Walmart WWE Superstars line

[arossi417]

I've seen two stores with 11, it feels like 9 & 10 came and went pretty quickly. The anchors (Kane & Kurt) are widely available around Philly I feel like. I saw someone post today that we should be seeing 12 pretty soon as well.

I don't want to quote a wall of text, but eastern PA has to be the absolute worst place to hunt figures right now. Impossible to find MNW anywhere and if you are outside of Philly, I feel like you are screwed on Superstars. Was in Lancaster this weekend and saw stores with Series 5 still hanging out. I would probably swallow the shipping cost if Mattel offered exclusives on their site after giving stores a month to get them into our hands. Would be a pretty big tell if they get a ton of orders from our neck of the woods.

[nomorexclusives]

Oct 6, 2024 8:59:13 GMT -5 arossi417 said:

I've seen two stores with 11, it feels like 9 & 10 came and went pretty quickly. The anchors (Kane & Kurt) are widely available around Philly I feel like. I saw someone post today that we should be seeing 12 pretty soon as well.

I don't want to quote a wall of text, but eastern PA has to be the absolute worst place to hunt figures right now. Impossible to find MNW anywhere and if you are outside of Philly, I feel like you are screwed on Superstars. Was in Lancaster this weekend and saw stores with Series 5 still hanging out. I would probably swallow the shipping cost if Mattel offered exclusives on their site after giving stores a month to get them into our hands. Would be a pretty big tell if they get a ton of orders from our neck of the woods.

That store on fruitville pike has had the same 6 red pant hogans since march. The one on ephrata has the same problem. The one on route 30 has had the same typhoons and macho man for the same time period. Nothing getting restocked there. Luckily in reading i can sometimes find motu but between there and harrisburg there is nothing new. I am taking a roadtrip for work to philly soon and will see if things are better there. Last time around there was nothing until i crossed over to nj. I know a boutique corner walmart close to harrisburg that has 4 pegs of series 1-5. Nothing else. Been like that for more than a year. So many stores in the southeast like that. Even in maryland amf w.virginia

We are getting a beat8down and it gets expensive to keep up. Some people might think i only collect superstars but i would surprise many with what i have. Trying to manage at least 10 lines used to be posdible. Now having to pay double for virtually all mattel lines, exclusive or not, is impossible. I have to cut out certain lines to keep going. Mnw was an obvious one for me as you probably know they are probably not coming back to our area.

I have driven to baltimore/washington last year but i wont do it again. That place is like playing russian roulette. I prefer to stay alive. Totally drug infested area with people high as a kite hanging out at the front door. Very little recourse other than philly or pittsburg at this point.

The northeast is a big deadzone. But heavens forbid we point that out or people from dallas fort worth with 2 dozen walmarts will say it is easy for them to find stuff so it should be for us too. I have been doing this so long that i know all the tricks on forums. Paid robots to downvote complainers, resellers coaching people to just buy online (come on just take the bullet, heres my ebay store). Yawn. I see right through each post and know who the real collectors are. I know this us a mattel forum so you also have that (im sure i will get a reply about my hasbro statement) lol.

There has to be a remedy. At this point it is in mattels hands. Guess we will fimd out if they truly value us as consumers/fans. I will say this, without fans, hasbro would not have sales of 3 3/4 gijoe or star wars figires at this point as everyone has moved to the 6inch market. Thanks to pulse and listening to their customers, people became fans and in many cases hardcore to the point that they will pay big money to listen to their plans for future releases. Mattel is not a collector friendly company. They are all about mass releases and quantity. Just look at what they have done to the marvel license. 50% of ollies toy sections are filled with that crap.

[arossi417]

Oct 6, 2024 9:47:56 GMT -5 nomorexclusives said:

Oct 6, 2024 8:59:13 GMT -5 arossi417 said:

I've seen two stores with 11, it feels like 9 & 10 came and went pretty quickly. The anchors (Kane & Kurt) are widely available around Philly I feel like. I saw someone post today that we should be seeing 12 pretty soon as well.

I don't want to quote a wall of text, but eastern PA has to be the absolute worst place to hunt figures right now. Impossible to find MNW anywhere and if you are outside of Philly, I feel like you are screwed on Superstars. Was in Lancaster this weekend and saw stores with Series 5 still hanging out. I would probably swallow the shipping cost if Mattel offered exclusives on their site after giving stores a month to get them into our hands. Would be a pretty big tell if they get a ton of orders from our neck of the woods.

