A Store Report From South Africa!

I don't think we have received a store report from Sout Africa until today, but JTA reader Richard S. sends us a report of what can be found there. Talk about a hodgepodge of merchandise! Then again, does it really look different than US stores? You decide.

Hi

Greetings from South Africa.

Really exciting to finally see 2013 Hasbro toys here in South Africa.

The situation here has been dire, with our local Toys R Us stores closing out their Star Wars section even.

So I was really excited and surprised to see an independent toy store in my city of Durban on the East Coast of South Africa in the kwaZulu-Natal province, stocking 2013 released Hasbro stock (Yoda, 3D Darth Vader). However no Black Series as yet.

Refer to attached photos.

Photos taken at independent toy store - Toyzone:
http://www.toyzone.co.za/

Google Maps location:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=No.+1+Sunset+Cres,+Umhlanga+Ridge,+KwaZulu-Natal,+South+Africa&hl=en&ll=-29.787025,31.04393&spn=0.33789,0.676346&sll=-29.724704,31.061665&sspn=0.005283,0.010568&t=h&hnear=1+Sunset+Crescent,+Umhlanga+Ridge,+Umhlanga,+Durban+Metro,+KwaZulu-Natal+4319,+South+Africa&z=11

and if you zoom out a bit, the context of where on the African continent I am:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=No.+1+Sunset+Cres,+Umhlanga+Ridge,+KwaZulu-Natal,+South+Africa&hl=en&ll=-16.972741,25.576172&spn=46.465075,86.572266&sll=-29.724704,31.061665&sspn=0.005283,0.010568&t=h&hnear=1+Sunset+Crescent,+Umhlanga+Ridge,+Umhlanga,+Durban+Metro,+KwaZulu-Natal+4319,+South+Africa&z=4

The local Toys R Us stores have cleared out the old stock and are not restocking, ie no Star Wars merchandise available at all. Very sad to see the shelf area diminish and disappear over the last few years.

It was a great concern that that would happen at our independent toy stores also, so it is very encouraging to see that they are stocking new series :-)

The only other independent store is still overstocked with TVC and TCW figures and hasn't stock of any 2013 releases.
http://bobbleheadssa.co.za/catalog.php?categ_id=16&page=7

It is also very difficult to find Class I and II vehicles here in South Africa, I was lucky enough to pick up TVC Snow Speeder, Y-Wing and Imperial Tie Fighter at a Toys R Us 50% off sale last year, when the purge began.

Thanks for such a great forum and site for all things SW.

MTFBWY

Regards
Richard Smith

Durban, kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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