My talk with a Hasbro rep.

[SITHLOU33]

I Went Hunting Today For New Comic Packs When I Came Across A Hasbro Display Rep. Talking To A Matel Rep. At A Walmart. By Now I'm Already Having A Bad Day Of Not Finding Anything So I Decided To Let Off A Little Steam So I Grab An Old Comic Pack And Ask Her If She Knew When The New Ones Are Coming Out, And Why Is It So Hard To Get Product Etc,etc. She Shoots Back In A Nice Kind Voice Hasbro Has Been Having Some Manuf. Problems, Transit Problems, Keeping Up With Sudden Demand Of Products .she Also Tells Me A Lot Of These Stores Have Orders All The Way Through Christmas 2009 So It's Hard For Them To Adjust For Sudden Demand. She Didn't Even Know What Product Was Coming In The Next Few Months. I Give A Few Web Sites To Help Her Bone Up On Upcoming Stuff As Well A Letting Her Know What's Coming Out In The Next Couple Of Months So She Drops A Hasbro Consumer Affairs Number 1-800-327-8264. She Tells Me To Call Them And Let Them Know Of Some Of The Problems I'm Having, She Said Hasbro Listen More To The Consumer Than Employees, So Fellow Tankers This Our Chance To Let Our Voice Be Heard.

[young1nj]

some good information there. The idea of hasbro not being able to keep up with the product demand is real.

In the Michigan forum we talked a little about this. My wal-mart made an order 2 weeks ago and close to 3 weeks now they haven't received it.

Maybe they boosted up the prices partly to hire more workers to make joes. In my area there has been a total of 2 cases of wave 7, that isn't very much to spread around, i got my set, but i can just imagine how hard it must be for people to get their joes in larger cities where more people want these

[A.V.A.C.]

thanks for the info sithlou.

i stopped by several wal marts today on the way home from work. no single packs, besides buzzer of course. however, there were tonnes! of comic packs, every one you could desire. i don't get it. i've seen one wave 7 and was real lucky at that. still haven't seen wv 6 or 8. all my targets have nothing, absolutely nothing. heh, cept' for buz. i will not be checking target anymore.

[COBRACOLLECTOR]

Im in nyc staten island and its empty just the same ol comic 2packs out here and senior 3 packs by the tons in TRU

Target was empty today aswell as TRU on any single packs oh also are target done selling the vehichile packs they had ?

i see no traces of these

i got a hiss once and thought id come back 4 the rest big mistake

on wave 7 i got them all and i left spirit and wild bill in target with hopes tpo come back 4 them another mistake

[vadersquest]

My wallys are dry as well. It comes as no surprise about the rep not knowing what is coming out. I was friends with a Hasbro rep in my area for 7 years. I even became friends with the regional manager. Neither knew what was coming and I of course filled them in on all types of info. It got to a point that when either person saw me they asked questions about future product before I could even say "hi". It was cool though, I did get some promo display pieces from them from time to time.

[Agent-GHQ]

A petition would help getting their attention and get the ball rolling.

[Deckard]

im behind that. lets get one started bro. i'll sign it. :>

[ARBCOToys]

Can I just add that usually these reps are just random people that don't know or even care what product they are dealing with. They are just there to do what Hasbro asks them to do. Usually set displays, take quick inventory etc... They only know what is on the sheet with them or the memo they read before setting out to do the work they have been sent out to do. It's not uncommon for the reps to also work for a greeting card company and change those out. Or say...change out the book selection in retail stores.
I worked in a toy store or dept. for 8 years and never met a rep that knew more than what was directly on the paper in front of them.

[SITHLOU33]

Can I just add that usually these reps are just random people that don't know or even care what product they are dealing with. They are just there to do what Hasbro asks them to do. Usually set displays, take quick inventory etc... They only know what is on the sheet with them or the memo they read before setting out to do the work they have been sent out to do. It's not uncommon for the reps to also work for a greeting card company and change those out. Or say...change out the book selection in retail stores.
I worked in a toy store or dept. for 8 years and never met a rep that knew more than what was directly on the paper in front of them.

YOUR RIGHT IN THIS CASE, BUT SHE SEEMED LIKE SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT PRODUCT WAS COMING UP, ASKING QUESTIONS, AND WHERE ELSE TO FIND INFO.

[cmderinchief]

I don't know about anyone else, but that post was tough to read with EVERY word being capitaized. I don't know if that is your posting style or what, but I had to read it twice to get the info out of it that I was looking for. I am no stranger to boards, I am sure it is just me, but I found it very odd. Regardless, thanks for the post.