That store on fruitville pike has had the same 6 red pant hogans since march. The one on ephrata has the same problem. The one on route 30 has had the same typhoons and macho man for the same time period. Nothing getting restocked there. Luckily in reading i can sometimes find motu but between there and harrisburg there is nothing new. I am taking a roadtrip for work to philly soon and will see if things are better there. Last time around there was nothing until i crossed over to nj. I know a boutique corner walmart close to harrisburg that has 4 pegs of series 1-5. Nothing else. Been like that for more than a year. So many stores in the southeast like that. Even in maryland amf w.virginia

We are getting a beat8down and it gets expensive to keep up. Some people might think i only collect superstars but i would surprise many with what i have. Trying to manage at least 10 lines used to be posdible. Now having to pay double for virtually all mattel lines, exclusive or not, is impossible. I have to cut out certain lines to keep going. Mnw was an obvious one for me as you probably know they are probably not coming back to our area.

I have driven to baltimore/washington last year but i wont do it again. That place is like playing russian roulette. I prefer to stay alive. Totally drug infested area with people high as a kite hanging out at the front door. Very little recourse other than philly or pittsburg at this point.

The northeast is a big deadzone. But heavens forbid we point that out or people from dallas fort worth with 2 dozen walmarts will say it is easy for them to find stuff so it should be for us too. I have been doing this so long that i know all the tricks on forums. Paid robots to downvote complainers, resellers coaching people to just buy online (come on just take the bullet, heres my ebay store). Yawn. I see right through each post and know who the real collectors are. I know this us a mattel forum so you also have that (im sure i will get a reply about my hasbro statement) lol.

There has to be a remedy. At this point it is in mattels hands. Guess we will fimd out if they truly value us as consumers/fans. I will say this, without fans, hasbro would not have sales of 3 3/4 gijoe or star wars figires at this point as everyone has moved to the 6inch market. Thanks to pulse and listening to their customers, people became fans and in many cases hardcore to the point that they will pay big money to listen to their plans for future releases. Mattel is not a collector friendly company. They are all about mass releases and quantity. Just look at what they have done to the marvel license. 50% of ollies toy sections are filled with that crap.

I never really get to Maryland, Oxford is about as far out as I've made it while visiting family. I usually bake in a couple weeks of delay after I see people out west or in TX post findings, but that feels like it's gotten worse lately. The Survivor Series endcaps are either not hitting here, or the staff is just taking the figures off the display and throwing them into the main aisle. I'd be in for starting a group or something to help hunt around here since it's so desparate.

[Flair Forever]

Oct 6, 2024 10:13:49 GMT -5 arossi417 said:

Oct 6, 2024 9:47:56 GMT -5 nomorexclusives said:

That store on fruitville pike has had the same 6 red pant hogans since march. The one on ephrata has the same problem. The one on route 30 has had the same typhoons and macho man for the same time period. Nothing getting restocked there. Luckily in reading i can sometimes find motu but between there and harrisburg there is nothing new. I am taking a roadtrip for work to philly soon and will see if things are better there. Last time around there was nothing until i crossed over to nj. I know a boutique corner walmart close to harrisburg that has 4 pegs of series 1-5.

I never really get to Maryland, Oxford is about as far out as I've made it while visiting family. I usually bake in a couple weeks of delay after I see people out west or in TX post findings, but that feels like it's gotten worse lately. The Survivor Series endcaps are either not hitting here, or the staff is just taking the figures off the display and throwing them into the main aisle. I'd be in for starting a group or something to help hunt around here since it's so desparate.

The Oxford Walmart is one of the biggest, nicest, well-maintained Walmarts around the area - but they haven't really been stocking the Wrestling Figs that great this year. It's about 35 minutes for me, and I've been hitting it about once a month, and I don't think I've found anything I was looking for since maybe January?

Great Walmart for groceries and stuff, though. Great selection.

[biggerbetterbadder]

Just got series 12 on eBay. I predicted just before Halloween they’d pop up. Much earlier. At this rate, the usual sellers might have series 13(Jake,Steamboat,Guerrero) around Christmas/early 2025.

