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He-Man (Walmart 2020 Exclusive)
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I know it’s 2020, but if you’ve gone to the toy aisle, it certainly looks like the 80s: Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, Ghost Busters, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Like Hollywood, the toy companies just recycle ideas.
Not that I’m complaining, I grew up in this time period, and I missed out on all these toys. My parents never bought them for us, so now, I’m reliving my childhood. I love these new modern toy re-releases.
However, toy collecting in the modern age (especially with the pandemic) has been a real challenge. Lately, it’s getting harder and harder to find certain figures to complete my collection - no thanks to store exclusives. There are high demands for some figures, and with that, a rise in scalpers, buying up all the rare figures and re-selling it at double or triple the price.
Luckily, if you live in the area, you might find some figures you’re looking for at our local MN Toy Posse Toyswap show (the next one is coming up on August 30, 2020). You can usually find toys for reasonable markup. For example, those He-Man figures, normally $15 at Walmart, are only $20. But it depends on the seller, and how much they are want to mark them up. You can always haggle the price down, but I've bought retail exclusives for reasonable prices.
As of August 2020, here are the (mass marketed) 80s-inspired toys:
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: ORIGINS
mattel.com
If you grew up in the 80s, you had a He-Man action figure (or at least wanted them). Our parents never bought us these figures, but I have own (and lost) some figures throughout the years. Sure, I would love to collect the vintage line, but some figures are priced way too much. Also, loose figures are also often way too expensive.
The new Masters of the Universe: Origins line, by Mattel, updated the original figures, but adding in updated sculpts and more articulation… so for the first time they can bend their knees and elbows. It’s pretty awesome. As for the new head sculpts, it’s mostly a miss for me, as I want the original heads, not these “new and improved” heads.
I also like the same 5.5” size, so if you own original vehicles, you can still use them together. That’s rad, unfortunately, I don’t own any original figures or vehicle to take advantage of this.
Now, for some terrible things for this line: you cannot find them in stores. The Origins like is exclusive to Walmart (until 2021), and literally, no one can find them in stores. Whenever they put them on shelves, somebody goes through and buy them all to resell at a higher price. This is because there are a lot of fans that do not live near a Walmart, particularly the international market. They are willing to pay twice as much, so scalpers are more than willing to provide.
The good news is that in 2021, we will see MOTU everywhere, not just Walmart.
G.I. JOE: CLASSIFIED
hasbropulse.com
The most famous G.I. Joe toyline is the 3.75” line, which fans have known since the 80s. The last time we saw the line in store, was for G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which was based on the film, and I don’t think it was popular with collectors.
This year, Hasbro wanted to update the toyline to 6”, giving these soldiers updated looks and additional details you can’t see on a smaller figure. The first wave is solid, with Snake Eyes, Duke, Scarlet, Roadblock and Destro (the only Cobra in the wave). Naturally, Destro is the most-wanted figure. Hasbro also decided to short-change Destro, by offering only one Destro in a case of figures… artificially making Destro the rare figure of the wave. Fans are going nuts trying to find old chrome-dome, and, at times, it’s frustrating trying to find the figure for my collection.
Snake Eyes is also a fan-favorite, so his figures are disappearing off the shelf, but his figure isn’t as rare as Destro… so if you wanted a Snake Eyes, you can probably find him down the road.
Like the MOTU line being exclusive to Walmart, the “G.I. Joe Classified: Cobra Island” wave are exclusive to Target. Again, scalpers are “liberating” these figures for the international market or diehard collectors. The only figure you can find in this line is the Roadblock figure, other figures like Baroness, Cobra trooper, and Beachhead are never seen in the stores.
I understand why these toy companies are signing exclusive arrangement with these stores, but it’s causing so much grief from fans trying to complete their collection. Like I previously mentioned, if a fan can’t complete their collection, they just simply give up.
Also, there’s another exclusive, Amazon’s Arctic Mission Storm Shadow, available on their website. It sometimes goes out of stock, but the next ship date is September 12th, 2020.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
thenecastore.com
Speaking of which… I don’t collect the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle line by NECA. I have gone on record saying that I find their product way too expensive (NECA’s average price is $25-$30). With this TMNT, they’re all two-packs, so the average prices are like $55 a box. Scalpers are selling them for over $100-$200 per box.
On top of the cost, it sounds like NECA manufactures only limited figures - making collecting these figures extremely difficult (especially in the age of bots and scalpers). Fans just wants to give NECA money, but apparently NECA doesn’t care.
Some figures are Target Exclusive, like many other toys, and nobody can find them in the stores. It’s so frustrating that many fans, like Victoria, are quitting collecting this line altogether.
I love TMNT, but I’m glad I don’t collect the line.
THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS
hasbropulse.com
Not really sure why Hasbro decided to re-release the original Kenner’s The Real Ghostbusters toyline from the 80s… but the release of this was a mess. They were supposed to be out in March, but the pandemic happened, so they didn’t actually arrive in stores until last month. There are no changes from the original toyline, it’s the exact same mold… but yet they are charging 2020 prices. I honestly don’t know what the appeal is, we used to own Egon and Ray, and they weren’t that great.
There isn’t a big vocal outcry for this Walmart exclusive (a timed exclusive), because Hasbro has been pretty good about stocking these toys on the shelves. Maybe it’s because fewer fans are buying them or lack of interest compared to the constantly sold-out MOTU figures.
In addition to the Real Ghost Busters, Hasbro has also released a 6-inch line, based on the movies (that nobody asked for and nobody is buying).
