Surprising Clearance At Target

087-06-1351.  If you don’t know that DPCI by now, you’re terrible at this hobby.  It’s the same DPCI Target has been using for the “collector” oriented Star Wars basic figure line since the glorious re-emergence of the Vintage Collection line in late summer of 2010.  In a somewhat dubious decision, this DPCI was carried forward to the Black Series 3.75” line which meant that the two year long back-log of Phantom Menace figures prevented some stores from receiving any Black Series stock.  There was even a grass roots Twitter campaign to get Target to change the DPCI to get product flowing into stores.  This may mean that they have listened.  This could indicate that 087-61-1351 is being retired.  Here are some possibilities of what this could mean:

Nothing - Target placed this DPCI on clearance at the same time two years ago only to resuscitate it a few months later to coincide with the “greatest hits” Vintage Collection assortment.  This could merely be a temporary clearance to clear out the pegs for what looks to be promising 2014 product.  The only difference is that the last time this happened the plans really were to discontinue the Vintage Collection.  By all indications, the Black Series is running through 2014.  Odds: 

Target really is changing the DPCI for the 3.75” line - This isn’t totally out the realm of possibility.  Target stores may have finally caught on to the fact that the theatrical re-release of a crappy movie combined with Hasbro’s chronic clueless case assortments have essentially murdered the 1351 DPCI and it needs to be retired to reset that playing field for the line.  Odds: 

Another retailer is abandoning the collector 3.75” line -   Some smaller Walmart stores have discontinued allocating space to the 3.75” collector line.  It could be argued that since early 2012, the pegs allocated to the line have been some of the least productive in Target’s toy section.  Plus Amazon’s cut throat pricing is reportedly beating up big box retailers who match online prices.  Target might decide this line is no longer worth the minimal returns (if any).  Odds: 

Hasbro had a moment of clarity and the Vintage Collection is returning - With a reported heavy OT lineup scheduled for 2014 and a likely Episode VII dominated 2015, NOW is the time to bring back the Vintage Collection to finally close out the remaining gaps in the modern Vintage Collection.  This makes so much sense that Hasbro would never do something this smart.  Therefore…Odds: