I agree about the scalpers thing. I am just not seeing it, I think the real problem is the stores didn't order enough - maybe they were just testing the water.
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.
