onlymoc21
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Feb 20, 2021 8:27:31 GMT -5
Posts: 491
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Post by onlymoc21 on Jul 29, 2022 6:10:52 GMT -5
Hey guys!
Just wanted to open up for discussion. AEW product no longer being stocked at UK retail. This is a massive hit to the brand in my opinion. AEW has a big presence on UK television, so I am shocked to hear product is being dropped. In saying that, the line was warming pegs, and the fact chases were not opened up to international customers I feel greatly hurt the line.
What are people’s thoughts?
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Old Zeke
Main Eventer
'Fraid old Zeke, he rides up here with me. Can't trust a pig with watermelons, you know.
Joined on: Jun 24, 2019 13:46:50 GMT -5
Posts: 3,307
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Post by Old Zeke on Jul 29, 2022 7:13:12 GMT -5
I've heard that Jazwares are moving the line to be more "collector based" and that their product will still be available in the UK, but from specialist shops.
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onlymoc21
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Feb 20, 2021 8:27:31 GMT -5
Posts: 491
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Post by onlymoc21 on Jul 29, 2022 8:57:52 GMT -5
I've heard that Jazwares are moving the line to be more "collector based" and that their product will still be available in the UK, but from specialist shops. From what I understand, it is moving to strictly online retail within the UK but very independent stores not a high street retailer. Maybe things will change when AEW tour the UK. But this is definitely a big hit to Jazwares losing that retail space. I think sales would have benefited from more UK exclusives and access to chase figures. This was something Jakks faced also with retail back in the day and countered it with some UK exclusive products. Classic 2 pack Bulldog and Regal, HBK and Jericho two pack etc. Jazwares had that cool Cody and then dropped the ball immediately with Adam Page. So it will be interesting to see what follows.
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Post by dpd1967 on Jul 30, 2022 4:28:09 GMT -5
It sucks that no chases were available to us in the uk. I watched a video yesterday on YouTube. It was about 6 months old but a guy and his girlfriend were figure hunting and on the pegs was the aew figs. But there was some more on the very top shelf. His girlfriend got up and had a look and she found 3 matt hardys. 2 of which were the 1 of 500 chase’s. To say I was jealous was a understatement. Sadly we will never get the chance to find any chase’s. And now not even regular aew figures in stores.
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celflessness
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Feb 5, 2020 7:30:40 GMT -5
Posts: 335
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Post by celflessness on Jul 30, 2022 4:49:09 GMT -5
I've heard that Jazwares are moving the line to be more "collector based" and that their product will still be available in the UK, but from specialist shops. From what I understand, it is moving to strictly online retail within the UK but very independent stores not a high street retailer. Maybe things will change when AEW tour the UK. But this is definitely a big hit to Jazwares losing that retail space. I think sales would have benefited from more UK exclusives and access to chase figures. This was something Jakks faced also with retail back in the day and countered it with some UK exclusive products. Classic 2 pack Bulldog and Regal, HBK and Jericho two pack etc. Jazwares had that cool Cody and then dropped the ball immediately with Adam Page. So it will be interesting to see what follows. I don't think exclusives and chases had anything to do with it. That would have pleased the vocal minority of diehard collectors, but you'd still see the same amount of Young Bucks and PACs and Rihos clogging the shelves. After the first couple of series, the brand didn't move. AEW doesn't resonate with a wide enough audience over here. Not to be worth the retail space they were given. My local Smyths has sold 1 Chuck Taylor. There are at least 9 still there, and it's been a few months. Honestly, I don't think WWE is in a much better boat. Folks complain when Smyths don't stock all of a certain series, but I'm stunned they're stocking as much as they are. Practically everything ends up on clearance. Modern wrestling isn't hot to the mass figure buying audience. Or the retailers are vastly over-stocking the product. I'd have loved a few chases, but that wouldn't have made me buy any more regular toys.
