Why Hasbro Star Wars Should Call it Quits! [Archive]

MarkStalcup

Mar 11, '08, 8:45 AM

The Battle-Damaged Vader is pretty cool-looking, but I wonder what the story is with him. They say his damage is from Rebel agents onboard the Death Star.

Elsewhere, he fights Obi-Wan and wins...he fights a young Luke and wins. He kills buttloads of Jedi and wins. And Rebel spies are somehow supposed to do THAT kind of damage?

I don't think so. Looks cool, but that's got to be a heck of a story there.

The bad thing about Hasbro is, they release these high-end superarticulated figures in the "Vintage" collection for $12.99 and then less than a year later, many are out again in repacks or on new cards for $6.63. Add to that the high cost for such a small figure and the fact they're on their 33rd Darth Vader with dang little difference in most versions, and it gets old. Those sell to the kids and the fanatics, but again, anybody who tries to keep up is a tad crazy...there's stuff they released that I didn't even know existed, mostly here-today, gone-tomorrow Target exclusives like the Snowspeeder.

They lost me when the Expanded Universe figures came out, and I couldn't get them all, as well as the poorly distributed R2-D2 with hologram Leia...once that broke the cycle I kind of resigned myself to just getting the ones I saw and liked.

PCofmisfittoys

Mar 11, '08, 8:57 AM

it's still supply and demand. i say the same thing about all the superhero figuresthat are rehashed over and over . I stopped buying " new" SW figures a few years ago but will still pickup new ones that where never released. Like everything else , there are new fans of the old series and kids still want them.

and grayhawk, i thought they should have stopped making little people and weebles a long time ago too..lol . you can't replace the originals of those :)

megocrazy

Mar 11, '08, 10:06 AM

Next month Joe's Discount Department Store will be releasing the Megocrazy Jedi Starfighter. Unfortunately the figure is still too big to fit in the cockpit and can only stand out side and look at it. Star Wars toys have been ridiculous for a long time. You would almost think they should release a new movie so they can create a new toy line.

jds1911a1

Mar 11, '08, 11:40 AM

That scene's actually from the new video game "The Force Unleashed" where Vader does, in fact, fight wookies. And those multipacks are repacked figures that are also aimed at kids and parents, who want maximum bang for their buck.

I'm pretty worn out with Star Wars myself, but every now and again, they come along with something cool, i.e. the Biggs Darklighter toy, the Yarna (fat Jabba's dancer) one that's forthcoming and so on...the mistake people make is trying to buy EVERY figure on every variant card when they've reissued several multiple times.

I look at it the same way. When they make a new character I like I pick it up but I have made no attempt to get them all (or even update when they improve sculpt or articulation)

Boris71

Mar 11, '08, 11:54 AM

I agree hasbro seems to see star wars as a way to print money, I gave up a while ago and with the price on some of the figures that are rehases I think it's not worth buying them I saw some retail at £8 in the uk compsred to the repo mego dols at 15 or DCD figures at 11 they just don't seem good value for money

Prime316

Mar 11, '08, 4:10 PM

Hasbro seriously needs to put the Star Wars line to rest if they have to start doing all this outside material stuff. This kinda stuff, the kind that comes from the video games, books, comics & other material outside of the movies is just Hasbro trying to bleed as much money out of Star Wars as they can. A lot of people have only, and a lot will only, see the movies and know the stuff from the movies. So when crap like this starts showing up it's a turn off to the collectors unfamiliar with it. Many will quite possibly either just stop collecting, or (like me now) only get the VERY FEW actual New or Non-Reissue Movie character figures leaving a lot more expanded JUNK to be sold.
Granted there may be a few random figures that are interesting despite their unfamiliarness (ie; Force Unleashed Vader) a lot will be passed on by collectors unfamiliar with it.
Hasbro is also relying on the OCD collectors out there that must have every version of every figure ever released. JUST STOP THE INSANITY MAN!!! I USED TO BE THAT WAY BUT HASBRO HAS COMPLETELY KILLED THAT INTEREST NOW. EVER HEARD OF OVERKILL HASBRO!?
The sad thing is there's still a slew of characters & background characters from the movies Hasbro could make, probly all in one year too. But their marketing conspiracy IMO is to release an actual NEW Movie characters a few a year in order to make it take as long as possible to complete that while getting as much filler Expanded JUNK out in the process.
I know kids will buy a lot of this Expanded JUNK but a lot of hasbro's sales depend on the adult collector market as well and they need to appease us, not make us frustrated and not wanting to collect anymore.

huedell

Mar 11, '08, 4:27 PM

Many of these posts make "little" to "no" sense...

Am I missing something?

If you don't want it----don't buy it....right?

If the line looks as if its in danger of collapsing---that's one thing----because
if it collapsed, then there'd be no more new choices (I stress the word "CHOICES")
for collectors and kids to desire and buy.

Bottom line: if the line isn't in danger of ceasing--- or in danger of not putting
out new characters now and again---then, there's no rational reason
for HASBRO to stop the line.

Oh yeah---one more thing----they've been pumping out SW action figures since the
mid-90s----and they don't deserve insults---they deserve: CHEERS

I swear (with all respect), some toy collectors/SW fans are so jaded that they'd
curse the thing they wished for all throughout 1986-1994 (although some won't
even cop to THAT)

The Force will only be with you if you want it to be ;)

My advice in short?:
Enjoy your Tarkin figure and forget the rest! :)

Seeker

Mar 11, '08, 5:32 PM

Right On Huedell. Its all about choice. If there wasn't a market there wouldn't be a line. Sure I'm not going to buy every single jedi star fighter repaint or redone main character but I love some of the new original figures they are coming out with.

Personally I like the expanded universe.

A side note anyone see Star Wars is going to do the BAF "Build a figure" deal this year? Supposedly there will be different droid parts in each figure back to several different astromechs.

MarkStalcup

Mar 11, '08, 5:32 PM

I personally will not rest until I get the Ice Cream Maker Guy from Bespin. Because, you know, there is none more nerdy than those who know who that ancillary useless character is...and they're making him soon. No joke.

BlackKnight

Mar 11, '08, 5:51 PM

The more people that Complain,..& do not end up buying them,.. makes better news for me. :wink_y: :grin:

Sure,.. there is rehash,.. & repainted figures out the buttload. However everytime I go to the store it's great, because there is always something for me on the shelf for under 10 bucks. If you are the "completest",.. it might be difficult to swallow. However I have been collecting the StarWars figures since the relaunch,,.. I don't get everything, only the figures & vehicles that interest me. It's great,.. & for the last Year & half, I have had a re-surge of interest in the figures,.. because of some of the New great stuff that has been offered.

It's a great time to collect these,.. you all quit,.. More for me. :grin:

Seeker

Mar 11, '08, 5:54 PM

AWESOME :drool_y: Well ok I'd take Darth Bane over the Icecream maker guy. :wink:

But hey at least that actor and his family must be happy.

I had a bit part in a movie and I'd be estatic if they eventually got down to making a figure of lil ol me. Even the small guys want to be immortalized in plastic.

toys2cool

Mar 11, '08, 5:54 PM

I saw this coming when the line relaunched in 1996, I spent a year trying to keep up and then realised it was never going to end. No matter how many figures I bought ten new ones would be waiting for me the next month. It was a bit like quitting smoking, I packed everything up and sold it, I was lucky to make a few bucks on the deal (probably $100-200 profit).

I actually couldn't even look at Star Wars for a long time after and have never purchased a new product since.

Same here,I sold a huge collection but it was like 99-00 and made a decent amount on them.Just kept my Episode 1 figures which I really liked and called it quits

Iron_fox85

Mar 11, '08, 6:03 PM

yeeeaahhh...i'm sure that battle pack is from the new video game starwars unleashed...sides...starwars toys wont quit because it has a huge mega fan base and there so many figures to be made.

jwyblejr

Mar 11, '08, 6:06 PM

huedell

Mar 11, '08, 6:17 PM

Some wise words said here since my last post (earlier today)---

BlackKnight wrote (among other poignant things):

If you are the "completest",.. it might be difficult to swallow.

Which makes me wonder how obsessive collectors rationalize
that its HASBRO'S fault that they have a mental disorder in the vein of "obsessive"?

Okay, okay, that's a bit harsh...but you get my point...

I can't believe I know who "ICE CREAM GUY" is---but somehow I know---altho'
I'm not sure if I've actually seen him----I know he's one of the BESPIN evacuees

Was "DARTH BANE" a character in the movies, Seeker? Don't know that guy.

Me? I'd be interested in a SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE wave with at least
LUKE, LEIA, the two YUZZEM---and the old woman (Hallah?)
They could base 'em off that graphic novel I've never seen.

I haven't bought SW figures since TPM (except for like 2 or 3) not because
I don't like them---but I'm just trying to save money---and one thing I realized after
some heavy collecting back then----there sure was going to be an easy enough way to
catch up with my SW figure collecting if I ever wanted too---especially because
card condition means nothing to me as I'm a loose collector (don't even NEED the cards
really)

BlackKnight

Mar 11, '08, 6:33 PM

Which makes me wonder how obsessive collectors rationalize
that its HASBRO'S fault that they have a mental disorder in the vein of "obsessive"?

That seems to be where some of the blame is being driven in this thread,.. & also the Fact that some seem to not fully understand the StarWars Continuty & or universe. :wink:

Makes no difference to me,.. if they release something 1000 times,.. If I like it, I might buy a few,.. If I don't,.. well I don't buy it. Last yr they Finally made Darth Mauls Sith Infiltraitor. Man,.. was that about 8or9 yrs in the making.. very cool.

grayhank

Mar 11, '08, 9:50 PM

Well since I opened this can of worms...

