70 replies to this topic

[musclemenkids]

Well folks, good news and bad news.

I just spoke with Playmates West Coast distributor (middleman wholesaler) about Gormiti, and after talking to Playmates, he said that they are not "at this time" going forward with the Gormiti line. What that basically means is that they made a few, sent them out as a test market to AZ (and possibly elsewhere), and that depending on how they do will determine the scope of the US release (if any).

I have a contact directly at Playmates, so I will contact her to verify. I would love to get these locally for the store, especially with the prices seen at Wal-Mart and TRU in AZ.

woah that is really crazy i would have thought the toyline would take off, and i would have thought it would be far more successful than FOP, the gormiti line are way cooler than FOP, FOP annoyed me with all the crazy rare figures and stuff

[BaltanII]

That's just a damn shame, is what it is. No super-affordable prices for Gormiti after all. Thank you Flair for the UK line, because at least that still beats ordering everything from Italy.

[lhssenior]

Hey Johnny, what was the good news?
-Barry

[jkaris]

Hey Johnny, what was the good news?
-Barry

That it may just be pending the test market run, and not canceled entirely.

If I don't hear back from my contact at Playmates tomorrow in the morning, I will call her.

[musclemenkids]

well i still have a few doubles if any one is interested in a trade, also if anyone wants something specific and i see it on my travels i can pick it up

[Scumdogg]

Man, this is just like when Taco Bell test-marketed an awesome breakfast menu and then took it away despite its popularity and appeal. At least then i got a fleeting taste of glory though.

And...is there something i don't know about Arizona that makes it a viable test market? Seems like they'd pick a more populous state or something. Sometimes it's like toy companies want to fail.

[Roweiser]

Turns out they are being tested out in San Diego too...

http://www.fox6.com/...?videoID=434232

The website mentioned in the video is up as well

http://entertainment...com/gormiti/en/


Too bad if these don't get national distribution. I'm doing what I can!

[jkaris]

Interesting that Upper Deck is testing these in SoCal and and Playmates did in Arizona.

The packaging from the news article is Flair, but the packs in AZ are Playmates. If Playmates drops them and UD runs with them, there will be a kewl packaging variation.

[jkaris]

Maybe I can get some stock from Upper Deck!

[lhssenior]

Wow, leave it to FOX for the hard hitting news Good to see some more light on the horizon for these guys though
-Barry

[BaltanII]

Any ideas how to rip that video from the site? My usual go-to programs and bookmarklets aren't really helping, and I'd like to save it for posterity's sake.

Yay for being able to get all excited again, sorta. I don't like the looks of that "Limited Time Only" stuff on the UD website. But I DO like the extensive reach of the line in California. Bring some of that goodness over to the East Coast now!

Take a close look at the names too, on their checklist. The UK version of the Gormiti website includes some of these name changes, like Polypus instead of Poivrons and Fiery Angel instead of Fiery Mortal. Others, like Hemlock changed to The Thug, are totally new. Meanwhile, nonsense like Hideoutfinder remains untouched, ugh.

[galthisan]

Man, this is just like when Taco Bell test-marketed an awesome breakfast menu and then took it away despite its popularity and appeal. At least then i got a fleeting taste of glory though.

And...is there something i don't know about Arizona that makes it a viable test market? Seems like they'd pick a more populous state or something. Sometimes it's like toy companies want to fail.

a chum of mine went to america and told me about taco bell, aparently its great, i wish they were here in england, shame we cant trade gormiti for taco bell food, i dont think it would survive royal mail..

[jkaris]

Ha ha ha ha!

Taco Bell is cheap, crappy food. And even so, I eat there about 3-4 times a week.

It's funny that you should say that. I have a buddy (Grandtheft) who wants me to take him to Taco Bell when he comes out this way. He is in Australia.

Long live Taco Bell!

------------

Back to the subject at hand...

Playmates said Fall 08 / Early 09, but when I asked her about the Upper Deck Gormiti, she didn't know anything. My guess is that they opted out and Upper Deck scooped it up.

I talked to Upper Deck and they said to check with some of their distributors, as they don't cater to online stores (only actual storefronts). I did, and none of them carry them.
However, the lady at Upper Deck was very friendly and familiar with the test marketing in the S.D. area. She said it hadn't been selling very well, and asked about our demographics when I mentioned that I have been selling them online and that we had a large group of collectors.

I have a small order in, and may possibly be getting a ton of them as well, via a 3rd party, if U.D. has more to sell.

I'll hear back from them Thursday!

[Ericnilla]

thats awsome since i live here in San Diego... im gonna hit up some places this weekend to buy some. if i have the chance, i'll buy as much as i can. we'll see if i can even find any.

[jkaris]

I just scored a ton of these at a little above US wholesale prices, so they will be listed at the store early next week for just above what they are retailing for in SoCal.

[TheOrgg]

Might you be able to get the overstock they don't sell, you think?

[jkaris]

Might you be able to get the overstock they don't sell, you think?

That is what I am hoping!

[Ghost Lion]

Awesome news!

[Ericnilla]

cool newz

[jkaris]

Ok, I got a decent sized shipment from So Cal. They are the UK Flair packages with a secondary Upper Deck sticker on them. I altered the price at the store to reflect total cost between the US and UK stock, so the dropped the prices a bit.

4 Packs - $15.00 $11.49
Single packs - $6.00 $3.99
Qty 10 of the single packs - $34.99 ($3.49 each pack)
Qty 24 (full box) of the single packs - $77.99 ($3.25 each pack)

http://store.littler...mp;Category=150

Still not as close to SoCal retail as I would like, but as close as I can get it for now. If I can get more stock from SoCal, I will adjust the prices again.

Also, as soon as series 2 hits the UK, I will have those as well (prices will more than likely be the same as before).

[Ericnilla]

i found a place only a few miles from me... and they had a huge selection. $1.99 for singles and $7.99 for four packs... the sales man said they are selling pretty good, but it didnt look that way to me, the display was full. i'll post the pics of the ones i bought tonight and will have some for trade, i know i have a few doubles already but i got at least half the set already. woot. if anyone is interested in trades lemme know.