[Herc and Roma]

In short to most people mattel doesnt seem to care while hasbro tries to keep their customers. We see it play out here. Mattel has known that canadian customers especially have no recourse. At the very least they could make these figures available to them if they wanted to keep those buyers.

Mattel doesn't care about their primary market (USA), why would they care about Canada?? If they can't be bothered to fix the distribution problems in their main market (United States) then what makes you think they will improve distribution in a foreign market?!  It would be great if they could make these figures available through their online store but they don't seem to have any interest in doing this, it looks like they only want to sell these via a retailer.  Unfortunately the major retailer (Walmart) they have partnered up with is as poorly run as they are which results in the situation we find ourselves in- putting in way more effort to find these figures than is necessary.

instead, with mattel we are told that by 2025 a new upc code will be sent out so that walmart employees can differentiate the old from the new.

Mattel seems to always react after the fact to something instead of being proactive and implementing a change from the start.  Each figure should have had its own separate UPC code from the beginning- why are they implementing this now, 2 years into this line??  This company needs an overhaul which is why I hope something comes of this- Mattel’s stock rallies on news of acquisition offer as Hasbro may enter the fray.  Apparently some private equity firm made an offer to buy Mattel over the summer but Mattel rejected the offer. The interesting thing is that this offer has sparked interest from other firms as well as from Hasbro who are thinking about making an offer as well.  I seriously hope a sale happens as new ownership (and new management) is the only way that major changes will happen with this company as the current management don't seem to have a clue how to fix the problems that exist (or perhaps they just don't care enough to fix them?!).

[wrestlingcollector80]

I'm not disagreeing with what you said, but I believe this is a Walmart issue not a mattel issue. Look at barbie in Walmart store. look at hot wheels in a Walmart store. I believe Walmart is to blame because they take on this series "SUPERSTARS". Mattel say great, produces a huge batch and then Walmart says we will take 10,000 figures. Meanwhile mattel already produced 30,000. So mattel offs the 20,000 to wholesalers who sell them on the Bay, or their own site for 3 to 5 times what Walmart would sell them for. Walmart has taken a turn for the worse, over the last few months to a year they have removed price checkers in their store. Superstars are not even available on their site anymore as in "Sold by Walmart", only 1 of all the ones listed on their site were sold by Walmart (Scott Hall). I honestly wish they would end this line because it is so hard to obtain. My local walmart just did have the new set in Tatanka Big Boss Man, Kurt Angle. I have not seen rey, razor or brutus yet. They tend to skip series. I'm hoping 2025 will be better and Walmart will fix their stores and procedures.

[Herc and Roma]

I honestly wish they would end this line because it is so hard to obtain.

I agree and honestly don't understand how it hasn't ended with the horrible distribution the line has?!  You have to think that at some point Walmart is going to pull the plug, they aren't stocking these in their stores with any consistency nor are they making them available to buy on walmart.com so why are the keeping the line going?!  I hope once it ends, Mattel releases a best-of or greatest hits wave with the figures that were the hardest to find.  This would give collectors another shot at getting these figures AND would show that Mattel does actually care about its customers.

[Flair Forever]

I still think y'all are over-reacting a little bit on this Superstar line. I've been able to (eventually) find all the ones I wanted IN STORES, I haven't bought any of these online OR from a "reseller". I haven't paid a penny over retail and I have all the ones I wanted, including several chase figs.

Almost EVERY Walmart I've been to has had the last two sets, I've seen at least remnants of the Ali/Kane/Bulldog and Tatanka/Angle/Bossman sets at almost all of my Walmarts.

To say "I wish they'd end the line" is a bit extreme - - - you seriously don't want any more of these?

The distribution is inconsistent - - - we'll go 4 months with NOTHING and then 2-3 sets will hit over the course of a month. Yes, that is stupid. And some Walmarts get them - and others don't - - - but that's nothing new, and I still say these are a LOT easier to find than the Monday Night Wars line.

Does anyone remember how hard Master of the Universe WWE-figures were to find? Or Walmart WWE Flashbacks? Some of those NEVER made it to stores. In the long list of Walmart Exclusive Failures - WWE Superstars is VERY FAR from the worst.... in fact, it might be one of the best. Even though Walmart has set a very low bar for itself.

I just don't think "ending the line" is the proper solution here.