First of all, I don't believe that Hasbro markets Star Wars towards kids. Yes there are lots of kids who want Star Wars but kids are extremely fickle and Hasbro knows this. They will only want Star Wars items as long as they remain popular with their friends, something else hasn't come along and they have not yet been criticized for still playing with them. Having been a manager at KB Toys for four years I have observed the toy buying habits of children time and time and time again. As long as they are getting something they will be happy, whether it is Star Wars or not. I have said this on other forums and I will continue to argue this point into the ground.

Most parents know what their own kids like but truly do NOT know what is the "HOT" item unless the parents themselves are collectors. Having been around parents shopping with their kids during the course of an 8 hour shift, 40 hours a week you see the same scenario play out over and over:

Parent: Hurry up and pick something, we need to get going!
Kid: But I don't know what I want!
Parent: Well what about Star Wars...you like Star Wars!
Kid: Eh' yeah, but I don't really want those.
Parent: Well if you don't decide soon you're not going to get anything.
Kid: Ok, I guess I'll get a Bionicle.

It truly does NOT matter to the kid. The only time I have ever seen a kid come in looking for a Star Wars toy is when it was in fact a movie year and the toyline was truly hot at the time. And even then there aren't specific characters they are looking for, but figures they might not already have.

Hasbro is well aware of their adult collector fan base. They have panels at most toy shows and online where they take Q&As from the audience about what product is coming out. I don't see Hasbro going to schools and talking to kids about product because kids typically don't have a lot of money to spend. The adult collector on the other hand usually has the money to spend. I myself have dropped hundreds of dollars at a time just walking into my local Toys R Us. My average spending at San Diego Comic Con is between $1200-$1500 every year...mostly on Star Wars product (that's not including food, lodging, transportation etc).

I can say without a doubt that yes I am a completist. I believe since the relaunch in 1995 there are probably two pieces from the line that I don't actually own. On top of that I typically buy TWO of everything. Because yes I enjoy the toys and want to open them, but at the same time there is that ever nagging voice in the back of my mind...what if this piece becomes the "holy grail" of the line (I know that it's probably never going to happen but what if?). There are pieces that I have bought that I have been criticized by other collectors for buying only to have them turn around and say "Man, how did you get that Carded Weequay with Freeze Frame?" I dunno, I guess it was when all you guys passed on it when it came out.

I have never had a problem finding any of the Target exclusives aside from dealing with employees of Target who cop an attitude towards you if you are a middle-aged male. They don't know the difference between a collector and an Ebay scalper. They tend to group all adult collectors in the same category. Target refers to shoppers in their store as "Guests" not customers. But when you are a toy buyer you are automatically labeled a "Collector". They get on their little two-way radios and call someone from the stockroom and say "there's a collector here asking about a Star Wars item". Suddenly you've been downgraded from "Guest" to "ebay scalper". I have actually had Target employees come up to me and tell me to leave when I haven't even spoken a word to them. My buddy Prime316 can vouch for this as he was with me at the time (along with most of the staff of managers/employees from my KB Store). It was sort of a training exercise to show our staff how NOT to treat customers. Let's just say that my staff was absolutely floored by the treatment I received. When we went to the Target Managers to complain, we were basically told "oh well".

Now as for the pictures that I posted. My point was why not just make the actual scene from Episode III rather than taking a bunch of figures that have been released over and over. Ok, so it's from a video game as somebody has pointed out. Yeah, I don't play video games, how would I know that? It doesn't fit into what is considered continuity. I did say that it was probably under the pretense of Expanded Universe which seems to be this year's theme for the line itself. But again, there are many characters that still have yet to be made that are in continuity. Hasbro has given us more Clone Troopers in every imaginable color and at my last count there were like 93 of them at the time. That is now well over 100 at this time. Yeah Clone Troopers are cool but ok let's see something else. I'd much rather have 100 different Ewoks than the same Clone Trooper repainted over and over.

There were many new interesting vehicles created between Episode I and III and still many that have not been updated from the vintage line. Why continue to make a Jedi Starfighter over and over which is still sitting in various forms on the shelves of most stores? It's not really selling and just preventing new product from being released and put out.

I agree the simple answer to all of this is for me (like many others) is to just stop collecting. I have drastically cut back on what I buy because frankly it is no longer interesting. I know many collectors who feel the same way. Hasbro continues to have their Q&As but unfortunately they aren't listening to what the fans are saying. It's their loss in the long run.

Sorry if this post is long but my original intent of starting this thread was to express my ever increasing frustration with the line. May the force "still" be with you!

misterdroid

Mar 11, '08, 10:42 PM

I like the new stuff. The Force Unleashed videogame will be the first game to officially become part of the official star wars canon. That's a good thing. And while casual star wars fans may ***** about this kind of stuff, one has to realize that the Star wars universe is a sprawling, expanding, evolving creation.
Why isn't anyone complaining about the 90,000 spiderman or other marvel "expanded universe" clogging shelves. Damn, I am waiting for the Wolverine "Pakistani cricket team", spiderman "Los Angeles pool cleaner" or FF Johnny Storm "complete choad" variants any day now.
Realize that george lucas is a shrewd, shrewd man. If it's being manufactured, be damn sure his giant marketing machine is telling him it's going to be bought. The only SW figs that have been true peg-warmers in last few years have been the mass market movie figures... i.e. the stuff for everybody. Target the fanboys and you will never go hungry. If you don't like the stuff, pass on it. It's like voting.

BlackKnight

Mar 11, '08, 10:57 PM

I think you may be right in saying that Hasbro does know about & Markets thier Star Wars line for collectors,.. However I also think they do Market it for Kids too. No toyline imo, has success without some sorta "Kid" Fan base,.. & don't last over 10 yrs in a re-launch, regaurdless of the 3 movies, past movies or the Cartoons. Granted,.. The "into" idea, might very well be .. because parents, who like the toys, & Movies buy for thier kids.. as some sorta self influence on subjects. Hell,.. I do it all the time, with my Son & Nephew for Xmas & Bday Presents, as well as other gifts. The Clone Trooper or Stormtrooper has been made so many times , so Kids & collectors alike can build thier armies,.. & obviously they sell,.. because they keep making them. & Hasbro learned along time ago,.. that DarthVader sells. That was the 1st figure my son Asked me for.

I don't think when you see a Kid with their parent in a toy store you can make the assumption that the Child doesn't care what he gets,.. as long as he gets something. Try taking an 8 yr old boy to a Toystore sometime. There is just TOO Damn "Much" there,.. the child gets over whelmed with Excitement,.. & can't decide what he wants,.. Kinda like what to open 1st on X-mas. Everyones a bit indeciesive when they are that age,.. it's hard to "just pick one".

Target will always Make whatever re-paint version or re-boxed Exclusive. They always sell outta it,.. So why not make a Repainted Jedi Star Fighter.

.. & If you are going to Targets at 9:00 in the morning with your buddy's, on a Tuesday,.. Every week,.. or twice a week.. & the 1st thing you do is look at the Toys, with no children present, & then ask where something is,.. or a #ed Hotwheel... why wouldn't they think your a Toy Scalper ? .. I've worked in retail before,.. & my OldLady works at Target now..., & Generally, thats Who it is. It's been that way since Ebay. Most parents don't buy a toy for thier kids at that time. & Most grown men don't collect action figures. They stock the shelves,.. they know what has 1 per case,.. they know what is an Exclusive, they know what dissapears in the 1st 5 minutes when a bunch of guys run into Target when they 1st open at 9am.

Sorry for the Rant,.. Just my Take on the Subject.

huedell

Mar 11, '08, 11:20 PM

I can say without a doubt that yes I am a completist. I believe since the relaunch in 1995 there are probably two pieces from the line that I don't actually own. On top of that I typically buy TWO of everything. Because yes I enjoy the toys and want to open them, but at the same time there is that ever nagging voice in the back of my mind...what if this piece becomes the "holy grail" of the line (I know that it's probably never going to happen but what if?). There are pieces that I have bought that I have been criticized by other collectors for buying only to have them turn around and say "Man, how did you get that Carded Weequay with Freeze Frame?" I dunno, I guess it was when all you guys passed on it when it came out.

I used to collect the line like that. It became too unweildy for my budget... and I just stopped.

I agree the simple answer to all of this is for me (like many others) is to just
stop collecting.

Okay...so we agree.

And at this point its still within your "rights" to complain about what they should or
shouldn't be doing with the line---but I, personally, wouldn't bother complaining---and
I especially wouldn't say "Oh just stop the line" when its still successful enough to stay
in the black---and there's so much more that could be done with it.

I guess its "frustration" that has led you to say something so unnecessarily
"over the top"----however, I can't relate to someone feeling forced to buy every
variant of every thing in a given line---even when they are convinced it is a "sham"
for "older collectors" type deal----so my apologies if my criticsm seems too pointed.

May the force "still" be with you!

You too----and you can BET that in spite of all the more "useless" (in your estimation)
stuff HASBRO is going to put out ----that Hasbro is ALSO going to release at least a few
more "WISH LIST" type items right up your alley by the time it closes---so enjoy those!

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 12:26 AM

I don't think when you see a Kid with their parent in a toy store you can make the assumption that the Child doesn't care what he gets,.. as long as he gets something. Try taking an 8 yr old boy to a Toystore sometime. There is just TOO Damn "Much" there,.. the child gets over whelmed with Excitement,.. & can't decide what he wants,.. Kinda like what to open 1st on X-mas. Everyones a bit indeciesive when they are that age,.. it's hard to "just pick one".

