Distribution in the United States

[Time Lord Will]

Ladies and Gents, I live across the pond from most of you, in Sunny Southern California, and while there are fantastic beaches and mountains, celebrities and hangers on, nightlife and culture, we have a distinct lack of being able to buy Character Building products at retail. Sure I can buy the $2 "Tesco Repacks" all day long at Target, and believe me I've done my share (just picked up my 10th pack) to support the line. BUT I have YET to see any of the box sets or the foil packs from Doctor Who at a brick and mortar retailer.

I had to purchase my Tardis set from Langton UK - delivered cost me about $20 (about 12 pounds, I can't make that symbol I'm a stupid yank).
I bought 6 foil Series 1 packs from WHONA at a very reasonable cost of $4 each (after shipping). (about 2.5 pounds).

Wait, when I look at those prices suddenly I don't feel like complaining as much.

EXCEPT that the other sets are really more expensive and harder to find. I've NEVER seen any of the HM Royal Forces stuff, nor do I expect to see the Deadly 60, and despite those NOT being directly WHO related, I want them anyway, Customs you know. And who doesn't want at least ONE shark from the Deadly 60 series?

I know for a fact that CB is trying to distribute these in the States, I've seen COMMERCIALS for them on Telly! What I'd really love to see is that my local Target or Toys R Us stocking them. I know it's a dream, but a boy has got to dream right.

So my question to you all, and you especially MrFusion, who seem to be immensely helpful and wise, will my dreams ever come true or should I just start saving my US Greenbacks to order CB product from the UK.

I mean I'm really keen on that 20 figure set from Tesco, but I can't seem to find one at a reasonable cost that will ship to Los Angeles.

[davros5comesback]

I think Ebay is your friend ATM.

[KarenGillanFan]

Are there no Toys 'R' Us stores in CA?

[Time Lord Will]

Oh there are PLENTY of TRUs - there are 2 within a short driving distance from me, however they do not carry ANY Doctor Who toys at all. Once a couple of years ago they had one or two of the 5" exclusives, but nothing major and nothing like a CB line.

You forget, Doctor Who is more of a niche fan thing over here, despite the great ratings.

[KarenGillanFan]

I haven't forgotten anything.

Maybe the demand for store stocking isn't high enough for customer retail. Try asking them, and they may get them in.

[Time Lord Will]

Nah, asking at the store level is pointless. The employees working there know next to nothing about the distribution chain, they're so low-level it's not even funny. I tend to know more about the toys then they even do. It's sad really.

[KarenGillanFan]

Nah, asking at the store level is pointless. The employees working there know next to nothing about the distribution chain, they're so low-level it's not even funny. I tend to know more about the toys then they even do. It's sad really.

It's not pointless. By asking them, they can request retailers and figure production companies whether they can stock them or not. If they can, good, if they can't, then tough-titty. The employees who work in the stores need not know anything about the distribution chain because they do not need to. If they did; it would make their jobs a lot more complicated, but as they don't, they can ASK a higher authority as to whether the store can stock them.

Staff cannot be branded as 'low-level' because they do not know anything about the figures. All they are there for is to put things through the till and to help customers who may need it in the store; not to be told they're 'low-level' because they don't know a thing about the figures of a certain toy range.

[van Statten]

Doctor who/ Character Options items are available at all specialty shops nationwide. Check the diamondcomics.com website. They are the leading distributor of comic books and specialty items nation wide. Their website has a listing of all comic book & specialty stores in the United States. You can start there... I know WHONA carries the HM Armed Forces and will probably carry the Animal sets as well.

Sadly there are no plans for any known major retailers to carry CB items in the United States. Lego and Mega Blocks just monopolize too much shelf space in stores and Lego has been known to block all competitive building block lines when able.

But unless Doctor Who and CB can find a larger backing of distribution in the United States you won't find them in stores. Not since underground Toys made a mockery of Toys-R-Us' attempt to carry Doctor Who toys and the Cave of Androzini 6th Doctor exclusive was handled like a joke...

SDCC is also a great place to pick them up cheap! They were giving away the CB sets last year just about!

No, he is right, it is pointless to ask at a store level. A store can only stock what is bought by the company and requests for new merchandise from store level will just be ignored by anyone higher or lost in the shuffle.

[Time Lord Will]

Yeah, I totally understand. Lego and Mega are pretty tough competition. It takes someone like Hasbro to have the cojones to try and squeeze a way in.

I'll have to start using WhoNA more I guess. They are a great source.

[van Statten]

Hey it's not impossible, I'm an American too.. I own just about everything Character Options has manufactured and without breaking my bank!