Anyone else hate internet exclusives?

[saildog]

I tend to believe we will be taken care of on the Green Arrow Exclusive.

Usually, exclusives **** me off for the same reason that concert tickets get gobbled up by scalpers and then those who intended on going to the concert all along, have to go grovelling to the scalper who could give two ****s about the concert, but saw a money making opportunity. The promoter doesn't care if 1 person buys 15,000 tickets. They made their money. Let the chips fall where they may.

I don't see this as that kind of situation, though. I'm sure they know they could sell a great quota by giving us first crack. This was a labor of love and it is going to be a win-win. They could not be fretting about sales of an exclusive because they know we will buy out of love for New 8" Mego like figures AND appreciation for what they have done. I can't imagine any of us smelling profit from scalping.....we "want to go to the concert" and take our kids, friends, and family along.

[Marvelmania]

Hmmmm....

I hate exclusives. A cheap way to make an instant collectible. Creates artificial interest for a line, fodder for scalpers, encourages speculators, and does a lot of harm to the hobby.

Don C.

I feel the same way. They turn me against a line of toys quicker than anything else.

[jbaker]

I was SO excited about seeing the new Mego...Then I find out I will NEVER get a Green Arrow figure because it is only available on the internet...And itīs a limited number as well...That is completely unfair to people like myself that only shop at Toys R Us or Target. I live in Mexico and getting mail here is next to impossible from the U.S. I drive every month to Texas and hit all the stores. I will never be able to get Green Arrow now because of this exclusive to the internet crap they are now doing...

any chance of getting a p.o box in texas and having it sent there??

[jasonmego1277]

Yes I am not a fan of Exclusives. I usually never get the damn thing and it's extremely frustrating. That's the only real gripe I have with sites like Matty Collector. It is possible to market to retail if done right. Case in point ..... The Ghostbusters really can go retail , and avoid this whole upcoming nightmare. Actually a Better Option is to do preorders and produce the figures based off presells. You can have a short window to get your order in and if you miss the window too bad so sad. This would also require those to understand there would be production time before your figure arrives. I guess that maybe some would not be so patient.

[The Sentry]

Never was a fan myself. I LOVED Mail-in figures as a kid. Game me something to look forward to in the mail. But "Chicken Hawks" snatch em all up and take us, the people who want it for a ride. Thanks to that kinda stuff I don't collect much newer stuff.

Could care less for the value. That's why I doin't like The 4 horsemen all that much. Everywhere they go the makes "chase" figures, "exclusive" figures, and "Variants". Great they work they do, but I don't need all that mess! (They were the ones who just about invented the terms with "Hamburger Spawn" in the 1990's I think the original Star Wars Han, Luke, Ben, Lando and Bespin Luke were the first as far as I can tell.) I could do without them period. Khan was the best experience I have had with exclusives. But hey, it's Mego! (Or EMCE)

[ctc]

>I LOVED Mail-in figures as a kid. Game me something to look forward to in the mail.

I consider that something different. Modern exclusives are intentionally produced in lower numbers and/or given limited, special distribution. Mail-ins weren't usually too tough to get, and were produced in sizable numbers.

And yes, they rocked hard! I remember the Star Wars ones, and especially the GI Joe mail-ins.... where you could get all sorts of weird little geegaws that were fun ans strange. (LIke a windsurfer armed with a 20mm autocannon and ATG.)

Don C.

[ScottA]

I don't hate them as long as they are readily available. This selling out in 10 minutes is a little much.

[Mikey]

Could someone here explain (in layman's terms) what are the advantages of doing "exclusives" for the toymaker ?

I can see the exclusive seller getting the lions share of the buying public, but what does the toymaker get ?
The upfront cost of producing the limited exclusive ? ... and if so, that seems hardly worth it from the toymaker's point of view.

Am I missing something ?

[palitoy]

The upfront cost of producing the limited exclusive ? ... and if so, that seems hardly worth it from the toymaker's point of view.

Full retail for an item helps. Especially when you're used to producing something and possibly warehousing half the inventory for months. With He-Man, they have sold everything they've made in a very short period, so they're doing just fine.

