Missed Opportunity

ZedsDead · 08-16-2016, 09:19 PM

Hi guys! I'm new here and this is my first posting but I've been lurking on these forums for years. I have a TMNT toy story I want to share with you guys and if you don't believe me, it's totally cool cuz if I was you, I wouldn't believe me either.

It was around 2002 or 2003 and I had stopped at my local Big Lots. I don't remember what initially brought me in but while I was walking around, I see this display. It's about up to my chest and very long and it's a peg board filled about 4-5 figures deep about 5 high of TMNT figures. Tons of figures. I look and walk away. A few minutes later I come back cuz it was so cool to see these again. I grew up with them and love TMNT but kind of gave it up at that time in my life. My father tossed my old toys shortly after moving out so I had little to no TMNT stuff left from childhood. So I start browsing through to see what's here. I think to myself "It's so cool they reissued these". I couldn't tell you everything that was there but I ended up buying the four original Turtles (hard heads) and Casey Jones. The cards, everything looked just like the original ones. I went home and put them in a closet and there they sat for the next few years.
Sometime later I get the wonderful idea to open and display these and I do. Once I start really inspecting these they seem legit. Like they're the real thing, not reissues. The markings on them say "c1988 Mirage Studios Playmates Toys China".
I didn't know "old new stock" was a thing at this time. I passed on dozens of original TMNT figures. Carded. Cheap. If I had been using my brain I would of maxed out my credit card and came back with a truck. I still have the five figures I bought that day sitting with other TMNT figures I've since bought off eBay and local flea markets. When I really think about this I get slightly nauseated at this missed opportunity.

So my question to you guys is has anyone here ever encountered something like this? Am I wrong in thinking these are legitimate figures from back in the day? I know Big Lots gets weird stuff from time to time. Was it possible that these sat in a warehouse for 15 years just waiting for me to find them at a Big Lots AND PASS ON THEM? I've debated on telling this story here for years because it's such a sore spot for me. Either way thanks for reading this long post and thanks in advance for any responses!

EddieNES · 08-16-2016, 09:36 PM

I started collecting turtles around the time I found out I was having a son. Years before that, I was at a garage sale with the wife and found a book bag STUFFED full of the original turtle line. They were loose, but I'd say there were easily 40+ figures in it.

The guy was asking $60 and this was before my current job and money was tight, so I walked.

I still think about that book bag.

*MrPliggins* · 08-17-2016, 12:11 AM

I remember walking into an old Hills store in 1997. I walked over to the toy aisles and, to my surprise, there was a rack full of old TMNT figures circa 1991, mint on card. These were on the original card with the brick wall. I bought a Donatello with Storage Shell and guessed that they just unearthed an old case sitting in the back for 6 years.

*Powder* · 08-17-2016, 12:17 AM

I saw an MOC Vam Mi in a Rite Aid around 2005 or 6 for super cheap, regret not picking it up.

*go_ninja84* · 08-17-2016, 02:22 AM

there have been a few time Playmates re-issued the original line in 92 was the first time as a 4 pack Target exclusive. then i believe in 1998 they re-released single carded figures (which may be what you saw) they did not have the original cards though. the front of the cards featured all 4 turtles on each corner of the card with a sewer background. the card backs were the same as the original i believe. it might help if you still had the original cards to snap a pic of them. then in 2009 they released them again for the 25th anniversary along with the Party Wagons first re-issue. then in 2013 they did it again for the Classic Collection which i believe is still going releasing other figures that have not been released since their debut. i remember going into KB Toy store and finding the original turtles when i was 15, i begged my dad to buy them, he did but made me pay him back and held onto them until my debt was paid off. he wanted me to learn to budget myself lol

*snake* · 08-17-2016, 02:29 AM

Aw man. That's the worst. Reminds me of seeing all the Vintage Collection Star Wars figures for $8.99 retail EVERYWHERE and missing out on most of them. Even the cheapest ones go for $25+ now.

