partner and offered the world some of the most significant Star Wars exclusives we ever saw for our collections. We’re sure many of you who grew up with the original Kenner line feel a bit melancholy to see this retail chain finally bite the dust. There is a chance a confidential bid is out there, but right now it’s looking very grim.

UPDATE: There seems to be a reprieve from the liquidation. See the latest news at CNBC.