Polybag Availability - Why?

[Ceir]

Just a general question, really - why are some polybag sets so bloody hard to find? It seems like there are several every year that never make it to (mainline, U.S., brick-and-mortar) retail.

For example, my local Targets all still have the same TIE Fighter, City police heli, and Chima polybags as they did last year. Walmart never seems to have any, and my local TRU is always barren. I had a devil of a time finding the Ghost/Haunted Clock poly from Monster Fighters, and I never saw the Satellite from the City spaceport theme. Yet to see either of the Movie polybags, and can't find any information on the upcoming Arctic Ultralight, either.

I understand that this could just be my local stores' stocking patterns, and I know I could buy online, or make the haul down to the Lego Store proper. But, in general, what gives with finding polybags?

[Herky]

I agree Ceir, I did find the Batman tumbler polybag, but for the most part, it's hit and miss, very hard to find some bags and yet, some, as you say with Target, sit around forever.

[Ridge Montante]

I hear you on that. I could never find the lord of the rings polybags but if you want to build a turkey or witch those polybags are at my TRU all the time in so much quantity.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Just to throw out there: licensed polys seem to have a VERY limited shelf life, particularly at TRU. A week and they're done.

We all love polys, but remember that they're intended as a gateway drug to get kids interested in a line. I think that's why we tend to see either common characters or army builders in the sets.

[tkatt]

The Lego stores I've been to don't ever sell most of the licensed polybags.

I've never seen a good poly at a Walmart.

TRU often sells them from their website, but the shipping cost is an issue. They often have a polybag as a giveaway with purchase, but if you ask they will sell you the polybag on its own. I got that Ironman fighting drone, Gandolf, and the Robin cycle that way.

I've got about ten Targets within 30 minutes of where I live and most of them have had the exact polybags you mentioned for the past two years, but one of them just started stocking the Imperial shuttle so there is hope. Check the Holiday section of Target. Especially the day of or the morning after a holiday. I got several of the Ghost/clock poly the day after Halloween on clearance, 75% off. The problem is other collectors often buy up all the discounted sets, so the trick is finding a Target that isn't frequented by AFOLs- it may be worth a trip to the Target in the sketchy part of your city.

Oh and stay away from my Target- That clearance Lego is mine!

[TheLegoDr]

It is my understanding that the lego store doesn't carry them. I have seen them at Wal-Mart, rarely. Also target in limited sections.

Typically it seems tru had them, but I never make it up there. And even then, they don't have all of them.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

We do have a Polybag Availability Thread over in the Finds forum. I've been a little lax in posting there, but forum members may want to post what they find where so that people have an idea on where to look.

Target is very weird. I probably have around a dozen Targets I can readily access, and they all vary. Some have had the same TIE Fighter forever. Some have the Tumbler, some Chima bags, or the Police Helicopter. I think at least one has the Fire Car.

Also remember that Target tends to get a glut of polys at Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. What's particularly nice is that those polys tend to get clearanced right after the holiday, so you can get them for half price or less the next day.

[Herky]

thanks for the info, will have to frequent Target a bit more, I stopped going to TRU...my main issue is I know there is a toy shop guy who goes around frequently and pretty much buys all the ones you know others want, so the Robin cycle, he had 30 of them in his store, I finally broke down and got one from him, at least it was only $10 (this was about 3 months after they came out)

Good luck to all, will have to check that thread out and bookmark it

[Faefrost]

The availability of the Polybags is not entirely with Lego. From Lego's eyes the Poly's are mainly considered as promotional items and merchant exclusives. Register impulse items for the big box stores. As such the big partners get them, not typically the official Lego stores (which get different types).

The sporadic availability has more to do with the local stores. They get a few cases in and put them out. But they rarely ever seem to consider them an item to be managed, restocked or rotated. In many cases they save them and dump them all on holidays that use Stocking Stuffers or Easter Basket type items. For the most part the local staff tends to completely forget them until someone cleans out the storeroom and discovers a box.

[Lego Otaku]

It's often the local resellers who are making polys hard to find. When new polys come out, they often exploit the fact poly tended to be limited production, and buy em all then sell it on eBay or Bricklink at big markup. Or to part em out for pieces if the poly contained unique piece.