Topic: Germany

[FialaFernbrugg]

Thank you again for the great store report.
The Blue Brixx store looks pretty interensting.

I can only agree with you. We need more Hasbro playsets.

[Darth More]

Wow, this thread surpassed 50,000 views! Thanks for your lasting interest!



FialaFernbrugg: Thanks for commenting! When you visit me here next time, we need to go to at least one BlueBrixx store together! As much as I adore the idea of construction sets, I just stick to Styrofoam to build my own dioramas without all those studs...

[Darth More]

Store report: Smyths Toys Super Stores


Dresden , Germany

Sat, May 14, 2022


It's George Lucas' birthday today and I thought I'd check out my local pegs for some of his merch!
And indeed I found a Black Series Archive Figure which I hadn't expected to be available, yet.
"Yup, another paycheck for daddy."
Enjoy this short store report!

STAR WARS






SmythsToys declare the new MRSP for TVC at 21.99€ now!!!! "This is MADNESS!"

I'm tempted to pull the trigger on Mr Îmwe at 12.90€ - maybe he's going down to 7.90€ soon like Mr Skywalker before him. Mine from TungHori came without the bowcaster.


It was a HUGE surprise to see the Deluxe Boba Fett on pegs! So The Book of Boba Fett is out now and we ACTUALLY have some merch to go with the show on shelves only half a year later?
Insanity Hasbro! You make some progress, you're getting there...BUT it feels like a ripoff at 36.99€ for just two helmets extra compared to 26.99€ for a 6" Black Series figure...




My next surprise was Mr Dengar! The Archive wave with Revan and 501st Trooper haven't been seen anywhere at Smyths - online it says: only available in store. Hopefully Hasbro will ship more and send them in solid cases like they did with the Tusken & Death Trooper Archive wave.


The photoreal update looks awesome on him! Online it says there are 4 units here in Dresden, but there were only 2 on pegs...


Some new Jurassic World stuff arrived - colossal dinosaurs and Wrestling figures on clearance for 5€!

[Tamer]

I went to a Target on Friday and they didn't even have a fraction of what you showed here. Wow, such great stuff on the pegs. I would have gotten that Dengar for sure!

[Darth More]

I think this shows how big the gap actually is that Toys R Us actually left. We probably cannot expect Walmart or TARGET to replace what we lost with TRU. SmythsToys is specialized on toys and I'm glad that this Irish chain bought Toys R Us stores in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Their assortment is as big as TRU's and their shelf space is even higher! Impressive way to showcase their products for sure - every time it's an event for me to go there.

[Darth More]

Store report: Müller


Dresden, Germany

Tue, May 31, 2022


Müller is a chain of drug stores similar to Walgreens. It has two competitors here in Germany: ROSSMANN and dm of which only some of ROSSMANN's stores sell toys as well. For example they sold that Ewok 5 Pack of the Movie Heroes line back in 2012 shortly after The Vintage Collection was put on hiatus.

So Müller took that niche and offer a huge selection of toys and even model kits and model trains for adults!
This store here in Dresden is the most impressive one I know in Germany with 3 floors of wonderful stuff to buy.
Take a look yourself:



Some LEGO promo bags. That sure is a smart strategy to tease some potential new customers for 3.99€...


Jurassic World






This set hasn't even been added to their online store, yet! So nice to fianlly see a true 1/18 scale Velociraptor by MATTEL.





STAR WARS

...has disapeared from shelves here...has it?

You can buy a Razor Crest as low as 30€ here...the Millenium Falcon is even cheaper! 29€. That MISSION FLEET line sure did perform well...



But there's more!

The Black Series 4x Kuiil was on "clearance" for 20€.

To my surprise they not only had some of the latest TVC wave, but also the Mandalorian wave of The RETRO Collection!



It's nice to see that even figures that passed quality control look worse than some of the samples that TungHori sends.


Model Kits





model trains






Schleich

Another beautiful display at Müller.


MARVEL


Minecraft & Fornite



Great to see some 1/18 and 1/12 scale motorcycles by Maisto...they got some Harleys!


T€DI


HotWheels are only 1€ at this dollar store. Müller currently sells them for 1.99€.

[Tamer]

I think I would just walk around in rapt amazement if I had stores like you do Philipp. Wow!

Thanks for such great detail too. Man, what a great time to be a Jurassic World collector.

[Darth More]

Come and visit, you're always welcome, Tamer! I'm glad that you enjoy my store reports. This Müller store sure is one of their flagships.
I agree, just found more awesome Jurassic World stuff this morning...

[Darth More]

Store report: Smyths Toys Super Stores


Düsseldorf, Germany

Tue, Jun 7, 2022





STAR WARS



The STAR WARS section has shrunken by quite some pegs here. At least this store received a solid case of TVC Ahsoka Tano figures to company Kuiil.


Jurassic World

Lots of shelf space for this toy line - a good sign!






TRANSFORMERS, Batman, MARVEL & MOTU




Harry Potter, WWE & Pokémon

I didn't even noticed that pile of TVC cards on the floor when I was in store. There's the rest of the solid case of Ahsokas and if I had seen them, I would've picked them up for sure. This excellent figure doesn't deserve to lie on the floor along with some Funko POP!s.




Looking at this feels like being back in the early 2000's - Pokémon is bigger than ever. If only the trading cards were as good as they used to be back in the days...

HotWheels




SALE



Damaged items on clearance here. Got some nice 1/12 and 1/16 scale vehicles, but left the store without buying anything.

[Tamer]

Another great report. Wish I had some brick and mortar stores that had some actual new figures in them. Counting on getting good stuff in the mail is frustrating.

[Darth More]

I feel ya! And if we didn't have SmythsToys here in Germany, the landscape for collectors would be much darker. I'm glad SmythsToys bought the Toys "R" Us stores here. Without them, there would only be a few comic shops in some cities across the country.
It seems the market has shifted more and more to online only availability...
Expect the next store report tomorrow!

[Darth More]

Store report: Smyths Toys Super Stores


Dresden, Germany

Sat, June 11, 2022


STAR WARS





The cards of these Vintage Collection figures on pegs were in very good condition!

This store had six 501st Legion Clone Troopers last week. Apparanttly the flew right off the pegs, again.


Also a couple Bobas sold!



The good news is: STAR WARS figures get more pegs again!


Jurassic World








Brand new stuff on shelves here!




other Action Toys

[Darth More]

Store report: GameStop


Dresden, Germany

Sat, June 11, 2022

My brother wanted to go to Game Stop and we had a blast there! Not only did I find some Star Wars merch, but we also got a great deal on some PS5 games. My brother really is into Basketball and they had the latest NBA 22 game used for 29.99€. At check out the employee told me that they had a special offer on games with a blue sticker: Get 1 and the second game 80% off!
So we got NBA'22, Rainbow Six & Battlefield 2042 (19.99€) for 54.99€. That was the original price of Battlefield alone! All 3 games should be used, but the employee put a cherry on that pie by handing us out 3 new games. It was an absolute gratitude of a gesture and both of us went back to the car cheering. What a trip to Game Stop and what a great time with my brother. Never made such good memories at a Game Stop. Stop by at one near you!

[Tamer]

It must feel nice to see stuff on the pegs and feel like you don't have to get every new pre-order Hasbro announces. Nice stuff.

[Darth More]

Store report: Smyths Toys Super Stores


Neuss, Germany

Fri, Jun , 17 2022


Here's a short update on what's on shelves in the West of Germany at the moment. Looks like SmythsToys receive more TVC, again. I like that development! Special thanks to Florian for sending me the pictures!