Just came back from seeing the New Walmart Toy Dept Reset...
and my fears have come true, more than half of the action figure and construstion building set space is gone. In it's place...model kits, additional educational toys, scooters, and inline skates (?). I had hoped that with so many items still left in the toy dept last week that they will kept some of the space over the new dept layout..but no. So between the Red Plucker Army at Target and the jacked up prices at TRU, only left with pre-ordering a lot more stuff online.
All of my walmarts are the same way. There's SIX CLEARANCE AISLES full of toys, even new figures like Halo 4 and Marvel legends series 2 clearanced out. The action figure aisle is down to HALF of a normal aisle. When I asked the regional guy who was putting up the layout sheets he said they were taking two rows from toys and giving it to video games for more 'demo stations'. Not sure how many toy aisles are right next to electronics but they already took down one of the giant aisle divider racks and polished the floor underneath getting read to expand out electronics.
I am hoping that near christmas, the action figures will come back, I know its sad that my local target is totally better than walmart
Avian
Went to one of the two local Walmarts tonight and didn't notice much difference. The boy's section was moved from one side of the department to the other, but it's still the same size as ever. They did finally dump all of the old stuff from the clearance toy aisle which was nice to see, though they've already filled up three rows with new clearance (like Thundercats, Transformers:DOTM, some Marvel and DC stuff, and the brand new G.I.Joe Retaliation stuff). They put the Razor Scooters over in the empty clearance aisles while the new model kit section is taking up part of the preschool section. Most of the empty space in the action figure section left from the new clearance stuff is being taken up by a rather large section for Ninja Turtles stuff.
Emerje
MyFigureCollection.net - Most of my Japanese figures
Associate Editor for Tomopop.com
The biggest change at my Walmarts were MLs being replaced by 6" Avengers.
I'm wondering if ML will come back later this year. Last year MU was clearanced then brought back at full price.
Went to one of the two local Walmarts tonight and didn't notice much difference. The boy's section was moved from one side of the department to the other, but it's still the same size as ever.
I went to the local Wal-Mart where I'm at just now and mine's exactly like yours: action figures are on the other side of the department, but the action figure isle's still the same size.
Scored a second set of TMNT figures (got the last Don and Mikey) there for $7.77 each, so I'm pretty content at the moment.
Unless I spot the new Sandtrooper at retail, though (which I'm not actively lookin' for - if I find one, great, and if I don't, I don't really care), that'll very likely be my last toy purchase 'til MP Soundwave in December. Ah well, at least I'm saving money. =)