[wrestlingcollector80]

Oct 6, 2024 19:35:51 GMT -5 Herc and Roma said:

I honestly wish they would end this line because it is so hard to obtain.

I agree and honestly don't understand how it hasn't ended with the horrible distribution the line has?!  You have to think that at some point Walmart is going to pull the plug, they aren't stocking these in their stores with any consistency nor are they making them available to buy on walmart.com so why are the keeping the line going?!  I hope once it ends, Mattel releases a best-of or greatest hits wave with the figures that were the hardest to find.  This would give collectors another shot at getting these figures AND would show that Mattel does actually care about its customers.

Well see that’s where your wrong, Walmart only gets so many people grab them up so in their mind they are selling great, they purchased X amount from Mattel, and distribute to stores, not all stores, then they fly off the shelf fast, Walmart wipes their hands and are like we did a good job. Then Mattel like well we did our job we sold X amount to Walmart and offed X about to wholesalers we got our money. Meantime superstars aren’t as bad as Monday night wars elites.

[thebigzakbowski]

Oct 6, 2024 19:45:55 GMT -5 wrestlingcollector80 said:

Oct 6, 2024 19:35:51 GMT -5 Herc and Roma said:

I agree and honestly don't understand how it hasn't ended with the horrible distribution the line has?!  You have to think that at some point Walmart is going to pull the plug, they aren't stocking these in their stores with any consistency nor are they making them available to buy on walmart.com so why are the keeping the line going?!  I hope once it ends, Mattel releases a best-of or greatest hits wave with the figures that were the hardest to find.  This would give collectors another shot at getting these figures AND would show that Mattel does actually care about its customers.

Well see that’s where your wrong, Walmart only gets so many people grab them up so in their mind they are selling great, they purchased X amount from Mattel, and distribute to stores, not all stores, then they fly off the shelf fast, Walmart wipes their hands and are like we did a good job. Then Mattel like well we did our job we sold X amount to Walmart and offed X about to wholesalers we got our money. Meantime superstars aren’t as bad as Monday night wars elites.

I agree 100%. Walmart orders call it 10,000 and they all sell, nothing gets clearanced and the next wave they order 15,000 but clearance out 2,000. OK so the next wave they order 13,000 but Mattel expecting 15,000 is stuck with 3k so they sell them to whoever. Mattel is happy they're selling out. Meanwhile Walmart hasn't figured our the magic number to order but they don't want to get stuck with shelves full so their order numbers change again but Mattel doesn't want to get stuck with stock so they'll sell to anyone. Couple all this with Walmart having no idea how to distribute to their own stores so irregular ordering and clueless distribution

[arossi417]

This is still a fun line that should be easier for everybody to collect. Personally I think they'd be better suited dropping the idea of anchor figs and just throwing three in case. Sell cases on Mattel Creations and get the rest into stores. The anchors almost always end up pegwarming after a while, it's the same song and dance with basics (and rarely elites fit that category as well). I also don't get having 2-in-1 figures like Andre or Brutus and single packing them. You know which ones collectors are going to grab multiples of!

[nomorexclusives]

Oct 6, 2024 18:20:51 GMT -5 Herc and Roma said:

In short to most people mattel doesnt seem to care while hasbro tries to keep their customers. We see it play out here. Mattel has known that canadian customers especially have no recourse. At the very least they could make these figures available to them if they wanted to keep those buyers.

Mattel doesn't care about their primary market (USA), why would they care about Canada?? If they can't be bothered to fix the distribution problems in their main market (United States) then what makes you think they will improve distribution in a foreign market?!  It would be great if they could make these figures available through their online store but they don't seem to have any interest in doing this, it looks like they only want to sell these via a retailer.  Unfortunately the major retailer (Walmart) they have partnered up with is as poorly run as they are which results in the situation we find ourselves in- putting in way more effort to find these figures than is necessary.

instead, with mattel we are told that by 2025 a new upc code will be sent out so that walmart employees can differentiate the old from the new.

