Trek figures...the ultimate insult?

[thunderbolt]

Most movies make a big splash and fade quick lately. I've noticed the same trend in music. Not sure if its mass ADD or the way things are promoted now. Seems like its the next big thing every week or so.

[Gorn Captain]

A hit movie.
Crap figures.

What a tragedy...

[Seeker]

Yep if series 1 bombed and ended up in the bargain bin I doubt we'll see series 2.

[Mikey]

But you know, even if the figures were the most beautiful figures ever created, I still can see them having about the same lifespan as these or any other figures created to promote a current movie.

Current movie figures just don't last.

[MegoMark71]

I have been waiting on retailers to put the enterprise on clearance cause $29.99 was a little high.

[jasonmego1277]

I have been waiting on retailers to put the enterprise on clearance cause $29.99 was a little high.

Agreed. I always see that thing sitting there on the shelves , and I am soooo tempted to buy the thing. I think that thing looks great ! I hope they do clearance it soon, Otherwise I am afraid I might have to buy for $29.99 or more because I waited.

[Captain]

But you know, even if the figures were the most beautiful figures ever created, I still can see them having about the same lifespan as these or any other figures created to promote a current movie.

Current movie figures just don't last.

Agreed! Seems folks are being trained to have the attention span of a gnat these days. Soon as something hits the shelves, its old news and everybody is on to the next thing....sad. I cant see kids of today having the same sentimentality about much of anything that we all have about darn near everything!

As for the Trek figures...They were poor designs, and based on a film I am not really all that into....Still, it was cool to see Trek stuff everywhere again. Even if only for a month.

[Captain]

I have been waiting on retailers to put the enterprise on clearance cause $29.99 was a little high.

I HATE the new Enterprise look so I'm not concerned with that, but I have been hoping for the transporter set to go clearance. Sadly, WalMart never even brought any of these out in Canada, just the 33/4 and 6 inch figures themselves. Zellers and ToysRUs have them, but haven't hit clearance yet. Zellers finally bumped the 3 3/4 line down to 7.99 each, but other than that everything is at status quo.Soon though I imagine?

[The Bat]

I agree with Mike on this one..."Movie related Figures have a short shelf life". I go to Toy's R' Us all the time, and see this happen over and over again.

[BlackKnight]

^^^ It really depends on the Property,.. & the Quality of figures.
For some Damn reason Movie Based Toys for the Most Part Just Suck.
I Know them New Neca Arnie Terminator Toys flew off of my local TRU shelves pretty Darn Fast ... & Them Transformer Figures are Moving fast & Hard Up Here...

With all these Trek Toy's already heading for the Clearance Isles & Bins everywhere, 2 Months after the Flick hit Mind you... ... Wave 2 is gonna be pretty hard to snag.

[jasonmego1277]

Yeah , what is it with Movie toy lines. Is it they are poorly designed, or just not done right in general. I think it's a lot to do with the powers that be at these toy companies now a days. They think they what works, and most of the time they are so way off.

[Captain]

Part of the issue with movie toy quality is the manufacturers may be running against the clock. They cant get the toys done until the final costume designs and casting is complete...usually just before filming begins. then they have to try and have the figures designed, prototyped, sold to retailers, built, and on the shelves within probably a 6-8 month period. Plus, the licensing fees are usually out to lunch, so manufacturers cut back costs elsewhere...like design!

I dont think this is always the case, but it is a lot of the time. In Treks case, they actually had an extra 5- 6 months added to the release schedule they could have used to fine tune things (like that ugly Kirk sculpt).Doesnt look like they used that time very effectively.

[palitoy]

I think Playmates had a "get in/get out" mentality. both of their summer lines were crude and quick, probably because both could have been disasters. Terminater was a dud and withered on the vine, Trek sold well but for a short time.

We'll see wave two of trek most likely but my guess is it'll be exclusive to a chain.

[kerowack]

I bought all of the 3 3/4 figures after they dropped to 5 bucks each and now have the transporter and bridge playset. I also have the Enterprise which is sitting nicely on a booksshelf as I type this.

I already see wave 2 for preorder at different websites, so that has to be a go (most likely) and if it wasn't I'd be ****ed. They have collectors/kids "building" the bridge by buying all of the different figures and if they don't get every piece of that bridge released to the public, they are going to hear from me...yeah!!!!

Seriously, the sculpts aren't great for a few of them (kirk being the worst offender, although my figure looks good...I hand picked him.) but they are a fun little line and a line that I knew would end (which is a big deal to me these days...I tried to collect G.I.Joe 25th, but in the end I would've dropped WAY to much money).

[MIB41]

For myself, I'm big into the "art" of the figure. If the sculpt is poor and/or the overall execution of the figure is something I couldn't cosmetically display and enjoy, then I won't buy it. I spent an early part of my college life up north learning about marketing and how important packaging is to a product. With action figures, alot of companies go cheap on the figure and try to cover it by splashing a colorful backing card or box around them to influence an impulse purchase. Movie merchandise is classic for that method so I often don't have much anticipation for that kind of product (unless I see something early on that leads me to believe differently). Star Trek, Spiderman, X-men movie figures (on 4-6 inch scale) have been generally mediocre to poor. Since I'm a big fan of keeping packaging, these kind of figures are also space killers since they are often carded with bulky plastic covers. Not practical. I'm in the process of sorting through old ones I do have and selling those off. With the prospects of Mego coming back and the "8 inch" industry growing with all of these new companies and well stylized figures, I want to make space, so some old lines of mine will have to go. I honestly hope we will be seeing the end of the smaller figures and more of the 8 inch line in the future on retail shelves.