My experiences with matty Collector have been limited but positive, I found there was ample time to get the JLU sets (JLU is pretty popular) and I got them in a timely manner. if the new WGSH are like this then I have no problem.

Also, we have Paul in our corner, which is a good thing.

[jasonmego1277]

Could someone here explain (in layman's terms) what are the advantages of doing "exclusives" for the toymaker ?

I can see the exclusive seller getting the lions share of the buying public, but what does the toymaker get ?
The upfront cost of producing the limited exclusive ? ... and if so, that seems hardly worth it from the toymaker's point of view.

Am I missing something ?

That is a great point , I don't really see the benefit to the toymaker.... Unless it is something along the lines of " We will buy/carry this product but we want to have something that specifically draws customers to our business " type of deal. I am sure there is quite a bit of those things going on. If that's the case Do new packaging or slight variations as exclusives, not whole figures.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Exclusives generate interest for a line, and can be done at lower production numbers. A big advantage to smaller companies, but I wouldn't think so for a bigger one.

Don C.

[vulcan2074]

I don't hate internet exclusives, I'm just more annoyed with them if anything. It seems like theres never enough to go around
Sammy

[geoffdude]

Yo megophiles..

1st post to this board, but, I'm a long time MEGO fan/collector and general compulsive disorder toy collector.

To chime in on a few items in this thread.

(a) Exclusives in general just suck, but they are a hobby given. The matty.com Green Arrow will be better than having the figure be an exclusive at Walmart trust me. Exclusives at most Brick and Mortar stores are really difficult to obtain. Walmart exclusives are the worst. At least with matty.com the ability to get him will be more fair than dealing with local toy scalpers hanging at Walmart to get the new figures right of the pallet. Getting the rest of the figures from TRU, or tru.com, will be easy too (better than wally).

(2) I hate to be a debbie-downer, but for anyone who thinks GA will be available outside matty.com (like here first) may be disappointed. Mattel has a long track record of not making exceptions to already established sales agreements. They are an interesting company in that regard, so if they say online only at matty.com.. then that's probably going to be it (and on the 'bay o' course).

(3) Toy manufactors and exclusives.. what most toy manufactors get out of exclusives are a firm order of a number of units, and the ability to open the door to the retail partner for more units (toys) being sold in the future. Example: Walmart and Mattel agree to sell 5 exclusive DC action figures. Walmart is the king of retail, Mattel wants (and needs) to make them happy. They agree on Rainbow Superman, Underwear Batman, Cowboy Green Lantern, Invisible Joker and Ambush Bug. Walmart orders 3 cases for EACH store, that's a huge order for Mattel (paid upfront) and also opens the door for Mattel to have Walmart sell the DC line beyond the exclusives. Walmart does the exclusives ONLY to drive foot traffic, as all toys generate a loss for Walmart in general (toys are a loss leader.. to drive families, parents mostly, into the store for bigger purchases). So, in summary, manufactors get a set order of exclusives paid for, and they create good will with the retail partner (online or brick and mortar).

PS -- This MEGO REBIRTH news is awesome! And starting off with Green Lantern? Well.. I'll let my avatar speak for how happy I am about this.

Arthur has really missed ole Hal hang'n' (or swim'n' ?) with him all these years.



Regards,

g.

[jayihdz]

Thats why WE have to help each other....if you have a chance and if you have money buy tons of them and help a fellow member...plus shipping of course... I'm been doing that for some friends in Argentina, Spain and Mexico...the same way' they help me find stuff from their countries.... If I can help...I will.

[BOTZWANA]

any chance of getting a p.o box in texas and having it sent there??

Pretty much no. The Mailbox people in Texas LOVE to gorge the Mexican people. It is $200 a year PLUS $50 charge for any package over 20 pounds PLUS a dollar a day over 7 days if you donīt pick it up. For someone that comes to Texas once every two months, it is a HUGE hassle monetarily as well as physically. I would need a person that lives in Laredo and could hold onto packages for no cost. That is pretty much the only drawback of living here.