Unfortunately, all major retailers have regional buyers. Some person sits in a cubicle and determines how much of what to order. Hasbro is partially at fault here, pushing the Clone Wars and Legacy figures, touting these waves as "most popular" because Hasbro still believes that only Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker and R2D2 will ever sell, stating that kids buy the majority of figures, not adult collectors. Hasbro tells Wal-Mart, Target, TRU, and others, that they need these waves if they want to turn a profit. Therefore, the saga cases don't get bought up. So these regional buyers buy 10 cases of Saga Legends, and when the shelves are clogged with Super Battle Droids, Plo Koons, Darth Vaders, and other figures not desired by either child or collector, the stock shows they have plenty in stock, and will not order new waves. Waves get released by Hasbro, but not bought by retailers because they still have quite a bit of stock.
Now, the price goes up and down because (according to Hasbro), the petroleum prices fluctuate. So when oil goes up, they jack up the prices. Usually, the prices don't go down when oil prices do, because Hasbro has stated they go with the predicted max price of oil so as not to lose money, as if that would happen. The reason for price drops is so that the retailers can unload stock they have taking up space in the stock room. Once they clear out their extras, they can then put prices back where they were. As for the sudden spike in G.I. Joes, I'm guessing it's because more of us have been buying them for customizing, so the sudden depletion in stock that had sat around for months (years?) has made these retailers think they can get more for them now. Too bad they haven't learned that the only reason they ARE being bought like they have been is because they WERE $5.
By the way, these statements have been given by Hasbro in previous Q&As and by actual Hasbro reps seen at Wal-Mart.
