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This may be common knowledge but both the CA guys freely answer questions and address concerns (much like EMCE, BBP, ZICA do here) at this Captain Action group.
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Even if they re-submit these sets I think the damage is done,I just don't have faith in the line going foward.Comment
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That's my Captain Action group and yes Ed and Joe post on there very often. Feel free to join the group and ask your questions! It's a restricted list(meaning I have to approve you to join), but I only do that to keep the spammers out of the fold.
I don't think anyone is happy about the delays, especially them. Retail is a rocky place and they went back to the drawing board a little to shave the prices down on the costumes and even the figure, even though I felt the price points were pretty good.Comment
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Thanks Brian. I appreciate that. I think what has personally frustrated me is their dodgy approach to answering inquiries on their Facebook page, where they post articles about vintage comics and toys almost daily. There's this 500 pound elephant in the room and they're posting everything but the kitchen sink, so they don't have to talk about it. It reminds me of that scene in Tucker where Jeff Bridges is standing in front of the curtain preparing the crowd for the big reveal for the Tucker car. But the mechanics are in back trying to patch everything wrong with the prototype. So Bridges brings out the clay model, then the dancers, then introduces his family. Finally the crowd starts booing at the obvious delay tactics on display. That's where Round 2 is at with the Captain Action line. They need to offer some REAL release dates that will actually come to pass and quit making distracting gestures that only serve to frustrate those who've been waiting on broken promises. Not a good way to build consumer confidence.Comment
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I think shaving down the price points on the stand alone Captain is a good move. Because, at the end of the day, he only serves as a host for the costumes. And people have no incentive to buy him at $30.00 a pop if those outfits will seat on other figures for much less. Plus you have to keep in mind the original concept was for kids to buy the one figure and then just change him out with each costume. Collectors may wish to put all of them on display, which means a low-end version would service that market and allow R2 to keep the figure viable at a better price point. You have to be versatile in price points to accommodate customer needs, if the end result sells your product.Last edited by MIB41; Jul 10, '13, 11:41 AM.Comment
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I'm completely on board with that. We suggested even a direct mail order for the figures at $12-$15 and bypass retail for people wanting just to get the figures.
Personally I feel Captain Action can stand on his own if they can bring out better costumes for Captain Action that doesn't change his identity. They could do adventure packs, jet pack, space set etc, and kids could play with C/A on his own battling Dr. Evil and such. The basic jumpsuit doesn't offer much play value to kids unfortunately. The collectors will still migrate to the Marvel and DC offers, but the Captain could stand on his own as well.Comment
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^I'm not so sure. One reason the line failed at Playing Mantis because the costumes lacked recognition with modern audiences...which is nearly the same as the Captain standing on his own. I know there are fans of just CA himself (I like both sides of the concept myself), but I'm not sure he can survive without that "hook" of some big-name, currently relevant characters.
ChrisComment
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Certainly the reason PM Captain Action line died is the lack of licenses. They had no killer products on the shelves. I don't think C/A could survive on his own completely, but instead of pumping out boxes and boxes of blue stretchy suited Captain Action figures that are only being purchased as mannequins for the costumes, give him an identity and some play value. If Round 2 can put a decent $20 12" figure on the shelves with some play value for kids they should be good. Then the figures will move off the shelves of the retailers and their buyers won't be as concerned putting in the orders for the costumes with no figures.Comment
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I think the mail order idea is brilliant. That services the collectors without running interference with developing the stand alone Captain Action character. Good idea. They should listen to that. Ideally I think the Captain could stand on his own. But the inherit risk in that is you have to make more figures to share space with him for that purpose - Lady Action, Boy Action, etc. What I don't know is if there's a sizable enough market to buy up an expansion on that level until they clean up how the Captain works on his own. This year has surely been costly without any real product for sale. That and I have no idea whether Dr. Evil sold well or not. That might give you the answer your looking for with respects to expanding the base line figure. Stand alone adventure packs would be fun (in the GI Joe vein). My only concern there is it might further dilute exactly what the Captain IS for the general consumer. I actually had a TRU associate come up to me and my grandson during the holidays and ask me if I was familiar with how Captain Action worked. Of course I smiled and said, "Better than you could possibly imagine." I asked him why he inquired and he said they had returns on the outfits because people thought they were buying a figure too. So that's symptomatic of a disconnect the product is having with the general consumer. Perhaps some clarification is needed on the front packaging? That and better placement on store shelves. I've seen the costumes and the figures literally in two different places in the same isle. So product display might be something they examine with this next round. Assuming they retain TRU as a store that carries these.Comment
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Just to add, I think Round 2 should ship Captain Action figures and costumes in boxes that convert into display cases similar to how Megos were shipped. The display can show how the otufits go with the Captain. I think the more you keep the figures and outfits together, the better you promote the two for anyone who sees them. The display case could really promote the brand while educating the general consumer. Just an idea.Comment
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I have another suggestion to go along with the mail order idea...they could save themselves a TON of money by selling the CA figure nude for those who just need a body for another costume. I've already tossed four extra CA suits in the trash.
Why pay for suits you're not even going to use?Comment
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