BC Toy Spotting: Funko, NECA, Stranger Things, Star Wars, and More!

Welcome to the latest edition of BC Toy Spotting! We are in and out of stores pretty much every day, and we figure (ha!) why not show all of our fellow collectors what we are coming across on pegs and shelves. As collectors, we know that staying on top of what is in stores can be almost a full time job, so we are here to help you with your toy hunts and outings. This week we found plenty of NECA figures, Funko, Star Wars stuff, and more! Let’s take a look!

Star Wars Galore at Target!

Starting with Star Wars, Targets have been restocking the Retro Series figures modeled after the Kenner toys of old recently for those that missed the initial push. Both the single carded figures and Escape From Death Star game with the new Tarkin Retro figure are in stores again. They are also restocking their Luke Stormtrooper Black Series figure.

Gamestop Comes Through Big Time

New waves of Mattel WWE Basics and Elite figures hit in droves at Gamestop this week, not to mention the new Mattel DC Multiverse figures featuring Joker from The Dark Knight and The Penguin form Batman Returns. Also showing up there is the former convention exclusive Storm Collectibles Mortal Kombat Smoke figure.

Target Doesn’t Just Have Star Wars, as NECA Invades

NECA had a robust week of deliveries to Target stores, with new figures and restocks of Alien, Predator, horror stuff, and the Golden Girls figures finally hitting shelves. I have to get me that 2009 Friday the 13th Jason figures soon.

Funko Releases For This Week!

As always, tons of new Funko is in stores. Wheel of Fortune, Star Wars exclusives, Batman Pop Rides, Pretty Woman, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Fairy Tail, Ghostbusters, NSYNC, Gears of War, and an awesome Cruella de Vil Hot Topic exclusive all hit stores this week.

And For You Stranger Things Fans…

The new Stranger Things Season 3 merch is hitting in full-force right now. The Baskin Robbins exclusive Steve Pop is in stores, presenting tons of problems, while Gamestop has a cool Stranger Things branded Polaroid camera available.

What are YOU finding in stores right now? Let us know in the comments, or on Twitter using the #BC_ToySpotting

The post BC Toy Spotting: Funko, NECA, Stranger Things, Star Wars, and More! appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/02/bc-toy-spotting-funko-neca-stranger-things-star-wars-funko/
Jeremy Konrad

‘Stranger Things’ Baskin Robbins Funko Exclusive Release is a Debacle

Stranger Things fans are in a tizzy as the premiere of the hit Netflix series highly anticipated third season is coming on July 4th. This season the tie-in merchandise is crazy, as everyone is trying to attach their names to the franchise. Even Coke brought back their biggest failure in company history to tie-in, to great success. One tie-in us collectors got excited about involves ice cream company Baskin Robbins. As seen in the trailers for season 3, Steve will be working at an ice cream shop in a Hawkins mall during the season, and Baskin Robbins partnered with Netflix to bring special merch and ice cream flavors inspired by the show to their stores starting officially on June 1st. The main event however is an exclusive Steve Funko Pop. That is where the problem begin.

Stranger Things Fans Are Mad

It's not cool locations are charging $30-$40 pic.twitter.com/t1tAZfOg1h

— BiccDarv (@darvmeans) June 1, 2019

As with any and all Funko exclusive releases, people are out toy hunting like mad for these. What they have been met with at many locations are Baskin Robbins selling the Stranger Things exclusives well over the retail price of $12.99. A glance around social media confirms that some locations are selling them for almost 3 times the price, which is kind of insane.

Yeah thanks for the price override on this pop Baskin Robbins! 🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/OoC0XKVPtH

— MrCoLiving (@theKING1780) June 1, 2019

@BaskinRobbins @OriginalFunko wow what's up with this? pic.twitter.com/ZnIWgMiYZH

— Popcentric (@Popcentric1) June 1, 2019

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to any of this either. Some stores are limiting people to only 1 Pop per customer (which is fine if you ask me), but the price hikes are happening everywhere. People are pissed, and it is a shame that this side of collecting has yet again reared its ugly head.

This is crazy! The #funko world is crazy @Funko @BaskinRobbins pic.twitter.com/aTs3w8Ss2M

— MR. S (@civale10) June 2, 2019

We Still Wanted One Though!

Hey- I love the show and have a complete Stranger Things collection myself, so I had to get my hands on one. It took some doing, as my area is full of Funko Pop flippers, but I found a store about 45 minutes away that said they had them. Let me tell you dear reader, I love me some food tie-ins to the properties I love. There is signage and specials everywhere, and I was in ST heaven when I walked in. They have a photo opportunity, special pints of Scoops Ahoy ice cream, special counter treats, and more. I do plan on returning to try all of this stuff, but I had a mission.

The display was above the donuts, and when I walked up to the counter the employee at first said they were not selling them because they “had to figure out what to do with them”. I also wanted one of the cool magnet sets, so I asked about those. She said the same thing. I stared at her, and she went to get the manager. She came over and asked if I wanted one or two, and returned a minute later with my Steve. She seemed relived, and after discussing the release she said she hopes they never do anything like this again. People yelling, people demanding to buy their whole stock, people just generally being mean seems to be the norm with Funko fans she said. That made me sad to hear. Moment of truth, as she started to ring me out. A sigh of relief when she charged me the regular $12.99 for the Pop and $3.99 for the magnets.

Stranger Things Scoops Ahoy Steve Baskin Robbins Exclusives

 

The Steve Pop is awesome. It features him holding a sundae in his work uniform and is adorable. It instantly became one of my favorite Stranger Things Pops. The magnets are cool too! As I said, food premiums are a favorite of mine, so I am super excited to put these on my fridge. Also- my ice cream cone was great. I personally love their chocolate chip.

Was this worth it? To me of course- I love the show and collecting these. But to see all of the craziness going on over it is sad. Funko collecting is supposed to be fun, and this is becoming anything but. If Funko flippers didn’t exist, BR franchises wouldn’t be doing what they are doing. There is no easy answer to fix all this, but hopefully it can be figured out soon. Big shout-out to the Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins in South Euclid, OH for being so cool and relatively easy to deal with on this one.

Good luck out there hunting for this one! It is available at Baskin Robbins stores now.

The post ‘Stranger Things’ Baskin Robbins Funko Exclusive Release is a Debacle appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/02/stranger-things-baskin-robbins-funko-exclusive-scoops-ahoy-steve-debacle/
Jeremy Konrad