No I can't make the assumption, but I can make the observation. When you work in that kind of environment you see kids of all different ages come in and out and I'm just relating my personal experience within the environment itself. Do I know the child...nope. But it was part of my job to talk to the customers whether they were 5 or 50 or whatever, so I could sell them what they were looking for and that has always been my impression when it comes to the majority of children. Not saying that every child fits that mold as everybody is different but the VAST majority do.

Target will always Make whatever re-paint version or re-boxed Exclusive. They always sell outta it,.. So why not make a Repainted Jedi Star Fighter.

Target doesn't make them. Hasbro does. That mold has been used at least five times each for Anakin and Obi-wan, plus Plo Koon, Saesee Tinn, Mace Windu, Darth Vader, Kit Fisto and perhaps someone else that I'm forgetting. So, sure I guess why not make it again considering that most of those are still easily found in my neighborhood. Why make something new when you can just rehash the same thing.

If you are going to Targets at 9:00 in the morning with your buddy's, on a Tuesday,.. Every week,.. or twice a week.. & the 1st thing you do is look at the Toys, with no children present, & then ask where something is,.. or a #ed Hotwheel... why wouldn't they think your a Toy Scalper ? .. I've worked in retail before,.. & my OldLady works at Target now..., & Generally, thats Who it is. It's been that way since Ebay. Most parents don't buy a toy for thier kids at that time. & Most grown men don't collect action figures. They stock the shelves,.. they know what has 1 per case,.. they know what is an Exclusive, they know what dissapears in the 1st 5 minutes when a bunch of guys run into Target when they 1st open at 9am.

So why is it any of their business if I were in fact a toy scalper? They are a retail store whose primary function is to sell product to buyers so the company they work for can make money and turn around and pay their salary. I do not ask for their assistance as I know where the stuff is that I am looking for. When a sales associate comes up to me and asks me if they can help me find anything then why wouldn't I say...do you have this? It's the polite thing to do. You check the DPC code on their stockroom checker and it says the item is in the stockroom. Only to be told after they've radioed to the stockroom that "it's a collectible item and collectible items are only stocked overnight". Right there they are acknowledging that IT IS in fact collectible. The question then becomes "collectible to who"? How many children do you know that are buying stuff up on Ebay at over-inflated prices?

Well you're there at 8:00 am because you were told things only get stocked overnight and still there's nothing. Six other guys have been told the same thing. Do you see where this is going? You go back a couple of hours later because maybe you have forgotten something you need and see them stocking the toy aisle. Um, didn't you just tell me a few hours ago that you only stock things overnight? I'm not making this stuff up. That's why there are guys waiting around for Target to open at 8:00 am.

It is very much a form of discrimination. I could never imagine working in a grocery store and having a customer come up with a cart full of groceries and me saying to them "well that's a lot of food, you must be an eater". That's just plain rude. And yet it happens time and time again at Target where you go up to the register with a handful of figures and they say "Oh you must be a collector". I say nope...I'm a customer. It's nobody's business but you're own. There is no excuse for rudeness...to anyone... anywhere!

While working at KB, if any of the employees there ever said to a customer, sorry that's in the stockroom so I can't sell it. They would have found themselves looking for a new job at Target.

I guess its "frustration" that has led you to say something so unnecessarily "over the top"----however, I can't relate to someone feeling forced to buy every variant of every thing in a given line---even when they are convinced it is a "sham" for "older collectors" type deal----so my apologies if my criticsm seems too pointed.

Oh geez, never said I collected every VARIANT. :)

Not sure if what I said was over the top either. It just seems to me that there is no longer any imagination left in what they put out. You guys have to admit that those two pictures I posted are in fact very very lame.

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 12:38 AM

I think I misused the term "variant"---I guess I meant "redux" or something to that effect.

And yeah---I thought saying that the line "should call it quits" was over-the-top
because of your reasoning why----but that's just my opinion----and I could be offbase

I certainly would never say you were "wrong" with feeling the frustration you
are feeling--or with you saying Hasbro might as well wrap it up---but, yeah, I do
think its a "more wrong than right" stance----again---only opinion

Hey, I can relate to your frustration---I've been in the same spot you are
with the same line---altho' that was back in the simpler time of 1999---

If it wasn't for me spending the bulk of my money on other things other than
HASBRO SW stuff nowadays----I'd be right there with ya feeling virtually
the same frustration----just handling it a bit differently

jds1911a1

Mar 12, '08, 8:14 AM

Star wars. they know they get alot of sales from collectors and nostalgia buyers but they get bumps of kid sales for mass market driven by movies, tv and video games. The 2 items pictured illustrate both fronts - The jedi fighters is based on a comic book apearance - aimed at collectors, the battle back is based on the soon to be released video game which kids will play. Yes they poll the collectors for product but they also shoot down alot of collector only requests (like ice cream guy or a large playsets and vehicles) because they have learned you can't make enough profit only gearing to adult collectors. The same complaint greyhank made is one I saw here about EMCE's stuff too until the KHAN announcement.

I would say that hasbro is aiming the new Gijoe line at their collectors more than kids (except kids of nostalgia buyers maybe) because they are not very playable and they are mostly repaints of the same figs

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 10:03 AM

Prime316

Mar 12, '08, 1:47 PM

Not to continue this argument anymore but I must respond some,

BlackKnight so your saying because someone goes to Target at 8 in the morning (which is the only time a "COLLECTOR" has to goo to beat the "SCALPERS" at least in my area) but you're saying because we HAVE TO GO AT 8 just to simply get the new stuff, that we're automatically PREJUDICED into that "ebay scalper" category? Well it's good to know there's still prejudice people and bigots working out there to automatically judge me based on what time I go to the store. What ever happened to "Judge not, lest ye be judged?".
But it doesn't surprise me if they work at Target. Neither does anyone who has a wife working inside Target so they can get things right away to scalp. Not saying that anyone here does that. And I'm sorry if you RUN into the stores (which is truly childish) to get the new stuff, but neither I, nor GrayHank do. So please don't just ASSUME that just because we're there that early that we go running to the aisles.

Even IF we were scalpers what right is it of YOURS or ANYONE ELSE who works at a retail store to judge us and discriminate against!? Your JOB as a retail employee is too SELL product to the customers! To PLEASE the customers and make them SATISFIED so they want to come back to the store in the future! (And when I worked retail there were scalpers that came in that I didn't care much for, but I still DID MY JOB and sold product to them no different than a non-collector) LISTEN CLOSELY TARGET! NO store employee has the right to decide to sell or not to sell something to us because we are a collector, scalper, or a paraplegic midget circus FREAK! AND NO employee has the right to tell a customer not to ask again or they'll ban you from the store, DEREK!

AS AMERICANS with the RIGHT to Freedom Of Speech, we can say "STOP THE STAR WARS LINE!" ALL WE WANT! Who's gonna stop us? YOU!? HA! I hardly doubt that. That would require leaving your houses for something other than to find new product & food. Or for many of you, leaving your mothers houses/basements period.
Forums we're created so people could, as "misterdroid" so eloquently put it, "***** about this kind of stuff." To voice their opinions, be heard, and/or find other people to connect with who feel the same way.

As for kids, kids want EVERYTHING, so Not Sorry to say, but most don't really care what they get at the store as long as they get something. Now there are a very few that actually "know" what they want. But generally they want anything other kids think or will think is cool. No one was disputing Hasbro marketing to kids, we're simply saying they direct more towards the adult collector. How many kids out there even know about (let alone have the means of buying) most internet, convention & store exclusives? Those are all directed at the adult collector. Half of what SW Hasbro puts out are exclusives! And before someone gets all butthurt and feels the need to correct me, I know Hasbro's SW product is not literally half exclusives, I was being facetious.

And if I've been at all over-the-top, well boys, Sorry 'Bout Yo Damn Luck!:smiley1:

jwyblejr

Mar 12, '08, 1:49 PM

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 2:10 PM

And if I've been at all over-the-top, well boys, Sorry 'Bout Yo Damn Luck!

Prime316

The gentleman that started the thread, grayhank, has always been cool with debates
and discussion and I, in turn, have tried to be that way as well---
(and will take my lashings when its pointed out to me that I'm being disrespectful
and appropriately humble myself----and now MY pointing is at you Prime)

This thread BASED off of grayhanks opinion turned out to be one of our more
"divergent" issues and/or debates---and its been an invigorating discussion getting
to the bottom of this split way of thinking....mostly because I was once a
very simillar collector to grayhank

In addition, I believe that in this "heated" thread both grayhank and I have acted with
great decorum as has BK and everyone else -----except you Prime316

And you know what? If the translation of "butthurt" to you means that your
attitude has turned me off to addressing (or even CARING about) the actual
issue and points you're trying to make....well ----my butt be a' hurtin'

Cheers----and good luck with your toy collecting.

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 2:31 PM

Thank you! You have reinforced my point entirely. Those larger playsets and vehicles are more expensive and are usually made as exclusives in limited numbers aimed at collectors because kids aren't likely to have $50.00 to spend. The battle pack pictured consists of five figures that have already been mass produced during a movie year, kids most likely already own all the figures in it. So what's the point in even making it? It's leftover mass produced carded figures that retailers could not sell and returned to Hasbro. Hasbro rehashes the figures into the battle pack in an attempt to still make money off of the excess product.

Excuse me, but "What?"

You're faulting HASBRO because they are trying to find the best way to
make a buck and squeeze as much profit as they can out of their overstock?

If you were in their shoes---and didn't makre the same decisions, people
would question your business acumen for sure.