Love the username too

Who's Zed?
Zed's dead, baby

thundermaster612 · 08-17-2016, 06:07 AM

Back in 2003 I was at a thrift store in Canada (because I lived there at the time) and there was a 2003 Donatello next to a probably 1999 Reissue Donatello, I got none of them

*Powder* · 08-17-2016, 06:21 AM

Eh? You would've been like 2 years old at the time. & why would a then brand spanking new Donnie be in a thrift store?

*ToTheNines* · 08-17-2016, 06:35 AM

I always really wanted an FF Dark Leo, held one in my hand in a walmart but decided I didn't need it. Now they're expensive as all hell.

Worst one was when I saw one of these on ebay:

Spoiler:

Catch was, the seller didn't give it the exact right name in the listing and put it in the baby books category instead of comics section. So I messaged him to ask if it was what I thought it was, but it ended before he responded and it sold for like 3.75 and free shipping

*go_ninja84* · 08-17-2016, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thundermaster612

Back in 2003 I was at a thrift store in Canada (because I lived there at the time) and there was a 2003 Donatello next to a probably 1999 Reissue Donatello, I got none of them

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

Eh? You would've been like 2 years old at the time. & why would a then brand spanking new Donnie be in a thrift store?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A

*ProactiveMan* · 08-17-2016, 07:59 AM

I saw an awesome framed Mirage Turtles poster at a flee market when I was a teenager, but it would have cleaned me out for the day, so I went looking for video games. When I came to my senses and went back it was gone.

ZedsDead · 08-17-2016, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_ninja84

there have been a few time Playmates re-issued the original line in 92 was the first time as a 4 pack Target exclusive. then i believe in 1998 they re-released single carded figures (which may be what you saw) they did not have the original cards though. the front of the cards featured all 4 turtles on each corner of the card with a sewer background. the card backs were the same as the original i believe. it might help if you still had the original cards to snap a pic of them. then in 2009 they released them again for the 25th anniversary along with the Party Wagons first re-issue. then in 2013 they did it again for the Classic Collection which i believe is still going releasing other figures that have not been released since their debut. i remember going into KB Toy store and finding the original turtles when i was 15, i begged my dad to buy them, he did but made me pay him back and held onto them until my debt was paid off. he wanted me to learn to budget myself lol

I wish I still had the cards, I must of tossed them or lost them in one of my many moves. From what I remember they were the same as the ones from back in the day.

ZedsDead · 08-17-2016, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake

Aw man. That's the worst. Reminds me of seeing all the Vintage Collection Star Wars figures for $8.99 retail EVERYWHERE and missing out on most of them. Even the cheapest ones go for $25+ now.

Love the username too

Who's Zed?
Zed's dead, baby

Oh man that hurts. I hate when I don't pick something up cuz it's everywhere, wait too long and it's going for mega bucks on eBay.

Lol thanks man.

ZedsDead · 08-17-2016, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPliggins

I remember walking into an old Hills store in 1997. I walked over to the toy aisles and, to my surprise, there was a rack full of old TMNT figures circa 1991, mint on card. These were on the original card with the brick wall. I bought a Donatello with Storage Shell and guessed that they just unearthed an old case sitting in the back for 6 years.

Not dissimilar from my experience. I guess I should be happy I got those five for next to nothing but I guess I'm a glass half empty kinda guy lol

*tmntman* · 08-17-2016, 07:59 PM

I've dealt with a few cases like that, but not really TMNT related. There used to be a lot of hardware and farm supply stores in this area. As many of those stores stopped carrying toys, they held on to a fair amount of old stock. So throughout the 90's and even into 2000's I could go into a lot of these stores and find old toys still on the shelf for the original retail. It was rarely anything too great. But I did get a few old TMNT vehicles from one hardware store as well as one of the large plush Turtles.

*CyberCubed* · 08-17-2016, 08:38 PM

I had nearly the complete run of the 2k3 line besides some TMNT variants.

Then I sold the whole thing 3-4 years ago.

