The struggle is real (Mattel Pre-orders)

I like online more. I've got way more important stuff to do than driving around going to stores solely for toys.

Edit: with that said, I still find myself driving to stores more than I'd like. I try to check stores when I do the grocery trip usually on Sunday afternoon

I'm yet to have a quality issue with ringside. From what i've seen and heard there customer service for issues is top notch. Prices are what they are. They need to make a profit to exist and enrich peoples lives. They do have us by the nads on their exclusives but... $25 with the ny tax and shipping minus the wfigs code normally comes to like $32 not so bad all things considered. Most hold their value or double/triple over time. I learned to hold off on the exclusives until sale time. Normally a good sale combining a few exclusives i need knocks them down to like $23 a piece shipped. Much more palpable.

I'm done hunting. It's not worth it. I buy online now.

I love going on the hunt!! I have a job that allows me to hunt on company time. There's nothing like finding the figure I want at retail. But that has become a super rare event. I can't seem to find anything anymore. These days I just pre order all the figures I can't live without. At the most, 2 figures per series. That also gives me a chance to pull the trigger on some figure defenders (keep forgetting what they call those plastic cases). Everything else, I get at retail. If I can't find it, no big deal. I already have the figures I really wanted.

I've been buying from Ringside for years, living in Canada it's really the only way to go as our stores have virtually nothing. It's so much easier to just order online.

This is so true. Downsizing has killed it for me. I'm guessing since 2005 it's gotten a little worse every year.

I went to three Walmarts, three Targets, four Walgreens, and a TRU today. Came home with Fozzie Bear and Scooter action figures.

It's tough I love going on hunts but now it's become ok I'll look if I'm in the store for something else or if I'm in the area and have some time. I actually did go specifically for figures today just because of the cartwheel app deal got a Bo and DDP for under 20 for both. Nothing special still a good price though. I was kind of mad though today I found 2 Renee Youngs and I just ordered mine the other day ?.

Lately Toys R Us has been the only place where I've seen consistent new stuff everywhere else is dry. I did find 42 at a Wal Mart but that's it really everything else is cluttered with old stuff and shelf warmers.

This exact reason is why I think Mattel should include more "chase" figures or distinct variants in their lines. When everything is mapped out and available for collectors several months in advance, we lose an important part of the collecting experience. There is no reason to go to the store or even check the WWE aisle when we know there isn't a chance of something being there.

I have stopped actively "figure hunting" probably six years ago and just order online or trade. It's not worth the time, effort, and resources just to be disappointed. And I don't want to get to a store before the doors open, crossing my fingers that new cases have been stocked. But Mattel has an opportunity to bring collectors back into stores and give us a reason to hunt for store exclusives, variants, limited editions, etc.

That is a BIG problem with pre-orders. I know a guy who has the worst luck with buying figures that have flaws. I kinda forgot about this fact when considering store buying vs pre-ordering.