elmeaux Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 ...with the heavy packs being shared at specialty, which is 4-4-3-1. Do the specialty stores actually like, or request that ratio? Specialty assortments are three evenly-packed sets and a one-per-case variant; it's the way we've done it with lots of lines, and there's not many other ways to do it -- unless we do a fourth set or even-pack the variants and go 4-4-2-2, as we have with other lines. The reason I ask is it's my opinion that the 4-4-3-1 ratio has hurt minimates at specialty. This is based on what I have seen in my area (and of course it might just be the opposite of the rest of the world.) The chase variant at big box is ostensibly to garner repeat visits; most folks who buy at specialty are already repeat customers who know when product is going to arrive. And most specialty stores only make an order for minimates once, so unlike big box you aren't likely to come back and find the product refreshed with more product. Chase figures aren't going to generate the kind of random visits at specialty that they do at big box. Of all the comic shops in the Houston area, only Bedrock City carries minimates with any kind of regularity anymore. They have 4 locations and will send merchandise from one store to another when customers are looking for something. My nearest store sold the Amy variant (to a customer at another store) with in an hour of opening that morning. Since I couldn't get a full set and the other three stores were out, I didn't buy any WD2 at the store. I went home and ordered a set online. I was in the store today to pick up the new Marvel 4 pack and they still have not sold a single WD2 minimate past that Amy. I know for a fact one other store in the area quit carrying any minimates because he wouldn't sell any more after the variant set was gone. I suspect similar occurred at some of the other stores that used to carry them around here. It's why I asked if stores are actually asking for the 4-4-3-1 ratio. From what I've seen at the very least the standard for specialty should be 4-4-2-2, but 3-3-3-3 seems like it would be best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 3-3-3-3 is IMO ....& has been for some while....the only way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM2 Dinobot Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Where are you at in Houston, Elmeaux? I know Nan's still carries Minimates if you're ever in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmeaux Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 In the NW. I don't think Nan's carries as much as Bedrock does though, or do they? I was in there about a month ago and it didn't look like it. Third Planet quit carrying, as did Pop Culture Co. on I-10. The two shops out towards Katy don't, the one in Baytown doesn't, DNA Comics in Humble doesn't, the two in the Woodlands don't. And yet the TRUs in all those areas have at least decent sales of minimates. So we've got minimate collectors here who could potentially be buying at those stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmeaux Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 3-3-3-3 is IMO ....& has been for some while....the only way to go. I could see where some places could want 4-4-2-2 if they might have more casual traffic, so that it would be desirable to have A-listers like Spidey in greater quantity. There is a chain called Hastings that are half book store and half...entertainment stuff like video games, movies, comics, toys and trend type stuff. They carry a lot of direct market toys, including minimates. These stores are in smaller cities that don't have some of the big chain bookstores. Actually, a little over a month ago, we did a big weekend "tour" of the Hastings (plus TRU and a couple comic shops - scored a Battle Beast collector case, woot!) from Houston to Waco to Austin to San Antonio and back. And every Hastings that had WD2 was missing Amy and not much else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexPredator Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Series 4: http://news.toyark.com/2013/04/12/bbts-lists-walking-dead-minimates-series-4-with-photo-85130 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punisher Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 This wave is confusing. No variant and only one zombie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MINI_MYTE Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 (edited) This wave is confusing. No variant and only one zombie? The description reads that both prison Lori and Alice come packed with the shoulder zombie, hence one of the two ladies will come 3 in a case and the other will be the variant. That's how I interpreted it. Too bad about only the one zombie in this wave. I hope the complementing TRU wave makes up for the lack of the walkers in the comic shop wave. Fingers crossed. Edited April 12, 2013 by MINI_MYTE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch77 Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Carl: Where do minimate babies come from? Rick: From DST son, from DST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystery Man Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Lookin' good... but I hope for more zombies in the TRU set too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeycrumb Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 This wave is confusing. No variant and only one zombie? The description reads that both prison Lori and Alice come packed with the shoulder zombie, hence one of the two ladies will come 3 in a case and the other will be the variant. That's how I interpreted it. Too bad about only the one zombie in this wave. I hope the complementing TRU wave makes up for the lack of the walkers in the comic shop wave. Fingers crossed. I hope the TRU exclusives can be easily found! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 I hope the TRU exclusives can be easily found! That needed to be bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombie Shakespeare Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I'm sadly underwhelmed by Michonne's poncho. Still waiting for the definitive Michonne figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zak Katz Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Haha Mytes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heroic Slacker Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 MIchonne just looks uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zak Katz Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I want a Michonne in her prison duds, oh and Axel, he's dead on the show now so will we ever get him? Carl is priority number one for me, I can't believe he hasn't been made yet. DST obviously would use the new kid arms and legs so I don't get the delay, I can't be the only one curious on what the hold up is? Maybe wave 5 with Negan The Governor is cool though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSTZach Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 You guys are sad we're making more characters and fewer zombies? Huh. Thought we revealed that line-up at Toy Fair. Alice is the variant. There will be more zombies at TRU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Zombies are characters, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSTZach Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 ...I mean, yes, they're specific zombies, but... But... Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I believe the politically correct terms you're searching for are "walkers" and "survivors." But yeah, I recall a certain level of disappointment when it was announced that the walker 2-packs were going away. As much as fans love their favorite survivors, this property is just as much about the undead and – for this toy line specifically – assembling a horde of diverse, flesh-eating zombies. You can't please everyone. Heck, I'm happy if I can score the TRU exclusives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexPredator Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 What are the TRU exclusives for series 4 going to contain if you don't mind me asking Zach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onyx_6 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 (edited) Carl, Tyresse, Bicycle Zombie (w/ bike), Penny. They will be one per case. And no, I don't mean one if each. It hasn't been announced yet. Edited April 14, 2013 by Onyx_6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valo487 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I really wish they'd introduce Darryl into the comics.... Sorry, I'm sure that's been said before but I typically just skim this board to avoid spoilers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zak Katz Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I think if they did it may draw a lot of the shows audience to start reading WD, but you just want a Daryl minimate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombie Shakespeare Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 They should introduce and kill him in the same issue. Just so he could have a minimate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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