Mattel seems to always react after the fact to something instead of being proactive and implementing a change from the start.  Each figure should have had its own separate UPC code from the beginning- why are they implementing this now, 2 years into this line??  This company needs an overhaul which is why I hope something comes of this- Mattel’s stock rallies on news of acquisition offer as Hasbro may enter the fray.  Apparently some private equity firm made an offer to buy Mattel over the summer but Mattel rejected the offer. The interesting thing is that this offer has sparked interest from other firms as well as from Hasbro who are thinking about making an offer as well.  I seriously hope a sale happens as new ownership (and new management) is the only way that major changes will happen with this company as the current management don't seem to have a clue how to fix the problems that exist (or perhaps they just don't care enough to fix them?!).

Totally agree on all that. All figures should have seperate upc codes or it opens up the possibilities of switching out certain (hot) figures for certain other (pegwarmer) figures. Oops, did i just let out something employees could be doing. Nah im sure thats just a conspiracy theory.

I was at a walmart yesterday and saw 4 employees putting out figures and then going on break with a full shopping kart. If i told you what they bought you all would be pissed. Another smart loophole they figured out (employees are not allowed to shop while working, ) Was a nice teameffort on their part. Lets just say i had a chance to get just about everything i am missing from 4 different lines. It took me until now to calm down about it. Even when stores get these figures employees still get first dibs. Was so damm close. Still struck out since last march.

And yes mattel seems to be dropping the ball on many things lately. I just saw a review of the great khalil and they made him smaller than the giant. Both are giants but khalil was much taller than andre. Very little thought being put into their wwe figures. You would think they have a room with allvthe figures are displayed over the years so they can get the heights correct or at least in the same ballpark.

If mattel is bought out we may have more hope these figures become online (not ebay) only exclusives. Not sure if it makes much difference for the short term.

Change definitely needs to happen. Too many balls being dropped for a billion dollar company. Like walmart there is an oversight problem. Less employees = less eyes on the ball.

Oh and flair, love ya brother but things are really that bad in southeast, PA. With the experience i had yesterday with employees buying ALL the s2&4 mnw, new motu cartoon figures (except evil lynn), new motutmnt, some tmnt, s11superstars it makes it hard to belueve any of us have a chance. I had to drive some distance for that store but it just underscores how bad it is all across this state as i meet more out of town collectors than ever with everyone going outside their usual surroundings to try to find these things in the wild.

[Herc and Roma]

To say "I wish they'd end the line" is a bit extreme - - - you seriously don't want any more of these?

Why is it extreme?  Finding these figures has become extremely difficult for 99% of collectors (except a select few like yourself who as you say were lucky enough to find everything at retail).  Its clear that Walmart is not going to do anything to improve the availability of these figures for their customers nor are they willing to relinquish their hold over this line by giving up the exclusive.  Mattel, on the other hand, is making money by selling to both Walmart and the resellers so there is no incentive for them to do anything even though this looks bad for them IMO.  What is the point of continuing the line when most of the people that want to buy these are unable to because they can't find them due to the horrible distribution?!  Our only options are to either keep making pointless trips to Walmart in hopes you find something or buy them from resellers who charge whatever they feel like it- does this sound like an ideal situation to you?  Collecting these figures is no longer fun because of how difficult it is to find them and how much you have to spend (for those willing to buy them from the resellers).  The longer the line remains at Walmart the more likely it is that it will die just like all the other Walmart exclusive lines that came before it.

I would like to see the line end... at Walmart NOT end completely.  I like these figures and have enjoyed collecting them and would like to see it keep going but not at Walmart.  This line needs to move to another retailer that will fully commit to carry it and who knows how to distribute it properly.  Best option is Target based on how they have handled the Legends line but that is not a good option for us international collectors.  Ringside would be a better option for us but I am not sure if they want to take on another line, although this is a niche line with a built in fan base (actually 2 built in fan bases, MOTU collectors might jump on board as well if these were more readily available) and IMO would do well for them once they hit on the right amount to produce of each wave.  Ringside would also allow for exclusive sets and multi-packs, both of which are not currently an option at Walmart.  Regardless of whether we want it to or not, the line ending I believe is a certainty as long as it remains at Walmart-  Walmart is a kiss of death for store exclusives.

[wrestlingcollector80]

I was just speaking stupid, of course I dont really want them to end the line, sure it’s difficult to obtain at times but I love this line, they are my absolute favorites the size, the style and I will try and continue to collect these, just so damn difficult.

