Asking a store to get in certain ponies?

[Cherry_Sunset]

I saw something mentioning this in a forum about Star Dreams, but I don't believe that anyone answered my question, but I'd just like to know in general. When there's an existing pony toy that you want but the store doesn't have and you ask them about it, how do you go about it? Should you bring them a picture of the toy you want and/or a code, or should you just describe it to them? Have any of you asked them about a toy and gotten results? It's just, I really don't want to waste their time by not knowing what I'm doing, after all, it's the holiday season and they're too busy to dilly-dally around! 

[Bounty Trotter]

It'll really depend on the store. During the holidays, your chances are both higher and lower. Stock moves much faster, so you may find a manager willing to put an order in for a case if you can convince them it'll sell. Then again, as busy as it is, they may not have time to cater to such a request.

Typically if what you are looking for is part of an assortment, that kind of stuff is on auto order and whatever the warehouse has is what is shipped. So say you wanted a Diamond Rose, they probably couldn't order that specific case. But if that is the current assortment shipping to stores, if you ask nicely and be polite, they may just order an extra case and give you a call when it comes in. I've gotten to know employees at Target and of all places the Star Trader in Disneyland (I collect Star Wars figures too), and if I ask nicely they would check in the back to see if they had anything. As long as they know you're not a toy scalper and you're polite, you can usually fine someplace that'll help you out.

Good luck in your endeavor!

[hathorcat]

"Yes" in theory that is how it should work but unfortunately for many lines it doesn't work this way - this is particularly the truth for lines which are sold to retailers in assortments and with rolling lines such as MLP.

The key thing to remember is that for retailers and Hasbro, toys of the same "type" [and by "type" we mean "playful singles" are one type, "story packs" are one type, "fashion style" are one type, "blind bags" are one type, etc] are all the same product. For example we have had 6 waves of blind bag ponies, but they are actually all the same type and all the same item, all the same product code to Hasbro, the distribution centres and the retailers.

Therefore, while you can approach and ask a retailer - give them the product code for Star Dreams set - this is the same "type" of item as all the previous story waves, such as Dash's camping set or the sweetie boutique - so you may end up simply getting one of these items as to Hasbro and the retailer they are the same item. Its subject to what the distribution centre has in stock and is shipping [for large retailers] or what wave Hasbro is supplying [for smaller retailers].