and here's TOy Guru's "explanation" on the photo of MOUTC at retail. And by explanation, I mean raising even more questions:



The secondary market from a third party?

also, get a gander at these new prices:
http://www.mattycollector.com/store/mat ... 2584032308

I honestly believe Mattel had little, or can be connected to selling these to Wal-mart. I mean would they want Wal-mart to ever find out these were defective items for the most part? But I still think those Robotos were left over stock in the DR Warehouse meant for some sale. Mattel cleaned out some warehouses its pretty common to find "new old stock". But at the very same time ask yourself why this whole time every MOTUC figure came with a peg hook? Just in case thats why so I pretty much do not find this whole thing to be the earth shattering news others have.

Yeah, seriously TG you should just stop. Whether what you're saying is true or not, that kind of answer is only going to stir up the nerdrage pot even further.

What's not to be understood about that?

The product is Mattel (Party #1) product. Being stocked on Walmart's (Party #2) shelves. Purchased from a dealer on the secondary market (Party #3).

I'm not saying whether or not he's telling the truth, but what's so hard to get about a third party (aka a middleman) working on the secondary market?

It's just strange for a big retailer to be buying from a middleman off the secondary market when these companies have relationships with the direct manufacturers themselves. Places like Ollies, Ross, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning and Big Lots... discount liquidation stores buy from the second party liquidators unless things have changed and Wal-Mart is now buying from whoever. It just sounds unlikely. Because buying form a secondary market liquidator defeats Wal-Mart's whole 'proposed' purpose.

Maybe Wal-Mart wanted to buy from the secondary market instead of facing the WSOD on sale day.

Stores can buy from local vendors and suppliers (it's how they get the local school/team merchandise and local grocery product) and I know my store used to buy toys from a local novelty vendor on a pretty regular basis.

Really? I always thought Wal-Mart's schtick was they could charge cheap prices and still buy directly from the main distributor because of the whole "I'll pay you off in 90 days instead of the whole standard 60" or something like that. The story of Wal-Mart's beginnings was always something I admired, it revolutionized the whole retail playing field because they simply dictated their own terms instead of adhering to the standard ones.

I also always thought all vending sales had to go through a corporate level but could be paid out in store. The posters sold in K-Mart worked like that. A local vendor serviced all the stores in my area but all sales had to be approved by corporate but they were paid via our in store cash cage. TRU also works like that with certain items so I imagine Wal-Mart has their items too.

I'm actually really surprised to hear that but I do consider you the Wal-Mart insider here.

I think it still has to be a corporate approved vendor not just the random guy off the street but, yeah, we can buy local.

So that local vender can bring merchandise to any local store if he has a corporate go ahead?

I don't know the fine details of it, but that's what I understand.

Well I got my Granymyr yesterday-- and although I still think we was a little to high priced-I will say that the sculpt is amazing and is one of the most impressive pieces I have picked up in a while--

Got mine on Thursday but didn't get to open him until yesterday morning... wow... just un-freakin'-believable wow...

Agreed! This is an awesome figure and a great addition to my collection.