WizKids EVP of Sales, Marketing and Product Development Joe Hauck has announced that as the company will not allow distributors who place reorders on HorrorClix, which was launched as a returnable product (see 'HorrorClix & ToonClix to Be Returnable'), to return HorrorClix product no matter when it was purchased.  This is consistent with the policy as originally announced, which said that 'first release' product would be returnable. 

Returnability on HorrorClix is ending for distributors that reorder because the product has been in high demand at the distributor level (see 'HorrorClix Reordered').  The company blew through its overstock and has had to reprint the first wave of HorrorClix product and may be faced with having to allocate the reprint.

In a letter to Hobby Distributors Hauck explained the new policy. 'The initial sales were hot, and interest in the product is still very strong,' he said.  'That is why we are applying a new policy to HorrorClix commencing immediately: From this date forward, Distributors who reorder HorrorClix product will be considered to have waived their ability to return HorrorClix product to WizKids during the return window regardless of when the product was originally purchased.'

Hauck offered to send envoys to help sales at underperforming stores, and suggested that if stores still can't sell the HorrorClix merchandise, the distributors should take it back and ship to outlets that can sell it.  Because of this sort of potential redistribution of product among a distributor's accounts, WizKids is asking all distributors to resubmit their reorders for HorrorClix in light of the new returns situation.  'Until we receive e-mail confirmation from your company accepting your previous order or clearly stating what your new order will be,' he said, 'we will not be shipping product to your company's warehouse.'

Individual distributors will determine how they'll handle returnability with their retailers, but it's expected that the policies will reflect the situation at the distributor level:  if a customer reorders, it's assumed that they won't have any product to return because they've sold through their initial orders.