At the end of the day, toy collecting should be fun. If you are finding it too frustrating or not having fun, then it’s time you put your money and effort in something else. I understand why manufacturers signs exclusive contracts with some retailers, but it’s no fun for fans who cannot find them or if the stores can’t keep them in stock.
Not that I’m complaining, I grew up in this time period, and I missed out on all these toys. My parents never bought them for us, so now, I’m reliving my childhood. I love these new modern toy re-releases.
However, toy collecting in the modern age (especially with the pandemic) has been a real challenge. Lately, it’s getting harder and harder to find certain figures to complete my collection - no thanks to store exclusives. There are high demands for some figures, and with that, a rise in scalpers, buying up all the rare figures and re-selling it at double or triple the price.
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MN Toy Posse (30 Aug 2020)
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As of August 2020, here are the (mass marketed) 80s-inspired toys:
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: ORIGINS
mattel.com
If you grew up in the 80s, you had a He-Man action figure (or at least wanted them). Our parents never bought us these figures, but I have own (and lost) some figures throughout the years. Sure, I would love to collect the vintage line, but some figures are priced way too much. Also, loose figures are also often way too expensive.
The new Masters of the Universe: Origins line, by Mattel, updated the original figures, but adding in updated sculpts and more articulation… so for the first time they can bend their knees and elbows. It’s pretty awesome. As for the new head sculpts, it’s mostly a miss for me, as I want the original heads, not these “new and improved” heads.
I also like the same 5.5” size, so if you own original vehicles, you can still use them together. That’s rad, unfortunately, I don’t own any original figures or vehicle to take advantage of this.
Now, for some terrible things for this line: you cannot find them in stores. The Origins like is exclusive to Walmart (until 2021), and literally, no one can find them in stores. Whenever they put them on shelves, somebody goes through and buy them all to resell at a higher price. This is because there are a lot of fans that do not live near a Walmart, particularly the international market. They are willing to pay twice as much, so scalpers are more than willing to provide.
The good news is that in 2021, we will see MOTU everywhere, not just Walmart.
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Storm Shadow (Amazon Exclusive)
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hasbropulse.com
The most famous G.I. Joe toyline is the 3.75” line, which fans have known since the 80s. The last time we saw the line in store, was for G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which was based on the film, and I don’t think it was popular with collectors.
This year, Hasbro wanted to update the toyline to 6”, giving these soldiers updated looks and additional details you can’t see on a smaller figure. The first wave is solid, with Snake Eyes, Duke, Scarlet, Roadblock and Destro (the only Cobra in the wave). Naturally, Destro is the most-wanted figure. Hasbro also decided to short-change Destro, by offering only one Destro in a case of figures… artificially making Destro the rare figure of the wave. Fans are going nuts trying to find old chrome-dome, and, at times, it’s frustrating trying to find the figure for my collection.
Snake Eyes is also a fan-favorite, so his figures are disappearing off the shelf, but his figure isn’t as rare as Destro… so if you wanted a Snake Eyes, you can probably find him down the road.
Like the MOTU line being exclusive to Walmart, the “G.I. Joe Classified: Cobra Island” wave are exclusive to Target. Again, scalpers are “liberating” these figures for the international market or diehard collectors. The only figure you can find in this line is the Roadblock figure, other figures like Baroness, Cobra trooper, and Beachhead are never seen in the stores.
I understand why these toy companies are signing exclusive arrangement with these stores, but it’s causing so much grief from fans trying to complete their collection. Like I previously mentioned, if a fan can’t complete their collection, they just simply give up.
Also, there’s another exclusive, Amazon’s Arctic Mission Storm Shadow, available on their website. It sometimes goes out of stock, but the next ship date is September 12th, 2020.
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Bebop & Rocksteady (Target Exclusive)
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thenecastore.com
Speaking of which… I don’t collect the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle line by NECA. I have gone on record saying that I find their product way too expensive (NECA’s average price is $25-$30). With this TMNT, they’re all two-packs, so the average prices are like $55 a box. Scalpers are selling them for over $100-$200 per box.
On top of the cost, it sounds like NECA manufactures only limited figures - making collecting these figures extremely difficult (especially in the age of bots and scalpers). Fans just wants to give NECA money, but apparently NECA doesn’t care.
Some figures are Target Exclusive, like many other toys, and nobody can find them in the stores. It’s so frustrating that many fans, like Victoria, are quitting collecting this line altogether.
I love TMNT, but I’m glad I don’t collect the line.
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Peter Venkman (Walmart Timed Exclusive)
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hasbropulse.com
Not really sure why Hasbro decided to re-release the original Kenner’s The Real Ghostbusters toyline from the 80s… but the release of this was a mess. They were supposed to be out in March, but the pandemic happened, so they didn’t actually arrive in stores until last month. There are no changes from the original toyline, it’s the exact same mold… but yet they are charging 2020 prices. I honestly don’t know what the appeal is, we used to own Egon and Ray, and they weren’t that great.
There isn’t a big vocal outcry for this Walmart exclusive (a timed exclusive), because Hasbro has been pretty good about stocking these toys on the shelves. Maybe it’s because fewer fans are buying them or lack of interest compared to the constantly sold-out MOTU figures.
In addition to the Real Ghost Busters, Hasbro has also released a 6-inch line, based on the movies (that nobody asked for and nobody is buying).
At the end of the day, toy collecting should be fun. If you are finding it too frustrating or not having fun, then it’s time you put your money and effort in something else. I understand why manufacturers signs exclusive contracts with some retailers, but it’s no fun for fans who cannot find them or if the stores can’t keep them in stock.
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