OK OK OK we know we can get Finemolds in SOME hobby shops and at most of the shows via vendors, plus there is the ever present mail order and such.
But the key is that TARGET has latched onto the goods now and will be a US chain based distributor. Taking a look at the hobby market in the last five years we have seen the changes. Walmart, never the bastion of kitdom, has reduced thier stock in the last three years from a limited array, which I call the Revellogram program kits- usually the same five or six kits in each Walmart and hardly any varation among them–to nothing, with the complete removal of the model line last year. Kmart did the same, as did Target. I used to be able to get Gundam and Gundam SD kits at Target…no more.
Now Target has taken the spearhead to reintroduce not only a model line but a HIGH END model line such as Finemolds. This has more to do with marketing and cashing in on the current clone wars series line than anything, but at least now I can drive to Target and pick up a kit–an option that did not exist.
Prices on these jewels? Considering they are FM brand, and must pay import duties (that the Chinese seem not to pay) ,we can expect to see these at near retail. I’m just glad to see a chain carrying a model for once, and not the same old thing that WM offered in the past. In additoin there are some other cool USB items. I want the R2 USB four port hub.
Well that is good news, but it can cut both ways. Two LHS also carry these lines, and one offers discounts to IPMS members. If the price is significantly lower at Target, I may buy them there, but I do prefer to support and keep the LHS in business.
now we have the prices for these jewels in hand: Target is SIGNIFICANTLY higher priced than any of the other retailers. And when I say significantly, I mean just that…MUCH higher prices. Also there is a disclaimer that these items are not available in-store! These are online purchase only and the item will arrive in 2-6 weeks. Sounds like travel time from Japan to me folks. I now fully believe that when Japan Exclusive Items are promoted at Target, they are true Japan exclusives and not being imported to the brick and mortar stores.
Where this will get interesting is if Target (being a large chain retailer) puts enough demand on the importer/distributer to guarantee a stock item, it will decrease the availability of the line to smaller hobby shops. The larger client gets first rights, so to speak. Inevitably, price fixing the line. They have created a market demnad that they can exploit since they have a larger share.
Large retail chains like this will negotiate availability guarantees or reserves insuring their ability to fill orders. Regardless of whether or not they fufill those orders. Part of the negotiation for merchandising the line no doubt included this guarantee.
How does Target’s markup compare to shipping costs from Japan? Good scam, calling it an “exclusive” when all they’re doing is advertising and processing online orders for Finemolds.
yeah guys, Im with you. I honestly got my hopes up there, too. As far as shipping, you can the aluminum falcon at SSM for far far far far less than the stated price here. And Kugai you have it, its shipping time from FM…
Man, now I wish I had never even brought it up. I belong to Redstick Rebellion toy collector group and this was big news when it hit all the various Star Wars boards, and the RSR came to me for an opinion on the models. I guess it was a case of hoping for too much out of a big box retailier in what is a very niche market.