MOTU Origins in Australia

[JJJ]

Had a chat with a Big W staff member today. She was quite helpful.

My Big W has a single peg for MOTU origins, marked as Skeletor. On that peg are three Skeletors and 2 He-Mans. On the stock trolley/cage are 4 more cases of Skelly and He-Man (two of each), and there are a couple more out the back. No other figures. And the reason that it has taken this long to re-stock what they've got hasn't been distribution issues (although yes, they exist, because they can't get the other figures), but rather because most of the staff won't put things out if they can't find a peg for them (they are apparently supposed to make room and set up a peg if that's the case, but it often doesn't happen). So these cases of MOTU have been pulled off the cages and then put back quite a few times over the last few weeks. She isn't impressed by her co-workers

She told me a story about the first stock, too. So there was this man who rang up demanding the MOTU figures off the shelf, and who became aggro when told that they were gone (the things vanished in the space of an afternoon, probably because there was only one of each to start with). Why? Because his wife had been in earlier that day and she saw them (took a pic, it seems). Nobody knows why he didn't just have her grab them then and there...

[Otter]

Picked up Battle Cat at BigW Kawana, QLD. They had about eight of them. No other Origins.
Had a bunch of Skelegods though, and the second wave of Masterverse. Beast Man looked awesome (but I already have him coming from BBTS).

[Viceroy]

Big W had two Skelegods at Southland shopping centre. At first I couldn’t find any and was about to walk away until I spotted them stuffed down on the bottom shelf.

[Otter]

Wave 2 of Masterverse at BigW.

[HeadCollector]

Big w are getting some MOTU origins figures this week that aren't he man or skeletor. It doesnt specify what wave or figures as it just says assorted and they'll be $19. Also it says Castle Grayskull orgins ($149 or $159 can't remember price) will be coming towards the end of the month leading into Feburary. This may be different for other Big w's around Australia. Located QLD

[JJJ]

Hmmm, good to know. I missed the original stock months ago by mere hours on the day of release (Big W Mildura got precisely one box of the assortment), and there's been nothing since. Any indication as to what day this might happen? Is it linked to a particular catalogue at all?

[gaidin]

Super keen to check out my local once we know they're on the shelves! It would be nice to get more for $19 instead of $30+ off amazon haha

So far I've only found Skelly and Battle Cat on the shelves.

Semi-related question....how do you guys open your Origins figures? Only opened Skeletor so far, but I'm trying to preserve the cardbacks as much as I can. Cutting around the blister on one side and folding them open is ok, but maybe there is a better method?

[HeadCollector]

It all depends when they arrive at the store and get stocked on the shelves it'll be different for all stores. Just know some are coming in this week (maybe next week) at some point.

The figures are under this
https://www.bigw.com.au/product/mast...rted-/p/178827
All assorted as there's so many figures

[JJJ]

Semi-related question....how do you guys open your Origins figures? Only opened Skeletor so far, but I'm trying to preserve the cardbacks as much as I can. Cutting around the blister on one side and folding them open is ok, but maybe there is a better method?

I thought about it, because they are kinda pretty, but couldn't bring myself to keep packing. I'm in this for the toys.

But before I threw them out, I did come up with what I thought was probably the best way to open them and keep the pretty pictures - use a very sharp knife, possibly a scalpel, to slice the blister off at the base. Don't try to remove it from the card, just cut it at the point where it rises off the card, leaving the print untouched, and with just a ring of plastic left where it is glued on.

[gaidin]

Nice! Thank you both of you for the info

[crazyjoe]

These have been on the shelves (assuming you are lucky enough to find them before they are all gone) for months. What is the difference next week?

[JJJ]

No difference, it seems. But it was vital to know!

Big W Mildura re-stocked today with three cases of wave 6, which were almost untouched when I got there (only one Green Goddess gone from the 12 toys supplied).

So, HeadCollector, how did you know? Also, many thanks

[gaidin]

They're showing images of the cardback with the starburst "Retro Play" on them....but I'm assuming in reality its more of the international version with the text-less comics?

[JJJ]

They're showing images of the cardback with the starburst "Retro Play" on them....but I'm assuming in reality its more of the international version with the text-less comics?

Correct. And until just now I had not realised that there was a different set of packaging. But I am not surprised.

On the other hand, this suggests a different pool of toys being used to supply us, compared to the US. I wonder how much of a difference that might make to availability?

[gaidin]

I doubt there is a difference other than the cardback and comic....but what a lazy, lazy way of dealing with the rest of the world. To just assume every other country outside the States isn't English-speaking...

[JJJ]

That and the whole "we can't use an international version here" attitude are exactly what I wasn't surprised by

So I take it then that there is a version of the comic that has the same art plus dialogue, yes?

[gaidin]

You mean a version of the product with the multilingual starburst text on the cardback AND a comic inside with text? Not that I have seen....

The number of Origins figures I've got from Amazon that shows the "US version" stock photos, but then turns up as the blank international comic version is frustrating. I've pretty much resigned myself to paying double the Amazon prices for an ebay listing with photos of the actual item. Amazon absolves themselves of responsibility with a little disclaimer lol. Frustrating....

I get that the rest of the world in total probably equates to the US market in terms of volume, but this oversight is just sheer laziness. Someone at Mattel literally can't be bothered checking the most commonly spoken language in other countries they sell to! Xenophobism.

[Viceroy]

I picked up a Revelation Battle Cat today.

[JJJ]

My Big W is entirely out of Wave 6 again. Did anyone see anything of Wave 5? And is there any indication of whether there might be more stock again?

[crazyjoe]

Heaps of battlecats at Fountaingate Big W. Nothing else sadly as per usual


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[JJJ]

Yup, my Big W had 2 last week. Still waiting for the Castle Greyskull sets to show up as HeadCollector said. Hope he's right about this, as was the case with the re-stock.

- - - Updated - - -

We now have a report of Wave 7 being found in Cannonvale in Qld.

[Jaffleman]

Putting this out there You, you can go into any Toyworld and order a case of Origins basic assortment for those who don't mind extras. You can also order deluxe figures this way and vehicles.

[Daz-man]

hey everyone.

i saw it asked earlier. but did any one actually see any of the wave 5 figures anywhere?

i've been ordering what i can from big W and have had many orders cancelled, and what i have got has got myself a spare wave 6 sitting there.

anyone close up for swaps. haha.

i'm starting to think that 5 is something to forget about at this stage.

- - - Updated - - -

Putting this out there You, you can go into any Toyworld and order a case of Origins basic assortment for those who don't mind extras. You can also order deluxe figures this way and vehicles.

from what you're saying you've done this with Toyworld?

If you have and you don't mind me asking. how many figures are in a case? is it 2 of each?

[crazyjoe]

Putting this out there You, you can go into any Toyworld and order a case of Origins basic assortment for those who don't mind extras. You can also order deluxe figures this way and vehicles.

Thanks mate you are a champion, I had no idea you could do this. No more banging my head against a wall trying to get anything from big w

[Thrillhouse]

Really? Order from Toyworld? Will have to try.

Anyway, I found Castle Grayskull in Toyworld. Was put out yesterday and I grabbed it. $149.
They only had the one. And half a dozen Battlecats.