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Top 1% Aaron
Superstar
WF 10 Year Member
The One & Only
Joined on: Jun 14, 2010 15:28:22 GMT -5
Posts: 901
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Post by Top 1% Aaron on Jul 30, 2022 5:42:31 GMT -5
There's definitely too much stuff on the shelves - it kinda feels like the demand for the line here was massively overestimated.
That's sort of been good - it's meant I've never had trouble finding a figure because the shops are swamped with them (except Nyla, who no one ever stocked and Sting who seemed to disappear immediately).
That also means there's no incentive to pay full price for them, because they end up on clearance after a couple of months (presumably in an attempt to make some shelf space). I realised after a few waves that I was wasting money spending £20 on them when they always seemed to go down to £15 the next week.
Obviously some WWE figures hang around too (like that WM set with AJ/Austin/Bret/Shawn), but there just seems to be a lot more AEW sitting on shelves near me (right back to series 1).
It would be cool to get some confirmation if the line is actually still alive or not here - right now it feels like it's fading away and becoming OBSOLETE.
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thjamie
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 31, 2022 8:16:53 GMT -5
Posts: 170
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Post by thjamie on Jul 31, 2022 16:46:48 GMT -5
I really wish we had access to chase figures in retail
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Post by LA Times on Jul 31, 2022 16:48:59 GMT -5
Theyre giving the shelf space to Jazwares UFC.
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Post by WCWThunderRosa on Jul 31, 2022 17:18:20 GMT -5
I really wish we had access to chase figures in retail I wish they were done like Mattel’s are, we don’t have access to them either
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Post by East Coast on Jul 31, 2022 17:22:47 GMT -5
the first hint i got that something might be amiss, is that during the RSC sale they have a TON of AEW figures. they seemed to be having trouble moving them. And new AEW figures are coming out pretty quickly. So it looks like stuff is just piling up
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on Jul 31, 2022 18:27:43 GMT -5
They are rotting the pegs at my local Smyths and the main issue IMO is the price.
The main market for wrestling figures are kids and £20 is simply too expensive for parents, especially if their children want multiples. WWE have basics which are half the price and what kids can mostly afford to buy.
You can buy a WWE 2 pack for the same price as one AEW figure which is crazy.
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xtremebadass
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 2, 2006 19:27:32 GMT -5
Posts: 3,101
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Post by xtremebadass on Aug 2, 2022 11:22:42 GMT -5
the first hint i got that something might be amiss, is that during the RSC sale they have a TON of AEW figures. they seemed to be having trouble moving them. And new AEW figures are coming out pretty quickly. So it looks like stuff is just piling up This is the reason I stopped preordering. RSC's initial preorder prices are just laughable at this point. I am waiting until their periodic sales to get the figures that aren't immediate must-have's (which at this point are many of them)
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Post by Wez on Aug 3, 2022 4:42:41 GMT -5
Smyths carry way too much stock of WWE and AEW, which makes many shelf warmers and clearance figures. They will then cancel entire series and lines because of low sales when scaling back their shelf space a bit would be a much better option.
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Post by dpd1967 on Aug 3, 2022 5:14:51 GMT -5
Smyths carry way too much stock of WWE and AEW, which makes many shelf warmers and clearance figures. They will then cancel entire series and lines because of low sales when scaling back their shelf space a bit would be a much better option. they should get someone who knows what they are doing or have a good idea on what sells and what will be hard to sell. And basically don’t over order . I think the majority of people on here could do a better job.
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Post by Wez on Aug 3, 2022 5:25:14 GMT -5
Smyths carry way too much stock of WWE and AEW, which makes many shelf warmers and clearance figures. They will then cancel entire series and lines because of low sales when scaling back their shelf space a bit would be a much better option. they should get someone who knows what they are doing or have a good idea on what sells and what will be hard to sell. And basically don’t over order . I think the majority of people on here could do a better job. I think they have quite a few fans working there, my cousin is a Manager at one, but nobody at purchasing level. I guess they just continue to bulk order for a lower cost per unit but are then taking massive hits when reducing for clearance as low as 25% of their retail price so it seems like a counterproductive strategy.
