The Figures That Survived:  Christmas 2024 Edition

The ravenous consumerism of the holiday season has the ability to move a great deal of nonessential items at the two remaining big box stores. Someone is buying out that pallet of knock-off Leatherman multi-tools that Walmart gets every year. So whenever there are Vintage Collection figures that don't sell during this shopping frenzy I think it's notable (the degree to which can be debated). Obviously this is an extremely myopic view since we're only looking at two stores, but I think it's a fun exercise nonetheless. Just keep in mind that this is the definition of anecdotal.

This is a story of two stores, each with it's own particular figure that survived Christmas. When it comes to Walmart, I'm going to use a reference that is probably too old for even CJ to understand. Let's go.



Walmart is the Detroit Lions and this Vintage Collection Vel Sartha is Wayne Fontes. They can't get rid of her. Vel gets her Christmas Survivor ribbon (first oak leaf cluster). This exact figure survived Christmas 2023 as seen HERE. It's coming up on a 2 year residency. I wrote about how poorly it was selling in May of 2023 HERE when it had already been on the pegs a month. I know from talking to you all that my experience with this figure at brick and mortar is anomalous. It's even anomalous for my greater area. This might be the only Vel within 100 miles of me, but I think it's telling because of how well Vintage Collection product typical moves at this location.

This particular store seems to be able to sell anything TVC. I've mentioned several times that it sold through 27 Landos. They also got the recent "Dark Side" side shipper, and sold through all the basic figures in a couple of weeks. But poor Vel is destined for the Island of Misfit Toys. Maybe Andor season 2 will finally help move this figure.



There's no way to sugar coat this. It's not good. The only positive is that, unlike Walmart, Target placed Cobb Vanth on waivers almost immediately, but it's not something to celebrate. If I could rationalize that fans were passing on Vanth due to the deluxe price point, that would be one thing, but Target placed this figure on sale for less than $17 before Christmas. It still didn't help move many units even though it cost less than a standard release. Even at 50% off post-holidays, it was not exactly moving swiftly.

So what gives? The price point argument was mitigated by the near instantaneous sale price. Why didn't it sell? Is it the 8" x 9" card? Is it the numerous short cuts that were taken with the figure, some of which were made for the inevitable un-armored release? Whatever it is, I think we should all be concerned. Vanth has been placing very high on fan polls, but the fans didn't support it. Something doesn't add up.

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So this is my experience. How about you? I know the brick and mortar experience is sadly dying for many of us, but if you still haunt the aisles, did any figures survive Christmas in your area?

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