Post by: FastFord58 on February 27, 2008, 06:40:02 PM
Store bought (If I could find them).
7.99 + 1.11 tax X 8 figs in the wave = 72.80 CAD
From BBTS.com
48 + 16 shipping + 11 customs fees = 75 US = 73.56 CAD (current exchange)
A difference of a whopping +.76.
I have to be honest, between my family and work I just don't have time for the hunt anymore. I still check stores for army builders but that is about it. I'm sick of one wave of 8 figs showing up once a month in the stores and then having to try to beat scalpers to the figs.
Now these number are indicative of shipping to Southern Ontario, so your mileage may vary with shipping and brokerage. If you are in the right place, I think it is a decent alternative to the hunt.
Post by: BHMike on February 27, 2008, 07:10:26 PM
Assuming "Scalpers" are buying them is just lame by the way. I've gone to nearly EVERY toy show in Southern Ontario in the last year. If these people are buying the figures and selling them at the toy shows or ebay - I'm missing it. Because here in Canada, there's not many listed on ebay, and at the shows - no one has them, and if they do, the prices are comparable to TRU prices. Hardly "Scalping" in my opinion. ;-)
Post by: akpayne on February 27, 2008, 07:50:00 PM
It really is a no win situation for toy retailers (WalMart/TRU/Zellers) The buyers of these large stores are not in touch with what toys will sell and what won't - probably because they have to place their order many many months in advance. I also have a problem with the logic of large toy retailers for example:
Hulk movie figures - they sucked, stores bought them in huge quantities (they are still on some shelves), they don't sell, stores don't order more. Hulk Classic line comes out - amazing figures comic accurate figures, I try to find them but can only get 1 or 2 at specialty retailers, but can't. Wave 2 barely gets released in the states, and ToyBiz doesn't even bother sending them to Canada because we never had enough interest in Wave 1, and the damn movie figures are still sitting on shelves 2 years later at full price.
Same thing happens with the Fantastic Four Movie Figures/Fantastic Four Classics/Marvel Legends Fantastic Four, and the X-Men Toy Biz Movie and Classics line.
What really drove me bonkers was the Hulk Smashing/Noise making large green fists - they didn't sell well, and most of the stores had them ripped out of the packaging - the same stores wait 1 year, then make the same stupid ass mistake... only this time they are the THING smashing fists - WTF? Same problem, only this time they also order Slip-on Large Foam Feet as well. This is where it gets stupid - I saw the same large Hulk fists in the New York 2008 toy fair photos...Here is my PREDICTION - Canadian retail will order these and they will get damaged and not sell.
To bring this back on topic - I think they only ordered 1 case of Joes per store, and they sold out! Bad for the collector as they were impossible to find, even with the crappy cards - Bad for the stores, for the same reason you mentioned, collectors will simply find it easier to order from the States. The next go around - will stores order to many? Will they clog the pegs so that wave after wave will be skpped and Canadian collectors will miss out on them? Causing Canadian collectors to buy from the states only perpetuating the problem?
Anyway - I collect I think partially for the nostalgia, but mostly I love the hunt! I could buy the figures I am missing from the states via eBay, but it is not nearly as much fun. What I really enjoy is finding a small Toy Retailer and giving them my business - the money and my hobby stay in Canada. Not to long ago, there was this store that offered exactly what I am talking about, and the guy that ran it, was a really great guy who also loved Toys and the Hobby as much as me.
Post by: Pete The Greek on February 28, 2008, 12:08:11 AM
And on my end...thrill of the hunt my ass. It took me at least 40 trips to various Wal-Marts and Zellers to get one complete set of the last wave. I wouldn't have done it provided if the packaging wasn't different.
Post by: morgardee on February 28, 2008, 09:06:53 AM
Quote
Code Name Quan Price Total
---------------- ------------------------------------------------ ---- ------- -------
GI25A-WV208C GI JOE 25th Anniv. wave 2 2008 case / set of eig 1 $47.99 $47.99
Merchandise total: $47.99
Shipping and handling: $12.14
Grand total: $60.13
Keep in mind the dollar is pretty much par. The difference is only pennies right now and I don't get hit with crazzy duty taxes. That's about $7.50 a figure.
Mind you, I'm with Pete on the Canadian cards. I still want a set of the Canadian cards and now with there being possibly being 3 different card styles for the next few waves things are going to be expensive.
Post by: Stealth Viper on February 28, 2008, 10:02:01 AM
For example, 3.75" 25th Joes have one SKU. Regardless of the wave. So if there are some "clunker" figures in a wave, and that's the wave the store gets a few cases of - they'll sit on the pegs, and the store won't order more because according to their system, the SKU still has lots of stock.
Post by: Jon S. on March 01, 2008, 08:33:35 PM
Not that I don't mind walking into a toy store. When I was working above a TRU I was in there every day to look around. I got everything I wanted and more. Now that I'm working elsewhere (across the street from the Silver Snail ;) ) I don't hit up the stores very much.
But I imagine life is much more difficult when you're a completist.
I dunno... I have more money than time these days and can't be bothered to run around looking for toys I can just order online.
Post by: sniper on March 03, 2008, 03:49:26 PM
Post by: B on March 04, 2008, 06:30:33 PM
Post by: Beamer3131 on March 05, 2008, 11:32:04 AM
I went over on Saturday and again on Monday. Went to Hamburg (TRU, Target, Walmart and KB Toys all within 5 min) and snagged up a whack of 25th ann. figures. Even managed to grab the elusive Cobra 5 pack (first one).
Monday headed north to Niag. Balls Blvd to Target and Walmart. Managed to snag a new battle armor CC among others.
I'll probably plan another trip over sometime soon...too bad it's so tough to get them here. I did find a few at the St Catharines TRU, but not big on the packaging anyways.
Post by: sniper on March 05, 2008, 01:01:23 PM
Post by: Jon S. on March 06, 2008, 07:49:03 AM
Post by: custo on March 16, 2008, 07:53:15 PM
Post by: jjreason on March 21, 2008, 09:48:43 AM
I've had luck in ordering cases from Entertainment Earth as well, but I ship those to my brother in Minnesota as they charge too much to cross the border.