InuMimi said:
There's only one store near me that sells pokemon merch (wal-mart) and the last time I went (Sun. May 18), the only pokemon merch they had was the Majestic Dawn decks and the Darkrai promo boxes. I've noticed over the past month that yugioh has been taking over the tcg stand. Even magic the gathering is loosing to it... >_> Why I ever liked yugioh (some years ago) in the first place is beyond me. [/ramble]
ugh, I know. I hate wal-mart now. they NEVER have pokemon stuff except the cards. though, everytime I go to wal-mart I always get myself a pack. it's like an addiction to cigarettes except much more healthier
target is the place to go around here if you want something pokemon. they have lots of different expansion sets/packs/tins, the TFG packs, plushies, and all kinds of figures. sure, target doesn't have huge sections devoted to pokemon but it's still a lot better then nothing.
Technically, Wal-Mart is not even involved in the stocking of the Pokemon TCG.
Collectable cards (and TFG) sold in giant chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target are stocked by outside vendors. The outside vendors are like distributors, they 'rent' shelf-space from Target/Wal-Mart and they have their own workers who visits each store to replenish the goods.
Also, the collectable merchandize are sold on consignment basis, which means Wal-Mart and Target do not pay any up front fee for the merchandize. Once the goods are sold to you and I, then Target/Wal-Mart would keep their share and give the remaining portion to the outside vendors. This is the reason why Target/Wal-Mart has really relaxed policy when it comes to TCG/TFG theft, because the loss goes directly to the outside vendors.
I think Wal-Mart have stopped carrying Pokemon toys since beginning of this year. Jakks Pacific is still selling other products to Wal-Mart, just not Pokemon toys.
heerosferret said:
Salmon Nap: Thank you for the wonderful breakdown between Tomy and Jakks
Even I don't know that stuff, I've never owned a Jakks plush, only figures (and those ARE unique designs).
Thank you for your articles. I found them to be very informative and I am looking forward to many more of them in the future.
I do have some questions, I hope you don't mind answering.
From what you have shown us in your photos, are all of them officially licensed Pokemon products? The TCG and the Tomy figures are obviously the real stuff, but I can't tell if the bowling pins and the sandbox kits are actually licensed products.
If you squint you can make out the Tomy logo on the bowling pins, but it doesn't seem to be the same high quality as the rest of the Tomy Pokemon toys.
And do all of the officially licensed products have ShoPro logos printed on the products, or only the Bandai goods have the logo?