JeffSaylor
09-04-2015, 01:04 AM
Sharing the Force at Target...
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305252&stc=1&d=1441346262
I live in the quaint historic city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, about an hour outside of D.C. It's not a huge bustling metropolis, nor is it a one stoplight kinda town. That's part of the reason I wanted to attend Force Friday, the global midnight debut of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys and collectibles. I was really curious to see just how many other Star Wars fans would come out and play. The other reason I braved staying up way past my bedtime was to get my hands on the new 6-inch Black Series. Kylo Ren and a First Order Stormtrooper, to be precise. BB-8, in some form or fashion, was the only other item on my list.
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305246&stc=1&d=1441346224
Target, Walmart and Toys"R"Us are the three major Force Friday players and I opted for my local Super Target simply because I like the store the best of the bunch. When I arrived at 11:30PM, I was surprised by how many fellow geeks actually turned up, including a handful a bona fide kids (who were certainly up way past their bedtime - but I'll forgive 'em, it's a once in lifetime event). Raffle tickets were handed out for the chance to win a ginormous stuffed Chewbacca (I didn't win), and instructions - walk, don't run - were issued to the eager crowd. The store attendees also uttered some very dismal news: the store only had ten - T - E - N - 6-inch Star Wars Black Figures in stock. That's 10 individual figures. I was flabbergasted, but not totally surprised. I had heard rumblings from friends online that their stores were being short-changed on 6" Black figures too. Someone in Hasbro production certainly dropped the ball, and on a day as hyped as Force Friday... there really is no excuse. Fortunately, upon hearing this news I did a quick search on Amazon to find that all five Black figures were in stock and listed at the same store price of $19.99 each. Free shipping with Prime. Ordered. While in line at midnight for Force Friday. Unbelievable.
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305248&stc=1&d=1441346224
But all was not doom and gloom. I mentioned that BB-8 was on my shopping list, and Target did not disappoint. At the crack of midnight, fans flooded Target's Force Friday aisles. I quickly snatched up a Funko Pop! BB-8 and I found myself a really nice baseball tee with the droid on it. In fact, of all the product offered, the apparel was the most appealing. Aside from Force Awakens clothing, there was a tempting selection of classic Saga shirts and hoodies. Toys, for the most part, were aimed at kids. JAKKS towering giant figs impressed.
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305247&stc=1&d=1441346224
Funko's Pop! were cute and diverse in character selection (while they lasted). There was some LEGO and a bunch of these deco lamps in the shape of character helmets. It was cool to see Micro Machines again. Some kid-friendly role play lightsabers and a trully stunning Force FX Kylo Ren saber ($199.99 - only two in stock). Oh, and 3 3/4" Black Series figures? Those also disappeared faster than the Millennium Falcon jumping into lightspeed. I never saw an X-Wing Fighter or a TIE Fighter (except for the paper displays hanging from the ceiling).
Overall Force Friday was fun. I'm glad I came out and got to participate and share the moment with so many Star Wars-loving strangers. While Fredericksburg isn't crowded New York or LA, there's still plenty of us here that love our Star Wars.
- Jeff Saylor
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305244&stc=1&d=1441346224
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com (http://www.bigbadtoystore.com), TheToySource.com (http://thetoysource.com/), Toynk.com (http://www.toynk.com/), BriansToys.com (http://www.brianstoys.com), ToyWiz.com (http://www.toywiz.com), MonkeyDepot.com (http://www.monkeydepot.com/), and EntertainmentEarth.com (http://www.entertainmentearth.com/aff-home.asp?id=FI-501239902).
For hobby miniatures and all your gaming needs, visit MiniatureMarket.com (http://www.miniaturemarket.com/?utm_source=figures.com&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=FIG_Post_Link_Ongoing&utm_content=Text_Miniature%20Market).
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305252&stc=1&d=1441346262
I live in the quaint historic city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, about an hour outside of D.C. It's not a huge bustling metropolis, nor is it a one stoplight kinda town. That's part of the reason I wanted to attend Force Friday, the global midnight debut of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys and collectibles. I was really curious to see just how many other Star Wars fans would come out and play. The other reason I braved staying up way past my bedtime was to get my hands on the new 6-inch Black Series. Kylo Ren and a First Order Stormtrooper, to be precise. BB-8, in some form or fashion, was the only other item on my list.
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305246&stc=1&d=1441346224
Target, Walmart and Toys"R"Us are the three major Force Friday players and I opted for my local Super Target simply because I like the store the best of the bunch. When I arrived at 11:30PM, I was surprised by how many fellow geeks actually turned up, including a handful a bona fide kids (who were certainly up way past their bedtime - but I'll forgive 'em, it's a once in lifetime event). Raffle tickets were handed out for the chance to win a ginormous stuffed Chewbacca (I didn't win), and instructions - walk, don't run - were issued to the eager crowd. The store attendees also uttered some very dismal news: the store only had ten - T - E - N - 6-inch Star Wars Black Figures in stock. That's 10 individual figures. I was flabbergasted, but not totally surprised. I had heard rumblings from friends online that their stores were being short-changed on 6" Black figures too. Someone in Hasbro production certainly dropped the ball, and on a day as hyped as Force Friday... there really is no excuse. Fortunately, upon hearing this news I did a quick search on Amazon to find that all five Black figures were in stock and listed at the same store price of $19.99 each. Free shipping with Prime. Ordered. While in line at midnight for Force Friday. Unbelievable.
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305248&stc=1&d=1441346224
But all was not doom and gloom. I mentioned that BB-8 was on my shopping list, and Target did not disappoint. At the crack of midnight, fans flooded Target's Force Friday aisles. I quickly snatched up a Funko Pop! BB-8 and I found myself a really nice baseball tee with the droid on it. In fact, of all the product offered, the apparel was the most appealing. Aside from Force Awakens clothing, there was a tempting selection of classic Saga shirts and hoodies. Toys, for the most part, were aimed at kids. JAKKS towering giant figs impressed.
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305247&stc=1&d=1441346224
Funko's Pop! were cute and diverse in character selection (while they lasted). There was some LEGO and a bunch of these deco lamps in the shape of character helmets. It was cool to see Micro Machines again. Some kid-friendly role play lightsabers and a trully stunning Force FX Kylo Ren saber ($199.99 - only two in stock). Oh, and 3 3/4" Black Series figures? Those also disappeared faster than the Millennium Falcon jumping into lightspeed. I never saw an X-Wing Fighter or a TIE Fighter (except for the paper displays hanging from the ceiling).
Overall Force Friday was fun. I'm glad I came out and got to participate and share the moment with so many Star Wars-loving strangers. While Fredericksburg isn't crowded New York or LA, there's still plenty of us here that love our Star Wars.
- Jeff Saylor
https://www.figures.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305244&stc=1&d=1441346224
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com (http://www.bigbadtoystore.com), TheToySource.com (http://thetoysource.com/), Toynk.com (http://www.toynk.com/), BriansToys.com (http://www.brianstoys.com), ToyWiz.com (http://www.toywiz.com), MonkeyDepot.com (http://www.monkeydepot.com/), and EntertainmentEarth.com (http://www.entertainmentearth.com/aff-home.asp?id=FI-501239902).
For hobby miniatures and all your gaming needs, visit MiniatureMarket.com (http://www.miniaturemarket.com/?utm_source=figures.com&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=FIG_Post_Link_Ongoing&utm_content=Text_Miniature%20Market).
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