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Post by dpd1967 on Aug 3, 2022 5:28:37 GMT -5
they should get someone who knows what they are doing or have a good idea on what sells and what will be hard to sell. And basically don’t over order . I think the majority of people on here could do a better job. I think they have quite a few fans working there, my cousin is a Manager at one, but nobody at purchasing level. I guess they just continue to bulk order for a lower cost per unit but are then taking massive hits when reducing for clearance as low as 25% of their retail price so it seems like a counterproductive strategy. it’s so disheartening if we don’t get them anymore. Except online. The online retailers will be laughing all the way to the bank 🏦.
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Post by Wez on Aug 3, 2022 5:39:46 GMT -5
I think they have quite a few fans working there, my cousin is a Manager at one, but nobody at purchasing level. I guess they just continue to bulk order for a lower cost per unit but are then taking massive hits when reducing for clearance as low as 25% of their retail price so it seems like a counterproductive strategy. it’s so disheartening if we don’t get them anymore. Except online. The online retailers will be laughing all the way to the bank 🏦. Their prices will jump up for sure. Luckily I'm not an AEW collector, I'm way too invested in WWE and don't have the space but I do like this line, they are mostly great looking figures.
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Post by dpd1967 on Aug 3, 2022 5:49:57 GMT -5
it’s so disheartening if we don’t get them anymore. Except online. The online retailers will be laughing all the way to the bank 🏦. Their prices will jump up for sure. Luckily I'm not an AEW collector, I'm way too invested in WWE and don't have the space but I do like this line, they are mostly great looking figures. I only collect certain ones. But love to get hold of those chase’s. Wishful thinking. Especially that Brodie at comic con.
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martyboyfigures
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Apr 29, 2019 15:02:43 GMT -5
Posts: 149
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Post by martyboyfigures on Aug 3, 2022 6:40:35 GMT -5
IMO 2 Things killed the Line in the UK,
PRICE POINT, £20 a figure was a steep price for me they should have targeted it at between £12.99-£15 a figure. Also the wait aswell, i remember having to order the 1st series online and then able to get the 2nd series in smyths. I've just ordered online as its guranteed to be quicker and full series aswell.
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Post by SmithyPlayz on Aug 10, 2022 3:31:36 GMT -5
From what I understand, it is moving to strictly online retail within the UK but very independent stores not a high street retailer. Maybe things will change when AEW tour the UK. But this is definitely a big hit to Jazwares losing that retail space. I think sales would have benefited from more UK exclusives and access to chase figures. This was something Jakks faced also with retail back in the day and countered it with some UK exclusive products. Classic 2 pack Bulldog and Regal, HBK and Jericho two pack etc. Jazwares had that cool Cody and then dropped the ball immediately with Adam Page. So it will be interesting to see what follows. I don't think exclusives and chases had anything to do with it. That would have pleased the vocal minority of diehard collectors, but you'd still see the same amount of Young Bucks and PACs and Rihos clogging the shelves. After the first couple of series, the brand didn't move. AEW doesn't resonate with a wide enough audience over here. Not to be worth the retail space they were given. My local Smyths has sold 1 Chuck Taylor. There are at least 9 still there, and it's been a few months. Honestly, I don't think WWE is in a much better boat. Folks complain when Smyths don't stock all of a certain series, but I'm stunned they're stocking as much as they are. Practically everything ends up on clearance. Modern wrestling isn't hot to the mass figure buying audience. Or the retailers are vastly over-stocking the product. I'd have loved a few chases, but that wouldn't have made me buy any more regular toys. Yeah WWE isn't in a better boat. I don't remember many figures this year that didn't eventually go down and already out of stock. Sting's one that sold pretty quickly. Even WWE figures Big E is £10, Seth Rollins is £15. If WWE is struggling to shift figures then AEW will already have a tougher time.
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