Ah, I too remember with fond memories casually browsing small, large toy stores and department stores alike and finding practically everything my little heart desired. Gosh those were the good old days, no such thing as hoarders and/or workers hiding things then for G1 TFs or 1/55 Macross toys! In fact, if I recall correctly there were stores that regularly had a good stock of Macross toys since back when they originally came out, they were mighty expensive for the standards back then, basically the price of a new 1/48 or 1/60, and did not move quickly. Pity those stores have since closed down.
Nowadays, I do not even bother hunting especially with the price of gas ever increasing and there just isn't anything I recall crave the way I use to when I visit a store anymore. Besides Macross toys for one are rarely in stores nowadays and the TF toys are cheaper to pick up online even with shipping added. The only places I'd even consider going would be cons and even that is a huge maybe. Your mileage may vary.