Brian, near the start of the thread, said he "saw this coming" and "got out
of it" as a smoker quits smoking.

Who's the one making the smoker buy cigarettes? The companies don't have
a gun to smokers' heads.

And when a smoker finally decides to quit smoking...they do it by merely "quitting"--
-not by taking the whole industry (company) down with 'em.

I'm an alcoholic...and do stupid things while drinking....
---I guess its Budweiser's fault because they make available all that
tasty beer? Of course not.

But, really, forget the "smoking" and "drinking" metaphors
because I was once in Brian's (et al) shoes regarding this very action figure
we're talking about.
And I just quit---and I kept all my stuff because it wasn't threatening my
psyche in any way to keep the stuff. In fact, I consider myself
better for it because these are all cool toys----

BUT, cool as they are---- when the "economic reality" came crashing down--
-I didn't feel an intense, irrational need to COLLECT 'EM ALL

The problem that was stated originally by grayhank ---- it all
stems from obsessive behavior and demands on the buyers' part.
That's it.

Let's say you guys wishing for the end of the line have your way...

Then that's it.

No more additions to a great line---and all because a group of obsessive
collectors were angry that Hasbro was trying to do good business by
getting rid of overstock and making use of their molds etc.

Weird.

jds1911a1

Mar 12, '08, 2:47 PM

The battle pack pictured consists of five figures that have already been mass produced during a movie year, kids most likely already own all the figures in it. So what's the point in even making it? It's leftover mass produced carded figures that retailers could not sell and returned to Hasbro. Hasbro rehashes the figures into the battle pack in an attempt to still make money off of the excess product.

because kids age out every few years. actaully it isn't leftovers/returns at all they produce the stuff for battle packs new (often using existing molds to maximise profit). as far as hasbro is concerned once a retailer buys the stuff it's their problem to sell it or resell to a store like big lots and KB (hence why TRU walmarts and targets sometimes have figures from prior years still on the shelves 18 months later.

raider5gt

Mar 12, '08, 2:51 PM

Hasbro is a business so if it has overstock they would put it into something else like all business's do.I have been collecting Star Wars 3 3/4 inch figures since 1995 and i am guilty of trying to get them all :smile: :juggleyes_y:

Back to the thread,i dont think Hasbro should call it quits,they have done a good job on the 30th Anniversary figures,there are a few new figures in this range,such as Darth Malik,Darth Revan,Hermi Odle,Ellis Helrot and so on,the McQuarrie concept figures are a nice change too.

Yes they re-release the figures in different packs but at the end of the day its up to the individual to make the choice to purchase or not.Just my 2 pence worth :smiley1:

LET THE SHOUTING COMMENCE :wink:

Seeker

Mar 12, '08, 3:42 PM

Now I've seen stores like Walmart carry the special multi pkgs. 2 single carded figures merged into one pkg. And yes that is usually a way to get rid of overstock. Usually its at a special lower price.

Most Battle packs i'd like to point out have at least 1 or 2 new sculpt figures or several different assessories. In addition to the few old figures.

Its not like they are totally screwing you reusing the same old figures over and over just to ring a buck out of you.

Hasbro makes out and Star Wars fans make out. If someone doesnt want to buy anymore then don't.

ZICA

Mar 12, '08, 3:44 PM

Seems like I remember reading that Hasbro has the license until 2015 and it cost them a not so small fortune so I don't see them calling it quits on Star Wars toys anytime soon. I seriously doubt they'll ever give up that license.

BlackKnight

Mar 12, '08, 3:49 PM

Prime316

The gentleman that started the thread, grayhank, has always been cool with debates
and discussion and I, in turn, have tried to be that way as well---
(and will take my lashings when its pointed out to me that I'm being disrespectful
and appropriately humble myself----and now MY pointing is at you Prime)

In addition, I believe that in this "heated" thread both grayhank and I have acted with
great decorum as has BK and everyone else -----except you Prime316

And you know what? If the translation of "butthurt" to you means that your
attitude has turned me off to addressing (or even CARING about) the actual
issue and points you're trying to make....well ----my butt be a' hurtin'.

Well Said Hue.
Words of Wisdom right there...:wink:

This all,.. for the MOST part, was an interesting conversation. When I was reading GrayHanks points, I thought that he had Valued issues about collecting, & thought I would offer perhaps a bit of the "other side of the spectrum of veiws" if you will. I NEVER diagreed with him,.. I just pointed out perhaps different peoples thoughts on the Matter..., that were overlooked in ways.

I really am in no Mood to apply any effort to Primes "ButtHurt" Comments, nore Argue about a Flipp'in Action figure that is Made, inwhich has been made & re-painted 100times & marketed half of those times as Exclusives.

I really don't give a Damn what people Buy, or What issues they have in buying whatever they Buy, or how it is marketed.. or whether or not they want to Quit buying the line. I have far better things to do. I buy what I like to Buy,.. & thats really all that Matters.

Everyone "Sues" for EVERYTHING now adays,.. if Anyone has a Case of this "Discrimination" .. why not Take it to court then.. & do something about it, rather than B-tch on a Mego Board about a Toy Line that has a Label of 4+ on it,.. & is NOT Mego. :smiley1:

Nuff said.

Iron_fox85

Mar 12, '08, 4:01 PM

IESB.net - Movie News, Reviews, Interviews and More! - First Star Wars: The Clone Wars Poster Art Revealed! (http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4480&Itemid=99) new poster's out for the CGI clonewars movie thats coming to theaters. (after that in the fall it'll be a tv show) toyfair already showed theyre new toyline Rebelscum.com; Star Wars Toy News Archive (http://www.rebelscum.com/tf2008/hasbro/TCW/default.asp) i'm excited to buy more clone troopers since i'm a clone trooper junkie! 0w0

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 4:15 PM

I have been collecting Star Wars 3 3/4 inch figures since 1995 and i am guilty of trying to get them all ...

PARODY SUNG TO THE TUNE OF "GUILTY"
BY BARBRA STREISAND AND BARRY GIBB
-------------------------------------------------

Shadows falling , baby , we stand alone
in toy aisles anybody you meet got a heartache of their own
(It oughta be illegal)
Make it a crime to need a Battle Pack
(It oughta be illegal)
You got a reason for livin'
You battle on with the figures you're jonesin' on
They gotta be mine
We take it away
Even if it's an eighth repaint
We are spendin' our dime
And we got nothing to be guilty of
Our love... will fight our accountants... we'll even deal, with no meals
HASBRO will never let it end
We are devotion
And we got nothing to be sorry for
Our love makes Lucas millions
Eyes can see that we got an addiction to the line
And I don't wanna say goodbye
Oh!

Pulse's racing , darling
How grand we are
Little by little we meet in the aisle
There's danger in the store
(It oughta be illegal)
Make it a crime to treatin' these like gold
(Well, scalping is illegal)
You got a reason for livin'
You battle on with the Expanded Universe
Forever
They all gotta be mine
We take it away
Where's the Sarlacc-soaked Weequay?
Just a matter of time
And we got nothing to be guilty of
Our love will scour any TARGET near or far , our cars
We'll drive 'em to their treads
We are devotion
And we got nothing to be sorry for
Don't mind spendin' a million
Eyes can see that we think "love/hate" with this line...

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 4:18 PM

because kids age out every few years. actaully it isn't leftovers/returns at all they produce the stuff for battle packs new (often using existing molds to maximise profit). as far as hasbro is concerned once a retailer buys the stuff it's their problem to sell it or resell to a store like big lots and KB (hence why TRU walmarts and targets sometimes have figures from prior years still on the shelves 18 months later.

That is not entirely accurate. When it's movie product overload, retailers can in fact return the product to Hasbro. I have seen and physically talked to Hasbro reps at places like TRU, Target and Walmart packing up stuff like Episode II and III to return to their own distribution centers (not the store's distribution centers, but Hasbro's.) This all came about because there was so much leftover stock from Episode I that retailers didn't want to order mass quantities and be stuck with it again. So Hasbro's solution was "we'll take back what you can't sell". There were quite a few press releases regarding this. It's also interesting to note that hardly any of the Episode I stuff has been repacked - because it wasn't returned to Hasbro. And if you open some of those figures from those battlepacks you will see date stamps on their legs from 95, 96, 97 etc. So perhaps they are using the molds from the Power of the Force line to some extent.

Now for places like KB, the items get sent to the Outlet division, along with any excess warehouse stock from other retail stores that they have way too much of. The everyday stuff...not so much the mass produced movie stuff. That is why if you've ever been inside a KB Outlet (one of the divisions I also worked within) you will often find exclusives original to the other stores with their store logos on them. The KB Outlet division has been enormously successful which is why very few of them closed when KB was closing down hundreds of their mall stores.

Most "HOT" exclusives don't get sent back because they are made in smaller quantities. Target will clearance these down to almost nothing (usually after Christmas) and the stuff goes very quickly at that point.

Prime316

Mar 12, '08, 4:31 PM

Everyone "Sues" for EVERYTHING now adays,.. if Anyone has a Case of this "Discrimination" .. why not Take it to court then.. & do something about it
I won't take it to court because the American Judicial System is a sham and favors the criminals now. So it would only favor the Discriminators and be a waste of the victims & tax payers time. And the only reason everyone sues for everything nowadays is because Americans are too fraggin lazy to make serious money another way. Everyone just wants to sue someone to get a lot of money rather than earn it.

