Opinion: Walmart Cancels More Action Figure Pre-Orders Than It Fills...Go F#$@ Yourself

by Jay Cochran
August 20, 2025
Let me start off by saying that I expect nothing to change regardless of what I type here. This is more about me venting about the frustration of having to pre-order a Wal-Mart exclusive action figure and then having it canceled months later for no real reason. Something I have personally found happens more often than not when dealing with Wal-Mart, regardless of the toy company producing the figure, and something that has been happening for several years with many collectors.

So first let me walk you through my most recent example of this happening. Back on March 13th, 2025 I placed a pre-order for the Walmart exclusive G.I. Joe Classified Crystal Ball figure from Hasbro that was offered during one of Walmart's "Collector Con" events.

The figure during that event sold out since it was an exclusive. Now fast-forward to this month (August). The figure according to the Wal-Mart website was supposed to ship on August 14th. That date came and went and no sign of it shipping. Then last night (August 19) I got the dreaded "Your item was canceled" email from Wal-Mart.

Now if this was just a one time occurrence, while frustrating I wouldn't be feeling the need to write this article. Sometimes things happen and cancellations do happen. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, this isn't just a rare one-time thing. Nor am I the only Wal-Mart customer this happens to. In the case of this particular figure I know at least 3 other people who told me they also had their order canceled in the last week, and I feel confidant that their are a lot more people this happened to than just 4 of us.

Back in July I had the same thing happen with a Walmart exclusive Masters of The Universe Masters of the Universe Masterverse Vintage Collection Faker figure from Mattel I had pre-ordered in March. With that one, after Wal-Mart canceled my order, they then listed the figure as "In-Stock" 2 days later. When I originally pre-ordered this figure in March I paid $30.03. When I had to re-order it in July after they canceled my original order, I had to pay $32.13.

I could go on with additional examples like this I have experienced going as far back as 2020, and again I know its not just me. This kind of thing happens so often with so many different action figure collectors that it has become a running joke. That when someone places a pre-order for an exclusive action figure on the Wal-Mart website, they know their is a 50/50 chance it will be canceled.

Now I can't really tell you why this happens, but unfortunately I don't see much hope this will ever change. The toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel and McFarlane Toys aren't going to stop giving Wal-Mart these exclusive offerings no matter how often this happens because they make to much money from the practice.

As far as Wal-Mart is concerned, being this has been happening for years with no sign Wal-Mart has any plans of fixing the problem, I don't see them ever really doing anything about it, and because these are primarily exclusive offerings we are talking about, collectors have few options.

To make it even worse, Wal-Mart allows secondary sellers to use their own website to sell these very same exclusives at higher prices. See an example of that with Crystal Ball below. Right now it's being sold on the Wal-Mart website from a "Pro Seller" by the name of "Everything For Sale" for almost $50.

Like I say, I have absolutely no expectation that my expressing my frustrations over this practice will change anything. My only recourse as a collector is hope Wal-Mart restocks this figure online at some point as an "In-Stock" item, hope I find it at a physical store which I refuse to waste time, gas and money on, being my local store never stocks anything, pay more and buy it from the secondary market, OR just do without which is likely what will happen. Of course the more that happens the more frustrated I get which in turn causes me to loose interest in the line. At that point I move on to something else to spend my money on.
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Comments...

Last 10 comments - ( Read All Posts )
Satam - 2025-08-25 @ 4:21 pm
7 hours ago, Atlantis said:

If the priority is brick and mortar then they shouldn't even be available online like that, at least not at first. Its outrageously infuriating to collectors to make that online purchase, only to have them cancelled at the last minute like that. If they produced enough units in the first place this wouldnt happen.

Regardless, this is once again an example of how little they value the customer.

Allocation is the problem. That's on Walmart. Hasbro produces as many units as they order plus extras for Pulse (the number of extras seems to have to be some mutually agreed upon percentage of what they sell to Walmart)

Atlantis - 2025-08-25 @ 8:58 am
17 hours ago, Scattergorical said:

I knew you guys would know the reason. Mystery solved, but never put much stock in Wally World's pre-order system. Knowing is half the battle!

If the priority is brick and mortar then they shouldn't even be available online like that, at least not at first. Its outrageously infuriating to collectors to make that online purchase, only to have them cancelled at the last minute like that. If they produced enough units in the first place this wouldnt happen.

Regardless, this is once again an example of how little they value the customer.

Scattergorical - 2025-08-24 @ 3:27 pm

I knew you guys would know the reason. Mystery solved, but never put much stock in Wally World's pre-order system. Knowing is half the battle!

Jscott991 - 2025-08-24 @ 2:57 pm
5 hours ago, Atlantis said:

So these preorders are getting cancelled because hasbo never produced enough figures in the first place? I mean that is one way to brag to the shareholders that the line sells out fast, I suppose.

No. They are cancelled because they prioritize putting the figures in physical stores. They don't set aside stock for preorders. Target is similar.

Atlantis - 2025-08-24 @ 9:48 am

So these preorders are getting cancelled because hasbo never produced enough figures in the first place? I mean that is one way to brag to the shareholders that the line sells out fast, I suppose.

McHogan01 - 2025-08-21 @ 7:42 pm

My experience was a bit different but ended up the same. I was sent a total of 3 emails telling me to update my payment method for my Spider-Man '77 pre-order. I complied and Walmart.com confirmed the update every time.

Shortly after the 3rd time, I got a cancelation notice saying my there was an issue with my payment method. However, that same card, within the hour btw, went through with no issues for the Spirit Spider.

So not only did they inexplicably cancel my order, but they essentially put the blame squarely on my card, while happily charging that same card for another order the same day.

So yeah. Walmart sucks

Jscott991 - 2025-08-21 @ 3:21 pm
6 hours ago, HogunVolstagg2 said:

One note about the situation online versus in-store: in the corporate world, those are often two entirely separate entities. As weird as it sounds, Walmart brick and mortar dont really cooperate with WM.com about whats in stock etc. Which in itself is frustrating.

This is closer to what happens with Target. Target often fulfills needs in the store first, and then ships preorders after.

Walmart is much stranger. They will put the product back up on Walmart.com for immediate shipment, while still delaying and then cancelling preorders.

Regardless, with both stores, if you see it in stock, order it. You can cancel or return your preorder later if needed.

HogunVolstagg2 - 2025-08-21 @ 8:21 am

One note about the situation online versus in-store: in the corporate world, those are often two entirely separate entities. As weird as it sounds, Walmart brick and mortar dont really cooperate with WM.com about whats in stock etc. Which in itself is frustrating.

It really is a sucky situation, I havent had as many bad experiences but I dont order much from Walmart. I feel for everyone.

Approving those delays when the email comes is definitely important, but yeah they cancel regardless of it

BatmannRobin - 2025-08-21 @ 4:21 am

My Crystal Ball also got cancelled after waiting for 5 months of pre-order. I was very upset and contacted them. They gave me $15 off $25 but that did not help getting the figure. So I used the discount for things I was buying anyway for household products. And took it as money towards a purchase then purchased him through Ebay. Maybe if everyone complains and demands some kind of compensation that will get their attention so it will stop happening. Also, I would like to warn others about Target is trying to cancel my Gray Ghost twice so far, because he is on delay but I keep a lookout for their emails to approve the delay, because if you do not, they will cancel your order.

Zirkenz - 2025-08-21 @ 3:55 am

Amen bro, Walmart does suck. They have cancelled so many orders which crushes my hope every single time.

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