breal59
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 20, 2021 16:46:13 GMT -5
Posts: 1,326
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Post by breal59 on Feb 15, 2022 8:26:28 GMT -5
I have only started collecting recently. Beeing in the UK, is it considered the dark times of WWE figure collecting since Toys R Us disbanded?
I didn't collect toys about five years ago but I remember in Toys R Us, the shelves being filled with different lines of Mattel WWE figures.
To get Legends or other Walmart or Target exclusives, you have to pay around £50 each from websites now. Was it always like this? Or was it much easier to get these exclusives in the UK with Toys R Us around?
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Post by alanpartridge on Feb 15, 2022 8:29:47 GMT -5
The uk never got the original legends in. Smyths gets a decent amount of figures in. Although them not getting full elite sets in is bs.
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Post by Mongo Bears on Feb 15, 2022 8:35:01 GMT -5
Sounds about the same as in the US mate.
I don’t find the figures I want anywhere but secondary market for $50+
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vandamin8or
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Joined on: Mar 22, 2016 11:14:18 GMT -5
Posts: 683 
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Post by vandamin8or on Feb 15, 2022 10:28:38 GMT -5
Smyths has started to get really patchy with Elites. Only getting certain figures from each series. They didn't get Slaughter, Bossman, or the most recent Collectors Editions. Add to that they have started charging £25 for the PPV series figs.
There are loads of online independent retailers popping up now though and you can shop around for the best prices. However, Legends will set you back around £40 which is way too much for me in most cases. It's a joke that we need to pay double what they pay in the US.
I do miss the days when there were multiple brick and mortar ships where you could go to get your figures. I used to love the thrill of the hunt. Online shopping isn't the same.
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Post by taserface on Feb 15, 2022 11:30:39 GMT -5
Just curious. How much would it be to ship a loose Legends Hurricane, Jake, HHH or Orton? They are flooding shelves all around me. Would be glad to help anyone out. They cost appx $24 USD over here to buy (I believe)
Would be nice to move some of these things out
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breal59
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 20, 2021 16:46:13 GMT -5
Posts: 1,326
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Post by breal59 on Feb 15, 2022 12:25:11 GMT -5
Just curious. How much would it be to ship a loose Legends Hurricane, Jake, HHH or Orton? They are flooding shelves all around me. Would be glad to help anyone out. They cost appx $24 USD over here to buy (I believe) Would be nice to move some of these things out The cheapest I can find any of the Legends 13 is £45 including delivery. |
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Post by newgenandy on Feb 15, 2022 16:45:39 GMT -5
The only thing we really miss with toys r us gone is certain e clubs I’ve lines like network spotlight which they used to have in when it was a thing
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Post by LA Times on Feb 15, 2022 17:29:00 GMT -5
It's definitely the dark days in the US.
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ajay182
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Aug 3, 2020 16:53:10 GMT -5
Posts: 322
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Post by ajay182 on Feb 15, 2022 17:36:03 GMT -5
I'd say so.
I've just recently got back into collecting, having been a regular during the Hasbro and Jakks days and gone are the time when you could walk into supermarkets, toy shops, comic/collectibles shops etc and find different things in each one.
As was said above, it seems now most physical shops all have (broadly) the same, very limited stock. Seemingly, Mattel doesn't see much value in the UK market, as there have been reports on here that retailers are only offered a very limited range (even if they'd like more lines such as Legends).
AEW/Jazwares seem to do a slightly better job, even if they take a while to get here, they're generally more complete sets.
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Post by stc13 on Feb 15, 2022 17:37:30 GMT -5
It's definitely the dark days in the US. I probably sound more negative than I feel, but collecting just feels sort of hollow for me right now. On one hand, Mattel (and Jazwares) have been doing some top notch design work and are cranking out killer figures. But I have less desire than ever to hunt for them, and even when I do find something that "rush" I used to get just isn't there. Maybe that's just me, but it seems like it's a sentiment I've seen around here more often lately. |
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ajay182
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Joined on: Aug 3, 2020 16:53:10 GMT -5
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Post by ajay182 on Feb 15, 2022 17:48:25 GMT -5
It's definitely the dark days in the US. I probably sound more negative than I feel, but collecting just feels sort of hollow for me right now. On one hand, Mattel (and Jazwares) have been doing some top notch design work and are cranking out killer figures. But I have less desire than ever to hunt for them, and even when I do find something that "rush" I used to get just isn't there. Maybe that's just me, but it seems like it's a sentiment I've seen around here more often lately. I totally get you. My thought on this is that it's become very predictable - gone are the days when you might see a rogue Jakks Classic Superstars Series 1 on the shelf alongside Series 9 or 10. So as you say, even when you do find something, it's rarely something massively surprising - just from the same lines stocked everywhere else. |
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Post by The Gang on Feb 15, 2022 17:51:54 GMT -5
Dark days for collecting in Canada also. Mattel is making some great figures but you have to jump through so many hoops to get them. Basically I have to rely on the eBay scalpers. It’s really too bad that Mattel doesn’t sell every figure they make on their own website and ship worldwide. It seems to me there is money to be made there. They could even make their own exclusives and make them available to everyone.
