Funko Pop and I Finally Agree on Their Toys

[Megotastrophe]

https://futurism.com/the-byte/dumping-30-million-funko-pops-landfill

Ok I'm being snarky. But


I hate Funko Pops

[drquest]

I saw that the other day as well and agree.... People can collect whatever they want of course.

A few days before that, this was found as well. A bunch of pallets of Magic the Gathering cards.

https://www.pcgamer.com/somebody-tos...in-a-landfill/

[PNGwynne]

There's no rhyme or reason to this, though. A few years ago--and Dwayne posted on it here--Monarch Models destroyed a bunch of their retro kits. But new companies have continued to reissue these classic models, Phantom of the Opera etc.

[sprytel]

I always wonder about decisions like this. Why not sell them off to liquidators? Donate them to thrift stores? Give a bonus "mystery item" with every order?

If I had to guess, it is because seeing Funko Pops selling for 50 cents at Goodwill hurts the impression that these are valuable collectibles. But I have to think that all of this coverage of them going to a landfill does even more damage. Plus, it just seems so incredibly wasteful.

[Werewolf]

I always wonder about decisions like this. Why not sell them off to liquidators? Donate them to thrift stores? Give a bonus "mystery item" with every order?

It's a crappy thing to do on a lot of levels.

If I had to guess, it is because seeing Funko Pops selling for 50 cents at Goodwill hurts the impression that these are valuable collectibles.

Not surprised to see this happen. Funko Pops are artificially valuable.

I liked Funko better in their Wacky Wobbler days before they became this overly greedy corporate behemoth pushing this false notion of investing in their nerd Hummels instead of just having fun and collecting toys. Their manipulative business practices of chase figures and artificially limiting certain popular figures purposely feeds the speculator mindset. People really need to stop thinking of toys as just another investment in their portfolio.

[ODBJBG]

The problem with Pops is they became a “chase” thing which meant it was never going to last.

[publiusr]

Such a spiteful thing to do.

[thunderbolt]

They are the Beanie Babies of now.

[Dannyc]

I always wonder about decisions like this. Why not sell them off to liquidators? Donate them to thrift stores? Give a bonus "mystery item" with every order?

If I had to guess, it is because seeing Funko Pops selling for 50 cents at Goodwill hurts the impression that these are valuable collectibles. But I have to think that all of this coverage of them going to a landfill does even more damage. Plus, it just seems so incredibly wasteful.

I've heard it surmised that the reason they cant simply give them away and/or donate them might have to do with the terms of some of their licenses.
I've often joked that our post-apocalyptic, grim dark landscapes are going to be littered with Funko Pops. I guess this is a step towards that..

[msenger76]

you telling me they couldn't call the marines and say "we need to make $30mil worth of toys disappear. Do you know any toy charity drives that would accept them?" because i'm sure toys4tots would take them all

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Why can't they donate them? Is it some tax write-off thing that says they have to destroy them?

My LCS has deeply invested in Funko Pops. They have a lot of other great merch, but I hope this downturn doesn't hurt them too badly.

[Dannyc]

Actually, now that i think about it, maybe it's no different than magazine stands having to rip off the covers from magazines and comics.

[drquest]

I think it's a way to keep the value up on these things. If they "dumped" a lot in the market, the Funko Pop "stock market" would take a hit, lol.

[Bruce Banner]

These damned things have proliferated like tribbles. They're everywhere. A culling is long overdue.