This all,.. for the MOST part, was an interesting conversation. When I was reading GrayHanks points, I thought that he had Valued issues about collecting, & thought I would offer perhaps a bit of the "other side of the spectrum of veiws" if you will. I NEVER diagreed with him,.. I just pointed out perhaps different peoples thoughts on the Matter...,

So wait, Blacknight your not even arguing your own opinion!? Wow, imo that's lame. Why not voice your own opinion? why talk for people that should be here talking for themselves if they feel that way? Are you the spokes person for people who aren't here to disagree with us on this matter?:smiley1:
I find it funny yet stupid when someone comes on here and argues points of opinions they don't even see themselves, but rather argue just to argue with someone. Probably in hopes of making someone else feel bad like the way they feel about themselves. I'm not on here trying to tell people they're wrong, I'm here stating my opinion on this matter for my own sake and to connect with others who feel the same way. You have as much right to voice your opinions (as you have) as well. But really should voice the opinions you have, not the opinions you think others might have yet aren't here actually stating for themselves. Speak for your own opinion please, not those you think others have.

We know to buy what we want and not buy what we don't want, we've heard it a million times, so that doesn't need bear repeating AGAIN.

What a lot of you guys apparently don't seem to understand is we're just venting our frustrations with Hasbro. We ARE entitled to do so as Americans. And if it bugs you that much to read someone else's B*tching, then maybe you should read something else!:smiley1: I'm not complaining on here about Hasbro to find people to argue with who disagree & tell me I'm wrong. I'm complaining to find other people that agree and feel the same way. There IS NO wrong or write. ONLY opinion. And MYYY Opinion is such as previously stated.

Anyways, I have better things to do for now, like read a good book!

And Blacknight, incase you haven't noticed, this is the Modern Toys section of the Megoboards. A section for toys NOT mego.:smiley1:

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 4:38 PM

Everyone "Sues" for EVERYTHING now adays,.. if Anyone has a Case of this "Discrimination" .. why not Take it to court then.. & do something about it, rather than B-tch on a Mego Board about a Toy Line that has a Label of 4+ on it,.. & is NOT Mego. :smiley1:

I said it was a form of discrimination (i.e. prejudice - which means to pre-judge). I certainly have better things to do with my time than take a few sales associates to court for being rude. I think I have tried to be very cival and talk very politely about all that I've said here. As a Minister, it is not my nature to offend. If I have offended you in any way I am truly sorry. Peace be with you.

BlackKnight

Mar 12, '08, 4:48 PM

^^^ You didn't bud. & It was in NO way my intention of Offending you either.
Good luck with your collecting Future, in where it takes you. :grin:

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 4:49 PM

What a lot of you guys apparently don't seem to understand is we're just venting our frustrations with Hasbro. We ARE entitled to do so as Americans. And if it bugs you that much to read someone else's B*tching, then maybe you should read something else!:smiley1: I'm not complaining on here about Hasbro to find people to argue with who disagree & tell me I'm wrong. I'm complaining to find other people that agree and feel the same way. There IS NO wrong or write. ONLY opinion. And MYYY Opinion is such as previously stated.

Very nice point J, but tone it down some. You do alot better when you're calm! Anger leads to the dark side! :wink:

BlackKnight

Mar 12, '08, 5:30 PM

Prime,..
Allow Me to explain. My Opionions were mine, & I did dissagree with Hank on certain points he made. However Most of your "Attack" was directed at this ,. towards Me..

" .. & If you are going to Targets at 9:00 in the morning with your buddy's, on a Tuesday,.. Every week,.. or twice a week.. & the 1st thing you do is look at the Toys, with no children present, & then ask where something is,.. or a #ed Hotwheel... why wouldn't they think your a Toy Scalper ? .. I've worked in retail before,.. & my OldLady works at Target now..., & Generally, thats Who it is. It's been that way since Ebay. Most parents don't buy a toy for thier kids at that time. & Most grown men don't collect action figures. They stock the shelves,.. they know what has 1 per case,.. they know what is an Exclusive, they know what dissapears in the 1st 5 minutes when a bunch of guys run into Target when they 1st open at 9am. "

You say it's Descrimination,.. It could be,.. BUT like it OR not this is what people think outside of the Toy Hobby of collecting. This is where I was not trying to Dissagree,.. trying to offer the "otherside" & THIS is where you Attacked me. :smile:

jds1911a1

Mar 12, '08, 5:46 PM

That is not entirely accurate. When it's movie product overload, retailers can in fact return the product to Hasbro. I have seen and physically talked to Hasbro reps at places like TRU, Target and Walmart packing up stuff like Episode II and III to return to their own distribution centers (not the store's distribution centers, but Hasbro's.) This all came about because there was so much leftover stock from Episode I that retailers didn't want to order mass quantities and be stuck with it again. So Hasbro's solution was "we'll take back what you can't sell". There were quite a few press releases regarding this. It's also interesting to note that hardly any of the Episode I stuff has been repacked - because it wasn't returned to Hasbro. And if you open some of those figures from those battlepacks you will see date stamps on their legs from 95, 96, 97 etc. So perhaps they are using the molds from the Power of the Force line to some extent.

Now for places like KB, the items get sent to the Outlet division, along with any excess warehouse stock from other retail stores that they have way too much of. The everyday stuff...not so much the mass produced movie stuff. That is why if you've ever been inside a KB Outlet (one of the divisions I also worked within) you will often find exclusives original to the other stores with their store logos on them. The KB Outlet division has been enormously successful which is why very few of them closed when KB was closing down hundreds of their mall stores.

Most "HOT" exclusives don't get sent back because they are made in smaller quantities. Target will clearance these down to almost nothing (usually after Christmas) and the stuff goes very quickly at that point.

If you say so I have no reason to doubt you but when specifically asked (in one of the ealriest question sessions for the SW collector sites) if the battle packs were repackaged returned figures the hasbro reps claimed the battle packs were not repacked but new production runs on old molds. I would assume that the take backs were the movie promo kits which were marketed separately, as my TRU was blowing out ROTS figs of the senators and such in mid 07 becasue they were still warming shelves. Hasbro has made no denial they are reusing mold and kitbashing molds from as far back as POTJ and th elast Potf2 (when they stopped being overmuscled)

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 6:21 PM

What I don't understand is why now with the backlash? Battle Packs have been around since Revenge of the Sith came out. How many of the same figure or vehicle has Hasbro done more than once? It's not like it's anything new.

One of the reasons I started this thread right there. The majority of what I find sitting on the shelves is repackaged stuff. The backlash (at least coming from me) at this time is because that's all Hasbro really seems to be focusing on. Those Battle packs, while some are very cool and every once in a while Hasbro throws us a bone by sticking 1 new figure or accessory into it, are basically rotting on the shelves. That Tantive IV Battle Pack is still everywhere here in my area. The Battle Pack pic that I posted contains 3 figures from that same Tantive IV pack.

When stores aren't moving old product because most people already have it, it starts sitting on the shelves, and new product doesn't get put out. If Hasbro continues to make items filled with old product, it too is going to sit on the shelves. The "Legends" figures take up three quarters of the allotted space for Star Wars. It's great that Hasbro has made some of these second chance figures for people who might have missed out on them the first time around. But at the same time it prevents retail stores from ordering cases of "new" product because their shelves are full and they have many more cases to put out of the same case assortments that are sitting.

This is going to be real over-the-top now :wink_y: But it's almost as if Hasbro is telling us you can't have any new figures until you guys buy up all the stuff that didn't sell the first time. A "you can't have dessert until you eat all of your liver" mentality. But just in case we're going to make a few new things here and there in vastly smaller numbers just to give you a taste.

The ratio seems to be 3 cases of reissues to 1 case of new product. That's how it "appears" to me.

The bottom line to this entire thread is this. Do I love Star Wars? Yes I am very passionately thankful that the line has gone as long as it has. Do I want Hasbro to continue making Star Wars? You betcha! BUT...Please, please, please...cut back on reissues. I'm not saying don't make them. Just cutback on them. Turn that ratio around or even it out because at the rate they are going...it's like a snake eating it's own tail.

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 6:27 PM

1) re: going on the messageboard board threads to "vent" vs. going on them to "debate"
and/or just "interact" with others----well, I can't really understand the logic in purely
having "venting" as your goal---but if that's the case, I WILL apologize if it seems to any
that I'm attacking them, merely by addressing their opinions with my own....we obviously
would have different ideas of message board ettiquette

2) No one liked my song. Is it because "GUILTY" is a "TOP 40 relic" no one remembers
anymore...or did no one mention liking it just because it stunk? :)

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 6:33 PM

This is going to be real over-the-top now But it's almost as if Hasbro is telling us you can't have any new figures until you guys buy up all the stuff that didn't sell the first time. A "you can't have dessert until you eat all of your liver" mentality. But just in case we're going to make a few new things here and there in vastly smaller numbers just to give you a taste.

The only thing I ever thought was over-the-top was implying that if things weren't
going exactly the route you saw fit to be (even though "business is business")
--- then HASBRO should halt the whole line at the cost of any cool new product.

Which you pretty much acknowledged wasn't "entirely" the case with the following:

The bottom line to this entire thread is this. Do I love Star Wars? Yes I am very passionately thankful that the line has gone as long as it has. Do I want Hasbro to continue making Star Wars? You betcha! BUT...Please, please, please...cut back on reissues. I'm not saying don't make them. Just cutback on them. Turn that ratio around or even it out because at the rate they are going...it's like a snake eating it's own tail.

