Has WM gone bonkers on distribution or what?

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:45 am

My local WM is the same too - filled to the rafters with newer planes.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:47 am

Cool, it has been a few weeks since I hit all the Walmarts in my area. I hope to find some new planes.

tko211 · Post by **tko211** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:59 am

Typical WM antics. We get a dry spell for months on end then boom everything is put out all at once. I have been telling everyone that WM distribution is weird because of WM.

Funny thing is that 21st is showing an increased spike in sales numbers for 1:18 scale planes. Funny how if WM would just put stuff out people will buy it. If people buy it then more gets ordered and we get new planes more often.

Bottom line is all they have to do is put the product on the shelves. Product doesn't move in stock rooms or distribution hubs. It's critical in the sales process that the customer physically has access to the product.

tosborne3 · Post by **tosborne3** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:39 am

Walmart should change their name to Weirdmart.

warhawker · Post by **warhawker** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:42 am

This subject has been talked to DEATH about, over and under on WM and its ways.....I suggest a search on WM on this forum and see what you get.

Light.Inf.Scout · Post by **Light.Inf.Scout** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:03 pm

My Walmart is still empty???

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:39 pm

I wouldn't say that the Wal Marts in the west get huge loads... It usually seems that those in the middle of the country and the south east get the best selections. I am only speaking of general regions... That is why I'm so glad to hear 21c is perhaps going back to TRU as it may solve some of the distribution problems

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:52 pm

Charlottesville Wally World has 3 Tiger F-104s, 3 George F-104s,3 Smoke 11 F-104s today.

MajorHoover · Post by **MajorHoover** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:25 pm

I am work for a consulting firm that does work for Wal-Mart (research & forecasting). I can honestly say the distribution system (if you can call it a system) is an incredibly complicated labyrinth.

It is nearly impossible to predict what will go where once it enters the Wal-Mart system (which is why I buy all my XD online)

sarge · Post by **sarge** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:44 pm

tmanthegreat wrote:I wouldn't say that the Wal Marts in the west get huge loads... It usually seems that those in the middle of the country and the south east get the best selections. I am only speaking of general regions... That is why I'm so glad to hear 21c is perhaps going back to TRU as it may solve some of the distribution problems

Talked to mgr of the only TRU in the area yesterday. He was unaware of TRU carring 21C. Hasn't heard anything from the big office either. From the looks of this last remaining TRU in this area,it's seen its better days before they had their money problems. Hardly any stock on the shelves. Probably shut this one down too. Sarge

Flak Happy · Post by **Flak Happy** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:50 pm

Bunch of f-104's and Tiger Migs at my local Wallys, Restocks of d-day figs, picked up a few arty spotters (finally!)

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:45 pm

Beautiful Avatar Flak Happy!

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:15 pm

I am in the middle of about 10 WM within 20 miles of me - here southwest atlanta - In four of them I can swim in new aircraft 1:18 (20+) - one just put out 3 190s that were on clearance last year - nothing new - the rest have either a few chinese Migs or warhawks. wait one has had nothing - didnt even get Avengers.

scbvideoboy · Post by **scbvideoboy** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:29 pm

CW4USARMY wrote:Beautiful Avatar Flak Happy!

I agree, when did Wildcats escort B17's? Over midway?

DH

forget the Hellcat, remold it to a Wildcat

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:34 pm

The WM in my area now has tons of 1/18th aircraft on the shelves. Its amazing because just over 3 weeks ago they didnt have anything now they are full.

Folkwulfe · Post by **Folkwulfe** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:32 pm

The initial battles over Midway indeed saw a mixture of aircraft types not normally seen anywhere else. When the initial raids of Japanese bombers and fighters first approached Midway, radar had spotted them in enough time for the airfield commander to order "All planes away!" and got them airborne before the Japanese arrival overhead. Part of the forces that escaped (the first wave) were a flight of 19 B-17 bombers belonging to the Army AF, Catalina scouts, Marauder bombers from the Army, and Navy/Marine Wildcats. Probably never saw such a variety of all service aircraft in the air at the same time again.....another lost Kodac moment!

blurx7 · Post by **blurx7** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:50 pm

Ditto to the large stock of 1/18 aircraft. Two WM's near me, both destined to close soon because of new super wm's opening near them, have gone months without 1/18 aircraft. Now both are swimming in them, including large numbers of BBD and Old Crow as well as 104s and Sabres (Huff).
Funny. With both stores so close to closing I would not have figured wm to resupply them with such a quantity.
Maybe they will get marked down when the stores close....

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:16 pm

Must be something weird. I stopped at the west end WM in South Bend (out on Portage Ave., in case you live in the area) and they had a Tiger Meet F-104 and a bunch of Huffs on clearance for $20 each.

warhawker · Post by **warhawker** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:51 am

FieroDude wrote:Must be something weird. I stopped at the west end WM in South Bend (out on Portage Ave., in case you live in the area) and they had a Tiger Meet F-104 and a bunch of Huffs on clearance for $20 each.

that is awesome! I hope you scooped those up!

pcb122605 · Post by **pcb122605** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:08 pm

Nothing new here since before Xmas. The WMs I stop by regularly have no vehicles of any kind in 1:18. Only 2 even have figures.

scbvideoboy · Post by **scbvideoboy** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:21 pm

Too bad now that everyone got impatient and ordered the planes online and now they'll just sit there.

DH

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:35 pm

i don't like to wait for WW's slow and iffy systems.
but maybe it will help all the people that didn't get all the ones they wanted. the regular WW around here never got the Avengers, Korean,Russian Mig 15s or new Mustangs. plus no 1/18 vehicles to speak of. never saw Dak or trucks here. all those i had to get on line or trading with board members.
so i still say sometimes online is only way to go

Charlemagne · Post by **Charlemagne** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:36 am

In my experience Wally Land is really a hit or miss (mostly miss)situation and I don't rely on them for stuff I really really want, I go to BadCat for that. However, there is the 1 in a 100th time I check and come across something great like finding a Pearl Harbor P-40. But as many here have said, WM's distribution system is chaotic at best so I just accept that and when something good does turn up well that's just icing on the cake.

Dan

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:42 am

i agree.
i'll be going for a trip this afternoon and will stop at all WW on the way. but i will also be putting an online order when i get back to get what i really want