T-U-R-T-L-E POWA! · 08-17-2016, 10:50 PM

Not exactly TMNT but I also collect Masters of the Universe and an Eternia Playset is my dream piece. I actually had EVERYthing MOTU back in the day but never that but I have heard people talk about how they used to see TONS of them on the shelves because TMNT was beginning around this time and took the market from He-Man. Also something that kills me is that my mom gave away my original Thundertank and now those things are worth quite a bit even loose. Ahhh the joys of being a collector. LOL!

thundermaster612 · 08-18-2016, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

Eh? You would've been like 2 years old at the time. & why would a then brand spanking new Donnie be in a thrift store?

I have no idea, even today I still see new things in thrift stores. Like a 2012 Master Splinter.
(Also you seem to have remembered that I'm 15)

*tmntman* · 08-18-2016, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thundermaster612

I have no idea, even today I still see new things in thrift stores. Like a 2012 Master Splinter.
(Also you seem to have remembered that I'm 15)

Depending on the area, some stores have programs to donate old/discontinued stock to local thrift stores for a tax write off.

*Powder* · 08-18-2016, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thundermaster612

(Also you seem to have remembered that I'm 15)

Yeah, well assuming you really are, that would make your 'missed opportunity' a lie...

08-16-2016, 09:19 PM	#1
ZedsDead Random Punk Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: NY Posts: 48	Missed Opportunity Hi guys! I'm new here and this is my first posting but I've been lurking on these forums for years. I have a TMNT toy story I want to share with you guys and if you don't believe me, it's totally cool cuz if I was you, I wouldn't believe me either. It was around 2002 or 2003 and I had stopped at my local Big Lots. I don't remember what initially brought me in but while I was walking around, I see this display. It's about up to my chest and very long and it's a peg board filled about 4-5 figures deep about 5 high of TMNT figures. Tons of figures. I look and walk away. A few minutes later I come back cuz it was so cool to see these again. I grew up with them and love TMNT but kind of gave it up at that time in my life. My father tossed my old toys shortly after moving out so I had little to no TMNT stuff left from childhood. So I start browsing through to see what's here. I think to myself "It's so cool they reissued these". I couldn't tell you everything that was there but I ended up buying the four original Turtles (hard heads) and Casey Jones. The cards, everything looked just like the original ones. I went home and put them in a closet and there they sat for the next few years. Sometime later I get the wonderful idea to open and display these and I do. Once I start really inspecting these they seem legit. Like they're the real thing, not reissues. The markings on them say "c1988 Mirage Studios Playmates Toys China". I didn't know "old new stock" was a thing at this time. I passed on dozens of original TMNT figures. Carded. Cheap. If I had been using my brain I would of maxed out my credit card and came back with a truck. I still have the five figures I bought that day sitting with other TMNT figures I've since bought off eBay and local flea markets. When I really think about this I get slightly nauseated at this missed opportunity. So my question to you guys is has anyone here ever encountered something like this? Am I wrong in thinking these are legitimate figures from back in the day? I know Big Lots gets weird stuff from time to time. Was it possible that these sat in a warehouse for 15 years just waiting for me to find them at a Big Lots AND PASS ON THEM? I've debated on telling this story here for years because it's such a sore spot for me. Either way thanks for reading this long post and thanks in advance for any responses!

08-16-2016, 09:36 PM	#2
EddieNES Stone Warrior Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 957	I started collecting turtles around the time I found out I was having a son. Years before that, I was at a garage sale with the wife and found a book bag STUFFED full of the original turtle line. They were loose, but I'd say there were easily 40+ figures in it. The guy was asking $60 and this was before my current job and money was tight, so I walked. I still think about that book bag. __________________ TMNT Script https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kUi...w?usp=drivesdk Fortnite Maps https://fortnite.gg/creator?name=eddienes

08-17-2016, 06:07 AM	#7
thundermaster612 Mad Scientist Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Ninjago City Posts: 1,214	Back in 2003 I was at a thrift store in Canada (because I lived there at the time) and there was a 2003 Donatello next to a probably 1999 Reissue Donatello, I got none of them __________________

08-17-2016, 07:59 AM	#11
ProactiveMan Spooky ghost Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Western Australia Posts: 2,266	I saw an awesome framed Mirage Turtles poster at a flee market when I was a teenager, but it would have cleaned me out for the day, so I went looking for video games. When I came to my senses and went back it was gone. __________________ ProactiveMan!