Hey, if the thread was called "WHY HASBRO SHOULD CUT BACK ON REISSUES!!!"
THEN a lot of this "back & forth" woulda been much less...um....."over-the-top" ;)

:)

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 7:39 PM

If you say so I have no reason to doubt you but when specifically asked (in one of the ealriest question sessions for the SW collector sites) if the battle packs were repackaged returned figures the hasbro reps claimed the battle packs were not repacked but new production runs on old molds. I would assume that the take backs were the movie promo kits which were marketed separately, as my TRU was blowing out ROTS figs of the senators and such in mid 07 becasue they were still warming shelves. Hasbro has made no denial they are reusing mold and kitbashing molds from as far back as POTJ and th elast Potf2 (when they stopped being overmuscled)

Here's an article from late 1999 which mentions what I said about Hasbro having to take on the responsibility of inventory levels (in this particular case it's Walmart). This was one of the key factors for Hasbro to assign reps to go into the retail stores and pack up the leftovers. The following paragraphs are excerpts from the article but you can read it entirely at the link. Those who are familiar with my posts know that I often like to back up what I'm saying so other articles are sure to follow :terror:

Hasbro hopes to increase sales by expanding its offerings of electronic toys and CD-ROM games and its popular Pokemon line. But analysts said retail sales of Hasbro's ''Star Wars'' line were sluggish as the latest movie failed to meet the hype-induced expectations at the box office. The company, based in Pawtucket, R.I., hopes to compensate with Pokemon trading cards, one of this year's sensations.

''The force is with Pokemon, not 'Star Wars,' '' said Tony Gikas, an industry analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis.

Erik Gustafson, a senior portfolio manager in Chicago with Stein Roe & Farnham, which owns Hasbro shares, said yesterday's announcements were ''an admission that Hasbro has to change the way it does business in order to adjust to the changing environment for toy companies.''

He said that big customers like Wal-Mart Stores were insisting on delivery on demand for hot products, pushing the costs of maintaining inventories back on the toymakers. ''As a result, Hasbro has to cut its cost structure to absorb that inventory expense,'' he said.

Hasbro to Cut 20% of Its Jobs and Take $97 Million Charge - New York Times (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04EFD71E3EF93BA35751C1A96F9582 60)

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 7:44 PM

Hey, if the thread was called "WHY HASBRO SHOULD CUT BACK ON REISSUES!!!"
THEN a lot of this "back & forth" woulda been much less...um....."over-the-top" ;)

When you ramble on as much as I do you don't always know what you should call it. The original intent of my title was meant to be sarcasm not literal. :yes:

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 7:49 PM

2) No one liked my song. Is it because "GUILTY" is a "TOP 40 relic" no one remembers anymore...or did no one mention liking it just because it stunk? :)

It's Barry & Barbra...of course it stunk! :silly:

huedell

Mar 12, '08, 7:57 PM

But analysts said retail sales of Hasbro's ''Star Wars'' line were sluggish as the latest movie failed to meet the hype-induced expectations at the box office.

Hmmmmm...the third biggest selling movie of its time and it didn't "meet expectations
at the box office"?

Say SOMETHING to explain poor sales....but not that :)

When you ramble on as much as I do you don't always know what you should
call it. The original intent of my title was meant to be sarcasm not literal.

Well, you know I kinda felt 50/50 between how I was percieving sarcasm vs. literal,
but when Brian started in about selling his collection---and someone else chimed in too---
I thought----"some of these guys might actually be SERIOUS about the pure elimination
of this line just because they couldn't keep up with it however they wanted to"

It's Barry & Barbra...of course it stunk! :silly:

Cold, my man, cold! :wink_y::cool_y:

jds1911a1

Mar 12, '08, 10:01 PM

Here's an article from late 1999 which mentions what I said about Hasbro having to take on the responsibility of inventory levels (in this particular case it's Walmart). This was one of the key factors for Hasbro to assign reps to go into the retail stores and pack up the leftovers. The following paragraphs are excerpts from the article but you can read it entirely at the link. Those who are familiar with my posts know that I often like to back up what I'm saying so other articles are sure to follow :terror:

Hasbro hopes to increase sales by expanding its offerings of electronic toys and CD-ROM games and its popular Pokemon line. But analysts said retail sales of Hasbro's ''Star Wars'' line were sluggish as the latest movie failed to meet the hype-induced expectations at the box office. The company, based in Pawtucket, R.I., hopes to compensate with Pokemon trading cards, one of this year's sensations.

''The force is with Pokemon, not 'Star Wars,' '' said Tony Gikas, an industry analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis.

Erik Gustafson, a senior portfolio manager in Chicago with Stein Roe & Farnham, which owns Hasbro shares, said yesterday's announcements were ''an admission that Hasbro has to change the way it does business in order to adjust to the changing environment for toy companies.''

He said that big customers like Wal-Mart Stores were insisting on delivery on demand for hot products, pushing the costs of maintaining inventories back on the toymakers. ''As a result, Hasbro has to cut its cost structure to absorb that inventory expense,'' he said.

Hasbro to Cut 20% of Its Jobs and Take $97 Million Charge - New York Times (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04EFD71E3EF93BA35751C1A96F9582 60)

OK that's an article from 8 years ago after EP1, which may or may not reflect the environment and relationship hasbro has with its retail partners today. I can go to any target kmart or walmart in near me today and find star wars figures from the 2006 line still on the shelves which means they are at least 1 year old (Moff Jerrjod, BOSCH leia, or 3po in ewok chair for examples) does this mean the hasbro rep in my region is slacking? Or does it mean that hasbro isn't taking back old stuff? If they take back old stuff why would retailers bother to clearance items? I would suspect that they had reps supporting the end of the movie re-merchandising when they transitioned from ROTS to TSC.

SUP-Ronin

Mar 12, '08, 10:58 PM

I can't even comment on Starwars. I'm still in therapy after suffering thru 2 excruciating hours of Jar-Jar Binks. Absolutely the biggest movie disappointment of my life. Glad I never got that Bobafett tatoo. Excuse me while I vomit...

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 11:02 PM

OK that's an article from 8 years ago after EP1, which may or may not reflect the environment and relationship hasbro has with its retail partners today. I can go to any target kmart or walmart in near me today and find star wars figures from the 2006 line still on the shelves which means they are at least 1 year old (Moff Jerrjod, BOSCH leia, or 3po in ewok chair for examples) does this mean the hasbro rep in my region is slacking? Or does it mean that hasbro isn't taking back old stuff? If they take back old stuff why would retailers bother to clearance items? I would suspect that they had reps supporting the end of the movie re-merchandising when they transitioned from ROTS to TSC.

Yes but how much Episode III stuff are you seeing in your stores...The figures you are talking about are NOT mass produced movie tie-in figures (And before somebody reads more into that, yes I know they come from a movie, do I truly have to explain the difference?)

Anyway, could have sworn I said that "mass produced movie tie-in figures" ("movie product overload" is the term I actually used) along the lines of those released in conjunction with Episode II and III were packed up because of the vast quantities left behind from Episode I, which retailers could not dispose of and Hasbro had to come up with an arrangement for those same retailers to carry their product AGAIN (insert aforementioned article here). At least I thought that's what I said. Anyway...not sure why that is quite so hard to believe.

Either I'm lying about talking to the Hasbro Reps who I stayed and chatted with for a good 15-20 minutes while I watched them box up leftover product from E3 OR they in fact were lying to me as to why they were there packing up leftover SW figures from Episode III OR the Reps you read about doing the Q&A were lying. Find one that works for you.

I for one am getting tired of every line I say be subject to constant scrutiny and taken out of context from what was intended or actually said on my part. So maybe it's best to just let it rest and suffer silently in my own frustrations.

misterdroid

Mar 12, '08, 11:04 PM

2) No one liked my song. Is it because "GUILTY" is a "TOP 40 relic" no one remembers
anymore...or did no one mention liking it just because it stunk? :)

Anal retentive star wars collectors aside, I just kind of didn't want to bring up an andy gibb/streisand duet. Its kind of creepy really.

grayhank

Mar 12, '08, 11:21 PM

If I were truly anal retentive I would point out that it's BARRY GIBB!!!!! (Well whaddya know...I am anal retentive.) :grin:

jds1911a1

Mar 13, '08, 7:27 AM

Yes but how much Episode III stuff are you seeing in your stores...The figures you are talking about are NOT mass produced movie tie-in figures (And before somebody reads more into that, yes I know they come from a movie, do I truly have to explain the difference?)

Anyway, could have sworn I said that "mass produced movie tie-in figures" ("movie product overload" is the term I actually used) along the lines of those released in conjunction with Episode II and III were packed up because of the vast quantities left behind from Episode I, which retailers could not dispose of and Hasbro had to come up with an arrangement for those same retailers to carry their product AGAIN (insert aforementioned article here). At least I thought that's what I said. Anyway...not sure why that is quite so hard to believe.

Either I'm lying about talking to the Hasbro Reps who I stayed and chatted with for a good 15-20 minutes while I watched them box up leftover product from E3 OR they in fact were lying to me as to why they were there packing up leftover SW figures from Episode III OR the Reps you read about doing the Q&A were lying. Find one that works for you.

I for one am getting tired of every line I say be subject to constant scrutiny and taken out of context from what was intended or actually said on my part. So maybe it's best to just let it rest and suffer silently in my own frustrations.

ROTS overstucks - As of today 2 years later nothing. but even in later summer 06 TRU's by me still had pegs of ask ask, mon mothmas and bail organas. none of those have shown as battle packs yet. The stores put em on clearencce and then they were gone a couple months later. and that was long after all the movie promo fixtures were carted away back to hasbro.

to your original rant then - if they were packing up movie leftovers (whether from ep 1 2 or 3) how can you possibly intimate a stormtrooper in the battle pack is reuse of returned unsold product? If you consider the logistics to return the figures to china, uncard them and repackage them it would reduce the profit margin of the battle pack. If they were selling generic packaging figures (like Kenner did in 85) then I would agree they could be factory overrun figures but since these packs are distinct sets produced for mass market it doesn't fit that they are returns

huedell

Mar 13, '08, 11:05 AM

To me, altho' a bit more "pro-active", reusing molds is just as legit as repackaging
overstock.

grayhank

Mar 13, '08, 11:09 AM

to your original rant then - if they were packing up movie leftovers (whether from ep 1 2 or 3) how can you possibly intimate a stormtrooper in the battle pack is reuse of returned unsold product?

