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Just to clarify my position. My concerns ultimately sit with the license holders (namely Ed) taking aim at one of the players (TRU) that helped prop them up when they needed the recognition and distribution in the beginning. How Ed and Joe played into the business end of that deal is really of no relevance here. TRU took the orders and distributed product all over the country. Ed and Joe got paid a license fee and likely enjoyed the fruits of whatever profits were made initially by this line. TRU even reported the initial CA offering as being one of it's most successful collectible items during the first quarter of last year. So TRU gave the brand all the attention and clout they could possibly ask for. TRU in turn ordered a huge volume of product for the holiday season that ultimately warmed shelves. The first of the year, they offered huge discounts in pricing to try and move it. The discounts didn't work, so the stores were left with alot of unsold stock. Round 2 didn't offer anymore costume sets after being told "they're coming" for nearly a year. What exactly is TRU suppose to do? Buy more product they can't sell? They did what most rational companies would do. They cut their losses and got out. So for Ed to come out and trash talk how TRU runs it's business (both with their line and in general) was a terrible mistake. He wasn't in a position (nor given permission) to speak for TRU; It was improper to suggest so publicly; and it certainly appeared to be delivered in a way designed to damage the company's reputation. I can understand their disappointment with the lukewarm response over the holidays and months that followed. We all shared that. But you don't publicly knock people who were part of your support structure when you needed the help. It's a good way to build a bad reputation for yourself. Then you're really finished. So bad form all around on the license holders.
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Totally agree on that... ya gotta support your support. One of the biggest jobs as a license holder is to support, back up, and promote your property by helping those producing and selling it. That's all of them, not just the successful ones or the big money items. You only hurt yourself if you do any less.
DaveComment
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^I agree with most of your points but I still fault at least some TRU stores for the way they displayed the stuff and really had zero knowledge or understanding of the product. All my local stores had the figures and costumes in different aisles. They've never had a problem selling Barbie dolls and separate outfits, but for some reason most people thought the CA suits were figures. Could be the full head masks throwing people off? I don't know.
At this stage, I think the smartest thing CA could do is sell the outfits themselves through their own website. That's where the majority of the fans seem to be hanging around, and they already sell all that other junk there anyway. I was shocked to learn they're not Paypal equipped though. They're still dealing with checks and money orders.
They need to get with the 21st century on that one.Comment
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I find it laughable that Round 2 thought Captain Action was going to be a big seller (at any retail chain for that matter)
Kids don't give a hoot about CA,nor care who he is....plus ALOT of kids are not interested in Male dress up dollies
..The folks collecting CA are the folks (adults) who remember CA (old and new).It was just a pipe dream to think kids today would dig em.
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The packaging, while very sharp, made it look like a figure because of the thickness. If they were shaped differently from the figures, vac-formed squares next to the boxy rectangles of the figures, there would be zero confusion.
Personally, I got ticked by the variants. It's one thing to do Modern v Silver Age designs, it's another to do the standard and deluxe Loki sets and not both be available in store.Comment
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This is exactly right. As much as we want it to be different, the fact is these types of toys (Captain Action, Mego-style "retro" figures, etc) are never going to be anything more than a niche item. Appealing to those of us who grew up with them, but they're never going to catch on with modern kids the way they did with us. I'm really surprised when a Big Box Retailer even takes a chance on something like this; I certainly don't see the point in bashing them when their effort is greeted with buyer apathy.I find it laughable that Round 2 thought Captain Action was going to be a big seller (at any retail chain for that matter)
Kids don't give a hoot about CA,nor care who he is....plus ALOT of kids are not interested in Male dress up dollies..The folks collecting CA are the folks (adults) who remember CA (old and new).It was just a pipe dream to think kids today would dig em.Comment
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Were enough deluxe sets ever released to complete Hawkeye?WANTED: Dick Grayson SI trousers; gray AJ Mustang horse; vintage RC Batman (Bruce Wayne) head; minty Wolfman tights; mint Black Knight sword; minty Launcelot boots; Lion Rock (pale) Dracula & Mummy heads; Lion Rock Franky squared boots; Wayne Foundation blue furniture; Flash Gordon/Ming (10") unbroken holsters; CHiPs gloved arms; POTA T2 tan body; CTVT/vintage Friar Tuck robes, BBP TZ Burgess Meredith glasses.Comment
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What I can't figure out is WHY is it taking so long? Other, smaller companies are putting out figures wearing complete outfits left and right. I mean for crying out loud we're talking about a year plus wait on a couple sets of JUST clothes and masks...What the hell is the holdup?!Comment
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Couple that with the fact they changed the release date seven or eight times and it really becomes problematic. We as consumers tend to forget. Those projected release dates impact vendors as well. They offer this product to their customers, which influences what they order based on pre-order volume. But if those release dates keep changing (especially as much as what CA did), that puts the vendor in a pickle. Consumer interest drops, pre-order levels go down, and these vendors are left wondering if there's more risk than reward in keeping this product offering on the table. That's where the people in charge of the actual product need to have to their house in order. Is it a pre-order problem? A factory problem? Whatever that might be, they need to be able to project a future date that essentially gives them time to address and resolve these issues. Changing the release date every 30 to 60 days is not applying due diligence to the problem that tells folks you're being forthright in your communication or on top of the problems that are evident to all. And to make matters worse, their credibility completely tanked when they came out late this Summer with an about-face announcement that essentially said, "The business model has changed". Now of course we have new " release dates" and yet after a year they still have no production samples to preview because they don't have, "licensor approval"? And people wonder why no one wants to carry this product? It's because they can't trust anything these people say! By the time they get this out (and pat themselves on the back for the effort), they'll only have crickets in line waiting.Comment
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^^^^ Yup! I almost threw up when I saw the CA Coloring Book Exclusive/Update. You guys are all right on being mad at them. I, personally, try and try and can't be mad at them... When I see the R2 CA Spidey, Captain America and Thor outfitted figures I have to be thankful that I got these because of them. Plus, I know that we'll have to wait and wait and wait, but I'm certain that we'll get those announced Wolverine & Iron Man costumes plus the accessories to complete Hawkeye... Those will be three more figures added to my collection...
That these will be hard to get? Granted! But vintage CA costumes are harder to get anyhow and way more expensive...
DC Outfits... That's another story. I don't think we'll get to see any of those...Last edited by Boywonder0; Sep 12, '13, 7:08 AM.Comment
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I just want Ironman....
Obviously..., there must be issues.... The Original Knight ..., Often Imitated, However Never Duplicated. The 1st Knight in Customs.
always trading for Hot Toys Figures .
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Red Skull had this to say to the Captain Action folks...
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