In one of the many Six Sigma presentations we've had here at work, I saw their name on the list of "Fortune 500" companies who are using it to cut costs.  So, it's pretty safe to say they are using some form of it in their business models.

I just really wonder what is going on in their heads sometimes when it comes to stuff like this, which figures cost more/less to make, etc.

Jeff

Something I haven't seen anywhere else yet, but Scum just put up a nice clear picture of shirtless vOTC Luke.

Luke - Will Dance for Cash

Thought all you other customizers out there might like to see what he looks like under there... not quite what I had hoped.  

Jeff

I see your points, but to me, even negligible savings are savings in Hasbro's book (six sigma and all that).  I think that is why we keep getting FF Leia instead of mixing in a CT Leia once in a while.

However, you are right, eventually EVERYONE is going to have Cantina Han, so it would be in their best interested to mix in a few vOTC figures... but just because something makes sense, doen't mean they will do it

Jeff

I bet, because the vOTC figures are so awesome, that we never see them again.  

I said it before and I'll say it again: I really think this is a one-shot deal.  That's why I'm not taking any chances and buying my second set to open now.

I would have to imagine that in the future, it will be cheaper for the Big H to crank out the 15th version of Cantina Han, PotJ Ben, Mechanic Chewie, et al instead of going back to run more of these vOTC figures.

When you think about it, the "regular" figures must be cheaper to make.  Where is the incentive for Hasbro to recard vOTC R2-D2 with all those extra accessories/parts, when they can just crank out more PotJ sculpt R2?  Same goes for almost all of the vOTC figures.  There is a cheaper alternative ready to go.

You may say, "Yeah, but they already have the molds for vOTC figures so that should keep costs down since most of the cost of a figure is in tooling."  That may be true, but it's even cheaper to use a less complicated existing mold.  There are a lot fewer parts/joints involved in Mechanic Chewie than vOTC Chewie.  Therefore, there is less cost associated with re-running a batch of Mechanic Chewie than vOTC Chewie.

So, that is why I think that Hasbro will take the easy road and keep cranking out PotJ Ben instead of ever re-releasing vOTC Ben or any of the others.  If there is one thing I've learned from OTC, it's that the future of this line in non-movie years is to cheap out as much as possible.  

Now, I could be wrong and eventually they will all get re-released after Ep3, but I really doubt it.

Jeff

Second trade with Habs98, and another A++++ deal!

Everything went very smoothly and I got my stuff in excellent shape and in record time!

Thanks again, Brian!

Jeff

I hope that the Jedi Scenes # 3/4 or 5/6 or what ever we are calling them are just mock-ups.

Kinda like how the "Cantina Set 2" they have at SDCC doesn't match the pics on the Hasbro website (different Ben).

Maybe?  

Otherwise, yeah those Jedi packs blow.

Jeff

Word is coming in from Comic-Con...

and word is that this set still blows.



Jeff

Hmmm...

I like them all.

No surprise there...

Now the trick will be getting me to stop at just TWO of those RotJ Stormtroopers.




Jeff