That's a fair response! I can only surmise that perhaps Hasbro still had plenty of cases of leftover stock in their own distribution centers (from various lines) which never made their way into retail inventories. "Hello Walmart, we've still got 13,000 cases of AOTC/Saga product etc...do you need anymore? "Nope we're good"!

What would you do with all the leftovers? :sarky: But whether they are using unsold product or going back and making new production runs from existing molds is all pretty much irrelevant. The fact remains that in those Battle Packs, they are still reissues or repaints of figures that have already been released. So I'm not sure why we are even debating the logistics of it all.

BTW - I have gone through all of the Hasbro Q&A archives and I have yet to see the question to or answer by Hasbro stating that the figures in those Battle Packs are NOT repacks but newly produced figures from existing molds as you had indicated you had seen. Please provide the link if you have it.

grayhank

Mar 13, '08, 11:36 AM

ROTS overstucks - As of today 2 years later nothing. but even in later summer 06 TRU's by me still had pegs of ask ask, mon mothmas and bail organas. none of those have shown as battle packs yet. The stores put em on clearencce and then they were gone a couple months later. and that was long after all the movie promo fixtures were carted away back to hasbro.

My only reasonable explanation for that is those figures came out towards the tail end of the Episode III run after the movie hype had died down considerably. Like I already said, new product won't get put out until old product is gone. When you've got an overabundance of initial waves still on the pegs, stores won't order newer case assortments. Enter the Hasbro reps to clear out and make room for the newer cases to prevent backup in their own warehouses. You've also got to remember that ROTS came out in May 2005, by Summer of 06 (over a year later) the movie hype was over.

I don't claim to know all the answers. I don't know what the actual agreement was between Hasbro and Retailers and to what percentage they would take back. I do know that Hasbro came up with the solution to try and prevent the same situation that occurred with Episode I merchandise. It was a concern by the retailers and that was how Hasbro addressed it.

MarkStalcup

Mar 13, '08, 1:04 PM

I think the problem isn't all the figures...everybody can use extra Stormtroopers, and wookies are good, too...it's yet another Darth Vader, and yet another Jedi fighter which doesn't even fit the figure. They have released so many Darths lately that I think if I ever do buy another battle pack with him in it, I'm customizing him into that gaudy, awful pink and light green Hello Kitty Darth that people post pics on the Internet of, and auctioning him on EBay.

grayhank

Mar 13, '08, 2:07 PM

Yeah and isn't there an all gold Vader coming out this year too. I'm holding my breath for Hasbro to make one with purple polka dots. Or one that has a removable helmet and shows his smiley face like when Luke removes his helmet and he says "you were right about me, my son" and then he croaks and goes off to Jedi oblivian and is replaced by a younger incarnation of himself which makes no sense but by the time that has happened Lucas will have remade the movie for the 100th time and you will actually see that Jar Jar Binks was actually Darth Vader and Luke's father because Padme actually jumped his bones when she pulled him aside in Episode I.

Ok maybe I carried that a little too far :smiley1: But then again, it's only a matter of time before that "expanded universe" story is told. Hasbro's got the license for many many years to come.

jwyblejr

Mar 13, '08, 6:13 PM

It's all good as long as we don't get a "Ghost of Jar Jar" like the one shown on the Robot Chicken Star Wars Special.

jds1911a1

Mar 13, '08, 6:59 PM

That's a fair response! I can only surmise that perhaps Hasbro still had plenty of cases of leftover stock in their own distribution centers (from various lines) which never made their way into retail inventories. "Hello Walmart, we've still got 13,000 cases of AOTC/Saga product etc...do you need anymore? "Nope we're good"!

What would you do with all the leftovers? :sarky: But whether they are using unsold product or going back and making new production runs from existing molds is all pretty much irrelevant. The fact remains that in those Battle Packs, they are still reissues or repaints of figures that have already been released. So I'm not sure why we are even debating the logistics of it all.

BTW - I have gone through all of the Hasbro Q&A archives and I have yet to see the question to or answer by Hasbro stating that the figures in those Battle Packs are NOT repacks but newly produced figures from existing molds as you had indicated you had seen. Please provide the link if you have it.

I was wrong it was actually a question mark from 2005 (UGHH it took forever to find). I stand partially corrected my memory crossed the separation of the twins repacks with the battle packs
Rebelscum.com: Question Mark #196 (http://www.rebelscum.com/story/front/Question_Mark_196_96217.asp)

Seeker

Mar 13, '08, 7:28 PM

God end this already. So what if they reuse old stock? I'd rather see a recycled battle pack the read about another line that didn't sell and got ground up or tossed.

I remember Tomarts and Lees running a few stories about old toy lines, much sought after now, simply scrapped because sales were down at the time.

.....And yeah you can always use more Stormtroopers

grayhank

Mar 13, '08, 7:38 PM

grayhank

Mar 13, '08, 7:44 PM

God end this already. So what if they reuse old stock? I'd rather see a recycled battle pack the read about another line that didn't sell and got ground up or tossed.

Why is there always a person who wants a conversation to end? Just don't read the thread if you don't wanna read about what we are discussing. Isn't the point of a forum to discuss topics of interest? If there was no interest I'd still be here talking to myself. :yeah:

jds1911a1

Mar 13, '08, 8:25 PM

Yeah I understand, memory can be a tricky thing especially after 13 years of history in this "modern - POTF2 to Present" Star Wars age. But as I was going through various press releases and articles I stumbled upon a comment that I just had to share. But before I post it, I have to set it up.

Exploit - to take selfish or unfair advantage of a person or situation, usually for personal gain.

The comment:

Hasbro negotiated the 10-year license extension in 2003. "We have an extra ten years to exploit this property," said Hargreaves. "The Star Wars property is a high gross margin area. It generally requires less advertising because it’s the movie that drives interest in the merchandise." David Hargreaves – Hasbro Chief Financial Officer

At least Hasbro calls it like it is! :yes:

I think you and I got stuck in semantics that in a face to face discussion wouldn't have gone as long
"you say repacked and I say reused mold the end is the same. I stopped collecting packsge variations/ accessory variation etc a long time ago. There have been so many rescupts I pretty much bag those too now unless it's a trooper I can use to diaorama since all my toys escape their prisons so my kids and i can play

misterdroid

Mar 13, '08, 9:49 PM

Here is the thing. I am enjoying this lively debate... It has made me laugh out loud a couple times, BUT is the Mego Museum the place to rant endlessly about reusing molds? Lets put it in context. Mego reused as much material as humanly possible! And sure, while the same standards which applied to toy manufacture in the past don't really apply now, lets look at it rationally... maybe as a collector you despise reused molds. Great, point made/taken. My kid who is 10 happens to love the Battle packs. The are full of play value, have sets of good guys/ bad guys and often contain figs he couldn't get at retail because they all waddled out the store door to nestle in new homes in comic shops and ebay listings long before we got there. He's bought several of the new 2-pack with the reused Republic commando solely because the figure is white, he can customize them. If you don't like it, vote with your dollar, and lets all get along already, ok?

grayhank

Mar 13, '08, 10:07 PM

They are full of play value, have sets of good guys/ bad guys and often contain figs he couldn't get at retail because they all waddled out the store door to nestle in new homes in comic shops and ebay listings long before we got there.

I am biting my tongue so hard in an attempt not to say anything that blood is actually pouring out my mouth. But I have to ask, I don't wanna ask, but I feel strongly compelled to ask and I'm gonna hate myself for doing so:

What figure in any of those Battle Packs (that aren't exclusive to the Battle Pack itself) could you not find at retail?

huedell

Mar 13, '08, 10:16 PM

Just a little comment on the term "exploit"

Unless you're giving stuff away for free---you better HOPE you can
"exploit" consumers---if not, you ain't gonna be able to pay the rent....

"Having something that people want"

That's business.

It calls to mind that line from the CHARLIE BROWN XMAS sequel where he points out that
he can't be exploiting XMAS by selling XMAS wreaths door-to-door if it happens that
no one is buying them!

misterdroid

Mar 13, '08, 11:35 PM

I am biting my tongue so hard in an attempt not to say anything that blood is actually pouring out my mouth. But I have to ask, I don't wanna ask, but I feel strongly compelled to ask and I'm gonna hate myself for doing so:

What figure in any of those Battle Packs (that aren't exclusive to the Battle Pack itself) could you not find at retail?

