youbastards

Got an order in for both versions, thanks Luke.

Maybe we can get Ronan's correct hammer this time?

Wave 8 was found by people back in March, and it still hasn't hit a single store near me. It's been 5 months. Are these collecting dust in a warehouse or were the production numbers drastically reduced from previous waves? I have seen nothing of Wave 9 or Infinity War Wave 2 either. My optimism is telling me to hold out for the Rite Aid conversions, but honestly this is killing any interest I have in Walgreens assortments.

How about "Walgreens Impossible to Find Minimates Wave 4"?

Walgreens' only exclusives were the 2 you listed, Black Lantern and Justice League BD Batman, per Zach it sounds like they may be done with the line due to lack of sales. So far, the only Walmart exclusive has been Kingdom Hearts Valor Form Sora.

Yeah, but those non-articulated Disney Store Boxsets are what, $19.99, or even buy-1-get-1 free a lot of the time. A Minimates boxset like you just described would retail for at least $40.00. Sure, collectors won't mind, but at that price point, Moms are instantly going to reach for the non-articulated boxsets instead.

From what I recall Chuck saying in the past, Disney Store exclusives are made at the request of Disney, meaning DST only produces what they are asked to make.

Agreed, it's time to get creative. Build-a-figures is a good start, but really invest into the brand and come up with some fun product. - Dioramas that can connect together - accessory packs - generic vehicles Bring back M.A.X., experiment with an in-house Monsters/Monster Hunters line, Famous people (Weird Al, Michael Jackson, Pee-Wee Herman). Aim for more Hollywood nostalgia properties like Buffy, Firefly, Princess Bride, Monty Python, Austin Powers, etc, while not being afraid to try the more obscure boxset from time to time. One of the primary reasons Back to the Future was a success was because DST was the only company producing product at the time, including characters not just the DeLorean. With Walking Dead gone, Aliens and Predator are both wrapping up (if not done), we need another tentpole license. Aim high.

Hopefully there are some cool Micromates too...

Minimates convention exclusives don't sell well because: A.) They aren't flippable for 3-4 times the cost. The attendees that are trying to recoup their convention costs skip right over them because they know they will eventually be available outside of the convention, and selling a $10-$20 exclusive for *maybe* $30-$40 on eBay isn't worth their effort when Hasbro/Mattel/NECA, Etc can make them more money. B.) Character selection lately has been a problem. Adrian Toomes in mechanic clothing isn't going to push someone over the edge even if they think "Food-eatin' Spidey" is cool. C.) Nothing about them feels "special", no unique packaging, no limited numbered edition. They are literally just your everyday standard retail product. It sounds petty, but it's true. D.) Minimates are a niche brand, despite the longevity of the line. Unfortunately, unless another retailer like TRU or AFX (remember them?) come onboard to buy the run and offer it, we probably should expect NOT getting convention exclusives as the norm going forward. Now give me a limited/numbered Hadley's Hope diorama boxset with a Dropship, Bishop, Ferro, some Marines and Aliens and prove me wrong DST!

Walgreens problem is that they lump all releases under the same sku, keeping all Minimates at the same price regardless of relevancy. If the older releases had their own sku, they could discount those to help them move (most Walgreens have a dedicated clearance section) while making room for and allowing the newer product to sell at full price. I constantly see other clearance toys, while those almost 3 years old Wave 1 GITD Electro packs have actually increased in price from $7.99 to $8.49 at most of my stores.

Head's up, there are exclusive Kingdom Hearts Sora Vinimates at both Hot Topic (online) and Wal-Mart (in-store)! Hot Topic Final Form Sora Wal-Mart Valor Form Sora Zach, are there any recent Vinimate exclusives out there? These were a surprise.

Probably a Walgreens Animated wave....

Awesome news,....no blind bags though, right?

Do you need one?