So how do you think CTVT's did -- making money, that is ?

[Mikey]

Just wondering,

Now that Classic TV Toys is clearly done making Mego-like figures and Mego reproductions, how well do you think they made out financially ?

Looking at it from their point of view, do you think they did GREAT, WELL, SO-SO or POOR ?

I would say between SO-SO and POOR.
They seemed to do well from the very start, but lost steam in the collecting community soon after.

Lines like Married With Children and Lucy were probably total flops...

Happy Days and Space 1999 ... is a tough one,
I think they expanded those lines too much, which was probably a big mistake.

Poor body's also killed a lot of sales, I bet.

Don't forget, i'm not looking at this from a collectors point of view, i'm looking at it like I would have stake in the company.

What do you think ?

[david_b]

Yes, the bodies were pretty bad. As seen in my other posts on the 1999 customizing, other than the 'big' heads, the new figures were alright. Still wish they would have done a blue Alpha snow outfit, instead of the 'ancient Victor', but I understand keeping costs down.

All in all, most eBay auctions are following the path of Amazon.com and selling 'em for $4.99, so other than being eating their profits by all the new (or exclusive..) figures no one was apparently interested in, they probably made out alright.

david_b

[Godzilla]

I bet you are right on especially with the quality of their products. I think that killed a lot of enthusiasm.

[Dave Mc]

I'm guessing they lost a ton of money on the entire thing. If they would have even done "okay", they'd probably still be making them. Heck, they might still be making them if they would have broke even since they are big mego fans.

[starsky]

i think they lost money as well. they've been selling lots of other stuff it seems to make up for their losses.

[toys2cool]

yeah what killed it was the quality,I think they did well though

[JediJaida]

Oddly enough, I brought that up to DocMego last year, and he said that the owner told him that he was just out to make a buck, never mind stuff like quality.

The female bodies that I bought from that company suffered from flashing, badly glued pelvic joints, feet that broke if you looked at them funny, too fragile plastic, etc.

I sent the crummy bodies back and asked, very nicely, for replacements, but heard squat.

These days, I buy from DocMego.

I know, I know; it's a shameless plug.

But it's a pair of well deserved shameless plugs.

Laurie is the nicest person I've ever dealt with, and even if she does take a while on some stuff, she always comes through.

Same thing with Doc. His female bodies, while a bit too tightly strung, are a joy to have, and his male bodies are great too.

[captact]

IMO,...I have much to thank CTV,..as its been years since we have seen a Mego type figure on pegs like they did,..and gave us figures Mego never made and wanted always to see in this format,..like The Munsters,..wow!! Its not really their fault the bodies were a bit crappy,..but the heads, the outfits were so well tailored, accessories and all,..okay,..the hair wasnt well rooted and needed more hair on some,..but you have to admit,..they were the best ones they had out, followed by the Knights, Robin Hood, Pirates,.. for those who didnt have them,..it was a joy to have these replacements, chrome swords, exceptional head sculpts based on originals, Copy of armour, accessories, again,..bodies were in "pee-stance",...along with the Happy Days and never made figures in the set, The Bradys, I Love Lucy, Married w/ children,..the continuing line to Space 1999,..just look at the outfits, head sculpts, to me....they really tried to bring us back that Mego-esque style in Action figures,..if only bodies were a better quality and if more TV, comic and movie properties were bought,..just imagine, Batman (TV), Green Hornet, More Dukes characters, more POTA characters from the movies, SMDM, I Dream of Jeannie, Logans Run, The Addams Family....but all comes to an end when there are no more licenses to a line,..and quality of the bodies and poseability doesnt satisfy the customers (we all want to pose them in 101 positions, right?)...of course,..this is IMO....
Ray

[livnxxxl]

Just wondering,

Now that Classic TV Toys is clearly done making Mego-like figures and Mego reproductions, how well do you think they made out financially ?

Looking at it from their point of view, do you think they did GREAT, WELL, SO-SO or POOR ?

I would say between SO-SO and POOR.
They seemed to do well from the very start, but lost steam in the collecting community soon after.

Lines like Married With Children and Lucy were probably total flops...

Happy Days and Space 1999 ... is a tough one,
I think they expanded those lines too much, which was probably a big mistake.

Poor body's also killed a lot of sales, I bet.

