Why Hasbro Star Wars Should Call it Quits!

[grayhank]

What a lot of you guys apparently don't seem to understand is we're just venting our frustrations with Hasbro. We ARE entitled to do so as Americans. And if it bugs you that much to read someone else's B*tching, then maybe you should read something else! I'm not complaining on here about Hasbro to find people to argue with who disagree & tell me I'm wrong. I'm complaining to find other people that agree and feel the same way. There IS NO wrong or write. ONLY opinion. And MYYY Opinion is such as previously stated.

Very nice point J, but tone it down some. You do alot better when you're calm! Anger leads to the dark side!

[BlackKnight]

Prime,..
Allow Me to explain. My Opionions were mine, & I did dissagree with Hank on certain points he made. However Most of your "Attack" was directed at this ,. towards Me..

" .. & If you are going to Targets at 9:00 in the morning with your buddy's, on a Tuesday,.. Every week,.. or twice a week.. & the 1st thing you do is look at the Toys, with no children present, & then ask where something is,.. or a #ed Hotwheel... why wouldn't they think your a Toy Scalper ? .. I've worked in retail before,.. & my OldLady works at Target now..., & Generally, thats Who it is. It's been that way since Ebay. Most parents don't buy a toy for thier kids at that time. & Most grown men don't collect action figures. They stock the shelves,.. they know what has 1 per case,.. they know what is an Exclusive, they know what dissapears in the 1st 5 minutes when a bunch of guys run into Target when they 1st open at 9am. "

You say it's Descrimination,.. It could be,.. BUT like it OR not this is what people think outside of the Toy Hobby of collecting. This is where I was not trying to Dissagree,.. trying to offer the "otherside" & THIS is where you Attacked me.

[jds1911a1]

That is not entirely accurate. When it's movie product overload, retailers can in fact return the product to Hasbro. I have seen and physically talked to Hasbro reps at places like TRU, Target and Walmart packing up stuff like Episode II and III to return to their own distribution centers (not the store's distribution centers, but Hasbro's.) This all came about because there was so much leftover stock from Episode I that retailers didn't want to order mass quantities and be stuck with it again. So Hasbro's solution was "we'll take back what you can't sell". There were quite a few press releases regarding this. It's also interesting to note that hardly any of the Episode I stuff has been repacked - because it wasn't returned to Hasbro. And if you open some of those figures from those battlepacks you will see date stamps on their legs from 95, 96, 97 etc. So perhaps they are using the molds from the Power of the Force line to some extent.

Now for places like KB, the items get sent to the Outlet division, along with any excess warehouse stock from other retail stores that they have way too much of. The everyday stuff...not so much the mass produced movie stuff. That is why if you've ever been inside a KB Outlet (one of the divisions I also worked within) you will often find exclusives original to the other stores with their store logos on them. The KB Outlet division has been enormously successful which is why very few of them closed when KB was closing down hundreds of their mall stores.

Most "HOT" exclusives don't get sent back because they are made in smaller quantities. Target will clearance these down to almost nothing (usually after Christmas) and the stuff goes very quickly at that point.

If you say so I have no reason to doubt you but when specifically asked (in one of the ealriest question sessions for the SW collector sites) if the battle packs were repackaged returned figures the hasbro reps claimed the battle packs were not repacked but new production runs on old molds. I would assume that the take backs were the movie promo kits which were marketed separately, as my TRU was blowing out ROTS figs of the senators and such in mid 07 becasue they were still warming shelves. Hasbro has made no denial they are reusing mold and kitbashing molds from as far back as POTJ and th elast Potf2 (when they stopped being overmuscled)

[grayhank]

What I don't understand is why now with the backlash? Battle Packs have been around since Revenge of the Sith came out. How many of the same figure or vehicle has Hasbro done more than once? It's not like it's anything new.

One of the reasons I started this thread right there. The majority of what I find sitting on the shelves is repackaged stuff. The backlash (at least coming from me) at this time is because that's all Hasbro really seems to be focusing on. Those Battle packs, while some are very cool and every once in a while Hasbro throws us a bone by sticking 1 new figure or accessory into it, are basically rotting on the shelves. That Tantive IV Battle Pack is still everywhere here in my area. The Battle Pack pic that I posted contains 3 figures from that same Tantive IV pack.

When stores aren't moving old product because most people already have it, it starts sitting on the shelves, and new product doesn't get put out. If Hasbro continues to make items filled with old product, it too is going to sit on the shelves. The "Legends" figures take up three quarters of the allotted space for Star Wars. It's great that Hasbro has made some of these second chance figures for people who might have missed out on them the first time around. But at the same time it prevents retail stores from ordering cases of "new" product because their shelves are full and they have many more cases to put out of the same case assortments that are sitting.

This is going to be real over-the-top now But it's almost as if Hasbro is telling us you can't have any new figures until you guys buy up all the stuff that didn't sell the first time. A "you can't have dessert until you eat all of your liver" mentality. But just in case we're going to make a few new things here and there in vastly smaller numbers just to give you a taste.

