Are The Droids Fett And R2 Trending Toward Becoming Ollie’s Exclusives?

First, the usual reminder that the fact that the Droids Boba Fett and R2-D2 figures haven't been stocked or shipped is neither the fault of Hasbro nor Target. It is the result of an ongoing global logistics crisis that is unfortunately starting to feel less temporary and more like a permanent fact of life. Mr. Nomadscount covered the subject in depth in THIS ARTICLE. The problem this logistics logjam creates with retailer exclusives is that they typically have an "on-shelf" window. It's a lot like a hotel reservation at a popular hotel. If you have a reservation for Tuesday, but show up on Friday, the hotel isn't going to hold that room for you. You'll be staying at the seedy Motel Six down the road. I'm starting to worry that the Droids Boba Fett and R2-D2 are going to miss their "reservation" at Target.

I fully admit that I am one who has given in to collector paranoia in the past. Prior to the Legacy Collection launch day in the summer of 2008, I was actually worried that the Big Millennium Falcon was going to sell out and I would miss it. Those of you who were collecting during that time will recall that there were literally stacks of them at Walmart. In that case, my fears were completely unfounded and baseless. This time around there is a basis for my fears. Of the three Droids exclusives, one of them has actually made it into stores. It's the C-3PO figure. According to a tweet from Yak Face, that figure has already been placed on clearance:



That's the first indication that the window on these exclusives is closing. The second is this tweet from Vindiana Jones where he shares this cancelation notice for his Droids Boba Fett and R2-D2 order:



Typically when the on-shelf window for one of the big box retailers comes and goes, the stock gets dumped on a close out chain like Ollie's, which does not operate in my state. If this happens, these figures effectively become vaporware to me. I haven't had my preorders canceled yet, so this probably isn't widespread. Also, there is no concrete proof of this, just some smoke, but no fire. It's strictly my speculation at this point, and we can't get outraged about "crimes" that haven't happened yet. That's a rule. But I have to say that this is another reminder that having a Fan Channel backup to these big box exclusives would make the collector angst evaporate.

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