[DDDYKI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain mal

Here's the thing... is an employee buying product for themselves 'wrong'? I would argue that it's not. Sure, it pisses us off... but in my past experience, that is one of the benefits of working retail. I can remember getting computer games, music, or DVDs before they hit the floor. Heck, I used to work on a truck dock - and I would 'accidentally' open Hasbro boxes back in the day as they were on the way to stores. This is how I used to know when and where product was going to hit. (I never stole anything - but I did see most of the 90's waves before they were in stores) (Biggest temptation I had was probably GNR's Use Your Illusion albums - that I saw a week before they were released... man, I wanted to swipe those so bad)

If you happen to work retail, setting product aside is one of the benefits. The store still gets their money - so they don't care. Only way to solve it is to produce enough product to fill demand. Hard to put blame on some lowly Target employee when its not really their fault at all...

Yes, it can be wrong, at least when it comes to street dates or embargo items. Talking big stores, corporate arranges with a distributor or manufacturer to carry certain items on their terms. If Disney doesn't want copies of their newest home video release to hit shelves before a certain date, all corporate stores are expected to abide. Agreements are signed and failing to honor the terms can make for trouble. I remember working for Walgreens 20 years ago and the home video releases would come in boxes with large print that explains when the contents can be sold. Where I work, I deal with launch planning all the time. Companies take it very seriously, so we have to take it seriously. (Way too seriously, sometimes.) We honor the agreements, with the expectation that we'll continue to get the manufacturer's hottest products in the future. The last thing we want to do is burn relationships and potentially lose their business, which means losing customer business.

Technically, whether you're an employee or not, the store is selling you that item. You're on the hook and so is corporate.

[kilowatt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwordMonkey

Went to three targets today. As I walked into the aisle at the last one the employee was opening a box, my heart did a little skip as I saw the blue boxes come out. Full case of fireflies, which I didn’t really need unfortunately. No vipers. I grabbed a couple for friends that needed and left 4 on the pegs.

Popfindr and Target app stock is completely inaccurate for these. Have to get lucky checking now.

Yeah Popfindr is inaccurate for the Firefly, I scored one today but I was tipped off by a friend. Do you think it is the same for the Viper?

[Mr Jackpots]

I have no issue with an employee buying one for themselves. Gotta take what perks a job can give you. However if they're buying out most/all of the stock of an item that's where I start to take issue. If it were a higher profile/priced item like a PS5 it would probably be in the news.

[DJK1980]

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain mal

Here's the thing... is an employee buying product for themselves 'wrong'? I would argue that it's not. Sure, it pisses us off... but in my past experience, that is one of the benefits of working retail. I can remember getting computer games, music, or DVDs before they hit the floor. Heck, I used to work on a truck dock - and I would 'accidentally' open Hasbro boxes back in the day as they were on the way to stores. This is how I used to know when and where product was going to hit. (I never stole anything - but I did see most of the 90's waves before they were in stores) (Biggest temptation I had was probably GNR's Use Your Illusion albums - that I saw a week before they were released... man, I wanted to swipe those so bad)

If you happen to work retail, setting product aside is one of the benefits. The store still gets their money - so they don't care. Only way to solve it is to produce enough product to fill demand. Hard to put blame on some lowly Target employee when its not really their fault at all...

Over the past few weeks I’ve had a few conversations with various target store managers, as well as two separate calls with target corporate customer service, all about the difficulties of finding these figures. Here’s what I learned in regards to Target’s official employee policy:

Employees are absolutely allowed to purchase products, but 2 rules must be followed when purchasing rare collectible items (which these Joe exclusives ARE considered).

First rule, the customer gets first priority, and employees are prohibited from purchasing a collectible within the first 15 minutes of it being available. I assume this 15 minute window is defined by the first 15 minutes that the store is open on the day that they have the item in stock, but I’m not 100% sure if this is the proper translation. I was told that Target is very strict with enforcing this rule, but we all know how “strict” certain stores are with this as clearly inventory is disappearing before stores even open. But clearly, the rule was put in place to give customers a fighting chance to obtain collectibles, but employees can gain the system by “deflecting” inquiries for 15 minutes with all kinds of excuses, then scoop up the figures for themselves.

Second rule, employees MUST be either on break or off the clock in order to make any purchase. This explains why inventory goes missing for hours, then turns to zero without customers buying anything. Employees simply stash the items until their break, then legitimately make the purchase. This one was obvious I think, and supported by the story about the guy waiting for 8 hours before seeing the employee buy the whole case.

So I haven’t put any of this knowledge to use, but PERHAPS if you’re in a situation where you showed up to the store right at opening and you’re getting stonewalled, maybe you throw out that corporate policy and scare an employee into giving in? Worth a shot!

[Edhaskel]

^^^ This would make sense. Got to Target at opening,‘no one else there. Popfindr said 6. Asked the employee and he told me they had 6 but sold them all already. Left, and watched popfindr slowly go from 6 to 5 to 4, etc throughout the day....

[PopToyPhotos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edhaskel

^^^ This would make sense. Got to Target at opening,‘no one else there. Popfindr said 6. Asked the employee and he told me they had 6 but sold them all already. Left, and watched popfindr slowly go from 6 to 5 to 4, etc throughout the day....

This just pisses me off. I worked retail as a kid. And I get all the points everyone has already made, but this is still shitty.

[big ape]

Please, if anyone runs across a couple of Firefly and can pick them up, I will gladly pay extra. Not eBay money, but extra and would definitely return the favor if there’s something you’re looking for down the road. I’d rather do business with a fellow Joe collector than scalper turds on eBay or Mercari. Thank you.