Hasbro has officially announced next week’s Fan First Wednesday Livestream for April 6, at 11am ET. Preorders will launch the following day (Thursday, April 7) at 1pm ET. Preorders will include Vintage Collection and Black Series products.
Recent shipping data shows that the Walmart exclusive Deluxe TVC Ahsoka Tano & Grogu set (The Mandalorian) and the Hasbro Pulse/ShopDisney exclusive Republic Trooper (The Old Republic) started arriving in the U.S. last week.
As you may recall, the Republic Trooper has been on preorder since June 10, 2021 and it never officially went up for preorder on ShopDisney.
Hasbro’s U.S. retailer partnerships with Walmart, Target and Amazon for exclusives are synonymous in the collecting community for being an absolute joke in terms of execution, reliability, ridiculously short preorder windows, and unknown delivery dates.
Sadly, nothing of which I’ve listed above is new to long-time collectors, especially within the past few years, and personally, I feel only so much can be blamed on the lingering effects of the pandemic. More and more collectors are throwing up their arms with the “work” that goes into their hobby, skipping preorders completely, and rolling the dice to see if they can find it at retail later — if at all.
Also, why does Hasbro issue press releases with definitive preorder dates/times only to have retailer do their own thing and launch them (fully or in part) 5-7 hours early? Is the communication between retailers and Hasbro that “off”? Why do new orders (not just Walmart) ship often before preorders that were placed months prior? Why does there have to be technological hoops for customers to jump through in order for us to give those partners our money? We won’t even get into the shipping issues as we all know the greatest offender in that regard.
These days with such long lead-times from preorder to release date (if known), some have forgotten products are even coming or that they were even announced at all. Plus, with rising prices on everything (not just toys), many have succumbed to the fact that Star Wars collecting at its most basic level is more hassle than it is worth and is rarely a “positive preorder experience”.
Today at approximately 1pm ET, Walmart.com will be posting preorders for the 5 Vintage Collection figures revealed last week (links below – currently inactive)
Update: All but the stormtrooper are available if you can open the links through the Walmart app.
Update 2: Pages are now all live on Walmart.com, but product is unable to be added to cart.
R2-D2 (Sensorscope)
Imperial Gunner
Imperial Stormtrooper
Bespin Guard (Heldor Spinoza)
Bespin Guard (Isdam Edian)
The GameStop exclusive Black Series 13th Battalion Clone Trooper and RC-1140 “Fixer“ Gaming Greats figures are now available for preorder online.
A second Vintage Collection Bespin Security Guard has been revealed courtesy of JediNews.com. Isdam Edian is will also be available for preorder on 3/24 at 1pm ET. exclusively at Walmart.com.
The Walmart exclusive reveals continue for today is the Vintage Collection Bespin Security Guard (HELDER SPINOZA) from The Empire Strikes Back by YodasNews. Watch for preorders to go live on 3/24 at 1pm.
Our friends at BanthaSkull have the pleasure of revealing the reworked Vintage Collection Stormtrooper from A New Hope. This version features new rocker ankles (borrowed from the upcoming deluxe Nevarro version) and new hip holster. Preorders open on 3/24 at 1pm ET exclusively at Walmart.com.
The packaging for the today’s reveal of the 13th Battalion Clone Trooper from JFO looks to hint at Republic Commando “Sev” judging by the distinct markings.
Various fan sites and social media channels around the web will be taking part in a day of official reveals that include new, upcoming Vintage Collection and Black Series products from Hasbro. Check back throughout the day as we compile the announcements as they are made. Preorders are expected to come later (i.e. not today).
Participating sites/social channels: (more to come)
Bantha Skull – TVC Imperial Stormtrooper (ANH) – WM
From 4-LOM to Zuckuss – TBS 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Bossk’s Bounty – TBS Republic Commando “Fixer” – GS
Victoria’s Cantina – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
Fantha Tracks – TBS Republic Commando Fixer – GS
Collectors Cantina –TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
Flyguy.net – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
@starwarstheblackseries – TBS Republic Commando “Fixer” – GS
Rebelscum – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
GuerreStellari – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Star Wars Action News – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Coffee with Kenobi – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
YodasNews – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM
JediNews – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Mint in Box – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Star Wars Collector – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Galactic Figures – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM
StarWars-Figuren –
Participating sites/social channels: (more to come)
Bantha Skull – TVC Imperial Stormtrooper (ANH) – WM
From 4-LOM to Zuckuss – TBS 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Bossk’s Bounty – TBS Republic Commando “Fixer” – GS
Victoria’s Cantina – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
Fantha Tracks – TBS Republic Commando Fixer – GS
Collectors Cantina –TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
Flyguy.net – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
@starwarstheblackseries – TBS Republic Commando “Fixer” – GS
Rebelscum – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
GuerreStellari – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Star Wars Action News – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Coffee with Kenobi – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
YodasNews – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM
JediNews – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Mint in Box – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Star Wars Collector – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Galactic Figures – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM
StarWars-Figuren –
Participating sites/social channels: (more to come)
Bantha Skull – TVC Imperial Stormtrooper (ANH) – WM
From 4-LOM to Zuckuss – TBS 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Bossk’s Bounty – TBS Republic Commando “Fixer” – GS
Victoria’s Cantina – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
Fantha Tracks – TBS Republic Commando Fixer – GS
Collectors Cantina –TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
Flyguy.net – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
@starwarstheblackseries – TBS Republic Commando “Fixer” – GS
Rebelscum – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
GuerreStellari – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Star Wars Action News – 13th Battalion Clone Trooper – GS
Coffee with Kenobi – TVC Imperial Gunner & R2-D2 – WM
YodasNews – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM
JediNews – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Mint in Box – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Star Wars Collector – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) – WM
Galactic Figures – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM
StarWars-Figuren – TVC Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) – WM