[Chip]

I've had zero issues finding any Superstars. I also hit a LOT of Walmarts so I see the differences

Everything past Wave 3 is on the same ordering UPC. So if you're store has 15 Redpants Hogan you're not going to see new ones any time soon until those move. And they won't go on clearance because that would mean Walmart is changing the entire SKU #.

If your store also has Rock, Natural Disasters, Piper, etc.....same thing.
Also look at the pegs, if there's only 1 peg for Superstars it means that's a light store for ordering. They won't be getting much.
I legit go to a few Walmarts like this, I want to test out a theory and clean out one of these stores with the pegwarmers, then see if they actually re-order and get the new wave(s)...then just return the ones I bought to different stores to "spread" the wealth, lol

These things are being bought by Walmart, shoved into their distribution centers and then siphoned out to stores as needed. I have one near me that has a tag for Superstars on the shelf below the pegs, and they're getting like 4-5 cases of each wave because they're selling. The inventory number of that store must be high too so that when a certain amount go through the register it triggers a new order.

The Superstars line has been way easier for me to find than Monday Night Wars...which is an absolute disaster.

[wrestlingcollector80]

Oct 7, 2024 17:31:04 GMT -5 Chip said:

I've had zero issues finding any Superstars. I also hit a LOT of Walmarts so I see the differences

Everything past Wave 3 is on the same ordering UPC. So if you're store has 15 Redpants Hogan you're not going to see new ones any time soon until those move. And they won't go on clearance because that would mean Walmart is changing the entire SKU #.

If your store also has Rock, Natural Disasters, Piper, etc.....same thing.
Also look at the pegs, if there's only 1 peg for Superstars it means that's a light store for ordering. They won't be getting much.
I legit go to a few Walmarts like this, I want to test out a theory and clean out one of these stores with the pegwarmers, then see if they actually re-order and get the new wave(s)...then just return the ones I bought to different stores to "spread" the wealth, lol

These things are being bought by Walmart, shoved into their distribution centers and then siphoned out to stores as needed. I have one near me that has a tag for Superstars on the shelf below the pegs, and they're getting like 4-5 cases of each wave because they're selling. The inventory number of that store must be high too so that when a certain amount go through the register it triggers a new order.

The Superstars line has been way easier for me to find than Monday Night Wars...which is an absolute disaster.

Thank you for explaining this, I’m gonna look at the pegs next time, there is one store in southern Pa I forget where now that has like 12 red pants hogans, another store has older ones makes sense. I certainly hope they fix this for the new year!

[cableV]

All of the stores I go to are down to one peg for Superstars

The store where I found Series 11 had more than a pegs worth of Hogan & Angle when they got new product. The employee just put it where the MNW Ultimates are supposed to be.

That same store now has 4 Red Hogans, 4 Angles and 3 Reys. The x2 anchor slot isn't working well. I think most people buy this line in complete sets and the x2 anchor Mattel chooses doesn't seem to be in enough demand to sell out.

[nomorexclusives]

Oct 7, 2024 18:04:25 GMT -5 cableV said:

All of the stores I go to are down to one peg for Superstars

The store where I found Series 11 had more than a pegs worth of Hogan & Angle when they got new product. The employee just put it where the MNW Ultimates are supposed to be.

That same store now has 4 Red Hogans, 4 Angles and 3 Reys. The x2 anchor slot isn't working well. I think most people buy this line in complete sets and the x2 anchor Mattel chooses doesn't seem to be in enough demand to sell out.

Same. Only 2 stores still have more than one peg. The only store to have 4 is a small market walmart where enployees havent touched the aisle in more than a year. They are just waiting for their walking papers. Hard to motivate an employee with one foot out the door.

Kane was supposed to be the pegwarmer to replace hogan but walmart ordered little of it. Rey mysterio is also 2 per case but its hard to tell if walmart ordered enough. We could be looking at empty pegs next year and walmart phasing these out.

Ringside would be a great fit for this line but i would not order from them. They just throw thwm in a box with sone cardboard paper. Never receive anythong in decent condition. With that said if they end up at creations, i believe they will sell for 29.99 (because you know greed), where as ringside would give collectors a break (prob 24.99). But until they fix their shipping practices many resellers especially will think twice. Beat up packages sell less than loose figures sometimes.

[bigvis497]

Check your Ollie's. I found a few Bam Bam Bigelows amidst all the Flairs. Very random.