The ratio seems to be 3 cases of reissues to 1 case of new product. That's how it "appears" to me.

The bottom line to this entire thread is this. Do I love Star Wars? Yes I am very passionately thankful that the line has gone as long as it has. Do I want Hasbro to continue making Star Wars? You betcha! BUT...Please, please, please...cut back on reissues. I'm not saying don't make them. Just cutback on them. Turn that ratio around or even it out because at the rate they are going...it's like a snake eating it's own tail.

[huedell]

1) re: going on the messageboard board threads to "vent" vs. going on them to "debate"
and/or just "interact" with others----well, I can't really understand the logic in purely
having "venting" as your goal---but if that's the case, I WILL apologize if it seems to any
that I'm attacking them, merely by addressing their opinions with my own....we obviously
would have different ideas of message board ettiquette

2) No one liked my song. Is it because "GUILTY" is a "TOP 40 relic" no one remembers
anymore...or did no one mention liking it just because it stunk?

[huedell]

This is going to be real over-the-top now But it's almost as if Hasbro is telling us you can't have any new figures until you guys buy up all the stuff that didn't sell the first time. A "you can't have dessert until you eat all of your liver" mentality. But just in case we're going to make a few new things here and there in vastly smaller numbers just to give you a taste.

The only thing I ever thought was over-the-top was implying that if things weren't
going exactly the route you saw fit to be (even though "business is business")
--- then HASBRO should halt the whole line at the cost of any cool new product.

Which you pretty much acknowledged wasn't "entirely" the case with the following:

The bottom line to this entire thread is this. Do I love Star Wars? Yes I am very passionately thankful that the line has gone as long as it has. Do I want Hasbro to continue making Star Wars? You betcha! BUT...Please, please, please...cut back on reissues. I'm not saying don't make them. Just cutback on them. Turn that ratio around or even it out because at the rate they are going...it's like a snake eating it's own tail.

Hey, if the thread was called "WHY HASBRO SHOULD CUT BACK ON REISSUES!!!"
THEN a lot of this "back & forth" woulda been much less...um....."over-the-top"

[grayhank]

If you say so I have no reason to doubt you but when specifically asked (in one of the ealriest question sessions for the SW collector sites) if the battle packs were repackaged returned figures the hasbro reps claimed the battle packs were not repacked but new production runs on old molds. I would assume that the take backs were the movie promo kits which were marketed separately, as my TRU was blowing out ROTS figs of the senators and such in mid 07 becasue they were still warming shelves. Hasbro has made no denial they are reusing mold and kitbashing molds from as far back as POTJ and th elast Potf2 (when they stopped being overmuscled)

Here's an article from late 1999 which mentions what I said about Hasbro having to take on the responsibility of inventory levels (in this particular case it's Walmart). This was one of the key factors for Hasbro to assign reps to go into the retail stores and pack up the leftovers. The following paragraphs are excerpts from the article but you can read it entirely at the link. Those who are familiar with my posts know that I often like to back up what I'm saying so other articles are sure to follow

Hasbro hopes to increase sales by expanding its offerings of electronic toys and CD-ROM games and its popular Pokemon line. But analysts said retail sales of Hasbro's ''Star Wars'' line were sluggish as the latest movie failed to meet the hype-induced expectations at the box office. The company, based in Pawtucket, R.I., hopes to compensate with Pokemon trading cards, one of this year's sensations.

''The force is with Pokemon, not 'Star Wars,' '' said Tony Gikas, an industry analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis.

Erik Gustafson, a senior portfolio manager in Chicago with Stein Roe & Farnham, which owns Hasbro shares, said yesterday's announcements were ''an admission that Hasbro has to change the way it does business in order to adjust to the changing environment for toy companies.''

He said that big customers like Wal-Mart Stores were insisting on delivery on demand for hot products, pushing the costs of maintaining inventories back on the toymakers. ''As a result, Hasbro has to cut its cost structure to absorb that inventory expense,'' he said.

Hasbro to Cut 20% of Its Jobs and Take $97 Million Charge - New York Times

[grayhank]

Hey, if the thread was called "WHY HASBRO SHOULD CUT BACK ON REISSUES!!!"
THEN a lot of this "back & forth" woulda been much less...um....."over-the-top"

When you ramble on as much as I do you don't always know what you should call it. The original intent of my title was meant to be sarcasm not literal.

[grayhank]

2) No one liked my song. Is it because "GUILTY" is a "TOP 40 relic" no one remembers anymore...or did no one mention liking it just because it stunk?

It's Barry & Barbra...of course it stunk!

[huedell]

But analysts said retail sales of Hasbro's ''Star Wars'' line were sluggish as the latest movie failed to meet the hype-induced expectations at the box office.

Hmmmmm...the third biggest selling movie of its time and it didn't "meet expectations
at the box office"?

