I posted this over in photos under Randy S's Wave 2 finds at Wal-Mart, so I thought I would post it here in the forums as well.


Hey Guys I use to work in the retail world....I use to be an Xbox rep and I was always in the stores....now I have my own company but that's besides the point, although I can go to the stores when I want too, he-he. My wife works for a major cosmetics company and calls on these stores daily and she's on the look out too for my Joes and I still get insider info on store workings.

The following is general tips...I live in Houston TX so the scheduling of deliveries may be different in your area....just ask when your stores usually get trucks in, and for Wal-Mart and Target ask when they usually get toys in....they have trucks a couple of times a week and toys aren't always on there, but at least once a week toys do come on the trucks. Mid to late Morning is generally the best time to go because they either stock overnight or early morning. Wal-Mart is going to a no back-stock system so when they get it in the back it's going out onto the floor. Target is already like this. Little to no back-stock.

Wal-Mart and Target, I believe as well, generates a re-order when an item is sold. When it goes through the register it generates a re-order, now whether they have it in their warehouse is another story(up to Hasbro to get it to them) but that's how it works.

Wal-mart generally gets a truck twice a week that contains toys...Wednesdays are the big day, if you can try in the mid to late morning that is usually your best bet.

For Target usually Saturday is their big stock out day. I was on the toy aisle this past Saturday and picked up the entire Wave 2 as he stocked it on the wall. It was around 10 am, again morning is your best bet.

Toys R us gets a couple of trucks each week but again go in the mid to late morning for your best chances to buy.

I would see collectors, actually ebay junkies who would buy everything on the shelf just to turn around and sell-it....would drive me nuts, especially if I was hunting something down.

Anyway, guys if you want something the online retailers are the best bet...just pre-order and you'll get it. I pre-order mine through Big Bad Toy Store, but after release I go through smalljoes and HTS as well.

Hope the retail tips helps.....sometimes you have to just be lucky.

****EDIT****

I forgot to mention K-mart, well we don't have K-Marts anymore in Houston, but they generally follow the same as Wal-Marts as far as replenishments, stock outs, and received shipment schedule.