What in the Funko is Going on Here?

Welcome back to the only podcast dedicated to returning collecting back to the Pop! Collector. This week the team discovers a new investigation launched to discover if Funko and its officers committed fraud in reporting financials leading up to the Funko IPO. They discuss what in the Funko is going on with Barnes and Noble, Funimation and Gamestop’s websites when it comes to ordering Pop!, Finders Series Vol 1: Target, the first collectors story of the week, and close with Black Friday Deals!!!

FUNKO UNDER INVESTIGATION!?!?!?

According to a Bloomberg report Funko may have been committing some “Funhouse” accounting leading up to its IPO and the law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP has launched an investigation.

The article concluded that “just $7 million, or 10 percent, of Funko’s $69 million increase in adjusted… [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization] was from actual earnings growth. The other 90 percent came from higher costs that the company says investors should just ignore.”

Hopefully this is not the case for Funko who has already seen its fair share of problems recently.

Finders Series Vol. 1: Target

Target: Overview and Rating

* Target has been associated with a black cloud hanging over its Pop! selling reputation, employees taking pops, employees hiding pops for customers, employees hiding pops for other employees and the list goes on.

* One thing is for certain placing the conspiracies aside Target would still be considered below average when it comes to Pop!

CONS

* Boxes are often damaged mainly due to the large size of shipments and how they are often lumped in with electronics and other stock on the trucks. -2

* Target’s inventory system is often inaccurate when compared to Brick Seek and employees at most stores are unfamiliar with the product. -1

* Being unfamiliar with the product employees tend to damage pops when opening boxes, using box cutters or rough handling of boxes when removing. -1

* While shelf location is nice their collection size is often small, but this is changing. Lack of variety of pops and smaller quantities often forces collectors to wait for Pop! long before the store opens. -1

PROS

* Exclusives tend to be better than other stores, more collectable and better characters. +3

* Location in store is easy to find however Target should consider an expanded collectable section. +2

RATING

* With Target receiving more sought after collectables, better characters and a designated Funko area raises its score. However, conspiracies everywhere, lack of knowledge of product, small variety of pops and lack of care for the product results in a 5 out of 10 score from the Pop! Collectors Alliance.

Target: Where to Find Them

* Store layouts vary and some Target stores recently went through an extensive remodel but generally Pop!s are found in the same place.

* Electronics is responsible for holding and stocking collectables and the Funko Section is normally labeled above the shelving located behind the movies and books. Either on a back wall or side wall depending upon the electronics section location.

* Some Targets will place Pops! in the toy sections beside toys of the same genre. For Example Marvel Pop! in the Marvel toys section, or Five Nights at Freddy’s in the same section. Some Targets still dedicate an end-cap in toys, often pared with Pintsized Heroes or Mystery Minis.

Target: Hunting Tips

* Hunting Tip 1: Often stores keep highly collectable pieces at the electronics counter because skilled colle...