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Post by stc13 on Feb 15, 2022 19:00:41 GMT -5
I probably sound more negative than I feel, but collecting just feels sort of hollow for me right now. On one hand, Mattel (and Jazwares) have been doing some top notch design work and are cranking out killer figures. But I have less desire than ever to hunt for them, and even when I do find something that "rush" I used to get just isn't there. Maybe that's just me, but it seems like it's a sentiment I've seen around here more often lately. I totally get you. My thought on this is that it's become very predictable - gone are the days when you might see a rogue Jakks Classic Superstars Series 1 on the shelf alongside Series 9 or 10. So as you say, even when you do find something, it's rarely something massively surprising - just from the same lines stocked everywhere else. I've only been collecting since 2016, and even the change since then seems night and day. I started collecting around E39/40, but you could still find figures on the shelves here and there going back to the early 30's and pegs were full at every store, even if you saw a lot of Brodus Clay or Midzow and Sid. It's not just figures though. I went to Target yesterday to grab a few small things and was going to pick up another box of chocolates. The whole Valentine Day section was wiped out, there was nothing left, and they had already put up Easter candy. I think underordering just seems to be their strategy today. |
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Post by SteveHulk on Feb 15, 2022 21:39:24 GMT -5
I have only started collecting recently. Beeing in the UK, is it considered the dark times of WWE figure collecting since Toys R Us disbanded? I didn't collect toys about five years ago but I remember in Toys R Us, the shelves being filled with different lines of Mattel WWE figures. To get Legends or other Walmart or Target exclusives, you have to pay around £50 each from websites now. Was it always like this? Or was it much easier to get these exclusives in the UK with Toys R Us around? It was pretty much always like that... £40-£50 for any exclusives or sub-line figures. With TRU around, at least we got most of their exclusives though. And full sets of figures... Smyths only gets 3 (or 4 max.) figures from a wave now, since Mattel started shipping them in full cases (rather than mixed cases - where you're guaranteed at least 1 of every figure). Not that you can really blame Smyths... I don't even know who some of the mainline Elites are these days. Also - whenever the UK (Smyths in particular) have tried getting in store exclusives, they haven't been particularly successful... both Hall Of Fame Series 2 & 3 were plentiful and had to be heavily discounted. And some of the Collector's Edition figures (Zelina Vega, Kama, Warlord) have hardly been flying of the shelves either. I'm glad I started collecting from the beginning, so don't really need too many figures (Elites/Legends) coming out now... it must be very difficult trying to keep up with it all(!). I'm mainly sticking to Ultimate Edition and Retro figures. |
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davidrvdppv
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Joined on: Oct 24, 2011 15:35:50 GMT -5
Posts: 410
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Post by davidrvdppv on Feb 15, 2022 22:05:28 GMT -5
Dark days for collecting in Canada also. Mattel is making some great figures but you have to jump through so many hoops to get them. Basically I have to rely on the eBay scalpers. It’s really too bad that Mattel doesn’t sell every figure they make on their own website and ship worldwide. It seems to me there is money to be made there. They could even make their own exclusives and make them available to everyone. I would love this. Mattel used to sell some elites on their website but that was many years ago. |
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madnessmania
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Post by madnessmania on Feb 15, 2022 22:19:12 GMT -5
To me personally I don't know if I would consider it the dark days for collecting. There are a lot of different figures and exclusives being made, its hard for me to be disappointed. However what I do consider bad is how prices are pretty high where I live for legend and ultimate figures (NYC btw). Distribution and the pricing would be the main issue at hand.
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Post by dpd1967 on Feb 16, 2022 2:49:07 GMT -5
It’s basically dark days across the planet.
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Sean
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 18, 2012 6:19:02 GMT -5
Posts: 1,153
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Post by Sean on Feb 16, 2022 6:19:45 GMT -5
I agree it’s the dark days here. Gone are the days you can walk into a toy shop and have the whole set of figures infront of you. Now if you want a certain figure you have to order online for more money since there’s no guarantee your toy shop is gonna get that figure in. For me I feel bad for this generation of kids because I know when I grew up during the jakks days I’d go daily looking for the womens figures and could never understand why they were never there. So what must it be like for them with Smyths only getting 3 or 4 figures from each series in.
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Post by charabro on Feb 16, 2022 7:53:42 GMT -5
It’s a shame but it has been for a while, I remember basically everyone stocking the Jakks WWE stuff back in the day, now you can’t even get basics in let alone elites or ultimates..
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judas
Superstar
Joined on: Feb 20, 2020 7:42:06 GMT -5
Posts: 665
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Post by judas on Feb 16, 2022 8:03:49 GMT -5
When you’ve got stores saying Mattel aren’t offering the lines to them and Mattel saying the stores aren’t taking up the lines then what do you expect. Someone’s bull******** but one side won’t own up. Mattel have way too many US Store exclusive sub lines and seem to stick all the desirables in those lines. It’s bad abroad but even in the US people are finding it difficult to get the store exclusive stuff. It’s all a complete mess. Basics quality has dropped off a cliff also which is my big bug bear. I’m waiting on a 2002 basic Kane but even if we get one I know the attire will be missing significant levels of detail, so what’s the point in the first place. Ugh. Only speaking for myself but I’m giving it another 6 months to a year and if things don’t get better then I think I’m out.
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