08-17-2016, 07:59 PM	#15
tmntman Mad Scientist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,444	I've dealt with a few cases like that, but not really TMNT related. There used to be a lot of hardware and farm supply stores in this area. As many of those stores stopped carrying toys, they held on to a fair amount of old stock. So throughout the 90's and even into 2000's I could go into a lot of these stores and find old toys still on the shelf for the original retail. It was rarely anything too great. But I did get a few old TMNT vehicles from one hardware store as well as one of the large plush Turtles. __________________ Check out my site at http://www.tmnttoys.com/ or follow me on Twitter, @TMNTtoys

08-17-2016, 12:11 AM	#3
MrPliggins Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,051	I remember walking into an old Hills store in 1997. I walked over to the toy aisles and, to my surprise, there was a rack full of old TMNT figures circa 1991, mint on card. These were on the original card with the brick wall. I bought a Donatello with Storage Shell and guessed that they just unearthed an old case sitting in the back for 6 years.

08-17-2016, 12:17 AM	#4
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,955	I saw an MOC Vam Mi in a Rite Aid around 2005 or 6 for super cheap, regret not picking it up.

08-17-2016, 02:22 AM	#5
go_ninja84 Mad Scientist Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: st. clair MI Posts: 2,242	there have been a few time Playmates re-issued the original line in 92 was the first time as a 4 pack Target exclusive. then i believe in 1998 they re-released single carded figures (which may be what you saw) they did not have the original cards though. the front of the cards featured all 4 turtles on each corner of the card with a sewer background. the card backs were the same as the original i believe. it might help if you still had the original cards to snap a pic of them. then in 2009 they released them again for the 25th anniversary along with the Party Wagons first re-issue. then in 2013 they did it again for the Classic Collection which i believe is still going releasing other figures that have not been released since their debut. i remember going into KB Toy store and finding the original turtles when i was 15, i begged my dad to buy them, he did but made me pay him back and held onto them until my debt was paid off. he wanted me to learn to budget myself lol

08-17-2016, 02:29 AM	#6
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,231	Aw man. That's the worst. Reminds me of seeing all the Vintage Collection Star Wars figures for $8.99 retail EVERYWHERE and missing out on most of them. Even the cheapest ones go for $25+ now. Love the username too Who's Zed? Zed's dead, baby

08-17-2016, 06:21 AM	#8
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,955	Eh? You would've been like 2 years old at the time. & why would a then brand spanking new Donnie be in a thrift store?

08-17-2016, 06:35 AM	#9
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,358	I always really wanted an FF Dark Leo, held one in my hand in a walmart but decided I didn't need it. Now they're expensive as all hell. Worst one was when I saw one of these on ebay: Spoiler: Catch was, the seller didn't give it the exact right name in the listing and put it in the baby books category instead of comics section. So I messaged him to ask if it was what I thought it was, but it ended before he responded and it sold for like 3.75 and free shipping

08-17-2016, 08:38 PM	#16
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,872	I had nearly the complete run of the 2k3 line besides some TMNT variants. Then I sold the whole thing 3-4 years ago.

08-17-2016, 10:50 PM	#17
T-U-R-T-L-E POWA! Stone Warrior Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 996	Not exactly TMNT but I also collect Masters of the Universe and an Eternia Playset is my dream piece. I actually had EVERYthing MOTU back in the day but never that but I have heard people talk about how they used to see TONS of them on the shelves because TMNT was beginning around this time and took the market from He-Man. Also something that kills me is that my mom gave away my original Thundertank and now those things are worth quite a bit even loose. Ahhh the joys of being a collector. LOL! __________________ Go Ninja! Go Ninja! GO!