Don't forget, i'm not looking at this from a collectors point of view, i'm looking at it like I would have stake in the company.

What do you think ?

That is a good question T1K. It is one that I have wondered about for some time now. I am glad that you asked this question and put this out there for all to see. Maybe some day we will get a real honest answer from those that actually know for sure. In answer to your question I really have no idea how they did. I can remember that when I was on eBay that CTVT was selling a ton of Mego's. My first guess is maybe they were from their personal collection. If that is any indication of how CTVT did or was doing I would have to say not so great. Either they were selling their collection off to make up for their losses or perhaps they were wanting to raise more capital to invest in other ventures. In either event when one has to result in selling their prized collection I would have to venture to say that it is not a good sign. For if CTVT was doing well with the items they were selling I believe that it would not have had to come to that (the selling of their prized collection). Again, I do not know for sure so I am speculating. Although one must admit it does make sense. Anyway...I kind of like the CTVT stuff. Yes, I agree the bodies are not the best in the world. Then again what does one expect for the low costs? I am just glad like a lot of others here that CTVT came along and made repro accessories and an extended line of other figure licenses that may have never been made without them taking the initiative to do so. I really wish CTVT all the luck with their business as I personally would like to see them continue to grow and flourish. Perhaps in time their products would be even better if they should continue to keep making them. I also know for sure that sometime last year I had contacted CTVT via e-mail and asked them how much product they had left. I received a prompt e-mail response stating that there is still plenty of product available at that time. Not sure how much they have left since then. It would be interesting to know if they are still stocking, making new product or just trying to blow out what they have stashed up. ????? I have not really noticed them making any new stuff lately at all. I do not know if that is a bad sign or not. ????????? I do know that EVERY TIME so far I have placed an order (and I have placed a "few" from time to time) that CTVT delivered in a VERY prompt manner. Which is always a big plus in my book when I am doing business with someone. I will continue to order from them in the future for as long as I can. I am not big into repro parts at all. However, I do like to use them sometimes for fill in and mostly to experiment with doing customs. Anywho...That is my story and I am sticking to it.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I'd hafta say they did okay. They added figures to the line IN A HURRY; so the first few waves must have sold pretty good. I think it fizzled out through a combination of low quality and burnout. Seriously, how many Fonzies does a person need? (It would have been a good idea if they had a lower price point I think. As it was, they were still kinda pricey for an impulse buy; which an army of Fonzie's would be. I hope. It scares me to think someone wakes up one day and says "I could REALLY use a whole whack of 8" Fonzies, in different outfits....")

It's kind of a shame they fizzled when they did. A lot of their later products were pretty good; even the bodies. The weird colour ones were almost as good as an original Mego. I think if they'd had another run or two they would have ironed a lot of the problems out.

Don C.

[Meule]

Hard to say, but my guess is they didn't do too well. The addition to the monster series was probably a good run, but some of the other lines were questionable, not to mention the poor quality of the bodies.

[Mikey]

I think the generic Mego line reproductions were a total bust for them too.

Besides some people on Mego Museum, I can't imagine anyone else wanting these.

Probably the worst of the worst was American West.... Why reproduce a line that nobody even wants the originals ?

[samurainoir]

It's kind of a shame they fizzled when they did. A lot of their later products were pretty good; even the bodies. The weird colour ones were almost as good as an original Mego. I think if they'd had another run or two they would have ironed a lot of the problems out.

Don C.

I had written off CTVT after the female bodies fell apart without the slightest provocation.

I did end up picking up a bunch of those odd macabre clown figures for really cheap, and I was actually really suprised by the jump in quality, particularly the body.

You do have to give them credit for the amount of clothes and heads that it added to the custom pool.

[Mikey]

...

You do have to give them credit for the amount of clothes and heads that it added to the custom pool.

Out of everything CTVT's ever made, the only line that interested me was the Space 1999's --- and those heads were too small for Mego customs.

You had to either use a piece of crap CTVT's body for a custom using that head, or have a Mego custom with a pin head.

[Gorn Captain]

I bought two bodies here and I have to admit, the quality is terrible.
They fall apart just looking at them. The arms seem to be too small, and are pulled into the torso.
A good thing that most of these aren't sold to children, 'cause we'd have a lot of choked-to-death kids by now.
To be honest, I get all choked up, too, thinking I paid good money for them...