Shinfo13 wrote:Supposedly
This whole Qui debacle is just the most recent example of why I personally don't think Target should be handling any Funko exclusives. Between the release of Zur, Rick and Summer ECCC pack, 10" Groot, and now Qui Gon it is obvious corporate doesn't care. As a team member this is sad and I wish i had an excuse for people who are mad, but honestly the team members are left in the dark about these things. There is no communication about proper street date procedure being shared with the stores and only once they saw Qui Gon Pops leaking online did they send out an internal memo asking to have product removed from the floor followed by the street date madness. We weren't even informed that the street date had been lifted until it spread like wildfire on IG and still today there was no acknowledgement of whether we should sell them. This is most likely why some stores are still holding them back for Monday.
I would like to say these problems are specific to Funko products but they aren't. Sometimes they'll street date items that make no sense like toddler toys, add street dates weeks after a product has been released and already been sitting on the floor, or just a general lack of communication regarding big events or releases. Add that on top of team members who don't know the difference between street date or set date and who can't properly limit 1 per guest of a high demand item and its just a mess. After so many botched releases I hope Funko lays out some demands for future releases. The sad part is that they probably won't because Funko needs Target more than Target needs Funko so they're probably not in the position to say much. As long as Target funnels them money for exclusives they'll just take the heat from collectors who are being screwed over by their retail partners.
Thanks for the insight Jeff. It always seems to be like 1/2 of the employees are teenagers who don't care and 1/4 are people who have been there too long, who don't care.
I find it really weird though that stores can set their own sell dates... it really makes it awkward when you get transferred to another Target that is supposed to have what you want, but won't sell it to you (IE 10" Groot).
One small thing I have noticed across all the Targets I've visited, they aren't restocking the Entertainment area where Funko sits... is this the same where you are? It's probably just laziness or trying to manage their overflow in general, but it's always depressing walking up to just a bunch of Suicide Squad rejects
