TF Views

TFW2k5 is reporting that the RTS Basics have been cancelled at retail. (I put this thread in here because RTS is mainly just an extension of Classics.) Personally, I suspect that report is accurate, Hasbro's biggest retail partners ate a lot of unsold basics from the 2nd movie line, that SKU was overflowing with pegwarmers, and it didn't help that Hasbro just kept jacking up the pricing on basics until many stores were carrying them for as much as deluxes, and sometimes even more than them. Moreover, from the start of the SKU for movie 2, that assortment was thin and padded with repaints, with only 3 movie characters in the entire line (Scalpel, Ejector, Insecticon). Now those same stores don't want to risk ordering anew of that SKU - not surprising since several of the figures in the assortment were repaints of figures they couldn't sell before. It's also a huge bummer though, as it means we in the US will be missing out on Windcharger and Rumble unless Hasbro finds a new avenue to release these. Hasbro has even cancelled etailer orders, which means they don't think the assortment can make its investment back without major brick-n-mortar ordering - despite only 2 figures in that whole LINE being new tools, and those tools being shared with Takaratomy (so the investment is shared).

Meanwhile, Hasbro has been pimping their Legends lines at these same larger retailers, trying to convince them that the ever-increasing pricing on the diminutive Transformers will pay off because kids want little, low-cost Transformers. Yet those same retailers are now stocked to the rafters with Hunt for the Decepticons Legends, and have not been ordering the G1-themed Reveal the Shield Legends. And yet Hasbro is going forward with the Legends sizing for the next movie, the very first figure in that line is the new size between Legends and Basic.

Ultimately, I am putting the blame squarely on Hasbro for this, they let Basic languish for the last 2 years with a slow pace, not enough recognizable characters, way too many repaints, and high pricing. If they cannot redeem themselves by making Rumble & Windcharger easily available through some other means SOON, they will have eroded a considerable amount of fan connection as well as wasted the opportunity to get some cool toys into kids' hands.

On a related note:

(Scalpel, Ejector, Insecticon)

Minor characters that were largely easy to miss. The most recognizable of the 3 is Scalpel. And, that figure was terrible. Ejector and Insecticon were forgettable in the context of the movie itself.


I am not going to put all of the blame on Hasbro. Retailers also share the blame for over-ordering some sub-lines, and under-ordering others. (Movie toys are sitting while "Generations" toys are selling through. What lesson should be drawn from this? What lesson was drawn? Hint: Stores just ordered more movie stuff.) The price bumps are partially Hasbros fault, partially economics. But, blame for the lack of product falls on the stores.

I was planning on ordering Rumble from Japan anyway, (in order to get Frenzy as well. The only reason I am even considering hunting for Windcharger is that I have a sentimental attachment to the character.

On the other hand, if stores are going to ignore non-movie toys, it will be easy enough for me to cut back on toys.


Dom
-has secured one Grapple/Grappel figure.

Heartbreaking but not unexpected. Anyone who's been paying attention has been suspecting this on some level for a couple of months now. I wouldn't be surprised to see these fall by the wayside if it were only repaints we're talking about here, but I seriously can't imagine Hasbro *won't* make Windcharger and Rumble available down the line. They may be reissued, put in a later assortment, snuck out in movie packaging, cranked out as store exclusives-- there are always possibilities. Plus we don't know for a fact that Generations and Reveal the Shield are completely done-- true, it has been the pattern to end the "Classics" line when the movie line is released, but we don't know that will be the case this time. The lines could go on hiatus only to resume in the fall, or next spring. And allegedly at Toy Fair, Hasbro stated that Generations, at least, would ship "through 2011"-- though "through" could mean "through the first half of", that's kind of vague. Personally, I'm ordering what I can online, and the scouts I'm not sweating at the moment. One friend today bought Windcharger on eBay for $50, another who has a contact in Japan says the Rumble/Frenzy 2-pack is already running high and dry over there, with after-market prices already topping $80. I just can't do that. For now, I just have to hope.

Stores are just seriously confused about how the toyline's being handled, and a lot of that's Hasbro's fault too.

Also, I think something seriously needs to be done with the Voyager price point--it needs to either be cheaper or more expensive, I'm not sure which--because those things CLOG here. Seriously, there are still Seasprays around.

The branding is an issue with the Voyagers. Are they movie toys, or are they CHUG? The moulding and packaging do not always match. Collectors can tell, And, so can kids.

Store are not so much confused about the line as they being lazy. They are looking at the brand as a whole, not what is actually selling within the brand. Nobody is buying the damned kiddie toys. Those things sit and sit and sit...and take up valuable space. The only people buying those are hard core completists....and confused grandparents of wee children. (And, most of those wee kids may well want something else.) But, the kiddie crap has movie branding, so it gets the nod over "Generations".

