It’s been a few weeks since I discovered that Target is selling Gunpla. I ended up buying all four High Grade kits they had on offer. Initially I simply did this to show my support, and because the prices seemed fair.
Since then, I’ve done some research on the kits to see if they really were a good deal.
As far as I can tell, according to my findings, none of them were good deals.
They were all great deals.
Either that, or something weird is going on.
Let’s go over the facts. Here are the four HG kits being sold at Target:
- High Grade Gundam Revive
- originally released in 2015
- price at Target - $11.99
- High Grade Gundam Barbatos (originally released in 2015)
- originally released in 2015
- price at Target - $12.99
- High Grade Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex (originally released in 2017)
- originally released in 2017
- price at Target - $17.99
- High Grade Wing Zero (originally released in 2014)
- originally released in 2014
- price at Target - $17.99
So we know that all four kits are under twenty bucks. We know the oldest one is six years old, and the newest one only three.
Now let’s look around online and price compare.
Wing Zero
Here is the listing for the kit at Target as of October 17th, 2020 (the date of when I wrote this sentence, even though this post is most assuredly being published much later in the future):
In stock in store and online for 18 bucks.
Now here is the listing on Amazon:
This one costs $28, and there is only one left.
Now here is the listing on Hobbylink Japan:
That is a great price, but too bad that it is old out.
How about USAGundamStore?
Huh. Looks like they don’t have it either.
I’m sure someone is selling it on Ebay. Here are a few results:
Those are not cheap prices for a High Grade.
This means that Target’s price is extremely fair, but more important is the fact that it is seemingly the only major retailer that is well stocked with the kit.
Gundam Revive
Here is the listing at Target. Once again, it is still in stock:
Now let’s shop around. A store called NewtypeHQ is selling it for the same price, and is seemingly in stock:
On Amazon, it is out of stock, and is only available from resellers:
At USAGundamStore, the price is comparable, but it is sold out:
Lastly, on HobbyLinkJapan, the price is great, but it too is out of stock:
Target’s price is definitely competitive, but once again the more important factor is that unlike other stores, they actually have it to sell.
Gundam Barbatos
Once again, the Target listing:
Now for some others. NewtypeHQ has it for about the same price:
So does Galactic Toys:
And ToyArena:
On Amazon it costs a bit more, and there are only 7 left:
Once again HobbyLinkJapan has the best price, but it is backordered:
We are seeing a pattern here. Target’s price is comparable (or better) than every store but HLJ, but HLJ doesn’t have it (and other retailers are low on inventory).
Barbatos Lupus Rex
Target:
Meanwhile, USAGundamStore appears to have it for two bucks less, and it is in stock:
SureThingToys lists the same price, but it is out of stock:
Same deal for NewtypeHQ:
HobbyLinkJapan once again wins on price, but once again they don’t have it:
Lastly, Amazon has it under two listings. Both are low on stock, and both are almost double the cost as every other store:
This is the only one of the four kits where it looks like you can get it somewhere other than Target, and get it for less, but keep in mind we are talking a difference of two bucks. Overall, Target’s price is still competitive, and they are still one of the only ones around with inventory.
What’s Going On?
I’m not terribly surprised that Target’s prices are reasonable. What I am curious about is why, exactly, they have all this inventory of model kits that are seemingly out of print and largely out of stock everywhere else. Did they somehow grab all the remaining kits, leaving everyone else out in the cold? I must admit that I’ve never found myself unable to buy a model kit because it wasn’t available, and I’ve purchased quite a few that are a much older vintage than 2014.
To be fair, if any kits were to sell well, it would be these four. The Wing Zero is from the most popular Gundam show to ever broadcast in America, and the two Barbatos models are from one of the recent (and also fairly popular) Iron Blooded Orphans. As for the Revive Gundam, well, it’s Grandaddy Gundam. Everyone knows about it.
What I’m saying, then, is maybe these really did sell out everywhere. Maybe no other retailers wanted new inventory, and Target scooped up what was left. Maybe they did strongarm their way into a pile of kits (I seriously doubt that, as it would imply they strongarmed Amazon).
Whatever the truth may be, if you are interested in any of these kits, you might want to hit up Target while they’re still there. You’ll get your hands on one, and you won’t have to overpay for the privilege.