37
« on: February 9, 2010, 12:06 PM »
I got sick of the glut, I haven't bought a single figure in 2009 period. Partly due to the cost, partly due to the distribution but mostly due to the assortments. Seriously, they repack everything but can't repack Darth Reven, Darth Malek or pre-cyborg grievous? Minor rant but seriously, rotate the legends figures hasbro. I missed a lot of figures that I wanted but I just couldn't justify the cost. Hasbro can say all they want about rising cost, etc. but they have the volume across the board that can keep costs down. They can't tell me they use different plastic formulas for everyline they offer or different paints across the lines. The cardbacks shouldn't even be an issue since they're paying for a large sheet of board and as long as the waste is minimal they're still probably getting the same number of cards per sheet. Bandai is making 3 1/4'' Power Rangers figures in a $5-6 dollar range and probably in smaller numbers. Toybiz managed to keep the costs of Marvel Legends figures in a 6'' scale around $8 and now we pay more than that for a Hasbro 3 1/4'' version? None of it really adds up except for Hasbro seeing the secondary market and getting an idea of what can be sustained. That's the only thing I can think of as originally the ARC-170 was a $30 ship that did at one time sell for $60-$75 in a ROTS box on the secondary market but that's around the new retail price. But those days are gone. If they could get the new "vintage" line to be around the $5-$6 range I'll bet they'd see an increase in sales volume regardless of what figure gripes there may be. Mainly because it's an easier pill to swallow.
Now that I've ranted. I think the vintage carback is the way to go. They shouldn't have ever changed it. My reasoning is that Star Wars is the only toy line where there is a market for vintage cards without figures on them. Change the graphic, maybe; but leave the original concept alone. To me it identified the brand. Changing it every year is just retarded to me. GI Joe always seemed to do OK on what basically amounts to the same design. Send the occasional accesories pack to retail for cantina tables, control panels and mouse droids or what not and be done with it. Better yet, release playsets that aren't exclusives and not $50! I'll be ordering these by the case which is what I don't think Hasbro considers. But once they are done with this Vintage concept I'll probably be done again. I don't need SA variants of all figures. Some of them I think would be fine like the old school style with nearly no articulation at all! I know, Blaspheme! Many of us do order by the case bypassing Wal-Mart, Target and TRU all together. That has to skiew their numbers regarding the collectors somewhat. I'd just like them to get off their asses and finally make a decent Death Star playset. I bet that'd boost at least some figure sales if they'd just release the right ones.