Say SOMETHING to explain poor sales....but not that

When you ramble on as much as I do you don't always know what you should
call it. The original intent of my title was meant to be sarcasm not literal.

Well, you know I kinda felt 50/50 between how I was percieving sarcasm vs. literal,
but when Brian started in about selling his collection---and someone else chimed in too---
I thought----"some of these guys might actually be SERIOUS about the pure elimination
of this line just because they couldn't keep up with it however they wanted to"

It's Barry & Barbra...of course it stunk!

Cold, my man, cold!

[jds1911a1]

Here's an article from late 1999 which mentions what I said about Hasbro having to take on the responsibility of inventory levels (in this particular case it's Walmart). This was one of the key factors for Hasbro to assign reps to go into the retail stores and pack up the leftovers. The following paragraphs are excerpts from the article but you can read it entirely at the link. Those who are familiar with my posts know that I often like to back up what I'm saying so other articles are sure to follow

Hasbro hopes to increase sales by expanding its offerings of electronic toys and CD-ROM games and its popular Pokemon line. But analysts said retail sales of Hasbro's ''Star Wars'' line were sluggish as the latest movie failed to meet the hype-induced expectations at the box office. The company, based in Pawtucket, R.I., hopes to compensate with Pokemon trading cards, one of this year's sensations.

''The force is with Pokemon, not 'Star Wars,' '' said Tony Gikas, an industry analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis.

Erik Gustafson, a senior portfolio manager in Chicago with Stein Roe & Farnham, which owns Hasbro shares, said yesterday's announcements were ''an admission that Hasbro has to change the way it does business in order to adjust to the changing environment for toy companies.''

He said that big customers like Wal-Mart Stores were insisting on delivery on demand for hot products, pushing the costs of maintaining inventories back on the toymakers. ''As a result, Hasbro has to cut its cost structure to absorb that inventory expense,'' he said.

Hasbro to Cut 20% of Its Jobs and Take $97 Million Charge - New York Times

OK that's an article from 8 years ago after EP1, which may or may not reflect the environment and relationship hasbro has with its retail partners today. I can go to any target kmart or walmart in near me today and find star wars figures from the 2006 line still on the shelves which means they are at least 1 year old (Moff Jerrjod, BOSCH leia, or 3po in ewok chair for examples) does this mean the hasbro rep in my region is slacking? Or does it mean that hasbro isn't taking back old stuff? If they take back old stuff why would retailers bother to clearance items? I would suspect that they had reps supporting the end of the movie re-merchandising when they transitioned from ROTS to TSC.

[SUP-Ronin]

I can't even comment on Starwars. I'm still in therapy after suffering thru 2 excruciating hours of Jar-Jar Binks. Absolutely the biggest movie disappointment of my life. Glad I never got that Bobafett tatoo. Excuse me while I vomit...

[grayhank]

OK that's an article from 8 years ago after EP1, which may or may not reflect the environment and relationship hasbro has with its retail partners today. I can go to any target kmart or walmart in near me today and find star wars figures from the 2006 line still on the shelves which means they are at least 1 year old (Moff Jerrjod, BOSCH leia, or 3po in ewok chair for examples) does this mean the hasbro rep in my region is slacking? Or does it mean that hasbro isn't taking back old stuff? If they take back old stuff why would retailers bother to clearance items? I would suspect that they had reps supporting the end of the movie re-merchandising when they transitioned from ROTS to TSC.

Yes but how much Episode III stuff are you seeing in your stores...The figures you are talking about are NOT mass produced movie tie-in figures (And before somebody reads more into that, yes I know they come from a movie, do I truly have to explain the difference?)

Anyway, could have sworn I said that "mass produced movie tie-in figures" ("movie product overload" is the term I actually used) along the lines of those released in conjunction with Episode II and III were packed up because of the vast quantities left behind from Episode I, which retailers could not dispose of and Hasbro had to come up with an arrangement for those same retailers to carry their product AGAIN (insert aforementioned article here). At least I thought that's what I said. Anyway...not sure why that is quite so hard to believe.

Either I'm lying about talking to the Hasbro Reps who I stayed and chatted with for a good 15-20 minutes while I watched them box up leftover product from E3 OR they in fact were lying to me as to why they were there packing up leftover SW figures from Episode III OR the Reps you read about doing the Q&A were lying. Find one that works for you.

I for one am getting tired of every line I say be subject to constant scrutiny and taken out of context from what was intended or actually said on my part. So maybe it's best to just let it rest and suffer silently in my own frustrations.

[misterdroid]

2) No one liked my song. Is it because "GUILTY" is a "TOP 40 relic" no one remembers
anymore...or did no one mention liking it just because it stunk?

Anal retentive star wars collectors aside, I just kind of didn't want to bring up an andy gibb/streisand duet. Its kind of creepy really.

[grayhank]

If I were truly anal retentive I would point out that it's BARRY GIBB!!!!! (Well whaddya know...I am anal retentive.)