Toon Zone Talkback - Bandai Entertainment Titles to Return to Best Buy?

**Speedy Boris** · #1 06-30-2009, 11:58 AM

This is the talkback thread for Bandai Entertainment Titles to Return to Best Buy?.

Interesting. Hopefully this action will get some of Bandai's recent offerings into stores.

**purplehairedwonder** · #2 06-30-2009, 12:48 PM

I swear I saw Code Geass part 3 in my Best Buy last time I was there. I remember being surprised it was there since the anime selection had been downsized so much.

**Karl Olson** · #3 06-30-2009, 12:53 PM

Well, if it happens it'll be helped by the fact that I doubt Bandai will ever punish regular retailers with giant, space eating boxes for single volumes ever again. LE's need to be online/specialty-retailer only at this point.

**GWOtaku** · #4 06-30-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplehairedwonder

I swear I saw Code Geass part 3 in my Best Buy last time I was there. I remember being surprised it was there since the anime selection had been downsized so much.

Geass might be the exception to the rule, or at least to a limited extent. I've seen part 1 and 2 before. But BEI needs their general catalog out there, so hopefully this will help them out with that.

**Speedy Boris** · #5 06-30-2009, 01:03 PM

Parts 1 and 2 of Code Geass are still readily available in Best Buy. But I have not seen Part 3 anywhere, and I've checked a good four BBs around me. I didn't even see it at FYE!

**GWOtaku** · #6 06-30-2009, 01:16 PM

That's how it is for my store too. Back when Best Buy was changing how they sold anime, I seem to recall that there were 2-3 tiers of stores. Top tier remained very well stocked, tier 2 dropped some titles and kept others, and tier 3 put everything on sale and basically got rid of anime. Many of the decent sized stores seemed to end up in tier 2. Mine got rid of some random titles while restocking others, such as the Princess Tutu rerelease and Saint Seiya boxes. But not Code Geass part 3. More space got taken by Funi and ADV instead.

So, here's hoping. They obviously want Gundam to sell like Geass, but good luck doing that if it's not on anybody's shelf.

DBZALLSTAR · #7 06-30-2009, 01:20 PM

We received Code Geass Part Three about one month ago, and it was released for sale on Tuesday, June 3rd. Concerning other Bandai titles that we had previously not received, partially due to actual delays caused by Bandai: we were able to receive and begin selling the two Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Anime Legends Collections on Tuesday, June 9th, and they have been selling quite well. I am currently trying to reactivate the SKU for the two Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Anime Legends Collections for those who have yet to purchase them and would prefer to buy them before buying the Gundam Seed Destiny sets. On June 16th, the first of two Eureka 7 Anime Legends Collections was released, and we are currently selling that. I am also trying to get the Wolfs Rain Anime Legend Complete Collection set into the store. I believe that even if something doesn't sell, it is a waste of potential to not at least try to sell it.

We have yet to receive titles from other anime distributors, including FUNimation, odd since we carry of have carried a large majority of the titles released by FUNi. Titles from FUNi we yet to receive include the complete series collections for Gad Guard, Kanon, Karin, Shattered Angels, STRAIN, and Glass Fleet, to name a few, as well as the first season set of Hell Girl. Again, we cannot expect to sell the items unless wee first make the effort to carry them in our stores. I mention these titles because I have actually had customers ask about them. I have a large gathering of anime fans who come into my store and request them.

Bottom line: with the potential to receive Bandai titles that were previously not available at retail level, I am hoping that we will find a renewal in interest from corporate to receive at least one copy of the other titles out there.

Urusei Yatsura · #8 06-30-2009, 03:26 PM

I've been to three Best Buys and each one of them had Code Geass Part 3. And extras too... R2 is set for early August... I hope Best Buy will carry it then... :P And once I get enough money I wanna buy Gurren Lagann too.

FUNiOP · #9 06-30-2009, 08:12 PM

As I buy most of my anime from Right Stuf, I wouldn't know about Best Buy not having certain anime, but for the people who buy their anime from Best Buy or just don't know about certain anime enough to seek it out online, it's good to know that these fine anime are in these stores, so more people will see them than if they weren't.

garfield15 · #10 06-30-2009, 08:34 PM

So wait, was there a chance that Gundam 00 would be there?

defunctzombie · #11 06-30-2009, 09:29 PM

It's weird, my BB was on the bottom level, in "get rid of it" mode, and the last time I was there a week or so ago their anime section was just as big as it used to be.

Sketch · #12 06-30-2009, 09:36 PM

Hopefully this means I can finally get Gurren Lagann dub set 3.

**Karl Olson** · #13 06-30-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by defunctzombie

It's weird, my BB was on the bottom level, in "get rid of it" mode, and the last time I was there a week or so ago their anime section was just as big as it used to be.

I wonder if they had second thoughts on all that because the choice was liquidate at close to regular price via there own shelves or lose money selling out back stock to companies like Big Lots. I've seen them monkey around with the location of their anime stuff (as a lot retailers have been with their anime/manga stuff lately,) but not with their selection really, outside of a freeze on Bandai stuff (which was probably the direct result of too many HUGE LEs.)

DBZALLSTAR · #14 07-01-2009, 03:15 AM

More than likely, we will be carrying Mobile Suit Gundam 00. We have a little over a month to see, since it was moved from 6/16/09 to 8/04/09. If there are any changes, I shall report them here.

garfield15 · #15 07-01-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBZALLSTAR

More than likely, we will be carrying Mobile Suit Gundam 00. We have a little over a month to see, since it was moved from 6/16/09 to 8/04/09. If there are any changes, I shall report them here.

Thanks a lot for the info.

NewcomerDC · #16 07-01-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Olson

I wonder if they had second thoughts on all that because the choice was liquidate at close to regular price via there own shelves or lose money selling out back stock to companies like Big Lots.

Well the Big Lots I've been had a few single discs but most of the anime had been replaced with movies that were released on DVD a year/two years ago.

**HellCat** · #17 07-01-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBZALLSTAR

More than likely, we will be carrying Mobile Suit Gundam 00. We have a little over a month to see, since it was moved from 6/16/09 to 8/04/09. If there are any changes, I shall report them here.

Are you sure about that? Far as I'm aware, the August release is volume 2. Volume 1 was pushed back twice (first to June and then July) but various reports say most retailers are in fact receiving copies and shipping them.

DBZALLSTAR · #18 07-01-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HellCat

Are you sure about that? Far as I'm aware, the August release is volume 2. Volume 1 was pushed back twice (first to June and then July) but various reports say most retailers are in fact receiving copies and shipping them.

I thought the same thing. I found the August 4th date in our inventory system last week. It could be that we're getting both volume one and volume two on the same day for release. That's what happened with both volumes of the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Anime Legends collections. If we do get the set in earlier, I will post the news here. The sooner, the better. I have had a lot of customers ask for it.

**Karl Olson** · #19 07-02-2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewcomerDC

Well the Big Lots I've been had a few single discs but most of the anime had been replaced with movies that were released on DVD a year/two years ago.

Anime still turns up pretty regularly though on the discount store shelves though. I snagged the first season boxset of InuYasha for 5 bucks from a dollar in Canada last month.

DBZALLSTAR · #20 07-07-2009, 06:28 PM

For some reason, our inventory system now places the release date for the regular version of Gundam 00 Part One on July 21st and keeps August 4th as the release date for the Limited Edition. Part Two has been delayed and has now been switched to deleted status, more than likely to be changed back to active status upon Best Buy's realization of the new date.