Even when stores order non-movie toys, they skip waves often enough that it is not really worth looking for those toys at retail. At this point, I have real doubts that Thundercracker will show up in any meaningful quantities at brick and mortar. Movie toys are going to be coming out in the next 2 months, which is very little time in terms of toy distribution, and stores are still sitting on unsold toys from before Christmas, putting them a wave or two behind. (Oh, yeah, those movie toys are selling though. They are selling so well that I could barely army-build with that line....if I wanted to.)


Dom
-more than a bit annoyed that ordering online has become an assumed part of the hobby.

Dominic wrote:Store are not so much confused about the line as they being lazy. They are looking at the brand as a whole, not what is actually selling within the brand. Nobody is buying the damned kiddie toys. Those things sit and sit and sit...and take up valuable space. The only people buying those are hard core completists....and confused grandparents of wee children. (And, most of those wee kids may well want something else.) But, the kiddie crap has movie branding, so it gets the nod over "Generations".

My grandmother (who I dislike for a variety of reasons, mostly being passive-agressive insults) bought me a Skids Gravity Bot for Christmas last year. I asked her to return it and give me cash instead.

Actually, given said passive-agressive insults, I can't be certain she wasn't attempting to insult me by buying me the most childish of the children's toys. ("You see this? This is what everyone thinks about you. You are a child.")

With prices going up and up, I'm not surprised basics are selling poorly. And there's no way that tiny bit of plastic put into a Legends figure is worth $5 of my money.

I take a more comprehensive view. I do not ask if a toy is worth paying for at a given price point. I ask if a toy is worth a given price. Their are plenty of Deluxes that I would happily pay $20 for. (Hell, how much have I paid to get various iterations of the Sunstreaker mould? Nah, better for me not to dwell on such things.) And, their have been Voyagers that I would not pay Scout prices for, (such as TFA Blitzwing). There are Deluxes that I have paid the price of multiple Leader class toys. And, in some cases, I am still happy I did it. (Dammit, Henkei Thundercracker....)

So, yeah, Hasbro might be able to squeeze a full $10 out of me for a Legend scale toy. After import fees, I have paid that smiling...even without considering the fact those damned things are bundled together in 3 packs. (But, dammit, I have a Cliffjumper.) But, the higher the average price of a toy goes, the fewer of them I can buy. The value of a toy is relative. But, money is an absolute. If I have to spend $15 on a Deluxe, that is fully one less Deluxe I am buying if I round up. 2 Deluxes now cost *more* than 2 Deluxes and a Scout or Legend once did. Even one toy consumes more of my toy budget than it would have a year ago, even before I cut my toy spending at the beginning of the year, and again recently.

So, yeah, Windcharger might be a fantastic Scout that I happily pay $15 for. But, that is one less Deluxe I plan to buy at retail. I have not even looked into import rates on Rumble and Frenzy, and will probably wait to fiddle with Lewis' before I buy them. But, before I buy any toys, I am going to think it over even more as the prices keep going up.

Actually, given said passive-agressive insults, I can't be certain she wasn't attempting to insult me by buying me the most childish of the children's toys. ("You see this? This is what everyone thinks about you. You are a child.")

Hell yeah she knew what she was doing. She got you a bad toy based on a bad character. I give her points for effort, and not being a confused grannie.



Dom
-wondering if O6 got the cash.

Well this bites. But I would be surprised if Hasbro did not release them later down the line. I would not put another 4 years past them (just look at Thundercracker). In fact, TC makes a good case study. He's a figure that was highly desired by the fan base but Hasbro took their time and waiting four years to make it happen. I have no doubt that they would potentially do something similar for Windcharger, Rumble and Frenzy. Releasing those characters just makes sense for the CHUG line in what ever form it continues in. And I firmly believe it will continue.

Having said that I'm getting sick of the hunt. New stuff just doesn't come out here on any sort of decent time table and when it does it gets scalped to hell and back and I'm really done with it. That's why I ordered the Wheeljack wave from BBTS. Because I knew damned well I was never gonna see any of these at retail or if I did it will be well into 2012 before they start showing up in meaningful qauntities (WFC Soundwave is just now starting to get seen here). Plus when I ordere online I don't have to leave the house or wear pants. so yay.

Dominic wrote:So, yeah, Windcharger might be a fantastic Scout that I happily pay $15 for. But, that is one less Deluxe I plan to buy at retail. I have not even looked into import rates on Rumble and Frenzy, and will probably wait to fiddle with Lewis' before I buy them. But, before I buy any toys, I am going to think it over even more as the prices keep going up.

I'm seriously considering passing on Rumble and Frenzy. I don't like the way their legs look! And something about the whole design just makes me go Ehhn.

Actually, given said passive-agressive insults, I can't be certain she wasn't attempting to insult me by buying me the most childish of the children's toys. ("You see this? This is what everyone thinks about you. You are a child.")

Hell yeah she knew what she was doing. She got you a bad toy based on a bad character. I give her points for effort, and not being a confused grannie.

Good to know whose side you're on.

-wondering if O6 got the cash.

I think I did eventually.