Anyway, I think this is the 4th or 5th post I read about someone meeting a Hasbro rep in the aisles of a store. I wish I could find some links to cite and prove this, but it seems like they all have rehersed the same answer....didn't expect demand, manufacturing problems, shipping problems, transportation problems, death in the family, headaches, hang nail, etc, etc, etc. Always the same answer.

[spacemonkeymafia]

Just me but I had no trouble reading it...thanks for the info........

[Shadow Ninja]

Actually this is true... I use to work as one of the Hasbro reps and still talk to the regional manager... Only problem is Hasbro hires some MORONS that have no idea what product is coming out or is out.. I use to know all the Star Wars, Transformers, Joes, ( even girls toys)etc....

I helped a lot of people out going into the back store room and getting items out of cases... RARE figures as well in the Star Wars line... The problem lies with who they hire a lot of these woman don't know and don't cae...I think they should hire people that have an idea about the product that is coming out.. They need to keep on top of things instead of saying "I don't know"....

The Transformers fiasco is a great example with not enough product being made and delayed shipments and lack of production.. Their too worried about sitting on too much product now a days!!!

[SITHLOU33]

Actually this is true... I use to work as one of the Hasbro reps and still talk to the regional manager... Only problem is Hasbro hires some MORONS that have no idea what product is coming out or is out.. I use to know all the Star Wars, Transformers, Joes, ( even girls toys)etc....

I helped a lot of people out going into the back store room and getting items out of cases... RARE figures as well in the Star Wars line... The problem lies with who they hire a lot of these woman don't know and don't cae...I think they should hire people that have an idea about the product that is coming out.. They need to keep on top of things instead of saying "I don't know"....

The Transformers fiasco is a great example with not enough product being made and delayed shipments and lack of production.. Their too worried about sitting on too much product now a days!!!
She mentioned that also, and made reference to recent G.I. Joe failures that made companys holdout ordering alot of product, and in my opinion that's why were seeing alot of repaints. Hasbro didn't expect alot of demand so now there rushing to put out product to satisfy us. Ya alot of the product needs improvment, but at least their trying to fix the problems with the figs. andgive some vehicles.I don't think we'll have a problem when the movie comes out, but of course we'll have to wait and see.

[ARBCOToys]

Sithlou it sounds like you had one of the few good ones. I remember WAY back when Phantom Menace figures were out I had a husband/wife Hasbro rep team come in my store to do some things. They had to switch out the pegwarmers and then put stickers on the packages for an upcoming promo. They seriously printed out photos of the character from the internet so the knew which ones to pull. It took them a couple hours to do 30 minutes worth of work.

I think there is a misconception that these reps are reps for the consumer. But I'm pretty sure they are really in place to just represent Hasbro (or Mattel) with the retailer. Like I said they are just there to do specific work and get to their next destination. Nine times out of ten when they see a collector approaching they are thinking "Oh shit".

[Tiger_Force_Dude]

hasbro should hire hisstank members lol

[jasonong]

how bout EBAYers? :D

[nighthawk]

Up here in Canada, I've ran into Hasbro reps before and they were quite helpful. What would have been nice would be if you found comic pack with swapped out figures to show her and to let her know the stores really don't care about that happening.

[tkprime]

LOL Hire Hiss members........Then there would be more shortages! Just kidding guys, I wish Hasbro would listen, but have no fear, the new CEO starts Thursday! And he's going to give us a "Golden Age" for All things Hasbro!

[dgnr82]

I met up with a Hasbro rep that actually DID know what she was talking about. Hasbro is about 45 minutes from my front door and there is a Walmart right in the middle. I happened to stop there one afternoon when I met her. She knew all about the shortages and assured me that they would stop by then end of summer. They are producing more and more with each wave that comes out she said, and to expect that you will be able to walk in to any store that has them and see them on the pegs by then. She also assured me that we will be more than pleased with the movie line as well as the remainder of what they have in store for us, especially the vehicles and playsets. She couldn't elaborate as to what was coming, but told me to keep checking that particular Walmart for product, and sure enough they are the only one around that has anything. In mass too. Last time I was there, they had a HUGE end display of comic packs and they should be getting upwards of 20 cases of waves 7 and 8 she said. Of course, they haven't gotten them yet. I guess being so close to Hasbro has some perks, but not like it used to.

[pain]

That does sound like a canned response, but hey, at least she was trying to educate herself. (or just pretend to because she did not want to be rude.)