I don't know where you live, but where I am at very, very few star wars figs hang on the pegs long. Generally we get maybe 3 to 5 out of every series hanging around. (right now it seems to be plain white clones, death star troopers and biker scouts) Yes the wookie set is crap. As have been a few. He mostly likes to pick up the sets with different deco troopers which vanish as if by magic (as singles) in my area. ( he recently bought a set of the clones in the battle back featuring the shark mouth dropship... I don't recall it's name because I just don't care that much) Maybe you are lucky to live in an area where people pass on this stuff. And no, we don't wait at the store at 8 am to get them. We go after he gets out of school like regular folk. Hell, he's been trying to collect the mcquarrie figs since they launched and has found exactly 2 at retail (not that that has anything to do with the battlepacks) I feel the sw stuff at this point is for kids... and don't get me wrong, even for a 10 year old he's got complaints (example, clones with the super poseable upper body but with the crappy one piece legs) about the battle packs. My point was this- for a kid, without an unlimited collecting budget, the battle packs are not so bad. It is an easy way to bulk out your army. IF YOU, AS A COLLECTOR, HATE THEM DO NOT BUY THEM. If the merchandise is weighted to far in favor of collectors, eventually this will make a difference. If it is steered towards kids, expect to see the "Scuba Han Solo vs the Yak face gang" in your store soon.
I am not disagreeing with any of your points, so relax already. I could care less about whether or not hasbro ever makes another SW fig. My kid would be bummed and then move on to something else. (and frankly, he likes the SW lego better) I have seen plenty of favorite toy lines go down in his short time on earth (and in toy aisles) And any property with a rabid fanbase is going to face criticism. I only wanted to point out the feeling of an everyday, average consumer of a specific product, not the opinion of a collector, dealer or any other specialty market crap. I am just a guy who occasionally tries to help his kid find what he is looking for in the toy dept of a major retailer, is that so tongue bitingly bad?. The fact that this crap is eight pages deep points out what an absolute farce collecting modern toys is. The manufucturers use the retailers, the retailers use the dealers, the dealers use the the collectors and in the end you have a box of crap you will be lucky to get retail for in 5 years. As long as people keep the product moving, the product keep being produce. So... again... vote with your wallet.

huedell

Mar 13, '08, 11:42 PM

"Scuba Han Solo vs the Yak Face Gang" Battle Pack
Awesome.

Captain

Mar 14, '08, 12:44 AM

I'm sure Hasbro is making a nice buck on all this Star Wars stuff, but there is another probable reason they are pushing out all this new stuff...canon or not...popular or not. Territory---Shelf space. Having prescence in a retail environment is difficult enough....losing it and trying to regain it later even more so. With the live action and clone wars stuff coming up, Hasbro knows interest in Star Wars will go up (beyond the regular fanboy contingent). They already have a fair size footprint in most toy departments with their existing stuff, and to keep it, they will put out anything...Star Wars Depends undergarments even, if necessary. Current sales arent key in respect to what the marketing department thinks they will be with media support (the new stuff coming up). This is a tactical decision as much as a moneymaking one. Some of these items can stink up the place all they want....they are just placeholders. (Although, most of this stuff seems to sell just fine in my neck of the woods anyways....and what doesnt hits clear out when the new stuff hits the pegs.)

Hasbro is probably the King when it comes to this strategy. Granted you must be a big time manufacturer to even have the clout and ability to do this! They have pulled it with GI Joe for years. When one incarnation starts to crumble (like the current 8" figures are starting to do) they talk the buyers into buying a ton of the stuff at reduced prices and flood the shelves, holding space for the next big thing in Joe world. Case in point: Wal-Mart Canada bought up a ton of the 8" figures at Christmas time, and had endcaps and regular shelves full of them at a $9.00 clearout price (they retail regularily at almost twice that up here). Sure enough, once the 8" sell down, we get tons of the Greatest American Hero 25th anniversary stuff to refill those spaces......a line which is in a way also a placeholder for the movie toys that are next in the cue.

In fact, I once heard a story that Hasbro had one of their factory affiliates in Hong Kong "knockoff" the GI Joe extreme line as a way of conquering more space. Those knockoffs were done by Chap mei, and grew into a popular enough generic line themselves. If true it shows how crafty some of these companies really are!

grayhank

Mar 14, '08, 2:10 AM

Was not trying to start yet another debate, Misterdroid. I made the tongue comment because I knew no matter what I said, it once again was going to open up yet more dispute. The comment itself was directed at myself, not towards you. It's my fault for not including the smiley face thingy. But I was in fact genuinely curious because in my mind, going through all those Battle Packs in my head, I could not think of anything that was remotely hard to find or rare in it's prior release that scalpers would have snatched up and sold on Ebay. If I made the comment without the "tongue intro" I would have gotten "WHADDYA MEAN THERE"S BEEN LOTS OF THEM, YOU STUPID JERK! Because just saying I can't remember any of them... equates to me saying there aren't any for some reason with other posters here. With me, every sentence has an ulterior motive and hidden meaning rather than me directly saying something and people taking it for how it was intended.

And once again, I never said I hated Battle Packs. Not once. In fact, I bought them all so far (apparently because I'm some kind of sick freak who "must" have everything, snatches the figures from children's hands, hides out in toy stores and pounces on everything the second it's released... and quite possibly sells it on Ebay because I'm 44 year old man.) Did I leave anything out guys? Oh yeah that I have no will power whatsover to NOT buy the things I don't like. And I just can't get enough of the expression "DON'T BUY IT IF YOU DON'T WANT IT" because I get off on wasting money buying items I don't want so I can take them home and yell at them and curse George Lucas and Hasbro like I had no say in the matter.

I did stress from the very beginning that I was growing tired of the constant reissues and lack of interesting product on Hasbro's part. I was even very supportive of some Battle Packs and some reissues way back in Post #49. The Battle Pack picture I posted just touched a nerve with me that that's how this entire thread came about. I'm not telling anybody NOT to buy it. I'm not telling anyone to quit collecting. I'm not telling anyone to continue reading this thread. Alot of what I have said here (from the title of the thread) to Barry Gibb has been sarcasm. The posts that weren't sarcasm have been quite thoughtful, logical and respectful of others posting here (at least I think so).

With that said I also feel that a lot of posts here truly seem to be coming down quite hard on me because I had an opinion about two upcoming products in the Hasbro SW Line. When my words get misinterpreted, taken out of context, assumptions are made, or words put in my mouth that I have never said, yes I will continue to discuss it in a rational manner to clarify what I have said. Obviously I am not alone in my frustrations because so many people have responded and this thread has gone on for eight pages (which seems to have some significant meaning for some reason) Some have made some very exellent points, others just seem to want to make a post just to try to instigate a fight ...with me (but nobody wants me to respond). We're gonna keep at him until we get him to shut up once and for all - is very much how I am taking alot of this.

Forums are meant to be places for conversations with those you have a common interest in. In order to do that it is essential to have a topic to talk about but I can see that conversation is not what's important here. Let's continue to have posts that list our top 5 movies day after day. Not really much of an invigorating conversation there, but I like those too. But sometimes maybe you want to hear what others think about something that you yourself are passionate about. But instead I seem to be getting a lot of what others think about me...not the topic itself.

There actually has been very little talk about the actual pictures I posted. Apparently I'm the only one that has an opinion about them...whether good or bad, at least it's an opinion or a thought or something to discuss.

If I had originally said "Wow, those are the greatest things that Hasbro has put out ever!" "George Lucas is GOD". I still would have had a lot of you coming down on me for liking them. It's truly a no-win situation. Like Politics and Religion...Star Wars should never be discussed.

So this tells me that conversation is not possible in a forum setting. We should all just stick to our Top 10 lists because anything more than that is just asking for confrontation and we really don't want threads where people have to think about something.

I ask any of you Administrators out there who have the ability to lock up this thread, PLEASE DO SO. It is quite apparent that people want it to stop because it's 8 pages long and nobody should have to suffer through that. "WHAT?!? someone has an opinion on a forum...let's get him before he starts talking all serious and intellectually! oops almost forgot the smiley face because you can't get away with saying anything without one: :yes::silly::wink::cool_y:

huedell

Mar 14, '08, 2:35 AM

Forums are meant to be places for conversations with those you have a
common interest in. In order to do that it is essential to have a topic to talk about but I
can see that conversation is not what's important here.

Its the reason that draws ME here in the first place.

I know of which you speak.

I mean I love the "Hi. How ya doin'" part of the boards too---but to me ---
the "debates" are the only tantalizing thing that keeps me coming back
on a regular basis.

Hang in there grayhank!

cobaltkatdrone

Mar 14, '08, 5:03 AM

Hi all

Interesting read.

Well IMO we can officially say that Hasbro has run out of Star Wars stuff to sell when they make a Star Wars Christmas Special Battle Pack and a Star Wars Transformer of Darth Vader that turns into a scorpion from this Japanese NES Star Wars Game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3NOOmNAPo).:smiley1:

Later and good luck to every one on there collecting.

CKD:animal-smiley-019:

"I have more toys than I need, but not as many as I want."

Seeker

Mar 14, '08, 6:38 AM

jds1911a1

Mar 14, '08, 4:13 PM

ctc

Mar 18, '08, 1:49 AM

>I for one am getting tired of every line I say be subject to constant scrutiny and taken out of context from what was intended or actually said on my part.

What are you saying?!?! Are you calling me stupid?!?!?

Seriously though; one of the problems with the internet is that it's a very limited form of communication and a lot of subtleties (like inflection) get lost. So folks will fill in their own (usually subconscious) perceptions... whcih often leads to odd and perhaps incorrect replies.

....but you'd better not be callin' me stupid.... (HEY! There's no emoticon givin' the squinty eye of disapproval! Imagine one here I guess....)

>Just don't read the thread if you don't wanna read about what we are discussing.

Okay. THIS is pretty common on the net; and I can't explain it either.

But getting back to the figure point: yeah; Hasbro is REALLY milking the Star Wars thing. Which I can see doing, 'cos it probably cost them a WHOLE lot and it's one of their main lines. I still look at it like I did when I was a kid: adding new characters is always cool, but you only need so many Vaders and Lukes. (Now with a NEW HAT!) At this point they've probably done every character that ever appeared anywhere in any of the movies. (Except E.T....)

Don C.