EMCE's APES are selling, at least locally

[apes3978]

I stopped into the local comics store this afternoon and asked about the APES & ST figures... The guy said he doesn't bother reordering the ST stuff because he just orders whatever is new, one customer comes in and buys it and that's the end of it, nobody else has expressed any interest in it... Regarding the APES, he said he had one guy come in and buy all of them in one shot and he does try to keep those on order because they've sold for him...

I doubt that this will lead to EMCEs continuation of the APES line at a later date (which it's really up to Diamond Select & FOX), but maybe if there are more stories like this getting out, they'll see people will buy APES figures... But, I don't count on it... It's just good to know they're not collecting dust at the stores...

[NewForce]

unfortunately, for every Ape set I sell, I have 100 Star Trek sales...so, your store is not indicative of the line in general, I suspect?...that said, all my customers that did buy apes, would likely love to see the line continue... but, on DST part, production and retail orders were much much less than ST (as I am sure Dr Mego can confirm)

[apes3978]

unfortunately, for every Ape set I sell, I have 100 Star Trek sales...so, your store is not indicative of the line in general, I suspect?...that said, all my customers that did buy apes, would likely love to see the line continue... but, on DST part, production and retail orders were much much less than ST (as I am sure Dr Mego can confirm)

Oh, I don't doubt what you're saying at all... I have no doubt that in the end even the most "unpopular" ST repro will outsell any of the APES figures... I'd like to think the guy at the comic store was being sincere, but maybe he just said that regarding the APES and the ST stuff because he never had any of it in stock and he just didn't want to totally lose a potential customer... Kind of like if you'd go to a toy show and all the guy has is "newer" toys and you say all you collect are vintage: A good percentage of the time they'll say "Oh, I have a lot of that stuff but I left it at home" and they might say they'll bring it "next time" which of course they never do but they don't want to totally alienate you in hopes you'll look at what they are selling...

And yes, Dr. Mego did say on here that the APES stuff was ordered in lesser quantities, and of the APES themselves, the second set was produced in lower numbers than the first... Too bad for APES fans, but I know that's the way business goes and he has to make money so I don't fault him at all in any decisions he's made...

[draconianguard]

Historically, newer Apes stuff just doesn't sell well and drops in value fast. Just look at the Hasbro,Sideshow and Medicom lines. I assume the license in affordable and that's why companies still pursue it.

[apes3978]

Historically, newer Apes stuff just doesn't sell well and drops in value fast. Just look at the Hasbro,Sideshow and Medicom lines. I assume the license in affordable and that's why companies still pursue it.

It's true with the SIDESHOWS... The Medicoms sold decently when they were just Japanese imports, it was when they sold them on a "large" scale that they just collected dust.... And the HASBROs, they sucked, so they deserved their poor sales

[Lynn TXP 0369]

My local comic shops refuse to carry any of the EMCE products, so I'm forced to go else where, they say the demand isn't their from past experiance on both lines. From what I've seen in those shops, they were right to a degree, I still see the shops have ST figures on their shelves from years ago that havn't gone from the shelves even in unloading sales, the POTA figures lasted a few years vs, 5+ on the ST figures. So I can't blame them for not wanting to tie up their $$$ into product.

Lynn

[HardyGirl]

I was in my local comic shop today, and the only EMCE there was 1 Gorn. In the past, I've seen 1 Spock and 1 McCoy. According to the cashier, the manager has to special order them if you want a specific figure.

[mego73]

I'm just glad they were released at all.

[Robin NY]

even though I am disapointed that they r discontinuing, I am also very glad that they did put out the 4 they did, I'll have a plutoon of mint gorillas shortly and that would have cost me a lot more the e-bay route

[jbaker]

A lot of younger people see planet of the Apes and think of the recent film, not the beloved franchise, some older people especially, casual buyers, will glance over it too, just thinking it's related to the newer film. Believe it or not there is a greater population of People who would buy this stuff cause they had it as a kid, but aren't plugged into the retro toy world the way we are, so they just don't know about it.
When we were kids there were very few "Dealers", if any. People bought toy's for their "kids" mostly or gave them money to buy something (the way our mom's and dad did for us or gave us an allowance, or we had a job delivering paper's or cutting grass) that's how most toy's got bought. Today, their are collectors, dealers, and the general population who buys and thinks of toy's the way they always did.
A toy is a toy to them and that's all and in the hands of this greater buying public lies the real road to lasting success or failure. If they don't see it or know it exists or can't easily get it, it won't get sold. No Impulse buys for the product at the toy store.
Remember the old MEGO commercials? yea, they made me want to get that stuff too or the Sears catalogue? and Circling the stuff for Christmas.
Also a new ape movie connected to the first five films and mythology would do wonders for 8" ape toy's, for any related ape toy actually. It's actually a full length commercial in a way, it shouldn't be approached that way, but if it's a quality film and it's like the old ape films, it has an audience built in and it will pull in a new audience and for them they'll want to know about the original films because their connected and the kids will want the toys, because they were always cool and they still are.

[Captain]

Just a thought.
It may be wise for Diamond to hang onto (or re-acquire in the future) their apes license and wait and see if this new movie franchise goes anywhere. Last I heard they were planning on rebooting (theres that word again) the series with a new string of films starting in 2010 or 2011. Might kick start classic Apes interest again?

[jbaker]

With the economy the way it is, many companies may change the way they lease their character's or franchise rights. They may decide not to blanket license exclusive rights to one company. it might one of these thing where, I'll give this company the exclusive
3/4 action figure rights, to our properties, this one 12" rights and this one 8" rights. Another company will get the games, another the coloring books etc. that way, the competition is not as direct and if one company is having problems easier to discontinue working with them without the whole thing collapsing.

[jbaker]

With the economy the way it is, many companies may change the way they lease their character's or franchise rights. They may decide not to blanket license exclusive rights to one company. it might be one of these thing where, I'll give this company the exclusive
3/4 action figure rights, to our properties, this one 12" rights and this one 8" rights. Another company will get the games, another the coloring books etc. that way, the competition is not as direct and if one company is having problems easier to discontinue working with them without the whole thing collapsing. That way the company that does one certain thing best gets the rights to your property like kenner 3/4 , emece 8". some will buy one some the other and some both. A 3/4 collector most likely isn't going to buy 8" and vice versa. Unless a company is going to spread themselves thin tackling all markets and avenues. in this economy, thrift and concentrating on what a company does best will be the code word.

[drmego]

I love the Apes - and I have great hope that we will be able to make more
in the future. If I didn't believe that, I would not have lost money last year
making them.

Right now we are trying to identify and organize the Ape fans into a vocal
group that will support future megos.

And believe me - DST loves Apes as much as we do. But instead of just
charging into more low sales, we have to put our minds to it.