Way to Go 21st.

acetow · Post by **acetow** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:26 pm

I hope I dont sound too negative but 21st or wallmart kinda dropped the ball this cristmass. I have seen the APC in wallmart and the big stuart tank but why did'nt they get the 109G into stores sooner? Still it's good to see armored vehicles even being carried by wallyworld, after the Bradley I thought they would have stopped ordering them. I'm really looking foreward to the Panzer IV that should be great.

I guess I really can't complain though 2 years ago 21st had nothing out for christmass. Maybee its better to wait on the 109, I can afford it in january a lot better than in december.

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:22 pm

The Bradley sold out here... The 113's sitting it seems, but Tiger's are flying off the shelves, and WM's I frequent who all got winter Shermans are now down to 2 or 3 tops per store (Stores that literally had 2 dozen + of the Sherman).

I'm sort of amazed at the Tiger going as fast as it did... I missed out on even a grey one it seems, though I think I saw one amidst all the 113's.

The 113's an ok vehicle I guess, bad figures, but ok vehicle... I think either more recognizeable modern stuff or WW2 is destined to do better.

Planes and choppers though... Unless it's a popular one, they all seem to sit. I think the 109 would move... P-47's and P-40's still warm shelves in my neck of the woods, and I can't think of a single chopper's that has sold other than BBI's versions at TRU.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:11 pm

In my area (Fresno), the Tigers sold quickly, but the desert Bradleys have been gathering dust for months - with no discount. The 190s seem to be sitting around too. I've never seen the Bubbletop P-47, though they may have been around and just sold quickly while I was away at school. The same may be said for the M113 as I only found a single tan one over the entire Fresno area. Got that one for $10!

I can't really complain about 21st dropping the ball for X-mas, however. My local Hobbytown may be categorized as a small retailer and it carries most current XD products. Should something not be found at Wal Mart, I know it will eventually show up there!

Post by **p51** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:30 am

Planes and choppers though... Unless it's a popular one, they all seem to sit. I think the 109 would move... P-47's and P-40's still warm shelves in my neck of the woods, and I can't think of a single chopper's that has sold other than BBI's versions at TRU.

Please... send them to the West Coast stores! We hardly ever get anything!

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:50 am

I've yet to see a Winter Tiger... I was holding out for that, but now even the greys are disappearing and I fear I may miss out on a steel Tiger at all.

That's the horrid thing about 21st and WM's deal... You're not seeing planes, we're not seeing armor... And we're not seeing many planes either anymore (I know I never have seen a single German plane in a store, nor did I see a Spitfire ever).

Luck of the draw's not with us all... Yet others are finding $10 clearance crap all the time.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:44 am

Why complain about not finding things at WM? It is certainly great to get a plane or tank for $40 or much less, but if you are desperate to have a certain plane or piece of armor, just try a small retailer! They have most of the planes currently out at WM and some of the armor (though its not diecast). Cheap shipping options are to be had and you get your item without the hastle of searching Wal Marts for months with little result. There are plenty of reputable dealers on the west and east coasts as well as in the middle.

digger · Post by **digger** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:53 am

I'm with T-man on this one: the stuff is everywhere. If you want it, you can get it. It's not like the days of tearing open boxes at TRU to find a Putt-Putt, or driving around for Snow Stuka. If you want something for 20 bucks, that's a different story. Otherwise, just buy the darn thing. I got 2 winter Tigers off ebay for under 30 bucks shipped.

Post by **p51** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:08 pm

Around here the only other option is online. Most hobby stores don't even carry them. It's a Southern California problem. Star Wars figures were almost non-existant a few months ago during a major supply problem for SoCal. It's just the distribution for SoCal. Orange County, being a big Military Conservative area, I think would be a prime location to sell XD aircraft and other items. But I typically drive all over the OC looking for aircraft just as I'd rather get them in person if possible rather than order online.

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:49 am

For the most part it's the same here P-51... Hobbytown's to the other side of the city so I rarely go. Very congested area near the airport, so I only go when it's a necessity to stock up on supplies I can't get at a closer hobby store.

That said... I have a tough time justifying $50 toys as it is, so I tend to avoid shipping fees and inflated prices via etail if I think it's going to be possible... Wal-Mart's been dry as a bone lately on most product, though that damned 113 hit like a tidal wave here now, and isn't moving a lot right now... See what's doin' after the holidays.

I've had far better luck with Star Wars though... I'm actually 100% caught up there for the first time since before summer actually.

I will say that I broke and did get the BotB figures... Though only when SMB put them at the more reasonable lower price... Not the inflated $7.99 or whatever it was they had them at, at one point.

Got my Spit at the same time, for what I'd have expected at retail, since they did free shipping for large orders. That, to me, is reasonable.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:45 pm

Just saw an article in my local paper, the Fresno Bee, that was about how many small businesses are selling their items online or on ebay to increase sales and tap into the online market. The article featured a picture of the guy in my local Hobbytown USA store - which aparently sells items online - and what was in the foreground? A boxed BBI F-16 and a 21c P-38! Though they weren't spcifically mentioned, its cool to see the stuff we collect getting some sort of media coverage!

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:33 pm

http://www.fresnobee.com/business/story ... 1350c.html

There they are!
I would just love to get a 21st item in a local paper here in NY - I'm convinced people just don't know this stuff is out there. If they did there is no way they'd buy their kid a neon GiJoe when they could have an accurate piece of history that is just as much fun. The papers are all saying how there was no "it" toy this year - it should have been the Winter Tiger or Sherman in honor of the 60th ann. of the BoB imo.

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:34 pm

Ok, that didn't work - just go to the Bee & go to the Biz page. Sorry about that.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:18 pm

Thanks for being a New Yorker and finding a link to my little local paper! ...and an accurate XD plane or tank isn't just as fun as a neon GI Joe, its way more fun!

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Way to Go 21st.

Way to Go 21st.

Yup

A little OT...

Very Cool

hm?