An Open Letter To Walmart Regarding Hasbro’s Star Wars The Vintage Collection

First of all, we know by the many comments you have left here, in our forums, and on social media, that all of you are rightfully frustrated about the lack of product in the Vintage Collection. But at the same time, whenever petitions or polls are shared, the participation is pathetic. Not just bad, but pathetic. Getting the Vintage Collection back to its place as a proper representative product is not going to just happen on its own. You don't have to like it, but this is a fact. Everyone with skin in the game needs to get engaged in the #FightForTVC.

The community got the Barge done. We can get this done, but only if EVERYONE participates.

Those polls and petitions matter greatly. Comments, social media postings, and even in-person dialog are all anecdotal. Anecdotes are somewhat toothless when going up against hard data. Polls and petitions are data. Get engaged!

If you roll your eyes at this thinking, then nothing is going to change. That's your right, of course, but we remind you that what we are suggesting costs you nothing. It only takes a few moments of your time for you to put your name to your convictions.

The letter below has been designed to fit the within the 3,000 character limit of Walmart's customer support feedback form. Please note that we are not condoning any impolite, unprofessional, rude, or ignorant comments be sent to Walmart. We don't believe that will accomplish anything. Our goal would be to get the attention of the Customer Service Representatives that will be reading the feedback. We need to get their attention, and we need to engage them. Wasted effort towards that end is obviously not helpful, and could even be counterproductive.

1. Click HERE for Walmart's corporate feedback form

2. On that form, enter 630509862214 for the Vintage Collection UPC (credit to Yak Face's Master UPC / DPCI / SKU list).

3. Choose "Product Question / Product Feedback" for the topic.

4. Feel free to cut and past the following into the "Your Comment" section, or write your own.


Chris's letter to Walmart:


This is regarding Hasbro’s line of 3.75” Star Wars Vintage Collection action figures, SKU 682416994.

Let me preface this by saying that the aforementioned product does not affect whether or not I patronize Walmart. It would be ludicrous to suggest that availability of a collectible determines if I shop in your stores. It does not. As with many others, Walmart is my best and most convenient option for necessities. It would be silly to suggest otherwise.

What I can tell you, is that the availability of Star Wars Vintage Collection (682416994) affects how often, and more importantly, in what manner I patronize Walmart. As mentioned, I shop your stores for necessities, and likely always will, but shopping for necessities is an errand, or chore. It’s not a fun activity, nor one to which I necessarily look forward. This does not put me in the mindset to make other discretionary purchases. I get what I need and then get out. As with most chores, I want it to be over with as soon as possible.

Collecting the Star Wars Vintage Collection (682416994) product is my hobby. When Walmart stores stock and manage this product properly, visiting Walmart, by extension, becomes a part of my hobby. Visiting Walmart goes from “have to” to “want to”. It goes from an errand to a leisure time activity. It becomes a fun thing. I am in a completely different mindset as a shopper, and are much more likely to engage in other shopping, and much more frequently. Not only that, I am likely to visit multiple Walmart locations within driving distance, which spreads my buying opportunities beyond my closest store.

I know when this product was first reintroduced in 2018 under the SKU 239252624, sales were poor and consumer interest was low. This was 100% due to the specific items being offered and not the product line itself. Hasbro’s offerings were not in tune with the demands of its customers. Since then, Hasbro has done extensive outreach to their customers and refined which product is offered within the Star Wars Vintage Collection. The current offerings are outstanding, and are generating massive interest and excitement. For example, I ask you to check how well the SKU 626473162 Stormtrooper has sold on walmart.com.

Unfortunately, as excitement for Star Wars Vintage Collection is soaring, it has almost disappeared from brick and mortar. When Walmart stores do get the product, such as your recent exclusive Luke Skywalker (Yavin) SKU 378783282, it is not stocked in a timely manner, and misses its prime selling window. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that it’s also an example of a specific item for which there was not a lot of customer demand, and something that Hasbro’s recent outreach will prevent going forward.

Walmart would be well served to manage the availability of this product in your stores. It will get thousands of customers such as myself into your stores more frequently and in a much more enthusiastic frame of mind.

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