[jjk1120]

I met up with a Hasbro rep that actually DID know what she was talking about. Hasbro is about 45 minutes from my front door and there is a Walmart right in the middle. I happened to stop there one afternoon when I met her. She knew all about the shortages and assured me that they would stop by then end of summer. They are producing more and more with each wave that comes out she said, and to expect that you will be able to walk in to any store that has them and see them on the pegs by then. She also assured me that we will be more than pleased with the movie line as well as the remainder of what they have in store for us, especially the vehicles and playsets. She couldn't elaborate as to what was coming, but told me to keep checking that particular Walmart for product, and sure enough they are the only one around that has anything. In mass too. Last time I was there, they had a HUGE end display of comic packs and they should be getting upwards of 20 cases of waves 7 and 8 she said. Of course, they haven't gotten them yet. I guess being so close to Hasbro has some perks, but not like it used to.
I hope that's true, becuase if it is, that would be awesome. Imagine walking into a store and seeing GI Joe product on the pegs all the time. And new stuff when it comes out. With more product on the shelves, the ebay prices will take a nose dive.

[A.V.A.C.]

that's great you live next to hasbro dgnr82, always wanted to live in RI, but doesn't the product arrive on the west coast. therefore, slowly trickling eastward? i could be wrong, but doesn't the product slowly thin out by the time it reaches, let say, rhode island? we have it pretty thin here in the midwest, and from what i hear, the east coasters are hurting worse than we are.

[Lt. Faceless]

we have it pretty thin here in the midwest, and from what i hear, the east coasters are hurting worse than we are.

Within an hour drive of me,i have 5 walmarts,2 targets,1 TRU and 1 kmart.I have seen wave 7 ONCE.I hunt 2 or 3 times a week and come up emtpy handed every time.Lets not count the 1's i have only seen once.

[pain]

Try finding them in southern Louisiana.

All we have had at my Wal-Mart for the past few months is a hooded Cobra COmmander on a damaged card.

[gunslingercbr]

She also assured me that we will be more than pleased with the movie line as well as the remainder of what they have in store for us, especially the vehicles and playsets.
did you tell her that if the Ripcord figure was black and not renamed Stalker, or that if Snaake Eyes and Scarlett aren't released together in wedding outfits with honeymoon suitcase accessories, that the movie toyline is going to suck and be DETH OF TEH LINE! and Larry Hama will cry himself to sleep at night over what has become of his creations.

[Lightning LA]

The Wally World's near me are Packed with 25th Figures,the Peg's are completely Full of Viper's-Bludds-Artic & V-3 Style Snake Eyes-Baroness in Blue-Tiger Force Flint-Duke with Jetpack-Roadblock-Wild Bill-Spirit-HISS Drivers-Cobra Commander V-1 Style.The Peg's are also Completely Full of Comic Pack's,every Comic Pack that's been out so far.This is the first time there has been this many 25th's around here,there's 4 Super Wally's all in a 30 minutes drive of my House.And everyone of them was Stocked Full as of Yesterday with all the Figures i mentioned above,i wonder how long it will last???

[young1nj]

pick some of those up...a lot of people really want flint and many of the wave 7 and wave 8 figs. not to mention the wildweasel comic packs

[VIPER 48]

The Wally World's near me are Packed with 25th Figures,the Peg's are completely Full of Viper's-Bludds-Artic & V-3 Style Snake Eyes-Baroness in Blue-Tiger Force Flint-Duke with Jetpack-Roadblock-Wild Bill-Spirit-HISS Drivers-Cobra Commander V-1 Style.The Peg's are also Completely Full of Comic Pack's,every Comic Pack that's been out so far.This is the first time there has been this many 25th's around here,there's 4 Super Wally's all in a 30 minutes drive of my House.And everyone of them was Stocked Full as of Yesterday with all the Figures i mentioned above,i wonder how long it will last???

That sounds awesome. You are lucky to have all of those figures near you...

[VIPER 48]

pick some of those up...a lot of people really want flint and many of the wave 7 and wave 8 figs. not to mention the wildweasel comic packs

If you need Wild Weasel comic packs, let me know. We have over 100 comic packs at one Wal Mart alone. I will help hook anyone up who is looking for these...

[topnotch97]

one way to get rid of those 100+ comic packs is to give Joe collectors overseas some limited time tourist visa, so that they could visit stateside and pick up all those packs. problem solved. LOL!!!! no need for them to spend $40 on each comic pack. LOL!!! :D

[VIPER 48]

one way to get rid of those 100+ comic packs is to give Joe collectors overseas some limited time tourist visa, so that they could visit stateside and pick up all those packs. problem solved. LOL!!!! no need for them to spend $40 on each comic pack. LOL!!! :D

True. Now i just got to figure out why a tourist would come to Springfield...lol...